A system for calibrating a digital scanner utilizes a calibration strip having reference information printed thereon and a machine readable encoded tag having characteristic values corresponding to the calibration strip reference information encoded thereon. A scanning system scans the calibration strip and the machine readable encoded tag to generate image data corresponding to scanned-in reference information and data corresponding to scanned-in characteristic values of the reference information. The correction values are then derived from the generated image data and the decoded characteristic values that accurately describe the desired image data.

A problem prevalent in the generation of electronic data, especially, image or video data, is maintaining a calibrated scanner. The calibration process is used to correct for offset errors and gain errors in the video signal. Offset and gain errors can be caused by the characteristics of individual components responsible for converting the light reflected from the image into electronic image data. These errors may result from nonuniformities in the characteristics of the illumination and sensing components in the scanner, as well as from time varying drifts of such characteristics. For example, a charged coupled device (CCD) sensor may have inherent offset and gain characteristics unique to itself or a scanner may contribute to offset and gain errors due to the present operating conditions such as the operating temperature, lamp color temperature, age, etc. If offset errors or gain errors are not adequately addressed; i.e., the signal being processed is not adjusted to counteract the offset or gain errors; the processing of the signal will not be accurate which, in an image processing system, can cause the generated picture or image to have a lower quality.
To address these problems, typical image processing systems or image scanning systems perform calibrations of the imaging system at intervals. Often, the calibration is performed at power-up but, in some cases, calibration is performed at fixed intervals, sometimes as frequently as each scan. Following are examples of systems which perform calibration routines.
An example of a device which performs calibration once every predetermined number of scans is the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,144 to Kolker. Kolker discloses that a facsimile transmitter makes a preliminary calibrating scan in which the transmitter sequentially scans a known black area and a known white area. An automatic background and contrast control unit stores a first sample of the uncorrected video signal which represents the scanned black area and stores a second sample of the uncorrected video signal which represents the scanned white area. During subsequent scanning, the automatic background and contrast control unit continually produces voltages representing the stored black and white samples and uses these voltages to correct the video signal received during the scanning of the document.
Another example of a device which corrects for offset and gain errors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,732 to Tuhro. This U.S. Patent discloses an image sensor correction system which maintains the offset voltages in the shift registers of a multi-channel image sensor substantially equal. U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,732 discloses that a pair of control gates permits sampling the existing offset voltages in the shift register of each channel to provide an adjusted potential for balancing any voltage differences between the shift registers. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,732 discloses a device which compares the various offsets of a plurality of shift registers and determines a single offset potential to be applied to each shift register according to the comparison.
A device which proposes to correct gain and offset errors due to changes in the operating characteristics of a CCD is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,503 to Wiggins. U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,503 discloses a system where dark and light level signals are isolated and processed by a microprocessor unit in accordance with a pre-established routine to provide an offset potential and gain multiplicand. The determined offset potential and gain multiplicand are used to remove the offset and set a signal gain for the next succeeding line of image signals. The process is then repeated for each line of image signals to be outputted from the CCD.
Although U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,503 discloses a device to correct offset and gain errors on a continual basis, such a process is not adaptable to correct offset or gain errors in a high speed copier or errors in a fast scan direction parallel to the CCD because this method only corrects for offset errors or gain errors in a slow scan direction perpendicular to the CCD. In other words, the technique disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,503 adjusts the offset gain value only upon the completion of a scanning of a full line of data.
The calibration of a conventional digital scanner is illustrated in FIG. 4. An optical system is positioned so as to scan a strip of calibration material 3. More specifically, during a calibration process, the digital scanner causes a lamp 1 to illuminate both a dark area 13 and a white area 12 of a calibration strip 3. The light reflected from the calibration strip 13 is directed towards a sensor array 7 which may be either a CCD sensor or a full width array sensor. The sensor array 7 converts the light into electrical signals corresponding to digital image data representing the image that has been scanned, namely the image of the calibration strip 3. This image data is then fed to a calibration circuit 9 which with information received from a nonvolatile memory 20 produces offset and gain correction data for each sensor pixel. The information received from the nonvolatile memory 20 includes the predetermined or pre-measured reflectance values of the several portions of the calibration strip 3. The calibration circuit 9 then produces offset and gain correction data by comparing the signal from each of the sensor's pixels with the predetermined value for the calibration strip. This correction data is stored in memory and used to correct the gain and offset of each pixel during normal scanning operation, thus providing a signal representative of image data which is fully calibrated and corrected for any errors in the sensor array or variations in the lamp's properties.
A problem associated with calibration is the establishment of the reference reflectance values of the calibration strip. During calibration of digital scanners as noted above, an optical system (a lamp 1, sensor array 7, and lens 14) is positioned, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to allow the sensor array 7 to view a strip of calibration information and/or patterns 3 located on or near the platen. It is important that an accurate value of the reflectance of this calibration strip 3 be known to the digital scanner to achieve an absolute reflectance calibration and generate accurate correction values for subsequent document reading operations. Unfortunately, the variation in calibration strip reflectance, particularly, batch to batch, is presently greater than is required to achieve the desired calibration accuracy.
To counter this variation in the calibration strip reflectance, some conventional digital scanners include a writable portion of the nonvolatile memory 20 which stores the measured strip's reflectance. Thus, it is necessary to manually enter the measured strip's reflectance into the conventional scanner's nonvolatile memory 20 each time a new calibration strip 3 is installed, either during initial assembly in the factory or during replacement in the field. The requirement of manually entering the measured strip's reflectance into the scanner's nonvolatile memory 20 adds cost to the assembly and field service of the digital scanner and it presents opportunities for error which can significantly impact the digital scanner's image quality.
The present invention provides a machine readable tag or portion with each calibration strip that has encoded thereon the strip's reflectance values so that the scanner can automatically read the strip's reflectance values during a calibration routine. This eliminates the need of a user or technician to manually enter the information.

Apparatus and method for calibrating a digital scanner


A transportable, multi-use, non-corrodible, non-metallic, polyolefin plastic storage container and integral pallet system for all-weather storage, handling and transportation of a variety of liquid or free-flowing solid materials, including hazardous and human consumable materials. A preferred embodiment comprises a rotationally molded vertically-oriented polyethylene container, polyethylene container cushion with reinforcing wood base, and a cup-like polyethylene pallet which receives and is integrally attached by thermal shrinkage or welding to said container by locking and reinforcing ribs. The pallet includes integrally molded two-way access tunnels for handling by a fork lift or pallet jack. The container and integral pallet system can be stacked two or more containers high and is self-aligning when stacked. Additional features include a recessed manway and buttressed closure, recessed channels for a combination pressure and vacuum release valve, recessed off-set ballvalve with reinforced tunnel and sloping drain lip, an offset sump with bottom sloping to the sump for near 100% drainage without tipping, tie-down ears and wear pads on the pallet feet. The circumferential reinforcing and locking ribs prevent bowing of the container at its mid-point and the cup pallet provides double-walled protection for the container at the lower 25-75% of the container height. The container and integral pallet system complies with Department of Transportation ("DOT") regulations for exempt steel hazardous waste containers, and the material of which complies with the federal Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") regulations for storage and transportation of human consumable materials.

Rotationally molded plastic containers for the storage and transportation of hazardous and non-hazardous liquid and free-flowing solid materials have many advantages over traditional steel storage containers. They are light-weight, corrosion-resistant, less expensive to produce, can be translucent for content level observation or made of colored plastic for color-coded content identification purposes and can be molded into a number of seamless custom configurations for storage, handling and transportation.
However, rotationally molded plastic containers also have inherent limitations. A primary limitation is that the plastic container is flexible, distorting under load pressure, and is subject to cracking, rupture, and puncture requiring additional non-plastic protection means external to the container.
Manufacturers have attempted to overcome these inherent limitations by constructing variations of square, rectangular, spherical, or cylindrically shaped containers. Each of these different shapes trades the above stated limitations. That is, it may reduce some limitation, but, in turn, introduces its own inherent limitations.
For example, square or rectangular shapes have single-walled sharp edges requiring additional protection from pressure cracking and handling damage. Further, the bulkhead walls bow and distort under content pressure requiring additional lateral support. The bowing also changes the dimensions, causing problems for pre-configured storage and shipping. Manufacturers have attempted to overcome these limitations by integrally molding vertical support ribs, and/or placing steel protective support cages around these types of square or rectangular containers.
Round and cylindrical type containers also have inherent limitations of bulging and distortion of the wall of the container requiring a steel support cage or steel retaining strap (hoop). In addition, round containers and cylindrical containers laid on their side(s) require additional support and handling means such as a saddle pallet and additional external means for stacking the same or like containers.
The addition of steel supporting structures and straping external to a plastic container vitiates the corrosion-resistant advantage of a plastic container. In addition, the external pallets have a tendency to move and twist free of the container when handled and transported.
As a result, manufacturers have resorted to a container-within-a-container concept with integrally attached pallet. For example, Bonar Plastics, Inc., of Ontario, Canada places a spherical plastic bottle container inside a square or cylindrical plastic support container with fitted cushions and integrally molded forklift tunnels. Plastic Products Manufacturing, Inc., of Fort Worth, Tex. makes a square plastic container inside a second protective square plastic container, and the two containers are thermally welded together to form a single integral unit which includes forklift access tunnels.
While the container-within-a-container concept helps to overcome some of the inherent limitations of the non-steel supported polyethylene container, they nearly double the cost of production over single containers, reduce the light-weight advantage of a single container, increase overall container assembly size or reduce capacity, and reduce or completely eliminate the content level observation feature of a translucent polyethylene container. In addition, the fully enclosed double container increases molding complexities resulting in the sacrifice or trade-off of integrally molded features such as for stacking of same or like containers, tie-down of the container during transportation, container top access to manways, and accessible recessed discharge valves.
Therefore, there is a need for a transportable, multi-use, non-corrosive, all polyolefin translucent plastic container and pallet system having a protected, strengthened, and cushioned single container with an integral, thermally attached pallet for handling and transportation, and having integrally molded features for stacking, tie-down, accessible manway, and near-100% draining of contents.

Transportable multi-use storage container and pallet system


A tool for assisting a person to attach the fabric top of a boat to the front, back, and sides of the boat cockpit while standing safely inside the boat cockpit. The tool consists of a long flat blade joined to a handle. The flat blade contains a notch that fits behind the bell-shaped fastener elements that are located on the inside of the fabric top and which secure the fabric top into place. The flat portion of the blade is long enough to reach the complementary fastener elements on the outside edges of the cockpit when pulling the fabric top tautly into place. The handle is positioned at an angle to the notched blade so a person can grasp the tool firmly by the handle and use it to pull and stretch the fabric tautly into place and to align the fastener elements without having the tool or the person's hand interfere with the positioning of the fabric top. While the notched blade is engaged behind the bell-shaped fastener element, the person then pulls the fastener element on to the complementary fastener element which is firmly mounted on the outside edge of the boat cockpit, thus securing the fastener and the fabric top into place. While remaining safely inside the cockpit, the person then proceeds to the next fastener and so on until the entire fabric top is secured.

Field of Invention
This invention relates to a tool to assist a person to attach the usual fabric top for a boat, such as a fishing boat, ski boat, runabout, sail boat, or cruiser, to the front, back, and sides of the boat cockpit while the person remains safely inside the cockpit.

Tool for attaching fabric top to boat cockpit from inside the boat


A holder for cables or conduits comprises a base of resilient plastics material having one or more clips formed integrally on one surface, each clip having two jaws for receiving a cable or conduit, and a supporting bracket to which the carrier is attached by a bolt or other fastener through a central aperture. The carrier is deformed when the fastener is tightened so that the jaws of the clips grasp the cable or conduit more tightly. The carrier is also removably mounted on the bracket by two mounting lugs positioned towards the end of the base. The lugs allow the carrier to be initially loosely mounted on the bracket so that the relative positions of the cables or conduits can be adjusted prior to final tightening of the connector.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to holders for cables and conduits.
(2) Prior Art
British Pat. Specification No. 1,379,543 discloses a holder for cables and conduits which comprises a carrier, having a base of plastics material and a series of open-ended clips formed integrally on one surface of the base. The carrier is secured directly to a wall or panel by means of a threaded connector which passes through an aperture in the central region of the carrier. As the connector is tightened, the base deforms to increase the grip exerted by the clips on the cables or conduits. In use it frequently occurs that the cables or conduits require adjustment before they are finally secured to the wall or panel; and this can only be achieved by a relatively cumbersome operation, in which the carrier is first loosely secured to the wall or panel, the connector being finally tightened after adjustment of the cables or conduits. Such a time-consuming operation is impracticable in line assembly production processes.


Antennas using nonwoven geotextiles with embedded metallic or other wave carrying fibers are described herein. The geotextiles antennas are designed to be an internal, integral part of the nation's infrastructure. Geotextile antennas are flexible and easily conform to natural and manmade surfaces such as exterior building surfaces, for example, roads, roofs and bridges. Geotextile antennas are considerably less vulnerable to damage and probably much less expensive than the current, highly vulnerable and costly cell towers. In particular, geotextiles used in roads are especially well protected by the asphalt pavement above. The fabric-based conformal antenna enhances the usefulness and reliability of the communication infrastructure which is exceedingly vulnerable to vandalism, terrorism and natural disasters.

As people become more reliant on wireless technology, improvements in providing access to this wireless technology must grow as well. For example, many people complain about the quality of their cellular phone signal. Clearly dropped calls and lack of reception are significant issues for both cellular phone service providers and customers.
Modern wireless and personal communications systems (e.g. cellular phones) operate using: low-power transmitters and small coverage areas or cells, frequency reuse, handoff, central control, and cell splitting to increase call capacity. Each cell requires a tower, antenna and transceiver equipment.
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical cell tower antenna array and raydome (fiberglass cover). The antenna is fragile and is able to be easily rendered inoperable by natural catastrophes, weathering, vandalism and perhaps even deliberate, military attack. Any of these events, from a tornado to a terrorist with a high powered rifle, is able to destroy the antenna and eliminate cellular service within a 25 km radius of the cellular tower. Removal of communications causes serious problems in emergency situations.
It is important to generate mechanically robust antennas to protect (harden) the communication infrastructure against catastrophic events.

Reinforcement fabrics with electronic transmission capabilities


A method and system for analyzing cardiac periodicity includes a processor, a display device, and a probe. The method and system includes acquiring ultrasound data from cardiac tissue with the probe, generating an m-mode image from the ultrasound data with the processor, displaying the m-mode image on the display device, selecting a portion of the m-mode image exhibiting periodic motion, analyzing the portion of the m-mode image with the processor to determine a cardiac periodicity, and displaying a graphical representation of the cardiac periodicity on the display device.

Abnormal heart rhythms can be indicative of serious health problems and, as such, it is important to accurately identify them as soon as possible so that an appropriate plan of treatment or management may be implemented. It is currently difficult to accurately diagnose and quantitatively evaluate cardiac arrhythmias such as tachycardia and a "missed beat". Conventional techniques relying on ECG data are not effective for certain use cases, such as when examining a fetal heart, due to a relatively weak signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, ECG data provides information about electrical signals traveling across the patient's heart and electrical signals are not always perfectly correlated with mechanical or hemodynamic motions of the heart. As such, it is desirable to understand the mechanical or hemodynamic motions of the patient's heart.
Ideally, the clinician would be provided with an accurate representation of a heart's mechanical or hemodynamic motions. Convention techniques relying on ultrasound data often involve a clinician viewing a cine loop based on ultrasound data and attempting to visually identify a cardiac arrhythmia. There are several problems with the conventional manual approach including high inter-operator variability, low repeatability, and an overly large dependence on the skill and experience of the operator.
For these and other reasons an improved ultrasound imaging system and method of obtaining, displaying and analyzing data regarding cardiac periodicity is desired.

Ultrasound system and method for analyzing cardiac periodicity


Receiver having an A/D converter for digitally sampling an analog signal modulated on a carrier frequency at a first sampling frequency, consecutively coupled to a digital quadrature mixer stage for a carrier frequency shift of the digitized modulated signal from the A/D converter, a digital filter device for selecting the phase quadrature signals of the quadrature mixer stage and for decimating the sampling frequency from the first sampling frequency to a second sampling frequency, and a digital demodulation device. To obtain a receiver which can be easily realized in an integrated form and for which less crystal surface is required than for the digital integrable receivers hitherto known, and which is particularly suitable for receiving RF radio or TV broadcast signals, the digital quadrature mixer stage includes comprises a first coordinate rotation digital computer (Cordic) in the rotation mode, having at least a first signal input which is coupled to an output of the A/D converter and a phase signal input to which a periodical digital sawtooth-shaped phase signal is applied from a digital sawtooth generator for a periodical 2.pi. phase rotation of at least the signal applied to the computer via the first signal input at a repetition frequency which is equal to the magnitude of the carrier frequency shift.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a receiver comprising an A/D converter for digitally sampling an analog signal modulated on a carrier frequency at a first sampling frequency, consecutively coupled to a digital quadrature mixer stage for a carrier frequency shift of the digitized modulated signal from the A/D converter, provided with first and second signal outputs via which the digital quadrature mixer stage supplies a pair of carrier converted phase quadrature signals, a digital filter device for selecting the phase quadrature signals of the quadrature mixer stage and for decimating the sampling frequency from said first sampling frequency to a second sampling frequency, and a digital demodulation device.
2. Description of the Related Art
A receiver of this type is known from European Patent Application no. 35166.
The known receiver is of the direct conversion type in which the analog RF reception signals are first digitized at the first sampling frequency and subsequently multiplied in a pair of multiplier circuits of the digital quadrature mixer stage by a pair of tunable digital phase quadrature oscillator signals which are supplied from a digital quadrature tuning oscillator. The digitized RF reception signals are thereby split in phase into I (in-phase) and Q (quadrature) signals which differ mutually 90.degree. in phase, and the digitized RF reception signal whose RF carrier frequency corresponds to the tuning frequency of the digital phase quadrature oscillator signals is also shifted in frequency towards the baseband. The desired digital I and Q baseband phase quadrature signals are selected in the digital filter device in which simulataneously the sampling frequency is reduced (decimated) from the first sampling frequency to the second sampling frequency. The digital I and Q baseband signals thus selected are subsequently demodulated in the digital demodulation device to a single digital baseband signal which is applied to a reproducing device via a D/A converter.
For an effective realization of the known receiver, the use of complex digital multipliers in the oscillator circuit as well as in the mixer stage is inevitable. An integrated embodiment therefore requires a comparatively large crystal surface. Moreover, the quadrature tuning oscillator should generate tunable digital sine and cosine oscillator signals having a comparatively low distortion. Particularly in the frequency range of normal radio and television broadcast transmitters, it is difficult to comply with this distortion requirement, which makes the known receiver less suitable for use as a receiver of broadcast signals.


The cuvette rotor assembly is adapted for use in a multistation photometric analyzer of the type wherein several chemical reactions are sequentially monitored over a predetermined time span. Such an assembly includes a ring shaped cuvette rotor having an outer circular periphery, an inner circular periphery, a first side, a second side and cuvette forming slots extending between the sides and into the rotor from the inner periphery toward the outer periphery. A mixture of reagent and sample is urged by centrifugal force into the cuvette forming slots as the rotor is rotated. A fixed beam of light is directed at one side of the rotor as the rotor is rotating and the light that passes through each cuvette as a reaction is taking place therein is sensed and measured. The ring shaped cuvette rotor is made of a forged and age hardened chromium copper material and has a width between the inner and outer peripheries thereof sufficient to permit a hole to be drilled into the outer periphery for receiving a thermistor and sufficient to permit a flat ring of material to be secured to one side of the ring between the outer periphery and the inner ends of the slots.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in a cuvette rotor assembly utilized in a multistation photometric analyzer of the type wherein several chemical reactions are sequentially monitored over a predetermined time span. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an improved cuvette rotor used in the assembly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, multistation photometric analyzers of the type wherein several chemical reactions are sequentially monitored over a predetermined time span have been proposed. In such analyzers a central transfer disc having a plurality of spoke like channels therein with each channel having three wells, is situated within a ring shaped cuvette rotor having an outer circular periphery, an inner circular periphery, a first side, a second side and cuvette forming slots extending between the sides and into the rotor from the inner periphery toward the outer periphery. Glass windows are situated on either side of the cuvette rotor and a fixed beam of light is directed toward one side of the rotor through the windows and through the cuvettes.
The inner well in each channel in the transfer disc receives a reagent or a sample and the middle well receives sample or reagent. When a reaction between a reagent and a sample is to be monitored, the transfer disc and the cuvette rotor are rotated. Centrifugal force then urges the liquid in the inner well into the middle well and then both liquids are urged by centrifugal force into the outer well where they are mixed. Further, the centrifugal force then urges the mixed liquid from the outer mixing well into one of the cuvettes. Then, each time that particular cuvette passes the fixed beam of light, the light that passes through the cuvette as the reaction is taking place therein is sensed and measured.
Examples of photometric analyzers of the type described above are disclosed in the following U.S. Patents:
______________________________________ U.S. Pat. No. PATENTEE ______________________________________ 3,514,613 Mashburn 3,536,106 Anderson 3,547,547 Anderson 3,555,284 Anderson 3,582,218 Anderson 3,586,484 Anderson 3,856,470 Cullis et al. ______________________________________
In the Cullis et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,856,470 referred to above, there is disclosed a rotor apparatus wherein an electric heating element is secured by an adhesive to a ring shaped cuvette rotor in order to heat the mixture of reagent and sample in the cuvettes to optimum temperature and to maintain the mixtures at that temperature during the reaction time.
The previously proposed cuvette rotors and cuvette rotor assemblies including same have functioned very well in enabling a photometric analyzer incorporating same to monitor reactions between a reagent and a sample over a predetermined time period. However, difficulties have been incurred in manufacturing the cuvette rotor and in the assembly including same. In this respect, a number of operations had to be performed on the cuvette rotor before it was ready for final assembly in a cuvette rotor assembly. This required shipping and handling of the rotor. Since the rotor was made of a soft copper material, the shipping and handling of the rotor as well as the various operations that were performed thereon often resulted in warping of the rotor and therefore rejection of same.
More specifically, the cuvette rotors heretofore utilized in photometric analyzers of the type sold under the trademark Rotochem by American Instrument Company of Silver Spring, Md., a Division of Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc., were made of solid "dead" copper, which is very soft material. Once the copper rotor was obtained from the manufacturer, it was sent out for machining. Then, when it came back from machining, it was sent out for nickel plating. After it was plated and returned, it was then sent out for securing a heating element thereto. It will be appreciated that the sending out of the cuvette rotor for coating, for finishing and for securing a heating element thereto, of necessity, required handling of the rotor which caused warping. Accordingly, each time the rotor was returned from an operation performed thereon, it had to be measured to see if it had warped.
Also, the previously utilized copper cuvette rotors did not provide a convenient means for monitoring the temperature of the rotor.
With a view toward overcoming these disadvantages incurred with the previously utilized copper cuvette rotors and as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the present invention provides a cuvette rotor assembly including a cuvette rotor which is made of a harder copper alloy material and which is dimensioned so as to provide a cuvette rotor having a greater width between the inner and outer peripheries thereof. Also, the heating element is secured mechanically by fasteners so that the step of sending the cuvette rotor out for having an electric heating element secured thereto by an adhesive is eliminated.


An electro-optical device includes: an entire screen display mode and a partial display mode. In the entire screen display mode, positive and negative polarity image signals are supplied on the basis of a voltage that is greater than a voltage applied to the common electrode by a predetermined offset potential, and in the partial display mode, positive and negative polarity image signals are supplied on the basis of the voltage applied to the common electrode. In the partial display mode, the positive and negative polarity image signals are further corrected by the predetermined offset potential.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device that uses an electro-optical material, such as liquid crystal, to a method of driving an electro-optical device, and to an electronic apparatus having an electro-optical device.
2. Related Art
In general, electro-optical devices, such as liquid crystal display devices for displaying images or the like, have been known. This electro-optical device includes, for example, a liquid crystal panel, and a driving circuit that drives the liquid crystal panel. For example, the electro-optical device has the following structure.
The electro-optical device includes a liquid crystal panel, a liquid crystal driving circuit that drives the liquid crystal panel, and a control circuit that controls the liquid crystal driving circuit. The liquid crystal driving circuit includes a scanning line driving circuit, a data line driving circuit, and a liquid crystal driving power supply circuit.
The liquid crystal panel includes an element substrate, a counter substrate, and liquid crystal serving as an electro-optical material. In the element substrate, thin film transistors (hereinafter, simply referred to as TFTs), which serve as switching elements (which will be described in detail below), are disposed in a matrix. The counter substrate is disposed so as to be opposite to the element substrate, and the liquid crystal is interposed between the element substrate and the counter substrate.
The element substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines that are provided at predetermined gaps, a plurality of data lines that are provided at predetermined gaps in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plurality of scanning lines, and capacitor lines that are disposed substantially parallel to the plurality of scanning lines and provided alternately with the plurality of scanning lines.
A plurality of pixels are provided at intersections between the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines. Each of the pixels includes a pixel electrode and a storage capacitor that has one end connected to the pixel electrode and the other end connected to the capacitor line, in addition to the above-mentioned TFT.
The TFT has a gate that is connected to the scanning line, a source that is connected to the data line, and a drain that is connected to the pixel electrode and the storage capacitor.
In the counter substrate, a plurality of common lines are provided so as to be substantially parallel to the plurality of scanning lines. In the counter substrate, a common electrode is formed so as to be opposite to the pixel electrodes. The common electrode is connected to the common line.
The electrode-optical device having the above-mentioned structure operates as follows. That is, a control signal is line-sequentially supplied, so that all of the pixels corresponding to a predetermined scanning line are selected. In addition, an image signal is supplied to the data line in synchronization with the selection of the pixel. Thereby, the image signal is supplied to all of the pixels selected by the control signal, so that the image data is written in the pixel electrode.
In the electro-optical device, in a state in which a voltage of the common electrode is used as a reference voltage, positive polarity writing, in which an image signal is supplied to the data line with a voltage greater than the voltage of the common electrode, and negative polarity writing, in which an image signal is supplied to the data line with a voltage smaller than the voltage of the common electrode, are alternately performed.
If the image signal is written in the pixel electrode of the pixel, a driving voltage is applied to the liquid crystal due to the potential difference between the pixel electrode and the common electrode. Accordingly, a voltage level of the image signal is changed, so that the alignment or order of the liquid crystal molecules is changed, which results in gray-scale display through optical modulation of each pixel.
In addition, the driving voltage that is applied to the liquid crystal is held by the storage capacitor for a longer time, namely, for a period as much as three orders of magnitude longer than the time for which the image signal is written.
In this case, in the electro-optical device having the above-mentioned structure, a parasitic capacitance is generated between the gate and the drain of the TFT. Also, a parasitic capacitance is generated between the source and the drain of the TFT. If the gate voltage of the TFT enters an off state, an electric charge accumulated in the storage capacitor and an electric charge accumulated in a pixel capacitor consisting of the pixel electrode and the common electrode are redistributed while including parasitic capacitances, which results in generating so-called pushdown that the voltage of the pixel electrode is reduced and the voltage applied to the liquid crystal is also reduced.
In both the positive polarity writing and the negative polarity writing, the pushdown is always generated. Therefore, a center voltage Vc, which is a center value between a positive polarity image signal and a negative polarity image signal, is set higher than the voltage VCOM of the common electrode by a dropped voltage due to the pushdown.
In the meantime, the electro-optical device having the above-mentioned structure is used in, for example, a portable apparatus. In recent years, the portable apparatus has been required to further reduce a consumed power. Accordingly, display is performed on an entire screen of a display screen (hereinafter, this case is referred to as an entire screen display mode), and display is performed on only a part of a display screen (hereinafter, this case is referred to as a partial display mode), which results in a decrease of a consumed power (for example, see JP-A-2001-356746).
In the electro-optical device disclosed in JP-A-2001-356746, in the partial display mode, a display screen is divided into a display region and a non-display region. On the display region, a remaining battery capacity or time is displayed, and nothing is displayed on the non-display region. That is, in a normally white mode, the non-display region is displayed with a white color, and in a normally black mode, the non-display region is displayed with a black color.
In the above-mentioned partial display mode, similar to the above-mentioned entire screen display mode, if a center voltage Vc of the image signal is set higher than a voltage VCOM of the common electrode by a dropped voltage due to the pushdown, even though nothing is displayed on the non-display region, the potential difference is always generated between the pixel electrode and the common electrode due to the pushdown, which results in an increase of a consumed power.
Accordingly, in the partial display mode, in order to reduce the consumed power in the non-display region, the center voltage Vc of the image signal is set so as to be the same as the voltage VCOM of the common electrode. Thereby, the consumed power is reduced in the non-display region.
However, in the partial display mode, if the center voltage Vc of the image signal is the same as the voltage VCOM of the common electrode, even through the consumed power in the non-display region can be reduced, in the display region, the center voltage Vc of the image signal becomes smaller than the voltage VCOM of the common electrode by an offset potential due to the pushdown. Therefore, burning or flickering may occur on the display region.

Electro-optical device having both partial and entire screen display modes, and method of driving the same


An apparatus for releasably maintaining the door of a cabinet in the closed position. The apparatus is comprised of a strike and a latch member which are releasably engageable. The latch is rotatably mounted and spring biased towards the strike. The apparatus has substantially smooth surfaces and is made of non-porous metal so as to resist capturing deposits of dirt and food. The apparatus is configured to be easily opened and to be free of crevices or pockets to prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris. In operation, the latch member is released from engagement with the strike upon being struck on its upper surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a latching mechanism for cabinets and, in particular, cabinets used in the storage, warming and preparation of food.
2. Prior Art
Cabinets and the like are, of course, common in food preparation facilities such as kitchens in airplanes, restaurants and fast food establishments. Cabinets and cabinet-like structures are used as cupboards, refrigerators and food warming cabinets. Foods in partially prepared and fully prepared states are constantly being brought in and out of such cabinets. The doors of such cabinets are typically kept in a releasably closed position by latching means, magnetic means or mechanical biasing means. These doors are opened by the manual grasping of a handle, an indentation in the door, or some manual grasping aperture.
Because the prior art cabinets typically require that at least one hand be free in order to open them, the placement of food, which is often contained in bulky and inconvenient carriers, proves to be very difficult. The food is either first set aside while the door is opened or the person placing the food in the carrier must perform a precarious balancing act, that is, placing the bulky food container in one of his hands while opening the cabinet door with his other hand.
A problem of greater consequence involves the cleanliness of the cabinet and its surfaces. The handle means or indentations usually employed tend to form pockets or crevices where dirt and debris accumulate. In the handling and preparation of food, the food preparer and his aids more often than not have remnants of food on their hands when they open up the cabinet doors in placing or removing food therefrom. These remnants collect in the crevices or pockets and, because of their inaccessibility, are difficult to remove during normal cleaning processes. When these food remnants and other debris are exposed to room temperature, bacteria and other micro-organisms thrive in the debris which has accumulated. All too frequently, such bacteria and other micro-organisms are transferred to otherwise untainted food in various stages of preparation. The spoilation of food is accelerated and concurrently so is the build-up of foul odors. Because of the variety of foods which are handled by a food preparer and his staff, the growth of undesirable micro-organisms is enhanced.
As a consequence of the creation of environments favorable to the growth of harmful micro-organisms by the crevices and pockets typically associated with currently used handle means for cabinets, food poisoning and similar ailments may strike consumers. This problem, as well as the accelerated spoilage problem discussed above, can prove fatal to a commercial food preparation establishment.


A clamping device for allowing the user to easily attach two objects together. The clamping device includes a first arm member having a pair of first elongate members; a second arm member having a pair of second elongate members and being pivotally attached to the first arm member; a mounting bracket securely attached to the first arm member; a third arm member being pivotally attached to the mounting bracket and extending outwardly at an angle from the first and second arm members; a support member being securely attached to the mounting bracket; two driving member supports a first one of which is securely mounted to the support member and a second of which is securely mounted to the first arm member; two threaded driving members a first one which is threaded through the first one of the driving member supports and a second one of which is threaded through the second one of the driving member supports; two arm drive members a first one of which is securely mounted to the second arm member and a second one of which is securely mounted to the third arm member with each arm drive member being engageable by a respective one of the driving members; and three jaw members being securely attached to a respective one of the arm members for gripping about two objects and holding them together.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multiple object clamp and more particularly pertains to a new clamping device for allowing the user to easily attach two objects together.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of multiple object clamp is known in the prior art. More specifically, multiple object clamp heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,354; U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,696; U.S. Pat. No. 1,497,107; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 162,910; U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,405; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,352.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new clamping device. The inventive device includes a first arm member having a pair of first elongate members; a second arm member having a pair of second elongate members and being pivotally attached to the first arm member; a mounting bracket securely attached to the first arm member; a third arm member being pivotally attached to the mounting bracket and extending outwardly at an angle from the first and second arm members; a support member being securely attached to the mounting bracket; two driving member supports a first one of which is securely mounted to the support member and a second of which is securely mounted to the first arm member; two threaded driving members a first one which is threaded through the first one of the driving member supports and a second one of which is threaded through the second one of the driving member supports; two arm drive members a first one of which is securely mounted to the second arm member and a second one of which is securely mounted to the third arm member with each arm drive member being engageable by a respective one of the driving members; and three jaw members being securely attached to a respective one of the arm members for gripping about two objects and holding them together.
In these respects, the clamping device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of allowing the user to easily attach two objects together.


A method of generating a digital image is described. The method comprises detecting light from a scene to form an image; identifying an aberration in the image; and implementing a color filter array interpolator based upon the detected aberration in the image. A device for generating a digital image is also described.

Receptors in the human eye are only capable of detecting light having wavelengths between approximately 400 nanometers (nm) and 700 nm. These receptors are of three different types, including receptors for red (R) light, receptors for green (G) light and receptors for blue (B) light. The representation of an image based upon the intensity of red, blue and green color components is commonly referred to as RGB. If a single wavelength of light is observed, the relative responses of these three types of receptors allow us to discern what is commonly referred to as the color of the light. This phenomenon is extremely useful in color video processing because it enables generating a range of colors by adding together various proportions of light from just three wavelengths.
An image to be displayed is broken down into an array of picture elements or pixels to be displayed. Generally, each pixel displays a proportion of red, green and blue light depending on the signals to be displayed. Many image detecting devices include a sensor which will detect only one color component for each pixel. However, when rendering a color image, the two missing color components at each pixel have to be interpolated based upon color components of other pixels. If this process is not performed appropriately, the produced image quality will be degraded by various aberrations, such as highly visible zipper effects and false color artifacts. A zipper effect refers to abrupt and unnatural changes in intensity between neighboring pixels. False color artifacts correspond to dots or streaks of colors which do not exist in the original image.

Method and device for generating a digital image based upon a selected set of chrominance groups


The invention provides crystalline forms of biphenyl-2-ylcarbamic acid 1-[2-({3-[2-(4-hydroxybenzylamino)ethylcarbamoyl]benzoyl}methylamino)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl ester, and pharmaceutically acceptable solvates thereof. The crystalline form can be a freebase (Form I or II), a salt such as a hemiedisylate salt or a heminapadisylate salt, or a solvate of a salt such as a heminapadisylate methanolate or a heminapadisylate ethanolate. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising these crystalline compounds or prepared using these compounds; processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline compounds; and methods of using these compounds to treat a pulmonary disorder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to novel crystalline forms of a biphenyl compound and solvates thereof, which are expected to be useful for treating pulmonary disorders. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline compounds or prepared from such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
2. State of the Art
Commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/660,435 filed on Mar. 10, 2005, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/371,803 filed on Mar. 9, 2006, both entitled "Biphenyl Compounds Useful As Muscarinic Receptor Antagonists", discloses novel biphenyl compounds that are expected to be useful for treating pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. In particular, the compound biphenyl-2-ylcarbamic acid 1-[2-({3-[2-(4-hydroxybenzylamino)ethylcarbamoyl]benzoyl}methylamino)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl ester is specifically disclosed in this application as possessing muscarinic receptor antagonist activity.
The chemical structure of biphenyl-2-ylcarbamic acid 1-[2-({3-[2-(4-hydroxybenzylamino)ethylcarbamoyl]benzoyl}methylamino)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl ester is represented by formula I:
The compound of formula I has been named using the commercially-available AutoNom software (MDL, San Leandro, Calif.).
Therapeutic agents useful for treating pulmonary or respiratory disorders are advantageously administered directly into the respiratory tract by inhalation. In this regard, several types of pharmaceutical inhalation devices have been developed for administering therapeutic agents by inhalation including dry powder inhalers (DPI), metered-dose inhalers (MDI) and nebulizer inhalers. When preparing pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for use in such devices, it is highly desirable to have a crystalline form of the therapeutic agent that is neither hygroscopic nor deliquescent and which has a relatively high melting point (typically greater than about 150° C.) thereby allowing the material to be micronized without significant decomposition or loss of crystallinity.
No crystalline forms of the compound of formula I have been reported previously. Accordingly, a need exists for stable, non-deliquescent crystalline forms of the compound of formula I which have acceptable levels of hygroscopicity and relatively high melting points.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Crystalline forms of a biphenyl compound


An apparatus can be provided which can include a laser arrangement which can be configured to provide a laser radiation, and can include an optical cavity. The optical cavity can include a dispersive optical first arrangement which can be configured to receive and disperse at least one first electro-magnetic radiation so as to provide at least one second electro-magnetic radiation. Such cavity can also include an active optical modulator second arrangement which can be configured to receive and modulate the at least one second radiation so as to provide at least one third electro-magnetic radiation. The optical cavity can further include a dispersive optical third arrangement which can be configured to receive and disperse at least one third electro-magnetic radiation so as to provide at least one fourth electro-magnetic radiation. For example, actions by the first, second and third arrangements can cause a spectral filtering of the fourth electro-magnetic radiation(s) relative to the first electro-magnetic radiation(s). The laser radiation can be associated with the fourth radiation(s), and a wavelength of the laser radiation can be controlled by the spectral filtering caused by the actions by the first, second and third arrangements.

The potential of optical coherence tomography (OCT) configuration which can be used with a diagnostic tool/method/apparatus is capable of providing high-resolution cross-sectional images of tissue microstructure to depths of 2 mm has been well appreciated for over a decade. Many exemplary OCT systems and methods utilize a laser source with a wavelength output that changes over time. Various technologies have been described to provide such wavelength-tunable laser source. Such lasers generally include an element that selects for a specific wavelength. For example, in some optical source designs a spectral filter is incorporated into a laser cavity, and this spectral filter is configured to vary its spectral filtering properties over time [REFS]. In other designs, the laser cavity length can be modulated to affect its output wavelength [REFS]. In such designs, the rate at which the laser can change its output wavelength is a function of the rate at which the spectral filter or cavity length can be changed. In various configurations, the spectral filter or cavity length is changed through mechanical actuation, and is therefore likely limited in its rate of change by mechanical forces such as inertia.
Accordingly, there may be a need to address at least some of the above-described deficiencies.

System, apparatus and method for utilizing optical dispersion for fourier-domain optical coherence tomography


High speed printers with extended run capabilities are disclosed. A plurality of like containers are provided for carrying copy sheets to the printer and for receiving copy output from the printer. The containers are fed one after the other to supply input sheets or receive output sheets. Spent input trays or filled output trays are moved transversely to the exterior of the printer. Conveyors are utilized for the continuous feeding of copy sheet input containers or copy sheet receiving containers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to document printers and particularly to space efficient document printers which can run without operator intervention for extended periods of time.
2. Description of Related Art
High speed document printers capable of print rates in excess of 200 pages per minute using xerographic and inkjet printing engines have been developed. As printer throughput rates increase, a larger percentage of operator time is spent loading copy sheets into and unloading printed output from the machine. To overcome this limitation, load-while-run features have been developed to allow the printer to continue operating while paper is loaded and output is unloaded from the printer. One such arrangement is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,181. In general, this system utilizes two sheet stack receiver elements, one of which is positioned in an input position for stack feeding or an output position for stack formation. The second receiver is movable and can be loaded or unloaded by an operator while sheet feeding or stack formation is taking place at the first receiver. When the stack of copy sheets in the first receiver is exhausted (in the copy sheet input stage) or completed (in the copy sheet output stage) a transfer mechanism moves a new stack of copy sheets to the first receiver from the second receiver or moves a completed stack of printed sheets from the first receiver to the second receiver. In general, this system is relatively slow and makes inefficient use of feeder and elevator hardware because the transfer operation is relatively slow. This causes a significant interruption in the operation of the printer and reduces throughput. Also, the receivers are enclosed within the printer and it is difficult to quickly visualize when attention to the second receiver is necessary. This is disadvantageous when it is desirable to have a large number of printers attended by a minimum number of operators, as production is interrupted if the printers must stop because of a lack of supply of copy sheets or the need to remove copy output.

Floor space efficient printer with high load and unload capability


An electric sewing machine comprises a casing with an electric drive motor mounted in the casing. The casing includes a recess defined in the base portion which opens on one end and receives a control member which fits in the recess. The control member carries a control for regulating the speed of the motor which includes a foot-pedal switch for operating a variable resistance to change the motor speed. The control member includes a reel over which a connecting cable is wound and which extends between the control in the housing of the control member through the casing to the motor. A winding mechanism permits the control member to be removed from the recess of the casing by permitting the unwinding of the cable without disconnecting it from the control. The winding mechanism includes a reel which is unwound with the cable and a spring for returning the reel when the cable is to be rewound for replacement of the control into the housing. Detent mechanisms associated with the reel permit the locking of the reel when the control member is removed from the recess by the amount of cable necessary to position it in a desired control position. The locking mechanism may be unlocked by pulling the connecting line slightly to release the detent means and permit the rewinding of the connecting cable on the reel during the replacement of the control member into the recess.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates in general to sewing machines and in particular to a new and useful sewing machine having an electric drive motor which is controlled by a control member received in a recess of the sewing machine casing and is connected to the drive member by a cable which remains connected to a control in the control member housing which may be unwound during the removal of the control member housing from the casing of the machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the presently known sewing machines it is difficult to accommodate a control device for such machines in a suitable manner when it is not in use. Particularly when the sewing machine is stored in a carrying case, the control device is often secured on the inside of the case such that it protrudes between the upper and lower arm of the sewing machine in the carrying case. With onepart covers, which are generally adapted to fit over the top of the sewing machine, such fastening is not possible. Here the control device is typically placed loosely on the lower arm of the sewing machine. When the machine is carried, it can thus slide back and forth and damage the surface of the machine or the needle bar or parts of the cloth presser.
The electric cable connecting the control device with the sewing machine presents additional difficulties in accommodating the control device. A sewing machine which is already known has a storage space for inserting the cable between the control device and the motor, but this space must be large, not only in length and width, but also in height in order to receive a hand-wound cable and to accommodate the cable plug so that the direct accommodating of the control device in the sewing machine casing would be technically impossible.

Storage compartment for sewing machine foot controller


A method for producing a composite polymeric article, an additive for a polymeric article, and a composite polymeric article are provided. The method generally includes providing a plurality of graphene nanoplatelets, providing a plurality of silica nanofibers, providing a polymeric material, and distributing the plurality of silica nanofibers and the plurality of graphene nanoplatelets within the polymeric material to achieve a composite article. The additive for a polymeric article includes a plurality of graphene nanoplatelets and a plurality of silica nanofibers. The composite polymeric article includes a plurality of graphene nanoplatelets, a plurality of silica nanofibers, and a polymeric matrix. The plurality of graphene nanoplatelets and the plurality of silica nanofibers are distributed within the polymeric matrix. The silica nanofibers have a mean cross sectional diameter of not more than 100 nm.

The present invention relates to nanomaterial fillers for polymeric articles and, in particular, nanomaterial graphene and silica for rubber articles, including tires and other articles.
In the materials science of elastomers, the influence of manufactured nanomaterial fillers is of utmost significance to the performance of innovative rubber products, e.g., tires having low rolling resistance, high wear resistance, and high traction. Advances in these performance areas are imperative for the development of improved tire efficiency to meet a fuel consumption reduction target of up to 4% while maintaining or improving wear characteristics of the tire.
Recent research has focused mainly on the development of composite tires having carbon black fillers or silica fillers. However, these composite tires lack the required performance for breakthrough advances in fuel cost reduction. While incremental advances can be achieved by improving the dispersion of fillers and by optimizing the manufacturing process, an approximately 4% reduction in vehicle fuel consumption requires a comprehensive redesign of the filler material.
Accordingly, there remains a continued need for improved fillers for composite polymeric articles, including rubber articles. In particular, there remains a continued need for nanomaterial fillers that can be used in advanced tire manufacturing for improvements in the rolling resistance and wear resistance of tires, and for other applications.

Nanocomposite additives based on graphene sheets and silica nanofibers


An inline engine is provided. The engine includes a cylinder block with four cylinders and only three main bearing saddles. The engine also includes a crankshaft with only three main bearing journals. The engine may exhibit less friction than other similar engines.

A vehicle drivetrain transfers motive power from a power source to vehicle wheels. An engine is one example of a power source that includes a crankshaft. The crankshaft converts combustion energy from engine cylinders into rotational energy. In particular, combustion energy is transferred from the engine cylinders to pistons that linearly reciprocate. The pistons transfer the combustion energy to a crankshaft via rods, and the crankshaft converts the linear motion into rotational motion. The crankshaft may also include main bearing journals that are in mechanical communication with crankshaft bearings. The crankshaft bearings are captured between an engine block and the crankshaft. Lubrication flows from the engine block to the bearings, and the engine block supports the bearings and the crankshaft. The engine block and bearings allow the crankshaft and main bearing journals to rotate within the bearings. One example crankshaft is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0115524 which shows a four cylinder engine having five main bearings rotatably coupled to a crankshaft in the engine. The bearings guide crankshaft rotation and are mechanically coupled to an engine block that supports the crankshaft and bearings.
A crankshaft may flex as torque is input to the crankshaft via connecting rods. Crankshaft flex may limit engine speed and increase engine vibration. One way to reduce crankshaft flexing is to provide a large number of main bearing journals along the length of a crankshaft so that the crankshaft can be supported at many locations. However, engine friction losses are proportional to a number of crankshaft bearing journals. Therefore, engine friction losses increase for each crankshaft bearing journal that is added to a crankshaft. As a result, the engine's power output and fuel economy may be substantially decreased as the number of bearing journals increase. Moreover, engine weight is increased for every additional crankshaft bearing journal. Consequently, engine block cost increases as a number of crankshaft main bearing journals increases.
To address at least some of the aforementioned issues an inline four cylinder engine, comprising: a crankshaft including two outer main bearing journals and a sole inner main bearing journal axially positioned between the two outer main bearing journals is provided. Thus, an inline four cylinder engine including only three main bearings is provided.
By limiting a number of main bearings of an inline four cylinder engine to three rather than the customary five, it may be possible to reduce engine friction and improve vehicle fuel economy. In one example, the engine includes three main bearing saddles with bearings that guide and support a crankshaft with three main bearing journals. A first bearing journal is positioned at a front side of the crankshaft, a second bearing journal is positioned at a rear side of the crankshaft, and a third bearing journal is positioned near a middle of the crankshaft. In this way, the crankshaft may be sufficiently supported while engine friction is reduced.
The engine and crankshaft described herein may reduce engine fuel consumption. Further, the engine and crankshaft may vibrate and/or flex less than other designs. Further still, the engine and crankshaft may operate efficiently at higher engine speeds.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present description will be readily apparent from the following Detailed Description when taken alone or in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


A multiple tone signal is demodulated and synchronization is obtained by precisely locating frame boundaries in order to ensure reliable communication in the presence of anomalies such as Doppler shift, multipath propagation, and additive electronic noise. One such signal, TADIL-A or Link-11, employs multiple tone audio waveforms that are used to modulate RF carriers for the transmission of digital data. Initially, the signal is frequency divided and classified to determine if the incoming frame is a preamble, data or noise. For preamble frames, a digital filter is used to extract the 605 Hz tone in the time domain, and the resulting real-valued signal is passed through a first Hilbert transform to generate the corresponding imaginary complex-valued signal. Unfiltered data frames are passed through a second Hilbert transform and the output is multiplied by the complex conjugate of the stored Doppler reference signal to produce a Link-11 Signal stripped of Doppler. As a result of the demodulation process, the entire waveform now includes frequencies separated by an integer multiple of 110 Hz. Therefore, the composite waveform has a period of 9.09 milliseconds. The composite waveform partially repeats itself at least once in each 13.33 msec frame interval. Using this property, it is possible to determine the location at which the composite signal becomes discontinuous and thereby locate the synchronization frame boundaries.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system for demodulating a multiple tone Link-11 Signal, stripping off the Doppler component and locating the synchronization frame boundaries.
2. Background of the Invention
It is important to maintain continuous secure communication over a computer-to-computer radio link during military operations. Typically, a base Net Control Station (NCS), located on an aircraft carrier, keeps in constant contact with moving aircraft or surface vessels referred to as pickets or Participating Units (PU's). As the PU move towards and away from the aircraft carrier, Doppler shifts and other aberrations may be introduced. Various prior art devices and methods have been proposed to overcome these problems.
The standards for communications in the United States Navy over a computer-to-computer radio data link are set forth in military standard MIL-STD-188-203-1A dated Jan. 8, 1988 and entitled "INTEROPERABILITY AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR TACTICAL DIGITAL INFORMATION LINK (TADIL)A" otherwise known as Link-11. A useful discussion of prior art technology and difficulties is also set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,809.
A Link-11 data message consists of 48 binary digits. The bits are assembled in two frames, each of 24 bits. Six Hamming code parity check bits are added in each frame to make 30 bits for transmission. Each of the 15 pairs of bits in the frame are converted into a phase shift, with shifts of -45.degree., -135.degree., -225.degree. and -315 representing 4 bit pairs, namely (1,1), (0,1), (0,0) and (1,0). Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) is applied to each of 15 audio tones. 14 of the tones are at frequencies of 935 Hz through 2,365 Hz at 110 Hz intervals, with a 15th tone at 2,915 Hz. The transmitted audio signal is the sum of the 15 modulated signals plus a Doppler reference tone of 605 Hz. Therefore, the signal consists of 16 superimposed sine waves, with nominal frequencies given by the tone library of 605, 935, 1045, 1155, 1265, 1375, 1485, 1595, 1705, 1815, 1925, 2035, 2145, 2255, 2365, and 2915 Hz. It is important to note that all of the 16 frequencies are separated from each other by 110 Hz or an integer multiple thereof. The Doppler reference tone of 605 Hz is used for Doppler shift corrections.
The transmitter at the NCS uses the audio signal to amplitude modulate an HF radio frequency carrier and transmit a double sideband suppressed carrier HF signal. Each of the two sidebands, the upper and the lower, contain the same audio signal upon transmission, but anomalies in the propagation path, noise, and interference may cause the received sidebands to differ.
Each Link-11 message is made up of a preamble consisting of five frames which contain only 605 Hz and 2915 Hz tones, followed by an arbitrary number of data frames containing all 16 tones. During the five frame preamble, the 2915 Hz tone is given twice its normal amplitude and is phase shifted 180.degree. at each frame boundary to provide for frame synchronization. The 605 Hz tone is given twice the amplitude of the 2915 Hz tone during the preamble frames and twice the amplitude of the information carrying tones for all other transmitted frames. The 6th frame is a reference frame during which all data tones are transmitted to establish a reference phase for each. Frame positions 7 and 8 provide a start code control signal indicating that data will follow. After the data is transmitted, a picket stop code control signal is transmitted to complete the message.
Link-11 signals are divided into fixed-length frames having a duration of 13.33 msec (fast) or 22 msec (slow), at the operator's option. Within individual frames, each tone has a fixed phase. With the exception of the 605 Hz tone, which is unmodulated and used for Doppler correction, the phase of each tone changes at each frame boundary. At the fast speed of 13.33 msec, the throughput is 2250 bits per second or 47 bits per frame.
Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) is used to encode data, so that the phase change of each tone at the frame boundary encodes a 2-bit value depending upon the quadrant in which the differential phase value occurs.
The protocol of Link-11 includes 5 modes of operation namely, Roll Call, Net Sync, Net Test, Broadcast and Short Broadcast. Further discussion of the protocol may be found in military standard. MIL-STD-188-203-1A referred to previously.
As described in military standard MIL-STD-188-203-1A, the multi-tone Link-11 waveform is usually transmitted over the HF band (2-30 MHz) or the UHF band (200-400 MHz). In the case of UHF, the waveform frequency modulates the carrier (FM) while at HF the modulation is single side band AM (SSB). In the latter case, a frequency shift of the carrier due either to relative motion induced Doppler shift or relative miss-tuning of the transmitter with respect to the receiver, results in a uniform translation of all frequency components of the audio waveform. See, in particular, Sections 5.1.1 and 5.1.2 of military standard MIL-STD-188-203-1A. Regardless of its physical causes, this uniform frequency shift is generally referred to as "Doppler shift." Therefore, with respect to a conventional multiple tone Link-11 waveform, this means that all 16 tones, including the unmodulated 605 Hz Doppler reference tone and the 15 phase modulated data tone (935 to 2915 Hz) will all undergo an identical uniform frequency shift, f.sub. DP. For further discussion, see sections 5.1.10 and 5.2.7 of military standard MIL-STD-188-203-1A. The aforementioned shift f.sub.DP, which can be as great as + or -75 Hz, affects the entire signal and must be removed or large data errors will occur.
The patent literature describes the difficulties with earlier approaches. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,809 describes clearly how the prior art hardware equipment is highly customized and difficult to maintain. The size of prior art Link-11 systems is relatively large and generally requires chilled water cooling. Changes to equipment are difficult to implement and costly to obtain.
The use of Hilbert transforms in the context of a Link-11 system is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,956. Other U.S. Patents relating to the correction of Doppler shift in the context of Picket systems include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,719,468; 4,875,050 and 4,876,546.
Phase correction is also a problem in Link-11 systems and is discussed along with Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT), and frame boundary sync detection in U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,809. Phase correction in a quadrature-like phase shift signal is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,707,839.
The invention arose in the context of the above-described prior art.

System for demodulation and synchronizing multiple tone waveforms


A base releasably coupleable to a pogo stick tip for added stability and prolonged enjoyment of the pogo stick.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stabilizer bases for jumping devices, and more particularly, to releasably coupleable bases for pogo sticks.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Conventional jumping devices, such as pogo sticks have been in existence for some time and provide a distinct challenge to children, particularly young children, when operated. To operate a pogo stick, a child generally steps onto a foot-rest mounted to a housing, grasps a handle on the housing, and hops through successive iterations to progressive positions until the child loses his or her balance. It is a challenge for children to be able to hop on the pogo stick through a number of successive iterations without having to jump off the pogo stick because of a loss of balance.
The challenges presented by conventional pogo sticks are amplified for children of a young age. Many young children cannot balance on the small base of a conventional pogo stick and therefore cannot partake in the physical and entertainment value that pogo sticks present.
In some conventional applications, pogo sticks have been provided with a larger base mounted directly to the end of the pogo stick housing. Such applications, however, do not afford the child the opportunity to use a pogo stick with a conventional small base once the child has obtained control over his or her balance. In order to move up to that level, parents or caregivers have had to purchase a new pogo stick.
Other conventional pogo sticks have been provided with a number of interchangeable bases. However, these have been complex or cumbersome. A need exists for a stabilizer or base that can be releasably coupled to a conventional pogo stick to enable a young child to play with the pogo stick while the child is developing his or her balance. A need also exists for an interchangeable base that can be easily attached and removed from the pogo stick once the child has developed enough skills to be able to use a conventional pogo stick base.

Jumping device with convertible stabilizing base


A pair of spaced apart radial shaft seals are held together by an interlocking pair of support members. The support members form an inner cavity which is in flow communication with the annulus between the shaft seals and the shaft. The inner cavity is vented to the atmosphere by means of a partial hole formed in the outer diameter portion of the support members. Any fluid that accumulates between the seals in the annulus is permitted to drain out through the inner cavity and the vent hole. The vent hole also prevents the formation of a vacuum in the annulus during operation. A channel between the support members is in flow communication with the annulus.

This invention relates to dynamic sealing of a shaft and more particularly to a pair of shaft seals with a vent to remove any accumulated fluid between the pair of shaft seals and to prevent the formation of vacuum between the seals and the shaft.
A transfer case connects a transmission with a drive axle for four wheel drive applications or other applications requiring the separation of two fluids. One solution used to solve this problem involves using two different radial shaft seals which are installed around the shaft. If one of the seals fails, fluid accumulates in a cavity between the seals and vents out a hole placed between the seals in the outer periphery of the housing. This solution presents several problems. These include the need to correctly install both seals, the attendant time to install the two seals and the possibility of inconsistent seal depth which may block the vent hole in the housing.
Another solution uses a single metal support structure with a rubber shaft seal with two sprung lips and the outer periphery of the metal structure is partially coated with rubber or alternatively uncoated. This design is prone to cocking in assembly, the formation of a vacuum condition between the two sprung lips and the accumulation of the two fluids between the seals after the seals wear in, or the potential transfer of one fluid to the other fluid which may accelerate failure of the transfer case or the transmission.
Still another solution that has been proposed to solve this problem is to form a dual seal with a venting/drain capability. This design provides a cavity between two L-shaped support members each of which supports a sprung lip seal. The design is also prone to cocking and has a tendency for the seals to be pushed together, preventing the design from draining or venting. Also, this seal design is not compact which is a disadvantage when space is at a premium.
Thus, there remains a need to provide a compact, easily installed dual seal that can be installed in either direction, and that can provide for a controlled radial height to aid in the installation of the seal and assure flow communication between the seals to atmosphere.
The present invention seeks to solve these problems by providing a pair of spaced apart shaft seals in a pair of support members that are connected to form a positive radial engagement surface. The pair of support members also form an internal cavity that is in flow communication with the annulus formed between the pair of seals and through a channel member and the shaft in order to vent to atmosphere. At least one hole at the interface between the pair of seals prevents blocking of the vent in the drain to atmosphere.
The present invention is directed to a dual seal for a shaft. The dual seal includes a first support member and a second support member. A first shaft seal member is adjacent to the first support member. The first and second support members having portions forming an inner cavity and at least one channel in flow communication with the cavity. The second shaft seal member is adjacent to the second support member. The first and second shaft members form an annulus between the first and second sealing members and the shaft. The annulus is in flow communication with at least one hole formed between the first and second seals so that at least one hole permits any accumulated fluid between the first and second shaft seal members to drain into the inner cavity, to prevent the formation of a vacuum in the annulus, and to prevent blocking at least one hole formed between the first shaft seal member and second shaft seal member.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pair of shaft seal members with a hole between them to prevent the seals from restricting flow out of the annulus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a compact and easily installed dual seal which keeps two fluids separated and vents vacuum and drains fluid in the annulus between the pair of seals to the atmosphere.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide positive outer radial interlock of the two support members to maintain radial assembly height and to provide a positive stop for the dual seal during installation.
These and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent descriptions and drawings.


Methods and systems for an object based storage are provided. As an example, a method for generating a metadata object for an archive data container having a plurality of data containers is disclosed. The method includes generating a first metadata signature for the archive data container using an archive data container identifier, a number of data containers within the archive data container, and placement information of each data container within the archive data container; assigning a plurality of blocks for storing data for the plurality of data containers at an object based storage to an intermediate logical object; updating a payload signature with placement information of the plurality of blocks within the intermediate logical object; and placing the first metadata signature and the updated payload signature within the metadata object, wherein the metadata object is used to retrieve location information for a specific data container within the archive data container.

Network-based storage is commonly utilized for data backup, geographically distributed data accessibility, and other purposes. In a typical network storage environment, a storage server makes data available to clients by presenting or exporting to the clients one or more logical containers of data. There are various forms of network storage, for example, network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN). For NAS, a storage server typically services file-level requests from clients, whereas SAN storage servers service block-level requests. Some storage server systems may support both file-level and block-level requests.
There are multiple mechanisms and protocols utilized to access data stored in a network storage system. For example, a Network File System (NFS) protocol or Common Internet File System (CIFS) protocol may be utilized to access a file over a network in a manner similar to how local storage is accessed. The client may also use an object protocol, such as the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) protocol or the Cloud Data Management Interface (CDMI) protocol, to access stored data over a LAN or over a wide area network such as the Internet.
Object-based storage (OBS) is a scalable system for storing and managing data objects without using hierarchical naming schemas. OBS systems integrate, or "ingest," variable size data items as objects having unique identifier (ID) keys into a flat name space structure. Objects are accessed and retrieved using key-based searching implemented via a web services interface such as one based on the Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture or simple object access protocol (SOAP). This allows applications to directly access objects across a network using "get" and "put" commands without having to process more complex file system and/or block access commands.
OBS may also be used to store backup/archived files. At any given time, a specific data container from an archived data container may have to be restored. Continuous efforts are being made to develop computing technology that can efficiently restore specific data containers from an OBS based system.

Methods and systems for restoring a data container archived at an object-based storage


A circuit for use with an ultrasonic transducer utilized to measure depths of liquids in tanks is described.

This invention pertains to the measurement of the volume of liquid in a fuel tank, and in particular to the measurement of volume of liquid in an underground fuel tank using ultrasound.
Fuel such as gasoline is typically stored in underground storage tanks where the volume of fuel cannot be visually or directly determined. In the past, one commonly used method to measure the volume of fuel in the tanks was by use of a calibrated measuring rod which was manually inserted into a tank standpipe which was also used to fill the tank. In recent years improvements have been made to the art of measuring the volume of liquid which have eliminated the use of manual methods. These improvements have produced apparatus which is highly accurate in the measuring of liquid volume. In many instances, these improvements have been necessitated by governmental regulations which mandate that leaks from underground storage tanks be detected.
The cost of cleaning up environmental leaks is high. It is much more economic to detect leaks early so that necessary repairs and environmental cleanup can be done at the lowest possible cost.
Various systems have been developed which utilize a probe which is suspended or supported in the underground fuel tank. The probe is connected to a control console which is physically remote from the probe. The type of probe utilized is dependent on the type of measuring technique utilized. In one type of system, an ultrasonic transducer is suspended at the bottom end of a long probe.
The ultrasonic transducer is operated by periodically applying a pulse to the transducer. The transducer is excited by the pulse to produce an ultrasonic signal which propagates generally vertically in the tank. Ultrasonic echoes produced by the surface of the liquid and/or reflectors are indicative of the liquid depth in the tank. The echo delay time can therefore be utilized to calculate the volume of the liquid in the tank.
One problem arises in the use of ultrasonic probes which are physically located at great distances from the control console. For example, in some applications, it may be required to run up to a 500 foot cable between the transducer and the drive electronics located at the control console. Long cable runs severely attenuate the drive signals. Also, the return echo signals also become severely attenuated with long cable runs.
In one prior arrangement, a transformer is positioned near the transducer to provide for impedance matching to the transducer. However this arrangement is not entirely satisfactory.
It is therefore desirable to provide a means for operating ultrasonic transducers of the type utilized in ultrasonic probes used to measure the volume of fuel in an underground tank from a control console located up to a long distances from the probes.


A satellite antenna has an antenna, a stand assembly, an adjustable bracket, a mounting bracket, a dish-turning assembly, a dish-rotating assembly and a dish-pivoting assembly. The antenna is mounted on the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket rotates on the adjustable bracket. The adjustable bracket is mounted on the stand assembly and is positioned by the dish-turning assembly, dish-rotating assembly and dish-pivoting assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an antenna, and more particularly to a satellite antenna for receiving signals from satellites or other sources.
2. Description of Related Art
Satellite antennas are used in various fields that need data from and passed through satellites. For example, a site may need a satellite antenna to receive satellite images from a meteorological satellite to track clouds and storms. A television may also need a satellite antenna to receiver satellite TV programs.
A conventional satellite antenna comprises a stand and an adjustable antenna dish mounted on the stand. The antenna dish may be turned or rotated by hand to a direction to receive signals clearly from a satellite. However, adjusting the direction of the antenna dish manually can be imprecise.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a satellite antenna to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


A common rail fuel injection system addresses three basic issues involving all common rail fuel injection systems. These include high performance, low variability and high efficiency. These issues are addressed by combining pressure intensification with a three way needle control valve, which exhibits substantial leakage only durring a brief instant when the valve is moving between seats. A quick acting needle control valve tightly coupled to a responsive direct control needle valve, as modified by relative timing with a flow control valve, can produce a wide variety of fuel injection rate shapes, including up to five or more discrete injections per engine cycle.

Engineers are constantly seeking ways to reduce undesirable engine emissions. One strategy is to seek ways to improve performance of fuel injection systems. Over the years, engineers have come to learn that engine emissions can be a significant function of injection timing, the number of injections, injection quantities and rate shapes. However, it is also been observed that an injection strategy at one engine operating condition may decrease emissions at that particular operating condition, but actually produce an excessive amount of undesirable emissions at a different operating condition. Thus, for a fuel injection system to effectively reduce emissions across an engine's operating range, it must have the ability to produce several different rate shapes, have the ability to produce multiple injections and produce injection timings and quantities with relatively high accuracy. Providing a fuel injection system that can perform well with regard to all of these different parameters over an entire engine's operating range has proven to be elusive.
Apart from addressing rate shapes, timing accuracy and quantity accuracy, etc., other issues should be addressed. For instance, in order to be commercially viable, fuel injection systems should not only exhibit superior performance but should also provide for efficient operation. In addition, there should also be the ability to mass produce fuel injection system components, such as unit injectors, with acceptable performance deviations from one another. Thus, in order to present a commercially viable fuel injection system it should satisfy stringent emissions requirements, address a number of problems associated with a relatively wide array of performance capabilities combined with acceptable injector to injector performance variations, and further should exhibit competitive operational efficiencies.
One apparent attempt to satisfy at least some forthcoming performance demands is disclosed in "Heavy Duty Diesel Engines—The Potential of Injection Rate Shaping for Optimizing Emissions and Fuel Consumption", presented by Messrs. Bernd Mahr, Manfred Dürnholz, Wilhelm Polach, and Hermann Grieshaber, Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany, at the 21st International Engine Symposium, May 4-5, 2000, Vienna, Austria. This reference teaches a common rail system and a directly controlled fuel injector that purportedly has the ability to inject medium pressure fuel directly from the rail, or utilize the common rail to pressure intensify fuel within the injectors for injection at relatively high pressures. While this system may have the ability to exhibit some improved performance characteristics, it appears to suffer from a number of drawbacks. Among these are the fact that the system relies upon circulating medium pressure fuel around an engine and always maintaining the fuel injectors in a pressurized state, which results in continuous leaking and efficiency degradation. In addition, the system appears to employ a two way direct control needle valve that temporarily opens the high pressure rail directly to the drain via a flow restriction during each injection event, resulting in a substantial amount of fuel being expended for no apparently useful purpose. The Bosch system likely suffers from other drawbacks, but most of those limitations lie hidden due to the limited disclosure of the system at this time.
The present invention is directed to one or more of the problems set forth above.

Hydraulic fuel injection system with independently operable direct control needle valve