An AFPC loop for TV horizontal oscillator suitable for use with sync signals subject to timing instability includes means for maintaining a long response time during the equalizing and vertical sync intervals to reduce drift, and shortens the loop response time after the second equalizing pulse interval for maximum correction.

This invention relates to a television horizontal automatic frequency and phase control (AFPC) loop in which the loop gain is periodically increased during the vertical deflection cycle in order to compensate for errors occurring just before or during the vertical blanking interval.
Television displays are generated by repetitively scanning an electron beam over the surface of a picture tube viewing screen to form a lighted raster area. The picture tube electron beam intensity is modulated by video signals to form images on the screen representative of the picture to be displayed. Conventional television provides a high-speed horizontal scanning in conjunction with a relatively low-speed vertical scanning. The scanning in the vertical and horizontal directions is synchronized with synchronizing (sync) signals included in a composite video signal with the video signal to be displayed. The sync signals are extracted from the composite video, and the sync signals thus extracted are used to synchronize the vertical and horizontal-direction scanning apparatus.
A sync separator for separating the horizontal synchronizing signal from the composite video includes a differentiating circuit and a threshold circuit. The differentiating circuit selectively couples signals at and above the horizontal synchronizing frequency to the threshold circuit. The threshold circuit responds to the high-frequency higher-amplitude sync signal portions of the composite video to produce a sequence of sync pulses.
The vertical synchronizing signals contained in the composite video signal are high-amplitude pulses having low-frequency components. The vertical sync signal proper has a duration of three horizontal lines. In order to maintain the flow of horizontal sync information during the vertical synchronizing interval, the vertical synchronizing pulse includes serrations by which the horizontal oscillator may be synchronized. In the NTSC television system, vertical scanning of an image is accomplished during two successive field intervals, the horizontal scanning lines of which are interlaced. Interlacing requires that the horizontal oscillator frequency be maintained in an exact relationship with the vertical frequency. In order to help the vertical sync separator maintain exact timing in extracting the vertical sync pulses, equalizing pulses are provided in the composite video during a period of three horizontal lines preceding and following the vertical synchronizing intervals. The equalizing pulses recur at twice the rate of the horizontal sync pulses. The serrations during the vertical synchronizing pulse interval also recur at twice the rate of the horizontal sync pulses.
In television systems in which the composite video signals are modulated onto a carrier and broadcast, many of the television receivers are in areas far from the transmitting station, where a weak signal can be expected. Due to the presence of unavoidable thermal noise, and also due to various forms of interference signals which may occur in the vicinity of the receiver, it may be expected that the composite video as received and the synchronizing signals derived therefrom will be intermingled with electrical noise. This electrical noise is manifested as random variation of the desired signal amplitude, and can severely perturb the operation of the display device. Commonly, noise synchronization causes vertical and horizontal jitter, or in more extreme forms "rolling" or "tearing" of the image displayed on the raster. As transmitted, the synchronizing signal pulses recur at a rate which is carefully controlled and extremely stable. Since the presence of noise obscures the synchronizing signals in a random manner, it has become common practice to obtain synchronization of the horizontal deflection circuit with the horizontal synchronizing pulse signal by the use of an oscillator, the free-running frequency of which is near the horizontal scanning frequency, and the exact frequency and phase of which is controlled in an indirect manner by a phase-lock loop (PLL) to equal the synchronizing signal frequency and phase. Thus, when any one synchronizing pulse is obscured by noise, the rate of the oscillator remains substantially unchanged, and the deflection circuits continue to receive regular deflection control pulses. Random variations in the apparent arrival time of the sync signals are averaged by the PLL loop filter, so the deflection control pulses remain in close synchronism with the video signals.
Since the PLL is a feedback system, there is an undesirable residual phase error between the oscillator signal and the synchronizing signal. High loop gain is desirable in order to minimize error, but due to imperfections in the loop components, the loop then becomes more responsive to perturbing noise. This can be offset by reducing the closed-loop bandwidth of the PLL, which may undesirably reduce transient response time. Thus, a compromise between loop gain and bandwidth is often necessary.
With the advent of integrated circuits for low-power signal processing in television devices, it has become convenient in a PLL to compare the horizontal synchronizing signals from the sync separator with a square wave as produced by the controlled horizontal oscillator rather than with a sawtooth signal. During the synchronizing pulse interval, the PLL phase detector gates a first current source which charges a storage capacitor in a first polarity when the oscillator square wave output is high, and which turns off the first current source and turns on a second current source poled to discharge the capacitor when the oscillator output is low. Thus, when the transition time of the square-wave oscillator output is centered on the synchronizing pulse, the charging and discharging currents are equal and the net capacitor voltage does not change. This maintains the oscillator frequency constant.
With the described type of phase detector, the phase detector gain and therefore the loop gain of the PLL may decrease during the equalizing and synchronizing pulse intervals. Such a decrease in gain of the PLL may be disadvantageous when rapid slewing of the horizontal oscillator frequency or phase is required during the vertical blanking interval. This may be the case, for example, when the television receiver is to be used to display information which has been recorded on a home-type video tape recorder. Such tape recorders often have a plurality of reproduction heads, each of which is mechanically scanned across the tape. In one common scheme, two heads are used, which alternately scan the tape for a duration equal to that of a vertical field. In order to avoid loss of, or breaks in the displayed information, scanning of the succeeding field is commenced by the second head substantially concurrently with the end of scanning in the first head. However, slight differences in tape tension or in the dimensions of the mechanical tape transport acting on the tape for playback compared with the tension and dimensions when the tape was recorded results in differences in the time between succeeding horizontal synchronizing pulses in the information as recorded as compared with playback, especially during the switchover between heads. This results in a discontinuity or step change in the phase of the horizontal synchronizing pulses available for synchronizing the horizontal oscillator, which step normally occurs about five horizontal lines before the end of a vertical scanning interval and the beginning of the vertical blanking interval. A high oscillator slew rate during the vertical blanking interval is necessary to conform the horizontal oscillator phase to the synchronizing signal phase after the step change, and this conformance must be complete before scanning begins for the next succeeding field.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,846,584 issued Nov. 5, 1974 to Itoh to disconnect the loop filter from the PLL for an interval immediately following the appearance of the vertical sync signal, but a decrease in PLL gain during the equalizing and vertical synchronizing pulse intervals as may be occasioned by the presence of equalizing pulses or serrations may prevent rapid slewing of the horizontal oscillator and therefore prevent accommodation of such a step change. This may result at the top of the raster in an apparent bending or tearing of vertical lines in the displayed image. Even when the synchronizing signals associated with the video to be displayed do not have a step change in phase, the decrease in PLL gain during the equalizing and vertical synchronizing pulse intervals may be disadvantageous. This may occur, for example, in those cases in which the first and second gated current sources in the described type of phase detector have unequal amplitudes. Unequal charge and discharge currents results in a progressive change in the horizontal oscillator control signal and may result in driving the oscillator off-frequency during the equalizing and vertical synchronizing intervals in which the PLL gain is low. If the loop gain is increased during this interval as suggested by Itoh, the oscillator may drift off-frequency very quickly, and there may then be insufficient time remaining before the beginning of the next following scanning interval for correction, resulting in an apparent bending or tearing of vertical lines in the displayed image.

Television horizontal AFPC with phase detector driven at twice the horizontal frequency


Currently, there are no products available which allow a user to treat microbial and bacterial growth inside a HVAC condensate drain line or clear a clogged line without cutting into the drain line. Our valve is an in-line condensate drain line valve that can be installed easily, quickly and economically, either during new construction or onto existing HVAC systems. The HVAC user can add household bleach to the condensate line, which inhibits microbial and bacterial growth without cutting into or disassembling the drain line. The design of our valve allows the user to perform safe routine maintenance to the HVAC drainage system without having to resort to expensive and repetitive service call repairs over the lifetime of the HVAC system. The valve is further designed to prevent undesirable reverse airflows into the HVAC system and home or building, caused by a dry water trap in the condensate drain. The prevention of reverse airflows and reduction of microbial and bacterial growth will have a positive impact of Indoor Air Quality.

The field of endeavor to which our invention pertains is Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC condensate drain lines) for the home, office, and apartment or wherever a heating and cooling air-handling unit may be installed.
Current technology addressing HVAC problems our invention solves is as follows:
1. To disinfect a HVAC condensate drain line, chlorine tablets or other disinfectants are added to the HVAC drain pan by removing the front cover of the HVAC unit and placing the disinfectant into the drain pan. This is very cumbersome and has not been widely accepted by consumers and usually results in discontinued use after a short period of time.
2. When a blockage occurs in a condensate drain line, a HVAC repairman must be called to cut into the line to remove the blockage, which normally results in a costly repair bill to the HVAC user. Another method of cleaning the drain line involves using a water hose to force water into the drain line from the outlet end and many times results in spillage of water, bacteria and microbial matter into the HVAC unit and interior of the building or dwelling, all of which have a negative impact on Indoor Air Quality.
3. There are no known products available that prevents negative airflows into the HVAC unit caused by what is known as the xe2x80x9cdry trap syndromexe2x80x9d. Our valve design prevents this from occurring and polluted air flowing through a dry condensate drain line from entering into the HVAC unit and the building or home.
One of the most common problems that a user of a Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system faces, is that of clogged condensate drain lines and overflowing drain pans which cause untold damage annually. Typically, when this occurs, the owner or user of the HVAC system must call a repairman to cut the drain line, remove the blockage and clear the line for normal use. This usually occurs numerous times during the life of the HVAC system and results in a costly expense for the consumer for the service call and repair, inconvenience, damage to carpet and building or dwelling interior and a danger to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
Current HVAC system installations do not include a method whereby the condensate drain line can be treated to remove microbial and bacterial growth without considerable expense to the consumer.
The instant invention allows for easy access whereby one can easily treat the condensate drain line with inexpensive household bleach to minimize the potential for microbial and bacterial growth while favorably affecting IAQ. If the drain line does become blocked, the line can be cleared by the introduction of compressed air to clear the blockage without the necessity of cutting into the drain line. Additionally, problems associated with a xe2x80x9cdry condensate trapxe2x80x9d will be eliminated by the prevention of reverse airflows through the drain line. xe2x80x9cDry condensate trapxe2x80x9d problems occur during times in which the HVAC unit is sparingly used and the water trap evaporates, thus leaving the drain line open and becomes a source of air intake for the HVAC system and has a detrimental effect on health and IAQ. (See FIGS. 13, 14, and 15)
The primary value of our product to consumers and HVAC system owners is as follows:
1: Economic: Installation can be made during the initial installation of the HVAC unit or a retrofit can be made by the user or owner at anytime and inexpensively. Treatment of the drain line can by made by the consumer cheaply, safely and easily and will eliminate or reduce expensive HVAC service calls. Additionally, the user can open a clogged line using compressed air and without cutting into the drain line.
2: Environmentally safe: Common household bleach can be used to treat a drain line and eliminate most of the microbial and bacterial growth that usually occur in the line without being a detriment to the environment.
3. Indoor Air Quality: By reducing microbial and bacterial growth and reducing drain pan spillages onto carpeting and interior of homes and buildings, there will be an improvement to Indoor Air Quality. Reverse airflows will be eliminated in systems operating with a xe2x80x9cdry condensate trapxe2x80x9d which will further enhance IAQ.
4. Ease of use and installation: Installation of our valve is easy to perform and can be made in a few minutes with no special tools needed. Once installed, access to the valve unit is easy and the routine treatment procedure of adding bleach to the drain line takes very little time to perform by removing the screw cap, adding a few drops of bleach into the drain line and replacing the cap cover. If a blockage does occur, compressed air can be introduced into the drain line by removing the screw cap on the air injection orifice and placing an air supply hose fitting onto the air inlet. The design of our valve permits the compressed air flow to be directed to the blockage and prevents it from entering into the HVAC unit.


Alkoxide magnesium halide compounds having the formula:RO—Mg—X  (1)wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group that is unsubstituted, or alternatively, substituted with one or more heteroatom linkers and/or one or more heteroatom-containing groups comprising at least one heteroatom selected from fluorine, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and silicon; and X is a halide atom. Also described are electrolyte compositions containing a compound of Formula (1) in a suitable polar aprotic or ionic solvent, as well as magnesium batteries in which such electrolytes are incorporated.

Rechargeable batteries are essential components for consumer electronics, electric vehicle, and large grid energy storage. The state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries have high energy density and power density; however, their limitations lie in the high cost, low natural abundance of lithium, and safety issues related to dendrite formation. Efforts continue in the search for alternative electrode and electrolyte materials that are environmentally benign and of lower cost.
Magnesium is one of the most abundant elements on earth, and is an attractive electrode material with a high theoretical specific capacity of 2205 Ah/kg and a high theoretical energy density of 3800 mAh/g. Because of its two valence charges, Mg has a specific volumetric capacity of 3833 mAh/cc, higher than that of the lithium metal (2046 mAg/cc). Compared with lithium, magnesium metal is cheap and naturally abundant.
However, although rechargeable magnesium batteries have been studied for more than a decade, they are still facing several obstacles. First, the reactivity of magnesium toward electrolytes results in passivation of the magnesium surface. Unlike lithium ions, which can move through a solid electrolyte interface containing inorganic lithium salts (e.g., lithium carbonate and lithium fluoride), magnesium ions cannot pass such passivated films. Second, there is a need for safer and more efficient magnesium electrolytes.
Ether solutions of Grignard reagents allow reversible magnesium deposition/dissolution with a high coulombic efficiency. However, they have fairly low anodic stability with an electrochemical window less than 1.8 V (L. P. Lossius, et al., Electrochim. Acta, 41 (1996) 445-447). Typical Grignard reagents include those denoted by the formula RMgCl (where R=methyl, ethyl, butyl). By introducing a Lewis acid such as AlCl3 or AlCl2Et to complex with the Grignard reagent, the electrochemical window of the resulting magnesium-Al electrolyte can be substantially increased. The current state-of-the-art intercalation electrode is Mo6S8, which is conventionally used in a THF solution of a Grignard reagent, Mg(AlCl2EtBu)2, to construct a rechargeable magnesium battery. The optimized Mg(AlCl2EtBu)2 electrolyte has an improved electrochemical stability up to 2.4 V vs Mg/Mg2+ (D. Aurbach, et al., Nature, 407 (2000) 724-727). However, despite the 100% efficiency of deposition/dissolution toward the magnesium electrode, the Mg(AlCl2EtBu)2 electrolyte is highly flammable and has a relatively low solubility in THF solution. The large molecular weight of Mg(AlCl2EtBu)2 also makes it less attractive as an electrolyte.

Alkoxide-based magnesium electrolyte compositions for magnesium batteries


Methods, mobile electronic devices, and computer program products are provided for accepting abbreviated handwritten entry of phrases, sentences or paragraphs, and supplemental information (“hints”), and probabilistically determining the most likely translation of the abbreviated handwriting to a full text counterpart, and displaying same. Abbreviated handwriting is accepted and parsed according to a predefined reduction pattern to produce multi-character handwritten segments and corresponding segment hints. The multi-character handwritten segments and corresponding segment hints are evaluated using n-gram knowledge and/or language models to identify the most likely words corresponding to the multi-character handwritten segments. The most likely words are used to evaluate the abbreviated handwritten entry at the phrase level by evaluating the likelihood of transition from one word to the next amongst the most likely words, to compute phrase probabilities for various combinations of the most likely words. The most likely phrase(s) are output based in part on the phrase probabilities.

Predictive auto-complete text entry is a function implemented in some text handling tools to automatically complete the text of a word after only a limited amount of text entry, as little as 1 to 3 keystrokes in some cases. Predictive auto-complete text entry tools save the user time by having the user enter fewer keystrokes in order to enter a full word. Such tools are particularly valuable on mobile devices that are used to send text messages (e.g., Short Message Service (SMS) messages, etc.), electronic mail, or other text intensive applications, particularly considering the relatively small keyboard featured on mobile devices. Predictive auto-complete text entry may also be referred to as "word completion." Predictive auto-complete text entry improves efficiency of text entry (i.e. improves speed and reduces errors) by reducing the number of characters that must be entered.
Manual handwritten text entry on a digital surface is another method for inputting text to applications. Handwritten text entry is the process of accepting digitized writing made by the user (typically with a stylus or finger on a touch sensitive screen) and performing handwriting recognition on the digitized writing (sometimes called "digital ink") to determine the text characters that were input. Handwritten text entry may be desired under certain circumstances. For example, rather than "hunt and peck" on the small keyboard of a mobile device, a user may find it easier to write on a touch screen with a stylus, using a greater area of the touch screen to do so. Likewise, some users may have aesthetic or nostalgic attachments to handwriting versus typing. Handwritten text entry can, however, be a tiring and error prone process. Even people who prefer to write by hand may not do so with regularity, while others may not have engaged in significant handwriting in a long time.

Abbreviated handwritten entry translation


A hydraulic fluid power steering system includes an accumulator which stores a reserve of pressure fluid at pump standby pressure. The charging and discharging of the accumulator is controlled by an emergency steering valve which is operable in response to a predetermined minimum fluid pressure outputted by the steering pump to discharge the stored fluid for emergency steering. The emergency steering valve also has components which serve as a pressure switch which is actuated to complete a circuit through an indicator light whenever the emergency steering valve moves to effect the discharge of the accumulator.

The present invention relates to hydraulic fluid power steering systems and more particularly relates to such systems having an accumulator for supplying fluid in the event that the vehicle engine or primary fluid pressure source fails.
Industrial vehicles such as skidders, loaders and scrapers, or the like, are provided with hydraulic fluid power steering systems which make it possible for these large vehicles to be maneuvered with relative ease during normal operation. However, these vehicles become very difficult to maneuver once steering fluid pressure is lost. In order to diminish the safety hazard occasioned by the loss of power steering, it is a common practice, often required by law, for manufacturers to provide steering systems having some means for providing a reserve of steering fluid sufficient for an operator to maintain steering control at least until the vehicle is brought to a safe stop.
Heretofore, the most common way for providing a reserve of steering fluid for emergency steering has been to incorporate an accumulator into the main steering system. These accumulators have largely been of the bladder type and have usually been incorporated in such a way that their bladders expand and contract (cycle) during normal steering system operation in response to system pressure fluctuations. Such constant cycling significantly diminishes the useful life of the accumulators.
Also, it is a common practice to provide these systems with a pressure responsive indicator for apprising an operator of the fact that the steering fluid pressure supply pump is no longer providing adequate steering fluid pressure and that he should therefore take steps to bring the vehicle to a safe stop before the limited supply of emergency steering fluid is exhausted. Because the pressure of the fluid normally maintained in the accumulator is the standby pressure of the pressure supply pump and the pressure responsive indicator is set to respond at a value less than the lower limit of the expected system pressure fluctuations, the fluid pressure contained in the accumulator will be reduced from standby pressure to the indicator actuation pressure before the operator is aware that he is drawing on the reserve of fluid contained in the accumulator. Therefore, this amount of fluid is not available to the operator for use in bringing the vehicle to a safe stop and accordingly necessitates larger accumulators to be used than would be the case if their total reserve of fluid were available at the time the operator became aware that he had a loss of primary power steering fluid pressure.
One prior art steering system which appears to overcome the aforementioned problems attendant with the usual way of incorporating accumulators into steering systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,952 issued to Crabb on May 13, 1975. Specifically, the Crabb patent discloses an open center steering system incorporating an accumulator such that charging the accumulator with fluid and discharging fluid from the accumulator is controlled by an emergency steering valve such that the full charge of the accumulator is available for emergency steering. The emergency steering valve is "armed" automatically in response to a reduction in system pressure but is required to be shifted by means of a steering linkage in order to effect discharge of fluid from the accumulator for use in emergency steering operation.

Steering including accumulator for supplying emergency reserve of fluid


A bicycle fork is used with a bicycle having a conventional head tube. The fork has a steering column that is supported in the head tube and carries a forwardly-connecting stem on which the handle bars are mounted. At the bottom end of the steering column is a control arm pivotally connected to the steering column and extending forwardly to be connected pivotally to the fork crown. The fork crown is connected to the stem at the top of the steering column by a spring-damping shock-absorbing strut, pinned at the top to the stem. The system may be used on a standard bicycle without altering the head tube or the bicycle geometry to provide a shock-absorbing action at the front of the bicycle. By arranging the control arm at an appropriate angle to the strut, an anti-diving action is incorporated into the fork.

Various shock-absorbing fork systems for bicycles have been proposed. These are often complex and expensive arrangements. In some cases, they raise the head tube of the bicycle to accommodate the additional components, thus altering the riding geometry of the bicycle. Some proposals also introduce an undesirable "diving" of the frame when the front brakes are applied.
The present invention proposes a novel front fork for a bicycle which mitigates the problems with the prior art.


Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a device (1) comprising a plurality of micro-machined ultrasonic transducer cells (100) in a first region (10) on a substrate (30) and a plurality of interconnects (200) in a second region (20) on said substrate, each of said cells comprising a first electrode (110) separated by a cavity (130) from a second electrode (120) supported by a membrane (140), the method comprising forming a dielectric layer stack (11, 13, 15, 17) over the substrate, said dielectric layer stack defining the respective membranes of the micro-machined ultrasonic transducers in the first region; reducing the thickness of the dielectric layer stack in the second region by partially etching away the dielectric layer stack in the second region; etching a plurality of trenches (22) in the reduced thickness portion of the dielectric layer stack, each of said trenches exposing a conductive contact (210) in the second region; and filling said trenches with a conductive material. A device manufactured in accordance with this method and an apparatus including the device are also disclosed.

Capacitive micro-machined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) devices are rapidly gaining popularity as the sensors in a range of sensing apparatuses such as imaging apparatuses. This is because CMUT devices can offer excellent bandwidth and acoustic impedance characteristics, which makes them the preferable over e.g. piezoelectric transducers.
Vibration of the CMUT membrane can be triggered by applying pressure (for example using ultrasound) or can be induced electrically. Electrical connection to the CMUT device, often by means of an integrated circuit (IC) such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) facilitates both transmission and reception modes of the device. In reception mode, changes in the membrane position cause changes in electrical capacitance, which can be registered electronically. In transmission mode, applying an electrical signal causes vibration of the membrane.
CMUT devices generally operate with a biasing voltage applied. The CMUT can be operated in so called collapsed mode where the biasing voltage applied is increased above the collapse voltage to restrict the membrane and confine part of it against the substrate. The frequency of operation of the CMUT device is characterised by the material and physical properties of the membrane, such as the stiffness, and the size of the cavity. The bias voltage and application of the CMUT device also influence the operation mode. A CMUT device is often used in apparatuses for ultrasound imaging applications and in other applications where the CMUT device is used to detect fluid or air pressures. A pressure causes a deflection of the membrane that is electronically sensed as a change of capacitance. A pressure reading can then be derived.
FIG. 1 schematically depicts a top view and FIG. 2 schematically depicts a cross-section along the line A-A′ in FIG. 1 of a conventional CMUT device 1. The CMUT device comprises a plurality of CMUT cells 100 in a CMUT region 10 of the device 1 and a plurality of interconnects 200, which plurality may include routing lines 205, in an interconnect region 20 of the device 1. The boundary between the CMUT region 10 and the interconnect region 20 is indicated by the vertical dashed lines in FIG. 2. The interconnects 200 typically provide an interconnection to a conductive contact 210 such as a bond pad inside the CMUT device 1. Such conductive contacts may provide a connection to the outside world or may be used to facilitate interconnections between different elements of the CMUT device 1, e.g. between different CMUT cells 100, between a CMUT cell 100 and a signal processing element, and so on.
Each CMUT cell 100 typically comprises a first electrode 110 separated from a second electrode 120 by a cavity 130. The second electrode 120 is typically embedded in a membrane 140 made of one or more electrically insulating or dielectric layers. In some designs, the second electrode 120 is embedded in the membrane 140, i.e. sandwiched in between a relatively thin dielectric layer portion 142 and a relatively thick dielectric layer portion 144 from the cavity 130 to prevent a short circuit between the first electrode 110 and the second electrode 120 upon deformation of the membrane 140 including the second electrode 120 towards the first electrode 110.
Conventional CMUT designs have membrane 140 layer thicknesses in the order of 1-2 micron, which can be processed with common fabrication methods such as plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). However, where the CMUT cells 100 are required to operate at a low frequency, the membrane diameter D may need to be in excess of 100 micron, which can result in the thickness of the membrane 140 becoming larger than 3 micron. Consequently, the overall thickness of the dielectric layer stack in the interconnect region 20 on top of the conductive contacts 210, e.g. bond pads, may exceed 6 micron. This overall thickness may further increase, for instance when the substrate 30 on which the CMUT cells 100 comprises planarization and/or encapsulation layers, with the conductive contacts 210, e.g. bond pads, being formed underneath these additional layers, e.g. in the top metallization layer of a metallization stack. Such additional layers can add another 2-3 micron to the overall thickness of the dielectric layer stack.
In order to make an electrical connection to the CMUT and ASIC electrodes, the conductive contacts 210 are provided in the interconnect region 20 of the CMUT device 1, which region for instance may be located at the perimeter of the die. The conductive contacts 210 are typically made of a conductive material, for instance a metal such as aluminium, and are initially covered by the electrically insulating layers of the dielectric layer stack. To allow electrical connection to the conductive contacts 210, the conductive contacts 210 are typically etched open in one of the final phases of CMUT fabrication to form trenches 22, which trenches 22 are subsequently lined or filled with a metal interconnect 200.
However, the opening of the conductive contacts 210 in the interconnect region 20 of the CMUT devices 1 can become challenging if the overall thickness of the dielectric layer stack covering the conductive contacts 210 becomes too large, i.e. more than 2 micron. This typically requires an increase in the required etching time in order to etch through such thick dielectric layers. However, the maximum allowable etching time may be limited by selectivity and resist consumption issues. These conflicting requirements may make it impossible to fabricate CMUT devices 1 with thick membrane layers 140 in a conventional way.
A further challenge is that metallization of the conductive contacts 210 with thick metal interconnects 200 may become a challenge if the aspect ratio, i.e. the height H over the width W of the metal interconnects 200, becomes unfavourable. This is especially important if the metal interconnects 200 are used for I/O routing, as such routing needs to carry high currents, and therefore needs to be implemented with a relatively thick metal interconnect 200 to reduce resistivity. For such I/O routing, conductive contacts 210 and the metal interconnects 200 require a low-resistive electrical connection between each other. This therefore requires the trenches in which the metal interconnects are to be formed to be effectively lined or filled with the metal. However, such an effective lining or filling can be challenging for trenches having steep and deep sidewalls, i.e. having high aspect ratios.
Consequently, the manufacturing of CMUT devices that meet design specifications is a non-trivial exercise. In order to obtain cost-effective devices, it is for instance desirable to manufacture the CMUT devices in existing manufacturing technologies. CMOS is a non-limiting example of such a technology. U.S. Pat. No. 8,309,428 B2 for instance discloses a CMOS manufacturing method of such a device.
However, it proves to be difficult to obtain high yields of acceptable CMUT devices from wafers manufactured in such technologies, in particular when the individual CMUT cells have a relatively large diameter, such as diameters in excess of 100 microns, which for instance is required when the CMUT device is to be operated in a low-frequency mode.


A lighting device has a light-bar mount and multiple light bars. The light-bar mount is integrally formed from a board. The light bars are mounted on the light-bar mount and each light bar has a heat sink, a circuit board and multiple high-power LED modules. The heat sink is detachably mounted in the light-bar mount. The circuit board is mounted in the heat sink. The high-power LED modules are mounted on the heat sink and electrically connected to the circuit board for providing outward illumination.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting device, especially to a lighting device having multiple LED light bars.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, lighting devices generally use incandescent bulbs or high-power LEDs as light sources. Conventional incandescent bulbs are gradually being replaced in many applications by LED light source because incandescent bulbs have disadvantages of high power consumption, low luminous efficiency, and being renewed frequently due to a short life span. Compared with the conventional incandescent bulbs, LEDs offer advantages of high efficiency, low power consumption and a relatively long lifetime.
With reference to FIG. 11, a conventional LED lighting device applied as a streetlight may have a heat-dissipating base (42), an aluminum circuit board (41), multiple high-power LED modules (40) and a cover (43). The heat-dissipating base (42) has multiple fins. The aluminum circuit board (41) is attached to a plane surface of the heat-dissipating base (42). The high-power LED modules (40) are electrically mounted on the aluminum circuit board (41) by soldering. The cover (43) is mounted on the heat-dissipating base (42) and covers the high-power LED modules (40). When applying to be a streetlight, the conventional LED lighting device is adapted to be mounted on a top end of a streetlight post to provide illumination on a street at night. When the conventional LED lighting device is turned on, the high-power LED modules (40) generate heat and the heat will be conducted to the heat-dissipating base (42) for dissipation.
Although the foregoing conventional LED lighting device can provide illumination to streets, the LED lighting device still has some shortcomings:
1. Not easy to repair: since the high-power LED modules are soldered on the aluminum circuit board, when one of the high-power LED modules fails, a normal person cannot only change the broken one with simple tool such as a solder, but need a professional technician to disconnect the aluminum circuit board, and then sends the whole aluminum circuit board with the high-power LED modules or the full set of streetlight back to the factory for fixing. Therefore, the cost of repair is very high.
2. Low heat-dissipation efficiency: A large amount of high-power LED modules is required in a conventional LED lighting device, such as a streetlight, to provide sufficient lights. However, large amounts of heat are produced when activating high-power LED modules. When all the heats from each module are conducted to the heat-dissipating base, it will double the heat accumulating and cause heavy loading for the heat-dissipating base.
Due to consideration of installing the LED lighting device in a high position, the aluminum circuit board and the heat-dissipating base are normally limited in size and weight. With such limitation, the LED lighting device is hard to effectively dissipating heat when the heat-dissipation base was not well designed. Therefore, operating the high-power LED modules in high temperature without effective heat dissipation may eventually lead to device failure and may also result in overheating of other electronic components on the circuit board and shortening of their life spans.
3. Limited illumination area: The conventional LED lighting device provides a substantial round-shaped illumination area. The luminous intensity of the round-shaped illumination area decreases as leaving the center of the illumination area. To meet requirements of a street illumination when being applied as a streetlight, an oval-shaped illumination area is required. Therefore, the aluminum circuit board and the heat-dissipating base all have to be changed in structure. Designing the structure to meet different kinds of illumination-area may require a lot of different molds and high cost.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a lighting device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


An air operating reciprocating motor which is used to drive reciprocating piston pumps or other such devices has located in the exhaust passage thereof a liner made of a flexible elastomeric material. The inside surface of the liner which routes the exhaust area is generally smooth and the outside surface of the liner is spaced from the surface of the passage in which it is located by a number of spacer elements such as rounded knobs. The material between the spacing elements is then allowed to flex when the exhausted relatively high pressure air passes through, thus continually flexing the liner with every cycle of the motor and preventing the buildup of ice in the exhaust passage.

Reciprocating air motors of the type used to drive reciprocating piston pumps and the like have been well known for many years. One problem with such products has been that when operating continuously in humid air, the condensation which forms in the exhaust of the air motor and the air valve tends to form ice which can eventually lead to slowing or indeed complete stopping of the pump. The pump is then out of action until the ice is thawed, hopefully through a high enough ambient temperature.
Various efforts have been made to reduce such icing and toward that end, my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,408 and my currently pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 07/904,447, filed Jun. 25, 1992, show ways of greatly reducing this problem. The techniques shown in the aforementioned patent and application (the contents which are hereby incorporated by reference) are not always entirely effective, particularly when the passage through which the exhaust travels is located such that it is difficult to apply heat to it by the known methods.


A method for manufacturing a sandwich panel includes, but is not limited to the steps of providing at least one air-permeable core layer and at least one porous cover layer, applying an adhesive onto a first area of the core layer, pressing the cover layer onto the first area of the core layer to connect the cover layer to the core layer, and applying an airstream that from the outside is directed onto the cover layer and that moves through the cover layer and the core layer. By means of such an airstream it is possible to prevent excessive accumulation of adhesive on the cover layer, which otherwise would result in partial blocking of the cover layer. By varying the intensity of the airstream the flow resistance of the arrangement including, but not limited to, the cover layer and the core layer may be determined and set during the bonding process. In this way a sandwich panel with precise sound-absorption behavior can be manufactured.

In order to provide sound insulation in vehicles, frequently sound-absorbing sandwich panels are used that essentially comprise at least one core layer and at least one or several cover layers to cover the core layer. In this arrangement at least one of the cover layers is air-permeable and comprises a certain flow resistance. In order to reflect noise a further cover layer can also be designed so as to be air-impermeable. With a corresponding design of the core layer and of the cover layers, which, for example, comprises specifying air-permeability or porosity, air change flows from the outside into the core layer, and from the core layer to the outside, can be achieved. Among other things the sound-absorbing effect occurs in that during flowing through the porous material of a cover layer, part of the sound energy is converted to heat. In order to achieve a precisely defined sound absorbing effect, and in particular matching the expected frequency spectrum of the noise source, matching the flow resistance of at least one cover layer and of the core material is necessary. For example, DE 37 20 371 A1, DE 10 2006 023 294 A1 and WO 2007/135085 A1 show sandwich panels, each comprising at least one core layer and at least one porous or perforated cover layer.
In the state of the art it is common to manufacture such sound-absorbing sandwich panels in such a way that a core layer is provided, to which adhesive is then applied, wherein subsequently at least one cover layer is pressed onto the area of the core layer, which area comprises adhesive. After the adhesive has cured, the cover layer and the core layer are firmly interconnected to form a sandwich panel. However, there is a problem when bonding the cover layer in that, when the cover layer is pressed on, adhesive collects even in those locations of the cover layer, which locations are not directly connected to the core layer. For example, the core layer could comprise a honeycomb structure, wherein the individual honeycombs are separated from each other by honeycomb walls (hereinafter also referred to as "webs"). Ideally the cover layer is connected to adhesive only directly over the webs, however, it should be noted that from these webs the adhesive spreads to adjacent regions of the cover layer, thus at least partly blocking the cover layer that is porous or perforated. This makes it more difficult to match the fluidic characteristics of the manufactured sandwich panel to the expected frequency spectrum of the sound source. In a sandwich panel manufactured in this way it is impossible to precisely predict the percentage of the cover layer that is blocked by adhesive, and the flow resistance which the cover layer thus comprises.

Method for manufacturing a sandwich panel


A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing e-mail messages. A local copy of the e-mail message is stored on the data processing system for a selected period of time in response to sending an e-mail message to a recipient from a data processing system. A determination is made as to whether the local copy of the e-mail message is present in response to receiving a notification that the recipient is unable to respond. The local copy of the e-mail message is retrieved if the local copy of the e-mail message is present to form a retrieved e-mail message. The retrieved e-mail message is presented.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved data processing system and in particular to a method and apparatus for processing data. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for automatically retrieving e-mail messages.
2. Description of the Related Art
The Internet is a global network of computers and networks joined together by gateways that handle data transfer and the conversion of messages from a protocol of a sending network to a protocol used by a receiving network. On the Internet, any computer may communicate with any other computer. Information between computers travels over the Internet through a variety of languages also referred to as protocols. One set of protocols used on the Internet is called the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
The Internet has revolutionized communications and commerce as well as being a source of information and entertainment. For many users, e-mail is a widely used format to communicate over the Internet. It is commonplace for users to send e-mail messages to others users through the Internet.
The use of e-mail messages is commonplace for personal and business use. E-mail messages are used by individuals to keep in touch with and communicate with other users. Additionally, e-mail messages provide a medium to collaborate and exchange documents.
Mail servers often limit the amount of storage space for e-mail messages. Further, users may have a limited amount of local storage. As a result, some users choose not to save copies of sent e-mail messages. While this process allows the user to save on storage space, unnecessary repetitive work may occur in some cases. For example, if a user sends an e-mail message to someone who is out of the office, they must retype the e-mail message again if the e-mail message needs to be redirected to another person for immediate action.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an approved computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing e-mail messages.

Method and apparatus for managing locally stored E-mail messages

International Business Machines Corporation


A restricted area measurement device, method, and system for measuring a multi-phase mixture are disclosed. The device may include two current electrodes within a restricted area, at least two voltage electrodes within the restricted area, and at least one meter, wherein a multi-phase enthalpy of the multi-phase mixture may be determined by the at least one meter in accordance with a resistivity. The system includes a restricted area, two current electrodes within the restricted area, at least two voltage electrodes within the restricted area, and at least one measuring device, wherein a multi-phase enthalpy of the multi-phase mixture is determined by the at least one measuring device in accordance with a resistivity. The method includes exciting a first electrical current between two current electrodes within the restricted area, measuring a voltage between at least two voltage electrodes within the restricted area, and measuring a multi-phase enthalpy of the multi-phase mixture according to a resistivity.

Not Applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed generally to an apparatus and method for measuring quantities of a mixture and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for measuring the enthalpy and flow rate of a mixture.
2. Description of the Background
Enthalpy and flow rate are features that may be used to characterize a steam-water mixture flowing in a restricted area, such as a conduit. The change in enthalpy of a system is the heat transferred from surroundings to system in a constant pressure process. The flow rate is the amount of flow of the mixture through a given volume per unit time. It is desirable to measure both the enthalpy and the flow rate of steam-water mixtures flowing in a pipeline, due to the fact that these measures can be used to define the desirable characteristics of the two-phase mixture as to a particular application. For example, two-phase mixtures of steam and water are produced from geothermal wells. This two-phase flow may proceed to a power plant, for example, and, at the power plant, the steam is preferably separated from the water, and the steam proceeds through a turbine in order to generate electricity. Thus, it is highly desirable to measure the characteristic measures of the two phases in order to assess the quality and quantity of electricity generation.
Two-phase flow measurement using a differential pressure in a nozzle is known in the art. However, the accuracy of the flow measurement in existent methodologies is often compromised due to a lack of a continuous measurement of enthalpy. Currently, water and steam fraction are measured periodically by taking a well offline and directing the flow to a test separator. Thus, the enthalpy and flow rate of a well are measured non-continuously, and certain measurements are made off-line.
It is known in the art to make use of devices that measure water fraction in a pipeline using a measurement of the capacitance of the two-phase flow. Certain of these known methods might also be used to measure resistivity of the two-phase flow. However, these known methods make use of delicate instruments that impede the flow, and these delicate instruments are not generally well-suited for the often severe environment of use, such as use in a well field. Further, the use of these delicate instruments is often disadvantageous because the instruments make use of only two electrodes, and the two electrodes not only do not accurately measure flow rate and enthalpy, but may further be rendered inaccurate by mineral deposits.
Therefore, the need exists for an apparatus and method that provides accurate measurement of the flow rate and enthalpy of a two-phase flow, continuously and on-line.
The present invention relates to a measurement device for measuring a multi-phase mixture in a restricted area. The device may include two current electrodes within a restricted area, wherein a first electrical current is excited within the restricted area between said two current electrodes, at least two voltage electrodes within the restricted area, wherein a voltage is present between at least two of said at least two voltage electrodes, and wherein the voltage is produced by the first electrical current, and at least one meter, wherein a multi-phase characteristic of the multi-phase mixture may be determined by the at least one meter in accordance with a resistivity generated by the at least one voltage and the first electrical current, and/or in accordance with a flow rate of the liquid mixture.
The present invention additionally relates to a measurement system for measuring a multi-phase mixture in a restricted area. The system includes a restricted area, two current electrodes within the restricted area, wherein a first electrical current is excited within the restricted area between the two current electrodes, at least two voltage electrodes within the restricted area, wherein a voltage is measured between at least two of the at least two voltage electrodes, and wherein the voltage is produced by the current, at least one measuring device, wherein a multi-phase enthalpy of the multi-phase mixture is determined by the at least one measuring device in accordance with a resistivity generated by the at least one voltage and the first electrical current, and wherein a multi-phase flow rate is determined by the at least one measuring device.
The present invention relates to a method of measuring a multi-phase mixture in a restricted area. The method includes exciting a first electrical current between two current electrodes within the restricted area, measuring a voltage between at least two voltage electrodes within the restricted area, wherein the voltage is produced by the current, and measuring a multi-phase enthalpy of the multi-phase mixture according to a resistivity measure generated by the voltage and the current.
The present invention determines enthalpy of a steam-water mixture flowing in a restricted area by measuring resistivity, and preferably determines flow rate from measurements of pressure. The restricted area preferably includes a nozzle that agitates the flow so that the phases are mixed and evenly dispersed where the resistivity, enthalpy, and/or flow measurements are made. This mixing in the nozzle allows for a measurement of flow rate due to the decrease in pressure in the nozzle, and the mixing improves the resistivity measurement by improving the evenness of a mixture that may include an element of approximately infinite resistivity.
The present invention solves problems experienced in the prior art because it provides an apparatus and method that provides measurement of the flow rate and enthalpy of a two-phase flow, continuously and on-line. Those and other advantages and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention hereinbelow.

Apparatus and method for measuring enthalpy and flow rate of a mixture


A variable lift valve train for an internal combustion engine, including a pivoted lever with a transmission surface on one end, a counter running surface in a central region and, on a further end, a support element and a contact element, the transmission surface has a zero lift path and, adjoining the zero lift path in lever pivoting direction, a lift path, the transmission surface being in contact with a valve opener, the counter running surface being loaded by at least one lift cam, the support element being guided on a lever guide section, the contact element, for adjusting a valve lift being loaded by an adjusting device in direction of the lever guide section, and the valve train including directly in a region of the pivoted lever, an effective and optionally additionally actuable element for creating an additional valve lift during a base circle phase of the lift cam.

A variable lift valve train for an internal combustion engine with internal combustion, comprising a pivoted lever with a transmission surface on one end, a counter running surface in a central region and, on a further end, a support element and a contact element, said transmission surface comprising a zero lift path and, adjoining said zero lift path in lever pivoting direction, a lift path, said transmission surface being in contact with a valve opener, said counter running surface being loaded by at least one lift cam, said support element being guided on a lever guide path, and said contact element, for adjusting the valve lift being loaded by an adjusting device in direction of said lever guide path.
A valve train of the above-noted type is shown in FIG. 1 of DE 102 35 402 A1 and is used under the name of "Valvetronic" by BMW AG as a fully variable valve controlling means. A drawback of this valve train is that it does not enable realization of an additional valve lift in the cam base circle phase, for instance for an internal exhaust gas return. As a result, one must have recourse to complex further measures such as adjusting-angle limited VVT systems, friction enhancing switchable lever drives or additional valves.

Variable valve train for an internal combustion engine


In a method for sending communication signals, space-time block coding is performed by dividing a data stream of complex-value data symbols into a number KT>2 of partial data streams of respectively n>2 data symbols. The data symbols in the partial data streams are used to form n×KT matrix CKT. Transmitter-end predistortion is performed by using the matrix CKT to form a matrix D, and the data symbols are sent by KT transmission antennas according to their arrangement in the matrix D.

An important task of future mobile radio systems is the provision of services at high data rates. In today's digital cellular mobile radio networks of the second generation, for example based on the GSM standard, or of the third generation, for example based on the UMTS standard, the network operators provide their customers with a multiplicity of services. Besides the basic services such as voice telephony, SMS (Short Message Service) and MMS (Multimedia Message Service), video services and IP (Internet Protocol)-based packet data services are also provided.
In view of the success of DSL in the landline domain, the trend in mobile radio is likewise moving toward high-speed mobile radio systems optimized for IP applications (for example VoIP). The current expansion of UMTS with the label HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), also referred to as the 3.5G system, allows maximum net transmission speeds of up to 14 Mbps in the downlink (base station to mobile terminal) and up to 2 Mbps in the uplink (mobile terminal to base station). To ensure that the UMTS system is competitive in the future too, work is currently in progress on the further development of UMTS to produce a mobile radio system which is optimized for IP packet data transmission by improving the system capacity and spectral efficiency.
The aim is to significantly increase the maximum net transmission speeds in future, particularly up to 100 Mbps in the downlink and 50 Mbps in the uplink.
It is expected that at least one transmission direction in the communication system will use OFDM-based signal transmission (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing). OFDM is a multicarrier method in which block modulation is used to transmit a block with a number of data symbols in parallel on an appropriate number of subcarriers. The sum total of all subcarriers forms what is known as an OFDM symbol for the duration of a data block.
To meet the requirements regarding data rate, however, better utilization of the limited radio resources than is the case in current mobile radio networks is also required. In this respect, systems having a plurality of antennas both on the transmitter and on the receiver provide the option of increasing spectral efficiency through the use of spatial signal characteristics. These developments are covered by the term transmission diversity. At present, discussions are therefore ongoing regarding the use of what are known as MIMO systems (MIMO=Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) in third-generation radio networks and in future WLAN standards (WLAN=Wireless Local Area Network).
An important method for improving the reception conditions and hence possibly increasing the data rate of a communication link is provided by what are known as space-time codes (STCs). It is an aim of a method using these codes to improve the channel characteristics through targeted utilization of spatial diversity by using a plurality of transmission antennas and possibly a plurality of reception antennas. In this case, the use of space-time codes in the downlink of a mobile radio system, for example, is of particular interest, since increased implementation complexity extends only to the base stations and hence it is possible to achieve higher capacity for the downlink of the cellular network and at the same time the implementation complexity for the receivers can be kept down.
One option which has been described for space-time codes is space-time block codes, subsequently also referred to as space-time block coding, for example in the publication "A Simple Transmit Diversity Technique for Wireless Communications" in IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communication, 16(8), pages 1451-1458 (1988) by S. M. Alamouti. In space-time block coding, a signal is sent by a first transmission antenna and further transmission antennas send delayed variants of the signal sent by the first transmission antenna. In the permutation scheme, the modulated signal is sent by a first transmission antenna and permutations of the modulated signal are sent by further transmission antennas. Consequently, the signal sent by the transmission antennas can be derived from a matrix which comprises data words in the form of the modulated signal and permutations of the modulated signal. The space-time coding codes a signal into a plurality of data words, and each data word is sent by a different transmission antenna. During sending, the data words are spread over a single carrier frequency in the time domain by sending the data symbols in each data word successively in a single-carrier method.
In the matrix of an STBC, the transmission antennas are usually shown along one axis and the times or timeslots are shown along the other axis. If an STBC data block has T timeslots and codes k data symbols, a code rate r is defined as r=k/T. The space-time block coding was originally introduced for orthogonal STBCs, in which the matrix is such that any two antenna vectors of the matrix are orthogonal with respect to one another. The aforementioned publication by Alamouti describes an orthogonal STBC for two transmission and reception antennas with the code rate 1. In the case of more than two transmission and reception antennas, only orthogonal STBCs for which the code rate is less than 1 are known. Although such STBCs utilize the entire diversity potential of the transmission channel, they do not permit maximum throughput on account of the code rate of less than 1. Besides the orthogonal STBCs, quasi-orthogonal STBCs are also known, in which the relevant vectors are orthogonal with respect to one another only in the case of some of the pairs of antenna vectors. However, it is not known to date how to achieve transmission with a code rate equal to 1 using a quasi-orthogonal STBC when there are fewer than four transmission and reception antennas.
A further development based on an OFDM method relates to a combination of OFDM and MIMO, i.e. sending and receiving via a plurality of paths using a respective plurality of transmission and reception antennas on the stations communicating with one another. The combination of OFDM with MIMO, subsequently also referred to as MIMO-OFDM, advantageously allows the complexity of the space-time signal processing to be reduced.

Method for sending and receiving communication signals, and apparatuses for sending and receiving communication signals


An apparatus and method for generating parameters for an application, such as an augmented reality application (AR app), using camera pose and gyroscope rotation is disclosed. The parameters are estimated based on pose from images and rotation from a gyroscope (e.g., using least-squares estimation with QR factorization or a Kalman filter). The parameters indicate rotation, scale and/or non-orthogonality parameters and optionally gyroscope bias errors. In addition, the scale and non-orthogonality parameters may be used for conditioning raw gyroscope measurements to compensate for scale and non-orthogonality.

I. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to systems, apparatus and methods for generating parameters used in applications, for example, augmented reality applications, and in some aspects used in conditioning gyroscope measurements.
II. Background
An increasing number of modern smartphones include one or more cameras and various sensors. Inertial sensors, such as gyroscopes and accelerometers, which sense motion, are especially important due to their ability to measure angular velocity and acceleration and at high sampling rates. These sensors can be used to enhance augmented reality (AR) applications on a smartphone. In reference-based tracking, the primary causes of tracking failure include fast rotation and camera drift away relative to the target. The gyroscope can help maintain tracking of the target during periods of camera related tracking failure. However, it is often difficult to condition the gyroscope, for example, to accurately calibrate the alignment of gyroscope with respect to the camera and to determine the scale and non-orthogonality parameters of the gyroscope.
Therefore, a need exists to obtain and maintain accurate calibration of the gyroscope. Accurate and low cost calibration of a gyroscope can be beneficial for use with a variety of applications, such as AR applications.

Gyroscope conditioning and gyro-camera alignment


Apparatuses and methods for facilitating the separation and retrieval of a topmost disc stored in a vertical stack of similar discs, with minimal modification to existing production lines, are provided. A disc stacking apparatus configured to allow flow of preferably ionized air through an air channel within a spindle shaft and out through one or more air ports is also provided.

Many disc-like objects such as CDs (compact discs), DVDs (digital versatile discs or digital video discs), HD-DVDs (high definition DVDs), BDs (Blu-ray discs), etc., have center holes and are mass produced along a production line that involves processes which require retrieval of the topmost such object from a vertical stack of similar objects. Such production processes include, for example, printing or otherwise applying text and/or graphics on unfinished discs, inserting a finished disc in a carrier case or other packaging, etc.
As the discs are transported from one process to another, they are typically transported in a vertical stack, such as on a spindle that penetrates the center holes of the discs.
The topmost disc is removed from the stack by a handling device or mechanism that can include a robotic arm and a device referred to in the art as a "picker". The robotic arm positions the picker which engages the disc. The robotic arm then moves the engaged disc from the stack to a desired location on the production line where the picker then releases the disc. Some conventional pickers generally employ vacuum or suction from above the topmost disc to retrieve that disc from the spindle stack. Other conventional pickers mechanically grasp the topmost disc along the outer edge of the object and/or the inner edge bordering the center hole of the disc.
In many conventional production systems, the handling device is accompanied by a movable disc carrier platform (not shown) including a center hole through which the spindle fits. After a disc is removed from the spindle, the stack of discs is elevated a distance equal to the thickness of the disc, so that the topmost disc in the stack is at a predetermined position relative to the stack.
A problem that exists with many conventional handling devices, such as mentioned above, is the unintended retrieval of multiple discs from the stack in a particular handling cycle. This problem leads to downtime in the manufacturing process and often requires operator intervention, thus increasing production cost.
The causes of this problem include buildup of static charge on the discs, moisture between contacting surfaces of adjacent discs, and/or the formation of a vacuum between adjacent discs.
A variety of approaches for separating the topmost disc from other discs in a stack have been proposed. For example, a compact disc gripper device has been proposed for gripping a topmost CD off a vertical stack of CDs. Other approaches have proposed adding spacers between adjacent discs in a stack. Another approach proposes blowing ionized air from the outer side face of the stack.
The above mentioned prior arts suffer from several disadvantages. For example, the gripping mechanisms described above require the replacement of current disc handling mechanisms at multiple sites along each production line, thereby injecting additional complexity and cost to the manufacturing process. The spacers described above minimize the number of discs that can be accommodated on a stack of a predetermined height and also require additional means for inserting and removing the spacers. The application of ionized air to the outer side face of the stack has been shown not to work effectively.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved techniques for separating a topmost disc from a stack of discs.

Apparatus and method for separating topmost disc-like object from a stack


For use with a CRT monitor, a copyholder assembly comprises a copyholder including a display framing panel and at least one copyholding panel extending from a respective side of the display framing panel. The panels are joined either integrally or for pivotal angular adjustment of the copyholding panel relative to the display framing panel. The display framing panel, which includes a window positionable in front of the CRT screen, is adjustably detachably secured to a mounting assembly removably securable atop the monitor or to a mount removably securable beneath the monitor. The mounting assembly is adjustable for universal use with different monitors notwithstanding different top surface configurations. Optional accessories for the copyholder also are disclosed.

Typing copy stands have long been utilized by typists to hold copy material in generally vertical disposition to assist the typist. Such stands typically have a support base adapted to rest on a surface adjacent the typewriter to hold an inclined front surface generally upright for support of copy material. A typing copy stand of this general type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,799.
Also known are copyholders designed to be mounted on a typewriter or secured in position by the typewriter. Examples of these general types of copyholders are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,203,354; 2,146,465; and 2,790,421.
As a result of advances in computer technology, word processors and microcomputers have become widely used. Such word processors and microcomputers utilize a cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor to display material entered at a keyboard positioned forwardly of the monitor. For ergonomical reasons, the CRT screen usually is elevated above and to the rear of the keyboard, and in modular systems, the monitor is often supported atop the main system unit or an elevated support surface of a stand positioned to the rear of the keyboard. A preferred monitor position is one wherein the CRT screen is slightly below the operator's eye level and slightly upwardly inclined to present its generally planar surface at right angles to the operator's line of sight.
Although typing copy stands of the above noted type can and have been utilized by operators of word processors and microcomputers, they do suffer several drawbacks particularly because of the elevated disposition and orientation of the CRT screen. On the other hand, copyholders designed to be mounted on a typewriter generally are not usable with the word processor or microcomputer because of their differing constructions and configurations.
One major drawback of typing copy stands is that the stand usually has to be positioned a considerable distance to one side of the CRT screen with the copy support surface at a lower elevation than the CRT screen. Consequently, operators must repeatedly move their heads and eyes back and forth as well as up and down between the supported copy and the CRT screen when entering data for display on the screen. This causes production to be slowed, the incidence of errors to be increased, and fatigue of the operators to be accelerated.
Another problem with conventional typing copy stands is that they require a larger task surface than might otherwise be needed and/or occupy task surface space that might be utilized for other purposes. This problem is accentuated when the operator has a need to view several items of copy material during data entry. This either requires a large typing copy stand occupying a corresponding larger amount of task surface space or multiple copy stands which not only consumes task surface space but also requires purchase of multiple stands for use at a single work station.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,112, there is shown a computer work station assembly having provision for positioning copy material beneath the CRT screen and to the rear of the keyboard. One problem with such arrangement is that the plane of the copy material is at a rather severe angle to the plane of the CRT screen as well as at a significant acute angle to the line of sight of the operator. Moreover, a substantial portion of the copy material would be located considerably in front of the CRT screen which increases operator focus time. Such apparatus is also limited to a rather specific word processor or computer work station. For example, such unit cannot be used in conjunction with a typical system arrangement where the monitor is supported atop the system unit containing one or more disc drives which must be accessible to the operator.

Computer video work station with copyholder


An automatic dynamic error compensator for compensating the position error arising within a servo drive system includes a measuring head which is operative to measure the relative indicated position of two or more measuring vanes on the movable member. The measuring head, together with a feedback transducer, that measures indicated movable member position, are coupled to a feedback system. The feedback system determines the indicated movable member position from the feedback transducer reading and then compares the indicated movable member position to the known vane position upon occurrence of a vane crossing to yield a compensating value.

This invention relates generally to an axis position detecting system such as are employed on numerically controlled machine tools, robots or coordinate measuring machines. More specifically, this invention relates to an axis positioning system which achieves automatic and dynamic compensation of position error.
The development of high precision hydraulic and electric servo drive systems has enabled repeated positioning of the separate axis slides on present day machine tools etc. with very high accuracy. As a result, productivity has been improved because large quantities of parts can now be manufactured automatically to very precise tolerances. More recently, the servo drive technology developed previously for machine tools has been employed in the construction of robots and coordinate inspection machines. Although present day machine tools, robots and coordinate measuring systems include very sophisticated servo drive systems having very accurate feed back transducers for detecting movable member positions, some position error is inevitable.
For the most part, position error occurs in machine tools and the like because of thermal expansion. Friction between the nut and lead screw, the mechanism commonly employed to achieve precise movable member positioning, usually leads to thermal expansion of the lead screw. Thermal expansion of the lead screw results in the movable member being at a position different than that recorded by the control system controlling member movement. While temperature sensitive elements, such as a thermistor, have been employed to measure temperature variation to enable the positioning control system to effect compensation for position errors due to thermal expansion, such systems have not generally proven adequate.
Additional factors also contribute to the position error. An error in the gross fabrication of the lead screw results in a repeatable position error which is generally smaller than the thermal error but a position error nonetheless. In the past, the error attributable to deficiencies in fabrication of the lead screw has been compensated for by the use of an error table often referred to as a "laser" table.
The laser table derives its name from the device which is used to measure the actual axis slide positions, at the time the machine tool is fabricated. A laser interferometer is commonly employed to precisely calibrate each of the machine tool axes slides and for each slide, the error compensation value, if any, for each of a plurality of slide positions is stored as a separate one of the table entries together with that slide position. Thus, at any predetermined slide position, the error compensation can be obtained from the table entry of the laser table associated with that slide. While the laser table enables adequate error compensation for long distances of movable member movement, the laser table has not proven itself as an adequate mechanism for compensation of position errors which occur during short axis slide movements.
Another factor which contributes to the slide position error is the eccentricity of the pulley or gear on the lead screw and the pulley or gear on the motor which drives the lead screw. The lead screw pulley or gear eccentricity and motor pulley or gear eccentricity generally result in a sinusoidally varying position error. In addition to the error attributable to the motor pulley or gear eccentricity and lead screw pulley or gear eccentricity, some position error arises as a consequence of the eccentricity of the pulley or gear on the feedback transducer which is usually a resolver or the like. This position error also varies sinusoidally.
Most present day positioning control systems utilize a resolver as the feedback transducer. As may be appreciated, a resolver is only one type of feedback device that can be employed to provide position feedback information. The resolver, when excited with a fixed frequency signal, produces a signal whose phase shifts as the movable member moves. A zero crossing detector is usually employed to detect the phase shift to enable determination of the movable member position. The zero crossings of the resolver output signal may be erratic, especially during movable member acceleration. Also, a latency exists between the time the zero crossing occurs and the time that the zero crossing is detected by the control system. As a consequence, the actual position of the movable member will be different from that recorded in the memory of the control system.
Position errors of the type described above are very undesirable. When position errors arise in the course of machine tool operation, the machine tool accuracy is impaired. Position errors arising in the course of robot operations results in inaccurate robot arm movement which may lead to inaccurate part placement, inaccurate welding or inaccurate part measurement, depending on the robot application. Position errors are also undesirable in coordinate inspection machines as they impair the accuracy of the measurement obtained.
In contrast to the prior art, the present invention is directed to an improved positioning system which automatically and dynamically compensates for positioning errors to increase the movable member positioning accuracy.


A camera system includes a camera body and a lens in which a motor circuit and an electric circuit are arranged and are supplied with electric power from a power source in the camera body. Ground contact terminals for the motor circuit and the electric circuit are separately arranged in the lens, and the motor circuit and the electric circuit are electrically connected to the power source negative terminal through the separate ground contact terminals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera and, more particularly, it relates to a camera of lens-interchangeable type including a camera body and an interchangeable lens in which an electric connection of the interchangeable lens with the camera body is improved.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently an automatic camera has become widely used. Such an automatic camera includes an automatic exposure control device, an automatic focusing device and/or an automatic light adjusting device, so that various electronic circuits, motor, battery or the like are mounted in the camera.
In the case of a camera of lens-interchangeable type, including a camera body and an interchangeable lens, in which various devices as mentioned above are contained, a motor, electronic circuits and the like are arranged in the camera body as well as in the interchangeable lens. Accordingly, electric contacts or connecting terminals for electrically connecting the various device in the camera body with those in the interchangeable lens are arranged on mount portions for connecting the camera body with the lens.
In the conventional camera of lens-interchangeable type, it has been the usual practice to arrange a ground line and a connecting terminal for the motor mounted in the lens and those for the electronic circuit so that they are commonly used, in order to reduce the number of connecting terminals. However, in the system in which the ground lines and the connecting terminals are arranged for common use, there is a danger that the electronic circuits of the lens and the camera body may be damaged owing to difference in ground potential between them.
For example, in the construction wherein electric power is transmitted from a power source in the camera through a power supply line and a terminal to the lens to supply the power to a motor circuit and/or an electronic circuit in the lens, at the time of supplying the power to the motor circuit the power is fed from the power source in the camera body through said power line to the motor circuit and then returned through the ground line and the terminal to said power source, so that a closed loop is formed to provide a power feeding path for the motor circuit. In this case, the current passing through the motor circuit is relatively large, so that said current produces a voltage drop at the ground line and the terminal when it is returned through said ground line and said terminal to the power source. If this ground line was commonly used in the motor circuit and the electronic circuit of the lens, the ground potential of the electronic circuit would be increased, by the amount of the above-mentioned voltage drop, as compared with the normal level, with the result that the electronic circuit of the lens would be adversely affected thereby.
Furthermore, in a camera of the above-mentioned type, if the lens was not properly mounted on the camera body, the contact terminals of the camera body and the lens would not be properly connected. Such a state would cause an accident wherein the lens could not be driven even if an instruction was sent from the camera body to the lens to effect some operation, such as driving of the motor and, moreover, such a state could produce various electrical accidents.
In order to avoid such accidents, a device for detecting the mounting of the lens, which is constructed to allow transmitting and receiving signals between the camera body and the lens only when the lens is properly mounted on the camera body, has been proposed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,429 and Pat. No. 4,464,034, etc. The device as proposed in these patents includes a switch associated with a mount locking member, which is so constructed that when the lens has been completely mounted on the camera body the mount locking member is pressed by the mount of the lens, with the result that said switch is actuated by said mount locking member.
However, according to the proposed construction in which the operation of the switch is effected by the mount locking member, it is quite possible that an operator may erroneously unlock said mount locking member owing to his careless operation. If the operator erroneously unlocked the mount locking member, the feeding of power to the electronic circuit in the lens would be broken, so that the transmitting and receiving signals between the camera body and the lens would become impossible, thereby making the operation of the camera itself impossible.


A system may assist in moving a communication session in a stable state from a virtual network function serving that communication session to another virtual network function at that same site or another site, such as another cloud data center.

When a communication session is in a stable state in the internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) network that provides voice over wireless (e.g., voice over long term evolution) communication services, a set of virtual network functions maintains the session state for the ongoing communication session. Thus, actions associated with the communication session traverse the same virtual network functions. For example, a 3GPP multiple media telephony application server (MMTel-AS or referred herein as TAS) maintains the state of a stable communication session for which the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is used to establish it. If the communication session was part of a three-way call and one of the call legs is to be removed from the call, a SIP Bye message would be sent from the user equipment (UE) to have that call leg removed. Conventionally the Bye message needs to traverse the TAS so it may maintain control of the call and update the call state. If the TAS VNF is shutdown from service, the call state may not be updated which may result in improper call handling (e.g., call detail recording used for billing may not correctly reflect the call duration).
This disclosure is directed to addressing issues in the existing technology.

Call processing continuity within a cloud network


A roof membrane is disclosed, for use in simulating a standing seam metal roof when applied to a roof surface and a roof system is also provided, that employs the roof membrane, disposed between longitudinal, but spaced-apart, generally parallel roof battens. Underlayments of various constructions are also provided, beneath the membrane, as an option. Caps are provided for upstanding legs of the roof battens.

For centuries, metal has been used on all types of buildings to provide attractive roofing. Many high profile architectural buildings such as churches, government offices, museums, colleges and similar large buildings have used metal roofing, often as frequently as tiles and slate are used as roofing.
Among the available metals, copper has been used most frequently when the roof covering is metal. Reasons for a preferred use of copper as the metal, are because of the aesthetics, its durability, and its workability.
However, copper roofs are substantially expensive, largely due to material cost and the fact that the types of buildings on which copper roofs are applied generally involve very substantial surface areas for the roofs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Roof membrane and roof system using the membrane to simulate a standing seam metal roof


A vehicle equipment rack having a first cross member and a second cross member. A first roller coupled with an outboard end of the first cross member. A second roller coupled with an outboard end of the second cross member. A first arm in rolling engagement with the first roller. A second arm in rolling engagement with the second roller. A drive tube rotatably coupled with the first and second cross members. A first pivot arm coupled with the drive tube, the first pivot arm rotatably coupled with the first arm. A second pivot arm coupled with the drive tube, the second pivot arm rotatably coupled with the second arm. The first arm including a base member. The base member having an aperture disposed through a surface thereof. A first linear actuator disposed in the base member, wherein a portion of the first linear actuator is disposed through the base member aperture. A first bracket disposed on a surface of the base member. The first bracket coupled with the first linear actuator. A sliding member slideably coupled with the base member. A second bracket coupled with the sliding member. The second arm including a third bracket disposed on a surface of the second arm, and a fourth bracket coupled with the second arm.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus that may be utilized to load, secure, and unload ladders onto/from vehicles.
Ladders and other large pieces of equipment are often transported by motor vehicle via an apparatus coupled with the roof and/or body of the motor vehicle. Ladders and other large pieces of equipment may be heavy and cumbersome. The unaided loading and unloading of ladders and other large pieces of equipment onto a vehicle requires the lifting and manipulation of the equipment. Such lifting and manipulation of ladders and other equipment may result in the exertion or injury of the persons performing the loading and unloading. In addition, the unaided loading and unloading of ladders and other large pieces of equipment may result in damage to vehicles and equipment.
Thus, there is a need for a vehicle ladder rack apparatus which may be utilized to aid in the loading, securing, and unloading of ladders and other large pieces of equipment to onto and off-of vehicles.

Adjustable and sliding ladder rack apparatus


To provide a user with an easily understandable help document, the MFP capable of executing a plurality of processes includes a process designation accepting portion to accept designation of at least one of the plurality of processes, a workflow generating portion to generate workflow definition data defining the one or more processes accepted, and a help document generating portion to generate a help document corresponding to the generated workflow. The help document generating portion includes a summary page generating portion to generate a summary page having listed thereon process names for identification of the one or more processes defined by the corresponding workflow definition data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, a help document generating method and a help document generating program, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of automatically generating a help document for a workflow, a help document generating method and a help document generating program.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a complex machine called an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) provided with the functions as a scanner, printer, copier, and facsimile machine has become widespread. In the MFP, it is possible to define a workflow as a combination of a plurality of processes.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-165591 discloses a technique where help contents are stored for each operation, and when a process is selected, an operation manual corresponding to the selected process is generated by combining operation guidance necessary for the selected process.
With the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-165591, however, the operation manual is generated for each process, which means that for a workflow as a combination of a plurality of processes, operation manuals of the same number as that of the processes are generated. The resulting operation manuals will be complicated and it will be difficult to find a desired operation manual.

Image processing apparatus capable of automatically generating help document for workflow, help document generating method and help document generating form


A nitrogen-containing compound of the following general formula (1) is kneaded into a resin molding material, the kneaded mixture is molded and the surface of the resulting article is subjected to corona discharge treatment. Further, a coating material having electrostatic charges is sprayed and deposited on the article after the corona discharge treatment. This can provide a shaped resin article with remarkably improved electrical conductivity from a less electrically conductive resin, without substantially deteriorating the physical properties and the color of the article. Further, electrostatic coating excellent in coating efficiency, surface appearance, productivity or the like is possible. ##STR1## where R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group or alkenyl group of 5 to 21 carbon atoms, R.sup.2 represents --H or --CH.sub.3, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be the same or different and each represents an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, A represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.n -- or ##STR2## and n is 1 to 5.

The present invention relates to a method of improving the electrical conductivity of a shaped resin article and an electrostatic coating process.
A known method of applying electrostatic coating after improving the electrical conductivity of a shaped resin article includes, for example, a method of forming an electrically conductive primer layer by coating an electrically conductive paint containing an electrically conductive metal powder on the surface of a shaped resin article to provide electrical conductivity and then applying electrostatic coating as disclosed in JP-A-50066538 or a method of kneading an electrically conductive inorganic substance such as carbon black, carbon fiber or electrically conductive mica into a resin molding material, then molding the same and applying electrostatic coating thereto.
However, when an electrically conductive primer layer is formed on the surface of a shaped resin article as disclosed in JP-A-50066538, adhesion between the surface of the resin article and the electrically conductive primer is poor and a plurality kinds of electrically conductive primer layers have to be formed as a plurality of layers in order to improve the drawback. This not only brings about a problem in view of the electrical conductivity and the productivity but also leads to a problem in view of coating losses or increased costs by the use of a plurality kinds of electrically conductive primers.
Furthermore, when electrostatic coating is applied to a shaped article kneaded with an electrically conductive inorganic substance such as carbon black, carbon fiber, conductive mica or the like, since the electrically conductive substance must be kneaded in a large amount into the resin molding material, this results in problems of tending to detract from the physical properties of the resin article and affects the color on the electrostatically coated surface by the coloration of the resin article.
Recently, there is disclosed a method as in JP-A-03101875 of kneading a complex of a polyoxyalkylene polyol with a soluble electrolyte salt into a resin molding material, molding the kneaded mixture, subjecting the surface of the resultant shaped article to a plasma treatment and then applying electrostatic coating. However, the method is poor in the productivity since the plasma treatment is a batch operation and involves a problem that the article has to be treated under a reduced pressure.

Method of improving the electrical conductivity of a shaped resin article and an electrostatic coating process