A projection liquid crystal display (LCD) system includes an LCD panel including a first plurality of horizontally aligned transparent conductive scanning electrodes and a second plurality of vertically aligned transparent conductive signal electrodes disposed on opposed surfaces of the panel. Light directed onto the aft surface of the display panel is transmitted through the panel as each horizontal linear array of first scanning electrodes is turned "ON", with the horizontal linear arrays sequentially turned on for vertically scanning the display panel in a stepwise manner. Liquid crystal display backlighting is provided by a cathode ray tube (CRT) having a phosphor-bearing faceplate which emits light when energetic electrons in the form of a horizontal, linear, elongated beam are incident thereon. An electron beam source in the CRT including, in combination, an elongated, linear wire-like cathode and a focusing concave charged electrode disposed about the cathode and having an electron-passing slot extending substantially the entire length thereof directs an elongated, linear, horizontally aligned electron beam across the width of the CRT's faceplate. A pair of spaced, charged plates disposed adjacent the electron-passing slot in the focusing electrode deflect the electron beam vertically over the faceplate in a stepwise manner and synchronously with actuation of the scanning electrodes to illuminate only that portion of the display panel containing video information for improved video image contrast and more efficient backlighting.

Liquid crystal displays (LCD's) are commonly used in television receivers, portable computer displays, and other electronic devices. An LCD requires a source of backlight for operation because the LCD operates effectively as a light valve, allowing transmission of light in one state and blocking transmission of light in a second state. The typical LCD panel structure includes a liquid crystal polymer encapsulated between at least two planar glass plates in parallel with each other. A polarization layer is bonded to the outer surface of each glass plate such that the glass plates are sandwiched between two polarization layers.
The inner surface, or the surface facing the liquid crystal polymer, of each glass plate includes mutually perpendicularly oriented, conductive, transparent linear arrays of electrodes. The volume of the liquid crystal polymer between any two orthogonal arrays of electrodes forms a cube whose face area constitutes a pixel. The electrode arrays are connected on the periphery of the glass plates via input/output (I/O) strips for coupling to electronic circuitry for applying a voltage to the two sets of orthogonal conductive transparent electrode arrays. To one set of linear, parallel arrays of electrodes is provided video image information (typically to the vertically aligned electrodes), while to the other linear, parallel array of electrodes (typically the array oriented horizontally) are provided "ON" signals in a sequential manner such that each horizontal linear array of electrodes is sequentially turned on rendering the portion of the liquid crystal polymer adjacent the turned-on electrode array transparent for presenting a portion of the video image. The vertically aligned electrodes are known as "signal" electrodes, while the horizontally aligned electrodes are commonly referred to as "scanning" electrodes.
Referring to FIGS. 1a and 1b, the basic operating principal of an LCD is shown in simplified schematic diagram form. As shown in FIG. 1a, the liquid crystal polymer 10 is disposed intermediate first and second transparent electrodes 12 and 14. The aforementioned polarization layers on each side of the liquid crystal polymer 10 are omitted from the figures for simplicity. The liquid crystal polymer 10 is illustrated in simplified form as comprised of a plurality of molecules 16. A voltage source 20 couples the first and second transparent electrodes 12, 14 via a switch 18 which is shown open in FIG. 1a. Without a voltage applied across the liquid crystal polymer 10, the liquid crystal molecules 16 are randomly oriented as shown in FIG. 1a and incident light (shown in the figure as solid arrows) is randomly scattered by the liquid crystal polymer 10 as shown by the arrows in dotted-line form. With switch 18 closed and a voltage applied across the liquid crystal polymer 10, the liquid crystal molecules 18 become aligned and render the liquid crystal polymer transparent. Thus, light incident upon the liquid crystal polymer 10 is transmitted therethrough as shown in FIG. 1b.
In a conventional projection type LCD display, such as shown in simplified schematic diagram form in FIG. 2 as element 26, a light source 28 is placed behind the LCD panel 30 to illuminate the panel and project a video image. Light source 28 may be a fluorescent discharge tube or a metal halide or Xenon arc lamp. The projected video image from LCD panel 30 is focused by means of a lens 32 and directed through an aperture 34a in an aperture stop 34. A projection lens unit 36 then projects the video image onto the aft surface of a projection screen 38.
At any point during operation, the LCD panel 30 has only one horizontal line "ON," with only this line allowing for transmission of light through the panel. Facing electrodes adjacent all other horizontal lines in the LCD panel 30 are OFF. Therefore, most of the light from the light source 28 is blocked by the non-transmitting portions of the LCD panel and converted to heat. This arrangement is characterized by low light utilization efficiency, the generation of a substantial amount of heat which must be dissipated, and limited brightness and contrast because of the substantial portion of backlighting which is scattered by the non-transparent portion of the LCD panel. With 525 horizontal scan lines in a conventional projection LCD system, it can be seen that with only 1/525th of the input light utilized for producing a useful image, much energy is wasted in a conventional projection LCD system. This waste will increase in future systems employing high definition television (HDTV) displays which employ over 1000 horizontal scan lines and which will reduce light utilization efficiency even further. In order to increase image brightness and contrast, more powerful light sources are being developed. These more powerful light sources providing more lumens per watt will produce even more heat and make component cooling and heat dissipation even more important design considerations.
This invention addresses the aforementioned limitations of the prior art by providing a backlighting source for a projection LCD system which brightly illuminates only that portion of the LCD panel rendered transparent and containing video information and which maintains the backlighting beam on the transparent portion as it is displaced on the display panel.

Line electron beam light source for projection LCD system


In order to promote its “xxx” signal encoding algorithm, company X offers users of a particular encoder (21) the possibility to up-load (parts of) their .xxx files to the company's website. The company's web-server (1) checks whether the received file is indeed xxx-encoded material by (i) decoding the file using an xxx-decoder (11), (ii) deriving a fingerprint (12) from the decoded signal, and (iii) awarding the owner if the derived fingerprint corresponds to one of the fingerprints stored in X's database (14). A possible award is the transmission, to the user, of metadata associated with the signal such as title, artist, lyrics, etc.

Numerous types of encoding algorithms are nowadays used to encode multimedia files. Well known compression formats are "zip" (for data), "mp3", "wma" (for audio), "avi" and "divx" (for movies). The respective encoder removes almost all redundancy, and in case of lossy encoding also the irrelevancy, from the original signal so as to obtain an encoded signal that can more efficiently be stored and/or distributed.
Sometimes it is desired to determine by which type of encoder an encoded signal has been produced, or at least ascertain whether an encoded signal has been produced by a particular type of encoder. Computer file names have an extension (such as zip, .mp3, .avi) for that purpose. Some encoders also render identification possible by adding a header that reveals the necessary information to the contents. However, file name extensions and headers are sometimes missing or cannot be trusted.
Generally, the type of encoding cannot be identified by mere inspection of the encoded signal, because the encoded and compressed contents contain little or no structure. A trivial solution would be to try all possible decoders and interpret their outputs. For audio signals, a human being would have to listen whether the decoder output is music or not. This may be a hard decision for some types of music. Moreover, such a solution requires human interaction and cannot be automated.


Method and apparatus for recovering a message signal from a carrier signal. More specifically, method and apparatus for demodulating a frequency modulated signal using measured time intervals between zero-crossings of a received carrier signal. The method and apparatus employing averaging techniques to provide a more accurate signal representing the message signal. The method and apparatus employing mapping techniques to provide a more accurate signal representing the message signal.

Today, signals are broadcast in many ways. Signals can be broadcast over cables, by laser, in the atmosphere, in space, under water and through other media. These signals contain information which is transmitted in varying forms. One common form of signal transmission is frequency modulation (FM).
Both amplitude and frequency modulation are methods of superimposing information onto a carrier signal. Specifically, in FM broadcast, a carrier wave is used to transmit information to a receiving audience. This is most commonly known as FM radio. Consequently, the frequency of the carrier signal is caused to vary in accordance with a voltage variation (message) to be carried.
In an FM transmission, a sinusoidal carrier signal having variations of instantaneous frequency is received. These variations can be either above or below the center frequency of the carrier signal. Thus, a detecting device (demodulator) for detecting these variations is typically constructed such that its output will vary according to the instantaneous frequency of an incoming signal. Such detecting devices are sensitive to variations produced by interfering signals (interference) or by non-linearities in components of the receiver. As these detecting devices have frequency dependent components, the above-mentioned non-linearities and interference affect signal demodulation. Practical FM detectors known in the prior art include slope detectors (balanced discriminators, ratio detectors and quadrature demodulators), differentiators, pulse-counting discriminators and phase-locked loops.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,958, by the inventor of the present invention, a demodulator which provides improved demodulation of all of several FM carriers, including weaker signals in the presence of dominant carriers, is disclosed. In that patent, a frequency demodulator converts the instantaneous frequency of the applied signal to a voltage. When the sum of two or more signals is present at the input to the demodulator, the output voltage is proportional to the instantaneous frequency of the dominant portion of the input signal due to the capture associated with FM demodulations.
Prior art FM detectors are often characterized as exhibiting "threshold effect." The quality of the recovered message is commonly indicated by the value of its signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The value of the SNR of the recovered message is related to the value of the SNR of the input (radio-frequency voltage) to the receiver. For good quality reception (large values of SNR of the receiver input), the message quality is linearly related to the quality of the receiver input. Threshold of the receiver is defined as that value of receiver input SNR (signal quality) where the aforementioned relation ceases to be linear. For prior art FM detectors, there is a marked departure from linearity for values of receiver input SNR less than the threshold value. Therefore, the onset of "threshold effect" is a sudden loss of quality of the recovered message. When the quality (SNR) of the received signal is "below threshold," the quality of the recovered message deteriorates rapidly with decreasing values of input SNR.
The phenomenon of threshold effect typically causes a loss of message quality when the quality of the received carrier is in the range from 8 to 13 decibels for prior art FM detectors. Anyone who has ever been driving and listening to music on their FM radio when suddenly the music intermittently cuts out and is replaced with static-like noise, has experienced threshold effect. Thus, there is no `graceful degradation` of FM receivers operating "below threshold."
Prior to the present invention, threshold effect was generally believed to be caused by the nature of FM signal transmission. A common perception is that `strong` interference creates "spikes" or "impulses" of noise at the receiver output which result in a crackling sound. Lathi, B. P., Modern Digital and Analog Communications Systems, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. (Florida, 2nd ed. 1989), pp. 490-492. The perception is caused by analysis based on the concept of instantaneous frequency of the carrier. The present invention recognizes that frequency is a defined quantity and not a physical or natural property of the FM carrier (receiver input).
The perception that "threshold effect" is an inherent part of FM is not supported in practice because different demodulator circuits have different values of threshold. It is well known that phase-locked loop demodulators have superior noise performance (smallest values of threshold) and pulse-counting discriminators have inferior noise performance (largest value of threshold) in the family of prior art FM detectors. These differences in values of threshold support a conclusion that "threshold" is caused by the detector circuitry and not by the nature of the carrier modulation.
According to the teachings and disclosures of the present invention, FM threshold effect is not due to the nature of FM transmission, but rather due to the inability of prior art demodulators to resolve or demodulate source signals (hereinafter source, message, modulating and applied signal(s) are used interchangeably) from carrier signals in the presence of strong interference.
Therefore, a demodulator which can resolve source signals from a carrier wave even in the presence of large amounts of noise is desirable. Additionally, an FM demodulator which can resolve signals such that any degradation therein remains substantially linear for smaller values of input signal-to-noise ratio, i.e., reduction of the value of threshold associated with prior art demodulators, is desirable.
Heretofore, no prior art demodulator uses the measured time intervals between zero values of an FM carrier to detect the source signal and to mitigate the effects of interference.

Method and apparatus for signal demodulation using time-intervals


A gas mask and breathing equipment with a respirator, to the respiration gas inlet of which a respiration gas filter and a respiration supporting blower unit are connected, is formed such that the components controlling the power output are arranged in areas that are favorable for operation and are able to control the blower unit in the case of a filter change or during changes in the state of loading of the built-in filters during operation such that they can be adapted to the changing performance characteristics. The housing of the blower unit (2) has a saddle-shaped upper part (5), over which a control unit (7), designed as an independent housing module, can be attached in a bow-like manner, and establishes the electrical and pneumatic connections to the blower unit.

Such a gas mask and breathing equipment has become known from EP-A-164,946. In this prior-art gas mask and breathing equipment, the respirator is directly connected to both the blower unit and the filter, wherein the blower unit and the filter are aligned, in terms of flow, in an axial direction to one another. The fan part of the blower unit, which supports the delivery of respiration gas during inspiration, is arranged, in terms of flow, behind the filter as a respiration gas-generating fan wheel, but it may also be installed in front of the filter in terms of flow, in which case the fan part presses the respiration gas through the filter and into the respiration gas inlet of the respirator. In both cases, the energy supply for the fan part is led out of the blower unit via electrical lines, and is further led to a separate power supply unit (battery, control unit for controlling the blower power, and monitoring of the battery functions), which is attached as a separate component, e.g., to the belt of the user of the gas mask and breathing equipment. To monitor the blower unit for proper function, a pressure sensor is provided, which switches the blower unit on and off under defined circumstances via a switch. Both the sensor and the switch are attached in an appropriate area within the mask body, and their electrical connection to the power supply unit is established via separate cables.
It is disadvantageous in the prior-art arrangement that each of the control components necessary for monitoring the blower unit is connected separately to both the blower unit and to the power supply unit, and that after replacement of filters with different respiration gas resistances, the monitoring elements (pressure sensor and switch) cannot be adapted to the new conditions, e.g., flow resistance and output.

Blower-supported gas mask and breathing equipment with an attachable control part


A plurality of external electrodes 11c, 11m are disposed in parallel along two sides facing each other of a region 300 corresponding to the circuit substrate to be manufactured, and a probing electrode is formed, which is connected to the external electrodes through extending conductors 13a, 13b extending to the outside the region 300 from the external electrodes. At this time, widths of the extending conductors 13a, 13b are set smaller than the widths of the external electrodes 11c, 11m and probing electrodes 12a, 12b. Therefore, a solder storage part is formed in a wide portion in a width changing part between an electrode and a conductor, and a necessary sufficient amount of solder is adhered to the surfaces of the external electrodes 11c, 11m.

The present invention relates to a substrate sheet formed with external electrodes, wiring, and probing electrodes on one surface, a manufacturing method of a circuit substrate using the substrate sheet and an ink jet head equipped with the circuit substrate.
The ink jet head records an image such as a character and pattern on a recording paper by ejecting an ink from its nozzle hole, while moving relatively to the recording paper. A plurality of lines of lined-up nozzle holes along a moving direction of the recording paper are arranged in parallel. The ink jet head comprises a cavity plate on which a channel is formed for feeding ink to each nozzle hole. In addition, the ink jet head is layered on the cavity plate, and comprises a plate-like actuator (such as a piezoelectric device) for ejecting ink from each nozzle hole, respectively. Further, the ink jet head comprises a circuit substrate layered on the actuator, for connecting the actuator and an IC chip that drives the actuator.
An individual electrode corresponding to each nozzle hole and an earth electrode for earthing are formed on one surface of the actuator. A drive signal for driving the actuator is given to the individual electrode, through an external electrode formed on the circuit substrate (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 3270197).
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a construction of a conventional circuit substrate (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-80683). The circuit substrate is formed by arranging an IC chip 80, a terminal part 81 and an electrode part 82 on an substantially rectangular flexible insulating film 8 made of polyimide. In the insulating film 8, the width of one end in a longitudinal direction of the insulating film 8 is larger than the width of the other end. The aforementioned one end is called a wide portion, and the other end is called a narrow portion, hereafter.
The IC chip 80 is mounted on a center of the wide portion, and the terminal part 81 is formed at a tip side in the length direction of the wide portion. The IC chip 80 outputs the drive signal to the actuator. In addition, an electric power and a signal for outputting the drive signal, or the like is supplied to the IC chip 80, through the terminal part 81.
Electrode parts 82 are formed in the narrow portion layered on one surface of the actuator. The electrode parts 82 are connected to the individual electrode and the earth electrode provided on one surface of the actuator. The electrode parts 82 are provided in parallel at both ends in a direction of the width of the narrow portion of the insulating film 8. External electrodes 24a, 24a, 14a, 14a, . . . 24a, 24a and external electrodes 24b, 24b, 14b, 14b, . . . , 24b, 24b are provided in this order, respectively as the electrode parts 82. Each external electrode 14a and 14b has an approximately square shape, and is connected to the individual electrode of the actuator. The external electrodes 14a, 14b are connected to the IC chip 80 through wirings 18a, 18b, respectively. The external electrodes 24a, 24b have an approximately square shape, and are connected to the earth electrode of the actuator. The external electrodes 24a, 24b are connected to the terminal part 81 through wirings 28a, 28b, respectively.
FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are explanatory views of the manufacturing method of the conventional circuit substrate.
On a belt-like substrate sheet 90, a plurality of substantially rectangular regions 900 corresponding to the insulating film 8 of the circuit substrate are arranged in parallel in a lengthwise direction of the substrate sheet 90, so that the lengthwise direction of each region 900 is coincided with a widthwise direction of the substrate sheet 90. As will be described later, the circuit substrate is formed by cutting the substrate sheet 90 along outlines of the regions 900. Hereafter, one region 900 will be explained.
Belt-like extending conductors 16a, 26a and extending conductors 16b, 26b are provided in a state of extending to outside the regions 900 in widthwise directions of the regions 900 from the external electrodes 14a, 24a and the external electrodes 14b, 24b, respectively. An extending direction of each extending conductor 16a, 26a from each external electrode 14a, 24a, and an extending direction of each extending conductor 16b, 26b from each external electrode 14b, 24b are opposite to each other.
The width (width in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction) of each extending conductor 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b is approximately equal to the width of each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, and set at about 0.12 mm.
Substantially rectangular probing electrodes 15a, 15b, 25a, 25b connected to each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b through each extending conductor 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b are formed outside the regions 900. The width of each probing electrode 15a, 15b, 25a, 25b is set larger than the width of each extending conductor 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, and set at about 0.2 mm.
Each probing electrode 15a, 15b, 25a, 25b is used in a conduction test of each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, the IC chip 80, and the terminal part 81.
On the substrate sheet, solder H, which is a conductive brazing material for connecting each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b and the actuator, is adhered to the surface of each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, before the circuit substrate is formed. In addition, the solder H for connecting the terminal part 81 and an external connector is adhered to the terminal part 81.
Therefore, the substrate sheet moves in the lengthwise direction (in a direction shown by hollow arrow in the figure) of the substrate sheet, with a surface (referred to as an electrode forming face hereafter) on which each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b and the terminal part 81 are formed, faced downside, and passes over solder tanks M3, M3 for blowing up solder previously heated and fused, for each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b and the terminal part 81. However, a part, on which the IC chip 80 is mounted, does not pass over the solder tank M3.
The solder is hardly adhered to the insulating film 8, and meanwhile, the solder is adhered to the surface of each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, each probing electrode 15a, 15b, 25a, 25b, and each extending conductor 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, and the terminal part 81. The solder H thus adhered thereto is cured once. Then, the solder H thus adhered is heated and fused again, at the time point of connecting the individual electrode, the earth electrode, and each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, and at the time point of connecting the connector and the terminal part 81.
The conduction test is performed before or after adhesion of solder H. After completing the conduction test, the substrate sheet is cut along the outline of the region 900, before being connected to the actuator. Thus, the circuit substrate including each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, and not including each probing electrode 15a, 15b, 25a, 25b and each extending conductor 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b is formed. The substrate sheet is cut at a connection part (shown by two dot chain line in FIG. 3) of each external electrode 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b, and each extending conductor 16a, 16b, 26a, 26b, for example.

Substrate sheet, manufacturing method of circuit substrate, and ink jet head


Text extracted from computer aided drafting (CAD) files is stored in a receiving database for use in document management. In addition, the textual data stored in the receiving database can be obtained from directory information, constants defined prior to processing the drawings, or pre-existing database(s). The textual data extracted from the CAD files are located by defining an extraction area and comparing the extent of the textual data with the boundaries of the extraction area. Any textual data within the boundaries are stored in a temporary file for transfer to the receiving database.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to data conversion from one format to another and, more particularly, to extraction of textual data from a data structure of a computer aided drafting (CAD) program for input to different software.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the last twenty years, computer-aided drafting (CAD) has gained widespread use in engineering departments and consulting firms throughout the world. Recently, CAD software executing on personal computers has seen increased use. There are likely millions of drawings stored in CAD files. Even within a single company, there may be hundreds or thousands of drawings. Many of these drawings could be reused with little or no changes. However, with such large numbers of drawings many of which may have been produced by someone other than the person needing the drawing, it can be very difficult to locate a desired drawing.
Various attempts have been made to categorize and index drawings. While some of the methods used can be very helpful, the time required to input the data necessary to make these indexing systems work is significant. Existing data input methods make crude attempts to simplify the process, but typically require a great deal of manual input. Programmer's toolkits are available that provide interface routines to CAD files, but no prior art application software is known to exist.

System for extracting text from CAD files


An active matrix substrate (5) provided with a plurality of scan lines (G) and a plurality of data lines (Sr, Sg, Sb) arranged in a matrix, in which first, second, and third short bars (31r, 31b, 31g) are connected to the respective data lines (Sr, Sg, Sb), and, among the first, second, and third short bars, the second short bar (31b) in the middle is provided in a different layer from the first and third short bars (31r, 31g) which are positioned on the sides of the second short bar (31b).

In recent years, liquid crystal display devices, for example, are widely used in liquid crystal televisions, monitors, mobile phones, and the like as a flat panel display having advantages compared to conventional cathode-ray tubes in being thinner, lighter, and the like. Among such liquid crystal display devices, those that use an active matrix substrate having a plurality of data lines (source lines) and a plurality of scan lines (gate lines) arranged in a matrix, and having arranged in a matrix switching elements such as thin film transistors (TFTs) in the vicinity of the intersection between the data lines and scan lines, and pixels having pixel electrodes connected to these switching elements in a liquid crystal panel as a display panel are known.
As disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, for example, a configuration is proposed for such conventional active matrix substrates in which three short bars are provided such that separate test signals are inputted respectively to data lines corresponding to red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixels. In other words, in this conventional active matrix substrate, a plurality of data lines corresponding to the R pixels are connected to a first short bar. A plurality of data lines corresponding to G pixels are connected to a second short bar, and a plurality of data lines corresponding to B pixels are connected to a third short bar. As a result, in the conventional active matrix substrate, by inputting separate test signals to each of the first to third short bars, it was possible to input different test signals to each of the data lines for each of the colors RGB.

Active matrix substrate, and display device


The invention is directed to techniques for managing filter rules applied to network traffic at a network device. A network device merges multiple filter rules associated with separate filter matching modules to reduce lookup cycles in a forwarding path of the network device. The network device may thus simultaneously apply multiple filter rules in a reduced number of clock cycles. A network device comprises an interface that receives packets from a network, a filter memory that stores a plurality of filters, and a plurality of filter matching modules that apply the filters to packets in a forwarding path of the network device. A filter control module merges two or more filters each associated with a different one of the filter matching modules into a single merged filter, and stores the merged filter to the filter memory. The network device applies the merged filter to packets in the forwarding path.

Due to increasing reliance on network-accessible computers, network security has become a major issue for organizations and individuals. To help ensure the security of their computers, organizations and individuals frequently install security devices between their private networks and public networks. A goal of such security devices is to prevent unwanted or malicious information from the public network from affecting devices in the private network.
One example of a commonly deployed security device is a firewall. A firewall, for example, is a dedicated or virtual device that is configured to permit or deny traffic flows based on an organization's security policies. Firewall functionality can be implemented at various layers of the network stack, as specified with respect to the Open Systems Interconnection Basic Reference Model ("OSI Reference Model"). For example, a network layer firewall operates at the network layer (i.e., layer three (L3) of the OSI Reference Model) and is referred to an L3 device or network layer device. As another example, a layer two (L2) firewall operates within the second layer of the OSI Reference Model, also known as the data link layer, to restrict L2 network communications in accordance with an organization's policies. An L3 firewall may provide security features as well as packet forwarding, routing or other L3 functionality. A L2 firewall may provide security features along with switching or other L2 functionality. A third type of firewall, referred to as an application-layer firewall, operates above L3 of the network stack to assemble application-layer data and perform deep packet inspection to identify viruses or network attacks. A network device such as a switch or a router may incorporate firewall functionality in addition to switching or routing functionality.

Merging filter rules to reduce forwarding path lookup cycles


A transport mechanism for transporting flat documents placed therein on edge uses a horizontal conveyor belt to convey stacks of documents on-edge in a first feeding direction. Tapered rollers with a feeding direction perpendicular to that of the conveyor belt are provided at the end of the conveyor for feeding the documents in a direction perpendicular to the first feeding direction. The use of tapered rollers allows a gradual, rather than sudden, perpendicular velocity to be imparted to the documents, thereby relieving strain on the roller drive mechanism, the rollers themselves, and the documents at high machine throughput speeds. The use of tapered rollers also provides a shingled output of documents, which allows a stripping station down-line from the feeder to strip the documents with fewer misfeeds and less strain.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to document transport devices for use in document handling machines, and particularly to document transport devices utilizing a conveyor belt for transporting documents on-edge in a vertically-oriented, upright position.
2. Related Art
Document handling machines which convey mail on-edge, that is, where the plane of the mail item is vertical while it is conveyed by a horizontal belt, are well-known. A document handling machine of this type is taught in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,596, which is incorporated herein by reference. Generally, such machines convey a series of envelopes between stations which perform various operations, such as bar-code reading, bar-code printing, and sorting.
Because mail items are delivered to the machine in stacks, a feeder which singulates the stacks of mail into a series of end-to-end, vertically oriented, individual items is required. This conversion step often uses a ninety-degree change of direction in the envelope path, which is accomplished by a series of feed rollers oriented so as to feed in a direction perpendicular to the feed path of incoming stacks of documents. This sudden change of direction requires great force when the machine is operating at high throughput speeds, and results in undesirable wear on the perpendicularly-oriented feed roller drive mechanism, the rollers themselves, and the documents being transported. The machines of the prior art do not provide a solution to this problem of undesirable wear. Further, the machines of the prior art have been plagued with the problem of misfeeds and excessive forces on the feeder mechanism, both of which are the result of multiple envelopes being delivered to the feeder simultaneously.

Pre-feed shingling device for flat-article feeder


An image containing characters and lines, which is inputted by a scanner or the like, is binarized and stored in a memory. A thickening process is repeatedly applied on groups of significant bits stored in the memory, until a predetermined condition is fulfilled. After this process, the thickened image is thinned at least a greater number of times than the number of times the thickening process is repeated in order to eliminate lines. As a result, characters are determined to exist at areas where groups composed of remaining significant dots exist, then characters are separated from the input image based on the areas of groups composed of the remaining significant dots.

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method and, more particularly, to an image processing apparatus and method capable of separating characters and lines in an image.
Assume that an original image having characters and lines, such as maps and drawings, read by a scanner or the like is processed, for instance, edited and/or searched for characters, by a computer. Conventionally, the original image is binarized, labeled, and thinned, and so on, numbers and length of groups of the labeled pixel are determined, then labeled pixel groups having relatively large numbers of pixels (having a long length) are recognized as lines, and labeled pixel groups of relatively short lengths are recognized as characters. Thus, both lines and characters are extracted at the same time.
In the conventional method as described above, extraction as well as recognition of characters and lines are performed in parallel. Therefore, there is a problem in that it takes quite a long preparation time for the process.


On an input shaft are provided in order from a side of an engine a torque converter with a lock-up clutch, a first planetary gear set as a multiplying mechanism, a counter drive gear outputting a rotational drive force to a countershaft, a second planetary gear set as a speed-change element, a third planetary gear set as a speed-change element. Accordingly, there can be provided an automatic transmission for six forward speeds with plural planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes that can properly reduce a clutch capacity and restrain gear noises with its compact and light-weighted structure.

The present invention relates to an automatic transmission, and particularly relates to an automatic transmission that provides six forward speeds with plural planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes.
An automatic transmission that can provide a multi-speed shift by combining plural planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes is known.
Recently, an automatic transmission with six forward speeds has been demanded for improving a fuel economy or drivability.
Herein, gear trains of such an automatic transmission need to be properly compact because a layout space of the transmission is rather limited.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,176,802 has proposed such a kind of automatic transmission, in which a reduction planetary gear and a Ravigneaux-type planetary gear set (a complex-type planetary gear set with a single common carrier), which inputs a reduction rotation and a non-reduction rotation and outputs plural rotation speeds, are provided coaxially, and speed-change elements of these planetary gears are connected or disconnected with three clutches and two brakes, thereby establishing the six forward speeds.
The above-described automatic transmission can prevent the size of rotational members from being improperly large and restrain a shift shock by reducing an inertia torque, in addition to its light weight and compactness, with its structure in which two clutches are respectively disposed on both sides of the Ravigneaux-type planetary gear set.
Although the above-described automatic transmission provides the light weight, compactness and small inertia torque, it has a problem in that since an increased drive torque is transmitted to the downstream clutches and the like because of a reduction function by the reduction planetary gear, a clutch capacity would be made large enough for this increased drive torque.
Further, the planetary gear set and other members that form the downstream gear trains may need a large torque capacity as well, so the size of the gear trains would become large inevitably.
Moreover, since this automatic transmission needs to use a long pinion that extends in an axial direction for the Ravigneaux-type planetary gear set, there is a problem in that the drive torque transmission with this long pinion would cause an improper inclination of gears which generates gear noises.


In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic hardware multithreading, includes: using a hardware halt function or a hardware yield function in a processor core in order to enable or disable a hardware thread that shares the core; wherein the hardware thread is disabled by placing the hardware thread in a halt state or yield state, and allowing another hardware thread to utilize the core.

A multi-core processor architecture is implemented by a single processor that plugs directly into a single processor socket, and that single processor will have one or more "processor cores". Those skilled in the art also refer to processor cores as "CPU cores". The operating system perceives each processor core as a discrete logical processor. A multi-core processor can perform more work within a given clock cycle because computational work is spread over to the multiple processor cores.
Hardware threads are the one or more computational objects that share the resources of a core but architecturally look like a core from an application program's viewpoint. As noted above, a core is the one or more computational engines in a processor. Hardware multithreading (also known as HyperThreading) is a technology that allows a processor core to act like two or more separate "logical processors" or "computational objects" to the operating system and the application programs that use the processor core. In other words, when performing the multithreading process, a processor core executes, for example, two hardware threads (streams) of instructions sent by the operating system, and the processor core appears to be two separate logical processors to the operating system. The processor core can perform more work during each clock cycle by executing multiple hardware threads. Each hardware thread typically has its own thread state, registers, stack pointer, and program counter.
Current processors with the multithreaded processor cores such as, e.g., the dual-core, dual-threaded MONTECITO ITANIUM processor chip from INTEL CORPORATION, do not allow hardware multithreading to be enabled or disabled dynamically in the multithreaded processor cores without first performing a system reset (i.e., reboot of the operating system and reset of the computing machine hardware). This limitation can cause system availability problems and uptime problems when the system administrator needs to change the behavior of multithreaded processor cores (i.e., when the system administrator needs to temporarily enable or disable the hardware multithreading).
Current hardware multithreading technology also uses an "all or nothing" approach to hardware multithreading. This current approach requires hardware multithreading to be enabled or disable for an entire operating system instance. In other words, all processor cores in an operating system instance are multithreaded, or all processor cores in the operating system instance are not multithreaded. A drawback of this current approach is that not all applications receive a performance benefit when the applications use the multithreaded processor cores. Some applications may be subject to some performance degradation when using multithreaded processor cores. This current approach is problematic when a system administrator wants to run a mix of applications on an operating system instance, and those applications have different needs/requirements with respect to multithreaded processor cores. To solve this problem, the system administrator can provide an additional operating system instance without the multithreaded processor cores and then to match up the applications that require multithreading with the operating system instance with the multithreaded processor cores and to match up the applications that do not require multithreading with the operating system instance without the multithreaded processor cores. However, this solution disadvantageously requires additional memory spaces, software, and costs because two separate operating system instances are installed in the computer system.
Therefore, the current technology is limited in its capabilities and suffers from at least the above constraints and deficiencies.

Dynamic hardware multithreading and partitioned hardware multithreading

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A cover for an inflatable air bag housing is formed of integrally molded resinous plastic material and defined therein is a hinge area and a thin fracture line forming a door which pivots to an open position upon fracture of the cover along the fracture line when an air bag is inflated. A metal reinforcing element is embedded in the resinous plastic material and includes segments diverging and below the hinge area forming an open space or void which is filled in with a low density collapsible, energy absorbing, rigid foam which exhibits minimal spring back. The filler helps prevent sagging or read-through of the cover above the void when prolonged exposure to heat and sun is experienced. Moreover, the foam filler absorbs energy during bag deployment and aids in preventing plastic resin from leaking into the void space during the initial fabrication of the cover as the metal reinforcement element is molded in place.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a new and improved cover for an inflatable air bag housing formed of resinous plastic material and reinforced so as to be positively retained when a door portion is opened by fracture along a grooved fracture line.
2. Background of the Prior Art
Prior art covers for inflatable air bag housings have been formed of resinous plastic material with metal reinforcement elements therein. When the cover is fractured along a grooved fracture line, a door portion can open up to let the expanding air bag out of the housing. It is desirable that both the reinforcing element and the cover itself in a hinge area be capable of pivoting without requiring excessive force yet strong enough to retain the open door attached to the rest of the cover after opening has occurred. Prior art devices have provided an air filled void area between portions of a metal reinforcing element and the molded plastic material of the cover in the region of the hinge line. One problem with these types of prior art devices is that the plastic material of the cover begins to sag or read through over the void due to prolonged heat and sun exposure. Sometimes molding resin leaks into the void making it more difficult for the door panel to be opened upon air bag inflation.


Disclosed is an integrated check register and budget register for, among other purposes, the tracking of checks and the tracking of a budget or categorization of expenditures. The integrated register includes a plurality of data sheets longitudinally folded, with the fold forming two quadrants on each side or surface of the paper or data sheet. When adjacent data sheets are unfolded there are four quadrants, which when imprinted with check and budget register indicators, form an integrated check and budget register.

Check registers for personal checking accounts are generally sized to fit in one's pocket, purse, billfold or wallet, and are normally approximately three inches by six inches. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a traditionally shaped check register 1, having a length 2, a width 3 and a height 4.
A typical check register has a number of columns for data entry, generally including: a column to enter the check or receipt number; a column to enter the date of the transaction; a column to enter the payee information and/or a description of the transaction; a column to enter the amount of withdrawal (if applicable); a column to enter a check mark or indicator; a column to enter a bank fee, if any; a column to enter data regarding the amount of a deposit; and a column to maintain a running or cumulative account balance.
Although many people desire to establish, maintain and follow a budget for their personal expenditures, few actually do. There are many reasons for this, namely: the time and inconvenience of establishing, maintaining and following a separate budget register; the time and inconvenience of manually going through the check register monthly or periodically and transferring figures from the checks previously written to the budget register; and the size and impracticality of carrying a larger sized budget register to enter other non-check data such as cash and credit card expenditures as they are incurred.
The need for simple, convenient and portable integrated check register and budget register has been recognized, but has not been adequately fulfilled by prior known machinery or methods.
A further need has been recognized for an integrated check register and budget register which a person can easily carry, similar to a conventional checkbook, but yet which makes it relatively easy not only to record checking and savings transactions, but also to maintain an ongoing budget register.
There is a still further need for a combined check register and budget register which contains all the budget categories on the same page to enable a viewer or user to see the entire budget at one time, and which also allows for easier reconciliation of the items and categories contained in the budget register. Having the combined check register and budget register on the same page also makes it easier to make adjustment between columns and categories.
There is a still further need for a budget register which is or can easily be tied or related to cash flow and/or cash availability. By combining the budget register portion with the check register and cumulative balance columns, this invention not only allows the user to work with estimated or theoretical budget amounts, but also allows the user to tie the budget amounts to cash availability and cash flow via the integration with the check register.
There is still a further need for such a combined check register and budget register which allows the user to split amounts entered in the check register portion between different budget categories. This invention accomplishes this objective by providing both the check register and the budget register on the same page and allows the check or deposit amount entered in the check register portion to be split among different columns or budget categories so that the split amounts are quickly and easily traced back to the transaction. It is further desirable to have a math check for data entered in the check register against data entered in the budget register.
This invention accomplishes the forenamed objectives and meets the recognized needs while also providing an integrated register which replaces the common personal check register and which gives the user the freedom to use his or her own budget categories or to change those categories.
In addition to the check register and the budget register, this invention provides the user with a savings register to record deposits and withdrawals from savings and other accounts.
The forenamed recognized needs have not heretofore been sufficiently fulfilled by existing checkbooks or budget registers.
The present invention utilizes a combined check register and budget register with a page foldout mechanism to provide both a checkbook register and a budget register on a combination of four facing surfaces or quadrants. This makes it easy and convenient to enter data in the budget register at the same time as data is entered in the check register.

Integrated check register and budget register


An automatic tool changer can reduce a space required for an output shaft and thus permits downsizing of the whole device. Also, the automatic tool changer can reduce an inertia force in reciprocal linear motion to perform high speed operation. The automatic tool changer has a motion converting cam which converts a rotational motion of a lifting rotary shaft into a linear motion. A cam follower of an arm supporting member is engaged with the motion converting cam. When relative rotational swing motion is caused between the lifting rotary shaft and a pivoting rotary shaft, the cam follower causes reciprocal linear motion relative to the motion converting cam. Then, the arm supporting member which is movable in an axial direction relative to the pivoting rotary shaft through a spline coupling, causes reciprocal linear motion on a tool holding arm. Upon synchronous rotation of the lifting rotary shaft and the pivoting rotary shaft, relative displacement between the motion converting cam and the cam follower is not caused so that the arm supporting member and the tool holding arm are pivoted with the pivoting rotary shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic tool changer for automatically changing tools to be supported on an arm, by pivotally or reciprocally operating the arm.
2. Description of the Related Art
As automatic tool changer, there has been known those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication (Kokai) No. Showa 60-31545 and Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. Showa 61-187641. The automatic tool changer, disclosed in the above-identified publications, has drum-shaped cam for converting rotational input into a swing motion to transmit the swing motion thus converted by the drum-shaped cam to an output shaft for driving the output shaft to rotate at a predetermined timing.
On the other hand, a cam groove is formed on one side surface of the drum-shaped cam for causing a swing motion of a link by the cam groove. The swing motion of the link is then transmitted to the output shaft to cause reciprocal motion of the output shaft in axial direction at a predetermined timing. By rotation of the output shaft, a tool holding arm fixed on the output shaft is pivoted to select the tools. Then, chucking and releasing of the tool is automatically performed by axial motion of the output shaft.
However, in such conventional automatic tool changer, the output shaft is not only rotated but also moved in axial direction. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to certainly provide a space for axial motion of the output shaft within a housing to inherently cause increasing of size of the housing and thus to be a hazard for down-sizing of the automatic tool exchanger.
On the other hand, in the foregoing conventional automatic tool changer, the axial reciprocating motion of the output shaft for chucking and releasing the tool can be obtained by swing motion of the link. The link has a construction to take one end portion as a pivot, the other end portion as a working point and an intermediate portion as a power point engaging with the cam groove. With such link construction, a significant load is created upon transmitting the force. Also, since the output shaft and the tool holding arm are integrally moved in axial direction to create a large inertia force, significant difficulty should be caused in realizing high speed motion of the automatic tool changer.


The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger (1) for heat transfer between two fluids, comprising at least a permanently joined module (2) with several, principally rectangular heat transfer plates (3) equally distributed on each side of an imaginary centre plane (M) of the module, which is parallel to the plane of the heat transfer plates (3), the heat transfer plates (3) having inlet and outlet openings (13, 14) for respective fluids in their corner portions (15) and a heat transfer portion (16) located between respective inlet and outlet openings, in which an intermediate heat transfer plate (3B) has a weld (17A) against a first adjacent heat transfer plate (3A), extending at least round said heat transfer portion and round the inlet and outlet openings for one of the fluids and a weld (17B) against a second adjacent heat transfer plate (3C), extending at least round said heat transfer portion and round the inlet and outlet openings for the second fluid. At least one of said welds (17A, 17B) in at least an adjacent pair of heat transfer plates on each side of said centre plane is done in direction towards said centre plane.

Permanently joined plate heat exchangers are known for instance by GB 0580368 and GB 2126703. These may be produced in shape of all-welded plate heat exchangers in such a way that the heat transfer plates first are welded together in pairs along an inner line and then two such pairs of plates are welded together along an outer line. An all-welded plate heat exchanger may also be produced in that several heat transfer plates are welded together simultaneously, however, the size of the plate heat exchanger becomes limited to the number of heat transfer plates, which presently may be welded simultaneously.
Previously known all-welded plate heat exchangers cannot be taken apart if a leakage arises, instead the whole of the plate heat exchanger must be discarded in case of a possible defect.
As an alternative to an all-welded plate heat exchanger, modules composed of 10-20 heat transfer plates may be welded together. After testing, the modules are assembled to a complete plate heat exchanger by means of intermediate gaskets, which permit the modules to be dismantled from each other and replaced with new modules in case of a possible defect. Such plate heat exchangers are previously known through SE 304 293 and WO 92/11501. The disadvantage with these is that the intermediate gaskets limit the applicability of the plate heat exchangers.
Conventional welding technique normally requires that a welding tool is applied against both plates, at the welding of the two plates. However, modern welding techniques, such as laser-welding and electronic beam welding, facilitates welding of two closely united plates with use of a welding tool only on one side of the two plates. An advantage with modern welding techniques is also that less heat is generated in the plates, which will be welded together.
With help of modern welding techniques it is possible to weld several heat transfer plates together, by gradually piling the plates on each other and successively welding the plates together by applying a welding tool from only one direction. The first plate thus has previously been placed on a horizontal surface, upon which the remaining plates one after another have been located above and been welded firmly to the plate underneath.
A problem is that the material of the heat transfer plates during welding expands locally by the heat arising from the welding. After joining, the material will crimp during the cooling and consequently welding stresses arise after the welding, which leads to deformation of the heat transfer plates. When only two heat transfer plates are welded together into a module the welding stresses act on the neutral plane of the modules, and therefore no actual deformation arises. When a third heat transfer plate is added the new welding stresses will act outside the neutral plane of the module and thereby tend to curve the module. Each additional heat transfer plate curves the module further. Finally, the curvature becomes too large and it will not be possible to straighten the module without collapsing the corrugation pattern of the heat transfer plates.

Welded plate heat exchanger and method for welding heat transfer plates to a plate heat exchanger


The present invention provides a faucet with a wand that has a geometric orientation of the wand and/or a geometric relationship between components of the faucet.

Faucets with wands that can be pulled away from the faucets are well known. Such faucets are used in residential and commercial applications, such as in kitchens, laundry rooms, utility rooms, and various other locations. A faucet with a wand enables the user of the faucet to direct the flow of water from the faucet in a desired direction or at a desired location. Thus, the faucet can be more useful in certain applications.
Difficulties can be encountered in designing faucets with wands that are both functionally useful to the user and aesthetically pleasing to the user.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which interconnect capacitance is restrained. The semiconductor device 200 comprises a semiconductor substrate; a second interconnect insulating film 216 constituted of a ladder-type hydrogen siloxane formed on the semiconductor substrate; a second protection film 217 provided on the second interconnect insulating film 216; and an upper interconnect 270 formed in the second interconnect insulating film 216 and the second protection film 217. The second interconnect insulating film 216 is constituted of for example an L-Ox™ (trademark) film, and the second protection film 217 is constituted of for example a silicon oxide film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including an interconnect insulating film constituted of a low dielectric constant film and to a method of manufacturing the same, more specifically to a semiconductor device including a concentrated region where a plurality of interconnects is closely formed, and to a manufacturing method thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent progress in micronization and in operating speed of a semiconductor device has made it indispensable to employ so-called a low dielectric constant film in combination with a copper interconnect. As a method of forming a copper interconnect, Damascene process is generally employed, which basically consists of forming an interconnect trench in an interconnect insulating film, burying copper in the trench, and removing surplus copper outside the trench by CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process (JP-A laid open 2001-176965).
However the Damascene process has a drawback that a part of the interconnect insulating film is also removed by CMP method performed after burying copper, because of which interconnect resistance increases or becomes unstable. Generally a low dielectric constant film has lower chemical resistance and less mechanical strength than an SiO2 film conventionally used as an interconnect insulating film. Accordingly, an interconnect insulating film made of a low dielectric constant material is more prone to be scraped off by CMP than that made of an SiO2 film.
This problem will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B. In FIG. 1A, on a lower insulating layer 1 an etch-stopper film 2 made of for example an SiN film is formed, over which an interconnect insulating film 3, for example made of an HSQ film, is formed. On the interconnect insulating film 3, a barrier film 5 constituted of for example Ta, TaN, Ti, TiN or layers thereof, and an interconnect 4 constituted of an interconnect metal film 6 such as Cu are formed. On the interconnect insulating film 3 and the interconnect 4 an insulative etch-stopper film 7 made of for example an SiN film is formed, on which an interlayer insulating film 8 of for example SiO2 is formed, and further on the interlayer insulating film 8 another etch-stopper film 9 of for example SiN, and then another interconnect insulating film 10 made of for example an HSQ film is formed on the etch-stopper film 9. On these films 7 to 10, another barrier film 12 constituted of for example Ta, TaN, Ti, TiN or multiple layers thereof, and a via and an interconnect made of an interconnect metal film 13 such as Cu are formed.
Under the Damascene process, an excess of the interconnect metal film 13 and of the barrier film 12 deposited on the interconnect insulating film 10 are removed by CMP method. Here, an HSQ film having a cage-type molecular structure may be cited as an example of a low dielectric constant material having a dielectric constant not greater than 3.6. However, in the event of employing the HSQ film as an interconnect insulating film, the film is largely scraped off during a CMP process of removing an excess of the interconnect metal film 13 and so on, because of the lack of chemical resistance and mechanical strength. Consequently, in case where HSQ is used as the interconnect insulating film 11, a considerable portion of the interconnect insulating film 11 is removed especially in a concentrated region where the interconnects are closely formed, and an extensive erosion region 14 is formed as shown in FIG. 1B.

Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same


The disclosed multi-cylinder, poppet-valved engine, has replacement cylinder sleeves larger than the original sleeves, and laterally supported near their upper ends by an aluminum alloy plate having a continuous flange or boss projecting into the cylinder block. The flange has an inner perimeter surface having a profile fittingly engaging upper exterior cylindrical surfaces of the sleeves providing lateral support to the sleeves and heat transfer from the sleeves to coolant and to the block.

A traditional type of internal combustion engine utilizes a cylinder and reciprocating piston arrangement. A variable-size combustion chamber is typically formed with a cylinder that is effectively closed at one end and has a moveable piston at the other end. A combustible gas, or mixture of a combustible fluid and air, is introduced into the combustion chamber and then typically compressed by the piston and ignited. The ignited gas, or mixture, exerts a force on the piston in the direction that increases the volume of the combustion chamber. The linear movement of the moving piston is then converted to rotational movement by connecting the piston to a crankshaft.
A typical internal combustion engine design includes an engine block that encases the combustion cylinders. Many designs utilize engine block materials that are not well-suited for use as the walls of the combustion cylinder. Thus, cylinder sleeves fabricated from a material that is more suitable to withstand the environment associated with the combustion chamber are used to define the cylinder walls. A common problem with cylinder sleeves, however, is their tendency to deteriorate, especially near the top of the cylinder when the sleeve extends beyond the support limits of the engine block. Previous inventions have attempted to support the upper portion of the cylinder sleeve using ring-shaped "block guards." However, block guards create problems with heat transfer and restriction of circulating cooling fluid about the cylinder sleeve, and particularly about the upper portion of the cylinder sleeve adjacent the block guard.
Currently, there is an interest among certain automobile enthusiasts in converting a conventional passenger car into a performance car. One approach is to increase power of the existing engine by increasing the diameter of the combustion cylinder and/or stroke displacement. Another approach is to increase power of the existing engine by replacing the existing cylinder sleeves with cylinder sleeves able to withstand higher stresses. The present invention facilitates this approach via an apparatus and method by which cylinder sleeves larger and/or stronger than those originally employed in an existing engine may be provided for support and cooling for increased longevity.
Thus, there is a general need in the industry to provide improved devices and methods for supporting one or more cylinder sleeves in an internal combustion engine. The present invention meets this need and provides other benefits and advantages in a novel and unobvious manner.

Cylinder sleeve support for an internal combustion engine

Electromechanical Research Laboratories, Inc.


The use of glycolipids, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide, and specific catchers therefor (antibodies or lectins), in particular monoclonal antibodies, for use in the prophylaxis or therapy of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual and for use in the production of pharmaceutical preparations for treatment of said conditions is disclosed.

The present invention relates to the use of glycolipids and specific catchers therefore in treatment of diabetes.
Galactosylceramide is a glycolipid consisting of ceramide to which galactose is attached. It is made by the enzyme ceramide galactosyltransferase which binds its two parts together. Galactosylceramide is a precursor of sulfatide and is present in the neural system and in islets of Langerhans in small amounts. A sulfatransferase enzyme is able to attach sulfate to the galactose group and thereby to convert galactosylceramide to sulfatide. It is a possibility that galactosylceramide given in vivo is converted to sulfatide. However, galactosylceramide may also act by itself and, indeed effects of galactosylceramide have been described in vitro (Buschard, K., Diamant, M., Bovin, L. F., Fredman, P., Bendtzen, K., Sulphatide and its precursor, galactosylceramide, influence the production of cytokines in human mononuclear cells. APMIS 104: 938-944, 1996). It has been shown that galactosylceramide can modulate and mainly enhance the production of different cytokines from both monocytes and T-cells after stimulation with LPS and PHA, respectively.
Most importantly TNF and IL-6 production is increased compared to incubation with LPS and PHA without galactosylceramide.
Glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide are related glycolipids which likely have the same effects as galactosylceramide.
The present invention relates to the use of a glycolipid or a specific catcher thereof for the production of a pharmaceutical preparation for treatment of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual.
Furthermore, the invention relates to glycolipids, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide, and specific catchers therefore (antibodies or lectins) for use in the prophylaxis or therapy of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual.
The invention also relates to a specific catcher for the glycolipids according to the invention, said catcher being a monoclonal antibody against galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide.
The invention also relates to a method for preventing the development of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual, wherein a glycolipid, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide, is administered to said individual, preferably at its perinatal stage.
The characterising features or the invention will be evident from the following description and the appended claims.
As stated above, the invention relates glycolipids, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide, and specific catchers therefore (antibodies or lectins) for use in the prophylaxis or therapy of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual, as well as to the use of a glycolipid or a specific catcher thereof for the production of a pharmaceutical preparation for treatment of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual.
The expression xe2x80x9ctreatmentxe2x80x9d used herein relates to both the prophylaxis of said conditions in an individual being in risk of developing any of the conditions and to the therapeutic treatment of an individual who have already developed any of the conditions.
The prophylactic treatment is performed by inducing tolerance to the antigenic glycolipids. When the glycolipids, the specific catchers therefore and/or the pharmaceutical preparation according to the invention is used for this purpose they are preferably administered perinatally to said individual.
The glycolipid used according to the invention is preferably galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide. The specific catcher used according to the invention is preferably an antibody or a lectin, and more preferably a monoclonal antibody against galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide.
The glycolipid, the specific catcher or the pharmaceutical preparation according to the invention may be administered in any suitable way known to the man skilled in the art. Preferably, they are administered nasally, orally, subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously.
The glycolipids or the pharmaceutical preparation may lead to increased levels of suppressor or regulator cells or antibodies against lymphocytes recognising the antigenic glycolipids in said individual. Alternatively, they may lead to the removal of antibodies and/or lymphocytes recognising the antigenic glycolipids from the blood stream of the individual.
It may be suitable to administer the glycolipids according to the invention together with bacterial adjuvants. The pharmaceutical composition according to the invention may therefore also comprises a least one bacterial adjuvant, such as cholera, staphyloccoc or galactosylceramide (alpha-form) of bacterial origin.
The pharmaceutical preparation according to the invention may also comprise substances used to facilitate the production of the pharmaceutical preparation or the administration of the preparations. Such substances are well known to people skilled in the art and may for example be pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvants, carriers and preservatives.
When antibodies are used according to the invention they will lead to an increase of anti-antibodies in said individual.
The invention also relates to a method for preventing the development of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complications in an individual, wherein a glycolipid, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide, is administered to said individual, preferably at its perinatal stage.
The method may be performed by removing lymphocytes from the individual, contact the lymphocytes with a glycolipid, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide, in vitro to make them recognise this antigen, irradiating them to inhibit their cytotoxicity, and (a) returning them to the individual to raise suppressor or regulator cells or antibodies against lymphocytes reactive with this antigen, or (b) administering them parenterally to another mammal in order to raise antibodies against lymphocytes reactive with this antigen in said mammal and then isolating serum containing the antibodies from said mammal and administering it to the individual.
The method may also be performed by contacting the blood stream of the individual with an immobilised glycolipid, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide, to remove antibodies and/or lymphocytes recognising the antigenic glycolipids from the individual.
Finally, it is also possible to perform the method by parenterally administer an antibody against glycolipids, in particular galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide or lactosylceramide, (a) to said individual in a sufficient amount to raise anti-antibodies in said individual, or (b) to another mammal in order to raise anti-antibodies in said mammal and then isolating serum containing the anti-antibodies from said mammal and administering it to the individual.

Galactosylceramide, glucosylceramide, lactosylceramide, and specific catchers therefor for use in the prophylaxis or therapy of prediabetes, diabetes and/or associated complication


A circuit system for generating a stabilized power supply voltage, which, on the basis of a temperature quantity, selects an operating mode of a voltage regulator. In this context, it is provided, in particular, to apply the principles of the present invention to the supplying of voltage to electronic consumers in motor vehicles. During operation of the voltage regulator, a temperature quantity is recorded which is indicative of a quantity representing or influencing the operation of the voltage regulator. During active operation, the voltage regulator can be operated in at least two operating modes, and the current operating mode is selected as a function of the recorded temperature quantity.

As vehicle electronic systems are being increasingly used to implement motor vehicle functions, it is becoming ever more important to protect the stability of the vehicle electrical systems from failure and from fluctuations in the power supply system. In this context, the current and voltage supply for the consumers of a motor vehicle places special demands on the voltage regulators employed, since the vehicle system voltage fluctuates within a very broad range in dependence upon the battery charge, the vehicle operation, and the ambient temperature. The fluctuation range of the vehicle system voltage is significantly affected by the connection of heavy consumers to the load. Thus, a considerable voltage drop can occur when the engine is started. In spite of these voltage fluctuations, it is necessary to ensure a constant current and voltage supply for the consumers. A regulated voltage that is constant to the greatest possible degree is needed, in particular, for the motor-vehicle control units.
To generate a constant power supply voltage, a low-voltage detection is provided, as described, for example, in German Patent No. 198 38 003. It can be used to prevent certain voltage-critical processes, such as EEPROM memory accesses. In this context, linear regulators or switching regulators having different operational ranges can be used as voltage transformers.
German Patent Application No. 199 17 204 describes a device in which an in-phase regulator is connected in parallel to a switching (switched-mode) regulator to generate a stabilized power supply voltage. The in-phase regulator and the switching regulator are dimensioned in such a way that at lower voltages, the in-phase regulator is active in controlling the voltage supply and, at the usually present higher voltages, the switching regulator is active in controlling the supply, this switching regulator switching itself off when the voltage drops too far. In the event of failure of one of the two regulators, the two parallel-connected regulators additionally facilitate delivery of a somewhat stabilized power supply voltage.
German Patent No. 40 15 351 discusses a current-supply device in which a linear regulator and a switching regulator are connected in parallel as voltage regulators. The regulators are activated as a function of the exceedance of limiting values constituted as predefined voltage values. By setting the limiting values, different operating modes of the voltage regulator can result.
German Patent Application No. 29 33 029 describes a power supply circuit for use in transmitters and receivers, where a high-current chopper-type voltage amplifier (regulator) and a low-current linear amplifier (regulator) are driven in parallel to generate a ripple-free output during the receiving phase and a stable voltage during the transmitting phase. In the process, the linear amplifier is only activated during the receiving phase and the chopper-type regulator only during the transmitting phase. By selecting the drive circuit control in this manner, emission by the chopper-type regulator that would otherwise be interfering during the receiving phase is avoided.


A ceiling fan structure with an LED lamp includes a ceiling fan main body. An annular lampshade is disposed around the periphery of the fan. The annular lampshade has an annular accommodation space therein. The top of the annular lampshade is formed with an opening corresponding to the accommodation space. Two LED lamp boards are longitudinally disposed in the accommodation space. The opening is provided with a lid. The LED lamp boards of the present invention have a better heat dissipation effect. When in use, the locking parts won't be seen from the bottom of the annular lampshade. The present invention has the advantages of convenient replacement and pleasing appearance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ceiling fan structure, and more particularly to a ceiling fan structure with an LED lamp.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional ceiling fan. FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the conventional ceiling fan. The conventional ceiling fan has a ceiling fan main body 1. The lower end of the ceiling fan main body 1 is connected with a lamp holder 2. The bottom of the lamp holder 2 is connected with a disc 4 through a plurality of screws 3. The bottom of the disc 4 is connected with a lamp plate 5 through a plurality of screws 3. The lamp plate 5 is provided with light emitting diodes 6 thereon. The disc 4 is further connected with a lampshade 7 through a plurality of screws 3. When the user turns on the ceiling fan to lower the indoor temperate, the LEDs 6 can be activated to provide an illumination effect at the same time.
However, the aforesaid ceiling fan has the shortcomings described hereinafter. In the conventional ceiling fan, the way to secure the lampshade 7 to the disc 4 and the way to secure the disc 4 to the lamp holder 2 use the screws 3 to lock the lampshade 7 and the disc 4 to the lamp holder 4 from bottom to top. The heads of the screws 3 are exposed out of the bottom of the lamp holder 2. When the user raises his/her head, the exposed screw heads are seen. This results in that the appearance of the ceiling fan is not pleasing.
Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has devoted himself based on his many years of practical experiences to solve these problems.


A liquid sealed damper includes: an attachment portion attached to a peripheral portion of an opening of a vehicle or an opening and closing member for covering the opening; a contact portion to which an external force is input; an insulator configured to isolate vibration and connect the attachment portion and the contact portion; a main liquid chamber in which working liquid is sealed, the insulator serving as a wall portion of the main liquid chamber; an auxiliary liquid chamber divided from the main liquid chamber by a partition member and having a wall portion formed of a diaphragm; and an orifice passage formed in the partition member and communicating with the main liquid chamber and the auxiliary liquid chamber. The partition member has an inner gap in the shape of a recess, and a part of the diaphragm is inserted into the inner gap.

In general, a vehicle such as an automobile in which a luggage space is disposed at the rear side thereof includes a tail gate. The tail gate is rotatably provided at an opening of the luggage space. In such a vehicle, a tail gate damper is provided as a damper for an opening and closing member, in an opposite position between the opening of the luggage space and the tail gate, so that an impact generated, for example, by closing the tail gate, is suppressed by the tail gate damper (see, for example, JP 2000-85363 A).
The conventional tail gate damper has a simple structure using an elastic member made of rubber, and an impact is absorbed and thus suppressed by the rubber-made elastic member. However, a tail gate damper of a liquid sealed type has not been known in the art.
To provide a liquid sealed structure, it is necessary for the tail gate damper to include an insulator, a main liquid chamber in which working liquid is sealed, an auxiliary liquid chamber divided from the main liquid chamber by a partition member, and a diaphragm partly covering a wall portion of the auxiliary liquid chamber. Further, the partition member includes an orifice passage through which the main liquid chamber and the auxiliary liquid chamber are in communication with each other.
However, because the tail gate damper is disposed in a limited space of the rear luggage space or the tail gate, it is necessary to reduce the size of the tail gate damper. It is therefore difficult to provide a tail gate damper of the liquid sealed type having the above-described configuration.
In particular, to ensure an adequate volume of the auxiliary liquid chamber, the diaphragm will protrude largely to the sides of the partition member, and the tail gate damper will be upsized as a whole.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid sealed damper for an opening and closing member, which can solve the above problem and which has a novel structure, and further which can reduce the size thereof while ensuring an adequate volume of the auxiliary liquid chamber.

Liquid sealed damper for opening and closing member


The present invention provides nucleic acids, as well as vectors, cells, and plants (including plant parts, seeds, and embryos) containing the nucleic acids. In particular, molecular tools are provided in the form of nucleic acids that encode reverse transcriptases. The invention also features methods for manipulating such nucleic acids. In addition, the invention features methods to introduce nucleic acids containing retroelements or retroelement sequences into cells.

Eukaryotic retrotransposons are divided into two distinct classes of elements based on their structures: the long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons and the LINE-like or non-LTR elements. See, Doolittle et al. (1989) Quart. Rev. Biol. 64:1–30; and Xiong and Eickbush (1990) EMBO J. 9:3353–3362. These element classes are related by the fact that each must undergo reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate to replicate, and each generally encodes its own reverse transcriptase. The LTR retrotransposons replicate by a mechanism resembling that of the retroviruses. See, Boeke and Sandmeyer (1991) Yeast transposable elements, in The Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Yeast Saccharomyces, ed. Broach, Jones, and Pringle, pp. 193–261 (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.). LTR retrotransposons typically use a specific tRNA to prime reverse transcription, and a linear cDNA is synthesized through a series of template transfers that require redundant LTR sequences at each end of the mRNA. This process occurs within a virus-like particle formed from proteins encoded by the retrotransposon mRNA. After reverse transcription, an integration complex is organized that directs the resulting cDNA to a new site in the genome of the host cell.
Phylogenetic analyses based on reverse transcriptase amino acid sequences have separated the LTR retrotransposons into two families: the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons (Metaviridae), and the Ty1/copia elements (Pseudoviridae). See, Boeke et al. (1998) Metaviridae, in Virus Taxonomy: ICTV VIIth Report, ed. Murphy (Springer-Verlag, NY); and Boeke et al. (1998) Pseudoviridae, in Virus Taxonomy: ICTV VIIth Report, ed. Murphy (Springer Verlag, NY); Xiong and Eickbush supra. Although distinct, Ty3/gypsy elements are more closely related to retroviruses than to Ty1/copia elements. Ty3/gypsy elements share a similar genetic organization with the retroviruses, principally in the order of integrase and reverse transcriptase in their pol genes. Reverse transcriptase precedes integrase in the Ty3/gypsy elements, and this order is reversed for the Ty1/copia elements. In addition, some Ty3/gypsy elements have an extra open reading frame (ORF) encoding a polypeptide that is similar to retroviral envelope (env) proteins, which is required for viral infectivity. The Drosophila melanogaster gypsy retrotransposons encode an env-like ORF and can be transmitted between cells. See, Kim et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:1285–1289; and Song et al. (1994) Genes Dev. 8:2046–2057. The retroviruses and the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons that encode envelope-like proteins make up two distinct lineages of infectious LTR retroelements. The Ty3/gypsy elements have been further divided into two genera, the metaviruses and the errantiviruses, the latter including all elements with env-like genes. See, Boeke et al. Metaviridae (supra).
Retrotransposons have been extremely successful in plants. See, e.g., Bennetzen (1996) Trends Microbiol. 4:347–353; and Voytas (1996) Genetics 142:569–578. The enormous size of many plant genomes allows a great tolerance for repetitive DNA, a substantial proportion of which appears to be composed of retrotransposons. Because of their abundance, retrotransposons have undoubtedly influenced plant gene evolution. Retrotransposons can cause mutations in coding sequences (Grandbastien et al. (1989) Nature 337:376–380; Hirochika et al. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:7783–7788; and Purugganan and Wessler (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11674–11678), and the promoter regions of some plant genes contain relics of retrotransposon insertions that contribute transcriptional regulatory sequences. See, White et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11792–11796. Retrotransposons also can generate gene duplications, as repetitive retrotransposon sequences provide substrates for unequal crossing over. Such an event is thought to have caused a zein gene duplication in maize (White et al., supra). Cellular mRNAs occasionally are reverse transcribed, and the resultant cDNA recombines into the genome to give rise to new genes or, more frequently, cDNA pseudogenes. See, Maestre et al. (1995) EMBO J. 14:6333–6338. The transduction of gene sequences during reverse transcription, which produced the oncogenic retroviruses, also has been documented for a plant retrotransposon (Bureau et al. (1994) Cell 77:479–480; and Jin and Bennetzen (1994) Plant Cell 6:1177 1186). A maize Bs1 insertion in Adh1 carries part of an ATPase gene and is the only known example of a retrotransposon-mediated gene transduction event.
Plant genomes can encode representatives of the two major lineages of LTR retrotransposons that have been identified in other eukaryotes. Among these are numerous examples of Ty1/copia elements (see, e.g., Konieczny et al. (1991) Genetics 127:801–809; Voytas and Ausubel (1988) Nature 336:242–244; and Voytas et al. (1990) Genetics 126:713–721). Also prevalent are Ty3/gypsy elements that are member of the genus Metaviridae (Smyth et al. 1989 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5015–5019; Purugganan and Wessler (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11674–11678; and Su and Brown (1997) Plasmid 38:148–157). As stated above, some metaviruses, including plant metaviruses, contain an envelope gene characteristic of the retroviruses. It has been suggested that the envelope gene may be required for cell-to-cell transmission of plant metaviruses (Bennetzen, supra). The uncertainty, however, has been described with respect to Cyclops, a retroelement identified from pea: "Since genes encoding ENV functions are very heterogeneous at the sequence level and difficult to identify by homology even between retroviruses, the possibility cannot be completely excluded at the present time that the 3′ ORF of Cyclops is, in fact, an env gene and, hence, Cyclops is a retrovirus or a descendant of one." Chavanne et al. (1998) Plant Mol. Biol. 37:363–375.
Citation of the above documents is not intended as an admission that any of the foregoing is pertinent prior art. All statements as to the date or representation as to the contents of these documents is based on subjective characterization of information available to the applicant, and does not constitute any admission as to the accuracy of the dates or contents of these documents.

Plant retroelements and methods related thereto

Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.


Provided is a method of culturing one or more microorganisms. The method includes culturing one or more microorganisms in a medium comprising crude glycerol at a first concentration level, feeding to the media an additional amount of crude glycerol, once the first concentration of glycerol is reduced to a first threshold level, at a concentration sufficient to achieve the first concentration level, monitoring the crude glycerol concentration until the first concentration level of the crude glycerol is reduced to the first threshold level. The steps may be repeated until a desired microorganism cell density is achieved.

Heterotrophic fermentations of microorganisms are efficient way of generating high value oil and biomass products. Under certain cultivation conditions, microorganisms synthesize intracellular oil, which can be extracted and used to produce biofuel (e.g., biodiesel, bio-jetfuel, and the like) and nutritional lipids (e.g., polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA, EPA, and DPA). The biomass of some microorganisms is also of great nutritional value due to high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and protein content, and can be used as a nutritional supplement for animal feed. However, heterotrophic fermentation is an intensive process of high cost, and high energy and feedstock consumption. Carbon feedstock cost is typically a very significant portion of the total cost for producing microorganism biomass and oil. Existing microorganism fermentations use mainly expensive carbohydrates, such as glucose, as the carbon source. Cheaper carbon alternatives are being investigated in order to make the production process economically favorable. Besides glucose, several other forms of carbon, such as fructose and glycerol, are natural carbon substrates for microorganisms. However, highly purified glycerol costs more than glucose.

High density production of biomass and oil using crude glycerol


A ceiling fan having a plurality of blade irons removably attached to a rotor. Each blade iron includes an arcuate web with a first flange for attachment to the rotor. A second flange is included for receiving a fan blade. The trailing edge of each blade iron overlaps the leading edge of the next successive blade iron.

The present invention relates generally to fans and more specifically to electrically operated ceiling fans of the type normally used in homes or businesses to create a circulation of air within a room or other confined space.
Ceiling fans have been known for a long period of time. Such fans typically are used during the summer months to move air from the ceiling toward the floor of a space to enhance air conditioning systems thereby requiring less cooling of the ambient air in order to maintain comfort. Such fans may be operated in a reverse direction to move air from the floor toward the ceiling. Such operational format is normally utilized during the winter months to move heated air away from the ceiling and back toward the floor of an enclosed space to thereby create a situation where less heat is required to maintain the particular space comfortable for the occupants.
Throughout the remainder of this Application, the terms "trailing edge" and "leading edge" may be utilized from time to time when describing certain features of the ceiling fan constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. When so utilized, those terms will be used with respect to the rotation of the fan as it is normally used in the summer months to move air from the ceiling toward the floor as it rotates. That is, air is moving downwardly directly beneath the fan blades as they rotate.
Prior art fans known to Applicant typically are constructed utilizing blade irons which are affixed at the inner periphery thereof to a rotor which is turned by a motor when it is electrically energized. The blade irons include an arm extending outwardly to which the blade of the fan is affixed. Typically the entire fan blade is exposed to view when viewed from below. Typically such prior art fan blades are narrow at the blade root and converge outwardly so that the blade tip is wider than the blade root.
Recent ceiling fans have been constructed in such a way that the rotor is completely enclosed and the roots of the fan blades appear to extend through such enclosure. This tends to provide an appearance of an integrated swept wing design to the fan. Such design provides a more streamlined appearance, including an appearance where the taper of the fan blade is reversed from that normally encountered in that the root is wider than the tip. This new design presents complex shapes and configurations which are expensive to manufacture and wherein maintenance is difficult and therefore costly, particularly where the fan blade must be removed.
It is therefore desirable to provide a ceiling fan which produces the swept wing design but which is relatively simple to manufacture and assemble and to also provide the ability to convert currently existing fans to such new swept wing design.