A weather strip is formed in an integral structure comprising: a welt part to be put on a flange formed on the edge of an opening in the body of an automobile, a sealing part protruding from the outer side wall of the welt part; and a core formed by punching a plate and buried in the welt part. The weather strip has a breakout section in which the core is broken apart at plurality of positions so that the breakout section is stretchable and contractible. A core breaking machine comprises: shafts arranged in a row and supported for turning; bending members on which the breakout section of the welt part of the weather strip is put on, fixedly joined to the upper ends of the shafts, respectively; gears fixedly mounted on the lower ends of the shafts, respectively, so that the adjacent gears are engaged; and a driving mechanism for driving the gears for turning alternately in opposite directions to turn the bending members alternately in opposite directions through a predetermined angle, respectively. The core breaking machine bends the breakout section of the weather strip repeatedly and alternately in opposite directions to cause portions of the core in the breakout section of the weather strip are broken apart due to fatigue.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a weather strip with built-in core to be attached to a flange formed on a frame defining an opening in the body of an automobile, a method of partially breaking the core of a weather strip, and a core breaking machine for partially breaking the core of a weather strip.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional cores to be buried in weather strips to be put on a flange formed on a frame defining an opening in the body of an automobile are classified into the following types:
a) Cores of a wire carrier type formed by bending a wire in the shape of a hairpin; PA1 b) Cores of a breakout type formed by arranging U-shaped loops at intervals in the shape of a channel; PA1 c) Cores of a rhombus type formed by punching a strip in a shape having a successive arrangement of rhombuses; PA1 d) Cores of a lath type formed by punching holes in a strip; and PA1 e) Cores of fish-bone type formed by punching and bending a strip in a fish-bone shape.
A weather strip provided with the core of a breakout type is bendable, stretchable and contractible when putting the weather strip on the flange because the U-shaped loops are separate from each other and, therefore, the weather strip can be easily put on the flange. On the other hand, a weather strip provided with a core of a type other than the breakout type is bendable but neither stretchable nor contractible and, therefore, it is difficult to put the weather strip on the flange. However, the weather strip provided with a core of a breakout type is inferior in capability of holding to the flange and the weather strip is liable to fall off the flange.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a method of putting a weather strip 10 integrally provided with a core 20 of, for example, a fish-bone type formed by successively connecting U-shaped loops 21 by a longitudinal connecting part 22 as shown in FIG. 3 on a flange formed in a frame defining an opening in the body of an automobile, punches out a portion 23 of the connecting part 22 to enable the weather strip 10 to be stretched or contracted so that the length of the weather strip 10 coincides with that of the flange. Another method of putting the weather strip 10 on the flange forms the weather strip 10 in a length shorter than that of the flange, puts the weather strip 10 on the flange so that the opposite ends of the weather strip 10 are spaced apart, and an end cap 60 is put on and attached with an adhesive 70 to the opposite ends of the weather strip 10 as shown in FIG. 4. These methods require troublesome work.
The weather strip integrally provided with a core of a breakout type is formed by extruding rubber or synthetic resin in the shape of the weather strip together with a core, and bending the weather strip by a bender to break apart the U-shaped loops of the core so that the weather strip is stretchable and contractible to facilitate the work for putting the weather strip on the flange. However, this weather strip is liable to slip out of position and to fall off the flange due to thermal contraction or the like.

Weather strip and a core breaking machine for partially breaking the core of weather strip


The invention relates to polyolefin materials, in particular fibers, and/or filaments, and/or nonwovens, and/or nonwoven products made from at least one polyolefin and a melt additive containing a fatty acid ester, wherein a subsequent activation of the fatty acid ester contained in the melt additive occurs on the surface of the polyolefin materials by applying a formulation, which contains a silicone compound and a quaternary ammonium compound.

The present invention relates to hydrophilic polyolefin materials, in particular fibers and/or filaments, and/or nonwovens, and/or nonwoven products produced from a mixture of at least one polyolefin and at least one melt additive containing a fatty acid ester, with the polyolefin materials including a subsequent activation of the fatty acid ester contained in the melt additive on the surface of the polyolefin materials.
Polyolefins, in particular polyethylene, polypropylene, as well as their copolymers have become established as materials for the production of nonwovens.
Typical applications, in which nonwovens of polyolefins are used, include hygiene products (baby and female hygiene, incontinence products), as well as filter materials. When nonwovens are used, for example as top sheet in baby diapers, they will have to be permeable to body fluids, such as, for example, urine. Then, because of the distinctly hydrophobic character of the polyolefins, a hydrophilic treatment will be needed, which occurs preferably later in the form of a so-called topical treatment. In this process, it is common to use aqueous liquors, which contain amphiphilic surface-active substances, preferably cationic (quaternary ammonium salts), anionic (sulfates, phosphates), or nonionic (ethoxylates, esters, alcohols, silicones) components, or formulations from these substances.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,145 discloses a formulation for the permanent hydrophilation of polyolefin fibers, polyolefin filaments, and textiles made therefrom with the use of quaternary ammonium compounds.
According to U.S. Pat. No. 963,929 and DE 196 45 380, nonionic surfactants are used in combination with cationically modified polydimethyl siloxane.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,028,016 discloses a formulation and a method for making nonwovens permanently wettable, with the formulation including a viscosity modifier for a purposeful adjustment of the viscosity of normally unusable, surface-active substances, in that an alkylated polyglycoside is used in combination with surface-active substances, for example, mixtures of modified castor oil and sorbitan monooleate.
A further method of hydrophiling polyolefin fibers or polyester fibers is described in DE 198 51 688, which discloses a mixture of polyolefin or polyester, as well as a compound that includes at least one substance from the class of ethoxylated sugar esters.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,101 discloses durable hydrophilic fibers and nonwovens made therefrom, which are intended for use preferably in medical and hygiene applications, and wherein the fiber treating agent contains an ampho-ionic surface-active betain and a dicarboxylic acid ester produced from high-molecular hydroxy-fatty acid esters.
In practice, however, it is found that the topical treatment of nonwovens is connected with the following disadvantages:                1. In use, the surface-active substances are washed out by urine and other body fluids, whereby the hydrophilic properties are successively lost.        2. The washed-out surface-active substances interfere with absorption and fluid distributing processes in hygiene products.        3. The distribution of the surface-active substances on the nonwoven often proceeds only irregularly.
To improve processability of polyolefins, one often uses so-called process auxiliaries as melt additive. In this connection, one uses as "external lubricants," for example, fatty-acid derivatives which are provided with polar groups. (Ullannn's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, VCH Weinheim, 5th Ed., Vol. A20, p. 479.)
However, until now such melt additives have not been widely used for a purposeful hydrophilation of polyolefin nonwovens. Because of phase incompatibility, hydrophilic residues migrate to the fiber surface. The migration in the semicrystalline fiber occurs not only in the course of the spinning process, but also after the spinning process.
For the use of hydrophilic melt additives, U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,734 discloses nonwovens with a durable wettability, consisting of a polyolefin with hydrophilic additives, which comprise fatty acids esterified with dihydroxylated polyethylene glycols.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,026 discloses wettable fibers and filaments consisting of polymers and incorporated wetting reagents, wherein the polymers are selected from the class of polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides, and wherein the active substances essentially consist of a glyceride.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,240,985, U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,196, U.S. Pat. No. 5,281,438, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,951, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,691 disclose amphiphilic additives for modifying polyolefins, with the amphiphilic compounds consisting of an A-B-A combination of a central hydrophilic group, for example, polyethylene glycol, linked to two side groups, which are selected from the class of fatty acids or long-chain alcohols.
Also known are from U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,191 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,822 surface-migrating, extrudable thermoplastic mixtures, consisting of at least one polyolefin and an additive, with the additive being a polysiloxane graft copolymer with polyalkene oxide side chains. By extruding the mixture, it is possible to produce wettable nonwovens, which continue to have the corresponding properties even after two years.
Likewise known are from US 2002/0019184 polymers with improved hydrophilicity, which are produced by adding a corresponding quantity of an additive consisting of fatty acids esterified with polyethylene glycols.
US 2001/0008965 discloses multicomponent fibers, wherein a first component consists of a hydrophobic polypropylene, and a second component of a blend of a hydrophobic polyolefin and a hydrophilic melt additive, with the second component being disposed at the surface of the fibers.
WO 98/42767 A1, WO 98/42776 A1, and WO 98/42898 A1 disclose a process of making a polyolefin blend with improved compatibility to adhesives and/or coatings. The blend consists of a polyolefin, a migrating amphiphile and a transition metal.
US 2002/0002242 A1 and WO 01/58987 A2 describe a possibility of increasing the surface energy of polymeric substrates by the use of new amphiphilic block copolymers, in that the block copolymers consisting of linear hydrophobic polymers or oligomers and a statistically hyperbranched polymer or oligomer, are treated in full or in part with lipophilic end groups.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,904 describes a method and a resultant end product, wherein hydrophobic polyolefin nonwovens are imparted hydrophilic properties. To this end, one adds to the polymer melt a required content of an alkoxylated fatty acid amine, optionally in combination with as much as 60% by weight of a primary fatty acid amide.
Furthermore, WO 00/71789 discloses polypropylene fibers and structures that can be produced therefrom. In this art, a fatty acid monoglyceride is added as melt additive to the polypropylene, and further additives are used in the form of hydrophilicity improvers and antimicrobial substances.
Last but not least, WO 02/42530 discloses fibers, filaments, and nonwovens, which consist of a melt blend of polyolefin and an additive, with the additive being a chemical substance composed of an alkyl chain and a hydrophilic oligomer. The produced nonwovens exhibit a durable wettability, preferably vis-à-vis body fluids.
The hygiene nonwovens that are hydrophilated with melt additives distinguish themselves in particular by a high permanence of the hydrophilic groups on the fiber surface. However, the hydrophilicity level as is achieved by melt additives, is in many cases too low to meet the requirements of the hygiene industry.

Hydrophilic polyolefin materials and method of producing same


A steering assembly includes a rack and an adjustment assembly. The rack has a first side surface, a second side surface disposed opposite the first side surface, a first surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface. The adjustment assembly is arranged to apply orthogonal biasing forces to a pair of orthogonal surfaces of the non-cylindrical steering rack.

Steering systems may employ a ball screw that converts a rotational input into a linear steering output to pivot at least one vehicle road wheel. A rack assist electric power steering system may include a ball screw. In such a system, a steering gear is engaged with the rack and may provide ball screw torque reaction. The ball screw torque may cause rotation of the rack that may result in an error in steering gear and rack mesh alignment.

Steering system having an adjustment assembly

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation


A method of converting a toxic composition containing an aldehyde to a composition which is substantially non-toxic. The aldehyde is reacted with a compound having protic oxygen or nitrogen atoms and a polyimine or polyimine derivative to absorb or swell the aldehyde-containing composition and preferably to yield a substantially solid reaction product by way of a substantially irreversible reaction.

Aldehydes, particularly formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, are classical disinfectants, sterilizing and preserving agents used since the 18th Century. Formaldehyde is used by health care institutions for preserving tissue and by industry for various manufacturing processes including paper manufacture. Formaldehyde is also used in the funeral home business for embalming, and for disinfecting the surrounding work area. Formaldehyde, also referred to as "formalin," is sold to these institutions both in a concentrated form (37 to 50% formaldehyde, 6 to 15% alcohol stabilizer, and water) and, in dilution, the most common concentration being 10% formalin or 3.75% formaldehyde.
Glutaraldehydes are sold to hospitals and laboratories as cold sterilant solutions. The major difference between glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde is that each molecule of glutaraldehyde has two active protons while formaldehyde has one and is of a lower molecular weight. Glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde are the only chemicals approved by the EPA for sterilizing surgical instruments, endoscopic equipment, arthroscopic instruments, cameras, and similar apparatus. Glutaraldehydes are also used to sterilize surgical instruments and treatment supplies that may be damaged by other sterilizing methods, including autoclaving and ETO (ethylene oxide).
The use of aldehydes is extensive. There are millions of gallons of waste water disposed of each year that are contaminated by "aldehyde" solutions. Aldehydes are classified as acutely-toxic by the EPA. Their use and disposal are now heavily regulated by both the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as various state, county and city health and environmental resource departments.
Aldehydes are particularly useful in pathological, biological, micro-biological and dissecting laboratories because of their quick, effective kill of all pathogenic organisms. However, aldehydes, with their carbonyl group and active proton, have recently been determined to be mammalian carcinogens. Increasing concern for worker exposure and concern for the environment have initiated the development of new handling, storage, and disposal regulations to limit worker and public exposure. The OSHA defined exposure limit for formaldehydes is 0.70 ppm. Beyond this level a respirator must be used while concentrations above this level are considered carcinogenic, even though at this low level of concentration, formaldehyde may not be generally detectable to the sense of smell. Clearly, if the aldehyde can be smelled, the concentration probably exceeds OSHA safety standards.
The risks associated with handling aldehydes begins for the user with the storage of the concentrate after arrival at the purchaser's facility. It continues when the concentrate is diluted for use in for example, the laboratory, operating room, emergency room and morgue and, finally, when the contaminated "waste water" is collected at the point-of-use. Health risks for workers continue as the used material, typically 10% formalin (3.75% formaldehyde), is transported to designated storage areas, or when poured down the drain into waste water treatment systems. Disposal into the sewage treatment system is no longer permitted under the EPA Clean Water Regulations dated Jul 24, 1990.
All pollutants and pesticides are considered to be a threat to desirable microbes that are needed to break down waste materials in the waste water treatment process. The new regulations are designed to prevent the waste generator from entering toxic materials into the waste waster treatment system. They give the EPA authority to monitor waste water at the generation site versus, as practiced in the past, by monitoring treated waste water after it has been through the public owned waste water treatment system. Hospitals, laboratories, funeral homes and industry are now held to a much higher standard of control and compliance. The liability exposure is considerable to violators, both to their reputations in the community and to the possibility of substantial fines for each violation.
The highest levels of formalin sold for cold sterilization and for preserving tissue, ranges from 37 to 50% formaldehyde. Concentrations in this range must be incinerated in a licensed toxic waste incinerator that is designed to handle liquids. There are but two such facilities in the United States. One in Illinois and the other in Texas. Lower concentrations of formaldehyde must be handled in the same way if the waste remains in a liquid state. However, most hazardous and toxic waste contractors pour the contaminated waste water into absorbents, such as vermiculite, to convert this into a "solid," thereby making it possible to burn the material in the more numerous solid hazardous waste incinerators.
As there has become increasing concern for worker exposure as well as concern for the environment generally, various methods, techniques and products have been sought to control exposure to the potential carcinogenic properties of aldehydes. However, to date, there has not been a suitable teaching of any protocol to remove aldehydes such as formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde from waste streams after their disinfecting properties have been taken advantage of.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method of removing aldehydes such as formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde from a composition containing such compounds to provide a substantially non-toxic composition which can be dealt with in a reasonable fashion.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to convert a toxic composition containing an aldehyde such as formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde to produce a non-toxic composition by a substantially irreversible reaction.
These and further objects will be more readily appreciated when considering the following disclosure and appended claims.


A method and the device for fiber-optic measurement of the absolute value of the pretensioning in a highly loaded mechanical structural component part are based on the measurement of the phase displacement of a light wave caused by the strain-induced birefringence in a single-mode light waveguide 4 which is embedded between two metallic disks or washers 3a, 3b. Since the measurement results are ambiguous modulo-2.pi., serial or simultaneous measurement with two light wavelengths .lambda..sub.1, .lambda..sub.2 is used according to a first method variant of the invention. The quantity of 2.pi. periods can be unequivocally determined within a predetermined measuring range by means of comparing the two measurement results. The evaluation is preferably effected according to a quadrature or phase step method, known per se. According to second method variant, the light waveguide 4 is irradiated with polarized white light. The phase difference of the two linear modes due to the influence of force on the structural component part is compensated for in a compensation device 20. The control signal required for the compensation of the path difference is evaluated as a measurement for the force. The compensation method has the advantage that no monochromatic light sources are required.

There are many mechanical structural component parts which must absorb high compressive or tensile forces over long periods of time in a pretensioned state, such as cables, bars, wires and screws. A heavy-duty dowel or bolt, for example, is a structural component part of this kind. Knowledge about the pretensioning in such a dowel is important for achieving controlled conditions in fastening. Dowels which are anchored and pretensioned in concrete in a friction-locking manner can relax with respect to this pretensioning as a result of aging and corrosion of the concrete.
At present, an indirect method is most often used for determining the pretensioning, namely measurement via torque. In principle, corrective measures can be taken by monitoring the torque of an expanding screw 1 and by after-expansion of the expanding element 2, as is illustrated by FIG. 1. However, undefined frictional influences (static or sliding friction) prevent a defined adjustment of the pretensioning already when setting the dowel D. But the torque is also not an unequivocal function of pretensioning and can only be measured when tightening, i.e. setting, the dowel D.
An automatic after-expansion and/or a permanent monitoring would also be desirable already when setting the dowel, particularly in safety-related applications. For this purpose a force sensor must be integrated in the structural component part, e.g. the dowel. Piezoelectric systems (quartz force measurement rings) and systems with strain gauges (DSM), e.g. in the form of weighing cells or as annular force transducers are known as such force sensors. However, apart from the high price, such direct measuring instruments for determining pretensioning generally have the disadvantage of an excessively large structural shape for many cases of application. Moreover, the quartz sensor is suitable only for dynamic measurements.
Indirect methods based, for example, on the change in length of the pretensioned threaded rod of the dowel which can be detected e.g. with ultrasonic transit time measurement, are also known. However, this method requires that the dowel be self-calibrating and that its data be recorded.

Method and device for the measurement of force by a fiber optics system by evaluating phase shift of light waves


A transfer switch is provided for transferring the supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started. The load is interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker is movable between an on position and an off position. The transfer switch includes a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A second arm is movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A control structure selectively urges the first and second arms to the second positions.

As is known, virtually all residential homes utilize electrical power received from a utility company. Typically, utility companies have an excellent record of providing uninterrupted or infrequently interrupted power to their customers at proper voltage levels and line frequency. However, due to the increasing demand for power, power outages have become more frequent. While power outages usually last only for a short duration, an extended power outage may cause more than simple aggravation for customers of the utility. A power outage may render a homeowner's appliances, such as the sump pump, refrigerator or freezer inoperable. If a power outage occurs during a rainstorm, the failure of the sump pump to operate may result in the flooding of the homeowner's basement.
In order to combat these occasional disruptions in service, many residential customers of the utility companies have equipped their homes with stand-by electrical generator systems. These stand-by electrical generator systems include internal combustion engines that drive electrical generators. If the commercial power from the utility company fails, the internal combustion engine of the stand-by electrical generator system is automatically started causing the electrical generator to generate electrical power. When the electrical power generated by the electrical generator reaches the proper voltage and frequency desired by the customer, a transfer mechanism transfers the load imposed by the homeowner from the commercial power lines to the electrical generator.
Typically, the transfer mechanism incorporates switches that isolate the electrical power supplied by the utility company from the generator. In a residential application, the switches are flipped either manually or automatically between the utility source and the generator in order to provide power to the electrical system of the home. These prior art transfer mechanisms often require a homeowner to transfer the entire electrical system of the home onto the generator. Such an arrangement does not provide the homeowner with the ability to decide which circuits of the home's electrical system are to be powered. It can be appreciated that the demands of the entire electrical system of the home can be quite significant. As a result, the generator must be of sufficient size to power the entire electrical system of the home. This, in turn, increases the overall cost of the stand-by electrical generator system for the homeowner.
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to provide a transfer switch that transfers the electrical power supplied to essential devices within a residential home between a utility source and stand-by electrical generator.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a transfer switch that automatically transfers the electrical power supplied to essential devices within a residential home from a utility source to a stand-by electrical generator in response to a power outage.
It is a still further object and feature of the present invention to provide a transfer switch for transferring the electrical power supplied to essential devices within a residential home between a utility source and a stand-by electrical generator that may be simply and easily installed.
In accordance with the present invention, a transfer switch is provided. The transfer switch transfers the supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started. The load is interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker is movable between an on position and an off position. The transfer switch includes a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A second arm is movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A control structure selectively urges the first and second arms to the second positions.
A bar extends between the first and second circuit breakers. The bar moves the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moves the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position.
The control structure includes a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position. The rotatable arm is also axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The control structure includes a biasing structure for urging the rotating arm towards the extended position. The rotating arm includes a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotating arm. The bearing is engageable with the first and second arms. The control structure also includes a motor operatively connected to the rotatable arm for rotating the arm and a controller operatively connected to the generator. The controller actuates the motor in response to a command from the generator. The controller also includes first and second switches movable between off positions and on positions. The positions of the switches control actuation of the motor.
The control structure further includes a cam disk disposed between the rotating arm and the first and second switches. The cam disk has a first camming surface engageable with the first switch for actuating the first switch and a second camming surface engageable with the second switch for actuating the second switch.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a transfer switch is provided for transferring the supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started. The load is interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker is movable between an on position and an off position. The transfer switch includes a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A second arm is movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A bar extends between the first and second circuit breakers. The bar moves the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moves the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position.
A rotatable arm is selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position. In addition, the rotatable arm is axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A biasing structure urges the rotatable arm towards the extended position. The terminal end of the rotatable arm includes a bearing rotatably mounted thereto. The bearing is engageable with the first and second arms.
A motor is operatively connected to the rotatable arm for rotating arm and a controller is operatively connected to the generator. The controller actuates the motor in response to a command from the generator. The controller includes first and second switches movable between off positions and on positions. The positions of the switches control actuate the motor. A cam disk is disposed between the rotatable arm and the first and second switches. The cam disk includes a first camming surface engageable with the first switch for actuating the first switch and a second camming surface engageable with the second switch for actuating the second switch.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, a transfer switch is provided for transferring the supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started. The load is interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker. Each circuit breaker is movable between an on position and an off position. The transfer switch includes a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A second arm is movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position. A rotatable arm selectively engages one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position. A motor is operatively connected to rotatable arm for rotating the arm. A motor control is operatively connected to the motor for actuating the motor and an actuation element is operatively connected to the rotatable arm. The actuation element communicates with the motor control for controlling actuation of the motor.
A bar extends between the first and second circuit breakers. The bar moves the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moves the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position. The rotating arm is axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A biasing structure urges the rotating arm towards the extended position. The rotating arm also includes a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotating arm. The bearing is engageable with the first and second arms. First and second switches are operatively connected to the motor control and are movable between off positions and on positions. The positions of the switches control actuation of the motor. The actuation element includes at least one camming surface engageable with at least one switch for moving the at least one switch between the off position and the on position.


Methods of producing a safe and hygienic method for industrially and efficiently producing a perovskite-type composite oxide are provided that can maintain the catalytic activity of a noble metal at a high level. Methods include preparing a precursor of the perovskite-type composite oxide by mixing organometal salts of elementary components of the perovskite-type composite oxide and heat treating the precursor. The precursor may be prepared by mixing all elementary components constituting the perovskite-type composite oxide, or by mixing one or more organometal salts of part of the elementary components with the other elementary components prepared as alkoxides, a coprecipitate of salts, or a citrate complex of the respective elements.

Noble metals such as Pt (platinum), Rh (rhodium) and Pd (palladium) supported by perovskite-type composite oxides represented by the general formula: ABO3 have been widely known as three-way catalysts which can simultaneously clean up carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) contained in emissions.
When such a noble metal is merely supported by the perovskite-type composite oxide, however, the noble metal undergoes grain growth at the surface of the perovskite-type composite oxide in use at high temperatures. To avoid this, techniques of incorporating a noble metal into a perovskite-type composite oxide as its constitutional element have been proposed.
Japanese Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 6-100319, for example, discloses a method of producing a perovskite-type composite oxide. In this method, an
aqueous solution containing citric acid and salts of elements constituting the perovskite-type composite oxide and including the noble metals is initially prepared, and the aqueous solution is dried to obtain a complex between citric acid and the respective elements. The complex is thermally decomposed by heating at 350° C. or higher in vacuum or in an atmosphere of inert gas to obtain a precursor. The precursor is subjected to a heat treatment under an oxidative atmosphere to obtain the perovskite-type composite oxide.
Japanese Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. Hei 8-217461 discloses a method for producing a perovskite-type composite oxide. In this method, a solution of alkoxides of elements constituting the perovskite-type composite oxide other than the noble metal is initially prepared. The alkoxide solution is hydrolyzed by adding an aqueous solution of a salt of the noble metal, and the solvent and fluid are removed to obtain a precursor. The resulting precursor is subjected to a heat treatment at 500° C. to 500° C. under an oxidative atmosphere to obtain the perovskite-type composite oxide.
Japanese Laid-open (Unexamined) Patent Publication No. 2000-15097 discloses a method for producing a perovskite-type composite oxide. In this method, a salt of the noble metal constituting the perovskite-type composite oxide is mixed with an organic polymer to obtain a colloid solution of the noble metal. The colloid solution is mixed with alkoxides of elements constituting the perovskite-type composite oxide and is then hydrolyzed to obtain a precursor. The precursor is dried and is subjected to a heat treatment to obtain the perovskite-type composite oxide.
In these perovskite-type composite oxides, the noble metals can be finely and highly dispersed therein and can maintain their high catalytic activities even in long-term use. This is because of a self-regenerative function, in which the noble metals undergo repetitive solid-solution under an oxidative atmosphere and deposition under a reducing atmosphere. These findings have been obtained in recent years.
Any of the above-mentioned methods, however, has limitations to efficiently disperse the noble metal in the perovskite-type composite oxide for a higher rate of solid-solution and to improve the catalytic activity.
The above-mentioned methods use the noble metal as an aqueous solution of a salt thereof such as nitrate, chloride, or dinitrodiammine salt and may invite an abrupt exothermic reaction in the heat treatment, which may in turn invite bubbling over of the resulting powder. To avoid this, the temperature must be gradually raised, which constitutes a significant limitation in industrial production. In addition, the heat treatment yields harmful by-products such as nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, or amines but these must be avoided for safety or hygiene.
In addition, the above-mentioned methods require considerably high temperatures in the heat treatment to form a single phase of the perovskite-type composite oxide. The heat treatment at such high temperatures, however, inevitably invites a decreased specific surface area.

Method for producing perovskite-type composite oxide


An improved dispensing spout assembly and method for self-service dispensing of purified water is described for reducing the possibility of contamination. An overlapping pair of enclosures house an ultraviolet lamp and a delivery nozzle to provide a secondary purification just prior to delivery and to inhibit contact between the nozzle and any contaminated objects, while permitting the exit of purified water to a container.

A variety of devices have long been utilized to treat and dispense purified water. Such devices typically include a variety of filters, adsorption mediums and reverse osmosis membranes to remove organic and inorganic substances. Some also include ultraviolet light sources which are used to irradiate the treated water as another means of removing microorganisms that would contaminate the water. As purified water has become more widely used new apparatus and methods have been developed to purify and dispense it to a broader range of locations. One particular type of system allows municipal or approved potable well water to be purified and dispensed to grocery store customers and the like who fill a container at a stationary dispensing unit located on or about the store premises.
In such remote and generally unattended distribution of purified water a variety of unique problems and needs often arise. Such systems typically are unattended for relatively long periods of time. Maintenance may be provided by trained personnel only infrequently, perhaps monthly. Thus, problems with such systems which may arise should be as "self correcting" as possible to prevent long period or transient shut downs between maintenance calls.
One such situation arises when the standard ultraviolet decontaminating light is monitored by a sensor that may sense an ultraviolet light transient output caused by a surge of cold water producing a "below minimum intensity" reading to the sensor. In such systems the sensor would momentarily and unnecessarily shut down the pumping apparatus during this transient event when there is heat sinking of the bulb output. Such momentary shut downs could result in added wear and tear to the processing unit components and an inconvenience to the customer.
Any dispensing location subjects the dispenser to a large variety of environments, many of which may contain airborne contaminants. In addition, self service dispensers are prone to spout contamination from handling by the customers. In some current systems, an ultraviolet light is provided at the spout to help prevent contamination of the spout and purified water which contacts it. Existing spout assemblies containing ultraviolet lights have proven inadequate because the contaminants are not eradicated by the relatively short light. Further, the light and spout have been found to be inadequately enclosed, making the light more difficult to replace and generally providing an inadequate enclosure around the spout area.

Spout assembly for self-service purified water dispenser


A barrier device comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, opposed end walls, and, opposed sidewalls each including an elongated, vertically extending curb reveal connected to the bottom wall, a substantially vertically extending upper section connected to the top wall, an angled intermediate section connected at one end to the upper section, and, a substantially horizontally extending step connected between the other end of the intermediate section and the curb reveal. Each wall is formed of a resilient plastic, and the walls are interconnected to define a hollow interior which can be filled with a ballast material such as water, sand, rubber, concrete and the like.

A variety of different devices have been developed for absorbing the kinetic energy of impact of colliding automobiles, and for the containment of forces exerted by soil or water. Highway barrier devices, for example, are intended to provide a continuous wall or barrier along the center line of a highway when laid end-to-end to absorb grazing blows from moving vehicles. One commonly used highway barrier is formed of precast reinforced concrete, and is known as the "New Jersey" style barrier. Highway barriers of this type have a relatively wide base including sidewalls which extend vertically upwardly from the pavement a short distance, then angle inwardly and upwardly to a vertically extending top portion connected to the top wall of the barrier. This design is intended to contact and redirect the wheels of a vehicle in a direction toward the lane of traffic in which the vehicle was originally traveling, instead of the lane of opposing traffic. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,059,362.
One problem with highway barriers of the type described above is the high weight of reinforced concrete. A barrier having a typical length of twelve feet weighs about 2,800-3,200 pounds and requires special equipment to load, unload and handle on site. It has been estimated that for some road repairs, up to 40 percent of the total cost is expended on acquiring, delivering and handling concrete barriers. Additionally, concrete barriers have little or no ability to absorb shock upon impact, and have a high friction factor. This increases the damage to vehicles which collide with such barriers, and can lead to serious injuries to passengers of the vehicle.
In an effort to reduce weight, facilitate handling and shipment, and provide improved absorption of impact forces, highway barriers have been designed which are formed of a hollow plastic container filled with water, sand or other ballast material such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,681,302; 4,773,629; 4,846,306 and 5,123,773. For example, the '302 patent discloses a barrier comprising a container having a hollow interior filled with water, and having fittings for coupling one barrier to another to form a continuous wall. The container structure is formed of a resilient material which is deformable upon impact and capable of resuming its original shape after being struck. Longitudinally extending, spaced traction spoiler channels are said to reduce the area of potential impact and thus the tendency of the vehicle to climb the walls of the barrier and vault over it into the opposing lane of traffic.
The '629, '306 and '773 patents noted above were invented by the present inventor and represent further advances in deformable highway barrier designs. The first two patents disclose barriers which comprise a longitudinally extending container made of semi-rigid plastic which is self-supporting, and has a predetermined shape which is maintained when filled with water, sand or other ballast material. Such devices are connected end-to-end by a key insertable within grooves formed in the end walls of adjacent barriers. Interconnected fill openings are provided which permit adjacent barriers to be filled with water or the like when laid end-to-end.
The '773 patent discloses an improved barrier having sidewalls formed with vertical indentations in order to assist in maintaining the structural integrity of the container, and to create internal baffles for dampening movement of water or other fluid within the container interior. Interlocking male and female coupling elements are formed on opposite end walls of the barrier to facilitate end-to-end connection thereof. Additionally, the base of such barrier is formed with channels to permit the insertion of the tines of a fork lift truck therein for handling of the barrier, and these channels also provide for drainage of water and the like along the ground from one side of the barrier to the other.
Despite the improvements in highway barrier designs noted above, problems nevertheless remain, particularly in controlling the tendency of a vehicle which strikes the barrier to "ride up" or move vertically upwardly along the barrier sidewall toward the opposite lane of traffic. Additionally, the means conventionally employed for interconnecting adjacent, deformable barriers may not be adequate in certain instances, and can result in separation of adjacent barriers particularly upon impact with relatively large and heavy vehicles.


Peripheral oedema causes a swelling of the legs of a patient due to an abnormal accumulation of fluids in the interstitium of the patient. Oedema is directly related to heart diseases, kidney and liver problems and pathological conditions. As such, is a useful indicator of a person's overall health. Oedema is typically assessed by a subjective manual test administered by a medical professional. As such, an objective assessment of oedema is often difficult to make. The present disclosure concerns a device for tissue condition measurement. The device enables an objective assessment of oedema to be made, by providing to a medical professional, or a medical ancillary worker, with information useful to judge the presence of oedema. This is achieved by performing a photoacoustic analysis of biological components present in the tissue, and then by performing a physical test by advancing a blunt instrument onto the area suspected of oedema, withdraw blunt instrument, and then assessing the depth and/or rebound characteristics of the pit.

A trend in medical technology is towards providing equipment which provides information about the condition of a patient in a standardized way. This information is utilized by a medical professional in the course of their duties.
Peripheral oedema is a swelling of the legs of a patient due to an abnormal accumulation of fluids in the interstitial tissues. An assessment of peripheral oedema is a useful indicator of a person's health, because it is related to heart disease, kidney and liver problems, and pathological conditions. Oedema can be classified, for example, as pitting, or non-pitting oedema. Traditionally, pitting oedema has been distinguished from non-pitting oedema using a manual test. In this test, pressure is applied to a patient's swollen leg, leaving a physical depression in the swollen leg. The depth, and rebound time of the pit provides information enabling a distinction between pitting and non-pitting oedema.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,425,433 B2 discusses approaches to provide further information about peripheral oedema, but such methods can be further improved.


For combining two received signals (#1, #2) from different reception routes, a control process for maximizing the level of a combined signal (maximum level combining process), a control process for combining the signals in phase with each other (in-phase combining process), a control process for minimizing a waveform distortion of the combined signal (minimum amplitude deviation type combining process), and a control process for performing both the minimum amplitude deviation type combining process and the maximum level combining process are alternatively switched by an EPS (endless phase shifter) control circuit (8) depending on a level detector output (101) and a waveform distortion detector output (102). These control processes are performed by controlling the EPS (1) to control the phase of the received signal (#2). With this arrangement, even in a region where the level remains substantially unchanged by phase rotation of the received signals, stable phase control can be achieved for increased system stability.

Heretofore, diversity receivers of the type described are used to suppress waveform distortions due to fading in transmission paths for providing a good communication environment in microwave digital radio communication systems. One of such diversity receivers is a space diversity receiver for receiving radio signals with a plurality of reception antennas that are spaced at sufficient distances from each other and combining a plurality of minimally correlated received signals from the reception antennas for thereby reducing reception distortions.
There have been proposed various processes of combining a plurality of received signals in such space diversity reception. Particularly, three of those proposed combining processes, i.e., "in-phase combining process", "minimum amplitude deviation type combining process", and "maximum level combining process" are mainly used in the art. The "in-phase combining process" combines received signals from a plurality of reception routes such that the received signals are in phase with each other, and is disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publication No. 8-274695.
The "minimum amplitude deviation type combining process" detects a notch of a combined received signal and combines received signals so as to minimize an in-band amplitude deviation of the combined received signal depending on the detected notch, is disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent publications Nos. 59-230333 and 7-38536.
The "maximum level combining process" combines received signals such that the combined level thereof will be maximum. According to either one of the above three combining processes, at least one of the received signals is rotated in phase by an endless phase shifter for signal combination. The above three combining processes have both advantages and disadvantages, and are often used in combination. In particular, it is the general practice to use the "minimum amplitude deviation type combining process" and the "maximum level combining process" in combination with each other.
A conventional diversity receiver based on a combination of the "minimum amplitude deviation type combining process" and the "maximum level combining process" will be described below. FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows such a conventional diversity receiver. In FIG. 1, received signals #1, #2 are signals that have been received by respective diversity antennas (not shown) and have their frequencies converted into an intermediate frequency range. EPS (Endless Phase Shifter) 1 is supplied with received signal #2 and an output control signal from EPS control circuit 8, and rotates the phase of received signal #2 through unit steps (degrees) in either direction based on the output control signal, and outputs received signal #2 which has been rotated in phase.
Combiner 2 is supplied with the output signal from EPS 1 and received signal #1, combines these signals, and outputs the combined signal. Level detector 4 is supplied with the combined signal from combiner 2, detects the signal level of the combined signal, and outputs the detected signal level. DEM (Demodulator) 6 is supplied with the combined signal from combiner 2, determines and outputs the sign of the combined signal.
Notch detector 7 is supplied with the combined signal from combiner 2, detects and outputs the depth (distortion) of a notch thereof. EPS control circuit 8 is supplied with the output signal from notch detector 7 and the output signal from level detector 4, generates an optimum control signal from the supplied signals, and outputs the control signal to EPS 1.
Operation of the conventional diversity receiver shown in FIG. 1 will be described below. FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrates how to switch between the combining processes. The horizontal axis of FIG. 2 represents the depth of the notch (=the distortion of the waveform), and the vertical axis the combined signal level. The depth of the notch and the combined signal level are greater in the respective directions indicated by the arrows. In FIG. 2, the "maximum level combining process" is performed, i.e., the combined signal level is maximized (level improved), in region A. Specifically, EPS control circuit 8 monitors only the output signal of level detector 4 and applies an output control signal to EPS 1 to rotate the phase of received signal #2 in order to keep the combined signal level maximum.
In region B shown in FIG. 2, the "minimum amplitude deviation type combining process" is performed, i.e., the in-band deviation of the combined signal is minimized (distortion improved). Specifically, EPS control circuit 8 monitors the output signal of notch detector 7 and applies an output control signal to EPS 1 to rotate the phase of received signal #2 in order to minimize the distortion of the waveform. More specifically, notch detector 7 detects levels at a plurality of frequencies in the spectrum of the received signal to detect the magnitude of a change in the amplitude vs. frequency characteristics in the band of the received signal, and EPS control circuit 8 controls EPS 1 to minimize the in-band amplitude vs. frequency deviation.
If it is judged that the combined signal level is high (higher than "b" in FIG. 2) and the distortion is small (smaller than "a" in FIG. 2), then the level improving process is performed. In the distortion improving process, since the in-band deviation is minimized depending on the magnitude of the notch, as described above, main components of the received signals often tend to be combined at angles close to opposite phases, and the amplitude of the combined signal becomes low in level though it is flat. If the distortion is small, then because a reduction in the signal level poses a greater problem as to an error rate than the distortion, region B is not used, but region A is used in preference for a S/N (signal level to noise level) ratio.
If only the distortion becomes greater (greater than "a" in FIG. 2), then control goes to the distortion improving process. If the distortion is large as in region B and the distortion has a greater effect on the error rate than the level, then the distortion improving process is performed as a sufficient distortion improving capability is expected, but the level is lowered. If the level becomes lower than "b" in FIG. 2 at this time, then control goes to the level improving process because the level reduction poses a serious problem though some distortion may remain unremoved (some distortion can be equalized by DFE (Decision Feedback Equalizer) if DFE is provided at a subsequent stage).
The problem of the conventional arrangement is that the phase control based on the EPS is liable to be unstable if the level improving process is performed while the distortion is small and the level is high. This is because the level for use in the control signal is usually detected by a diode and it is highly difficult to detect slight level changes with the diode. The unstable phase control is responsible for a large reduction in the system stability.

Space diversity receiver, operation controll method thereof, and program


A method for providing internet security includes providing a storage medium including a first executable application module. In response to inputting the storage medium onto a local computer the first executable application module is loaded into virtual memory in the local computer. The first executable application module is executed, the first executable application module providing information identifying at least one remote server. Communication is performed between the local computer and the remote server using the information provided by the first executable application module. The remote server is instructed to send a second application module to the local computer. Upon receipt of the second application module, the second application module is loaded into virtual memory on the local computer. The second application module is executed from virtual memory and a prompt is displayed to the user.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to Internet security and, in particular, to methods and systems for Internet security via virtual software.
2. Description of the Background Art
Internet security is in a constant state of change. New encryption models are created, tokens placed on computers or even on distributed mediums are in circulation. The Internet security industry is always trying, often without success, to stay one step ahead of those individuals that would like to circumvent an organizations right to maintain the privacy of their data.
Organizations such as financial, medical, insurance, industrial, architectural, governmental, etc. organizations, currently utilize internet security methods that contain the same inherent weaknesses. For example, most present Internet security methods utilize a logon process that is available online to anyone utilizing the Internet. Upon visiting a website, the user is often presented with an option to "Sign On" by entering information that may include a User ID and a Password. After entering the correct information, the user is presented with one or more browser based online applications. For example, in the banking industry, the user can be offered an option to examine or work with their checking account, savings account, credit cards, etc. However, such freely available and open access to an organization's logon screen and online applications is an invitation to those individuals intent on hacking into the system either just for the challenge of doing so or for more ominous reasons.
As long as an individual with access to a computer and an active Internet connection can visit a website, logon and then be granted use of browser based applications for accessing secure data, the current Internet security models will inevitably fail. In addition to the weaknesses associated with current logon processes, even after a user has successfully logged on to an organization's website, processes associated with data access provided by the browser based online applications present additional weaknesses.
Embodiments of the present disclosure address the weaknesses other security models miss, fail to understand or just ignore. Through the implementation of embodiments of the present disclosure, an organization can not only remove the logon process from their website, but can also remove the entire browser based online process currently employed to read, write or update data.
For example, a bank can remove all screens and processes that allow online banking from their website and still permit their customer online banking privileges through the use of embodiments of the present disclosure. By taking this action the bank can provide a high level of protection to both their customers and themselves.

Methods and systems for internet security via virtual software


A computer and Internet-based system and method for providing television and radio programming information to users, through a multi-tabbed viewing screen, where at least one of the tabs is individualized to a particular viewer's preferences.

In recent years, with the proliferation of sources of television programming including conventional terrestrially broadcast TV, cable TV, and satellite-delivered TV, numerous programming choices exist for a consumer. Consumers often desire to have a guide which shows the programming choices available at various times. The magazine TV Guide is one well-known example of a printed programming guide.
TV Guide Online is an example of a web-based programming guide which provides a user with a programming list which is configurable using drop-down boxes or links to enable customers to switch the content display to another source; e.g., from cable only to broadcast only, etc.
While such web-based programming guides have enjoyed success in the past, they have some drawbacks. First of all, the TV Guide Online can often provide too much information. Often, it is difficult to find the programming which is desirable to the viewer. Secondly, the drop-down boxes of the TV Guide Online guide are not intuitive, in the sense that it is easy for a viewer to forget or otherwise not understand that the information being displayed has been narrowed from a larger list of potential sources.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for providing TV programming information to viewers in an efficient manner.


The invention relates to a voltage supply circuit used in a semiconductor integrated circuit wherein switching between voltages generated is carried out in dependency upon whether the circuit is in an ordinary operating state or in a standby state. This voltage supply circuit includes a first reference voltage generator for supplying a reference voltage through an amplifier circuit to an internal circuit in the operating state, and a power supply voltage converter for supplying a voltage to the internal circuit at least in the standby state, wherein a second reference voltage generator provided independently of the first reference voltage generator becomes operative for a transient time period during which the second reference voltage generator shifts from the standby state to the operating state. By the action of the second reference voltage generator, a setup time at the time of start of the operation is shortened. Further, by allowing the first reference voltage generator to be inactive in the standby state, low power consumption is realized.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a voltage supply circuit used in a semiconductor integrated circuit such as a memory device, etc., and more particularly to a voltage supply circuit for operating an internal circuit by using a predetermined reference voltage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In MOS type semiconductor integrated circuit devices, a technology for allowing an internal power supply voltage to be down converted has been used from a viewpoint of device reliability, etc. (See, e.g., Nikkei Microdevice, No. 52, pp. 91 to 95, October, 1989).
Meanwhile, in semiconductor memories such as a static RAM, etc., there is a mode in a standby state for interrupting the circuit to suppress current consumption (standby mode) in addition to a mode in an operating state for performing an ordinary read/write operation. It is necessary to suppress a current consumption in the standby state.
FIGS. 1 to 3 show conventional internal voltage supply circuits, respectively.
First, in the circuit shown in FIG. 1, an external power supply voltage Ext-Vcc is delivered from an external terminal 5 to a reference voltage generator 1 for generating a predetermined internally down converted reference voltage. An output from the reference voltage generator 1 is inputted to the minus terminal of a differential amplifier 3. An output from the differential amplifier 3 is delivered to the gate of a pMOS transistor 4. The drain of the pMOS transistor 4 is connected to the plus terminal of the differential amplifier 3, and a potential on the drain and an output voltage of the reference voltage generator 1 are imaginarily shorted. The potential on the drain of the pMOS transistor 4 is delivered to the internal circuit as an internal power supply voltage Int-Vcc. Further, a standby power supply voltage converter 2 of a low power consumption is provided independently of the reference voltage generator 1. In use, switching between the reference voltage generator 1 and the standby power supply voltage converter 2 is carried out in response to a chip enable signal CE.
Further, the circuit shown in FIG. 2 includes a reference voltage generator 11, a differential amplifier 13 and a pMOS transistor 14 which are similar to those of the circuit shown in FIG. 1, respectively. The feature of the FIG. 2 circuit is as follows. The standby power supply voltage converter 12 is operating at all times. In response to a chip enable signal CE, the reference voltage generator 11 and the differential amplifier 13 are controlled so that they are operative. The reference voltage generator 11 and the differential amplifier 13 are placed in an OFF state in the standby state.
In addition, the circuit shown in FIG. 3 includes a single reference voltage generator 21 for generating a reference voltage, and two differential amplifiers, i.e., a differential amplifier 22 for use in the operating state and a differential amplifier 23 for use in the standby state. In this circuit, the reference voltage generator 21 is operating at all times. In the operating state, the differential amplifier 23 is placed in an OFF state. Outputs from the differential amplifiers 22 and 23 are inputted to the pMOS transistors 24 and 25, respectively. Thus, an internal power supply voltage Int-Vcc is taken out from the drain commonly connected of the pMOS transistors 24 and 25.
However, with the above-described circuits (FIGS. 1 to 3), the following problem would occur.
First, in the circuit shown in FIG. 1 or 2, for a transient time period from the standby state to the operating state, it is necessary to wait rising of outputs from the reference voltage generator 1 or 11, and/or the differential amplifier 3 or 13 which have been respectively in OFF state. For example, if these circuits have no setup time, the internal power supply voltage Int-Vcc disadvantageously varies, or the like. In contrast, if these circuits have a setup time, the time required for CE access is delayed by that time.
Further, in the case of the circuit shown in FIG. 3, at the time of switching from the standby state to the operating state, the differential amplifier 23 is only switched to the differential amplifier 22. The setup time can be reduced to a relatively short time required for rising of an output from the differential amplifier 22. However, since the reference voltage generator 21 operates at all times, and the differential amplifier 23 is operating even in the standby state, the power consumption becomes large.

Voltage supply circuit for use in an integrated circuit


A partial iterative detection and decoding apparatus in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system includes a detector for detecting signals received through at least one receive antenna to generate a first soft decision value, a decoder for decoding the first soft decision value to generate a second soft decision value, and a reliability determiner for determining a signal to be iteratively detected and decoded by using the second soft decision value. Accordingly, the complexity of the receiver is reduced and the number of iterations limited due to the complexity is increased, thereby improving the performance of the receiver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system, and in particular, to a partial iterative detection and decoding apparatus and method in a MIMO system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the rapid growth of mobile communication markets, various multimedia services for wireless environment are under high demand. In order to provide the multimedia services, a large capacity of Transmit (TX) data and a high speed of data transfer are in progress. Therefore, it is most important to develop methods for efficiently using the limited frequencies in the wireless communication systems. To do so, wireless communication systems require new transfer techniques using multiple antennas.
One of the new transfer techniques is a MIMO system that uses multiple antennas at a transmitter and a receiver. Compared with a system using a single antenna, this MIMO system can increase channel capacity in proportion to the number of antennas without additional frequency or transmission power allocation.
MIMO technologies are classified into a spatial diversity scheme, a spatial multiplexing scheme, and a combination scheme of spatial diversity and spatial multiplexing. The spatial diversity scheme can obtain a diversity gain corresponding to a product of the number of TX and Receive (RX) antennas, improving transmission reliability. The spatial multiplexing scheme can increase the data rate by simultaneously transmitting a plurality of data streams.
When the spatial multiplexing scheme is used in the MIMO system, mutual interference occurs between the transmitted data streams. Therefore, the receiver detects signals using a Maximum Likelihood (ML) considering the influence of interference signal, or detects signals after interference cancellation. Examples of the interference cancellation scheme include Zero Forcing (ZF) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE).
However, the ML receiver has a drawback in that the complexity increases in proportion to a square of the number of TX antennas and the length of a codeword. Therefore, research on reception algorithms has been conducted to reduce the calculation complexity of the receiver and obtain the performance close to that of the ML receiver.
In addition, the MIMO system uses an Iterative Detection and Decoding (IDD) scheme in which a turbo principle is applied to a MIMO receiver. In the MIMO IDD scheme, a single coder is concatenated with a channel coder and a MIMO coder. Thus, a MIMO detector of the MIMO receiver detects a signal received through an antenna and outputs the detection signal to a channel decoder. The channel decoder improves a bit performance by decoding the detection signal output from the MIMO detector and feeds back the decoded signal to the MIMO detector. The MIMO detector again generates a detection signal using the feedback signal. The MIMO receiver iteratively performs the above-described procedures. Examples of the MIMO IDD scheme include a list MIMO scheme and a turbo blast scheme. The two schemes have the same IDD scheme as the spatial multiplexing scheme of the transmitter, but are different in terms of the detection of the MIMO signal.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional MIMO IDD receiver.
Referring to FIG. 1, when a signal is received, a MIMO detector 101 detects the received signal and generates a first soft decision data to a channel decoder 105. The soft decision data indicates a Log Likelihood Ratio (LLR).
The channel decoder 105 decodes each bit using the first soft decision data as priori information and calculates a second soft decision value. That is, the channel decoder 105 corrects an error by decoding the first soft decision data.
The second soft decision value calculated by the channel decoder 105 is fed back to the MIMO detector 101 and is used as the priori information for the IDD. By repeating these procedures, the reliability of the received bits can be improved.
The MIMO IDD scheme recalculates the soft decision value by performing the IDD of the soft decision value calculated from the separated detector and decoder, thereby improving the performance of the MIMO system. However, because the IDD scheme calculates as many LLRs as the size of the coding blocks of the detector and decoder in each iteration, the complexity of the system increases as a total number of iterations increases.

Partial iterative detection and decoding apparatus and method in MIMO system


A radio communication device includes a power amplifier having a semiconductor device formed with a plurality of unit transistors. Base electrodes of the unit transistors are connected with each other by a base line, and an input capacitor is connected to the base line such that the input capacitor is commonly and electrically connected to the base electrodes of a plurality of the unit transistors.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device. More particularly, it relates to a technology which is effective when applied to a semiconductor device having hetero-junction bipolar transistors (hereinafter referred to as HBTs) and to a radio communication device using the same.
In a HBT using different semiconductor materials for an emitter and a base (e.g., AlGaAs/GaAs, InGaP/GaAs, or the like), a collector current can be increased without lowering a current amplification factor since the leakage of holes into the emitter is suppressed by the barrier of the emitter-base junction thereof. In addition, a reduction in the film thickness of the base layer reduces the transit time of electrons and thereby allows an increase in the response speed of the transistor, i.e., the RF operation thereof.
Accordingly, the HBT has characteristics suitable for use in an RF (Radio Frequency) power amplifier, such as large current and RF operation. However, there is the possibility that a large base current may flow in the transistor due to heat variations and a local temperature rise to consequently increase a collector current and cause the defect that the emitter-collector junction breaks down. In spite of this, there has been a growing need for the miniaturization of a radio communication device (e.g., a mobile telephone or the like). Therefore, it has been required to scale down the semiconductor chip of a semiconductor device formed with the HBT, while suppressing an increase in the thermal resistance thereof.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-237319 (Patent Document 1) has a description on the layout of a semiconductor integrated circuit comprising an amplifier circuit consisting of a plurality of transistors arranged as a matrix on a single semiconductor chip. To suppress heat generation from the transistors, the layout divides the transistors into a plurality of groups by assigning a specified number of the transistors in the same row to one of the groups and equispacedly arranges the transistors in each of the groups. In this case, the spacing between the individual groups is adjusted to be larger than the spacing between the individual transistors in each of the groups.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-237319

Semiconductor device and radio communication device


Systems and methods for generating a visual color display of audio-file data are provided. The system includes a processor that performs a method including receiving audio-file data; generating filtered-audio data by processing the audio-file data by frequency-band filters. The frequency band filters have different frequency bands. The method includes generating one or more waveforms corresponding to the filtered-audio data and displaying the waveforms superimposed in unique color relative to one another. The method includes downsampling the waveforms. The method includes processing the waveforms through an envelope detector. The method includes processing the waveforms through an expander and applying a gain factor. The waveforms have transparency levels at sections that are proportional or inversely proportional to amplitudes at the sections.

Professional and consumer audio equipment may be operated to manipulate audio-track playback. For example, disk jockeys ("DJs") can use the equipment to manipulate audio-track playback by, for example, reversing playback; increasing or decreasing playback speed; and repeating or looping portions of an audio track. The equipment may be used to analyze audio tracks and audio-track playback. DJs use the equipment to analyze an audio track to view information about the audio track and audio-track playback. For example, DJs can use the equipment to view the tempo of the track; the track, artist, and album name; the track key signature; how much of the track has already played; and how much of the track remains to be played. DJs use the equipment to view a waveform representing changes in the audio track's sound-pressure level at different frequencies with time.
The disclosed systems and methods are directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems or shortcomings in the prior art.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general descriptions and the following detailed descriptions are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the claims


An improved image processing method for generating an image from a hard copy document includes the following steps: scanning the hard copy document multiple times using a scanner to generate a plurality of images; performing deskewing for each image; performing translational compensation for each image; selecting two images (first and second) among the plurality of images that have the highest similarity to each other; dilating the first image; converting the dilated first image into a binary form; eroding the converted first image to generate a first processed image; eroding the second image; converting the eroded second image into a binary form; dilating the converted second image to generate a second processed image; and extracting common portions of the first and second processed images to generate a final image. This method can be used to generate high quality scanned images of hard copy documents for purposes of document authentication.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to image processing, and in particular, it relates to a method for improving the quality of a scanned image of a document.
2. Description of Related Art
As information is increasingly being transmitted and consumed in digital forms, it is becoming an increasingly common practice to convert hard copies of documents into digital images using scanners. The scanning process, however, often introduces image distortions such as image shift and skew as well as random noises in the scanned image. Problems with such distortions and noises are present even for high-end scanners. Such distortions and noises adversely affect the appearance of the scanned image. Moreover, when the scanned image is subject to further digital processing such as document authentication, the distortions and noises introduced in the scanning process often impair such processing.
Document authentication refers to a process by which a printed document, which has been distributed and circulated in its hard copy form, and may have been photocopied, is examined to determine whether its content has been altered since it was first printed. Some authentication techniques can determine what the alterations are. Alteration may occur as a result of accidental events or deliberate effort. In one form of document authentication, information regarding the content of the document is associated with the document itself. For example, such information may be encoded in two-dimensional barcode printed on the document itself or on the backside of the document. When the hard copy of a document is scanned back, the barcode is read and the data encoded in the barcode is extracted. The scanned document is analyzed using the information extracted from the barcode to determine whether the document is authentic (i.e. whether alterations have been made, or what the alterations are). In another form of document authentication, information regarding the document is stored in digital form in a reference database, and scanned document is analyzed using the information stored in the database to determine its authenticity.

Method for generating a high quality scanned image of a document


An integrated circuit device for switching electrical loads that have an inductive component comprises at least one switching channel that includes a power stage with a power MOS transistor and a driver circuit for driving the gate of the power MOS transistor, the switching stage being configurable for use in either of a High Side configuration and a Low Side configuration.

Whenever electrical or electromechanical devices like valves, motors, heaters or lamps have to be switched on or off, a driver and a switch are needed to convert a digital signal (e.g., an output signal of a microcontroller) into a current flowing through the load. Two widespread possibilities are in use—the high-side driver, as shown in FIG. 2, and the low-side driver, as shown in FIG. 1 (both explained in detail later). Both possibilities use the same components, but are different in the way they are protected and need different supply voltages. Sometimes both drivers are needed in one application, as in H-bridge motor drivers (a schematic diagram of which is shown in FIG. 3), but often just one kind of driver is needed. Which one is preferred depends on the application and on individual design strategies. Normally the customer decides which option is used; however, this decision leads to some disadvantages. From the moment one kind of driver is ordered, the customer is locked into either a high-side or a low-side driver. If changes occur within the project that would lead to a change in decision, it can be expensive for the customer to have to place a new order for drivers of the other kind. Also, if the customer has a similar project, but one which uses different drivers, a new order has to be placed and the design has to be changed. The manufacturer has to provide the two different drivers, which leads to twice the development effort, twice the production and twice the storing costs. If, however, it could be made possible to provide a product which works, not only as a high-side driver, but also as a low-side driver, these doubled costs could be reduced, leading to a less expensive product. The customer would have the advantage of cost reductions and greater flexibility in the use of the product.

High side/low side driver device for switching electrical loads


A cross-rail support system for use with a bed frame to support a mattress having at least two adjustable support leg assemblies attached to two parallel and adjacent elongate beams. The overall width of the support system is adjustable by sliding the elongate beams relative to each other along their lengths. The placement of the two support leg assemblies is also adjustable by sliding the assemblies along the elongate beams and is independent from the total width of the support system. In addition, the leg assemblies maintain the parallel alignment of the elongate beams to each other and provide support to the mattress. The leg assemblies include telescopic extensions that have locking means, and at least one open ended groove that accommodates a locking means.

Conventional beds generally include a frame, a box spring that is supported by the frame and a mattress that rests on top of the box spring. Conventional frames generally consist of a headboard, footboard, and two pairs of spaced, parallel side rails that form a rectangle that conforms to the shape of the box spring to be placed thereon. The spaced parallel side rails support the outer periphery of the box spring mattress. Although sufficient for most smaller beds, the rectangular configuration fails to sufficiently support the center of most larger beds, such as queen or king-sized beds. Up to 70% of the weight of a sleeper rests on the center "support zone" of the bed and a lack of support in the support zone can result in bowing of the mattress and instability. Such bowing and instability of the mattress can result in discomfort for the sleeper and excessive wear on the mattress and bed frame.
One approach to providing support to the center zone of the bed is to use a plurality of wooden slats (or cross-rail supports) that rest on the side rails of the frame and extend along the width of the bed. However, wooden slats are generally undesirable due to their lack of rigidity and tendency to sag, warp or break after extended exposure to the weight of the bedding and/or the sleeper.
Undue sag or deflection of the cross-rail support may be avoided by using stiffer materials, such as metal rails in place of the wood slats. Further support for the mattress may be achieved by using a leg, or legs, attached to the cross-rail. The legs rest on the floor and are located beneath the support zone of the bed, supporting the cross-rail from below. Although an improvement over wooden slats, metal cross-rails of varying sizes are needed to fit each individual type of bed size. Given the large number of bed widths, retailers frequently encounter the problem of having too many, or too few, of a certain type of cross-rail support.
Currently, adjustable cross-rail supports are used in the bedding industry to allow the cross-rail supports to be lengthened or shortened to support different sized beds. In addition to their adjustable overall widths, another feature to these adjustable cross-rail supports is the use of a plurality (usually two) of leg supports which allows for better support to the support zone.
However, the placement of the leg supports relative to the side rails is often dependent on the overall width of the cross-rail support. It would be advantageous to have a cross-rail support system with an adjustable overall width to fit varying sizes of mattresses and adjustable leg supports where the placement of the leg supports along the support system is independent from the overall width of the support system. This would allow for the placement of the leg supports to be determined not based on the width of the mattress but rather for support and comfort or other considerations such as possible obstructions underneath the bed. Furthermore, it would be advantageous if the support system was easy to use and required a minimal number of parts.

Cross-rail support system for a bed frame with telescopic legs


An add-in card fixing frame includes a frame body, one or more attached locking assemblies, and one or more limit switches. The frame body includes a first side plate, a second side plate, one or more separating plates, and one or more connecting portions. The separating plate includes one or more protruding part having an opening. The attached locking assembly includes a main plate, a top plate, and one or more side plates having a through hole and a locking member. When the add-in card is fixed, the locking member passes through a first screw hole, a second screw hole for fixing, and the add-in card is sandwiched between the top plate and the connecting portion. The top plate presses the limit switch for power connection. The attached locking assembly is fixed to the frame body, so use of hand tools is unnecessary. The screw falling out can be avoided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related to an add-in card fixing frame, especially to an add-in card fixing frame including an attached locking assembly and a limit switch.
2. Related Art
With the development of the industrial computer and cloud computing, in order to increase PC or Server performance, or to reduce the motherboard load, it is very common to add various cards, such as a sound card or display card. The add-in card(s) is usually assembled to the socket(s) on the motherboard and fixed to the outside of the case frame, so as to maintain firmly both mechanical strength and electrical connection. The traditional add-in card uses an L-shaped fixing structure and/or a screw nut to fix the card on the outside of the case frame. However, if the screw/screw nut falls out when being tightened, or due to being inadequately tightened during insertion, it may cause damage or short circuit to the components on the add-in card or on the motherboard. These effects may cause a PC or Server to crash. Additionally, the data stored in the PC or the Server may be rendered inaccessible, so the users of the PC or the Server may be inconvenienced.
Usually, the add-in card(s) is assembling to the outer frame while the PC or Server is powered off; power on the PC or Server after the add-in card is assembled to the outer frame. However, if the add-in card is inadequately tightened during insertion, it is necessary to disconnect the electric power from the PC or Server in order to remove and re-insert the add-in card. The computer component life may be reduced by repeatedly switching on and off of the electric power. Thus, there is a need for a structure or a method to solve the above problems of avoiding screws falling out, and avoiding powering the computer on and off repeatedly.