Methods and apparatus for providing data communication between modems coupled over digital channels are provided. In one aspect, the present invention features an apparatus used in a system for providing communication over a digital channel to couple a first modem on a first network to a second modem on a second network. The apparatus includes a modem module that couples to the first modem at a data rate determined in part by a modulation rate of the modem module. The apparatus further includes a digital channel interface module coupled to the modem module, the digital channel interface module including a buffer that receives data from the digital channel and provides data to the modem module. The apparatus also includes a control circuit that detects a level of data in the buffer and modifies the modulation rate of the modem module based on the level of data detected.

Copyright 1997 ViaDSP, Inc. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for providing communication between modems over digital networks, and more specifically, the present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for providing high speed modem relay using locally connecting modems.
A number of standards exist for defining communication protocols between modems coupled together for communication over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or for communication over dedicated lines. For example, these standards include the V.34, V.32, and V.32bis standards among other standards promulgated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). A number of problems arise when modems implementing one of the above standards, or some similar standard, are coupled together over a digital link as shown in FIG. 1 and described below.
FIG. 1 shows a communication system 10 for providing full-duplex communication between modems 12 and 14. The communication system includes, in addition to modems 12 and 14, a first PSTN 16, a second PSTN 18, a first switch 20, a second switch 22, and a digital channel 24 connecting the first switch to the second switch. As understood by those skilled in the art, either or both of the PSTNs 16 and 18 could be replaced by dedicated lines. The digital channel may be implemented in one of a number of different ways such as through packet switched or synchronous transmission networks examples of which are the internet and a private satellite network respectively. Each of the first switch 20 and the second switch 22 includes a modem, which may be similar to modems 12 and 14. The use of the modems in the switches minimizes the bandwidth needed to pass data over the digital network. In addition, each of the switches includes circuitry for coupling to the digital channel 24.
Several problems arise when attempting to use standard high-speed modems as the modems 12 and 14 in the communication system 10. These problems are due primarily to the relatively long network dependent propagation delays between switches 20 and 22, which make it difficult for the system to support features of high speed modems defined in the V.34 and V.32bis standards. These features include: automoding, a feature which allows a high-speed modem, to recognize and communicate with a xe2x80x9cslowerxe2x80x9d modem such as a V.22 or V.22bis modem; and xe2x80x9ctrainingxe2x80x9d, including retraining, and xe2x80x9crate negotiationxe2x80x9d, including renegotiation, which allow connected modems to train their equalizers and dynamically alter the data rate between the modems (while in data phase) based on continuous analysis of line conditions.
Another problem that can arise when using high speed modems in the communication system 10 is that differences in clock speeds may result in unacceptable bit error rates. For example, typical modem standards require that the clock offset of the clock signal used to transmit data be less than xc2x10.01% of the baud rate. If in the system 10, the clock rate for sending data from modem 12 is 0.01% faster than nominal and the corresponding clock rate within switch 22 is 0.01% slower than nominal, then there will be a periodic inherent data loss in the communication system. In some prior art systems, this clock problem is hidden by error correction protocols negotiated by the end modems 12 and 14 that enable retransmission of lost data. This solution, however, results in an undesirable reduction in the effective data rate between modem 12 and modem 14.
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus that overcome the problems and drawbacks discussed above associated with operating modems over digital channels.
In one general aspect, the invention features an apparatus used in a system for providing communication over a digital channel to couple a first modem on a first network to a second modem on a second network. The apparatus includes a modem module that couples to the first modem over the first network. The modem module provides data to the first modem at a data rate determined in part by a modulation rate of the modem module. The apparatus further includes a digital channel interface module coupled to the modem module, the digital channel interface module including a buffer that receives data from the digital channel and provides data to the modem module, and a control circuit coupled to the buffer and the modem module, the control circuit being constructed and arranged to detect a level of data in the buffer and to modify the modulation rate of the modem module based on the level of data detected.
The digital channel can be coupled to a second apparatus, and the digital channel interface module can be constructed and arranged to communicate with the second apparatus over the digital channel. The modem module can be adapted to receive automoding signals from the first modem and to transfer the automoding signals to the digital channel interface module, and the digital channel interface module can be adapted to send data corresponding to the automoding signals to the second apparatus over the digital channel. The digital channel interface module can be adapted to receive automoding signals from the other apparatus over the digital channel and to transfer the automoding signals to the modem interface module, and the modem interface module can be adapted to send data corresponding to the automoding signals to the first modem. The modem interface module can be adapted to receive rate renegotiation signals from the first modem and to transfer the rate renegotiation signals to the digital channel interface module, and the digital channel interface module can be adapted to send data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to the second apparatus over the digital channel. The digital channel interface module can be adapted to receive rate renegotiation signals from the other apparatus over the digital channel and to transfer the rate renegotiation signals to the modem interface module, and the modem interface module can be adapted to send data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to the first modem. The first network can be a public switched telephone network, and the modem interface module can be constructed and arranged to communicate with the first modem over the public switched telephone network. The modem interface module can include modems of the type defined by V.34, V.32 and V.22 families of ITU specifications.
A second aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus used in a system for providing communication over a digital channel to couple a first modem on a first network to a second modem on a second network. The apparatus includes first means for operatively coupling to the first modem over the first network to provide a data signal having a data modulation rate to the first modem, second means for transmitting data to and for receiving data from the digital channel, data storage means for storing data received from the digital channel, and control means, coupled to the first means, the second means and the data storage means, for detecting a level of data in the data storage means and for modifying the modulation rate based on the level of data detected.
The first means can include means for receiving automoding signals from the first modem, and means for transferring the automoding signals to the second means, and the second means can include means for sending data corresponding to the automoding signals to a second apparatus over the digital channel. The second means can include means for receiving automoding signals from the second apparatus over the digital channel and means for transferring the automoding signals to the first means, and the first means can include means for sending data corresponding to the automoding signals to the first modem. The first means can include means for receiving rate renegotiation signals from the first modem and means for transferring the rate renegotiation signals to the second means, and the second means can include means for sending data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to the second apparatus over the digital channel. The second means can include means for receiving rate renegotiation signals from the second apparatus over the digital channel and means for transferring the rate renegotiation signals to the first means, and the first means can include means for sending data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to the first modem.
A third aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus used in a system for providing communication over a digital channel to couple a first modem on a first network to a second modem on a second network. The apparatus includes first means for operatively coupling to the first modem over the first network to provide a data signal having a data modulation rate to the first modem, second means for transmitting data to and for receiving data from the digital channel, and control means, coupled to the first means, the second means and the data storage means, for controlling operation of the apparatus. The first means includes means for receiving automoding signals from the first modem, and means for transferring the automoding signals to the second means, and the second means includes means for sending data corresponding to the automoding signals to a second apparatus over the digital channel.
The second means of the third apparatus can include means for receiving automoding signals from the second apparatus over the digital channel and means for transferring the automoding signals to the first means, and the first means includes means for sending data corresponding to the automoding signals to the first modem. The first means can include means for receiving rate renegotiation signals from the first modem and means for transferring the rate renegotiation signals to the second means, and the second means can include means for sending data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to a second apparatus over the digital channel. The second means can include means for receiving rate renegotiation signals from the second apparatus over the digital channel and means for transferring the rate renegotiation signals to the first means, and the first means can include means for sending data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to the first modem.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to an apparatus used in a system for providing communication over a digital channel to couple a first modem on a first network to a second modem on a second network. The apparatus of the fourth aspect includes first means for operatively coupling to the first modem over the first network to provide a data signal having a data modulation rate to the first modem, second means for transmitting data to and for receiving data from the digital channel, and control means, coupled to the first means, the second means and the data storage means, for controlling operation of the apparatus. The first means includes means for receiving rate renegotiation signals from the first modem and means for transferring the rate renegotiation signals to the second means, and the second means includes means for sending data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to a second apparatus over the digital channel.
The second means can include means for receiving rate renegotiation signals from the second apparatus over the digital channel and means for transferring the rate renegotiation signals to the first means, and the first means can include means for sending data corresponding to the rate renegotiation signals to the first modem.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for transmitting data between a first modem and a second modem over a digital channel using first and second switches coupled to the digital channel. The method includes steps of establishing a first connection between the first modem and the first switch, establishing a second connection between the second modem and the second switch, transmitting data from the first modem to the second modem through the first switch, the digital channel and the second switch, monitoring a level of data in a buffer in the second switch, and varying a modulation rate of data transmitted from the second switch to the second modem based on the level of data detected in the buffer.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for establishing data transmission between a first modem and a second modem over a transmission path that includes a first switch, a second switch, a digital channel coupled between the first switch and the second switch, a first network coupled between the first modem and the first switch and a second network coupled between the second switch and the second modem. The method includes steps of transmitting a first automoding signal in accordance with a predefined protocol from the second modem to the second switch, transmitting a signal representative of the first automoding signal from the second switch to the first switch over the digital channel, and transmitting the first automoding signal from the first switch to the first modem. The first automoding signal includes data representative of data transmission modes supported by the second modem.
The method can further include a step of transmitting a second automoding signal from the first modem to the first switch, wherein the second automoding signal includes data representative of data transmission modes supported by the first modem. The method can further include a step of transmitting data between the first modem and the second modem over the transmission path using a data transmission mode identified by both the first automoding signal and the second automoding signal. The method can further include steps of transmitting a first rate renegotiation signal from the first modem to the second modem over the transmission path, and performing a rate renegotiation process to establish a transmission data rate for data transmission between the first modem and the second modem.

Method and apparatus for providing high speed modem replay using locally connecting modems


A time-varying multi-path generating apparatus that generates time-varying characteristics of propagation path parameters, a multi-path fading simulator, and a multi-path generating method are disclosed. The generating apparatus for simulating multi-path fluctuations in radio communications consists of a parameter control unit for controlling generation conditions of propagation paths, a data storage unit for storing propagation path generation parameters and data files, and a propagation path generating unit for generating time-varying propagation paths. Multiple time-varying amplitude functions and multiple time-varying phase functions are generated based on the data files, the propagation path generation parameters, and random numbers generated by a random number generating unit. The time-varying amplitude functions are aligned serially in the time domain such that a time-varying shadow amplitude function is obtained, which is repeated N times where N represents the number of propagation paths. The time-varying phase functions are aligned serially such that a time-varying shadow phase function is obtained, which is repeated N times, resulting in N time-varying shadow phase functions. An initial amplitude, an initial phase, an initial time delay, and an initial arrival direction are generated as the propagation path parameters of a propagation path using random numbers based on the initial value generation parameters. The time-varying shadow amplitude functions and the time-varying shadow phase functions are superimposed on the initial amplitude and the initial phase, respectively, for generating time-varying propagation paths.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a time-varying multi-path generating apparatus, a multi-path fading simulator employing the time-varying multi-path generating apparatus, and a multi-path generating method for simulating multi-path fluctuations in radio communications systems, such as mobile communications systems; and specifically relates to a time-varying multi-path generating apparatus, a multi-path fading simulator employing the time-varying multi-path generating apparatus, and a multi-path generating method wherein time-varying multi-paths are generated by adding time-varying propagation path fluctuations to parameters such as arrival direction characteristics, phase characteristics, time delay characteristics, and power level characteristics of each propagation path corresponding to input parameters.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the case wherein a radio propagation path is provided from a base station antenna to a mobile station, the radio propagation path often reaching the mobile station through multiple propagation paths established by reflection and diffraction due to an obstacle such as a building. On the right-hand side of FIG. 1, an example of a time delay profile is shown. In the time delay profile where five propagation paths are shown, the horizontal axis represents the propagation delay time (hereafter called time delay) of the radio propagation paths (hereafter called propagation paths) that arrive at the mobile station, and the vertical axis represents received power. The time delay and the received power may be expressed in either of absolute values and relative values.
The propagation paths (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) shown in the delay profile are regarded as plane waves. A propagation path that has the smallest time delay is the propagation path (1) that reaches the mobile station via the shortest path from the base station, and the propagation paths with greater time delays than the propagation path (1) reach the mobile station after reflection and diffraction by buildings, mountains, etc. As for the propagation paths with the greater time delay, since the propagation loss increases as the propagation distance becomes greater with the number of times of reflection and diffraction increasing, received power tends to become smaller.
FIG. 2 is a graph that shows an example of the delay profile measured with a mobile station moving along a road (non-patent reference 1). It is clearly shown that the time delay and received power of a propagation path are changing with the movement of the mobile station.
When a mobile communications system is designed, a simulator for simulating the transmission quality of the space between the base station and the mobile station is required in order to determine whether the system can allow certain propagation path fluctuations, and in order to determine optimal system parameter values. A fading simulator is often used for evaluating the transmission quality of mobile communications systems. The fading simulator applies fading to a modulated signal that is provided by a transmitter, and outputs the faded modulated signal to a receiver. In that case, the fading simulator superimposes a modulating signal on a carrier propagation path that has a time delay, the time delay being specified by a simulator operator according to a profile model such as the Vehicular-B model (non-patent reference 2) recommended by ITU (International Telecommunication Union), etc., and applies Nakagami-Rice fading or Rayleigh fading; or, alternatively, the delay profile is calculated by ray tracing, wherein modulating signals are superimposed on carriers having different time delays, and fading that is the same as above is applied.
In conventional mobile communications systems with a relatively low transmission speed, it is sufficient to consider receiving power level characteristics (e.g., Rayleigh fading model; non-patent reference 3), and delay characteristics (e.g., equivalent transmission-line model; non-patent reference 4). For this reason, it is not necessary to generate propagation characteristics of a propagation path that properly simulates the real environment. Accordingly, fading simulators are designed to provide power level fluctuations that follow the Nakagami-Rice distribution or Rayleigh distribution that defines propagation path fluctuations as a vector sum of two or more propagation paths without taking correlations between propagation paths into consideration.
[Non-patent Reference 1]
Masaaki Shinji, "Radio propagation path propagation in wireless communications", 1992, page 210
[Non-patent Reference 2]
ITU-R M. 1225, "Guidelines for evaluation of radio transmission technologies for IMT-2000", 1997
[Non-patent Reference 3]
Jakes, W. C. Jr. and ed.: "Micropropagation Path Mobile Communications", John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1974
[Non-patent Reference 4]
Y. Karasawa, T. Kuroda, and H. Iwai: "The equivalent transmission-path model, —A Tool for Analyzing error floor characteristics due to inter-symbol interference in Nakagami-Rice fading environments", IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol. 46 [1] pp. 194-202, 1997
[Non-patent Reference 5]
Yamada, Tomisato, Matsumoto: "The system evaluation of a spatial-temporal equalizer using real propagation data" Shin-Gaku Giho A-P 2000-96 (2000-10)
[Non-patent Reference 6]
S. Ichitsubo, K. Tsunekawa, and Y. Ebine: "Multipath Propagation Model of Spatio-Temporal Dispersion Observed at Base Station in Urban Areas", IEEE Journal on selected areas in communications, Vol. 20, No. 6, August 2002.
[Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention]
Indispensable technology for the 4G (fourth generation) mobile communications (broadband-transmission) includes adaptive equalization technology for removing an unnecessary propagation path on the delay time axis, and adaptive array antenna (AAA) technology for separating an unnecessary propagation path on the space axis (the radio propagation path arrival direction). Research and development towards the realization of these technologies are being energetically furthered (non-patent reference 5). Further, where the transmission speed (bit rate) is high, an incoming propagation path can be separated into multiple propagation-delay propagation paths (a single propagation path, or multiple propagation paths compounded). For this reason, the influence of fading that is a problem in conventional transmission systems at a low transmission speed can be mitigated in high-speed transmission, and communication quality can be improved. Accordingly, in order to perform highly precise evaluation of transmission characteristics, it becomes important that propagation characteristics be individually reproducible for each of such multiple propagation paths between the base station and the mobile receiving station.
The propagation characteristics of a propagation path to be considered include propagation-delay characteristics and arrival direction characteristics, and analysis of the characteristics and modeling thereof are being studied (non-patent reference 6). For example, it is known that an exponential-function model reasonably approximates the propagation-delay characteristics, namely, the received power exponentially decreases according to the time delay (non-patent reference 3). However, in model approaches such as described above, the time variation characteristics of the propagation path are defined as a mere superimposition of either the Nakagami-Rice fading or the Rayleigh fading fluctuations, where fluctuation characteristics of the multiple propagation paths are simply added.
Furthermore, in order to evaluate a communications system using adaptive equalization technology and AAA technology, a propagation path model needs to consider all of the arrival direction characteristics, delay time characteristics, and receiving power level characteristics.
As a factor of the power level fluctuation of each propagation path, shadowing (blocking) of the propagation path by the presence and movement of an obstacle such as a car and a human body is to be considered. In addition, when the mobile station moves, a building and the like may interfere with the propagation path. For this reason, evaluation of each propagation path has to take the power level fluctuation caused by these obstacles into consideration; however, conventional fading simulators do not consider these matters.
Further, as for the propagation paths received by the mobile station in directions that are approximately the same, there must be meaningful correlation between the propagation paths, since the same obstacle would interfere with each of the propagation paths. However, a fading simulator that considers the correlation characteristics of such propagation paths is not yet offered.

Multi-path generating apparatus, a multi-path fading simulator, and a multi-path generating method


A golf club with optical indicating system includes a head having an elongate planar face defining the hitting surface of the golf club. Above the hitting surface, at least a pair of spaced-parallel forwardly protruding guides are located extending perpendicularly to the hitting surface. The guides define the indicating system that visually helps the player to determine the best path between the position of the ball on the golf green and the hole. The guides may be integral with the body of the club's head or may be separate parts thereof.

It is known to incorporate indicating means to a golf club, and particularly in the head of a putter, in order to help the player to determine the best path and the best position of the putter's head before hitting the ball, considering the location of the ball on the golf green, the distance between the ball and the hole, the inclination (if any) of the golf green, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,058 to Honig for PUTTER TRAINING DEVICE describes a training device for use in conjunction with a golf club, includes a rod-like sighting element that can be removably affixed to a golf club in such a way that it extends over the front and back faces of the head of the club. The portion of the sighting element which extends past the hitting face of the club head is upwardly inclined in the direction in which the ball is to be hit. In one embodiment, the device consists of a plastic rod-like element which is attached to a base via an arm. The base is fitted with a magnet to secure it to the metal head of a putter. The arm holds the rod-like element above the head of the putter at an angle which is upwardly inclined in the direction in which the ball is to be hit. The main difference between this invention and the purposed one resides on the fact that this is a training device, that is, is an external element that should be fixed to the golf club's head and the player cannot play a ball on a golf green with this device attached. The present invention is a new golf club head, that is, a new integral head which includes as an integral part thereof the above mentioned indicating means. Moreover this '058 device comprises a single central guide (instead of at least two as in the purposed case) not integral with the club's head, which is not permitted in the official rules of this game.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798 to Pelz for GOLF CLUB AND HEAD INCLUDING ALIGNMENT INDICATORS refers to a putter type golf club alignment system wherein a ball to be struck forms an extension of the alignment indicia on the golf club to provide an indication that the putter head is properly aligned with the ball and the intended target line, including a putter club head, having an upper surface, and a ball striking face wherein the upper surface of the club head is provided with a plurality of simulated golf balls aligned in a row perpendicular to the ball striking face, the simulated balls in use forming a straight line row with the ball to be struck when the putter is properly aligned.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,299 to McKenna for a LEVEL INDICATING GOLF PUTTER shows a golf club putter head affixing an elongate spirit level that may be tilted relative to earth and rested on its two frustaconical projections so as to accurately measure earth inclination nonetheless that, inter alia, the sole of the putter head is curved, and thus unsuitable to serve to reference the putter head to the earth's surface. The two frustaconical projections are preferably spaced parallel, equal length, maximally separated and axially weighted. The spirit level is preferably both removably affixed—permitting use of the putter in regulation play—and of maximum elongate extent. A preferably offset hostel is affixed in a position preferably substantially midway between maximally-separated spaced-parallel frustaconical projections.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,777 to Densberger et. al. for GOLF CLUB WITH OPTICAL ALIGNMENT SYSTEM is referred to an alignment system and method of use provide significant improvement in the accuracy of a golf stroke or putt. The alignment system may be incorporated into or attached to the head or shaft of a golf club such as a putter or a chipper. One component of the alignment system is a sighting alignment system which includes a turning mirror that is attached to the club head or shaft or may be integral to the top or rear portion of the golf club head. While viewing the reflection of the ball and target through the mirror, the golfer obtains visual feed-back that is very sensitive to club positioning and aiming. The other component is another optical alignment system in which parallax is removed to put the golfer's eye in the proper plane to assure alignment over the golf club head. When both alignments are maintained in the reflected image during the golfer's stroke, the accuracy of the stroke is dramatically improved.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,190 to Ashcraft for PUTTER WITH ALIGNMENT FIGURE is referred to a golf club putter that has a putter head including a plurality offset surfaces, each of the offset surfaces containing a respective portion of an alignment figure that has a periphery enclosing an area. Each respective portion of the alignment figure includes respective sections of the periphery. Disorientation of the putter head may be detected by transposition of each portion of the alignment figure with respect to the other portions. Correct orientation of the putter head is indicated by precise alignment of the portions to present the alignment figure without apparent distortion.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,593 to Benoit et al. for GOLF PUTTING DEVICE refers to an improved optical putter. The optical putter has a club head whose cross-section is characterized as having four active surfaces: a substantially flat surface for resting the club head upon the green in a first alignment position; a ball-addressing surface; a second, substantially flat, reflective surface for aligning the golf club in a second alignment position; and a substantially flat bottom surface that is substantially perpendicular to the ball-addressing surface. The reflective surface is a semi-circular wedge shape having a sighting line for guiding the golfer to position her or her head and stance. Depending upon the alignment position, the reflecting surface can face upwardly towards the eye of the golfer or towards the cup of the green.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,494,282 to Pranio for GOLF CLUB PUTTER WITH YIPS PREVENTION AND ACCURATE LINE OF SIGHT claims a golf club putter that includes a generally T-shaped club head having a front putting face, a bottom surface, a rear portion of the bottom surface being elevated with respect to a front portion of the bottom surface, and an upper surface having an upward inclination of 7 degrees from a front portion thereof to a rear portion thereof when the club head is addressing a golf ball; a shaft connected to the upper surface of the club head at a rear section thereof; substantially an entire portion of the shaft being oriented forwardly with respect to the club head at an angle of 9 degrees and oriented sidewards with respect to the club head at an angle of about 20 degrees; and the shaft having a length between 33 and 37 inches.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,647,045 to Bilyeu for PUTTER GUIDE claims a putter guide assembly for use with a golf club includes a substantially U-shaped bracket for attaching the guide assembly to the club. The bracket has an upper surface portion serving as a support surface and has opposed free side walls each formed with a mounting hole. A pointing member has a lower surface portion which in use abuts and registers with the upper surface portion of the bracket so as to align the pointing member during use. The pointing member is formed with a tubular ringed end portion disposed between the sidewalls for pivotal attachment to the bracket. A bolt passes through each one of the mounting holes and through the tubular ringed end portion so as to rotatably connect the pointing member to the bracket. The bolt serves as a pivot for the pointing member and further serves as a fastener for securing the guide assembly to the club.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,114 to Catalano for GOLF PUTTER WITH SLOPE INDICATING MEANS THEREIN is referred to a golf club putter for use on a golf green for judging the desired path to the cup. The putter comprises a shaft with a putter head secured on one end thereof. The putter has a vertically oriented striking surface for striking a golf ball on swinging movement of the club and a second surface positioned at substantially a right angle to the striking first surface. Level means is supported in the second or right angle surface for indicating the desired angle at which the putter striking surface should strike the ball and the desired curvature of the path of the ball to the cup. The level means comprises a pendulum, recessed in the second, right angle surface, operating as a plumb bob to determine the angle from the horizontal of the putting green. The level means comprises a thin, flat disc-shaped housing mounted in a recess in the second, right angle surface of the putter having a circular rear wall, a circular front wall and a cylindrical side wall. The disc shaped housing has a pivot on which the pendulum is supported and hangs centrally of the housing. The circular front wall is transparent with an opaque coating having a central clear area defining a circular central window through which the pendulum is viewed. A circular indicia on the pendulum of the same size as the window is viewable against the circular edge of said window to indicate the angle and ball path.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D 458,658 of Matt Jung depicts a putter head including two L-shaped rod-type protruding indicators means extending upwardly at each side of the hitting surface of the club's head. The basic difference between this design and the present invention resides on the fact that the indicators can be taken out when the player considers necessary, for example if this type of indicator systems are not authorized for Official tournaments. The '658 design does not offer this possibility as the rods are integral part of the club's.
U.S. Design Pat. No. D 323,867 of Bennie Rizzotto depicts a golf putter head including two longitudinal grooves on the upper side of the club's head that offers to the player a visual indication of the potential path between the ball and the club. But the main difference between this design and the present case resides on the indicators means per se, since in the '867 case it only consists on a couple of lines that are not very noticeable from above, instead the present case the indicators are two protruding parts extending upwardly and forwardly from the club's head offering to the player a more clear indication of said path.
Finally, U.S. Design Pat. No. D 421,471 depicts a free standing gold putter head including several longitudinal grooves on the upper head of the club's head. This case is similar to the previous one, which only offers to the player a couple of lines not very visible from above.
None of the above cited patents comprise a putter head with indicating means integral with the body of said club head. There are some other patents referred to golf putters including more sophisticated means for helping to the player with the path, for example by using laser lights. Just as an example, the following U.S. patents may be cited: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,123,626; 5,980,393; 5,725,440; 5,611,739; 5,465,972; 5,464,222 and 5,388,831 between others. These patents are only cited as a reference. They are referred to very sophisticated and expensive devices using the capability of the laser light of staying always on a straight path, thus helping to the player to determine the correct path to the hole. But these kinds of devices cannot be used during a tournament and their use is restricted to practicing.

Golf club with optical indicating system


A tray lid for covering a food tray having at least one food pocket therein. The tray lid includes a substantially flat tray covering section including a wall covering portion and at least one pocket covering portion formed thereon. The tray lid can include at least one pocket covering portion having a peripheral channel configured to abut against an associated wall of a food pocket of the food tray to seal food within the at least one food pocket.

This invention relates to food carriers, and in particular to a food tray and tray lid of a food carrier.
Food carriers are used extensively for transporting food from one location to another location. One example of a food carrier is the food carrier used in transporting food products from a grocery store or restaurant to the location where the food is to be consumed. The same food carrier can also be used to transport hot or cold food to people who are not able to leave their homes.
Heretofore, food carriers have included compartmentalized containers having a food tray and a tray lid. The food tray included a plurality of food pockets wherein food was placed into the food pockets and the tray lid was placed over the food tray to prevent the food from spilling when the food carrier is transported from one location to another location. However, tray lids have typically included a flat planar surface that covered all of the food pockets in the food tray. Therefore, food in one food pocket has leaked into another food pocket when the food carrier is transported or when the food carrier experiences bending or other force applied to the food carrier. This commingling of food can be particularly unfavorable when a hot food in one food pocket is mixed with cold food in another pocket, thereby lowering and/or raising, respectively, the temperature of the food. Additionally, the tray lids with the flat planar surface have been subject to bending and therefore can be damaged very easily.
Accordingly, a food carrier having a tray lid solving the aforementioned disadvantages and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.


A rearview mirror assembly includes a reflective mirror element and a blind spot indicator system in optical communication with the reflective mirror element and configured to receive an input from a blind spot detector system, wherein the blind spot indicator system includes a first indicator assembly and a second indicator assembly each having a light source and an optic, the optic is in optical communication with the light source. The light sources are configured to emit light that at least partially propagates through the optics and the reflective mirror element if the input received from the blind spot detector indicates the blind spot detector is active or an object is detected in the blind spot.

A blind spot detection system for a vehicle can detect the presence of another vehicle or object in the lane next to or approaching the host vehicle. As a vehicle approaches the host vehicle and enters into the blind spot, a visual indicator can indicate to the driver that another vehicle or object has been detected.


A flexible joint is provided. The flexible joint is for use in a steel catenary riser that includes a compression bearing (106) having a transition shim (120) and a plurality of alternating flexible elements (116) and shims (118) collectively stacked and bonded to a lower portion of the transition shim (120). The flexible joint also includes an inner bonding material (126) having a profile that is complementary to a profile of an extension tube (104), the inner bonding material (126) being disposed between the extension tube (104) and compression bearing (106) and configured to serve as a bonding mechanism between extension tube and compression bearing.

In some cases, flexible joints such as riser bearings for steel catenary risers comprise elastomeric components that degrade in response to exposure to fluids passing through a central fluid passage of the flexible joints. Some flexible joints comprise long components that do not fit well within standard rubber presses. Some flexible joints comprise large diameter housings that require specially sized transfer molding equipment that is expensive and not typical. Some flexible joint construction methods may require sprues required for a transfer molding process that are undesirably longer and more circuitous than desired, resulting in a significant pressure drop which leads to less than ideal molding parameters. Also, some methods of constructing flexible joints require specially designed and/or expensive presses for accomplishing the molding due to the excessive weight of the total assembly being molded in a single molding/bonding process.

Flexible joint and method of manufacturing flexible joint


A high-efficiency linear amplifier using non linear circuits. The examples describe of a high-efficiency linear amplifier using non linear circuits (“high-efficiency LINC PA”) that can allow linear (typical of less efficient amplifier modes) amplitude modulation (“AM”) while operating in a high efficiency quasi-Class-E mode. The exemplary quasi class-E amplifier may be classified as being a type of linear amplifier using nonlinear circuits (“LINC”). This LINC circuit typically combines a quasi-class-E power amplifier with bi-directional power switch parallel coupling at least one capacitor within the power amplifier output network. Complementary phase modulation of the drive signals coupled to the power amplifier and a power switch circuit results in an amplitude modulation of the RF output envelope.

Generally, an amplifier is an electronic circuit that generally increases, the strength of a signal. A measure of the amplification level often used is gain. Gain is typically measured in decibels ("dB"). Acceptable input ranges for an amplifier may include a range of signal levels to be amplified, and a range of frequencies to be amplified. Signals outside of the specified ranges may not be satisfactorily amplified.
Amplifying a signal can introduce distortion, and various figures of merit can be used to specify acceptable distortion levels in an amplifier. Amplifiers typically convert DC power to a replica of a signal applied to the amplifier. How efficiently this may be done typically depends upon amplifier bias that can place the quiescent operating point of the amplifier circuitry (typically one or more transistors) in various operating regions that typically trade off increasing distortion for increased efficiency.
Efficiency of an amplifier may be divided into classes. Class A amplifiers typically provide a faithful reproduction of the input but are typically inefficient, in the range of 10-20% with a theoretical maximum efficiency of 50%. Class B amplifiers have a better efficiency but are limited in application compared to Class A amplifiers because of higher distortion, such as crossover distortion. In practical audio power amplifier design, class AB designs are often used. Modern Class AB amps are commonly between 35-55% efficient with a theoretical maximum of 78.5%. Class C amplifiers are often used in transmitters to amplify radio signals. Class D switching amplifiers can have efficiencies above 95%. Class D amplifiers are operated with their active devices in on/off switching mode, reducing device dissipation by minimizing the time per RF cycle when both voltage and current are present in the device. Class D amplifiers typically produce an output waveform that converts an input waveform into a pulse-width modulated (square wave) analog signal with an amplitude equal to the supply voltage. The class E and class F amplifiers are highly efficient switching power amplifiers, typically used at such high frequencies that the switching time becomes appreciable compared to the duty time. Other classes of amplifiers are possible, as designers seek to improve amplifier performance, while seeking to reduce the resources needed by amplifiers to produce the improved performance.
Even though higher classes of amplifiers cannot generally be applied for linear amplification, these highly efficient amplifiers typically run much cooler (typically not needing cooling fans and the like to help remove heat) even in high power designs. Thus, high efficiency designs may be sought to be employed in designs where constant envelope signals are generated so that efficient use of power supplies and simplified heat exchanger designs may be utilized.
In popular use, the term amplifier today usually refers to an electronic amplifier, often as in audio applications or the like. A power amplifier ("PA") typically increases voltage and current of an input signal.

High-efficiency linear amplifier using non linear circuits


A guard assembly (2) is used to protect the cutter blades (20, 21) of a cane cutter (10). The guard assembly includes a guard body (4) which is mounted to the cane cutter. A series of guard blades (6) are pivotally mounted to the guard body. The guard blades are shaped, sized and positioned to permit smaller diameter objects, such as a cane (18) of a grapevine to pass between the guard blades so to be severed by the cutter blades while preventing larger diameter objects, such as posts (26), stakes and the trunks of the grapevines, from passing between the guard blades, thereby protecting both the cutter blades and the larger diameter objects from damage.

The most prevalent type of raisin sold in the U.S. is the natural Thompson seedless raisin. Ripe Thompson seedless grapes are cut and placed on paper trays between the rows of vines out in the vineyard. The grapes then dry naturally in the sun to form raisins. The problem with naturally drying raisins in the sun on the ground is that rain during the drying period can ruin an entire crop. To help get around this problem, a method for drying the grapes while still on the vine has been developed. Using this method the canes bearing the fruit are separated during the growing season from the canes not bearing fruit. (The canes not bearing fruit will, the next year, be the fruit-bearing canes.) Once the grapes are sufficiently ripe, the fruit-bearing canes are cut adjacent the head of the grape vine. This causes the leaves on the fruiting canes to dry up, cuts off the source of water to the grapes and allows the grapes to dry while hanging on the severed fruiting canes. It has been found that rain on the severed canes does not cause rot because good air circulation allows the grape bunches to dry out quickly after the rain has ceased.


Some embodiments of the invention provide a system to monitor a patient. In some aspects, a signal representing a value of a physiological parameter is received from a monitoring device. The received value is a value that caused the monitoring device to trigger an alarm associated with the psychological parameter. A notification is determined based on the received signal and on a second signal that represents a value of a second physiological parameter. The notification is then presented to an operator.

Patient treatment often includes monitoring of various physiological parameters. Conventionally, such monitoring begins by attaching sensors to several locations on a patient's body. The sensors transmit signals to one or more devices, which in turn determine the values of subject parameters based on the signals. In this regard, a particular parameter value may be determined based on a signal received from one or more of the attached sensors.
Most conventional monitoring devices include alarm functions. Generally, a device issues an audible and/or visual alarm after determining that a particular parameter value has fallen outside a specified range. This arrangement presents numerous difficulties. First, a monitoring device may issue an alarm in a case that an associated sensor detaches from the patient or in case of other non-emergency situations. Several monitoring devices are often used to monitor a single patient, with each device presenting a possibility of a false alarm. These possibilities condition caregivers to reduce their sensitivity to the alarms.
A caregiver's decision-making processes are often prolonged during critical events due to a barrage of corresponding alarms from multiple monitoring devices, some of which may be false alarms. Additionally, an alarm usually fails to provide sufficient information to a caregiver. Most patient complications are evidenced by several physiological parameters, so an alarm-triggering value of one parameter is insufficient to identify a particular complication.
In view of the foregoing, a more efficient system to process patient alarms is desired.

Patient monitoring and alarm processing system and user interface


The mobile communication terminal has a main body unit and an attachment. When the main body unit separates from the attachment, the attachment transmits a predetermined radio signal. The main body unit receives the radio signal and determines whether its distance from the attachment exceeds specified distance. When the main body unit is at a distance from the attachment exceeding the specified distance, predetermined operation of the main body unit, for example, entering operation using a keypad, memory read-out operation, data transmission and data reception, are disabled. In this manner, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use by third parties or information leaks to third parties when the main body unit has been lost.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile communication terminal and to a mobile communication terminal capable of preventing loss, theft or unauthorized use of the mobile communication terminal in particular.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the diffusion of the mobile phone, the loss or theft thereof has become a major problem. When a mobile phone has been lost there is a risk that a third party may use the mobile phone without permission or that information contained therein may leak out.
A large number of mobile communication terminals provided with a protection function against unauthorized use has already been proposed. Patent Laid-Open 2004-69883, Patent Laid-Open 2002-218542 and Patent Laid-Open 2002-183866 disclose a warning device that separates from the phone. The warning device receives a weak radio signal transmitted by the mobile phone. When the receiving signal level has dropped and reception is disabled, the warning device generates the previously set warning. With these technologies, however, the warning devices only gives a warning and is, consequently, not capable of preventing unauthorized use after loss or theft. Patent Laid-Open 2002-300651 discloses a protection system for preventing the unauthorized use of a portable information terminal by using a wristwatch. The wristwatch and the portable information terminal mutually conduct short-distance wireless communication. When the portable information terminal cannot receive the transmission packet that is regularly sent from the wristwatch, the portable information terminal will not operate without entering the previously registered password or fingerprint. In this system, it is necessary to enter the previous settings for user verification and the use needs to carry both the special-purpose wristwatch and the portable information terminal.


Software utilizing a system and methodologies that allow cross-platform data transfer, either single user and/or networked access, for creating and maintaining an integrated classroom organizer using a computer. The user can create a year of detailed lesson plans. The user enters the number of pages of text(s), or quantified teaching block broken into percentage of completion, in a specified teaching period be it the entire year, semester, month, etc. The text(s) pages or percentage of a teaching task are allocated to designated teaching days previously identified in the calendar. The user can edit and determine whether the pre-scheduled number of text(s) pages, or percentage of a teaching task has been completed, by merely inputting the text(s) page or percentage completed. The difference between text(s) pages or percentage of task completed and the text(s) pages or percentage of task completion previously planned by user will match or not. If not, the software reallocates the difference and prompts user to adjust text(s) or teaching task progress. The software program is calendar driven and utilizes a relational database with calculations, scripts, and routines that allow the user to enter all elements required to create daily, weekly or monthly lesson plans; syllabi; seating charts; grades; attendance; progress reports; and student/parent letters. The software allows users to export and import software data to another computer. All data can be archived or copied to the next year for use and revision as deemed necessary by user.

Teachers are required to prepare daily lesson plans on at least a weekly basis. Lesson plans are written directions that are prepared so a teacher has a teaching strategies and procedures for presenting the educational information via lessons and class curriculum required per their individual school policies and procedures. In most schools, the lesson plan is required to be available in the classroom, presented to the department head and in some instances, also made available to the school principal.
Classroom teachers have many duties, not the least being, creating and working with considerable amounts of non-teaching paperwork. Paperwork that includes creating, maintaining and publishing daily and weekly lesson plans. Lesson plans usually require the listing of the school, teacher, date, subject, time of class period, subject matter to be taught, and the teaching method to be utilized. In addition, it may list the necessary tools and/or materials required to teach that day. Also, special programs and/or activities may be listed.
Teachers have used pre-printed lesson plan forms and/or purchased pre-printed lesson plan booklets to provide them with the basic form(s) on which they develop the basic outline of the hourly and daily curriculum, materials and method(s) of instruction. Some preprinted forms provide for the teacher to manually insert the necessary curriculum, materials, and methods of teaching in a pre-determined but limited space. The pre-printed lesson plan booklets include pages for manual recording students names, addresses, personal data, parent and emergency information, grades, school and class curriculum, district and/or school holiday or in-service days as well as the pre-printed pages on which to develop the daily and weekly lesson plan(s).
Teachers must implement the teaching source materials and class curriculumas prescribed by their individual school, district and/or state education departments. Along with the school year schedule, teachers calculate their individual per hour/day/week teaching methods and materials, including text books and other educational resources and create a lesson plan. The purpose of the mandated lesson plan is to give direction to the classroom teacher so that the required materials used with curriculum, procedure, and methodology properly followed and completed. The lesson plan is also used to enable a substitute teacher to conduct the class and complete the prescribed lessons, procedure, methodology, curriculum, and materials as if the regular teacher was present.
Federal and state holidays are usually blocked on any pre-printed lesson plan form but individual district and/or school holidays and non-teaching in-service dates must be manually entered onto the lesson plan for publication.
Integrated word processing, data base and spread sheet software programs, such as Claris Works.TM., provide computer literate teachers with a tool for manually designing individual class grade books, student rosters and even rudimentary lesson plans. There are also some computer software programs, such as "Teachers Toolbox".TM., available that supply the teacher with some computer generated templates onto which the teacher must enter the necessary information on a weekly basis. Current lesson plan software merely supplants the need to hand enter the information using conventional writing tools.
The intent of this invention is to provide a generic as well as a specific lesson plan format generator, editor and publisher. Additionally, it includes a totally integrated classroom organizer, process, and manufacturer providing the teachers with the required lesson plan that reduces or eliminates the use of conventional writing tools. The integration feature of this invention also saves teachers' time by eliminating redundant and duplicate entries into multiple manual records.
There are numerous inventions detailing the creation of subject-specific lesson plans and/or multi-media collection of audio-visual materials that are assimilated into computer generated teaching methods and subject-specific course outlines and subject-driven lesson plans. U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,051 details a method and system of utilizing an information source to select, recall, order and translate subject-specific materials to an information repository (student). The information source(s) stated are listed are video-disks and CD-ROM's but may be any other type of information source, i.e. computer hard drives, storage tapes and/or floppy disks or even internet educational resources.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,520 details a computer assisted instructional information delivery system but limits its treatise to two or more stations and the utilization of a network communication system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,475 details a system and method of connecting audiovisual output signals from audiovisual resources to develop, process, switch, and store selected audiovisual data for eventual selection and presentation and/or playback in specific lesson plan form for use on a monitor or on a network system.

Method and manufacture of lesson plans and classroom organizers utilizing computers and software


A concentrated composition of a color developer replenisher for a silver halide color photographic material, the composition comprising a single solution, wherein the solution comprises 0.14 mol/liter or more of a p-phenylenediamine color developing agent, the solution has a specific gravity of 1.2 or more, the solution has pH of 13.3 or more, the solution comprises from 0.2 to 1 mol/liter of at least one compound selected from benzenesulfonic acids which may be substituted with an alkyl group, and lactams, and the solution comprises substantially no alkanolamine.

In recent years, an automatic processor called a mini-lab set up at a shop front for processing photographic materials has prevailed for a quick print service for general users and the rationalization of collection and delivery between a photograph shop and a processing laboratory. The development processing agents for use in mini-labs are in many cases supplied in the form of liquid composition comprising processing chemicals of the component dissolved in advance in a solvent, e.g., water, since this form is advantageous in that a processing solution can be easily prepared at the time of use by mixing and dilution with water. However, the form of liquid composition requires containers for containing the solvent, e.g., water, for dissolving processing components, i.e., processing chemicals, and for the composition, which is disadvantageous in the point of transfer costs. Therefore, liquid composition is generally supplied in the form of a concentrated liquid processing composition (called "concentrated" in place of "condensed" in the industry) to reduce the volume by concentration.
Further, a concentrated liquid processing composition in many cases consists of a plurality of composition units not as the constitution of a single solution from various reasons such as storage stability, degree of concentration and handleability. The composition units constituting a concentrated composition are called parts.
Describing as to color development processing composition, when processing composition is constituted by a plurality of parts, it is advantageous in the point that the stability of the composition is increased and further concentration and volume reduction are contrived, but it is accompanied by disadvantages such that a plurality of concentrated solutions must be mixed not a simple dilution with water in preparing a processing solution, and workload increases in disposing many empty containers of compositions. Accordingly, even if processing composition is composed of single constitution (hereinafter referred to as one-part constitution or one liquid type constitution, which are the same meaning), when storage stability is ensured and the composition is concentrated, facilities for usage are extremely high.
From the above viewpoint, concentrated composition: of one-part constitution for a color developer replenisher has been conventionally developed and introduced to the market in practice, but the concentrated composition of one-part constitution cannot sufficiently cope with the latest trend of needs in the market in the following points, and such is the state of things that concentrated processing composition of the plural part constitution is rather generally used.
As the problems of concentrated composition of one-part constitution for a color developer replenisher, in the first place, although further concentration has been required of the processing composition in recent years for the purpose of a quick print service for general users and for the reduction of discharge of a waste solution, the requirement is not sufficiently met; secondly, a phenomenon of precipitation of the components of a developing replenisher prepared from concentrated processing composition in a replenishing tank which is called creeping over, and the desensitization of a photographic material to be processed are not sufficiently solved; and thirdly, it is necessary to reduce the cost as the processing agent at least to the same with or lower than the cost of the processing agent of the plural part constitution.
With respect to the first problem, it is necessary to highly activate a color developing solution so as to shorten a developing process for a quick print service, it is necessary to reduce replenishing amount for the reduction of discharge of a waste solution, and it is necessary to supply processing chemicals necessary for development reaction by a reduced replenishing amount. At all events, further concentration of a color developer replenisher, i.e., further concentration of concentrated composition for a developer replenisher, becomes necessary.
However, compatibility of thickening and stabilization does not yet reach sufficient level in one liquid type development processing composition such that precipitation is liable to occur due to temperature fluctuation during storage when the concentration of development processing composition is increased. For example, a concentrated developing composition, of one-part constitution having carbonate concentration of from 0.5 to 2 mol/liter, a molar ratio of potassium ion to sodium ion of from 1 to 4, and pH of 12.5 or more is disclosed in JP-A-11-194462 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application"). The concentration of a developing agent can be made high by this developing composition, but higher concentration without generating precipitation is difficult, e.g., in a case where a replenishing amount is as low as 45 ml/m2 of a photographic material, or in a case of rapid development where color development processing time is 25 seconds.
Creeping over, which is the second problem, is a phenomenon that the components of a developing solution mainly comprising a developing agent and a fluorescent brightening agent creep up and generate precipitation in a developer replenisher tank, in particular over a part where a liquid is in contact with air on the tank wall, and the upper part of that part, or when a floating lid or a floating ball is used (they are used in general) for preventing oxidation of a replenisher, the upper part of such a floating lid or a floating ball. Further, desensitized development means a phenomenon that when the precipitated crystals crept over peel off, fall into a replenisher tank and are dissolved, the sensitivity of a photographic material processed with that replenisher lowers. A technique of solving these problems concerning concentrated composition of one-part constitution for a color developer replenisher has not yet found.
With respect to the third problem of the cost, e.g., concentrated developing composition of one-part constitution containing 0.06 mol/liter or more of a p-phenylenediamine color developing agent in a state of free base (not forming a salt), having pH of from 7 to 13, and containing a straight chain organic solvent having a molecular weight of from 50 to 200 having a hydroxyl group in the same amount with water or more is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,687. Although this composition is concentrated, an inexpensive salt type developing agent (e.g., sulfate) cannot be used as the color developing agent, or the removal of sulfate is necessary, so that this composition is not practicable in the point of cost.
Accordingly, processing composition for a color developer replenisher having high degree of concentration capable of answering development of further low replenishing rate and/or rapid development required in recent years, free of a creeping phenomenon in a replenisher tank, moreover, practicably low cost, does not yet reach the level of satisfying a strong demand of the market.

Color developer replenisher and concentrated composition for color photographic material


A slide having a portion thereof provided with transparent adhesive which adheres to a test sample. The slide and adhesive may be transparent. Specific types of infection and particularly fungal infections can be detected in the test sample using immunotest-methods. In a special embodiment the adhesive slide is fashioned with a peripheral lip or well to contain a test sample and a reagent.

Physicians are constantly being confronted with situations where the differential diagnosis is between a primary dermatitis such as eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, versus a fungal pathogen such as dermatophytosis or candidiasis of the skin.
Currently, the preferred method of diagnosing a fungal pathogen is a potassium hydroxide wet mount (KOH), and or a fungal culture or screen. The KOH is highly technical and experience-dependent and a fungal screen or culture takes approximately 7 to 30 days for a definitive answer. The KOH wet mount has been combined with DMSO in ranges of 10 to 20 per cent to enhance the breakdown of cell walls so that fungal hyphae can be more readily discerned via microscopic identification. There also has been the use of tissue dyes, such as india ink to highlight the hyphael structures for quicker identification. The problem with the above microscopic KOH (with and without DMSO or tissue dye) techniques is that they are dependent upon the individual expertise of the operator. In this scenario there could be a large margin of error both in the over identification of fungi-false positives, and in the under identification of fungi-false negatives. The rate of false positives and false negatives is purely a correlation of operator experience. For example, a board certified dermatologist should predictably have a high rate of specificity, over 90 per cent, due to the rigorous training and testing specifically for diseases of the skin. However, a family physician who has limited training and limited experience in skin diseases will predictably have a higher error rate in either over or under detection of the fungi. Therefore, it would be desirable to have a test kit that would eliminate operator error, and have a predictably accurate and reproducible rate of identification of pathogenic fungi, yeasts and molds. The herein disclosed invention is directed to this end.


A semiconductor memory device includes a first conductivity type well in a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate surrounded by a second conductivity type well, one of a memory cell and an external input circuit arranged on the first conductivity type well and the other disposed outside the second conductivity type well. A predetermined power supply voltage is applied to the second conductivity type well and the first conductivity type well is connected to ground. In the structure, charge carriers injected from the external input circuit are absorbed in the second conductivity type well. As a result, the charge carriers are prevented from reaching the memory cell and destroying data stored therein. Therefore, it is possible to miniaturize transistors and increase integration density of dynamic random access memory devices without degrading the source to drain dielectric strength.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to semiconductor memory devices and, more particularly, relates to semiconductor memory devices in which increased integration density is achieved by preventing destruction of data stored in memory cells due to injection of electrons.
2. Description of the Background Art
One example of a conventional semiconductor memory device will be described in the following, referring to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a structure of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) including a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), employing an n-channel MOS field-effect transistor and a p-channel MOS field-effect transistor (refer to "IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuit Vol. 24, No. 5, October 1989, p1170-p1174"). The DRAM has an n-well 2 and p-well 3 formed on a p-type semiconductor substrate 1. The n-well 2 is connected to a power supply voltage V.sub.CC that is applied to an n-type impurity region 4 therein and the p-well 3 is connected to a substrate voltage V.sub.BB that is applied to a p-type impurity region 5 therein. A p-channel MOS field-effect transistor (hereinafter referred to as "pMOSFET") 6 is formed on the surface of the n-well 2 and two n-channel MOS field-effect transistors (hereinafter referred to as "nMOSFET") 7a, 7b are formed on the surface of the p-well 3.
The pMOSFET 6 includes p-type impurity diffusion regions 8 as source and drain regions and a gate electrode 10 formed over a channel region between the p-type impurity diffusion regions 8 with a gate oxide film 9 interposed therebetween. The nMOSFETs 7a, 7b include n-type impurity diffusion regions 11a, 11b as source and drain regions and gate electrodes 13a and 13b over channel regions between the n-type impurity diffusion regions 11a and 11b and respectively with gate oxide films 12a, 12b interposed therebetween. In the general CMOS circuit structured in such a way, the source electrode S1 of the pMOSFET 6 is connected to the power supply voltage level V.sub.CC terminal and the source electrode S.sub.2 of the nMOSFET is connected to the ground terminal at the potential of a ground level V.sub.SS. The nMOSFET 7b is one memory cell among a multiplicity of memory cells and has the gate electrode 13b to be a word line (WL) and the two n-type impurity diffusion regions 11b connected to a storage node (SN) which is a charge-storage electrode and a bit line (BL) which is a read/write electrode respectively. Another cross section of the memory cell is shown in FIG. 3A and an equivalent circuit thereof is shown in FIG. 3B. A thick oxide film 14 selectively formed on the semiconductor substrate 1 provides insulation between diffusion regions.
The operation of the semiconductor memory device structured as stated above will now be described. Generally, a negative potential of the order of -3 V is, for example, supplied as a substrate potential V.sub.BB. The reason for it is as follows. When an externally applied input signal is supplied to the n-type impurity diffusion regions 11a formed in the p-well 3, the potential V.sub.BB of the p-well 3 sometimes becomes higher than the potential of the n-type impurity diffusion region 11a because of the undershoot when the signal changes from an H level to an L level and because of the negative potential being supplied as the input of the L level, where undershoot occurs in which the voltage attains a negative level for a undershoot is indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2 where an external signal is supplied to a terminal and changes, for example, from 5 V to 0 V as shown in the figure. Therefore, when V.sub.BB is 0 V, the pn junction of the n-type impurity diffusion regions 11a and the p-well 3 becomes forward biased, so that electrons are injected. The electrons are injected in the direction from the n-type impurity diffusion regions 11a to the p-well, so that the injected electrons reach the memory cell and destroy the data in the memory cell. The negative potential V.sub.BB, is supplied in order to prevent such an injection of electrons.
As miniaturization of the gate electrodes 10, 13a, and 13b is advanced in devices with a larger storage capacity, however, there occurs a problem that the dielectric strength between the source and drain of the transistor is reduced by the negative potential, i.e., the substrate potential. That is, application of a negative voltage to the p-well 3 increases the threshold voltages of the nMOSFETs 7a, 7b. When the concentration of the p-type impurities of the channel is decreased in order to control the increase in the threshold voltages, the depletion layer tends to be expanded in the channel and punch through occurs between the source and drain, so that the dielectric strength between the source and drain is decreased. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to miniaturize the transistor as far as the negative potential is supplied to the substrate potential.

Dynamic random access memory with isolated well structure


A fat-reducing agent includes a carotenoid-containing composition as an active ingredient, the carotenoid-containing composition including: a carotenoid component including at least one crystalline carotenoid, wherein at least 90% by mass of the crystalline carotenoid is in the non-crystalline state; and a (poly)glycerin fatty acid ester containing from 1 to 6 glycerin units and from 1 to 6 fatty acid units, and having at least one hydroxyl group in the glycerin units.

Since neutral fat accumulated in the body owing to lack of exercise, excessive eating, etc. increases the risk of life-style related diseases, there has recently been a desire for suppression of the accumulation of neutral fat. Further, various compositions containing carotenoid have been developed, focusing on high functionality of carotenoid. In such a circumstance, various techniques have been proposed, expecting that carotenoid exerts fat accumulation suppressing effects.
For example, Japanese Patent National-Stage Publication (JP-A) No. 2009-535303 proposes use of a lycopene compound in treatment of metabolic function disorder, and discloses that the total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in blood serum are normalized using, for example, a lactolycopene formulation.
Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2007-269631 discloses that lycopene extracted from tomato oleoresin decreases neutral fat concentrations in liver and in blood.


A metering device for liquids, especially for viscous liquids, preferably liquids which are to be metered under sterile conditions, with a plurality of metering pumps which can be simultaneously actuated. To achieve an optimized mode of operation, it is provided that the surfaces on the bottom of the pump holding plate and the top of the metering channel plate are made as adjoining sealing surfaces, forming a seal, that, in the pump holding plate, there is a bypass channel with outlet openings in the sealing surface on the bottom of the pump holding plate for each metering pump and that by the relative displacement of the pump holding plate and the metering channel plate with respect to one another, the outlet openings of the bypass channel can be moved into a position in which the bypass channel connects the respective metering channel to the respective supply channel in the metering channel plate. In this position, the respective outlet opening is also connected to the metering channel or the supply channel so that overall flushing is possible.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject matter of the invention is a metering device for liquids as is used in production shops of industry and also in the laboratory. This metering device is intended and suitable especially for viscous liquids, likewise for liquids which are difficult to meter in some other way. In particular, the metering device for liquids has one or more preferably simultaneous acting metering pumps, and is intended for liquids which are to be metered under sterile conditions.
2. Description of Related Art
The prior art discloses a metering device for liquids (U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,003). This metering device has two metering pumps which can be simultaneously actuated and which are double acting, in the form of so-called positive displacement piston pumps. Each metering pump has a double acting piston and a cylinder which holds and seals the piston with two outside connections per piston end. The connections are connected to one another and to supply and discharge lines.
With such a metering device, it is possible to meter comparatively accurately. However, it is difficult to effectively clean and flush such a metering device with metering pumps built in this manner while still keeping them in an operational state. The complexity of the overall arrangement, and especially, the guidance of a plurality of channels with many corners creates major problems. This is especially difficult when problematic, especially viscous liquids and/or liquids to be metered under sterile conditions are involved. It has been found that these metering devices do not work satisfactorily in practice.
With respect to cleaning or flushing, it is disadvantageous that a flushing liquid can only be conveyed through the system by the pumping action of the positive displacement piston pumps. The cleaning action is therefore quite limited.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a metering device for liquids, especially for problematic liquids, which is improved in its handling with respect to flushing or cleaning.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a metering device for liquids with one or more preferably simultaneously acting metering pumps being provided with a pump holding plate which supports the at least one metering pump, and a metering channel plate which is parallel to the pump holding plate and has at least one metering channel for the at least one metering pump; wherein the pump holding plate has a flat bottom surface in which the at least one outlet opening of the at least one metering pump is located; wherein the metering channel plate has a top surface which sealingly adjoins the bottom surface of the pump holding plate; wherein, at the sealing surface, a respective outlet opening is adjacent to a respective supply channel; wherein the pump holding plate and the metering channel plate are movable relative to one another; wherein the at least one outlet opening of the at least one metering pump can be selectively overlapped with at least one outlet opening of at least metering channel or at least one supply channel; wherein a respective bypass channel for the at least one metering pump is located in the pump holding plate adjacent to the corresponding outlet opening; and wherein, by the relative displacement of the pump holding plate and the metering channel plate with respect to one another, the at least one outlet opening of the respective bypass channel is movable into a position in which the respective bypass channel connects the at least one respective metering channel to the at least one respective supply channel.
Such a metering device makes it possible to simultaneously meter a plurality of the same liquid volumes into a corresponding number of receiving containers with a plurality of metering pumps which are simultaneously actuated. The metering device for this purpose has a plurality of identical metering pumps which permit simultaneous intake or delivery of a host of the same volumes of liquid. It is desirable that the metering device be cleaned and flushed during operation.
The teaching of the invention can fundamentally be implemented advantageously in a metering device with only one metering pump. In particular, the teaching of the invention can be advantageously implemented with a plurality of integrated metering pumps. In a metering device with several metering pumps, the elimination of external connecting lines between the metering pumps acquires major importance in terms of construction, handling, and cleaning.
According to the invention, the channels of a metering device, which comprises at least one metering pump, are formed in the pump holding plate and the metering channel plate which can form the desired seals at all sites of interest by adjacent sealing surfaces. The distribution of channels on the pump holding plate and the metering channel plate creates the prerequisite for implementing a flow-through system for cleaning the metering device. By means of the bypass channel, specifically with outlet openings in the sealing surface on the bottom of the pump holding plate, the outlet openings of the assigned metering channel and the supply channel can optionally be connected to one another. This enables the possibility of continuous flushing of the channels of the metering device according to the invention. The prerequisite for this is that the metering channel plate, on the top, in fact, has a flat sealing surface which adjoins the bottom of the pump holding plate to form a seal. The continuous flushing of the channels is much more effective in terms of cleaning technology than flushing in the cycle of individual pump strokes, as occurs in the prior art. Moreover, it is interesting that the metering device according to the invention makes it possible to allow the metering pump to work in the flushing position, therefore to effect a flushing flow in the course of pump function.
Structurally, the metering device according to the invention is extremely feasible due to its simple channel routing without bends.
Also, an embodiment of the metering device which acquires special importance is one where, in the position where the bypass channel connects the assigned metering channel to the assigned supply channel, the assigned outlet opening is likewise connected to the metering channel or to the supply channel. In this way, backflushing of the sealing surfaces occurs. This backflushing is of major interest for a plurality of problematic applications, especially for liquids to be metered under sterile conditions.
The invention is explained below using drawings which show embodiments by way of example only.

Metering device for viscous liquids with a plurality of selectively engaged metering pumps, metering channels, supply channels, and bypass channels for flush cleaning


A variable angle connector for engaging a bone fastener to a spinal rod includes a body defining a channel for receiving the spinal rod and a set screw arrangement for clamping the rod within the channel. The body defines an engagement face configured for interdigitating engagement with the head of the bone fastener. The fastener is mounted on a post projecting from the engagement face of the body, with means for engaging the fastener to the post. The body of the connector includes a deformable portion at one portion of the engagement face that deforms when the set screw is tightened to clamp the rod within the rod channel. As the connector body deforms, the portion of the engagement face is brought into engagement with the head of the bone fastener.

The present invention relates generally to the field of spinal implant systems, and particularly to systems that employ elongated spinal implants, such as rod and plates, connected at various locations along the spinal column. More particularly, the invention concerns a connection assembly that provides variable angle adjustability to the elongated spinal implant relative to a bone fastener engaged to the spine, independent of the adjustment of the bone fastener along the length of the elongated spinal implant.
Several spinal fixation systems have been developed for use in correcting and stabilizing sections of the spinal column and facilitating spinal fusion. In one such system, a bendable elongated spinal implant, such as a rod, is longitudinally disposed adjacent the vertebral column and then secured to various vertebrae along the length of the column by way of a number of bone fasteners of fixation elements. A variety of bone fasteners can be utilized, such as hooks or bone screws, which are configured to engage specific portions of a vertebra.
An example of one such system is the TSRH® Spinal System of Sofamor Danek Group, Inc. In this system, various hooks and bone screws are engaged to a spinal rod by way of eyebolts. In early versions of the TSRH® Spinal System, the vertebral hooks and bone screws were attached to the spinal rod at a fixed orientation, usually projecting perpendicularly below the rod. At the time, the TSRF® Spinal System presented a significant advance over prior systems in its VERSATILITY, strength of fixation, and ease of implantation.
However, one drawback faced by the original TSRH® Spinal System, as well as the other prevalent fixation systems, was that the surgeon was required to make significant adjustments to the contour of the bendable rod so that the bone fasteners could solidly engage the vertebra bodies. What was needed, then, was a bone fastener that could be connected to the spine at a variable angle. In order to address this need, the TSRH® Variable Angle Screw was developed, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,909. As shown in FIG. 1, this Variable Angle System 10 utilized the same TSRH® eyebolt 12 to achieve a connection between a bone fastener or screw 14 and a spinal rod R. In addition, the Variable Angle System 10 incorporated a washer 16 that fit over the eyebolt 12, engaged the spinal rod R within a groove in one surface of the washer, and provided a radially splined surface 18 facing the bone fastener 14. The bone fastener 14 had a complementary splined surface 20 so that the fastener could be situated at variable angular orientations relative to the spinal rod. A nut 22 threaded onto the post 24 of the eyebolt 12 clamped all the components together to complete the assembly.
The Variable Angle Screw system of the '909 patent presented a significant advance over prior rod-based implant systems. The system of the '909 patent was relatively compact and required a minimal number of parts, yet was able to accomplish a solid fixation of the bone fasteners to the rod at a wide range of angular orientations. One drawback of the system was that the eyebolt-nut combination tightened both the connection along the length of the spinal rod and the angular orientation of the bone fastener together at the same time.
A top-tightening assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,801 describes a clamp assembly 30, as depicted in FIG. 2, that replaced the eyebolt and nut with a clamp body 32 having a T-bar 34 against which the head of a variable angle bone fastener was clamped. In addition, while the original TSRH® System relied upon tightening a nut against the variable angle bone screw, the top-tightening approach of the '801 patent utilized a set screw 36 that acted against the spinal rod R disposed within channel 40 to push the spinal rod into the interlocking washer 38, and ultimately against a complementary splined face of the variable angle screw. With this system, the variable angle capability was retained, while a top-tightening feature was added. However, both the '909 and '801 patents describe assemblies that tighten and fix both the connection along the length of the spinal rod and the angular orientation of the bone fastener together at the same time.
With the addition of the top-tightening capability, the more recent TSRH® Spinal System has provided surgeons with a great deal of flexibility in the placement and orientation of bone fasteners, such as hooks and screws, relative to a spinal rod. The variable angle components greatly reduce the need to manipulate and bend the spinal rod to conform to the patient's anatomy. Even with the great improvements presented by the TSRH® Spinal System, certain surgical situations require the connection between the bone fastener and the spinal rod to be carried out in stages—i.e., locking the angular orientation of the bone fastener first, then fixing the connection along the length of the spinal rod, or vice versa.
One approach of achieving independent locking of the location of the bone fastener both along the length of the spinal rod and the locking of the fastener's angular orientation was a spinal implant device known as the Synthes Fixature Intern. This assembly, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,029, includes a threaded spinal rod over which a connector is placed between two nuts. On the connector there is a face spline clamp assembly for a Schantz-type screw. This device does not adequately serve the needs of spinal surgeons since the rods cannot be bent and still allow the nuts to be manipulated and it is difficult to place more than two bone fasteners on each rod, due to their size. There remains a need for a connector assembly that can accommodate various bone fasteners, while permitting locking the position along the spinal rod and the angular orientation of the bone fastener independently of each other, while addressing the drawbacks of the prior systems.

Variable angle spinal implant connection assembly


The invention provides compositions and methods for modulating immune responses in subjects. The invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery that an in-frame translation fusion of an antigen with an APC binding domain of an opsonin forms a molecule, that is, a fusion polypeptide, which when administered to a subject modulates an immune response to the antigen.

The innate immune system comprises those mechanisms that have evolved over millennia to provide first line defense against foreign antigens and an antigen recognition repertoire which does not diversify during the ontogeny of the individual. This is in contrast with the acquired immune system which provides later phase defense mechanisms and depends on a repertoire of antigen-specific molecules, e.g., immunoglobulins and T cell receptors that diversify over the ontogeny of the individual. Innate immune mechanisms can contribute to initiation of an antigen-specific response by the acquired immune system, for example by faciltating uptake of antigen by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which can thereafter stimulate cognate T cells.
Opsonins of the innate immune system ("innate opsonins") are known in the art as secreted polypeptide molecules of the innate immune system and can remain bound to an antigen and to the surface of an APC at the same time. They can thus act as "bridges", and are thought, by virtue of this property, to promote internalization of antigens by APCs. The mode in which opsonins bind to antigens varies among opsonins, and can be covalent or noncovalent. In general, the antigen-binding moieties of innate opsonins differ from the antigen-binding moieties of immunoglobulins in that the former are relatively invariant among members of the same species, and do not undergo diversification during the ontogeny of an individual.
There have been a number of attempts to increase uptake of antigens by APCs by coupling an antigen via a non-peptide linkage to another molecule that can bind to the surface of an APC. Targeting moieties have included, for example, C3b (Jacquier-Sarlin et al., Immunol 84:164-70; Arvieux et al., Immunol 65:229-35), alpha-2 macroglobulin (Chu et al, J Immunol 152:1538-45; Chu and Pizzo, J. Immunol 150:48-58), and molecules comprising idiotypes specific for immunoglobulin Fc receptors (Squire et al., J Immunol 152:4388-96; Gosselin et al., J Immunol 149:3477-81; Snider and Segal, J Immunol 143:59-65) or class II MHC molecules (Estrada et al., Vaccine 13:901-7; Berg et al., Eur J Immunol 24:1262-8; Carayanniotis and Barber, Nature 327:59-61).
Another approach to improving uptake of antigen by APCs has been to construct chimeric polypeptides comprising an antigen and an idiotypic portion of an antibody, in which the latter is specific for class II MHC molecules (Baier et al., J Virol 69:2357-65) or an immunoglobulin Fc receptor (Liu et al., JCI 98:2001-7).
Dempsey et al. (Science 271:348-50) constructed fusion proteins between C3d and an antigen, the fusion proteins being capable of binding to CR2-bearing cells such as B cells, reasoning that the B cell costimulation provided by C3d would increase the humoral immune response to the antigen. Marked increases in antibody response were in fact observed, which were abrogated by in vivo antibody blockade of CR2.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Vaccine compositions and methods of modulating immune responses