The invention relates to a support (1) for functional planes used for a magnetic levitation track. The stator packets (11) comprised in the track are suspended in a particularly compact and production-friendly manner on a stator beam (9), the stator packet being connected to the stator beam (9, 10) via borings (15) that are disposed therein and holding bolts (16, 38) which penetrate said borings (15). The stator packets (11) can be secured in a redundant manner vial additional suspensions (30, . . . , 34) and/or by creating a non-positive connection between adjacent stator packets (11) by providing the faces of the stator packets (11), which face the direction of travel, with a profile.

The fast magnetic train tracks forms a system of bearing, guidance and drive, all of which is in a non-touching mode. Employed is a longitudinal stator-linear motor, which is based on the principle of electromagnetically levitated. The long-stator linear motor corresponds, in this application, to an electric motor, with a winding in the direction of travel. Instead of a magnetically rotating field, the linear motor generates an electromagnetic field, which proceeds along the length of the entire travelway. With the aid of an electronic control system, the magnetically levitated vehicle hovers some 10 mm above the upper surface of the travelway. By a reversal of the magnetic field, the vehicle can be braked without contact or accelerated. In this operation, a principle component of the drive, specifically the stator packet, is built into the travelway. For the receiving of the said stator packet, the functional plane beam is entrusted to take over the main operations of carrying, guiding and lifting of the vehicle. Additionally, the functional plane beam conducts all operational loads, for example, through connection consoles on the main beam, which, in turn, conduct the loads into the ground by means of underpinnings and the foundations.
FIG. 5 shows a conventional functional plane beam 110. The functional plane beam possesses, to fulfill its expectations, a slide-surface 112 which faces upward, upon which the magnetically levitated vehicle can slide, if the drive, that is the current supply, drops out completely. In this case, the magnetically levitated vehicle supports itself on special sliding elements to match the said slide surface and glides along until it comes to a standstill. Lateral guide flanges 114, having active surfaces running in the travel direction and aligned perpendicularly to the said slide surface serve for the side-to-side guidance of the magnetically levitated vehicle. This guidance takes place by directive magnets in guide shoes of the magnetically levitated vehicle, which shoes are carried adjacent to the said lateral guide flanges.
In the lower area of the functional plane beam are placed the stator packets 116, which lift and drive the vehicle. These packets are so arranged, that they lift the vehicle by means of a base group of magnets set within the guide shoes, wherein they pull the magnets. Since, in this area, only the smallest possible clearances can be allowed, the stator packets and consequently the functional plane beams themselves are especially aligned and secured.
Finally, the functional plane beam itself is adjusted and fastened on a mounting surface facing the main beam. Although, steel has proven itself, because of tolerance reasons, in the case of the functional plane beam, it is possible that the therefrom separated main beam can be made just as well out of concrete (hybrid beam construction) as out of steel.
For a means of suspension to retain the stator packet, the suspension system shown in DE 19 735 471 has had a successful history. This suspension system provides the stator packet to be encapsulated in plastic and to be furnished with horizontal, T-shaped grooves running transversely to the direction of travel. Further, the functional plane beam possesses a so-called stator carrying member, which, on its under side has two, parallel, trapezoidal bars (traverses) running in the direction of travel, which, likewise, possess the said horizontal T-grooves running transversely to the direction of travel. The said grooves are set at the same distances apart as are those of the stator packets.
Although the said grooves were placed in the stator packets during its manufacture, because the individual metal sheets, from which the stator packets are formed, are subjected to stampings for the grooves, the other grooves in the stator carrying member are machine-milled in accord with the desired positioning of the stator packets. The coupling between the stator packet and the stator carrying member is done by groove matching, since the grooves of the carrying members possess the same profiling as that of the packet T-grooving. In this way the grooves complementarily join and both the components, namely the stator and the stator carrier bind together in a defined position. In this way, the groove fitting is additionally secured by screw connection to the functional plane beam.
Another stator carrier suspension has been made known by DE 19 931 367, in which the groove traverse, which is bound to the stator packet, is placed between two parallel web flanges, which are located on the underside of the stator carrier member and are screwed thereto. An additional security is achieved here by means of set-pins, which are placed parallel to the said screw connections.
The purpose of the securities of the two above described stator suspensions lies therein, in that upon a failure of the fastening means, a defined and detectable vertical displacement of the stator packet can be allowed, so that the utilization of the travelway continues to be possible and the suspension damage can be localized. This can be, for example, be executed in correspondence with properly distributed sensors along the travelway.
The principal disadvantage of this much employed solution can be found in the fact that, the fastening of the stator packet by groove traverse members or by other intervening pieces onto a stator carrier member is relatively complicated to mechanically carry out and to maintain. Disadvantageous in this matter also, is that the useable stator height is considerably reduced by any such intervening elements.
This becomes especially of importance, in occasions wherein for the purpose of acceleration a high current demand must be called up to load the stator windings. The strength of the current, however, is limited by the available cross-section of the electrical conductor wires and the therewith accompanying increase in temperature. Too high a current would lead to an overheating of the system. Larger conductor cross-sections, however, are not possible, because of the limited height of the stator packets. Stator packets of a larger overall height can only be installed under such circumstances wherein the profile of the functional plane beam would be correspondingly increased. Such a change would be encumbered with substantial design alterations—even including the guide shoe of the vehicle itself. Further, the employment of materials, which are resistant to higher temperatures, is subjected to limitation on both technical and economic grounds.


Compositions and methods for treating subjects with disorders characterized by aberrant vascular endothelial cell growth are provided. The compositions comprise agents that are combinations of a Wnt pathway stimulator component and a Tie2 pathway repressor component. Particularly useful Wnt pathway stimulators include, but are not limited to, Wnt7b-like molecules. Particularly useful Tie2 pathway repressor components include, but are not limited to, Ang2-like molecules. The methods allow for modulation of vascular endothelial cells, vascular endothelial cell vessels, capillary bed development, and angiogenesis.

Macrophages have a critical role in inflammatory and immune responses through their ability to recognize and engulf apoptotic cells (Savill et al. (2002) Nature Rev. Immunol. 2:965-975, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety). It is widely believed that macrophage involvement in programmed cell death occurs after the apoptotic event in response to membrane-tethered or soluble "eat-me" signals from dead and dying cells. However, in some circumstances phagocytes actively induce programmed cell death. In mice, macrophages are required for the programmed regression of temporary capillary networks within the developing eye (Lang, R. A. & Bishop, M. J. (1993) Cell 74:453-462 and Diez-Roux, G. & Lang, R. A. (1997) Development 124:3633-3638, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety). The mechanisms governing macrophage involvement in programmed cell death have not been clarified.
The Wingless (Wnt) signaling pathway has a crucial function in developmental cell fate decisions, and when aberrantly activated, in the development of cancer (Bienz, M & Clevers, H. (2000) Cell 103:311-30). In vertebrates, the canonical Wnt response requires a receptor complex comprising the co-receptor Lrp5 or Lrp6 and a multi-transmembrane pass receptor of the frizzled family. When activated by a Wnt ligand, this complex initiates a cascade of events that culminates in stabilization of β-catenin, its association with Lef/Tcf family of transcription factors and the regulation of target genes including some that stimulate cell cycle entry (see Nusse (1999) Trends Genet 15:1-3; Bienz & Clevers (2000) Cell 103:311-320; He et al. (2004) Development 131:1663-1677; Perrimon, N. (1996) Cell 86:513-516; Behrens et al. (1996) Nature 382:638-642, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety).
The Wnt gene family includes at least ten genes that encode structurally related secreted glycoproteins. Members of the Wnt family are reported to be regulators of mammary cell growth and differentiation. For example, dysregulation of Wnt signaling has been reported to cause developmental defects and to be implicated in the genesis of several human cancers. Overexpression of Wnt-7b proteins can result in cellular transformation of C57MG cells. Higher Wnt7b expression levels have also been reported in superficial bladder cancer cells as compared to invasive bladder cancer cells. These results suggest that the Wnt7b polypeptide is involved in the early events of bladder tumorigenesis (U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,448 B1, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).
Angiopoietins are a family of vascular growth factors that collaborate with members of the vascular endothelial growth factor family to regulate vascular and lymphatic vessel growth, acting via the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase Tie 2. Although angiopoietin-1 seems to be an obligate activator of the Tie2 receptor, angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) seems to have context specific effects, activating this receptor on some cells while blocking Tie2 activation on other cells or under other conditions. Ang2 is a context-dependent agonist/antagonist of Tie2 and displays a similar multimerization state to angiopoietin-1. See Davis et al. (2003) Nature Structural Biology 10:38-44, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Thus, a mechanistic assessment of Wnt7b and Ang2's in vivo role is desirable. It is of importance to develop methods of modulating vascular endothelial cell vessel formation. It is of further importance to develop methods of modulating Wnt7b expression.

Compositions useful for and methods of modulating angiogenesis


A liquid crystal driving device that supplies control signals including at least a polarity inversion signal for AC driving to an image signal line driving circuit, the polarity inversion signal includes polarity inversion pulses varied periodically at a prescribed period even in vertical blanking intervals. The last polarity inversion pulses at the last cycles in each of vertical blanking intervals are deleted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal driving device that supplies control signals for AC driving to an image signal line driving circuit even in vertical blanking intervals.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a liquid crystal panel is configured in such a manner that image signal lines (source lines) and scanning signal lines (gate lines) are arranged in matrix form and liquid crystal cells are formed so as to correspond to the respective crossing points of the image signal lines and the scanning signal lines. The image signal lines are driven by an image signal line driving circuit and the scanning signal lines are driven by a scanning signal line driving circuit.
It is known to supply control signals to the image signal line driving circuit in vertical blanking intervals as well as in vertical scanning intervals, which is an effective measure for preventing horizontal-line-dependent unevenness in an image display on the display screen. In liquid crystal driving devices using this measure, control signals are supplied to the image signal line driving circuit in vertical blanking intervals as well as in vertical scanning intervals. The control signals are signals for AC-driving the image signal lines varied periodically at a prescribed period corresponding to the period of a horizontal sync signal. The cotrol signals include a polarity inversion signal, a data shift start pulse signal, and a latch pulse signal.
Conventional circuits that supply control signals to the image signal line driving circuit in vertical blanking intervals as well as in vertical scanning intervals are required to satisfy the following two conditions. First, in vertical blanking intervals, control signals should be supplied at a period that is the same as or close to their period in vertical scanning intervals. Second, in vertical blanking intervals, a horizontal sync signal should be supplied at a period that is the same as or close to its period in vertical scanning intervals.
If the first and second conditions are not satisfied, that is, the periods of the control signals and the horizontal sync signal in a vertical blanking interval become much different than in the preceding vertical scanning interval, portions of the control signals at the last cycle of the vertical blanking interval may cause an erroneous operation in a control in the next vertical scanning interval. Such an erroneous operation may also occur when the length of a vertical blanking interval has been varied by one horizontal period or an odd time of less than one horizontal period.


A faucet light-effect module is disclosed. The device comprises a housing, a spring switch, an electro-magnetic control module. The device produces a different color water stream based on the temperature of the water detected by the module.

(a) Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to light-effect module, and in particular, a light-effect module for mounting onto the water outlet of a faucet.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional faucets available in the market provide with only one function, i.e., to control the water flowrate from water pipes. In order to indicate the water flow temperature either hot or cold, two markers blue and red, are marked on the faucet for controlling hot and cold water flowrate. As these marks are not significant, users have no way to tell the temperature of the water from the water supply. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-effect module for faucet which mitigates the above-mentioned drawback.


An exterior auxiliary lighting system is provided including a light source for generating a beam of visible light, the light source having an aperture through which the beam of light is projected. A cover can be detachably connected to the light source to overlay at least a portion of the aperture. A sensor is provided for detecting whether the cover is attached to the light source. A switch responsive to an output signal from the sensor is adapted to selectively decouple the light source from a power supply when the sensor detects that the cover is attached to the light source.

Automotive vehicles, such as light trucks and sport utility vehicles, commonly include various types of auxiliary lights, such as fog lights and off-road utility lights. Off-road lights are typically mounted to the front or roof of a vehicle, whereas fog lights are generally mounted to the lower front region of the vehicle. In addition to providing light, fog and off-road utility lights are considered decorative with respect to the vehicle. Auxiliary lights are available as an aftermarket accessory and as original equipment on certain model vehicles.
Various regulations, such as California Vehicle Code §24499-24411 govern the use of off-road lights. Many states, for example, require auxiliary lights to be physically capped when the vehicle is operated on public streets. Regulations also require that auxiliary lights not be operated on public streets.
Capping auxiliary lights when not in use is also desirable because it protects the light from being damaged by debris, such as stones, that can be kicked up from the road. However, it is desirable that auxiliary lights not be operated with the cap installed. Certain high powered lights, particularly off-road utility lights, can generate significant heat when operated. If the auxiliary light were operated with the cap installed, the heat could damage the cap. It has generally been left up to the user to ensure that the cap is removed prior to operating the auxiliary light. This creates a risk that the user will inadvertently fail to remove the cap prior to activating the auxiliary light. It has also generally been left up to the user to ensure that the cap is replaced prior to operating the vehicle on public roads. This creates a risk that the user will inadvertently fail to replace the cap and will operate the vehicle in a manner not fully complying with applicable regulations.

Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.


A system and method for automatically selecting decoupling capacitors for an electronic device. The system determines a localized drive strength for each component in the electronic device. Based on a summation of drive strengths for components in a given area of the electronic device, the system determines whether a decoupling capacitor is necessary to provide local power bus stability.

The present invention generally relates to a power system for an electronic device and more particularly, to the insertion of decoupling capacitors to reduce voltage variations in a power system.
The continuing push to increase the operating speed of an integrated circuit while at the same time lowering the integrated circuit""s bus voltage has created the need for an integrated circuit power bus having higher current capability and tightly toleranced voltage levels. The extremely rapid switching rates of the discrete components which make up current integrated circuits can cause current transients on the power bus lasting into the nanoseconds. By contrast, the typical power supply driving the power bus has a current transient reaction time in the microseconds. Moreover, the lowering of the logic voltage levels requires a power bus to deliver a stable voltage signal having a minimum of voltage level variation. Consequently, power bus stability, in terms of current response and voltage level fluctuation, becomes a significant issue in the design of an integrated circuit.
One manner in which the issue of power bus stability has been addressed is with the insertion of decoupling capacitors between the power bus and the logical components making up an electronic device. A step like function is the conventional manner in which decoupling capacitors are inserted into the electronic device to provide power bus stability. In this approach, decoupling capacitors are placed into an electronic device layout using a sequence of steps to produce a grid-like decoupling capacitor layout. Consequently, the structured placement of the decoupling capacitors adds power bus stability, but at the cost of an increase in the area required for the layout of the electronic device. In addition, the step like placement of decoupling capacitors introduces gate placement constraints on the design and the designer. Such constraints include where to place logical components having timing limitations and the often difficult task of maintaining optimum wire lengths derived by the quadratic placer.
The structured placement of decoupling capacitors also hinders the electronic device that utilizes control blocks of random logic. The reason being the random switching of the components that makes up a control block of random logic. Because of the random switching of the components, it is difficult to measure average power consumption. Thus, the control block of random logic having above-average power consumption does not have the properly sized decoupling capacitance to support its power consumption needs. Consequently, the control block of random logic having an above average consumption is prone to event upsets caused by power bus instability.
The present invention addresses the above-described limitations of the conventional structured placement of decoupling capacitors in an electronic device. In particular, the present invention provides a drive strength control facility for evaluating the localized power consumption of components in an electronic device in order to determine the decoupling capacitor requirements of the design.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method is practiced that provides a representation of an electronic device that contains one or more cells, where each cell can contain a single logical component of the electronic device. Based on the logical component contained in a cell, the drive strength facility is able to determine a drive strength for the selected cell. The drive strength calculated for the selected cell represents the current necessary to drive the logical component of the cell under full load conditions.
By grouping cells located in proximity to each other and summing the drive strengths of each cell in the group, a cumulative drive strength for the group of cells is determined. Should the cumulative drive strength for the group of selected cells exceed a defined threshold, the selected cells are flagged as requiring a decoupling capacitor.
Once the drive strength facility has identified the cell groupings requiring decoupling capacitors, the flagged cells are again examined by the drive strength facility. In this examination, the drive strength facility determines if sufficient area is available to insert a decoupling capacitor within a specified distance of the cell grouping. If component density in the particular cell grouping prohibits placement of a decoupling capacitor, the drive strength facility reviews the layout of the electronic device to determine whether sufficient space may be created by the shifting of one or more cells in a particular row.
The above-described approach avoids the problems associated with placing decoupling capacitors in a structured sequential manner. The present invention reduces decoupling capacitor usage, which can result in a design cost reduction, along with a reduction of area in electronic device allocated to decoupling capacitors, and also allows a circuit designer to target an area of an electronic device that may be susceptible to event upsets caused by voltage level variations on the power bus. As a result, the electronic device may have a smaller overall profile, or alternatively, may be enhanced with additional capability or functionality without increasing device size.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method is practiced for determining the decoupling capacitor needs of an electronic device that considers which cells within a cell grouping are active during a given clock phase. In this way, total component area in the cell grouping does not drive the decoupling capacitor requirements for the grouping. By identifying which logical components are active during a first phase of the clock cycle, and which logical components are active during the second phase of the clock cycle, results in a more accurate indication of current draw for the selected group of cells.
Thus, for a given cell grouping, the drive strength facility may calculate a first cumulative drive strength for the components in the cell grouping that are active during the first phase of the clock signal, and calculate a second cumulative drive strength for the components in the grouping that are active during the second phase of the clock signal. If the first cumulative drive strength exceeds a first threshold value, the group of cells is flagged to indicate the requirement of a decoupling capacitor. In like manner, if the second cumulative drive strength exceeds a second threshold, the cells are flagged to indicate the need of a decoupling capacitor. As a result, the sizing of the decoupling capacitor is based on current draw as opposed to total surface area consumed by the selected components.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for determining the decoupling capacitor usage requirements of a selected electronic device. The system includes a display to view a layout of the electronic device, an input device for use by a system operator, a processor for executing instructions in response from the system operator, and a drive strength facility for determining the decoupling capacitor needs for the electronic device represented on the display. In response to input from the system operator, the drive strength facility examines the electronic device layout and indicates to the system operator a cell or a group of cells requiring a decoupling capacitor. The drive strength facility may indicate the cells requiring a decoupling capacitor by highlighting the cells in one or more colors, or by outlining the cells in one or more colored borders.
By providing a visual indication of the cells or group of cells requiring decoupling capacitors, the system operator may visually track the progress of the drive strength facility. In addition, the operator can monitor the placement of decoupling capacitors in the electronic device and intervene should a cell row of the design be too dense to insert a decoupling capacitor.
The above-described system allows decoupling capacitors to be placed in an electronic device layout with minimal impact to device timing requirements and wire length constraints. Consequently, the layout of timing sensitive logical components or level sensitive logical components does not have to be designed around a fixed decoupling capacitor pattern. The system provides the benefit of placing the decoupling capacitor where needed as dictated by the layout of the electronic device, thus avoiding the burden of having to insert decoupling capacitors in a structured sequential manner. .
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium provides instructions to an electronic device capable of reading the medium with a method for determining where to insert a decoupling capacitor in an electronic device using a calculated drive strength for one or more cells containing a component. Further, the computer-readable medium allows a computer system to distinguish between cells of logical components that are operative in a first clock phase from cells of logical components that are operative in a second clock phase. This method provides a more accurate drive strength calculation of the current necessary to drive the cell grouping under full-load conditions. By accurately predicting the drive strength required for a cell grouping, decoupling capacitors can then placed in or near the cell grouping identified as needing a decoupling capacitor. As a result, decoupling capacitor usage is minimized, which results in less area of an electronic device consumed by decoupling capacitors and an attributable cost savings.

Automated decoupling capacitor insertion


A coupling is presented for coupling two electromagnetic hollow conductors (waveguides) with different cross-sectional shapes. The coupling includes steps (S1-S3) arranged sequentially in the axial direction, having an essentially rectangular cross section and rounded corners as well as different clearances. The dimensions of all steps (S1-S3) are purposely designed so that other modes in addition to the basic mode are able to propagate therein. Because of the dimensions of coupling (3), only modes intended to conduct signals propagate in the joined waveguides, while those which are not intended to conduct signals are essentially cancelled by superposition.

1. Technical Field
The invention concerns a coupling for two electromagnetic hollow conductors (waveguides) with different cross-sectional shapes, containing steps arranged sequentially in the axial direction, having an essentially rectangular cross section and rounded corners as well as different clearances (open areas or clear width), in which a low-reflective transmission of the wave modes (modes or modes of propagation) intended to conduct signals takes place.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A coupling for two electromagnetic hollow conductors (waveguides) with different cross-sectional shapes is also called a "transition" and has the task of transferring the signal conducting wave mode (mode) of a waveguide without reflections into the mode of the other waveguide that is intended to conduct signals. The coupling becomes necessary when the two waveguides to be joined have different cross sections and a direct connection would cause too many reflections. The two waveguides can basically have any cross-sectional shape. For example, they can be elliptical, rectangular, square or round.
It is known in conventional technology to join waveguides of different cross-sectional shapes with a coupling which continuously changes from one cross-sectional shape to the other along the length (DE-AS 14 91 901). Such couplings have good electrical properties. However, they are very costly to produce. In addition, they are very long because their length must be a multiple of the waveguide's length.
A stepped coupling in accordance with the EP 0 145 292 A2 mentioned earlier is shorter. The use of this known coupling with step-like changes in its cross-sectional geometry is exclusively limited to frequency ranges in which only the respective basic wave is able to propagate in the two waveguides as well as in the coupling itself. In each case, the cross sections of the individual coupling steps are chosen so that other types of waves are unable to propagate therein. This known coupling is therefore limited to single-mode operation. It is exclusively used to transmit the basic modes of the respective waveguides being joined. It is furthermore assumed that the individual steps widen or narrow uniformly from one end of the coupling to the other, so that the limiting frequency of the basic mode changes monotonically within the coupling. Finally, the coupling is only designed to link a rectangular waveguide to an elliptical one.

Coupling for two electromagnetic waveguides with different cross-sectional shapes

Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite


A compound of the Formula I: ##STR1## or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein X, R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and n are as defined in the disclosure. The oxazine and thiazine oxazolidinone derivatives are useful antimicrobial agents effective against a number of human and veterinary pathogens, including gram-positive aerobic bacteria such as multiply-resistant staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci as well as anaerobic organisms such as Bacteroides spp. and Clostridia spp. species, and acid-fast organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium spp.

The subject invention discloses oxazine and thiazine oxazolidinone derivatives. The compounds are useful antimicrobial agents, effective against a number of human and veterinary pathogens, including gram-positive aerobic bacteria such as multiply-resistant staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci as well as anaerobic organisms such as Bacteroides spp. and Clostridia spp. species, and acid-fast organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium spp..

Substituted oxazine and thiazine oxazolidinone antimicrobials


A cap (12) for a beverage bottle (14) includes a passage (22) through which beverage in the bottle may flow from the bottle. A first portion (24) surrounds the passage (22) and is engageable with the lips of a child adapted to consume the beverage that flows through the passage. A second portion (34) clamping engages the beverage bottle (14) to hold the cap (12) on the bottle. The cap (12) is made of an elastic material and the second portion (34) stretches to clamping engage the bottle (14). At least one manually engageable pull tab (40, 42) is for pulling the second portion (34) onto the bottle (14) while the second portion stretches.

Infants typically consume beverages from either baby bottles. Baby bottles are well known products and include a wide mouth bottle container and a nipple covering the mouth of the bottle which delivers a beverage to an infant nursing from the bottle. The nipple is secured to the mouth of the bottle by a baby bottle collar which is a rigid plastic piece that is threaded onto a mating threaded portion of the mouth of the bottle.
Small children, such as toddlers, typically use sipper cups when learning to drink beverages from normal cups. Sipper cups are also well known products and include a cup and a removable lid. The lid has a mouth portion with an opening for delivering a beverage to an infant nursing from the sipper cup. The lid is removed to fill the cup with a beverage. The cup and lid are made of rigid plastic material and are secured together by a snap fit.
The size of the lid of the sipper cup is specific to the size of the cup. The lid is therefore not interchangeable for use with other different sized cups. The nipple and collar of the baby bottle is specifically threaded for use with the bottle portion and is not interchangeable with other bottles.
It is known to adapt commercially available conventional beverage bottles, such as a spring water bottle shown in FIG. 1, for infant use by threading a bottle adapter onto the mouth of the beverage bottle.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional beverage bottle 14 with the cap portion removed. The beverage bottle 14 may be for example, a spring water bottle. The beverage bottle 14 includes a container 16 and a threaded mouth 18 with a lip. While the exact shape of the container portion 16 may differ according to brand name, the size of the mouth 18 is typically standard.


Various methods are provided for facilitating the assignment of a DNS name to load balancers in a dynamically partitioned cluster environment. One example method may comprise receiving cluster configuration information from a cluster configuration observer, the cluster configuration information comprising information indicative of each of a plurality of instances of running application and one or more servers and associated ports to which at least one of the plurality of instances is bound, receiving a request from a first level load balancer requiring a call to the first application, determining, based on the cluster configuration information, to which port the instance of the first application is bound, and transmitting the request to the port to which the instance of the first application is bound.

In a conventional system, such as for example, statically partitioned cluster environments, a DNS name may be assigned to a load balancer or group of load balancers. For example, the conventional process may include splitting a plurality of servers into groups, assigning a single application to a single group of servers, and configuring each load balancer or load balancer group to route traffic to a single server group.
In this regard, areas for improving conventional systems have been identified. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, solutions to improve such systems have been realized and are described in connection with embodiments of the present invention.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


When a two-dimensional spread code, with which spreading is made in time and frequency directions, is allocated to each channel, spread codes at least one of time and frequency directions of which are mutually orthogonal, and with which despreading can be made with spreading factors that are smaller than the original spreading factors in the respective directions are recognized as selection targets, and a spread code to be allocated to each channel is determined from among the spread codes recognized as the selection targets.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for transmitting/receiving data in units of channels by using a two-dimensional spread code with which spreading is made in a time direction and a frequency direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in a mobile communication field, attention has been focused on, for example, an OFDM-CDMA method, into which an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) modulation method and a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) method are combined, as a multi-carrier modulation method. The OFDM modulation method is a modulation method having a high frequency use efficiency utilizing a plurality of mutually orthogonal subcarriers, whereas the CDMA method is a modulation method using a spread spectrum communication method the interference immunity of which is high. The OFDM-CDMA method, into which these two methods are combined, spreads at least either of time and frequency directions by using a two-dimensional spread code with which spreading can be made in the time and the frequency directions. This method is recited, for example, in Patent Documents 1 and 2.
In a mobile communication, the state of a propagation path of a channel varies by situation. If the state of a propagation path becomes worse, a transmission characteristic or a system capacity degrades. With the conventional technique recited in Patent Document 1, a transmitting side sets spreading factors in time and frequency directions according to the state of a propagation path of a channel in order to prevent a transmission characteristic and a system capacity from degrading. For example, the spreading factor in the frequency direction is set to a smaller value as a maximum delay time in the propagation path becomes longer, so that orthogonality between spread codes is prevented from degrading. Additionally, the spreading factor in the time direction is set to a smaller value as a maximum Doppler frequency in the propagation path becomes higher, so that orthogonality between spread codes is prevented from degrading.
With the conventional technique recited in Patent Document 1, a spreading factor that differs by user (receiving side) is applied according to the state of a propagation path, or the same spreading factor is applied to a plurality of users, when a transmitting side transmits a pilot symbol or the like for estimating a channel.
If a different spreading factor is applied, spread codes the number of which is equal to that of users are required. As a result, the capacity of the entire system becomes small, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of using the system capacity. Additionally, since power equivalent to the number of users is required, also power consumption becomes higher.
In the meantime, if the same spreading factor is applied, power consumption can be further reduced. This is because each user makes despreading with the same spreading factor. However, since the reception characteristic of each user differs depending on the state of each propagation path, it is very difficult to directly identify an optimum spreading factor for each user. Therefore, it is vital to enable a plurality of users to receive data with a spreading factor according to the state of each propagation path while keeping the efficiency of using the system capacity high.    Patent Document 1 : Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-46474    Patent Document 2 : Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-48117

Spread code allocating method, despreading method, transmitting device, receiving device, communicating device, wireless base station device, and mobile terminal device


The present invention relates to a spammer group extraction apparatus and method, which extract spammer groups that interfere with fair trade and unbiased decision making by sending messages aimed at intentionally slandering other companies (other persons, other products, etc.) on social network services. The spammer group extraction apparatus includes a data collection unit for collecting pieces of data corresponding to social network services. A natural language processing unit preprocesses the pieces of data using a natural language processing algorithm based on big data. An abnormal behavior detection unit detects abnormal behavior based on user identifications (IDs) respectively corresponding to pieces of data, preprocessing of which has been completed. A spammer extraction unit extracts a spammer group using a user ID causing the abnormal behavior and an ID of a user group including the user ID.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a spammer group extraction apparatus and method and, more particularly, to a spammer group extraction apparatus and method, which extract spammer groups that interfere with fair trade and unbiased decision making by sending messages aimed at intentionally slandering other companies (other persons, other products, etc.) on social network services.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development and popularization of smart devices, the number of users who use online Social Network Services (SNS) has exponentially increased, and thus the importance of social network services has gradually increased as a new paradigm for sharing information.
As the number of users who use such a social network service increases, the number of various types of malicious activities, for example, the distribution of malicious code to cheat users out of money, the circulation of viruses, the theft of personal information, and the circulation of intentional false information, has rapidly increased.
Recently, in order to cope with malicious activities using a social network service, various detection, prevention, and blocking algorithms have been applied and operated, or research into such algorithms has been conducted.
However, most malicious behavior detection and blocking algorithms are implemented using a method of detecting whether each unit message is a spam message based on a relational distance and connectivity between a sender and a recipient, a method of detecting whether a message is a malicious spam message via the analysis of a simple message hashtag and a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and a method of detecting spam in consideration of user identification (ID) and message-based simple characteristics, such as the ratio of the number of followers and the number of friends of a user ID, the ratio of the number of messages containing URLs to the total number of messages that are recently exchanged by the user ID, the ratio of messages containing hashtags, the ratio of messages having content similarity, and the ratio of messages containing spam-related keywords.
For example, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2004-0072059 entitled "Automatic spam email blocking method using link URL access" discloses technology for extracting URL information linked to a received email, accessing the corresponding web page, filtering the email as a spam email if the email contains a predefined spam keyword, and then automatically blocking the spam. That is, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2004-0072059 uses a malicious behavior detection and blocking algorithm that adopts a method of detecting whether the corresponding email is malicious spam, based on the analysis of URLs.
However, in this way, the malicious behavior detection and blocking algorithms are concentrated on the circulation of advertising spam or malicious code, and thus there are limitations in detecting the behavior of circulating false information and the intentional and collective malicious behavior of ID groups.

Spammer group extraction apparatus and method

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


A bipolar transistor and method of making a bipolar transistor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the bipolar transistor includes a polysilicon layer into which impurity atoms are inserted, thereby reducing the layer resistance.

In the case of bipolar transistors, the extrinsic base resistance, with the transition frequency and base collector capacitance, is one of the decisive transistor parameters which determine important characteristic quantities such as the maximum oscillation frequency, the amplification ("gain"), the minimum noise factor, gate delay times, etc. of the bipolar transistor. The extrinsic base resistance corresponds to the resistance between the base, or the actual base area, and an external contact, which is connected to the base via a connecting line.
Regarding the above-mentioned transistor parameters, the following applies, for instance, to the maximum oscillation frequency ƒmax of the bipolar transistor:
                              f          max                ≈                                            f              T                                      8                                            π                ·                                  R                  B                                ·                                  C                  BC                                                                                (        1        )            where ƒT is the transition frequency, RB is the extrinsic base resistance and CBC is the base collector capacitance of the bipolar transistor.
For the minimum noise factor Fmin of a bipolar transistor, the following applies, depending on the extrinsic base resistance RB and frequency ƒ:
                              F          min                ≈                  1          +                      1            β                    +                                    f                              F                T                                      ·                                                                                2                      ·                                              I                        C                                                                                V                      T                                                        ·                                      R                    B                                    ·                                      (                                          1                      +                                                                        f                          T                          2                                                                          β                          ·                                                      f                            2                                                                                )                                                  +                                                      f                    T                    2                                                        β                    ·                                          f                      2                                                                                (        2        )            where β is the small signal current amplification, IC is the collector current, and VT is the thermal voltage of the bipolar transistor.
From the two formulae (1) and (2), it can be seen that the extrinsic base resistance RB should be small for fast switching and low noise factors. One method of reducing losses in the case of bipolar transistors is the use of a polysilicon electrode for contacting the base. A p+ polysilicon layer provides a low-resistance path with correspondingly low capacitance for the base current.
Specially small extrinsic base resistances can be achieved, for instance, by use of the concept of the so-called "self-aligned double polysilicon bipolar transistor", as described in "Self-Aligned Bipolar Transistors for High-Performance and Low-Power-Delay VLSI", T. H. Ning et al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. ED-28, No. 9, pp. 1010-1013, 1981. This concept is therefore used in almost all widely used production technologies for ultra-high frequency bipolar transistors.


A load-distribution method that transmits packets received from a network to two or more transmission destinations to distribute a load, comprising storing a weight value of distribution and an accumulated value according to actual transmission for every transmission destination, and transmitting the received packets, upon occurrence of a distribution event, to a transmission destination that has a smallest accumulated value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a load-distribution method and apparatus therewith, and particularly relates to a load-distribution method and apparatus therewith for a processing server and a link between nodes in a network.
2. Description of the Related Art
With a rapid increase in an amount of packets transmitted or processed by the Internet, a potential packet transfer capacity which one link cannot transfer, and a potential packet processing capacity which one server cannot process have been required, which in turn calls for a load distribution of these packets over a plurality of links and servers for transfer and processing, respectively. Further, since transfer and processing capacities usually differ from link to link, and from server to server, respectively, it is necessary to distribute packets in proportion to their respective transfer and processing capacities.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a conventional load-distribution apparatus, and FIG. 2 shows how output terminals are selected with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, a packet received from a network is supplied to a switch unit 10, and an address and the like of the packet are supplied to a Hash-function generating unit 12 as a key. The Hash-function generating unit 12 generates a random number between 0 and 99, for example, by applying the Hash function to this key, and supplies the number to the output selection unit 14. The output selection unit 14 is set up with predetermined weights such that when the random number falls between 0 and 49, for example, an output terminal 16a shall be selected, when the random number falls between 50 and 79, for example, an output terminal 16b shall be selected, and if the random number falls between 80 and 99, for example, an output terminal 16c shall be selected. The output selection unit 14 supplies a selection direction signal to the switch unit 10 according to the value from the Hash-function generating unit 12. The switch unit 10 switches the packet supplied according to this selection direction signal, and sends the packet to a link or server via one of the output terminals 16a, 16b, and 16c, which is assigned according to the weight.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another example of the conventional load-distribution apparatus, and FIG. 4 shows how output terminals are selected with reference to FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, a packet received from the network is supplied to a switch unit 20 and an output selection unit 22. The output selection unit 22 includes an output selection table 26 where a line is prepared for each of output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c, each of which is given the number of assigned packets and weight value.
Whenever a packet is supplied, the output selection unit 22 searches a line which a pointer 28 in the output selection unit 22 indicates, reads the number of assigned packets and the weight value of the line that is pointed, and compares the number of the assigned packets with the weight value in a comparison unit 30. If the number of the assigned packets is found to be equal to or larger than the weight value, the comparison unit 30 directs the pointer 28 to move to the next line. If the number of the assigned packets is smaller than the weight value, the output selection unit 22 will supply a selection direction signal to the switch unit 20, which will select an output terminal corresponding to the line that is currently pointed to. The switch unit 20 switches the packet supplied according to this selection direction signal, and sends this packet to a link or server via one of the output terminals 24a, 24b, and 24c, assigned according to the weight.
In addition, when the number of assigned packets of all the lines of the table 22 becomes equal to or larger than the respective weight value, the number of assigned packets of all lines is reset to 0.
In the conventional practice described above using FIG. 1, the random number has unevenness that results from unevenness of the Hash function and the key. That requires counting a total of the number of packets assigned to a link or a server actually, and periodically adjusting a link or a server that is assigned to each random number obtained from the Hash function so that packets are assigned to each link or server according to the weight values.
Further, a problem has been that, even if the random number is truly random, unevenness is probable for a short period of time, and therefore, it takes a long period to achieve an adequate load distribution according to the weight.
In the conventional example as described with reference to FIG. 3, there has been a problem in that if the weight values differ greatly, packet assignment will be concentrated to a link or a server that has a large weight value after packet assignment to a link or a server having a small weight value is finished until the number of assigned packets is reset.

Load-distribution method and apparatus based on the method


An optical amplifier module is disclosed. The optical amplifier module includes a housing having an interior length and an interior width generally shorter than the interior length and an electronic control board disposed within the housing. The electronic control board includes a plurality of electronically connected components. The optical amplifier module also includes a gain medium disposed in the housing in a generally circularly spiral shape, such that the gain medium has a radius of curvature approximately one half the interior width of the housing. The optical amplifier module further includes a pump laser electronically connected to the electronic control board and optically connected to the gain medium.

The present invention relates to compact optical amplifiers.
Optical communication systems based on glass optical fibers (GOF) allow communication signals to be transmitted not only over long distances with low attenuation, but also at extremely high data rates, or bandwidth capacity. This capability arises from the propagation of a single optical signal mode in the low-loss windows of glass located at the near-infrared wavelengths of 850, 1310, and 1550 nm. Since the introduction of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), the last decade has witnessed the emergence of single-mode GOF as the standard data transmission medium for wide area networks (WANs), especially in terrestrial and transoceanic communication backbones. In addition, the bandwidth performance of single-mode GOF has been vastly enhanced by the development of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), which can couple up to 40 channels of different wavelengths of light into a single fiber, with each channel carrying up to 10 gigabits of data per second. Moreover, recently, a signal transmission of 1 terabit (1012 bits) per second has been achieved over a single fiber on a 100-channel DWDM system. Bandwidth capacities are increasing at rates of as much as an order of magnitude per year.
The success of the single-mode GOF in long-haul communication backbones has given rise to the new technology of optical networking. The universal objective is to integrate voice video, and data streams over all-optical systems as communication signals make their way from WANs down to smaller local area networks (LANs) of Metro and Access networks, down to the curb (FTTC), home (FTTH), and finally arriving to the end user by fiber to the desktop (FTTD). Examples are the recent explosion of the Internet and use of the World Wide Web, which are demanding vastly higher bandwidth performance in short- and medium-distance applications. Yet, as the optical network nears the end user starting at the LAN stage, the network is characterized by numerous splittings of the input signal into many channels. This feature represents a fundamental problem for optical networks. Each time the input signal is split, the signal strength per channel is naturally reduced.
Rare earth doped optical amplifiers are emerging as the predominant optical signal amplification device for every aspect of optical communication networks spanning from repeaters, pre-amplifiers, and power boosters to wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems. These amplifiers are suitable for long-haul, submarine, metro, community antenna television (CATV) and local area networks. An optical amplifier amplifies an optical signal directly in the optical domain without converting the signal into an electrical signal and reconverting the electrical signal back to an optical signal. As optical telecommunication networks push further and further toward the end user, as represented by the technology of FTTC, FTTH, and FTTD, there is an ever growing demand for compact and low cost optical amplification devices.
Current fiber optics architectures utilize highly expensive, bulky EDFA modules based on costly electronic and photonic bulk components that require tedious alignment and connections. Known packaged optical amplifier assemblies include a number of commercially available optical components, such as optical isolators, erbium doped optical fibers, wavelength division multiplexing couplers, tap couplers, etc., which are fusion spliced together to form the optical part of an optical amplifier module. The electronics driving circuitry part of the optical amplifier is built on a separate platform, typically on a printed circuit board. The electronics board and the optical part are separate and are located in two different parts of the amplifier module. Such a multi-layer approach is suitable for complicated, multi-stage amplifiers used in long-haul optical communication systems. However, as an optical network nears the local area level, due to vast signal splitting, a more compact, low-cost, and easy to manufacture approach is needed.
It would be beneficial to provide a highly efficient, compact optical amplifier module that is designed and built utilizing integrated printed circuit board components. Such a module will provide a cost-effective, compact solution to the problem of signal reduction from splitting because the module will utilize reduced space, weight, size, and power consumption natural to integrated compact architectures.
Briefly, the present invention provides an optical amplifier module. The optical amplifier module comprises a housing having an interior length and an interior width generally shorter than the interior length and an electronic control board disposed within the housing. The electronic control board includes a plurality of electronically connected components. The optical amplifier module further comprises a gain medium disposed in the housing in a generally circularly spiral shape, such that the gain medium has a radius of curvature approximately one half the interior width of the housing. The optical amplifier further comprises a pump laser electronically connected to the electronic control board and optically connected to the gain medium.


A scroll compressor, wherein a guide passage facing the supply passage of a fixed side substrate part is formed at the outer peripheral portion of a fixed scroll engaged with a movable scroll along the axial direction of the fixed scroll. A lubricating oil is stored in an oil storage tank surrounded by a set of weir walls formed along the guide passage and the movable side substrate part of the movable scroll facing a fixed side spiral wall. The movable side substrate part is radially displaced by the turning action of the movable scroll to supply the lubricating oil stored in the oil storage tank to the movable scroll side.

Heretofore, there have been known scroll compressors including, in a housing, a fixed scroll having a fixed plate and a spiral fixed lap upstanding on the fixed plate and a movable scroll having a movable plate and a spiral movable lap upstanding on the movable plate, the fixed and movable laps interleaving each other. The movable scroll is caused to orbit by an eccentric drive pin for moving a compression chamber, which is defined by the laps of the fixed and movable scrolls, the fixed plate, and the movable plate, progressively from an outer circumferential region toward a central region to compress a fluid in the compression chamber.
In one such scroll compressor disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-082335, a movable scroll and a fixed scroll are disposed in a front housing, and the fixed scroll is fixed to a rear housing connected to an end of the front housing. A refrigerant that is compressed by the movable scroll and the fixed scroll is introduced through an inlet hole defined in the rear housing into a separation chamber having a separation pipe. Thereafter, the refrigerant and a lubricating oil contained in the refrigerant are separated from each other, and the lubricating oil is discharged through a discharge hole into an oil storage chamber. The fixed scroll has an oil supply hole defined therein which extends from a fixed side plate thereof toward a fixed spiral member. The lubricating oil in the oil storage chamber flows out of the oil supply hole to lubricate the vicinity of sliding portions of the movable and fixed scrolls.
According to the above conventional art, the oil supply hole defined in the fixed scroll is elongate along the axial direction of the fixed scroll and extends through the fixed scroll so as to face the sliding portion of the movable plate of the movable scroll. However, since the oil supply hole is elongate, the efficiency with which to machine the oil supply hole is low.
The oil supply hole that is supplied with the lubricating oil is of a small diameter and has an opening facing a sliding portion of the movable plate of the movable scroll. Therefore, dust or the like enters the oil supply hole from the sliding portion, tending to produce a clogging for the lubricating oil and fail to provide sufficient lubrication.
In order to prevent such a clogging in the oil supply hole, the compressor has a counterbore defined in the opening of the oil supply hole, the counterbore having a diameter larger than the oil supply hole. However, the process of additionally machining the counterbore increases the time required to manufacture the compressor.


It is an object of the present invention to obtain a containment concrete cask which has heat removal capacity maintained at the conventional level or beyond it and which prevents radiation from leaking to the outside. In a concrete cask, a shielding body composed of concrete and heat transfer fins made from metal are provided between an inner shell and an outer shell made from metal, and an accommodation portion for accommodating a radioactive substance is provided inside the inner shell. The accommodation portion has a containment structure to be insulated from the outside of the cask. In the heat transfer fins, the portions thereof at the outer shellside are provided in contact with the outer shell and the portions thereof at the inner shell side are cut so as to form a separation portion with respect to the inner shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a concrete cask suitable for the transportation or long-term storage of radioactive material such as spent nuclear fuels.
2. Description of the Related Art
Concrete casks described in Japanese Patent Applications Laid-open No. 2001-141891 and Japanese Patent No. 3342994 are known as the conventional concrete casks. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-141891 describes a representative conventional concrete cask provided in the top part thereof with a gas outlet opening and in the lower part thereof with a gas inlet opening. In this structure, convection is generated in a gap between the concrete cask and a canister so as to introduce outside air through the inlet opening and release it through the outlet opening. As a result, heat is removed from the canister (sealed container containing the spent fuel) that is stored inside the concrete cask.
Japanese Patent No. 3342994 described a metal cask structure in which a neutron shielding material is provided between an outer shell and an inner shell. In order to enhance the heat transfer between the outer and inner shells, both ends of heat transfer fins made from a metal material with good thermal conduction, such as copper, are connected in their entirety to the inner shell and outer shell. The heat transfer fins are provided radially along the radial direction.
In the structure of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-141891, heat is removed by providing gas inlet and outlet openings and introducing outside air. In this case, corrosion-inducing substances such as sea salt particles contained in the outside air are unavoidably introduced into the concrete cask and adhere to the canister surface. As a result the canister surface is corroded and sometimes stress corrosion cracking can occur under the combined effect with the residual stresses present in the vicinity of welds in the canister. Such cracking means that the containment of canister is disrupted and radioactive material can be emitted to the outside. Furthermore, because the above-mentioned openings serving as the inlet and outlet were the portions that were not covered with a shielding body (portions that lack shielding), radiation streaming from those openings could not be avoided.
In the configuration described in Japanese Patent 3342994, the inner shell and outer shell were connected by both ends of the heat transfer fins in their entirety. Therefore, the problem was that no shielding body was present in the heat transfer fin portions and radiation penetrated through the heat transfer fins and streamed in the radial direction. Furthermore, because of the structure in which the heat transfer fins were in contact with the inner and outer shells, the neutron shielding material such as a concrete had to be placed in the spaces bounded by the inner and outer shells and heat transfer fins one by one, or structural blocks had to be assembled. In this case the manufacture was a time-consuming operation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a concrete cask that is effective in suppressing the radiation streaming and is easy to manufacture.

Concrete cask and method for manufacturing thereof


A novel system for producing a high quality tea extract using espresso technology is provided as well as novel tea compositions for use in such system and a process for preparing a tea extract of consistently high quality using a coffee brewing device, and particularly, an espresso machine.

In recent years, the coffee beverage market has enjoyed increased favor worldwide. Numerous espresso bars and coffee shops have capitalized on the popularity of coffee-based beverages (e.g., espresso, cappuccino, latte), and are now beginning to explore other types of beverages. The market for hot and iced tea beverages is enjoying new found popularity in many areas of the world, and in particular, in the United States. Prior to the present invention, however, offering a wide variety of freshly brewed teas to the public, particularly iced teas, teas containing mixtures of ingredients, and teas requiring extra preparation steps (e.g., Chai teas), has been problematic, because of the time required to brew each type of tea, combined with the inability to keep a large selection of such tea preparations on hand at one time. In addition, micro-contamination of storage tanks and tea dispensers which are commonly used to store bulk amounts of a single type of tea for iced tea service is problematic in many restaurants.
The desire to be able to quickly produce a wide variety of coffee beverages having a consistent, reproducible, high quality has led to the development of a variety of coffee/espresso machines and accessories, as well as expertise in the coffee beverage industry. With the expansion of the tea market, there is clearly a similar need to provide expertise and product technology that will extend the retail tea brewing industry beyond the traditional "tea bag".
With the number of cafes, restaurants, and retail outlets preparing and serving beverages which are prepared in espresso machines, there was a need for standardizing the preparation of espresso beverages to compensate for the wide variations in experience among espresso machine operators and in the espresso machines themselves. In response to this need, a variety of espresso machines and coffee brewing containers, or "pods", have been disclosed which are meant to provide a foolproof, consistent means for making an espresso drink. For example, Illy et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,694, 1981; Fond et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,335, 1997; and Cisaria et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,741, 1997; disclose various espresso machines, coffee "pods", and "pod adapters" for espresso machines. Typically, a coffee pod as described in the above-referenced patents consists of an enclosed water-permeable pod or package which contains a pre-measured amount of ground coffee that is preferably compressed to provide a consistent measure of coffee for production of espresso beverages. These coffee pods and the espresso machine adaptors that are designed to accommodate them are intended to provide a standardized espresso or coffee that can be used to make a variety of coffee drinks.
In the retail market, it would be desirable to be able to use existing coffee/espresso technology to produce high quality tea-based beverages, since it would be expensive and impractical to design an entire new line of machines and products suitable for brewing high quality teas. None of the above-mentioned references, however, discloses how to produce a consistently high quality tea using the technology designed for coffee and espresso beverages. Indeed, the previously described "pod" products and coffee grinds can not be simply extrapolated to the production of tea in an espresso machine. For example, a tea "pod" that is made using the guidelines disclosed for coffee, or merely filled with any tea blend, when extracted in an espresso machine, produces a tea that is weak and tasteless. Moreover, the flavor of any additional spices in a tea blend produced in an espresso machine may be lost.
Since the market for a variety of tea-based beverages that can be prepared in seconds continues to increase, there is a need to provide a product and method of producing a tea extract system for use in the production of a variety of tea beverages which takes advantage of espresso brewing technology. Such products and methods should be consistent, fast, easy, cost efficient, and produce a high quality tea extract for use in a variety of beverages.

Product and process for preparing a tea extract


An arm connection apparatus for an artificial model comprises two flat bases, a lock disk, a lock bolt, and a fixing disk. Each base has a recess hole with a contour composed of circular arc parts to join with a lock hole of the lock disk and a polygon lock part on the lock bolt such that an arm of the artificial model can be detachably connected to a shoulder part thereof easily and firmly. Next, the arm can be arranged to connect with the shoulder part in different positions by way of a changeable engagement between the lock hole and the polygon lock part. Moreover, it is possible to adjust the orientation of the lock hole by way of changing the angular position of the lock disk during being attached to the base to make the arm be a point of load while the model is hung up. Due to the parts of the connection apparatus being made in accordance with a standardized specification, the replacement with regard to parts or the arm it self can be performed directly such that the maintenance or repair for the connection apparatus becomes much easier and more convenient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an arm connection apparatus for an artificial model, and, particularly, to a connection apparatus, which is possible for an arm of the artificial model to detachably connect with the shoulder part thereof easily and firmly.
2. Description of Related Art
For a clothes maker, the artificial model is an indispensable tool for a fashion exhibition. In order to put the clothes on the model easily, it is unavoidable that the model is separated into parts. Specifically, the arm thereof is one of the parts has to be detached often during the clothes being put on.
Normally, the conventional arm connection device is a fixing stick to engage with the shoulder of the artificial model. Although the conventional arm connection device can perform a basic effect of joining the arm to the shoulder part, it may meet a great resistance force as soon as the fixing stick is inserted into the shoulder part such that it is hard for the arm to be taken out afterward. Next, it is not possible for the conventional arm connection device to adjust the posture of the arm without the assistance of other devices while a changeable position of the arm is required. Otherwise, it is very easy for the arm to loosen and fall apart from the main body of the model. In addition, it is not possible for the conventional arm connection device to be adjusted for the tightness thereof. Moreover, it is very inconvenient that the entire model or the arm itself has to be carried to the repair shop for fixing in case of being out of order or damaged.
A main object of the present invention is to provide an arm connection apparatus for an artificial model, which can detachably join to the shoulder part of the model easily and firmly with an adjustable tightness.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an arm connection apparatus for an artificial model, which is possible to change the posture of the arm as required or to perform a point of load during being hung up.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an arm connection apparatus for an artificial model, which has the parts thereof be made in accordance with the standard specification so that the replacement or the maintenance of any part thereof or the arm itself can be performed easily.

Arm connection apparatus for an artificial model


Three-phase transformer testing method and system enabling convenient performance of ANSI-required checking of polarity and phase-relation and also enabling measurements of core loss, load loss and transformer ratio to be performed conveniently. Only a total of six test leads are needed, being connected one each to three high-voltage transformer terminals H1, H2 and H3 and being connected one each to three low-voltage terminals X1, X2 and X3. Since only six test leads are needed, it is easy to arrange them and to connect them without confusion to the six transformer terminals. Residual voltage differences can be used for determining the true angular relationships between unshrunken voltages on the high- and low-voltage sides, trigonometric calculations and manipulations using these apparently meaningless, voltage-difference "readings" enable determinations of true values of voltage magnitudes and thus enable determinations of the "VOLTAGE RELATIONS" as required by ANSI for checking polarity and phase-relation. Savings in labor and time are achieved; chances for mistakes are reduced.

According to ANSI C57 test code for testing distribution and power polyphase transformers having a ratio of transformation of 30 to 1 or less, the polarity and phase-relation of a three-phase transformer can be determined by comparing voltages present between the primary and secondary windings. A phase-to-phase voltage of one of the high-voltage windings also is required to be tested. Either the primary or secondary winding may be the high-voltage winding of the three-phase transformer. Also, the transformer may be equipped with terminals mounted on the exterior of the housing of the transformer, or it may be equipped with insulated leads extending from the housing of the transformer, wherein such leads are adapted to have terminal connections made to these leads. Therefore, as used herein, the words "terminal" and "terminals" are intended to be interpreted sufficiently broadly to include "lead" and "leads", respectively.
Three-phase transformers are tested by their manufacturers and also by electric utilities. The tests which are made include polarity and phase-relation, core loss, load loss and transformer ratio. Conventional practice is to make direct connections of test leads of voltmetering circuits to the actual terminals (or leads) of the transformer itself. A voltmetering circuit for measuring relatively high voltages usually includes a potential transformer (PT) plus a voltmeter, as shown in FIG. 6A. A voltmetering circuit for measuring relatively low voltages, as shown in FIG. 6B, sometimes does not require the potential transformer. Another voltmetering circuit for measuring relative high voltages is shown in FIG. 6B. It includes a voltage-divider circuit comprising at least two electrical components, for example two capacitors connected in series between a pair of test leads with a voltmeter connected across one of the components where the voltage is considerably reduced compared with the total voltage across the whole voltage-divider circuit. Thus, as used herein, the term "voltmetering circuit" is intended to be interpreted sufficiently broadly to include a voltage measuring circuit having two test leads, regardless of whether or not a potential transformer or a voltage-divider is included in such circuit.
Also, it is intended that the term "voltage-reducing means" or "voltage-reducing circuit" be interpreted sufficiently broadly to include a potential transformer or a voltage-divider arrangement. Such a voltage-divider may include at least two resistances in series between the test leads, two capacitances in series, or other suitable electrical components or combinations of electrical components in series between the two test leads.
Set forth below is a portion of the ANSI C57 test code showing Transformer Lead Markings and Voltage-Phasor Diagrams for Three-Phase Transformer Connections for performing polarity and phase-relation tests. In these diagrams "H" indicates the terminals (or leads) on the high-voltage side of the three-phase transformer, and "X" indicates the terminals (or leads) on the low-voltage side of the transformer. The respective three high-voltage terminals (or leads) are H1, H2 and H3, and the respective three low-voltage terminals (or leads) are X1, X2 and X3. ##SPC1##
The present invention relates to the testing of distribution, power and regulating transformers (three-phase transformers). As used herein, the term "Electrical Power Transformer" is intended to be interpreted sufficiently broadly to include all of these three-phase transformers.
In the above diagram each dash (-) means a voltage difference. Thus, for example, "H2-X2" means the voltage difference between high-voltage terminal (or lead) H2 and low-voltage terminal (or lead) X2. In the above diagram for making such "CHECK MEASUREMENTS", it is to be noted that high-voltage terminal (or lead) H1 is shown connected to low-voltage terminal (or lead) X1. This testing connection between H1 and X1 is called a "referencing connection" in the present specification. It is to be noted that when this referencing connection is in place between H1 and X1, there are some transformers which cannot be fully excited during testing, because full excitation might sometimes possibly cause failure of dielectric material inside of such a reference-connected transformer.
In accord with the ANSI C57 test code, the polarity and phase-relation tests are conventionally made by connecting each voltmeter and its potential transformer (PT) (or other voltage-reducing means) as shown by FIGS. 1 through 4 of the present specification. These FIGS. 1 through 4 each shows five such voltmetering circuit connections as conventionally arranged for the four respective types of three-phase Electrical Power Transformers, namely: delta-delta, wye-wye, delta-wye and wye-delta. It is to be noted that there is no neutral ("ground") connection in any of these conventional voltmeter and voltage-reducing circuit arrangements as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 for polarity and phase-relation testing.
As used herein, the terms "neutral", "neutral connection", "ground" and "ground connection" are all intended to mean a connection having no significant electrical potential difference from the Earth. In other words, there is no significant potential difference between a neutral or a neutral connection on one hand and a ground or a ground connection on the other hand.
In performing the core loss, load loss and transformer ratio tests, it is conventional to use six delta-connected voltmetering circuit connections, as shown in FIG. 5A. It is to be noted that there is no neutral connection in these conventional delta-connected voltmetering circuits. Alternatively, it is conventional to use six wye-connected potential transformers whose primary windings are respectively connected as shown in FIG. 5B to the six respective transformer terminals (or leads) H1, H2, H3, X1, X2 and X3. The six voltmeters in such a prior conventional testing arrangement are not connected to neutral. For purposes of illustration, FIGS. 5A and 5B as an example, show a delta-delta transformer being tested. It is to be understood that core loss, load loss and transformer ratio tests for wye-wye, delta-wye and wye-delta transformers also are conventionally performed by using six voltmetering circuits delta-connected to the six respective transformer terminals (or leads) H1, H2, H3 and X1, X2, X3 as is shown in FIG. 5A or alternatively by using six potential transformers wye-connected in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5B to the six respective three-phase transformer terminals (or leads) H1, H2, H3, X1, X2 and X3 with six voltmeters connected to the respective secondary windings of the potential transformers as is shown in FIG. 5B; therefore, it would be needlessly repetitive to show such conventional voltage-testing circuit connections for the latter three types of three-phase transformers, since such connections would all be the same as is shown either in FIG. 5A or 5B.
In accordance with conventional practice for performing polarity and phase-relation, core loss, load loss, and transformer ratio tests, the test operator follows either of two procedures:
1. In the first conventional testing procedure only a few voltmetering circuits are used by the test operator. In an extreme situation only one voltmetering circuit would be used. The operator manually connects the voltmetering circuits across a few pairs of terminals whose voltages are required to be determined. Then, these voltmetering circuits are connected across another few pairs of terminals. Then, these voltmetering circuits are connected across additional few pairs of terminals, and so forth, until all of the required voltages have been recorded.
2. In the second conventional testing procedure, the operator pre-connects ten or eleven voltage measuring circuits across the desired pairs of terminals of the three-phase transformer depending upon potential transformer configurations or other voltage-reducing circuit configurations. In other words, five voltmetering circuits are connected as shown in any one of FIGS. 1 through 4, depending upon which of the four types of three-phase transformers is being tested, and in addition, five or six more voltage measuring circuits are connected as shown in one of FIGS. 5A or 5B. Thus, in this second procedure ten or eleven voltage measurements are made simultaneously.
As further background, it is noted that in performing the core loss test described herein, the usual procedure is to excite the transformer under test by feeding electrical power into the low-voltage side of the transformer, regardless of whether the low-voltage side is the primary or secondary side. Among reasons for feeding energy into the low-voltage side during core loss testing is the greater ease, convenience and safety of handling electric power at lower voltages rather than at higher voltages.
In performing the "load loss" test, the operator usually connects "shorting bars" across the three low-voltage terminals X1, X2 and X3, so that the terminals (or leads) of the respective three low-voltage windings are all short-circuited together. For performing load loss tests, it is desirable to feed current into the high-voltage side because lesser current is required to be fed into the transformer, and so the low-voltage side is usually the "shorted" side.
Problems associated with the first test procedure using only a few voltmetering circuits arise from the fact that large amounts of labor are required. The test operator opens the circuit breakers at the test panel for deenergizing the transformer and then walks out to the transformer and connects the voltmetering circuits to a few pairs of terminals and then walks back to the test panel and closes the circuit breakers a first time for energizing the transformer for making a first few voltmetering measurements. Then, the circuit breakers are opened, and the operator walks out to the transformer to connect the voltmetering circuits to another few pairs of terminals, and then the operator walks back to the test panel and closes the circuit breakers a second time for energizing the transformer for making a second few voltmetering measurements. Consequently, the operator is being called upon to make numerous repetitive walks out to the transformer and back again. In the extreme case using only one voltmetering circuit up to eleven such walks may occur. Each time the operator must be sure to open the circuit breakers before approaching the transformer. Also, each time the operator must be sure that the voltmetering circuits are being connected to the appropriate pairs of terminals (or leads).
The operator can avoid the trouble and hassle of repetitive walks back and forth between the test panel and the transformer by leaving the transformer in its energized condition, i.e., by leaving the transformer electrically "hot". Then, the operator uses self-protective insulating equipment including two long insulating rods (often made of fiberglass or epoxy-impregnated wood) for contacting the two test leads of the voltmetering circuit to the respective desired pairs of terminals (or leads) of the "hot" transformer in a desired sequence for making the various voltage measurements. Making any such sequence of voltage measurements on a "hot" three-phase transformer is dangerous and hazardous if the operator is not alert.
Problems associated with the second test procedure using up to eleven voltmetering circuits arise from the fact that a large amount of expensive equipment is needed. Moreover, eleven voltmetering circuits have a total of twenty-two test leads. Each of these twenty-two test leads must be connected appropriately to the respective transformer terminals (or leads). Handling and organizing such a relatively large number of test leads all of which must be pre-connected to the required respective six terminals (or leads) of a three-phase transformer invite confusion and difficulties in measurements and possible inaccurate or incorrect test results.


A differential signal transmission cable structure for transmitting differential signals having GHz frequency band in the present invention is provided with a differential signal transmission pair cable 30 connecting a driver circuit 23a and a receiver circuit 23b, for transmitting differential signals having GHz frequency band, and a power supply ground transmission pair cable 31 connecting ground and a first power supply 26a connected to the driver circuit and ground and a second power supply 26b connected to the receiver circuit. Further characteristic impedance of the differential signal transmission pair cable is matched to that of the driver circuit and the receiver circuit, thereby enabling TEM waves of differential signals having GHz frequency band transmission mode to be maintained when the differential signals are transmitted.

The present invention relates to a transmission cable structure for transmission of GHz frequency band signals and a connector used for transmission of GHz frequency band signals and more specifically to a connector used for transmission of GHz frequency band signals and a transmission cable structure for transmission of GHz frequency band signals that enables TEM waves to be transmitted between functional circuit blocks without attenuation.
Recently, a variety of problems have arisen concerning long distance communications between functional circuit blocks in line with demands for high-speed communications, such that high-speed communications of 10 Gbps or 100 Gbps on LAN cables using metal wiring is required.
For example, the length of a transmission cable in a system having a pulse clock is limited because a signal, for example a pulse signal having a pulse waveform, transmitting along a transmission cable, deteriorates in accordance with the length of the cable joining the functional circuit blocks.
Generally, applying metal cable for use in high-speed transmissions above 10 Gbps is difficult because the effective distance for transmission of a signal in a metal cable is up to 100 meters, so at this point in time only fiber-optic cable can be used.
In an ideal transmission cable there is no attenuation in the amplitude of an electromagnetic wave, which is a physical object corresponding to a transmission signal like a pulse signal, and no disorder in the waveform of an electromagnetic wave. In other words the electromagnetic wave would be perfectly accommodated by the transmission cable. However, in reality, an electromagnetic wave in a transmission cable suffers resistance loss due to the skin effect of the transmission cable and dielectric loss due to dielectric loss tangent between ground and substrate material. These losses cause attenuation in the amplitude of a transmission signal and distortion of the waveform, what is known as line loss due to RC delay of a transmission cable.
Because resistance loss causes energy dissipation of an electromagnetic wave, this makes the amplitude of a transmission signal smaller but there is no effect of blunting the waveform of the signal. Further, if a transmission cable has the same structure in its entirety, there is actually zero skew of the waveform of a transmission signal. On the other hand, because dielectric loss has frequency characteristics this causes distortion in the waveform of a transmission signal. If, however, the transmission signal is of the same structure in its entirety, this waveform distortion can be forecast, thereby enabling some degree of control.
A number of technologies for transmission cables that enable electromagnetic waves to be efficiently confined therein have been disclosed. For example, one such transmission cable structure is a pair cable structure in which two wires (insulated conductors) are arranged parallel to each other. However, when a plurality of such pair cables are arranged, cross talk arises between pair cables in close proximity.
Moreover, generally, electromagnetic waves are reflected at a connecting point (a mismatching point of impedance) of functional circuit blocks and transmission cables. When there are a plurality of such points of discontinuity, multiple reflections of electromagnetic waves occur at the points of discontinuity. If this leads to resonance of the electromagnetic waves within the transmission cable, the waveform of the transmission signal becomes an extremely complex state in which it is not possible to predict the waveform of it.
The following four methods for preventing such reflection are well-known: (1) inserting damping resistance at the terminal of a driver circuit; (2) making the on resistance of a driver circuit the same as the characteristic impedance of the transmission cable; (3) in a bi-directional bus structure, making the on resistance of driver circuits on both sides the same as that of the on resistance of transmission cables (additionally, including a structure in which damping resistance is inserted in both sides); and (4) attaching terminating resistance matched to the characteristic impedance of the transmission cables, at the terminal of the receiver side of a receiver circuit (this is the ideal method, however, at present, this method is avoided because on current always flows).
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional driver-receiver circuit (having a driver circuit and a receiver circuit) comprises a single signal line 1003 connecting an output terminal of a driver circuit 1001 and the input terminal of a receiver terminal 1002 as well as a ground line 1004 connecting the ground terminals of those circuits. Although only a single signal line is used here, a transmission cable comprising two lines is required to effectively confine electromagnetic waves. In the case shown in FIG. 1 the ground line or power supply line (not shown in the drawing) fulfills the role of the second line. In this case, however, noise from the ground or power supply and common mode noise enters the transmission cable.
In contrast to this arrangement, to avoid the affect of this common mode noise, in recent years differential circuits have been used substantially in the field of high-speed communications. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the output terminal of CML type differential circuit 1011 and the input terminal of CML type differential circuit 1012 are mutually connected by transmission cables 1013 and 1014. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the output terminal of LVDS type differential circuit 1021 and the input terminal of LVDS type differential circuit 1022 are mutually connected by transmission cables 1023 and 1024.
FIG. 4A provides a cross-sectional view of the structure of pair cable 1031 used for a conventional transmission cable and FIG. 4B provides a cross-sectional view of the structure of flat cable 1032 having four pair cables k12 (comprising wires k1 and k2), k34 (comprising wires k3 and k4), k56 (comprising wires k5 and k6) and k78 (comprising wires k7 and k8) arranged adjacently and flatly. The pair cable 1031 is covered with insulating material having relative permittivity of 1.96.
FIG. 5 provides a cross-sectional view of the structure of ground 1042 and pair cables 1041a and 1041b that connect to a conventional differential circuit. This pair cable has a transmission cable structure in which ground 1042 is referenced to match the standard voltage levels between the differential circuits. That is, FIG. 5 shows a conventional differential transmission cable referencing ground (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-261843).
Further, among communication cables of conventional technology, the most high-speed wiring cable is TIA/EIA CAT 6 cable having a 1 Gbps transmission speed using an RJ-45 as a connector.

Transmission cable structure for GHz frequency band signals and connector used for transmission of GHz frequency band signals