In an image reading apparatus that is capable of reading a transparent original and a reflective original, a navigation sheet (24) on which the content of transparent-original read processing has been entered and a film guide (25) holding a transparent original are placed on an original table (23), and the navigation sheet (24) is read first to recognize the content thereof. Next, a scanner carriage unit (22) is moved so that the transparent original being held by the film guide (25) is read in based upon the result of recognition of the navigation sheet (24). Since a method of reading the transparent original can be designated using the navigation sheet, it is easier to perform the reading of a transparent original using a stand-alone image reading apparatus.

Many recent image readers, especially flatbed-type image readers (referred to as "flatbed scanners" below), that are available on the market have a function for reading not only ordinary reflective originals but also transparent originals such as photographic film. In general, an image reading apparatus of this kind has a light source that is built in a document cover for pressing the original against the original table, and is so adapted that when a transparent original is read, the light source is lit to illuminate the transparent original and the transmitted light that has passed through the original is read.
In addition to flatbed scanners of this type, there is also an apparatus that not only reads an original in response to a command from a connected personal computer but that also is capable of reading an original in response to a command from a control panel provided on the flatbed scanner itself. With such an apparatus, it is possible to read a transparent original using the apparatus in stand-alone fashion.
Assume that a desired frame of film is to be read using an image reading apparatus that is capable of reading a transparent original in the prior art. If the image reading apparatus has been connected to a personal computer, a preview (coarse scan) of the film strip (usually six frames per strip in the case of 35-mm photographic film) that includes the desired frame can be commanded from the connected personal computer, the frame desired to be read can be designated from the personal computer based upon the result of preview displayed on the screen of the personal computer, and only the designated frame can be final-scanned (scanned in high-resolution).
However, in a case where reading of film is performed using the control panel provided on the image reading apparatus, as when a personal computer has not been connected (inclusive of a case where the personal computer cannot be used immediately, such as when the personal computer has been connected but has not been started up), a frame cannot be specified. The only method available is the troublesome method of deleting the read data of unnecessary frames after all frames have been scanned.
An image reading apparatus that has appeared on the market employs a reflective original referred to as a navigation sheet on which is entered the content or conditions of image read processing, such as a designation of a frame or a designation of a trimming area, in order to enhance the feasibility and convenience of reading a transparent original by means of a stand-alone image reading apparatus. The navigation sheet is read by the apparatus and the content of image read processing to be executed is specified by the navigation sheet, thereby making it possible to designate a frame to be read even in a reading operation by a stand-alone apparatus. These image readers that are capable of utilizing a navigation sheet include one (proposed by, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-331494) in which a navigation sheet and film are read by separate reading units.
In another proposed apparatus (for example, see the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-224528), the image of each frame of film is read and recorded on an optical disk when the navigation sheet is created, and a frame image that has been designated from the navigation sheet is printed using the data read from the optical disk without requiring that the designated frame image be read again.
The image reading apparatus described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-331494 adapted to read the navigation sheet and film by separate reading units is capable of reading the navigation sheet and film simultaneously. Although this shortens reading time, two separate reading units are required. This is problem in that it invites an increase in the size and cost of the apparatus.
Further, with the arrangement described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-224528, it is required that all of the frame images be read at a high resolution when the navigation sheet is created. This takes time. Furthermore, since it is necessary to store the images read at the high resolution, a large-capacity storage device such as an optical disk is required.

Image reading apparatus and method of controlling same


A tool is provided for use when replacing devices in an automatically controlled distributed processing system. In one embodiment a network management tool reestablishes all or a portion of the logical connections formerly provided to a bound node where a replacement device is or will be located. The network management tool compares data associated with the logical connections of the bound node and data associated with the logical connections for the replacement device to determine proper logical connection. The network management tool identifies network variables associated with the bound node that are not associated with the replacement device and deletes those network variables from other devices on the network if the network variable is not useful in the network after the replacement device is bound.

Automation control systems are well-known. Such systems include building automation systems for controlling environmental equipment, fire and safety equipment, security equipment, elevator banks, and the like. Other automation control systems include industrial control, food processing, and transportation systems. In general, these systems receive data from sensors that are evaluated to determine control actions to take in order to bring about some condition or perform some operation. For example, an environmental control system uses sensors to detect environmental conditions and system parameters throughout a building or other space to determine control actions that are necessary to bring the regulated space to some defined condition.
In modern systems, the advent of relatively inexpensive processors has allowed manufacturers to incorporate processors into many of the various components within such systems. Accordingly, each of the devices in the system may be a "smart" device. Such a device is capable of doing at least some level of data manipulation. Additionally, the devices may be equipped with a transmitter allowing the device to provide data to the network. The device may further include a receiver to receive data from the network. Accordingly, even sensors may be smart devices, transmitting data to the network.
There exist a wide variety of sensors for a wide variety of purposes. Sensors can include temperature sensors, infrared body detectors, position indicators, water flow meters, air flow meters, water pressure meters, air pressure meters, and the like. Position indicators, for example, are devices that generate a signal that corresponds to the position of a switch, valve, or vent opening so the system controller may determine whether particular lights, fans, vents, or blower motors are operating or open. The data that is generated by the sensors is provided to one or more controllers in the control system. The data may be provided directly to the controller, or by transmission through the network.
The controllers in many cases compare the data to desired values for the particular sensed condition. The desired values are called set points. The controllers perform control actions to bring the sensed parameters into compliance with the conditions corresponding to the set points. In some cases, sensors that sense one condition may be used to effect control of another condition. For example, a sensor data that indicates a person's entry into a room may be used to initiate control actions to achieve lighting, ventilation, and thermal comfort conditions specified for an occupied space. Such control actions may include the activation of blower motors to bring conditioned air into the room through vents that are also opened in response to control signals generated by the controller.
Additional control actions may involve obtaining temperature sensor data and controlling the various devices to maintain the desired temperature. In this manner, the controller may regulate the environmental conditions in a space.
The use of smart devices in a system allows for the control of the system to be de-centralized or distributed. Distributed processing may be used in an environmental control system to coordinate control of the system with the various heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) functions in the system. For example, an air-handling unit (AHU) in an HVAC system distributes conditioned air to several variable air volume (VAV) terminals in a building. Thus, VAV controllers exchange data with the AHU controller so the AHU appropriately provides conditioned air to the VAVs and the AHU controller may synchronize the operation of these local space controllers.
Different companies, however, frequently manufacture the various devices within a control system. Accordingly, it is possible that a device manufactured by a first company would have a communication protocol different from the protocol used by a device manufactured by a second company. When devices of a system employ different protocols, the consumer must absorb the expense of creating an interface system for the various devices. Alternatively, the consumer may limit the system to devices from a limited number of manufactures, all of whom employ the same protocol.
In response to this problem, various "standard" communications protocols have evolved which are used by a number of different manufacturers. A benefit of such protocols is to allow for interoperability between devices produced by the various manufactures. In an interoperable environment, by ensuring that a replacement device uses the same protocol as the rest of the network, a consumer can purchase a device with the assurance that the device will be able to communicate with the rest of the consumer's system once installed. One such protocol is the LONTALK protocol, also known as the ANSI/EIA 709-1 Control Networking Standard.
The LONTALK protocol is a layered, packet based, peer-to-peer communications protocol designed specifically for control systems. Typically, standardized deployment of the protocol is achieved by the use of a NEURON Chip, commercially available from Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., of Irvine Calif. and Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, of San Jose, Calif. The NEURON Chip is programmed with all levels of the communications protocol with the exception of the application level. Accordingly, to allow for interoperability, a manufacturer may incorporate a NEURON Chip in a device.
Of course, use of a NEURON Chip does not mean that a device is interoperable with other devices incorporating NEURON Chips. This is because the application level of the device is programmed by the individual manufacturer in accordance with the manufacturer specific design of the device. To ensure interoperability, the inputs and outputs of the device at the application level must also be standardized. This is accomplished in a LONTALK protocol device by the use of standardized functional profiles. Standardized functional profiles are discussed more fully below. In essence, however, the standardized functional profiles establish common data formats that are used for passing data at the application level.
Accordingly, by using devices with a shared protocol that fit standardized functional profiles, a consumer ensures that a new device, regardless of its manufacturer, will be capable of sending messages to and receiving messages from other devices already in the network. To this end, the protocol ideally enables communication without prior detailed knowledge of the topology of the network. In other words, a single device may be used within networks having diverse topologies. Obviously, the individual installing the device must be aware of the network topology so as to allow for necessary bandwidth and interconnections. However, assuming that the installer has properly accounted for the topology prior to installing a device, the device will be able to communicate with other devices in the network. This capability is enabled by maintaining control functions within the various devices while passing data between the devices in the system using the protocol. Such a system may be referred to as an information-based control system.
A network based upon the LONTALK protocol allows remote network management tools to interact with components over the network, including reconfiguration of network addresses and parameters, downloading of application programs, reporting of network problems, and start/stop/reset of component application programs. Beneficially, the network may be implemented over basically any medium, including power lines, twisted pair, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), coaxial cable and fiber optic or combinations thereof.
Communications protocols such as LONTALK provide significant advantages in implementation of a distributed processing system. However, there are some difficulties associated with such protocols. One such problem arises when devices are replaced with either devices from a different manufacturer or even updated devices from the same manufacturer. Devices that are configured in accordance with the LONTALK protocol are referred to as LONWORKS devices. However, a replacement LONWORKS device is typically not configured to interface with a system in the same manner as the LONWORKS device being replaced. For example, a single device may be useful in a number of configurations, each configuration using and creating a different set of input and output data.
The primary means of accessing data within a LONWORKS device is via Network Variables (NVs) and Configuration Properties (CPs). The NVs are utilized for "dynamic" data within the control application. An example of dynamic data is current zone temperature. The NVs are the primary mechanism by which data is exchanged between control and monitoring nodes on the network. The CPs are utilized for "static" data. A CP can be configured as one of two entities, a configuration property type (CPT) or a configuration network variable (CNV). A CNV follows rules established for NVs and count against the limit of NVs that can be used with a particular node. However, a CPT is not so limited, since the CPT ultimately resides within the device. Thus, limitations as to number and size for CPs associated with a node is a function of the memory capacity of the node and the processor associated with the node.
The static data of CPs are typically stored in a controller's non-volatile memory and can be used to configure the application and/or control parameters within the controller. Static data can be used to configure, for example, input and output configuration and set points. NVs and CPs are identified, among other things, by a name and a type. The "name" identifies the class of sensor, such as a temperature sensor. A data "type" defines the units, scaling and structure of the data being passed. A number of standard NV types (SNVTs) and CP types (SCPTs) have been created for commonly used types. Additionally, the LONTALK protocol allows for user defined NVs and CPs, referred to as UNVTs and UCPTs. Collectively, the NVs and CPs within a LONWORKS Controller are referred to as the Node Interface. In addition, NVs and CPs within a controller may be organized and/or associated with Objects.
The application layer programming for LONMARK devices is object-oriented, hence the grouping of NVs and CPs into Objects. An Object is a modular segment of code that performs a documented function using defined inputs and producing defined outputs. In a given device, one or more Objects may be grouped together to perform the function(s) of the device. The Node Interface for a device is thus the amalgamation of the NVs and CPs of all of the objects programmed into the device, along with defaults and power-up behaviors
In the LONTALK protocol there are two types of defined Objects, generic LONMARK Objects and LONMARK functional profiles. A generic LONMARK Object may be a sensor that can be used in a number of different applications such as lighting, security, or a manufacturing system. A LONMARK functional profile is an Object that is defined within a specific application. For example, in the HVAC area, a controller used to control a damper actuator based upon a control algorithm using a sensed temperature will require a temperature input and will generate a control output. Accordingly the functional profile for the controller will define the format of a temperature input and the format of the control output. The functional profile will further define optional NVTs and CPTs. Manufacturers may choose to include any number of the optional NVTs and/or CPTs in a particular device. Therefore, devices from different manufacturers may be based upon the same functional profile, while having different Node Interfaces because of the selection of different optional NVTs and CPTs.
LONWORKS devices include "self-documentation" of the Node Interface requirements of the device that can be read and interpreted by a LONWORKS tool. Recovery and interpretation of the self-documentation from a LONWORKS node is the primary and most rudimentary mechanism by which a LONWORKS tool obtains information on a node's Node Interface. Self-documentation includes a Program Identification (Program ID).
Each Node Interface must be assigned a Program ID. Rules for assigning Program IDs and guidelines for self-documentation are administered by the LONMARK Interoperability Association and may be found in LONMARK Application Layer Interoperability Guidelines. In accordance with those guidelines, nodes containing the same Program ID must contain the same Node Interface. Thus, it is assumed that LONWORKS devices with identical Program IDs have identical NV and CP names, the same number of NVs and CPs, identical organization into Objects, etc. Accordingly, when the self-documentation of a node changes, the Program ID of any device at the node must also be changed.
Typically, but not always, descriptive NV names are included in the self-documentation stored within the LONWORKS node as provided by the manufacturer. However, such storage obviously requires memory space. Thus, due to memory constraints, some nodes do not include NV names in the self-documentation stored within the nodes. In such cases, LONWORKS tools must rely on other means for associating an NV with a descriptive name. The most common, and indeed de facto standard for doing so, is to utilize what is known as an External Interface File (XIF file).
The XIF format is determined and maintained by the LONMARK Interoperability Association in the LONMARK Device Interface File Reference Guide. The data in the XIF file includes a Program ID. A Program ID is an identifier for a device that includes a manufacturer identification, a device class, a device subclass and a model number. The device subclass identifies the device as having a specific functional profile. Thus, all devices within the same device subclass must have the same functional profiles. However, by identifying a specific model number, the Program ID further identifies the specific Node Interface for the device. The XIF file is thus a text file description of the Node Interface that can be used by tools to provide access to an application's Node Interface without the need to retrieve the data from the actual node.
A network management tool may be used to obtain the Node Interfaces of the various devices when initially installing a system. The network management tool is a program loaded into a computer, which may be, for example, a portable computer, a handheld device, or an administrative computer connected to the system. The network management tool may be identified as a special node on the system.
After the Node Interfaces are determined for the devices in the network, a process referred to as "binding" is performed. The binding process establishes the logical connection between the devices by connecting the NV Outputs (NVOs) from one node or nodes to the NV Inputs (NVIs) of the same type on another node or nodes. From a network perspective, the devices can thus be thought of as nodes having specific configurations. The logical connections are then stored within the network management database used by the system. Typically, this file is called a Network Management Database or a Network Configuration Database. The logical connections are further stored in the network image of the node. The network image of the node is the configuration table maintained by the node to identify messages on the network that are to be received by the node and to identify outputs that the node is to transmit.
When a replacement device is connected to the system, the network image of the replacement device must be established and stored both in the replacement device and in the network management database. If the replacement device is identical to the previous component, i.e. the same Program ID, establishing the network image may be fairly simple. Some network management tools have the capability of verifying the Program ID, and merely configuring the replacement device using previously defined data by copying the former network image into the new device.
However, in the event the replacement component has a different Program ID, prior art network management tools assume the node to be completely different, and do not automatically attempt to establish the logical connections to the device or provide CPs to the replacement device. Thus, even if the replacement device uses an identical functional profile but is provided by a different manufacturer or even if the device is from the same manufacturer but has a new model number, there is no automatic attempt to configure the node using previously defined data.
Moreover, if the original network management database is not available and a network image cannot be recovered by the network management tool following some damage to the node, then the new node must be manually configured. The design limit for host-based nodes is 4096 NVs, and an unlimited number of CPs. Obviously, manually configuring such a node is labor intensive in engineering and testing.
What is needed is a network management tool capable of automatically re-establishing NV connections and setting the values of CPs even when a node is replaced with a device having a different Program ID. It would be beneficial if the network management tool were capable of identifying conflicts or changes in node configuration, allowing a user to quickly assess the conflicts or changes. It would be further beneficial if the network management tool provided potential conflict resolution options.

System and method for configuring a network after replacing a node


A foot for stabilizing a case includes a circular mounting plate to be secured to the bottom of the case, and an elongate foot plate which has a longitudinal channel to receive the mounting plate. The foot plate is rotatable about the axis of the mounting plate, and the mounting plate is slidable along the foot plate. Therefore, the angle and position of the foot plate are adjustable relative to the mounting plate for accommodation on the space where the case is located.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stabilizing foot, more particularly to a foot which is adapted for stabilizing the bottom of a computer case, the angle and position of the foot being adjustable relative to the computer case.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional arrangement 10 for stabilizing a computer case 12 is shown to comprise four L-shaped foot plates 11. Upwardly extending portions 111 of the foot plates 11 are inserted into four holes 122 which are formed in the case 12 adjacent to the bottom 121. In use, the foot plates 11 project laterally from the case 12, thereby occupying space at two sides of the case 12. In addition, since the foot plates 11 are not secured to the case 12 in storage, they are separable and easily lost. Referring to FIG. 2, another arrangement 20 for stabilizing a computer case 22 is shown to include two pairs of foot plates 21 which are mounted rotatably to the bottom 221 of the case 22 by pivot pins 23. Each pair of the foot plates 21 have engaging teeth 211 which engage the teeth 211 on the other foot plate 21 so as to rotate the foot plates 21 synchronously in opposite directions to extend outward from two sides of the case 22. In order to stabilize the case 22, the foot plates 21 must extend outward by a substantial distance from the case 22, thereby rendering the case 22 not suitable for placing within limited spaces.

Foot adapted for stabilizing the bottom of a computer case

No. 141, Lane 351, Sec. 1, Tai-Ping Rd., Tsao-Tun Chen


The platform of a stairlift is moved along a rail in a stairwell. During the movement, the platform is automatically rotated relative to the rail about a vertical shaft, at angles depending on a position of the platform along the rail. The stairway contains, for instance, a virtually straight part and a bend, wherein the platform is rotated, at positions in the bend, at an orientation or orientations which make a smaller angle with a part of the rail going downstairs than an orientation of the platform in the straight part. In a stairwell with a wider part and a narrower part, wherein the stairwell is insufficiently wide to let the platform rotate through, at a position preceding the entering of the narrower part, the platform is rotated at an angle from which the platform can be rotated to a position for getting on and off in the narrower part without obstruction from walls of the stairwell.

An example of a stairlift is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,594. Known stairlifts comprise a rail, which is mounted above the stairway on the inner or outer wall of the stairwell, a platform (for instance a chair, or a floor for, for instance, a wheelchair) and a drive mechanism for moving the platform along the rail and thereby along the stairway. It is further known to provide a second drive mechanism to keep the platform horizontal. This second drive mechanism rotates the platform about a horizontal shaft relative to the rail, depending on the gradient of the rail at that location.
Above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,594 describes how, during getting on and getting off, use is also made of the rotation of the platform about a vertical shaft, which is known in this field by the term "swiveling". In this manner, the transported person is turned to the step at the top and bottom of the stairway. For this, two positions are needed (for the top and the bottom of the stairway, respectively) which are mutually rotated relative to the rail through 180 degrees. En route, the platform is fixed in a transport position, which is, for instance, midway between the two positions for getting off, with the transported person facing the wall.
The patent specification describes how, for swiveling, use can be made of a combined rotation and translation movement to prevent the platform on the stairlift from hitting the wall during the swiveling from the positions for getting on and getting off to the transport position.
The space available in a stairwell is a factor which determines whether a stairlift can be placed. It will be clear that placement is not possible if the platform does not fit between the walls of the stairlift or if there is too little headroom left under the ceiling of the stairwell. In particular, this is often the case in stairways with bends. Also, swiveling for getting on and off is not possible if the stairwell does not provide sufficient space for this.


A base-plane-height determining unit determines whether a base plane is formed with planes of different heights. A base-plane determining unit determines, when it is determined that the base plane is formed with the plural planes of different heights, whether to take the plural planes or a single plane as a basis. A height-limited-area-information creating unit creates, when it is determined to take the plural planes as the basis, height-limited-area information by taking different planes for different locations as the basis, otherwise, the height-limited-area information by taking a single plane from among the plural planes as the basis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technology for creating height-limited-area information for an empty space from a base plane based on three-dimensional shape information of a three-dimensional structure in which the empty space formed when plural sub-structures are combined.
2. Description of the Related Art
To design an information processing device and the like, electrical designing that uses an electrical computer-aided design (CAD) system and mechanical designing that uses a mechanical CAD system has been performed in parallel. For example, the electrical designing includes designing a circuit on a printed circuit board, and the mechanical designing includes designing a shape of a chassis and designing arrangement of components.
The electrical designing and the mechanical designing can be performed in parallel. However, a shape of the chassis often limits the shape and arrangement of electrical components, and information of the electrical designing and information of the mechanical designing need to be mutually exchanged according to the progress of the design work. Therefore, an electrical CAD-mechanical CAD interaction supporting system that supports the exchange of the necessary information between the electrical designing and the mechanical designing has been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. H11-73434 describes a component-arrangement-restricting-condition creating device that creates information such as a limit to the height due to the shape of the chassis as a component-arrangement restricting condition and reflects the result designed by the mechanical CAD system to the electrical CAD system.
However, according to the technology described above, the printed circuit board is regarded as a plain surface. As a result, when the electrical designing needs to consider the restriction of the component arrangement after some electrical components are mounted on the printed circuit board and transfers the design information with the electrical components mounted on the printed circuit board, there is a problem that the mechanical designing cannot create information such as the limit to the height based on the printed circuit board having the electrical components mounted thereon.

Method, device, and computer product for creating height-limited-area information, and method of manufacturing three-dimensional structure


A composition for manufacturing concrete containing cement, coal ash, and organic plant ash, and a process of making such composition.

Concrete is the material of choice in innumerable construction applications, because of its strength, longevity, and ease of use. Concrete is made from a mixture containing hydraulic cement, one or more aggregates, and water, and may also contain various additives that improve or alter the physical properties of the concrete, or that improve the processability of the mixture.
Fly ash, which is produced by the combustion of coal in electricity generating plants, is commonly added to concrete mixes. Fly ash can be added for a number of reasons, but is typically added for its cementitious properties. Some fly ash is itself a cement, and forms concrete when mixed with an aggregate and water. Most fly ash, however, is a natural pozzolan that has cementitious activity only when combined with a source of calcium oxide such as lime or cement. Because of this cementitious activity, fly ash can improve the compressive strength of concrete, and can also improve the resistance of concrete to chemical attack. Fly ash can also lower the cost of the concrete mix.
The concrete mix can also contain an air entraining agent to increase the air content of the finished concrete. Such air entraining agents are commonly included in mixes to entrain air in the finished concrete and thereby improve the resistance of the concrete to harmful freeze-thaw cycles.
Ashes other than fly ash have also been proposed for use in concrete. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,044 to Meade et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,957, 528 to Ott et al., disclose concrete mixes that contain the ash generated by a municipal waste incinerator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,548 to Mihta discloses a concrete mix containing the ash generated by rice husks. U.S. Pat. No. 611,621 to Frenchel discloses a concrete mix prepared from cement and wood ash.
None of the foregoing patents discloses the concrete mix of the present invention. Moreover, none of the ashes used in the above patents have been shown to improve the properties of concrete, and none have been commercially accepted in the concrete industry as a suitable additive for concrete.
It has been unexpectedly found, therefore, that ash generated by burning woody tissues, when combined with cement and coal ash, actually improves the physical properties of finished concrete. The woody tissue can be burned along with the coal to produce a mixture of woody tissue ash and coal ash, or it can be burned separately from the coal and subsequently combined with the coal ash and cement to obtain a suitable concrete mix. It has been unexpectedly found that woody tissue ash helps to entrain air in the finished concrete, and thereby improves the freeze-thaw characteristics of the concrete, while reducing (if not eliminating) the amount of artificial air entraining agent that must be included in the concrete mix.

Concrete mix containing coal ash and organic plant ash


A method of manufacturing a traction roller for a continuously variable transmission comprises placing a layer on a hollow cylindrical material having the volume substantially equal to the traction roller, performing axial pressure forging of the cylindrical material to obtain a work having the axial length substantially equal to that of the traction roller, performing axial die forging of the work to form side wall and outer peripheral surface of the traction roller, and grinding the work subjected to die forging to obtain a finished product of the traction roller.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing traction rollers for continuously variable transmissions and traction rollers resulting therefrom.
Various types of continuously variable transmissions have been proposed, one of which is a toroidal-type continuously variable transmission comprising input and output discs and a power roller or traction roller frictionally engaged therewith for ensuring power transmission.
The method of manufacturing power rollers will be described. Conventionally, the detailed method has not been proposed except forming power rollers out of AISI52100 corresponding to JIS SUJ2, high-carbon high-chromium bearing steel or carburizing steel having an effective hardened layer of 2.0-4.0 mm as disclosed in JP-A 7-71555. Ordinarily, the power rollers can be manufactured as follows:
A solid cylindrical material having the same length as the axial length of a power roller is prepared and machined to obtain the final shape, which is subjected first to deep carburizing or carbonitriding of, e.g. 3 mm at 830-960.degree. C., then 840-890.degree. C. during 24-110 hr, and then to hardening. Subsequently, this work is tempered at 170-180.degree. C. during 2-5 hr, and subjected to grinding finishing to obtain a finished product.
However, manufacturing of the power rollers in such a way needs not only a high material cost due to bad material yield, but a lot of time for deep carburizing or carbonitriding. Additionally, a process of deep carburizing or carbonitriding cannot ensure separate treatment of the power roller outer peripheral surface and central axial hole inner peripheral surface which require a thick carburized or carbonitrided layer, and the ball receiving side wall which requires a thin carburized or carbonitrided layer. Moreover, hardened layers formed through the process remain on the finished product without any elimination. These facts can cause the following problems:
When the power roller outer peripheral surface and central axial hole inner peripheral surface, and the ball receiving side wall are treated at the same time, the thickness of the carburized or carbonitrided layer of the ball receiving side wall which may be thin is equal to that of the carburized or carbonitrided layer of the power roller outer peripheral surface and central axial hole inner peripheral surface which is to be thick. Thus, the confluence of the central axial hole inner peripheral surface and the ball receiving side wall which should be the most durable in view of the strength of the power roller is difficult to be formed with a soft core, having considerably lowered durability with respect to crack, resulting in a harmful influence on the durability of the power roller.
Further, due to the fact that any elimination of the hardened layers is not carried out, austenite grains grown through the above process remain on the finished product, resulting in inevitable lowering of the toughness of the hardened layers.
Still further, since machining causes disconnection of a fiber or fabric flow of the solid cylindrical material at the power roller outer peripheral surface and the ball receiving side wall which serve as rolling surfaces of the input and output discs and a ball or rolling element, respectively, the disconnected portion of the fiber flow is apt to be a start point of breakaway and fatigue or impact crack. According to the above method, this problem is aggravated when the austenite grain size is large, i.e. the grading number is 7 or less.
Furthermore, due to the necessity of increasing a duration of carburizing or carbonitriding for the reason as described above, an intergranular oxidizing zone of the confluence of the central axial hole inner peripheral surface and the ball receiving side wall which often causes a crack has a relatively large thickness, which cannot completely be eliminated through the above grinding finishing.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing traction rollers for continuously variable transmissions which contributes to an improvement of the durability of traction rollers.

Method of manufacturing traction rollers for continuously variable transmissions and traction rollers resulting therefrom


A method, apparatus and program storage device that provides a user mode device interface for enabling software reuse. The user mode device interface allows device interface requests to be sent and received, including commands and data structures, via socket communication. A device state machine on the client side is implemented in a set of shared functions that can be incorporated by all applications that want to communicate to a particular service provider. The service provider offers the software functions over a user mode device interface via socket communication. The device state machine on the service provider side is embedded in the socket server implementation. The interaction between the state machines on both client and server sides ensures a device interface request is properly handled.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to a computer programming, and more particularly to a method, apparatus and program storage device that provides a user mode device interface for enabling software reuse.
2. Description of Related Art
In a highly competitive market environment, "time to market with superior quality" is the key focus in developing a new product. For a well-established development team with years of experience in software development, the reusability of existing software is the very key to achieving the goals of delivering a new product in the most efficient way with superior quality. Given the same competitiveness in the market environment, what a new product is required to do is constantly increasing and how much it is allowed to cost is reducing. For a software product development, the demanding requirements and pressure of lowering cost are translated into the need of reuse existing software functions in various hardware platforms. One of the focus items to achieve high software reusability is to develop the software functions with the encapsulation of a platform they are operating upon. The platform includes the actual hardware and the operating systems.
One key consideration in selecting a platform for a product is whether the software can best perform in privileged mode or user mode. User mode refers to a nonprivileged state where the executing code is forbidden by the kernel from performing potentially dangerous operations such as writing to system configuration files, killing other users' processes, rebooting the system, etc. In contrast, kernel mode or privileged mode is the mode in which the operating system kernel runs. Code running in this mode has unlimited access to the system memory and external devices.
The traditional thinking is software can best perform in privileged mode. However, given the advancing technology in hardware platform development, operating in user mode may be a much better choice given different product requirements. The built-in protection provided by all modern operating systems for a software running in user mode, the ease of managing a program in a user mode, and the improved system stability with new software functions isolated from kernel are significant benefits of implementing a software project in user mode.
In the past, a developer of a user mode application that desired access to functions running in privilege mode needed to create a private kernel mode driver. Unfortunately, this solution has the disadvantage of requiring all the developers of user mode applications to develop unique kernel mode drivers to essentially provide private access to the privilege functions. More recently, a device interface has been used to map calls to the interface to the kernel mode implementation if the given process is a kernel mode process and to a user mode implementation if the given process is a user mode process.
However, to achieve the reusability and re-implement software functions that were previously running in privileged mode, there needs to be a consistent interface to invoke these functions in both privileged and user modes. For software functions that are to be implemented for running in privileged mode, the device interface is a common interface for all user mode applications to access software functions implemented in privileged mode. However, the device interface is not available to invoke the same software functions if they are ported to be running in user mode.
It can be seen then that there is a need for a method, apparatus and program storage device that provides a user mode device interface for allowing functions previously to be running in privileged mode to be re-implemented to run in user mode.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method, apparatus and program storage device that provides a user mode device interface

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An urging structure for a lid includes a spring member having one spring end linked to a supply-port-forming member and the other spring end linked to a lid, and provided so as to be most elastically deformed at an intermediate position between a closed position and a maximum open position of the lid to urge the lid. The spring member is linked to the lid in such a way so as to vary a distance between the other spring end and a turning center of the lid, and the distance stays constant when the lid is in the closed position and in the intermediate position, increases in a process of moving from the intermediate position to the maximum open position, and becomes maximum when the lid is in the maximum open position.

There is a structure of urging a fuel filler lid pivotally supported by an adapter forming a fuel filling aperture of an automobile to be openable and closable in an opening direction and a closing direction by sandwiching a neutral position between an open position and a closed position by a snapping member (see Patent Document 1).
In such a structure, in the open position, it is desirable to apply a torque as large as possible toward the opening direction relative to the lid so that the lid does not easily move to the closed position only by some unexpected external force applied to the lid. When a large urging force of the snapping member is applied, a holding state of the lid in the open position can be strengthened; however, simply, in such a case, a closing operation of the lid becomes difficult to be carried out, and after exceeding the neutral position, the lid is closed suddenly. When this occurs, an impact sound is generated, and the like so as to damage a high-quality feeling of the automobile, and the like.


A light weight stiffened gun stock is disclosed herein. The gun stock utilizes structural members oriented in a grid pattern resulting in a high strength-to-weight ratio. The grid pattern can be an isogrid, orthogrid, hoop-grid pattern, or a combination thereof. The structural members define the form of the gunstock, and provide recoil absorption to reduce the amount of recoil experienced by the shooter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a light-weight grid-stiffened gun stock which could be made from non-metallic materials and, more particularly, a method to significantly reduce the weight of the gun stock while maintaining the structural integrity and providing a reduction in recoil to the shooter.
2. Technical Background
Advanced composite materials have presented a promising alternative to metals. Advanced composite materials have the advantage of being very lightweight and having a high strength. Composite materials may also be formed into any number of different shapes, depending upon the application. Because of these advantages, composite materials are being employed in many different fields, including gun stocks. The less a gun stock weighs, the longer it can be aimed and carried before the shooter experiences fatigue in a degree to affect the shooter's aim. Furthermore, the less a gun stock weighs, the less force is required for the shooter to adjust the position of the weapon, which is a significant aiming factor when small adjustments to the weapon are required.
There have been many improvements over the years with the development of light-weight composite materials and their use in composite gun stocks. These materials include fiberglass, carbon fibers, foams and a variety of woods and synthetic materials. The use of these materials can reduce the weight and increase the performance of the weapon. Conventional fabrication methods like hand lay-up, injection and compression molding are used by many manufacturers.
However, composite materials also have some disadvantages. Composite materials can be several times more expensive than metals or fiberglass. Despite the desirable strength and weight characteristics of composite materials, the price of the composite materials can often be cost prohibitive. Additionally, forming composite materials into a desired structure can require complex assembly equipment and multiple manufacturing procedures.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a light-weight stiffened gun stock that has a strength-to-weight ratio high enough to allow the gun stock to maintain the required stiffness while also providing a reduction in weight. Thus, there is a need in the art for an inexpensive gun stock formed from composite materials. There is a further need in the art for a light-weight stiffened gun stock having hollow portions that allow the shooter to access the hollow portions for storing various items. There is yet a further need in the art to provide these benefits in a cost efficient manner. Such a gun stock is disclosed and claimed herein.


A new and distinct Kniphofia plant characterized by numerous spikes of golden yellow flowers the first year, repeat blooming from July through October in Canby, Oreg., a compact habit with multiple crowns, narrow, grassy leaves, and excellent vigor, filling a one gallon pot the first year from tissue culture.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kniphofia, and given the cultivar name 'Banana Popsicle'. Kniphofia is in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae. 'Banana Popsicle' is a hybrid resulting from a planned breeding program to produce a series of compact, reblooming Kniphofia. The cross was made using the following proprietary, unreleased plants: Kniphofia 84-4, as the seed parent, and Kniphofia 80-3, as the pollen parent. It was selected for best habit, flower color, reblooming, and crown count from many seedlings of the cross in Canby, Oreg.
Compared to the seed parent, Kniphofia 84-4, the new cultivar is more free-flowering.
Compared to the pollen parent, Kniphofia 80-3, the new cultivar has golden yellow flowers rather than bicolor light yellow to cream.
Compared to Kniphofia 'Lemon Popsicle', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,011, the new cultivar has is somewhat shorter, with larger inflorescences, with flowers that are golden yellow rather than yellow.


Microphone assemblies may be provided that have microelectromechanical systems microphones and associated application-specific integrated circuits mounted to printed circuit boards. The application-specific integrated circuits may contain amplifier circuitry for amplifying microphone signals from the microphone. One or more though-silicon vias may be formed in the application-specific integrated circuit that serve as an acoustic port through which sound may pass. The application-specific integrated circuit may be embedded in the printed circuit board and the microphone may be mounted to the upper surface of the printed circuit board, the application-specific integrated circuit and microphone may be stacked on the upper surface of the printed circuit board, or the microphone and application-specific integrated circuit may be mounted to the printed circuit board so that the microphone is received within an opening in the printed circuit board.

This relates to assemblies of electrical and mechanical components for electronic devices, and, more particularly, to assemblies including acoustic components such as microphones.
Electronic devices often include acoustic components. For example, speakers may be used to produce sound for a user. Microphones may be used to gather audio input signals. In devices such as noise cancelling headphones, microphones may be used to gather ambient noise signals. Microphones may also be used to collect a user's voice or other sound input. For example, microphones may be used in cellular telephone headsets to gather a user's voice during a telephone call.
Space-constrained accessories such as headsets and other electronic equipment may benefit from compact microphones. It can be challenging, however, to reduce the size of conventional microphones. If care is not taken, acoustic quality will be degraded or microphone assemblies will not be sufficiently compact.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to provide improved microphone assemblies.

Microphone assemblies with through-silicon vias


A toe angle changing control ECU for controlling a toe angle of wheels of a vehicle. The toe angle changing control ECU includes: a straight traveling state judging section for judging whether or not the vehicle is in a; a memory for storing the toe angle of the wheels while the vehicle is in the straight traveling state; and a toe angle setting section for setting the wheels to the toe angle stored in the memory (44) when the straight traveling state judging section judges that the vehicle is in the straight traveling state. While in the straight traveling state, the wheels are set to a toe angle at which the wheels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, reducing the rolling resistance of the wheels, and improving fuel consumption.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an alignment changing control device for controlling the alignment of wheels of a vehicle such as the toe angle of the wheels, and a fuel consumption management device.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a vehicle is newly shipped from an auto manufacturer, the toe angle of the wheels (particularly the rear wheels 2L, 2R) is such set that the vehicle has a good traveling stability. However, the toe angle set in such a manner does not necessarily provide optimum fuel consumption. For example, if the wheels are set to toe-in, the rolling resistance of the wheels during travel will increase.
If the wheels are set to toe-in, the toe angle of the left and right wheels need be independently controllable, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei06-47388 (refer to claim 1, FIG. 2, etc.) which discloses an all-wheel independent steering device. Thus, the wheels can not be set to toe-in if the left and right wheels are connected by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei11-51655 (refer to paragraph [0037], etc.) discloses a traveling course estimating device for vehicle, in which the fuel consumption is improved by controlling the speed change using a navigation device.
However, both patent documents have not mentioned the aforesaid problem, namely, the optimum fuel consumption can not be obtained by setting the wheels to toe-in, which means there is still room for improving the fuel consumption.

Alignment changing control device and fuel consumption management device


A superconducting junction comprises: a first layer and a second layer of superconducting material; a tunneling layer of insulating material disposed between the first layer and the second layer of the superconducting material; and a layer of thermally conducting, non-superconducting material disposed between the first layer and the second layer of the superconducting material, the non-superconducting layer being in contact with either the first layer or the second layer of superconducting material.

Superconducting-Insulator-Superconducting (S-I-S) junctions are also called Josephson junctions. Measurement devices utilizing the S-I-S junctions as detectors suffer from low-frequency noise, which is at least partially related with temperature fluctuations. In prior art, an area of the Josephson junction has been made large, so that fluctuations would average out. The large-area of the Josephson junction, however, is prone to the problem of flux-trapping.
The S-I-S junctions are applied in SQUID magnetometers which may operate with presence of high transient magnetic field (as in low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The S-I-S junctions are sometimes protected against disturbance during the magnetic transient, by heating the SQUID into a non-superconducting state because the high transient magnetic field may cause the flux traps which may persist for seconds to hours in superconducting temperatures. Fast recovery from the non-superconducting state to the superconducting state is, however, slow which is why the protection on the basis of heating is impractical with currently available means.
Hence, there is a need to improve the protection against or alleviation of the temperature related disturbances of the measurement devices utilizing the superconducting S-I-S junctions.

Superconductive junction, superconducting apparatus, method of manufacturing superconducting junction and control method of superconducting junction


Compounds which bind to selectin receptors and thus may modulate the course of inflammation, cancer and related processes by intervening with cell-cell adhesion events. Further, such compounds can be used for identification and analysis of such receptors. In this regard the invention is directed to compounds of formula (I). ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is independently H, alkyl, aryl, an aryl alkyl, alkenyl or one or more additional saccharide residues; R.sup.2 =H or OH provided that when R.sup.2 is H, R.sup.3 is OH; R.sup.3 =H or OH provided that when R.sup.3 is H, R.sup.2 is OH; X=H, SO.sub.3.sup.- or PO.sub.4.sup.- ; Y is independently H, OH, OR.sup.4 or NHCOR.sup.4, wherein R.sup.4 is alkyl, and Z is an organic acid residue. .alpha.-L-Fucose residue can be modified or replaced with suitable bioisosters or a different saccharide residue such as D-mannose. Modification of L-fucose may include replacement of each or all of the hydroxyl groups with H or OR' wherein R' can be methyl, ethyl or allyl groups.

It is now well established that cellular interactions are at least in part mediated by receptor/ligand interactions. An important class of receptors is a family of three calcium-dependent mammalian lectins, known as L, P and E-selectins, that have the ability to mediate the early steps of recruitment of leukocytes from blood stream in a variety of normal and pathologic situations. All three selectins recognize carbohydrate-based ligands such as sialyl lewis.sup.x (S Le.sup.x), sialyl lewis.sup.a, sulfated lewis.sup.x and sulfated lewis.sup.a type of structures. Several natural ligands of the selectins have been described, many of which share the biochemical properties of sialomucins. Recently, efforts have been directed towards the production of artificial selectin ligands, including compounds that mimic the sialyl lewis.sup.x structure. However, the affinity of selectins to such synthetic analogs was poor when compared to that of the natural glycoprotein ligands (such as GlyCAM-1, CD34), the mucosal addressin-cell adhesion molecule-1 (MadCAM-1), and an as yet unidentified 200 kDa glycoprotein ligand (Rosen, S. D. et al. Curr. Opin. Cell Biology 6:663-673 (1994)). Rosen and co-workers demonstrated that the O-glycans of GlyCAM-1 are sialylated, fucosylated and sulfated, and that all three components are important for binding. It is surprising that PSGL-1 from HL-60 cells is not heavily fucosylated, and a majority of O-glycans are disialylated or neutral forms of Core 2 structures. A monosialylated trifucosylated glycan with a polylactosamine backbone at the C-6 of GalNAc in the Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.3GalNAc has also been reported as a minor constituent of PSGL-1.
In a recent study, it was observed that the compound NeuAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3SE-6 Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4(Fuc.alpha.1.fwdarw.3)GlcNAcOMe, which is pall of GlyCAM-1, was not a superior ligand for L-selectin. Both this compound and NeuAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4(Fuc.alpha.1.fwdarw.3)SE-3GlcNAc. beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal, which was used by Scudder and co-workers in inhibition studies (Scudder, P. R., et al., Glycobiol. 44:929.fwdarw.933 (1994)), lacked a high affinity for L-selectin. As mentioned earlier, many of the selectin natural ligands are sialomucin type (or O-linked glycans). However, an extended trimannosyl oligosaccharide (N-linked type glycan) containing GalNAc Le.sup.x [GalNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.4(Fuc.alpha.1.fwdarw.3)GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.Man.alph a.1.fwdarw.3/6Man.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.4GlcNAc] was isolated from human cell produced Protein C, and shown to be a potent inhibitor for E-selectin.
Several theories have been postulated to explain the disparity between the high affinities of the selectins for their natural ligands and the relatively poor affinities for the sialylated/sulfated fucosylated lactosamines. Simple multivalency of both oligosaccharide and selectin on intact cell surfaces or by presentation on a polypeptide backbone could enhance avidity. This is apparent from comparison studies of the IC.sub.50 of monomeric, dimeric and tetravalent forms of SLe.sup.x for E-selectin, with the latter showing considerable improvement in inhibiting L-selectin. Nonetheless, P- and L-selectins do not bind to some cell types that express considerable amounts of SLe.sup.x, and cell recognition is usually destroyed by mucin-degrading enzyme O-sialoglycoprotease, even when the vast majority of cell surface SLe.sup.x remains intact after this treatment, indicating the insufficiency of simple ligand multivalency for explaining biologically relevant selectin binding. Multivalent aggregation of selectins could also be invoked. However, the high affinity binding of soluble monomeric E- and P-selectin to cell surfaces, indicates that this is not essential. Moreover, there is no published evidence thus far for naturally occurring multimerization of selecting. Similarly, the possibility of multiple binding sites within a single selectin lectin domain is unlikely, based on studies which indicate that the binding sites for carbohydrates are quite small. Alternatively, it could be hypothesized that the natural selectin ligands carry rare structural variants of the common sialylated fucosylated oligosaccharides which are responsible for the high affinity interaction. Because of the role of selectins in disease, particularly diseases involving undesired cell-cell adhesion that occurs through selectin-ligand binding on defined cell types, the identification and procurement of novel ligands that would allow the regulation of this type of selectin-ligand binding is greatly needed.

Synthetic core 2-like branched structures containing GalNAc-lewis.sup.x and Neu5Ac.alpha.2-3Gal.beta.1-3GalNAc sequences as novel ligands for selectins


Disclosed is a new compound semiconductor material which may be used for thermoelectric material or the like, and its applications. The compound semiconductor may be represented by Chemical Formula 1 below: Chemical Formula 1 Bi1-xMxCu1-wTwOa-yQ1yTebSez where, in Chemical Formula 1, M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Cs, K, Na, Cd, Hg, Sn, Pb, Mn, Ga, In, Tl, As and Sb, Q1 is at least one selected from the group consisting of S, Se, As and Sb, T is at least one selected from the group consisting of transition metal elements, 0≦x<1, 0<w<1, 0.2<a<1.5, 0≦y<1.5, 0≦b<1.5 and 0≦z<1.5.

A compound semiconductor is a compound that is composed of at least two types of elements rather than one type of element such as silicon or germanium and operates as a semiconductor. Various types of compound semiconductors have been developed and are currently being used in various fields of industry. Typically, a compound semiconductor may be used in thermoelectric conversion devices using the Peltier Effect, light emitting devices using the photoelectric conversion effect, for example, light emitting diodes or laser diodes, solar cells, and the like.
First, a solar cell is environment-friendly since it does not need an energy source other than solar rays, and therefore are actively studied as an alternative future energy source. A solar cell may be generally classified as a silicon solar cell using a single element of silicon, a compound semiconductor solar cell using a compound semiconductor, and a tandem solar cell where at least two solar cells having different band gap energies are stacked.
Among these, a compound semiconductor solar cell uses a compound semiconductor in a light absorption layer which absorbs solar rays and generates an electron-hole pair, and may particularly use compound semiconductors in the III-V groups such as GaAs, InP, GaAlAs and GaInAs, compound semiconductors in the II-VI groups such as CdS, CdTe and ZnS, and compound semiconductors in the I-III-VI groups represented by CuInSe2.
The light absorption layer of the solar cell demands excellent long-term electric and optical stability, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and easy control of the band gap energy or conductivity by composition change or doping. In addition, conditions such as production cost and yield should also be met for practical use. However, many conventional compound semiconductors fail to meet all of these conditions at once.
In addition, a thermoelectric conversion device is used for thermoelectric conversion power generation or thermoelectric conversion cooling applications, and generally includes an N-type thermoelectric semiconductor and a P-type thermoelectric semiconductor electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel. The thermoelectric conversion power generation is a method which generates power by converting thermal energy to electrical energy using a thermoelectromotive force generated by creating a temperature difference in a thermoelectric conversion device. Also, the thermoelectric conversion cooling is a method which produces cooling by converting electrical energy to thermal energy using an effect that a temperature difference creates between both ends of a thermoelectric conversion device when a direct current flows through the both ends of the thermoelectric conversion device.
The energy conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric conversion device generally depends on a performance index value or ZT of a thermoelectric conversion material. Here, the ZT may be determined based on the Seebeck coefficient, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity, and as a ZT value increases, a thermoelectric conversion material has better performance.
Heretofore, many kinds of thermoelectric conversion materials have been proposed, but there is substantially no thermoelectric conversion material with sufficiently high thermoelectric conversion performance. In particular, thermoelectric conversion materials are applied to more and more fields, and temperature conditions may vary depending on their applied fields. However, since thermoelectric conversion materials may have different thermoelectric conversion performance depending on temperature, each thermoelectric conversion material needs to have optimized thermoelectric conversion performance suitable for its applied field. However, there is not yet proposed a thermoelectric conversion material with optimized performance for various temperature ranges.

Compound semiconductors and their applications


A level shifter includes a differential input pair circuit, a current mirror circuit, a switching circuit, a first keeper circuit, a second keeper circuit, and an output buffering circuit. The differential input pair circuit is connected with a first node, a second node and a first voltage. The differential input pair circuit receives an input signal and an inverted input signal. The current mirror circuit is connected with a third voltage, and includes a first current output terminal connected with a third node and a second current output terminal generating an output signal. The switching circuit includes a first control terminal receiving the inverted output signal. The second keeper circuit is connected between the third voltage and the second node, and includes a third control terminal receiving the inverted input signal and a fourth control terminal receiving the inverted output signal.

A level shifter is used for converting a narrow-range input signal into a wide-range output signal.
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a conventional level shifter. In the conventional level shifter 100, an input signal Sin is changed between a first high logic level and a low logic level, and an output signal Sout is changed between a second high logic level and the low logic level. For example, the low logic level is equal to a first voltage Vss, the first high logic level is equal to a second voltage Vdd, and the second high logic level is equal to a third voltage Vpp.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional level shifter 100 comprises a first inverter 110, an output buffering unit 120, and plural transistors Mp1, Mp2, Mn1 and Mn2. The output buffering unit 120 comprises a second inverter 122 and a third inverter 123.
The first inverter 110 is operated in a voltage range between the second voltage Vdd and the first voltage Vss for converting the input signal Sin into an inverted input signal Sinb. Moreover, the second inverter 122 and the third inverter 123 are operated in a voltage range between the third voltage Vpp and the first voltage Vss. Moreover, the third voltage Vpp is larger than the second voltage Vdd, and the second voltage Vdd is larger than the first voltage Vss.
The source terminal of the transistor Mp1 receives the third voltage Vpp. The drain terminal of the transistor Mp1 is connected with a node a1. The gate terminal of the transistor Mp1 is connected with a node a2. The source terminal of the transistor Mp2 receives the third voltage Vpp. The drain terminal of the transistor Mp2 is connected with the node a2. The gate terminal of the transistor Mp2 is connected with the node a1. The source terminal of the transistor Mn1 receives the first voltage Vss. The drain terminal of the transistor Mn1 is connected with the node a1. The gate terminal of the transistor Mn1 receives the input signal Sin. The source terminal of the transistor Mn2 receives the first voltage Vss. The drain terminal of the transistor Mn2 is connected with the node a2. The gate terminal of the transistor Mn2 receives the inverted input signal Sinb.
The second inverter 122 and the third inverter 123 of the output buffering unit 120 are connected with each other in series. The input terminal of the second inverter 122 is connected with the node a2. The output terminal of the third inverter 123 generates the output signal Sout.
In case that the input signal Sin has the low logic level (i.e. the first voltage Vss), the inverted input signal Sinb has the first high logic level (i.e. the second voltage Vdd). Under this circumstance, the transistor Mn2 is turned on, the transistor Mn1 is turned off, the transistor Mp1 is turned on, and the transistor Mp2 is turned off. The voltage at the node a1 is equal to the third voltage Vpp, and the voltage at the node a2 is equal to the first voltage Vss. Consequently, the output signal Sout from the output buffering unit 120 has the low logic level (i.e. the first voltage Vss).
In case that the input signal Sin has the first high logic level (i.e. the second voltage Vdd), the inverted input signal Sinb has the low logic level (i.e. the first voltage Vss). Under this circumstance, the transistor Mn1 is turned on, the transistor Mn2 is turned off, the transistor Mp2 is turned on, and the transistor Mp1 is turned off. The voltage at the node a1 is equal to the first voltage Vss, and the voltage at the node a2 is equal to the third voltage Vpp. Consequently, the output signal Sout from the output buffering unit 120 has the second high logic level (i.e. the third voltage Vpp).
However, the conventional level shifter 100 may suffer from N-P MOS fighting which results from the plural transistors Mp1, Mp2, Mn1 and Mn2 when the logic state of the input signal is changed, the gate delay of the conventional level shifter 100 is long. That is, after the input signal Sin is switched from the low logic level to the first high logic level, a longer time period is required to switch the output signal Sout from the low logic level to the second high logic level. Similarly, after the input signal Sin is switched from the first high logic level to the low logic level, a longer time period is required to switch the output signal Sout from the second high logic level to the low logic level. Thus, a level shifter with shorter gate delay is needed.


An orthopedic device intended to be contacted by the lower pelvic region of a seated user, the device principally involving a foundation member comprising a central bowl portion serving to receive the lower pelvic region of the seated user. The central bowl portion is integrally connected to a front lip-like portion intended to be contacted by the under thighs of the seated user. The central bowl portion is also bounded by an upwardly inclined rear portion and a pair of upwardly curving side portions closely related with the central bowl portion. The side portions curve upwardly somewhat higher than the central bowl portion and serve to interconnect the rear portion with the front, lip-like portion. The weight of the seated user causes the side portions to move inward and upward so as to cup around the lower pelvic region of the seated user. Each of the side portions may have an enlarged, bead-like member extending along its uppermost edge, with the bead-like members and the side portions forming tension members extending between the front, lip-like portion and the rear portion of the foundation member.

From the beginning of recorded history, most seating surfaces have been hard, but these were eventually followed by seats constructed of resilient material. In recent years, flexibility seating called ergonomic has been evolved. This evolution now continues with a lumbro-sacral seating orthosis in accordance with the instant invention, which will be described in detail hereinafter.
The art of designing body supports, in the nature of chairs and sofas having posterior and lumbar supporting portions, has thus far taken into consideration man's need to have a comfortable and flexible support that continuously conforms to different body positions. For example, chairs and sofas are known to be constructed from posterior and lumbar supporting assemblies consisting generally of a frame having a plurality of springs, a cushion or pad which rests on the springs, and an upholstery cover. These assemblies, although flexible due to their spring construction, assume a predetermined fixed shape which requires that for maximum comfort, persons using such furniture must adjust their body positions relative to these assemblies.
Inasmuch as chairs and sofas are a vital part of man's work and leisure environment, there is a distinct need for providing a body support which is constructed to continuously conform to man's different body positions in order to provide maximum comfort. Thus from hard seating and resilient seating, the next generation, called ergonomic seating, evolved.
There are many ergonomic supports in the nature of chairs, sofas and the like which include flexible and resilient supporting portions which conform to the body to provide comfort. All of these posterior and lumbar supporting sitting surfaces, whether contoured or non-planar, have the ability to form a plurality of cantilevers which automatically adjust and conform to human body movement without mechanical parts, as opposed to adjusting the human body to conform to the supporting portion of the seating surface.
Various ergonomic seats have been proposed for posterior and lumbar supporting assemblies which are designed to possess increased flexibility while providing body support. Such structures are known for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,731 to Snider, U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,958 to Watkin, U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,702 to Caruso, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,646 to Matte, U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,887 to Fleming et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,936 to Drabert. However, each of these structures merely provide an assembly having a plurality of openings to increase flexibility. They also are designed in a manner which permits their continuous adjustment in conforming to different body positions to maximize comfort.
The art of designing a body support to provide maximum comfort has reached a very high level of achievement, but in providing this comfort, a hidden problem has arisen. Although these flexible, conforming, comfortable, ergonomic seating devices are an improvement over hard wooden or resilient seating surfaces, the injury to the back has increased dramatically after the advent of such ergonomic seating. The forces of gravity once felt by the sitting bones (ischial tuberosities) have been transferred up into the pelvis and spine and onto the thigh muscles and gluteal muscles.
None of these various approaches to maximizing comfort through increased flexibility and conforming to different body position apparently foresaw that the reduced pressure on the ischial tuberosities would transfer the pressure to the spine and pelvis. Nor can these flexible ergonomic seats promote what is being called the "loose pack position" of the spine or restrict gluteal spreading. The "loose pack position" of the spine in a seated position is being widely accepted by orthopedists and physical therapists as the correct lordotic curve for a seated person. This is diametrically in contrast with the teachings that ergonomic seat designers have been using prior to this time. These teachings can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,887 to Fleming et al, and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,958 to Watkin. A significant quotation from the Watkin patent is as follows:
"It is desirable that a chair should be shaped to provide support for the spine and thighs of someone sitting on the chair so that the spine is supported in the orthopedically preferred position. This position is described in British patent specification No. 1,294,091 and in the brochure `S Range` published in the United Kingdom by Arenson International Limited of St. Albans. Ideally, the sitter's spine should be supported in an approximately vertical elongate `S` shape whose curves define a plane transverse to the back support of the chair, the lower curve being concave to the back support and being defined by the lumbar and lower thoracic vertebrae while the upper curve is convex and is defined by the upper thoracic and cervical vertebrae . . . . It is also desirable that pressure on the ischial tuberosities of the sitter be reduced. Support of the spine in the `S` shape achieves this to some extent by transferring some of the load on the ischial tuberosities to the underside of the thighs."
With regard to the teaching of transferring pressures from the ischial tuberosities to the thighs and gluteus muscles, as a preferred ergonomic benefit, it is now understood that gluteal spreading, commonly known as "secretary spread" is as injurious to the pelvis and spine as incorrect posture. The anthropometric measurement system for ergonomic seating does not teach gluteal cupping as does the instant invention. No matter how comfortable an ergonomic seating device is, continuous sitting on anthropometrically measured "S range" seating devices will in most humans result in repetitive stress injuries to the back.
Likewise, none of these support assemblies restrict gluteal spreading, medically known as gluteal flexion, sufficiently to shut off the trigger response of the sacro-coccygeal ligaments or prevent the uneven pressure on the pelvic ligaments. Continual spreading (flexion) of the gluteal muscles and flexion of the pelvis bones have been found to result in repetitive stress injuries to the pelvic ligaments, hip joints and sacro-coccygeal ligaments.
There are other known portable collapsible or stationary ergonomic support structures that purport to provide sufficient ergonomic support. These structures shift and assume different body positions in an effort to provide an effectively comfortable ergonomic support to the entire soft tissue of the human body. Such structures are known, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,138,404 to Newton, U.S. Pat. No. 2,551,819 to Wing, U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,938 to Worcester, U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,174 to Fleishman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,581 to Fleischman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,359 to Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,102 to Farmer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,938; U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,015 to Trotman et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,936 to Drabert and U.S. Pat. No. 3,712,670 to Svehla et al.
No matter how comfortable a portable or stationary ergonomic seating device appears to be, without an individual's spine maintaining a "loose pack position," these portable ergonomic "S range" contour seating devices will in most humans result in repetitive stress injuries to the back.
It can therefore be appreciated that there has been an unsolved need for a portable lumbral sacral sitting orthosis that is distinctly different from known portable or stationary ergonomic chairs and the like. As well be seen in detail hereinafter, my novel design involves a sitting device that corrects posture to a "loose pack position," restricting the flexion of gluteal spreading. It is sincerely believed that no other sitting surface has addressed this novel feature, whether ergonomic, flexible, fixed shaped, portable or stationary.

Orthopedic seating orthosis for correcting posture and restricting gluteal spreading


A method of adapting a downhole multi-phase twin screw pump (10) for use in wells having a high gas content. A first step involves positioning a supplementary liquid channel (22,122) in a housing (12) of the pump in fluid communication with a pumping screw near an intake end (14) of the pump. A second step involves feeding supplementary liquid through the supplementary liquid channel to the pumping screw, thereby enhancing a liquid seal around the pumping screw.

Canadian Patent Application 2,282,231 and corresponding U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/280,557 disclose a downhole multi-phase twin screw pump. These pumps are, typically, used in applications in which the medium being pumped includes oil, water, some solids and gas. In situations where there is a high gas content in the medium, the liquids present will be insufficient to effectively seal gaps in the screw. As a result there is a dramatic loss of pressure capability and efficiency. In addition, there is an increase in heat build up within the pump.

Method of adapting a downhole multi-phase twin screw pump for use in wells having a high gas content and a downhole multi-phase twin screw pump


A game machine which can be connected with a plurality of wireless controllers is proposed. A game machine according to the present invention holds identification information of wireless terminal equipment in the periphery as a list. The list may be a blacklist specifying equipment not to be connected or, on the contrary, may be a call candidate list specifying equipment to be connected. By using such a list, the establishment of connection with a plurality of wireless controllers can be realized within a short period of time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication technique, and in particular, to a technique for realizing wireless communication between a master and a slave.
2. Description of the Related Art
A game machine and a game machine controller, which is manipulated by a user, are generally connected with a cable to each other. Recently, however, a system for wirelessly connecting a game machine and a controller has been proposed. By using a wireless controller, a user can enjoy playing a game in a free posture.
In the proposed system, the game machine and the wireless controller are wirelessly connected to each other in a one-to-one relation. The system presupposes that a connection relation is uniquely determined. Therefore, in the case where a plurality of users use the wireless controllers, dedicated transmitting/receiving devices assigned to the respective wireless controllers are required to be attached to the game machine used by the plurality of users. Therefore, since the user has to prepare the wireless controller and the transmitting/receiving device to be attached to the game machine always in a set, the use of the wireless controller becomes troublesome.

Communication device, game machine, and communication method


A automotive vehicle drive train is provided including a first rotative member, a first plunging constant velocity joint with a front end connected with the first rotative member, the first plunging constant velocity joint having a rear end torsionally connected with the front end, a drive shaft with a front end and a rear end, the drive shaft front end being connected with the rear end of the first plunging constant velocity joint, a second plunging constant velocity joint with a front end and a rear end, the front end of the second plunging constant velocity joint being connected with the rear end of the drive shaft, the rear end of the second constant velocity joint being connected with a second drive member, a spring connected with the second plunging constant velocity joint biasing the front and rear ends of the second plunging constant velocity joint to a predetermine relative axial position with respect to one another, and a damper connected with the second plunging constant velocity joint to dampen any axial movement of the front and rear ends of the second constant velocity joint with respect to one another.

This invention relates to vehicle drive train systems which incorporate plunging type constant velocity universal joints. Additionally this invention relates to an improved structure for a plunging constant velocity universal joint.
Universal joints are commonly used in the drive train systems of automotive vehicles. A universal joint is a mechanical coupling device which provides a rotational driving connection between two rotatable shafts, while permitting such shafts to be oriented at an angle relative to one another. For example, a universal joint is commonly used to provide a rotational driving connection between a rear end of a drive shaft (sometimes referred to as a propeller shaft) rotatably driven by a vehicle engine (via a transmission) and an input shaft connected to the vehicle rear axle is assembly (sometimes referred to as a differential input shaft). This is because the drive shaft and the rear axle assembly input shaft are rarely coaxially aligned. To accommodate this non-alignment, while still providing a rotational driving connection, a universal joint is provided therebetween.
Universal joints are commonly classified by their operating characteristics. One important operating characteristic relates to the relative angular velocities of the two shafts connected thereby. In a constant velocity type of universal joint, the instantaneous angular velocities of the two shafts are always equal, regardless of the angle of rotation. In a non-constant velocity type or Cardan universal joint, the instantaneous angular velocities of the two shafts vary with the angle of rotation (although the average angular velocities for a complete rotation are equal).
A typical structure for a constant velocity universal joint includes a cylindrical inner race connected to one of the shafts and a hollow cylindrical outer race connected to the other of the shafts. The inner race fits concentrically within the outer race. The inner and outer races are mounted for angular articulation with respect to each other. The outer surface of the inner race and the inner surface of the outer race have respective pluralities of grooves formed therein. The grooves extend linearly and have generally semi-circular or other curvilinear cross sectional shapes. Each groove formed in the outer surface of the inner race is associated with a corresponding groove formed in the inner surface of the outer race. A ball is disposed in each of the associate pairs of grooves. The balls provide a driving connection between the inner and outer races, i.e., the ball provide a positive driving torque connection so that rotation of one of the inner or outer races results in rotation of the other of the inner and outer races. An annular cage is typically provided between the inner and outer races for retaining the balls in the grooves. The cage is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings for this purpose.
In one known variety of the ball and cage type of constant velocity universal joint, the grooves formed in the outer surface of the inner race are oriented so as to be alternately inclined relative to the rotational axis of the joint, i.e., the grooves on the surface of the inner race are not parallel to the axis of the inner race . Similarly, the grooves formed in the inner surface of the outer race are alternately inclined relative to the rotational axis of the outer race. For each pair of associated inner and outer race grooves, the inner race groove is inclined in one direction relative to the rotational axes of the joint, while the outer race groove is inclined in the opposite direction. Joints having this orientation of the two different sets of grooves is commonly referred to as a cross groove constant velocity joint.
Known cross groove joints permit relative axial movement between the inner race and the cage, as well as between the cage and the outer race. Thus, the center of the joint (which is defined by the point of intersection of the rotational axis of the two shafts connected thereto) can move axially during use. A design of a universal joint structure that allows relative axial movement between the inner and outer race is useful because distance variations between the transmission and the axle assembly occurring during the normal flexing of the vehicle frame can be reconciled. Further, distance variations resulting from vehicle jounce and rebound can also be reconciled. Universal joints such as cross groove joints that allow axial movement of the two shafts are commonly referred to as plunging constant velocity universal joints. Because there is no physical engagement between the inner race and the cage or between the cage and the outer race, cross groove joints have been found to be well suited for high rotational speed applications.
In many rear wheel drive vehicle applications the drive shaft is not only non-aligned with the input shaft of the rear axle assembly but is also non-aligned with an output shaft of the transmission. Therefore two universal joints will be utilized. A front or forward universal joint will join the transmission output shaft to a front end of the drive shaft. A second or rearward universal joint will join the input shaft of the rear axle assembly to a rear end of the drive shaft.
The vehicle engine and transmission are rigidly fixed to a flame of the vehicle. However the rear axle assembly is connected to the frame via a suspension system. Therefore the rear axle assembly's position with respect to the vehicle frame, engine and transmission is not fixed and can often change with movement or dynamic loading of the vehicle. To accommodate the change of position of the rear axle assembly with respect to the transmission it is preferable that plunging constant velocity joints be utilized to connect the drive shaft with the transmission output shaft and the rear axle assembly input shaft. The aforementioned arrangement allows the drive shaft to translate along its axis within limits imposed by the two plunging constant velocity universal joints.
In vehicle drive trains wherein the drive shaft is connected to two plunging constant velocity universal joints, rapid accelerations can cause the drive shaft to violently plunge to the limit of travel of one of the constant velocity universal joints. The violent travel of the drive shaft generates an undesirable noise condition and adds wear to seals of the joint.
An attempt to rectify the above noted problem has been made by adding a spring to one of the joints. The spring was used to limit the travel of the drive shaft. However the added spring did not solve the problem because the amount of resistance to rapid movement is limited to the spring constant. The added spring provides resistance inhibiting drive shaft travel, but does not prevent violent movement of the drive shaft.

Vehicle drive train incorporating a plunging constant velocity joint


The device comprises a treatment laser and at least two diagnosis lasers of differing wavelengths, wherein a receiving means is allocated to each diagnosis laser. The signal of the receiving means is led to an electronic evaluation and control means. In the distal end section of the endosopic part of the device the light beams of all lasers are guided together.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for the endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of tissue in humans or animals using a laser.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Endoscopic devices of the previously mentioned type - such a device is known for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,108- are used these days, for example, in rectoscopy. With such a device a slim distal end section of a generally flexible endoscope is introduced into the body via a body opening and is guided up to the location to be diagnosed or to be treated. The tissue region to be diagnosed, for example the wall of the colon, is irradiated by at least two diagnosis lasers of a different wavelength, after which the remitted light, be it either by reflection or by fluorescence, is acquired dependent on wavelength. The receiving signals are linked in a picture element dependent manner by way of subtraction or forming quotients, by which means the topology of the tissue section to be diagnosed is removed, thus by way of these electronic signal linkings, differences in intensity of the received picture, as for example arises with shadows, increases, deepenings and likewise, are removed. The remaining picture or electrical signal permits the desired diagnosis, by way of the wavelength dependent remission appearances of healthy and malignant tissue. After the diagnosis has been effected, the malignant tissue may be directly cauterized by the treatment laser, thus it can be removed. By way of the diagnosis laser directly afterwards, a control may be effected as to whether the malignant tissue has been completely removed or not.
The construction of the device of this known arrangement from U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,108 is such that the diagnosis laser as well as the treatment laser and the receiving means lie outside the endoscope and are connected to the distal endoscope end via an optic fiber. The wavelength separation is effected via filters which lie in a disk which engages in the beam path and can be driven by motor.
A similar arrangement is known from British reference GB 2125986 A. With this device the treatment laser is not led through a separate working channel, but is already integrated.
The disadvantages with the previously mentioned device is in particular the complicated and technically expensive construction. The light emitted by reflection or fluorescence is extremely weak and must be amplified in a technically expensive manner, before it can be received and evaluated. This finally leads to the fact that the diagnosis means has a relatively low sensitivity but also however does not function with the required reliability. Furthermore, with the prior known devices there often arises with the diagnosis, as well as with the therapy, problems with regard to the accuracy of the diagnosis location or therapy location.

Device for endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of tissue