A recording and reproducing apparatus is arranged to record one picture amount of an image signal in a plurality of recording tracks on a recording medium, to sample one picture amount of the image signal reproduced from the recording medium according to either a first sampling clock signal or a second sampling clock signal of a frequency lower than that of the first sampling clock signal, to store the sample signal, and to selectively output either the sample signal which is sampled on the basis of the first sampling clock signal and stored or the sample signal which is sampled on the basis of the second sampling clock signal and stored. This arrangement enables the operator to readily confirm the contents of the image signal recorded on the recording medium.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing an image signal on and from a recording medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
The known recording and reproducing apparatuses for recording and reproducing image signals on and from a recording medium such as a magnetic disc or the like include, for example, a still video apparatus.
The still video apparatus is arranged to record and reproduce an image signal in the following manner: the image signal is separated into a luminance signal and color-difference signals of two kinds. The separated signals are frequency-modulated. After that, the color-difference signals of the two kinds are alternately frequency-multiplexed with the luminance signal by switching them from one over to the other for every horizontal synchronizing (hereinafter referred to as sync) period. In other words, they are converted into a color-difference line-sequential signal for recording and reproduction.
However, the above-stated recording method of the still video apparatus has the following problems:
(1) The luminance signal (hereinafter referred to as signal Y) and the color-difference signals (hereinafter referred to as signals R-Y and B-Y) are frequency-modulated and frequency-multiplexed before recording. Therefore, if the band of the luminance signal is increased up to 7 to 8 MHz or thereabout, it would exceed a frequency band recordable on a magnetic recording medium. At present, therefore, the luminance signal band is limited to 4.5 MHz or thereabout.
(2) The frequency multiplex recording of the signal Y and the signal R-Y or B-Y after their frequency modulation tends to cause a mixed modulation distortion between the signal Y and the signal R-Y or B-Y. With the frequency modulation carrier frequency of the signal Y expressed as fy (MHz) and that of the signal R-Y or B-Y as fc (MHz), for example, a frequency distortion which is expressed as follows particularly presents a serious problem: fy - fc, fy - 2fc
(3) Further, due to a restriction imposed by the TV system, the resolution of the signal Y, i.e., the number of scanning lines, in the vertical direction is limited to 525. Then, since the signals R-Y and B-Y are frequency-multiplexed with the Y signal for recording, the color resolution in the vertical direction is also low.

Still image recording and reproducing apparatus


Hand held golf ball washing apparatus having a ball receiving chamber wherein a ring-shaped rotatable brush is positioned. The brush is driven on its axis by a battery-powered motor. Push button switch means is provided to selectively operate the motor. A removable hatch is provided in the apparatus to allow insertion and removal of a golf ball to be cleaned, and for insertion of a detergent solution.

This invention pertains to golf ball washing devices and in particular to hand held golf ball washers.
In the course of the playing of the game of golf, it is inevitable that the golf ball becomes grass-stained and caked with mud. In order to make the driven ball easier to find and to ensure that its flight characteristics are not affected by the presence of mud or other foreign material upon the surface of the ball, it is useful to clean the surface of the golf ball to remove foreign material and grass or other stains.
Available golf ball washers which are known are predominantly nonportable and nonmotorized, such as illustrated in Burkholder, U.S. Pat. No. 3,678,526; Procario, U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,274; and Brillhart, U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,633. A manually driven, portable golf ball washer is disclosed in McConnell, U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,016.
A motorized portable golf ball washer is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,574 to Benkovsky which features a foam lined cup which rotates about the ball while held in place by a liner/retainer which resists turning of the ball. In order to wash the entire ball, it would be necessary to move the ball during the washing operation to another orientation in the cup so that the portion of the ball's surface which had been retained by the liner would then be washed.
Ingram et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,084,287, teaches a hand operated portable ball cleaner which provides a toroidal sponge inside stiff rings which operates upon the golf ball's surface as the ball is manipulated by the user.
Stoltzman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,974, discloses an elongated ball washer for portable use featuring a bristle lined slot to receive the golf ball which is reciprocated in the slot.
British patent number 13,877 shows a washer powered by an egg beater mechanism which rotates the ball in contact with concave brush surfaces.
None of the above described washers provides a battery-powered, portable, hand-held golf ball washer which washes the entire ball surface in one operation and yet is simple to operate and maintain.


A dual output power converter, including a transformer having first and second secondary windings, a first synchronous rectifier coupled to the first secondary winding of the transformer for converting an alternating voltage at the first secondary winding to a first DC output voltage, a second synchronous rectifier coupled to the second secondary winding of the transformer for converting an alternating voltage at the second secondary winding to a second DC output voltage, and a drive circuit coupled to each of the first and second synchronous rectifiers for turning on the first and second synchronous rectifiers when the alternating voltage at the first and second secondary windings transition from a first polarity to a second polarity, and for turning off the first and second synchronous rectifiers when the alternating voltage at the first and second secondary windings transition from the second polarity to the first polarity.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronics and, more particularly, to synchronous rectifier drive circuits.
2. Description of the Background
DC-to-DC power converters are power processing circuits which convert an unregulated input DC voltage to a regulated DC output voltage. Switched-mode DC-to-DC power converters typically include an inverter, a transformer having a primary winding coupled to the inverter, and a rectifying circuit coupled to a secondary winding of the transformer. The inverter typically includes a switching device, such as a field effect transistor (FET), that converts the DC input voltage to an alternating voltage, which is magnetically coupled from the primary winding of the transformer to the secondary winding. The rectifying circuit rectifies the alternating voltage on the secondary winding to generate a desired DC output voltage.
It is known to use synchronous rectifiers (SRs) employing metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) to convert the alternating voltage of the secondary winding to the unipolar DC output voltage. The advantage of synchronous rectification is that the forward voltage drop, and hence the power loss, across a MOSFET SR is much less than that of diode devices used in the rectifying circuit. Such SR circuits, however, typically require gate drive circuitry to render the MOSFET at a low resistance during forward conduction and, more importantly, to render it non-conductive during reverse bias. This is because, unlike a diode, a SR may be conductive in both directions (i.e., forward and reverse). Thus, if not properly controlled, reverse current can flow through a MOSFET SR, thereby negatively affecting the efficiency of the power converter.
One known technique to control the gate drive of a MOSFET SR is to couple the alternating voltage from the secondary winding of the transformer to the gate terminal of the MOSFET SR to thereby turn the device on and off in response to the voltage across the secondary winding. This scheme is commonly referred to as xe2x80x9cself-driven synchronous rectification.xe2x80x9d Although usually effective, it is possible that when the voltage on the secondary winding reverses and the gate terminal of the SR is driven off, a delay in turn-off of the SR will provide a period of reverse current in the SR. This has a deleterious xe2x80x9cshortingxe2x80x9d effect on the secondary winding which may limit the turn off voltage and further delay commutation of the SR. Additionally, it is difficult to generate the proper on-state SR bias level in the self-driven configuration.
One known technique to overcome the shortcomings of self-driven synchronous rectifiers is to employ a gate drive circuit coupled to the control terminal of the synchronous rectifier. Control-driven gate drive circuits, however, are complicated to implement. In addition, it is difficult to implement a gate drive circuit driven by the alternating voltage of the transformer that is capable of driving two synchronous rectifiers of a dual output power converter or provide the proper bias levels in low voltage output converters.
Accordingly, there exists a need in the prior art for a manner in which to reduce, and even obviate, the delay in turn-off of a SR, to thereby minimize, or eliminate, any period of reverse conduction of the SR and the subsequent shorting effect. There further exists a need for a gate drive circuit that can efficiently and effectively drive the synchronous rectifiers for a dual output converter. Still further there exists a need for a gate drive circuit that is capable of providing the required SR bias level in low output converters.
According to one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a dual output power converter. The dual output power converter includes a transformer having first and second secondary windings, a first synchronous rectifier coupled to the first secondary winding of the transformer for converting an alternating voltage at the first secondary winding to a first DC output voltage, a second synchronous rectifier coupled to the second secondary winding of the transformer for converting an alternating voltage at the second secondary winding to a second DC output voltage, and a drive circuit coupled to each of the first and second synchronous rectifiers for turning on the first and second synchronous rectifiers when the alternating voltage at the first and second secondary windings transition from a first polarity to a second polarity, and for turning off the first and second synchronous rectifiers when the alternating voltage at the first and second secondary windings transition from the second polarity to the first polarity.
According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a drive circuit for a synchronous rectifier, wherein the synchronous rectifier is for converting an alternating voltage to a DC voltage. The drive circuit includes a first switch for supplying a drive current to a control terminal of the synchronous rectifier when the when the alternating voltage is at a first polarity, a second switch for shunting the drive current from the control terminal of the synchronous rectifier when the alternating voltage transitions from the first polarity to a second polarity, a pulse transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, wherein the primary winding is responsive to a condition causing transitions of the alternating voltage between the first and second polarities, and wherein conduction of the second switch is controlled by a voltage across the secondary winding of the pulse transformer, and a differentiator circuit coupled to the pulse transformer.
According to another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a power supply with parallel-connected converters having a cross-coupled charge pump arrangement. The power supply includes: a first converter including a first transformer, a first synchronous rectifier for converting an alternating voltage at a secondary winding of the first transformer to a first DC voltage, a first drive circuit coupled to the first synchronous rectifier for turning on the first synchronous rectifier when an alternating voltage at the secondary winding of the first transformer transitions from a first polarity to a second polarity, and a first charge pump coupled to the secondary winding of the first transformer; and a second converter connected in parallel with the first converter, wherein the second converter includes a second transformer a second synchronous rectifier for converting an alternating voltage at a secondary winding of the second transformer to a second DC voltage, a second drive circuit coupled to the second synchronous rectifier for turning on the second synchronous rectifier when an alternating voltage at the secondary winding of the second transformer transitions from a first polarity to a second polarity, and a second charge pump coupled to the secondary winding of the second transformer, wherein the first charge pump is for turning on the second synchronous rectifier when the alternating voltage at the secondary winding of the second transformer transitions from the second polarity to the first polarity, and wherein the second charge pump is for turning on the first synchronous rectifier when the alternating voltage at the secondary winding of the first transformer transitions from the second polarity to the first polarity.
The present invention provides an advantage over prior art self-driven synchronous rectification schemes because it provides a manner for eliminating delay in the turn-off of a synchronous rectifier, thus providing the advantage of eliminating the shorting effect of the secondary winding of the transformer. Embodiments of the present invention also provide the advantage of having a mechanized synchronous rectifier turn-on system operable at, for example, low output voltages. These and other benefits of the present invention will be evident from the detailed description hereinbelow.

Synchronous rectifier drive circuit and power supply including same


A power supply device that allows individual control of an output voltage of a main transformer and an output voltage of a teaser transformer while utilizing output characteristics of the respective transformer when a Scott connected transformer has control equipment arranged on the input side thereof, including first control equipment arranged in one of two phases of the main transformer on the input side in order to control a voltage or a current and second control equipment arranged in one end of a primary coil of the teaser transformer on the input side in order to control a voltage or a current, the control equipment controlling an output voltage of the main transformer and an output voltage of the teaser transformer individually.

In a power supply device using a Scott connected transformer made of a main transformer and a teaser transformer, it is considered to provide control elements to control a voltage or a current in each of three phases of the Scott connected transformer on the primary side in order to control an output voltage of the main transformer and an output voltage of the teaser transformer.
Because a current flowing through a primary coil of the teaser transformer also flows into a primary coil of the main transformer, even with the arrangement of control elements in three phases of the Scott connected transformer on the primary side, individual control of output voltages in two single-phase circuits is not possible.
Due to the above reason, a general method is to control output voltages in two single-phase circuits individually by providing a control element in each of two single-phase circuits respectively in order to control a voltage and/or a current therein.
However, if a load connected to a single-phase circuit has low resistance, the single-phase circuit becomes a large current circuit where arrangement of control circuit is difficult practically. Therefore, a configuration as shown in FIG. 13 is adopted where control elements are arranged in two single-phase circuits that are made of Scott connected transformers and two sets of single-phase transformers are further arranged to transform outputs of the two single-phase circuits to low-voltage large currents. That is, this method requires a total of three sets of transformers including one set of Scott connected transformers and two sets of single-phase transformers.

Power circuit, iron core for Scott connected transformer, Scott connected transformer, and superheated steam generator


A tonneau cover can include at least one pair of cooperating locking elements coupled thereto with the cooperating locking elements being positioned to engage and automatically lock with each other when rearward sections of the tonneau cover are folded onto the forward section and into a stack. Thus, the cooperating locking elements can operate to retain the sections together in the stack when locked with each other.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Tonneau cover systems can include a tonneau cover with hinged sections that are foldable between a closed configuration in which the sections are arranged to cover the cargo box and an open configuration in which the sections are arranged in a stack with the rearward sections stacked upon the forward section. Two straps are typically used to buckle the stacked sections together. These straps help maintain the sections in the stack while the truck is traveling down the highway with the tonneau cover in the open, stacked configuration.
Unfortunately, sometimes users forget to buckle any of the straps so that nothing prevents the tonneau cover from becoming unstacked when subjected to high winds. In other cases, users sometimes only buckle one of the straps on one side stack adjacent one side of the cargo box, which allows high winds to expand the other side of the stack adjacent the other side of the cargo box. Of course, the effect of the wind on the stack increases as the stack expands. In either case, damage to cargo in the cargo box, to the tonneau cover, to the truck, or worse, can occur.

Tonneau cover system with automatic stowing latch


A holey plate for sound absorption and insulation may include an array of through holes including a plurality of through holes having at least two different diameters, and the array of through holes being arrayed on the holey plate to form a predetermined pattern.

Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a holey plate for sound absorption and insulation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a holey plate for sound absorption and insulation, the plate being configured for absorbing sound and insulating from sound by using through holes.
Description of Related art
A composite panel that is constituted by an aluminum plate and sound absorbing and insulating material is generally used for a heat protector applied to a vehicle.
The composite panel is configured such that a sound absorbing and insulating material is filled between two aluminum plates, wherein rigidity is reinforced by the aluminum plate, and the sound absorbing and insulating material serves to insulate from heat, absorb sound, insulate from sound, and the like.
Here, when the simple planar aluminum plate is used, rigidity may low, so an embossed plate configured such that the aluminum plate is formed with concave-convex surface in order to reinforce rigidity.
A conventional plate is, for example, configured such that a hexagonal convex cell is arrayed to form a honeycomb structure in order to maximize rigidity. However, the conventional plate is problematic in that processability thereof is low, and accordingly it is difficult to manufacture a heat protector having a desirable shape.
Further, by using the composite panel simply filled with the sound absorbing and insulating material, it is difficult to achieve satisfactory sound absorption and insulation performance.
In order to improve sound absorption and insulation performance, a holey plate configured such that holes are made in the aluminum plate has been disclosed. However, the conventional holey plate is problematic in that sound absorption and insulation performance is limited.
Thus, an improved plate for sound absorption and insulation capable of solving the above problems is required.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Holey plate for sound absorption and insulation


A silica comprising at least two silica fractions, wherein said at least two silica fractions differ by at least 10% in at least one value for BET surface area, CTAB surface area and DBP absorption, the ranges of these three physicochemical properties being as follows:

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to silicas having an inhomogeneous structure or composition, to processes for preparing them, and to their use as carrier material.
2. Description of the Background
Readily dispersible silicas are prepared, for example, by the procedure described, for instance, in EP 0 901 986 or EP 0 647 591 by precipitating waterglass with sulfuric acid, followed by drying. The dried products are subsequently ground and/or granulated.
By means of mechanical granulation, any silica can be prepared in dust-free form;
however, this additional process step generally brings about a deterioration in the dispersibility of the silica.
In another process, silicas are prepared, likewise by acid precipitation, but are dried by spraying with hot air and at the same time are shaped into beads, which are easily destroyed. Thus EP 018 866 describes the preparation of spray-dried silica having an average particle diameter of more than 80 μm, the particles being solid and possessing a homogeneous structure.
Spray-dried silicas as described in EP 0 018 866 are particularly suitable as carrier materials, because they are dust-free and possess a high absorbency. The ability to operate without dust being generated is an important criterion for the processing of the silica, because simple processing of the silicas without the need for suction exhaust units is of great economic importance. Besides freedom from dust, the specific surface areas (BET, CTAB) and the oil absorption capacity (DBP) are important for carrier material utility.
In contrast to mechanical granulation, spray drying cannot be used to prepare all silicas in dust-free form.
One type of silica generally does not meet all of the required criteria. Mixtures of two or more types of silica can frequently be prepared, but such mixtures normally generate excessive amounts of dust. A need therefore continues to exist for a silica which at one and the same time covers broad ranges of physicochemical data such as BET or CTAB surface area, and which has good absorbency and generates only low quantities of dust. As already stated, this cannot be achieved for all silicas by means of spray drying or granulation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Inhomogeneous silicas as carrier material

Abstract: BET surface area100-900 m2/g,CTAB surface area100-500 m2/g,DBP absorption150-350 g/100 g.


A gear speed change system includes an input shaft, an output shaft coaxial therewith, a first counter shaft disposed parallel to the input and output shafts, and a second counter shaft coaxial with the first counter shaft. The input shaft and the first counter shaft, and the second counter shaft and the output shaft are coupled at a fixed ratio, respectively. One of gear sets selectively couples the input shaft to the second counter shaft and the output shaft to the first counter shaft, respectively. A clutch is provided between the first and the second counter shafts. With this construction, speed changes by the first counter shaft, the second counter shaft, and the combination of the first and second counter shafts may be effected, thereby reducing the number of required gear sets as compared with that of the speed change steps. The first counter shaft and the second counter shaft may be replaced with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to multiple stage gear speed change systems and, more particularly, to a speed change system, which can obtain a wide speed change ratio range and has reduced necessary gear sets so that it is suited for mounting in vehicles.
2. Prior Art
FIG. 20(A) accompanying the specification schematically shows a well-known gear speed change system. This speed change system comprises an input shaft, an output shaft disposed coaxially therewith, and a counter shaft disposed parallel to the input and output shafts. The input and counter shafts are coupled by a gear pair or set A to each other at all times. More specifically, a gear rotatable in unison with the input shaft and a gear rotatable in unison with the counter shaft are in mesh with each other and form the gear set A coupling the input and counter shafts at all times. The counter and output shafts are coupled by a plurality of gear sets to each other. These gear sets are each formed by at least two gears, at least one of which is rotatable relative to the output or counter shaft. A clutch is disposed adjacent the gear sets. The clutch can render one of the plural gear sets unable to rotate relative to the output and counter shafts while rendering the other gear sets able to rotate relative to the output or counter shaft. The plurality of gear sets individually have different speed reduction ratios. In the Figure, the solid frame between shafts indicates a gear set which is coupled at all times, and dashed frames indicate gear sets which are coupled and de-coupled by the clutch.
In the example of system shown in FIG. 20(A), "reverse" is set up when the gear set B is coupled, "first forward" is set up when the gear set C is coupled, "second forward" is set up when the gear set D is coupled, "third forward" is set up when the gear set E is coupled, "fourth forward" is set up when the input and output shafts are coupled directly, and "fifth forward" is set up when the gear set F is coupled. The system has a total of six gear sets.
In this type of speed change system, if it is desired to obtain a wide speed change ratio range, it is necessary to greatly change the gear diameters of the first and fifth forward gear sets C and F, thus posing limitation on the practically realizable speed change ratio range.
Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publications Nos. 1-169644 and 2-146335 disclose techniques for solving the above problem. In the disclosed techniques, two counter shafts are used as shown in FIG. 20(B) accompanying the specification. Actually, the two counter shafts are disposed coaxially. Of the two counter shafts, one (i.e., a second counter shaft in the illustrated case) is for low speed, and the other (which is a first counter shaft in this case) is for high speed. The input shaft is coupled at all times to the second and first counter shafts by gear sets D and A, respectively. The second counter shaft for low speed is rotated at a lower speed than the first counter shaft for high speed. The output and second counter shafts are coupled by low speed gear sets E to G, and the output and first counter shafts are coupled by high speed gear sets B and C. A clutch can selectively cause the gear sets B and C and those E to G to transmit torque, and it is possible to realize five different speed change ratios each by selectively coupling each of the five gear sets B to G for torque transmission. In addition, a further speed change ratio is obtainable by coupling the input and output shafts directly. That is, a total of six speed change ratios are available for selection. Thus, this speed change system, like that shown in FIG. 20(A), is a reverse 1, forward 5 speed change ratio system. In this case, the rotational speeds of the two counter shafts can be changed greatly to provide a great span between the first and fifth forward speed change ratios, that is, it is possible to obtain a wide speed change ratio range.
While the structure shown in FIG. 20(B), using two counter shafts, can provide a wide speed change ratio range, a gear set is necessary between the input shaft and each of the two counter shafts, that is, one more gear set is necessary than those in the structure shown in FIG. 20(A). With the structure shown in FIG. 20(A), on the other hand, a sufficiently wide speed change ratio range can not be obtained.

Gear speed change system with two counter shafts


A digital to analogue converter (DAC) system (30) is described which has a plurality of weighting elements (40) where some of the weighting elements have a different nominal weight from other elements. In a preferred arrangement pairs of elements with the same nominal weight are combined, with each pair of elements having more than two output states. A selection unit is coupled to the elements and an adder is coupled to the selection unit to sum the outputs of the weighted elements. In use, the DAC system receives a digital signal and the selection unit determines the output state of each element combination to provide values of the weighted elements which, when summed, are equivalent to the digital signal. The selection unit also determines the output state of each element in each element combination to minimise errors. An analogue to digital (A/D) converter (200) based on the DAC is also described.

The present invention relates to digital to analogue converters (DACs). In particular, the invention relates to DACs for applications where high DAC linearity is required, for example, in multi-level xcexa3-xcex94 modulators.
DACs use elements (components) having weighting values and these elements are selected to produce an output corresponding to the input. The elements selected are summed to produce the output. DAC non-linearity arises because each element has an actual value which is slightly different to its nominal value. This difference may be due to mismatches introduced during the fabrication process. Non-linearity gives rise to distortion.
One known method of correcting for DAC non-linearity uses dynamic element matching (DEM). A known DEM based system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. In the DEM based system 10, a digital pulse code modulation (PCM) sequence on input 12 is decomposed by the DEM system 14 into a plurality of output sequences associated with DEM outputs 16. DEM outputs 16 are used to drive multiple DAC elements 18 whose outputs are summed to provide an analogue signal on output 20. The sum of these output sequences 16 is always equal to the input sequence at every sample instant.
The signal on each DEM output 16 can be either of two levels: one level indicating that the associated DAC element 18 is used, the other level indicating that the associated DAC element 18 is not used; alternatively, one level indicates that the associated DAC element 18 is used in a positive sense, the other level indicates that the associated DAC element 18 is used in a negative sense.
Each DAC element 18 has the same nominal weighting, and the desired analogue signal on output 20 is obtained by using different combinations of the DAC elements 18 (shuffling the DAC elements). This ensures that any errors are randomised, that is, they become noise-like. The DEM system 14 determines the optimum output sequence, which is the sequence having a frequency spectrum with the lowest low frequency power other than that associated with the input digital sequence on signal 12, by using selection logic.
One problem with this technique is that many DAC elements are required to reproduce a large input value and to minimise errors by randomising.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantage.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a digital to analogue converter system comprising:
a plurality of digital to analogue converter elements, where at least some of the elements have a different nominal weight to other elements, and elements having the same nominal weight are associated to form element combinations, each element combination having more than two output states;
a selection unit coupled to the digital to analogue converter elements; and
an adder to sum the weighted elements;
whereby, in use, the digital to analogue converter system receives a digital signal and the selection unit determines the output state of each element combination to provide values of weighted elements which, when summed, are equivalent to the digital signal and the selection unit also determines the output state of each element in each element combination to minimise errors.
Preferably, the selection unit is a vector quantiser.
The selection unit may operate according to known techniques, such as the addition technique as described in reference 1 on pages 47 to 50 (see appendix), or the rotation approach as described in reference 1 on pages 46 and 47. The selection unit may determine the output state of each element combination in such a way that the errors average to zero over multiple sample instances.
The selection unit may introduce a dither signal to randomise the selection of the output state of each element.
Preferably, element combinations consist of pairs of elements, thereby providing element combinations with three output states.
Preferably, one of each pair of elements has a positive value and the other of each pair of elements has a negative value. Alternatively, one of each pair of elements has a value of zero and the other of each pair of elements has a positive non-zero value.
Preferably, the elements in each element combination have a binary weight value. Alternatively, any other convenient system of weight values may be used.
Preferably, the selection unit minimises low frequency errors. Alternatively, the selection unit minimises errors in another frequency range, such as high frequency.
It will be appreciated that a digital to analogue converter system as set forth above may be used on its own or it may be incorporated in an application which uses a DAC, for example, an oversampled DAC or a sigma-delta based DAC.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an analogue to digital converter (ADC) comprising:
a subtractor for receiving a main analogue input and a feedback analogue input, and for producing an output equal to the difference between the main input and the feedback input;
an analogue loop filter coupled to the output of the subtractor;
a quantiser coupled to the output of the analogue loop filter; and
a DAC according to the first aspect of the invention;
where the DAC is located in a feedback loop such that the input to the DAC is coupled to the output of the quantiser and the output of the DAC is coupled to the feedback analogue input, whereby, in use, an analogue signal applied to the main input is continuously compared with the signal on the feedback input so that the signal on the output of the quantiser is minimised.
It will be appreciated that the above system may be used with an oversampled multibit analogue to digital converter (ADC).
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of converting a digital signal to a corresponding analogue signal, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a digital to analogue converter having a plurality of digital to analogue converter elements, where at least some of the elements have a different nominal weight to other elements and elements having the same nominal weight are associated to form element combinations, each element combination having more than two output states;
receiving a digital signal;
determining the output states for each element combination;
determining for each element combination the output state of each element so that when summed with other elements in the element combination the output state for each element combination is correct and errors are minimised;
whereby, when all of the elements are summed an analogue signal is produced which corresponds to the input digital signal.
It will be appreciated that the present invention has the advantage that there are a number of possible ways to combine the available element combinations to produce a value equivalent to the digital signal, so that the selection unit can choose element values which produce the lowest error. The present invention also has the advantage that elements having different weight values are used so that large output values can be produced using fewer elements than is possible using the known method of having identical unit value elements. The reduced element requirement means that there are fewer components to switch, there is less complexity, and consequently parasitic effects are reduced.

Digital to analogue converter with dynamic element matching


The invention relates to a striking hand-held machine tool having a tool holder for holding a striking tool on a working shaft, an electric motor, and a striking mechanism. In the striking direction, the striking mechanism has an exciter piston, a pneumatic chamber, a striker, an intermediate chamber and a rivet snap following one another. A closed channel connects a first channel opening in the pneumatic chamber and a second channel opening in the intermediate chamber. A non-return valve, which shuts off during an air flow from the first channel opening to the second channel opening and opens during an air flow from the second channel opening to the first channel opening, is arranged in the channel. Arranged on the second channel opening is a shut-off valve, which is forced into a position closing the second channel opening when the rivet snap is in the working position.

A hand-held pneumatic hammer drill comprises a pneumatic percussion mechanism, which is driven by a motor. A pneumatic chamber forms an air spring, which couples a percussion means to an exciter that is moved by the motor. The percussion mechanism is deactivated when the user does not apply any contact pressure to the tool in order to protect the percussion mechanism against excessive loading. As soon as the user presses the hammer drill against the tool, the percussion mechanism starts to work again. In high-powered machines, it has proven difficult to control the guidance of the hammer drill when pressing it against the tool again.


A method and apparatus for detecting rogue security software whereby a timeframe and a threshold pop-up score are defined. A user computing system is monitored/scanned for any pop-up events being presented to the user and once a pop-up event is detected, the source process, or application, associated with the pop-up event is identified. The identified source process is then monitored for at least the defined timeframe and each pop-up event associated with the identified source process in the defined timeframe is counted and used to compute a pop-up score for the identified source process. The pop-up score for the identified source process is then compared with the threshold pop-up score and if the pop-up score associated with the identified source process exceeds the threshold pop-up score, the status of the identified source process is transformed to the status of identified “suspect” source process.

Rogue security software is a form of computer malware that deceives or misleads users/victims into paying for the "fake", or simulated, removal of malware, and/or, in some cases, removal of malware intentionally introduced by the rogue security software itself. In recent years, rogue security software has become a growing and serious security threat to computing systems and communication networks and it is estimated that currently a full 15% or more of all malware is a form of rogue security software.
Herein, malware includes, but is not limited to, any software and/or code designed to infiltrate a computing system without the owner's informed and/or explicit consent.
Rogue security software typically relies on social engineering in order to defeat the security built into modern operating systems, browser software, and security systems, and install itself onto users'/victims' computing systems. Most rogue security software has a Trojan horse component which users/victims are misled into installing onto/into their computing systems. The Trojan horse may be disguised as, but is not limited to: free online malware scanning services; a browser plug-in or extension (typically toolbar); an image, screensaver, or archive file, attached to an e-mail message; a multimedia codec allegedly, or actually, required to play a certain video clip; software shared on peer-to-peer networks; and/or any other examples of the seemingly ever-evolving number of Trojan horse devices. In addition, some rogue security software is propagated onto a user/victim computing system as drive-by downloads which exploit security vulnerabilities in web browsers or e-mail clients to install themselves without any manual interaction by the user.
Once installed, the rogue security software typically generates multiple malware alerts notifying the user/victim of the fake or simulated detection of malware, pornography, or any other undesirable files, on the user's/victim's computing system and/or displays an animation simulating a fake system crash, and/or reboot of the user's/victim's computing system. In some instances, the rogue security software includes detailed malware alerts and/or message boxes that list specific files that purportedly are the malware, are infected with the malware, and/or contain the malware. In some instances, the rogue security software alerts the user/victim to performance problems or the need to perform essential housekeeping on the user's/victim's computing system. In some cases, the rogue security software will hold the user hostage by refusing to allow him or her to remove or fix the phantom problems until the "required" software is purchased and installed, and/or by the simulated system reboots and/or lockups.
As noted above, the rogue security software typically attempts to scare, or annoy, the user/victim into taking a desired action, such as paying out money to "fix" the problem, by presenting authentic-looking pop-up warnings and security alerts. These pop-up warnings and security alerts often very accurately mimic legitimate system and/or security system notices to leverage the trust of the user/victim in vendors of legitimate security software, and/or operating systems, and/or web-sites, and/or businesses.
As result of this "marketing model" used by rogue security software, e.g., to scare and/or annoy the user/victim into taking the desired action, one very common feature, or behavior, associated with rogue security software is that the pop-up warnings and security alerts are generated fairly often, i.e., at a high repetition frequency, such as multiple times per hour.
Once the rogue security software has alerted, and/or scared, the user/victim into believing their system has been infected with malware, typically via the frequently generated pop-up warnings and security alerts, the user/victim is then usually enticed to pay for malware removal services offered through the rogue security software to remove the fake, simulated, or intentionally introduced, malware. Often the user/victim is then asked to provide credit card, or other payment, information to pay for the malware removal services. In some cases, the user/victim is merely charged the stated amount for the malware removal services, and therefore only the stated amount is effectively stolen from the user/victim. In other cases, the user's/victim's payment information is used to steal lager amounts from the user/victim and/or to achieve identity theft.
Traditional methods of detecting rogue security software using legitimate security systems is a fairly time intensive and resource consuming process that is largely reactionary in nature. For instance, currently, an infected consumer of the security system first contacts the security system provider and/or provides a sample of the suspected rogue security software. Then, currently, researchers associated with the security system typically download the suspected rogue security software itself and analyze the suspected rogue security software. Currently, once the suspected rogue security software is analyzed, if it is indeed found to be rogue security software, a sample of the rogue security software, or features/code defining the rogue security software, is added to a rogue security software signature database and further instances of the rogue security software are thereby, in theory, identifiable and stoppable.
As described above, current methods for detection of rogue security software using currently available legitimate security systems is, at best, a time intensive and resource consuming reactionary process that uses samples of the rogue security software itself to identify future instances of specific rogue security software. This means that, using currently available security systems, even in a "best case", scenario, identified rogue security software is provided significant time and opportunity to infect more systems, and create more victims, before an adequate defense is created and implemented.
To actual current situation is even worse than described above because the methods used by perpetrators of rogue security software have become quite sophisticated and the perpetrators of rogue security software have become quite adept at changing the characteristic and operational parameters associated with the rogue security software, such as names, version data, and web-pages, and/or Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), to avoid detection, or respond to detection, of the rogue security software by various legitimate security systems. Consequently, while, in the past, attackers mass-distributed a relatively small number of rogue security software versions, today they are generating and distributing millions of randomly-generated variants of rogue security software, that are often released as frequently as every few minutes, and sent to just a few targeted users at a time before the next set of variants are generated and distributed. As a result, currently, each user is potentially infected by a unique variant of rogue security software. Thus, traditional definition/signature based approaches to identifying and blocking rogue security software do not scale well to meet this challenge, nor are they particularly effective.
In addition, any text-based methods of detecting rogue security software, such as creating definitions or signatures based on the text of the generated alert and/or warning, can also be ineffective because the warnings may be generated in any language, be made to mimic actual warnings, and are also subject to multiple, and rapidly changed, variations.
As a result of the situation discussed above, rogue security software is currently a very serious threat that, thus far, has proven extremely difficult to detect and block using currently available legitimate security systems.

Method and system for detecting rogue security software that displays frequent misleading warnings


Methods, apparatus and systems for sharing data based on user interactions. User interactions with data, such as creating a file, opening a file, or modifying a file, are monitored by a user computing device. When the user interactions satisfy a data-interaction condition defined by a set of rules, information associated with the user interaction is communicated to a remote server for subsequent sharing with the user or another recipient. The information associated with the user interaction may include data, metadata, and or contextual data.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to the global sharing of and access to electronic resources, and in particular to sharing data based on user interactions with the data.
As long as electronic resources have been available there has been an interest in sharing those resources. Prior to the proliferation of networked electronic devices, data would often be stored onto electronic media such as punched tape, magnetic cassettes, floppy disks, and the like. With modern advances in network connectivity the need for portable data storage media has decreased while the desire to share electronic resources over widespread computer networks has increased.
Numerous techniques for sharing electronic resources over computer networks are in use today. For example, Dropbox™ by Dropbox, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif. provides cloud storage by which users can copy data between computers having the Dropbox™ software installed and share data with others. To do so, a networked folder is provided on the user's computer, and any data that the user moves to that networked folder can be synchronized with remote servers. The user may then access the data on the remote servers from another device having the Dropbox™ software installed or share the data on the remote servers with others by sending a link to a website where the other individuals may download the data.
While the more recent provisions for sharing data between users via networked computing systems provide enhancements over traditional file sharing such as copying data to portable storage devices (such as CD's, DVD's, USB keys, and the like), all of these known techniques suffer from numerous deficiencies. For example, in a typical network-based data-sharing scenario, a user must explicitly identify specific data (e.g., a particular file) and then explicitly request that the identified data be shared (e.g., by dragging and dropping an icon representing the identified file from its host directory to a destination directory). Such tasks are not only burdensome but also inefficient.

User interaction-based data sharing via cloud-based remote servers


Disclosed is a solid electrolytic capacitor, wherein a capacitor element has a front surface from which an anode lead wire is protruded. A cathode layer is formed on an outer surface of the capacitor element. A flat-shaped cathode lead frame is surface-contacted with an entire rear surface of the capacitor element. A flat-shaped anode lead frame has a concave portion formed at a central end portion thereof, in which the anode lead wire of the capacitor element is seated and electrically connected to the concave portion. A mold is formed to surround the capacitor element, to partially surround the anode lead frame, and to contact a face of the cathode lead frame which is surface-contacted with the capacitor element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid electrolytic capacitor and a manufacturing method thereof in which a volume efficiency is improved, and more particularly, to a solid electrolytic capacitor for improving a contact structure of a capacitor element and a lead frame such that the capacitor element has a greater volume to improve the volume efficiency.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a solid electrolytic capacitor called a tantalum capacitor is widely used in an application circuit having a low rating voltage range as well as in a general industrial device, and in particular is widely used in a circuit in which a frequency characteristic is of question. Generally, the solid electrolytic capacitor is widely used to reduce a noise of a portable communication device.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional tantalum capacitor 100 includes a capacitor element 102 embedded into a case 112; an anode lead wire 108 integrally protruded from the capacitor element 102; an anode lead frame 104 welded to the anode lead wire 108 and protruded out of the case; and a cathode lead frame 114 being in contact with the capacitor element 102.
A method of manufacturing the capacitor 100 includes performing a press step for cuboid-shaping and sintering a dielectric powder; performing a chemical step for forming a dielectric coating film on an outer surface of the resultants; and dipping the resultants in an aqueous solution of manganese nitrate to form a solid-electrolytic manganese dioxide layer on an outer surface of the resultants by using thermal decomposition.
Recently, the tantalum capacitor 100 is widely used in a miniaturized device to be in a tendency of gradual miniaturization comparing to the conventional art. If the capacitor 100 is miniaturized, contact portions of the capacitor element 102 and lead frames 104 and 114 occupy much space to cause the tantalum element 102 to be small-sized relatively. As a result, the conventional tantalum capacitor has a drawback in that the capacitor element has a small volume efficiency to reduce capacitance and increase impedance.
Further, since the lead frame is required to be much limited in reduction of a size itself so as to firmly fix the lead frame inserted into the case, the lead frame inserted into the case should be much limited in size reduction. That is, it is required to firmly fix the lead frame by molding; if the lead frame is excessively reduced in size, there is a drawback in that the lead frame is not firmly fixed.
FIG. 2 illustrates the tantalum capacitor for increasing the volume efficiency of the capacitor element by improving the contacting method of the lead frame. FIG. 2 relates to U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,878 entitled as "Chip Capacitor".
In FIG. 2, the capacitor element 200 has a cathode layer 220 on its outer surface, and has an anode lead wire 240 protruded from its body. Further, on one lower end of the cathode layer is formed a flat-shaped cathode lead frame 210 parallel with and electrically connected with the cathode layer, and on the other lower end of the cathode layer is formed a flat-shaped anode lead frame 230 electrically connected with an anode connection member 234.
The conventional chip capacitor is constructed to arrange the lead frames on a lower surface of a chip so as to increase the volume efficiency of the capacitor element of the chip, and to connect the lead frame with an external terminal. However, the above structured chip capacitor can achieve an advantageous increase of the volume efficiency, whereas has a drawback generated when the chip is mounted.
In other words, since the chip has the terminal only at the lower surface thereof, the chip does not have the terminal at the side surface thereof. Accordingly, at the time of soldering, the conventional chip capacitor has a drawback in that the contact area between the solder and the terminal is not formed normally. The solder 270 is bonded to the chip in a shape as in FIG. 3. The solder 270 is used to bond the cathode lead frame 210 disposed on the lower surface of the solid electrolytic capacitor to a substrate 290, and most of the solder 270 is bonded to the side surface of the chip. This causes unreliability in the electrical connection of the chip and the substrate.

Solid electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method


A lighting system includes a control unit for controlling brightness level of a light source based on a photosensor output signal and a motion sensor output signal. The control unit may increase the brightness level of the light source as ambient light level decreases, or decreases the brightness level as the ambient light level increases. The control unit may also increase the brightness level to a maximum brightness level when motion is detected.

This disclosure relates generally to lighting systems, and more particularly to lighting systems that provide a variable level of illumination inversely proportional to ambient light levels.
A lighting system is often used as a preventive measure against intrusions or criminal activities on a piece of property. For example, security lighting may be used to help with the detection of intruders, to deter intruders, or simply to increase the feeling of safety for the person in possession of the property.
Generally, security lighting systems only switch on or activate when a person or moving object approaches and is detected, for example by a motion sensor. Otherwise, these systems remain off, or switch off after a period of time elapses subsequent to the last detection of motion. A security lighting system that turns on based merely on a detection of motion may not deter an intruder. Furthermore, such security measure may easily be circumvented.
Accordingly, there remains a need for a lighting system that illuminates based not only on a detection of motion, but also on ambient light level.

Hampton Products International Corporation


A method and device for transferring a vehicle travelling with lateral guidance support into a driving state with a reduced risk of the consequences of a collision in the event of the driver experiencing an emergency, wherein the speed of the vehicle is higher than a predefined limiting speed. The method detects a hands-off situation of the driver and outputs a hands-off warning in a hands-off phase and carries out a warning escalation in an escalation phase if there is no reaction to the hands-off warning, wherein initiation of the escalation phase is prevented if a predefined blocking condition is satisfied.

In the field of active safety of a motor vehicle, contemporary driver assistance systems are already able to perform driving tasks of the driver of a motor vehicle and to carry out partially automated or partially autonomous driving functions. This is manifest in the examples of adaptive cruise control or lane assist or heading control.
Illustrative embodiments provide a method and a device, wherein a vehicle traveling at high speed is transferred into a driving state with a reduced risk of the consequences of a collision when it is assumed that the driver is experiencing an emergency. In this context, the intention is to avoid as far as possible misuse of the emergency system by the driver.

Emergency assistance for controlling a vehicle


The present invention relates to a process for the production of a dicarboxylic acid. The process comprises fermenting a yeast in the presence of a carbohydrate-containing substrate and low amounts of oxygen at a pH value at which at least 50% of the dicarboxylic acid is in the acid form. The process of the present invention allows for high yields of the dicarboxylic acid product and is more cost-effective than existing processes in which the salt is produced which during recovery has to be converted to the acid. It also leads to a simpler and more convenient downstream processing.

Dicarboxylic acids, such as fumaric acid and succinic acid, are important compounds which are used in the food industry for the preparation and preservation of food, in the medical industry for the formulation of medical products and other industrial uses, such as monomers for (bio)polymers. To meet the increasing need for dicarboxylic acids, more efficient and cost effective production methods are being developed. Traditionally, dicarboxylic acids are made by fermentation of bacteria, which can produce large amounts of dicarboxylic acids. This is for example described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,931 which describes a method for producing succinic acid in high concentrations by employing a bacterial strain. However, one major drawback associated with the use of bacteria for producing dicarboxylic acids is the formation of dicarboxylic acid salt. If bacteria are used, the pH during fermentation needs to be maintained in the range of pH 6-7, which is higher than the pKa values of all dicarboxylic acids. As a consequence, most acids will be produced in their salt form and the salts will have to be converted into the acid. This is not practical or efficient in large-scale production processes and raises production costs. Also microorganisms other than bacteria have been employed for the production of organic acids. EP 0 424 384 discloses an aerobic process for the production of organic acids by Rhizopus in a medium containing calcium carbonate. EP 1 183 385 discloses genetically manipulated yeast cells with a Crabtree negative phenotype and containing an exogenous nucleus acid molecule for the production of lactic acid.

Dicarboxylic acid production by fermentation at low pH


A tibia cutting jig mechanism (TCJM) is provided having a number N1 of spaced apart TCJM contact points that correspond to a number N1 of spaced apart knee contact points on at least one of a tibia plateau surface and a tibia shaft surface. The TCJM contact points are positioned in contact with the tibia contact points, and a cut bar guide is positioned in contact with the TCJM to provide a location and an angular orientation of a cut bar plane that is to be used to resection and remove a selected portion of the patient's tibia. The TCJM is removed from the patient's knee, and a selected portion of the patent's tibia is resectioned and removed. The number N1 is at most about seven in some embodiments.

Traumatic knee injuries, such as ligament tears and meniscus tears, degenerative joint diseases, such as arthritis, and overall wear and tear can lead to repairing or replacing a knee joint—referred to as an "arthroplasty" procedure. A conventional arthroplasty procedure involves remodeling, realigning and, in some instances, the replacement of the damaged knee joint with prosthetic implants. For example, in a total knee replacement procedure, a portion of the femur and tibia, where they come together at the knee joint, are removed and replaced with a femoral shell and a mating tibial plate, respectively, that together function like a healthy knee joint.
To assist in arthroplasty procedures, and particularly partial or total knee replacements, a jig may be used to position any one of a number of possible instruments used to drill, cut, and shape or otherwise operate on the damaged knee area. In the particular case of a total knee replacement, a jig may be positioned on the femur to mount a cutting guide that in turn supports a bone saw or other tool to cut (resect) a portion of the distal region of the femur. Similarly, a jig may be positioned on the tibia to mount a cutting guide that in turn supports a bone saw or other tool to resect a portion of the proximal region of the tibia. After the femur and tibia are prepared, the surgeon mounts the femoral shell and tibial plate.
Images of orthopedic joints that are candidates for partial or total replacement are often formed as MRI images, referred to here as "slices," with each such image being a projection on a two dimensional image forming substrate. Each such MRI image is actually a three dimensional "voxel," representing a thickness of approximately 2 mm of partial images of cortical bone, cancellous bone cartilage and open space, with each such material having its own range of grey scales in the MRI image. For a full three dimensional representation of an anatomical surface of interest, it is often necessary to obtain tens to hundreds of MRI slices in each of three views (coronal or front view, axial or top view, and sagittal or side view) for a given anatomical component.
Many of the knee replacement procedures presently use what is characterized as "full segmentation" in order to represent a relevant portion of a femur surface or a tibia surface in three dimensions. This approach requires use of a dense, three dimensional grid of points to accurately represent a surface, especially a surface having cusps or sharp corners with very small associated radii of curvature. This approach has several disadvantages, including the following: (1) this approach may be time consuming, often requiring 4-20 hours of intense numerical work to generate and check the accuracy of the grid point coordinates for a single surface; (2) because of the time required to implement this approach for a single surface, use of this approach in mass manufacturing of custom or semi-custom instruments is limited; (3) this approach may introduce geometrical errors, including closing errors; (4) because of the close spacing of grid points, polynomials of high mathematical degree are used, which can introduce undesirable "ripples" in the mathematical surface produced by a full segmentation process; and (5) formation and analysis of a large number of MRI slices is required.
It is with these observations in mind, among others, that various aspects of the present disclosure were conceived.


An interface circuit is described for use with a plurality of peripherals or attachments connected in data communication with a central computer. The computer sends data messages, each of which includes the unique addresses of that peripheral to which the particular data message is directed. The peripheral interface contains areas for stripping and then storing addresses from the message received from the computer. If the address matches that of the peripheral, the peripheral acts on the message and responds when necessary to the computer with a message return that includes the address.

The present invention relates generally to digital data communication, and more particularly to an interface for use in facilitating data communication between a computer and a plurality of peripherals.
To increase the utility of digital computers it has become a common practice to connect a central computer to a series of peripherals or attachments, which are typically located remote from the computer in a network configuration. The peripherals are typically a printer, a terminal, a personal computer (PC) and the like, and each includes its own microprocessor. In order for these peripherals to operate, each must be able to communicate with the central computer in accordance with a common data protocol or format established by the computer.
In order for the computer to be able to communicate selectively with the peripherals, each of the peripherals is typically assigned a unique address. Each data stream or message from the computer includes, along with the data directed to the peripheral and sync and parity bits, the address for the peripheral to which the message is intended. After the peripheral has processed or acted on the data transmitted to it in this fashion, the peripheral returns a message to the computer, which includes the address of the peripheral from which the message emanates along with appropriate data and synchronization bits.
To allow the computer to communicate with the peripheral an interface is typically provided for each peripheral to convert the message format received from the computer to a format that can be processed in the peripheral microprocessor. In the known computer peripheral interfaces, the address of the first message frame that is received from the computer is checked to determine if the message is directed to that peripheral; that is, if the address portion of the received message is that of the peripheral. In those cases in which a particular peripheral must respond to (or emulate) multiple addresses, the interface must check the received addresses to all the possible peripheral addresses (typically up to seven). This process requires a not insignificant time.
Moreover, after the conventional attachment determines that the message from the computer is intended for it, and that the peripheral must then respond to the computer, it must provide two bytes of information for every outgoing frame--one byte for data and the second byte for the peripheral address. This is a disadvantage because the microprocessor associated with that peripheral has to save and reproduce the address and perform two write operations for every outgoing frame.
In addition, if the frame of the message from the addressed peripheral to the computer is the last frame in a multi-frame message, the microprocessor in the conventional interface must keep track of the data it is sending to determine that it is sending the last frame, and, instead of sending the peripheral address information it must send the end-of-message delimiter (typically a three-bit address of binary 111 or seven).
In large part owing to these requirements, the conventional peripheral interface circuits have been bulky and expensive, typically consisting of as many as 100 integrated circuits mounted on a board. There is thus a present need for a less expensive and less bulky interface for use in connecting a plurality of different peripherals to a central computer and which still allows the logic of the peripheral to conform to the protocol of the computer.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an interface of the type described which is less costly and less complex than the presently known peripheral interface circuits.
It is another object of the invention to provide a peripheral interface of the type described which facilitates and speeds up data communication between a peripheral and a computer.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a peripheral interface of the type described which can function with a less complex and thus less expensive microprocessor.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a peripheral interface of the type described which can be used to respond to a plurality of peripheral addresses.
To these ends, the peripheral interface of the invention includes means for stripping the address bit from the message received from the computer and for comparing the stripped address with its own address. The stripped message is saved and returned to the computer as part of a return message only if there has been a match detected between the received address and the address (or one of the addresses) of the peripheral.

Interface arrangement for facilitating data communication between a computer and peripherals


A resonator mounting assembly wherein the resonator blank is mounted agai an essentially planar surface presented by a plurality of peripherally disposed mounting clips and bonded to this surface to provide substantially all the mechanical support for the blank in a direction normal to the major faces of the resonator blank, while being flexible in the directions parallel to said major faces so as to minimize radial stresses on the resonator blank, particularly during thermal cycling of the resonator assembly. The clips are fabricated of a low thermal expansion material, such as molybdenum, which also has considerable yield strength after exposure to processing temperatures; the bonding of the clips to the edges of the resonator blank can be achieved by a polyimide containing electrically conductive particles.

The development of crystal resonator assemblies which are sufficiently rugged to withstand use in artillery-delivered electronic devices has been plagued by various problems. For example, as indicated in an article by Messrs. Filler, Frank, Peters and Vig appearing in the Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Symposium on Frequency Control held on 31 May-2 June 1978, a nickel rim electroplated onto a quartz blank permits resonators to survive high shock levels but the process of electrobonding is difficult to implement and control. A piezoelectric resonator mounting assembly using a ceramic housing and spring clips is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,388 of Hafner and Vig. The spring clips, as indicated in FIGS. 2A to 2D of this patent, exert a radial pressure against the edge of this ceramic resonator blank and, under severe shock, these crystal blanks which can be of the order of 30 mils in thickness - often destruct. The thin-edged crystal blank is difficult to assemble in the spring clips of U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,388 without cracking since it must be forced into the withdrawn clips which then snap back against the thin edges (about 3.0 mils thick) of the crystal blank. Clips of the type shown in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat No. 3,931,388 do not provide substantial strength in the direction of maximum stress during shock, namely, in a direction normal to the major faces of the crystal blank. Furthermore prior mounting structures require that the resonator blank be inserted into some structure; for example, the clips of FIG. 2 of the aforesaid patent must be moved to allow the thin edge of the crystal to fit into a recess, while, in FIGS. 6 to 8 of that patent, the crystal is inserted between the coils of one or more taut helical springs. The crystal can easily be damaged during such insertion.

Piezoelectric resonator assembly with thin molybdenum mounting clips

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


The present disclosure is directed to various mechanical logic gates. In one example a mechanical logic NOT gate system is formed which has a first pair of bi-stable buckling structures each being operatively connected at a first connection point thereof to one another, and also to a first rigid structure at second connection points, the first rigid structure being held stationary. A second pair of bi-stable buckling flexures is each operatively connected at first connection points thereof to each other and at second connection points thereof to a second rigid structure being held stationary. An output element is coupled a first one of each of the first and second pairs of bi-stable buckling structures. An input element is coupled to a second one of each of the first and second pairs of bi-stable buckling structures. The output element moves from a logic 1 position to a logic 0 position in response to movement of the input element from a logic 0 position to a logic 1 positions, respectively.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Early examples of computers were almost exclusively based on mechanical devices. Although electronic computers became dominant in the past 60 years, recent advancements in 3D micro-additive manufacturing technology provide new fabrication techniques for complex microstructures which have rekindled research interest in systems and methods able to carry out mechanical computations in response to various inputs.
Further to the above, in order to overcome the limitations of semiconductor electronics such as unstable performances and failures in extreme environments, researchers have been seeking for other computation approaches and logic computation devices on micro and submicro-scale, such as MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) logic gates and switches, all-optical logic gates, microfluidic logic devices based on droplets and bubbles, magnetic bubble logic, etc. Logic devices on an even smaller scale have also been proposed and studied, such as molecular logic gates and quantum logic gates. A major advantage of micro-mechanical logic devices is that they utilize energy in mechanical form and require no electrical power source or electronic components. As a result, such devices generate no electromagnetic signature and are highly insensitive to radiation damage. Furthermore, studies on computation reversibility have suggested that mechanical logic systems can theoretically be designed such that the energy dissipation in the system can be arbitrarily small, i.e., the computations consume nearly zero energy.
Several groups of researchers have started to explore the feasibility of mechanical computing systems. Merkle et al., arXiv Prepr, 2018 proposed a Turing-complete mechanical computing system Cooper, S. Barry, Computability Theory, Chapman and Hall/CRC, 2017, based on rigid links and rotary joints. The mechanical computation operates under a clocked external excitation, and the signal is represented by the displacement of rigid links that is guided and constrained by two basic mechanisms named locks and balances. Ion et al., In Proc. 2017 CHI Conf. Hum. Factors Comput. Syst.—CHI '17, ACM Press, New York, N.Y., USA, 2017, pp. 977-988, designed a functional-complete Enderton, Herbert and Herbert Enderton, A Mathematical Introduction to Logic, Elsevier, 2001, mechanical logic system that is integrated with 3D-printed metamaterial mechanisms. The digital signal propagates as mechanical impulses between adjacent cells through the embedded bi-stable springs. The bistable spring strengthens the incoming signal in a similar manner to the domino effect and requires a manual reset after each calculation. Raney et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2016, 113, 9722, proposed a structure that propagates mechanical signals over arbitrary distances without distortion. Logic operators such as the AND gate, the OR gate and the diode logic were demonstrated.
From the above, it will be appreciated that a strong growing interests exists in mechanical logic systems and methods which require no electronic sensing components, as well as no electrical power for their operation.

Systems for mechanical logic based on additively manufacturable micro-mechanical logic gates

Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

The Regents of the University of California


There is disclosed an image recording apparatus which automatically records location information that the user can easily understand in an image recording apparatus which records a sensed image and location information associated with the image sensing location of that image in association with each other. An image recording apparatus of this invention includes an area information reception unit for acquiring area information broadcasted by an external apparatus such as a wireless base station or the like, and automatically acquires information associated with an area where the image recording apparatus is located. The apparatus records a sensed image signal and area information in association with each other.

In recent years, apparatuses such as digital still cameras, digital video cameras, and the like, which record digital image data of moving and still images have prevailed.
Digital still cameras popularly adopt compact memory cards as recording media, and some cameras can record not only still image data but also moving image data. Also, some digital video cameras adopt randomly accessible recording media such as compact memory cards, magnetooptical disks, and the like as recording media.
In cameras that use randomly accessible recording media, image data is saved as a data file. In this case, it is a common practice to record date information of an image sensing time together with image data. In recent years, some digital still cameras and digital video cameras record location information of an image sensing place together with image data by utilizing a positioning system such as GPS or the like. The location information includes, e.g., latitude information and longitude information. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-254746 discloses a technique for managing image data based on information of image sensing places.
As means for making active use of the location information recorded together with image data, it is a common practice to use a database that records location information, place name information, and the like. Upon searching the database on the basis of the location information (latitude and longitude) recorded together with image data, a place name and map information corresponding to that location information can be acquired.
A player of image data itself may have such database or a database provided as a service on a network such as the Internet or the like may be used via a player.
However, when the latitude and longitude are recorded as location information together with image data, it is difficult for the user to understand such information as they are. For this reason, in order to make active use of the location information, a database used to acquire information such as a map, actual place name, and the like that the user can easily understand on the basis of the location information is required.
Since the database stores place name information and the like in correspondence with location information, the data size is very large. When the player itself has the database, a large-capacity storage device is required.
Alternatively, a database on the network may be used without arranging any database in the player. In such case, in an environment in which the player cannot establish a connection to the network, the database cannot be used, and the location information cannot be actively used.
In this way, when only the location information is recorded together with image data, it is not always easy to make active use of the location information.
Also, when the conventional database is used, information depending on time such as event information cannot be acquired.

Image recording apparatus capable of recording information associated with location upon image sensing together with sensed image data, and control method thereof


With a method and a System for tongue based control of computers and/or aids, particularly for severely disabled persons it is the intention to ease the communication capabilities of severely disabled persons and their control of their aids, where the costs of producing the system are low, thereby avoiding the drawbacks of the prior art. This goal is achieved with a method and a system, where the method comprises that the interaction between the arrangement and the tongue is based on induction, whereby the arrangement is equipped with at least one coil being able to interact with at least one piece of a magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue, and that the signals transmitted to the device further comprise the position of the coil in the arrangement and/or the position of the magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue, and the system comprises that the arrangement is equipped with at least one coil being able to interact with at least one piece of a magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue, and that the signals transmitted to the device further comprise the position of the coil in the arrangement and/or the position of the magnetic responsible material fixed to the tongue.

People with movement disabilities because of spinal cord injury, brain injury or other impairments of the motor system are greatly affected in their everyday life, in many cases to the extent that everyday life is impossible without continuous help. In Denmark there are more than 30,000 wheelchair users, and in the U.S. there are 200,000 people with spinal cord injuries. Any increase of self-supportiveness, maybe even to the ability of possessing a job, is crucial to improve the quality of life for these disabled individuals.
With the modern Internet and communication technology, jobs, sociability and even health care is no longer linked to the physical presence of the persons involved, but the internet has become a virtual world in which only the computer access limits the individual contribution. Here severely paralysed persons, who have lost even the ability to speak and for whom the only way of real communication is through a computer, could even possess jobs, and thereby highly improve their quality of life, as long as they have an efficient computer control. With the increased computerisation of everyday equipment, such as automatic doors, kitchen hardware, telephones, TVs, several everyday tasks can be automated. While this automation is convenient for most of us, it is potentially invaluable for increasing independence and quality of life for disabled persons. An effective control method to access these things can significantly improve the quality of life for millions of disabled all over the world.
Currently, the most successful control methods within communication are eye control devices (Gips J, DiMattia P, Curran F X and Olivieri P, "Using EagleEyes—an Electrodes Based Device for Controlling the Computer with Your Eyes", in "Interdisciplinary Aspects on Computers Helping People with Special needs" J. Klaus, e. Auff, W. Kremser, W. Zagler (eds.). R Oldenbourg, Vienna, 1996, LC Technologies, Inc. Eyegaze Systems Eyetracking 9455 Silver King Court Fairfax, Va. 22031), head control devices, voice recognition and the tongue control device (Patent: WO9307726, New Abilities Systems Inc., 1993). Still there are a number of problems related to the effectiveness of the use of these methods. The use of the eye for control demands high concentration and often results in headaches, one. explanation of the problems with this method is the fact that the eye is a sensor or an input device, and that makes it difficult for the brain to learn the control in which the eye is an output device. Problems are also related to determining whether a point of interest is found by the user or the user is simply gazing, the latter leading to false detections. Voice recognition is quite a fast way to effectuate a command, but may be sensitive to interference. Further, it is limited to be used by the disabled with intact language, and it has not been developed for all languages. The head control systems often demands high concentration and the requirement of exact control of the head movements often results in neck pain.
The tongue control methods are favourable since they are practically invisible and manageable for people with even severe disabilities. A comparative study, comparing a tongue control method to a head control system and a rather simple mouth stick, resulted in all four quadriplegic test persons preferring the tongue based control system, even though it was not the fastest system (C. Lau and S. O'Leary, "Comparison of Computer Interface Devices for Persons with Severe Physical Disabilities", The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol. 47, pp. 1022-1030, 1993). Current tongue control systems are mainly based on pressure sensitive buttons placed in the mouth cavity over the tongue (Patent: WO9307726, New Abilities Systems Inc., 1993). The use of pressure sensitive sensors does not seem optimal, since normal speech and swallowing generates tongue-palatal pressures in the range of 20-60% of maximal achievable pressure (Müller, E, at al. "Perioral tissue mechanics during speech production". In J. Eisenfeld & C. DeLisi (Eds.) "Mathematics and computers in biomedical application" Elsevier Science publishers B.V., 1984″, Hayashi R, Tsuga K, Hosokawa R, et al., "A novel handy probe for tongue pressure measurement" International Journal Of Prosthodontics 15(4): 385-388 JULY-AUGUST 2002), which poses demands on the detection threshold and therefore may increase the risk of fatigue. Further the use of pressure-based sensors strongly limits the maximal number of sensors that can be placed in the oral cavity since the pressure increase the tongue-palatal contact area. Having only 9 control buttons the commercially available tongue touch keypad from New Abilities Systems (Patent: WO9307726, New Abilities Systems Inc., 1993) far from utilizes the high selectivity in the movement of the tongue, which readily can pick out every single of our 32 teeth. This selectivity is in theory sufficient to select the alphabet directly on 26 buttons, although a different sensor type will have to be developed. Such a direct letter selection would bring the typing ability of a quadriplegic on the level of an intact person using one finger. This would make communication much more effective and attractive. Moreover, a variety of electric aids, including wheelchairs and neural prostheses, would be controllable with a wide range of commands from the same interface. Therefore, this work describes a new sensor and method to facilitate tongue-activated commands.
It is the object of the invention to provide a method and a system for easing the communications capabilities of severely disabled persons and their control of their aids, where the costs of producing the system are low, thereby avoiding the drawbacks of the above mentioned prior art.

Tongue based control method and system for performing the method


Due to an ever growing shortage of conventional energy sources, there is an increasingly intense interest in harnessing solar energy. The instant invention is concerned with method and apparatus for the alignment of solar concentrator micro-mirrors and the maximization of the percentage of incident light that is reflected to the receiver. Novel method and apparatus are taught for operating the addressing and alignment micro-optics solar concentrator system for single-axis and two-axis tracking. Broadly this invention deals with novel concepts used for alignment in the focussing of light wherever mirrors are used for focussing such as for solar propulsion assist, illumination and projection of light, optical switching, etc. A particularly important objective is the focussing of sunlight for solar power conversion and production. The instant invention can contribute to the goal of achieving environmentally clean solar energy on a large enough scale to be competitive with conventional energy sources.

This invention provides a low cost means for achieving affordable solar energy by greatly reducing the cost of solar concentrators which increase (concentrate) the density of solar energy incident on the solar energy converter. A limiting factor in the utilization of solar energy is the high cost of energy converters such as photovoltaic cells. For example, for the purpose of generating electricity, a large area of expensive solar cells may be replaced by a small area of high-grade photovoltaic solar cells operating in conjunction with inexpensive intelligent micro-optics of this invention. Thus the instant invention can contribute to the goal of achieving environmentally clean energy on a large enough scale to be competitive with conventional energy sources.
The rotatable elements of this inventions are balls and cylinders. As derived in U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,705 of which the inventor of this instant invention is the co-inventor, balls in a square array have a packing fraction of 0.785 and 0.907 in an hexagonal array. Balls have an advantage over cylinders in that they can operate in either a single-axis or two-axis tracking mode. Cylinders have an advantage over balls in that they can have a packing fraction of nearly 1, but they are limited to a single-axis tracking mode.
The presence of rotatable mirrors in a solar concentrator presents either a dilemma or an opportunity with respect to the basic nature of the alignment implementation. Mirrors are normally made of a conductive metallic coating. In an applied electrostatic field, E, a dipole moment is induced in the metallic conducting material of the micro-mirrors because the charge distributes itself so as to produce a field free region inside the conductor. To internally cancel the applied field E, free electrons move to the end of each conducting mirror antiparallel to the direction of E, leaving positive charge at the end that is parallel to the direction of E. Another way to think of this in equilibrium is that a good conductor cannot long support a voltage difference across it without a current source. An induced electrostatic dipole in a conductor in an electrostatic field is somewhat analogous to an induced magnetic dipole in a pivoted ferromagnetic material in a magnetic field, which effect most people have experienced. When pivoted, a high aspect ratio (length to diameter ratio) ferromagnetic material rotates to align itself parallel to an external magnetic field.
If alignment is attempted in a conventional manner such as is used in Gyricon displays, the induced polarization electric dipole field presents a dilemma since it is perpendicular to the zeta potential produced dipole field and the net vector is in neither direction. The "zeta potential," is the net surface and volume charge that lies within the shear slipping surface resulting from the motion of a body through a liquid. The zeta potential is an electrical potential that exists across the interface of all solids and liquids. It is also known as the electrokinetic potential. The zeta potential produces an electric dipole field when a sphere it is made from two dielectrically different hemispheres due to their interaction with the fluid surrounding it.
One way to eliminate or greatly diminish the effect of the zeta potential is to make the surface of both hemispheres out of the same material. This would be quite difficult for Gyricon displays because they require optically different surfaces e.g. black and white, or e.g. cyan, magenta, and yellow for color mixing. In the instant invention, no problem arises by making both hemispheres out of the same transparent material to eliminate or minimize the zeta potential. In fact this presents an opportunity to both utilize the induced polarization electric dipole field and to have two mirror surfaces. With two mirror surfaces, an option presents itself to use the better surface as the surface that reflects the light, and furthermore to have a standby mirror in each element should one of the mirrors degrade. A permanent electret dipole can be sandwiched between the two induced dipole mirrors to further enhance the dipole field that interacts with the addressable alignment fields.
The topic of the dipole interactions between balls seems not to have been discussed in the Gyricon patents and literature. A heuristic analysis shows that this is not a serious problem. The electric field strength of a dipole, Ed is proportional to 1/r3, where r is the radial distance from the center of the dipole. The energy in the field is proportianal to (Ed)2. Thus the energy of a dipole field varies as 1/r6. The force is proportional to the gradient of the field, and hence varies as 1/r7. With such a rapid fall off of the dipole interaction force, it can generally be made very small compared to the force due to the applied field E, and to the frictional forces that are normally present. Therefore interaction of the dipole field forces between mirrored elements (balls or cylinders) can generally be made negligible.
The 1998 Gyricon U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,515 of Sheridon, entitled "Canted Electric Fields for Addressing a Twisting Ball Display" is exclusively concerned with Displays. There appears to be no mention of any other application than directly viewed Displays, either specifically or by general statement. In this Sheridon patent, no mention is made of a mirror in the gyricon balls, nor is there any mention of specular reflection as would be obtained from a mirror. On the contrary, means are discussed to increase diffuse reflection from the balls so the Gyricon display may easily be observed from all angles. Certainly there is no anticipation of a solar concentrator application, mirrored illumination and projection, solar propulsion assist, or any other micro-mirror application. Furthermore there is no mention of coupling means to the balls other than by means of the zeta potential dipole, or an electret dipole both of which are parallel to the Gyricon axis of symmetry which in the case of black and white balls goes through the vertex of the black hemisphere, the center of the sphere, and the vertex of the white hemisphere. Also there is no mention of an induced polarization electric dipole in the balls. In their dielectric balls there is an inadvertent insignificant induced polarization electric dipole in the dielectric, but it is small compared with the induced polarization electric dipole of the instant invention. Furthermore, it is parallel to the Gyricon axis of symmetry, whereas in the instant invention the induced polarization electric dipole is perpendicular to the axis of symmetry. Thus the application of the same electric field in the instant invention produces an entirely different orientation or alignment than in the Sheridon patent.
This Sheridon patent focuses on emodiments of "segmented electrodes" for Displays only, without mention of other applications, or that their invention may be applied more broadly. Yet, interestingly, some of the claims are quite general. Since claims should be a summary of the invention described in the specification, it appears that such broad claims are not warranted by the specification. Nor do such broad claims seem warranted in view of the prior 1981 Goodrich U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,653, which is also quite specific, and differs considerably from the instant invention.
The instant invention differs substantially from that of Sheridon and from that of Goodrich in the use of: mirrored balls and cylinders; induced polarization electric dipoles in the mirrors with or without permanent dipoles in electrets; the dipole fields being perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (rather than parallel); the use of fragmented wire electrodes to provide greater transparency; and the combination of fragmented wire electrodes and partitoned electrodes to provide greater transparency of the active surface than in the Sheriron patent.
The instant invention is primarily concerned with method and apparatus for the alignment of solar concentrator micro-mirrors. However, it has broader applications wherever mirrors are used for focussing such as for solar propulsion assist, illumination and projection of light, optical switching, etc.

Alignment of solar concentrator micro-mirrors