A polarized Raman Spectrometric system for defining parameters of a polycrystaline material, the system comprises a polarized Raman Spectrometric apparatus, a computer-controlled sample stage for positioning a sample at different locations, and a computer comprising a processor and an associated memory. The polarized Raman Spectrometric apparatus generates signal(s) from either small sized spots at multiple locations on a sample or from an elongated line-shaped points on the sample, and the processor analyzes the signal(s) to define the parameters of said polycrystalline material.

Polycrystalline material is a widespread form of matter of great practical use in many industries. An accurate metrology and control over grain dimensions is often required to guarantee suitable characteristics of the polycrystalline material. One clear example for such situation is the use of polycrystalline materials in the semiconductor industry, where they are used in numerous process steps and as multiple functions, in front-end, back-end, logic and memory products.
The polycrystalline material is built out of multiple nanocrystals ('grains'), each of which is comprised of the atomic configuration of the perfect crystal, but with varying orientations. The average dimensions of these grains can affect the material's properties such as conductivity, phase diagram, thermal response, mechanical behavior and also impact the overall device performance.
Unfortunately, the determination of average grain dimensions is a complicated technological task, often requiring the use of destructive techniques such as transmission electron microscopy which in addition to being destructive and extremely slow can only sample an extremely small region at a time (of few microns), preventing good statistical feedback.
Another useful method is X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). XRD results are, however, highly qualitative and considered inaccurate, and often very difficult to interpret.
Therefore, a fast, non-destructive technology, which could be adopted for in-line metrology, allowing grain size determination is required.

Optical technique for material characterization


The present disclosure illustrates a communication establishing method. The method includes following steps. A communication service program is executed on the mobile device to transmit an identification code to a cloud server. A toll-free number is determined and a communication number corresponding to the identification code is inquired from a lookup table. A control command is transmitted from the cloud server to the mobile device. The mobile device is controlled by the control command to dial a call request containing the toll-free number to a dial-up device. The dial-up device transmits a search request to the cloud server and the cloud server then return the communication number respected to the toll-free number to the dial-up device. Finally, the dial-up device automatic transfers the call request to the communication terminal, so as to establish a communication connection between the mobile device and a communication terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a communication establishing method, and more particularly, to a method of utilizing a communication service program to contact with the specific person by dialing free-payment telephone.
2. Description of the Related Art
A reverse charge call is to provide the user to contact professional person of the company by dialing the toll-free number. In most traditional approaches, the user dials the front receptionist of the company by a representative telephone number, and then dials to extension number according to voice instruction of the front receptionist; or automatically transfers to a related communication terminal by machine. The advantage of this approach is that the user can consult or complain with the company in free.
Another approach is that the professional person leaves the contact approach, for example the salesman leave his/her cell phone number, and the user must record the telephone and then contact with the professional person by dialing the recorded number. The advantage of this approach is that the user can contact with the professional person directly.
However, the drawback of the former approach is that multiple-layer transferring causes more time-consumption; the drawback of the later approach is that user cannot contact with the specific person by free-payment telephone. In addition, when the free-payment telephone of the company is changed, the user must search again, it is very inconvenient.
In other approach, the user can contact with the professional person of the company in free-payment contact via network telephone. However, the user must have the account of the professional person and only can contact with the professional person who is on line, and it is also inconvenient for the user.


An ICP mass spectrometer comprising an ICP ion source, a mass analyzer having a magnetic sector field, a detector, an extraction element in the form of an ion funnel for transferring the generated ions into the mass analyzer and arranged between the ICP ion source and the mass analyzer, and a transport optics arranged between the ion funnel and the mass analyzer.

The present invention relates to an ICP mass spectrometer.
Analytical problems in the field of ICP mass spectrometers demand devices which are inexpensive and have high detection limits. In this case small quantities of available test material, on the one hand, and a short measuring time or other reasons, can be behind the demand to supply the highest possible fraction of ions generated by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to a useable detection.
DE 43 33 469 A1 describes an analytical device comprising an ICP ion source and a connected mass spectrometer of the Nier-Johnson type. In this case only a narrow measuring window can be simultaneously registered, wherein the respectively detected mass can be variably tuned in terms of time. The illustrated spectrometer extracts the ions from the ICP source by means of a separately pumped sampler-skimmer unit.
ICP mass spectrometers are also generally known in which ions from an ICP source can be transferred via a sampler-skimmer unit into a spectrometer of the Mattauch-Herzog type.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,628 describes a particle optical system under the term "ion funnel", by means of which improved extraction of charged particles is possible from a region of high pressure between 0.1 mbar and 1 bar into a region of relatively low pressure, in particular a high-vacuum region. The ion funnel can either be constructed as a stack of washers with central apertures that decrease from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side, wherein the washers are loaded with out-of-phase high frequency alternating voltage, or as a pair of coils, through which current flows, with decreasing diameter. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,628 is hereby incorporated for the purpose of defining the term "ion funnel". The term "ion funnel" also includes interim developments of an extraction optical system corresponding to the design of U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,628.

Spectro Analytical Instruments GmbH & Co. KG


A circuit training apparatus for training students to understand electrical circuits includes a body member that includes a front face having a peripheral edge and a plurality of side walls defining an interior area and a dial opening. The apparatus includes a battery for powering the circuits. A circuit board is positioned in the body member, the circuit board having a plurality of circuit areas etched thereon and having a plurality of current lead lines electrically connecting the battery and circuit areas, respectively. A rotary selection device is electrically connected to the circuit board and battery and includes a dial indicative of a circuit selection coupled to an electrical switch for directing current from the battery to a respective current lead line associated with the circuit selection. The dial of the rotary selection device extends away from the circuit board and through the dial opening for accessibility to a user.

The present invention relates generally to educational training devices and, more particularly, to a circuit training apparatus having multiple circuits and having a rotary dial with which a student selects a circuit to investigate.
Understanding the basics of electricity requires understanding Ohms law of resistance, voltage, and current. Traditionally, students study, measure, and learn about circuits by building circuits with wires and electronic components. Unfortunately, students spend an excessive amount of time building circuits and not enough time learning measurements, multimeter operation, and calculations. The jumper wires used to build the circuits are confusing to the students and requires the circuit be connected properly to study them. Loose components become lost, do not function correctly, and are otherwise messy. Students end up building the circuits incorrectly which leads to confusion and frustration. In many cases the students do not have time to build and study the circuits in the time provided for class. The mess of teardown and loss of components and storage are almost always a problem—to the student and to the teacher.
Circuits may be arranged in different ways and function accordingly. For instance, a student must be proficient in constructing, measuring, and understanding parallel circuits, series circuits, and combinations thereof. A student must understand Ohms Law and its calculations. Learning is achieved more quickly with a hands-on apparatus which allows the selection and study of multiple circuits with each circuit being selectable using an electromechanical rotary selection device.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a circuit training apparatus having multiple circuits positioned on a device, each circuit being independent and separate from the others and capable of being measured by a multimeter when selected. In other words, it would be desirable to have a circuit training apparatus which allows the selection and study of multiple circuits with each circuit being selectable using an electromechanical rotary selection device.


The invention concerns a device for a vehicle, for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure, which at one end has a first means for pivoting on a sprung mass (2) of the vehicle and at the other end a second means for pivoting on an unsprung mass (3) of the vehicle, a vibration damper (4) damping a relative movement of the sprung mass and unsprung masses (2, 3), and a self-pumping air spring (5) which supports the sprung and unsprung masses (2, 3) against each other in a sprung fashion. The vibration damper (4) according to the invention has a damping characteristic which is adjustable during operation, preferably steplessly adjustable. The invention also concerns a method for height adjustment of a vehicle superstructure by means of such a device.

Road vehicles with wheel suspension systems which contain an active or semi-active level or height adjustment system for the vehicle superstructure offer various benefits in comparison with vehicles with a passive wheel suspension. Thanks to a constant ground clearance, the driving behavior can be improved as the spring compression and extension movements of the wheels are independent of the vehicle load. Also it is possible for example, in city driving i.e. at low speeds, to raise the vehicle superstructure from the ground and hence increase the ground clearance in order for example to be able to drive without problems over road humps, curbstones or underground car park entrances with a high ramp angle. At higher drive speeds the vehicle superstructure can be lowered using the ride height adjustment system in order for example to reduce the drag of the vehicle. In vehicles, in particular in cars, the movements of the vehicle superstructure are normally mainly damped hydraulically, for example by means of passive shock and vibration dampers working with hydraulic oil. Furthermore hydraulic vibration dampers are also known, the damping characteristics of which can be altered during operation. The ride height adjustment systems currently available on the market for vehicles are relatively costly and have a high weight. In addition they require a large installation space and use relatively large quantities of energy for operation.
For example DE 10 2006 055 757 A1 discloses a self-pumping air spring and damper unit working with compressed air, with automatic ride height adjustment, for a vehicle chassis. The air spring and damper unit has a pump which is driven by the changing distance between the pivot points of the spring and damper unit on the vehicle superstructure and chassis respectively as a result of the spring compression and extension movements of the vehicle, and generates an increase in air pressure whereby the air spring and damper unit retains an established ride height when the load on the vehicle changes. The pump is substantially formed from two pump parts which are moveable relative to each other and reduce a compression chamber, of which one pump part is connected with the one pivot point and the other pump part with the other pivot point such that on the spring compression and extension movements of the vehicle, the changing distance between the pivot points is transmitted to the mutual spacing of the pump parts. The air spring and damper unit furthermore has a passive, pneumatic vibration damper formed by two spring chambers which contain compressed air and which can be connected via a throughflow choke valve, wherein the compressed air is exchanged between the spring chambers damped by the choke valves on the spring compression and extension movements of the vehicle. One of the spring chambers is delimited by a roller bellows which rolls on the contour of a rotationally symmetrical rolling cylinder. The compression chamber of the pump can be connected fluid-conductively with one of the spring chambers via a check valve so that on a compression stroke of the pump or on spring compression, air is pumped into a spring chamber by the pump. On spring extension, air is discharged from the spring chamber via a discharge device also provided, which substantially comprises a discharge cylinder and a discharge piston. The pump and the discharge device are matched to each other such that a constant vehicle height is always maintained irrespective of the vehicle load due to the spring compression and extension movements of the vehicle superstructure.
Furthermore DE 103 27 485 A1 discloses an active pneumatic suspension system for a motor vehicle with an air spring and a passive vibration damper. The air spring has a spring chamber filled with compressed air, wherein the compressed air can be compressed or expanded via a hydraulic fluid which can be pumped into the spring chamber, and is separated from the compressed air in the spring chamber by means of an elastic membrane. The hydraulic fluid is pumped by means of an electrically operated hydraulic pump from a hydraulic accumulator into the spring chamber and vice versa.
DE 100 34 603 A1 furthermore discloses a pneumatic air spring and damping element which has two spring chambers separated by a choke element, of which chambers at least one is variable in its volume. In the case that both spring chambers are variable in volume, an additional spring element in the form of a coil spring is connected in parallel with the air spring and damper element.
Furthermore DE 25 38 805 A1 discloses a vehicle wheel suspension with a telescopic shock absorber and a coil spring connected in parallel to the shock absorber, wherein a tubular flexible membrane element is provided outside the shock absorber to form a chamber of variable gas volume. To control the gas volume in the chamber, gas supply devices are provided for optional supply of a gas, for example compressed by means of a compressor, to and from the chamber.
DE 1 216 126 discloses a hydraulic telescopic shock absorber connected with a support suspension for vehicles, wherein the support suspension for example can be formed as coil springs or air springs arranged coaxially to the shock absorber. The support suspension load is supported via a moving wall on the damping fluid which is otherwise enclosed by solid walls on all sides.
In operation of the known self-pumping devices with an air spring which provides a height adjustment function, in general damping forces are generated by the pumping of air into and out of the spring chamber of the air spring via corresponding valves. In addition the spring stiffness of the air springs changes on a height adjustment process, under constant air pressure, as a result of pumping of air into and out of the spring chamber of the air spring. Both the temporary generation of additional damping forces and the change in spring stiffness as a function of ride height are undesirable as they can lead in particular to perceptible losses of driving comfort.

Height adjustment for vehicles with air spring and vibration damper


Detection of damage in armor structures, using networks of piezoelectric transducers. In particular, piezoelectric transducers can be placed at various points on the armor structure, effectively creating a number of paths between pairs of transducers. Each of these paths can be queried by transmitting an ultrasonic stress wave from one transducer to the other, and analyzing changes in the stress wave. The signal from the received stress wave can be time gated to remove crosstalk, and the resulting time gated signal can be analyzed for characteristics of damage. For instance, if the time gated signal is sufficiently attenuated, it can be determined that the armor structure has sustained damage to at least that region traversed by this particular path.

Armor structures, such as ceramic plates used in body armor and other high-strength structures, are the subject of ongoing improvement efforts. More specifically, many pieces of modern body armor are composite structures. A major layer of the structure is the ceramic plate, which plays a decisive role in armor performance. The ceramic plate can be damaged by impact and this damage will affect subsequent armor performance. Detection of the damage is therefore very important. Accordingly, much current effort is focused on the reliable detection of damage in armor structures. Damage detection of armor structures is very important for the safety of protected people, vehicles or facilities. Maintaining the protection integrity of armor is vital to protection of life.
A major conventional damage detection method for inspecting armor employs X-ray imaging and visual inspection of the images. This method is generally inconvenient and of limited usefulness in the field. This damage detection procedure also requires well-trained personnel to inspect the images and precautions for radiation shielding. Thus, the cost of deploying such an inspection method is relatively high. Therefore, it is desirable to develop a method that is easy to use, does not adversely impact the weight or strength of the armor, and has a lower cost as compared to X-ray methods. It is further desirable to develop reliable armor damage detection methods that can be used in field conditions.

Method and apparatus for detecting damage in armor structures


Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to adjusting a fly height of a transducer to enable a first data access with a storage medium rotating at a first speed, rotating the storage medium at a second speed substantially different from the first speed, and adjusting the fly height of the transducer to enable a second data access with the storage medium rotating at the second speed.

The present case is generally directed to transducer fly height control in a data storage device. Some data storage devices, such as hard disc drives, use radially movable data transducers to access data tracks on media recording surfaces to carry out data I/O operations with a host device. The transducers are often hydrodynamically supported in close proximity to the surfaces by fluidic (e.g., air) currents established by high speed rotation of the media.
The continued demand for devices with increased data storage densities has generally led to the development of fly height adjustment capabilities that can be enacted during device operation. For example, fly height adjustment capabilities have been proposed whereby a common amount of fly height adjustment is applied across the board to multiple transducers in a given device. This technique can be useful during a ramp unload operation in which the transducers are moved from the media surfaces and parked on a ramp structure during a device deactivation sequence. Fly height adjustments can also be carried out by adjusting the rotational velocity of the media, as transducers can be configured to fly at heights that are proportional to media rotational rate.
Nevertheless, there remains a need for further improvements in the art for devices that can accommodate a variety of different performance and power utilization modes while maintaining the ability to store and retrieve user data. It is to these and other improvements that various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed.


According to some aspects, a cymbal is provided comprising a metal plate having a plurality of perforations therein, and a coating of a resilient material in contact with the metal plate that covers at least a portion of the surface of the metal plate. According to some aspects, a cymbal is provided comprising a metal plate, and a dampening element attached to at least a portion of the circumference of the metal plate. According to some aspects, a method of producing a cymbal is provided, comprising forming a metal plate having a plurality of perforations therein, and forming a resilient material over at least a portion of the surface of the metal plate and in contact with the metal plate.

Conventional acoustic drum sets are typically quite loud. In particular, metal cymbals, which typically comprise part of such a drum set, generate a high volume sound, often over a period of several seconds. A drummer wishing to practice drumming skills will generally therefore produce a lot of noise.
So-called "electronic drum kits" comprise pads that produce little audible sound when struck and typically consist of a material such as rubber. In particular, "electronic cymbals" are typically blocks of rubber that include mechanical switches at different locations on or nearby the cymbal. The switches may be located at various positions so that when the cymbal is struck, the movement of the cymbal causes one or more of the switches to be engaged.


Example methods and apparatus for implementing collision detection in data transmission are described, One example method includes sending a data packet including collision detection information to a receive end, where the collision detection information is used by the receive end to perform collision detection on the data packet. A status indication message sent by the receive end is received by the receive end when sending the data packet. The receive end parses the status indication message. If the status indication message includes collision information, the receive end perform retransmission of the data packet.

Currently, in a scenario in which a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol is used (for example, a wireless local area network (WLAN)), a transmit end (which may be an access point (AP), or may be a station (STA)) is in a half-duplex mode. To be specific, the transmit end uses a listen before transmit manner, in which the transmit end can determine that a collision occurs at a receive end only if the transmit end does not receive an acknowledgement (ACK) message within a preset time, and then start a retransmission. Clearly, the transmit end cannot learn in time whether a collision exists at the receive end, thereby resulting in low data packet transmission efficiency.
The transmit end is in a half-duplex mode, and an implementation specified in the protocol is: listen before transmit, that is, after the transmit end first determines that a channel is idle, the transmit end sends a data packet, and then waits for the receive end to return an ACK message, so as to determine that the receive end correctly receives the data packet. If the transmit end does not receive the ACK message within a preset time, it may be determined that a collision event of the data packet exists at the receive end, and then the transmit end starts the retransmission procedure.
Clearly, because the transmit end cannot learn in time whether a collision exists at the receive end, the transmit end needs to wait for preset duration before entering the retransmission procedure, resulting in low data packet transmission efficiency and low channel utilization.

Method and apparatus for implementing collision detection in data transmission


A lightweight truck and passenger vehicle tire having an improved tread design that provides numerous biting edges for increased grip in mud, snow, loose debris, and when climbing rocks as well as providing increased protection from punctures and cuts to the tire's shoulder and upper sidewall regions.

A. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses regarding the manufacture of pneumatic tires, and more particularly to methods and apparatuses regarding the manufacture of light truck and passenger vehicle tires having a tread with improved off-the-road (OTR) traction and increased protection from punctures.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide light truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) tires with a more rugged look and to increase the tire's off-road performance characteristics. Light truck and passenger vehicle tires with a more rugged look, when mounted on a light truck or sport utility vehicle, enable the operator to drive in limited off-the-road (OTR) conditions and to engage in recreational OTR activities. Often, the vehicle operator will reduce inflation pressures in the tire. This reduced inflation pressure softens the ride and causes the tire's footprint to increase to improve OTR traction. Generally, tires have a tread that is well-suited for a specific vehicle application. Tires designed specifically for OTR activities commonly have treads made up of widely spaced lugs that provide a high number of biting surfaces. These biting surfaces enable the tire to both grip uneven terrain and to throw out any mud accumulating between them.
Typically, tread design is a matter of trade-offs. An increase in a tread's off-road performance typically results in a decrease in the tread's on-road performance. For example, the widely spaced lugs or other very aggressive tread patterns commonly used for OTR performance provide high void areas, or areas not in contact with the ground. This causes the tread to be relatively noisy, exhibit poor vibrational characteristics, and have generally poor tread wear when used on paved roads. One known solution is to provide the tread with a center on-road portion, for providing quality on-road performance, and a pair of OTR shoulder portions that extend into the tire's shoulder and upper sidewall regions, for providing improved OTR performance. Commonly, these OTR shoulder portions will have widely spaced tread patterns similar to those designed specifically for OTR performance. During OTR activities, such as trail-riding and rock climbing, where increased traction is required, the tire's shoulder regions contact the uneven ground or loose terrain. By providing the OTR shoulder portions, additional biting edges are available for increased traction and performance. Because the OTR shoulder portions generally do not contact the flat, even paved surfaces, the tire's OTR performance can be increased while limiting a corresponding decrease in the tire's on-road performance.
Although known light truck tires work well for their intended purpose, several disadvantages exist. Decreased inflation pressures and widely spaced lugs in the OTR shoulder portions cause a significant increase in the chance that the tire's unprotected areas such as the shoulder and upper sidewall regions will be punctured or cut during recreational OTR activities. Conventionally, tire manufacturers have attempted to decrease this risk by increasing the under-tread gauge, increasing the net-to-gross ratio of the tread, adding plies and belts to the carcass, or using new rubber compounds. One disadvantage to these known methods is that they cause an increase in both the weight and cost of the tire. An increased tire weight causes a decrease in the tire's OTR performance and an increased tire cost causes a decrease in the general marketability of the tire. What is needed then is a light truck and passenger vehicle tire that decreases the risk of punctures and cuts to the shoulder and upper sidewall regions of the tire that does not cause a significant increase in the weight of the tire therefore leading to a decrease in the tire's OTR performance.

Grip tire with added puncture protection

The Goodyear Tire + Rubber Company, Inc.


Disclosed is a resin molding comprising a molding composed of a resin composition comprising 100 parts by weight of a substrate resin comprising 100 to 30% by weight of at least one propylene polymer selected from the group consisting of propylene/ethylene block copolymers having an ethylene content of 3 to 45% by weight and propylene/ethylene random copolymers having an ethylene content of 0.5 to 10% by weight and 0 to 70% by weight of an elastomer, and at least one member selected from the group consisting of (A) 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of a 1,3-diene polymer having at least one terminal hydroxyl group or a hydrogenation product thereof, (B) 0.01 to 40 parts by weight of a copolymer of ethylene with an unsaturated compound containing a carboxyl group (including an acid anhydride group) and (C) 0.01 to 40 parts by weight of a copolymer of ethylene with an unsaturated compound containing a hydroxyl group, with the proviso that if at least two members of components (A), (B) and (C) are used in combination, the total amount does not exceed 40 parts by weight, which preferably has a coating formed directly on the surface of said molded body. One preferred application of this coated resin molding is an automotive part, especially a bumper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coated resin molding comprising a molding and a coating formed directly on the surface of the molding.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known that since a polypropylene resin has no polar group in the structure thereof and has a high crystallinity, the adhesion of a paint to the polypropylene resin is very poor. Accordingly, for improving this poor adhesion, a primer is applied on the surface of polypropylene or the surface is modified by a plasma treatment or the like and then a paint is applied to the surface.
However, this conventional coating method involves the following problems.
In the primer coating method, since an expensive primer has to be used or the number of coating steps increases, the coating cost increases. Furthermore, since it is necessary to evaporate a solvent contained in the primer, the working environment is contaminated and there is a risk of a fire, and a problem arises as regards the safety.
In the plasma treatment method, since a high vacuum should be required, an expensive apparatus is necessary for this purpose, and increase of the cost cannot be avoided because the treatment is conducted batchwise. Moreover, the plasma-treated surface is unstable, and if the surface falls in contact with a foreign substance, the adhesiveness to a paint is reduced. Accordingly, the properties of the formed coating are often uneven. Thus, handling of a molding having the plasma-treated surface is troublesome.
Accordingly, if the primer-coating step or the plasma treatment can be omitted, the coating process will be simplified, the working environment will be improved and the manufacturing cost will be reduced. Therefore, many investigations have been made for attaining this object.
However, inspite of much effort, there has not been developed a process for attaining this object. Therefore, the above-mentioned primer coating treatment or plasma treatment cannot be omitted in case of polypropylene-based resin materials.
Such an improved surface characteristic of a resin molding that no primer is needed for coating it with a paint does not, of course, interfere with the use of a primer.

Mitsubishi Petrochemical Company Limited


Described herein are compositions and methods for making and using recombinant bacteria that are capable of regulated attenuation and/or regulated expression of one or more antigens from Clostridium Perfringens as vaccines to prevent necrotic enteritis (NE).

Clostridium perfringens Type A is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobe that is traditionally controlled by the addition of antibiotics in the feed for livestock and poultry as growth promoters, Antimicrobial Growth Promoters (AGP). However, development of antibiotic resistance has led to a decline in the use of antibiotics as AGP, and there is considerable effort by the government and the poultry industry to cease the use of AGP. Consequentially, there has been an increase in necrotic enteritis incidence in poultry.
C. perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis (NE) is a widespread disease in broilers. Afflicted poultry exhibit diarrhea, high morbidity with poor feed conversion, weight loss, and 10-40% mortality. NE affects the mucosa and causes epithelial degeneration, necrosis, inflammatory leukocytes in lamina propria, enterocyte sloughing, villi fusion and shortening. NE affects the chicken throughout its life cycle, and is on the rise with elimination/reduction of antibiotic use. In addition, severe NE is often associated with infections by Eimeria species, causing coccidiosis to result in mortality of broilers sometimes reaching as high as 50%.
Each year, Cp infection and NE cause great economic loss to the poultry industry and poses a significant threat to public health. There are currently no necrotic enteritis vaccines available for use in poultry. Accordingly, there is a need for a safe, effective vaccine to prevent NE in poultry.

Induction of protective immunity against antigens

University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated


A connector with a protective cover in which the protective cover covers the connector and an exposed, fixed terminal, thereby enhancing safety, and a connector fitting operation can be effected easily without increasing the time and labor required for an assembling operation. The connector with the protective cover includes a connector portion receiving a connection terminal connected to one end of a power source-side wire, and a cover portion integrally connected to a front end of a connector housing of the connector portion through a hinge. When the cover portion is fitted on and connected to the connector portion, the whole of the connector housing and an exposed, fixed terminal can be positively protected. At the same time, the connection terminal is retained by a projection formed on a reverse surface of the cover portion.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a connector with a protective cover, and more particularly to a connector with a protective cover in which the protective cover covers a connector housing and an exposed, fixed terminal, and also retains a connection terminal, provided in the connector housing, in a double manner.
2. Background
Usually, a rear window defogger (rear electric heating wire) is mounted on a rear window glass panel of an automobile so as to remove moisture and ice from the rear window glass panel to thereby secure a clear view. This rear window defogger includes an electric resistance wire printed in a meandering manner on the inner side of the rear window glass panel facing a compartment of the automobile. A male terminal, fixedly secured on the rear window glass panel, is connected to one end of the rear window defogger. A connector, having a female terminal connected to one end of a power source-side wire, is fitted on this exposed, fixed terminal, thereby electrically connecting the female terminal to the fixed male terminal.
More specifically, in electric wiring 1 of an automobile shown in FIG. 9, electric power is supplied to a rear window defogger 2 via a thick, power source-wire W extending from a battery 3 through a fuse box 4 to the vicinity of one end of the rear window defogger 2. A switch 5, mounted on an instrument panel, is turned on and off to activate and deactivate the rear window defogger 2. As shown in FIG. 10, a fixed terminal 8 is fixedly secured to a rear window glass panel 6, and is connected to the end of the rear window defogger 2, and the power source-side wire W is connected to the fixed terminal 8 through a connector 7 having a female terminal mounted therein.
As shown in FIG. 11, the connector 7 for fitting on the fixed terminal 8 fixedly mounted on the rear window glass panel has a terminal fitting opening 7b formed in its front end through which opening 7b the fixed terminal 8 is fitted in the connector 7. A terminal insertion opening (not shown) for inserting the female terminal, connected to the end of the power source-side wire W, into the connector 7, is formed in a rear end surface thereof. A holder 9 for retaining the female terminal in a double manner is hingedly connected to an outer surface of a connector housing 7a
For fitting the connector 7 on the fixed terminal 8, the female terminal is first inserted into the connector housing 7a, and is retained by a retaining lance (not shown) formed in the connector housing 7a. Then, the holder 9 is pivotally moved to be fitted into the connector housing 7a, thereby retaining the female terminal in a double manner. Then, the fixed terminal 8 is fitted in the terminal fitting opening 7b, so that the fixed terminal 8 and the female terminal are electrically connected together within the connector housing 7a
However, the fixed terminal (male terminal) 8 is partly exposed even after the fitting of the connector, and therefore needs to be electrically insulated. And besides, there is a chance that when the operator is to fit and disengage the connector 7, the fingers and so on are injured by an exposed edge of the male terminal.
If a cover is merely attached to the connector housing 7a, this increases the time and labor required for the assembling operation, and the connector of a relatively small size must be fitted, and the assembling efficiency is lowered.


An audio communication system for communication between vehicle occupants in a vehicle, including an image capturing device configured to monitor a first vehicle occupant, a processor configured to receive an image of the first vehicle occupant from the image capturing device and determine whether the first vehicle occupant is attracting attention from a second vehicle occupant, a first microphone associated to the first vehicle occupant configured to receive an audio input from the first vehicle occupant in response to the determination of the first vehicle occupant attracting the second vehicle occupant's attention, and a first speaker associated to the second vehicle occupant configured to activate an audio augmentation of the received audio input in the first speaker and output the augmented audio input.

A vehicle may typically comprise a plurality of vehicle occupants, usually one driver or operator of the vehicle and one or more passengers wherein the driver or operator and one passenger are seated in the front seat of the vehicle and the remaining of the plurality of passengers are seated in the back seat of the vehicle. The vehicle occupants (i.e. the passengers) seated in the back seat of the vehicle may not be able to hear what the vehicle occupants (i.e. the driver or operator of the vehicle) seated in the front seat are talking about and the other way around which may result in a common frustration since it makes communication in the vehicle difficult.
Therefore, there is a need for alternative approaches to audio communication between vehicle occupants in a vehicle.

NINGBO GEELY AUTOMOBILE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CO.


Architecture and a method for reducing voice switch and trunk loading is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for handling a voice frequency data call to a first termination telephone number associated with a service provider includes a first processor for recognizing and routing the voice frequency data call toward a data network via a first network modem and a converter for receiving the voice frequency data call from the first network modem and packetizing the voice frequency call into a packet switch call having at least a first packet transmittable toward the service provider via the data network interconnectable to the service provider. A method for handling such voice frequency data calls from a first person to a service provider includes the steps of recognizing the voice frequency data call corresponds to a service provider, processing at least the first termination telephone number to direct the routing of data in the voice frequency data call toward a data network, and processing the voice frequency data call to convert it to a packet switch call having at least a first packet transmittable toward the service provider via the data network.

The present invention generally relates to a system and method for processing telephone calls, and in particular, a system and method for handling voice frequency modem calls from modem users to service providers.
Over the years, various devices and methods have been developed to facilitate communication between parties. For example, for purposes of allowing individuals to communicate to each other via a telephone associated with each party, a circuit switch or voice telephone network was developed to provide a system by which voice signals between individuals may be exchanged. In such cases, voice communication between specific parties is established via a dedicated circuit in the voice telephone network. Typical voice communication telephone calls last, on average, about three or four minutes.
In other instances a party having a work station or personal computer and a modem may place a telephone call to a service provider (e.g., Internet service provider, on-line provider, corporate networks) having a modem to establish data communications between the party and the service provider. In such instances, communication between the two modems also utilizes the voice telephone network. However, such data communications telephone calls over the voice telephone network typically last much longer than the average voice communication telephone calls, and, in fact, may last fifteen to twenty minutes, or even hours at a time. In view of such durations and the fact that each voice or data telephone call utilizes a dedicated circuit for each call, the voice telephone networks are subject to overloading. Furthermore, as data traffic over voice telephone network is typically sent at a rate of only about 28.8 kilobits per second while the system can accommodate traffic sent at a rate of about 64 kilobits per second, only a fraction of the capability of the voice telephone network is utilized in data telephone calls. Furthermore, actual data rates are, on average, much lower (e.g., 5 kilobits per second).
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for efficiently and economically handling a voice frequency call between a modem user and a service provider.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system and method for interconnecting a modem user and a service provider while reducing voice switching and trunk loading.
To achieve one or both of these objectives, the present invention concerns a system for handling at least a first voice frequency data call from at least a first person or first modem user to a first service provider by routing data (e.g., modem data, Integrated Services Digital Network (xe2x80x9cISDNxe2x80x9d) B channel data) from such voice frequency data calls toward the service provider over a data network (e.g., packet switched data network). In one aspect, in order to handle a first voice frequency modem call, the system for handling such voice frequency calls includes a means for recognizing and directing the routing of at least a first voice frequency call to a first network modem (e.g., interconnecting a voice frequency call to an available modem located in a central office), and a converter, interconnected to (e.g., in electrical communication with) the means for recognizing and directing, for receiving data from the first voice frequency call via the first modem and packetizing the first voice frequency call into a packet switch call having at least a first packet, which is transmittable toward the first service provider via a data network interconnectable to the first service provider. As such, voice switch and trunk loading on circuit switched voice networks is reducible.
Of importance, the system utilizes an Advanced Intelligent Network (xe2x80x9cAINxe2x80x9d) and an associated switch to efficiently recognize that a voice frequency modem call from a modem user to a specific service provider is subject to special call processing and to provide information on how the modem call is to be routed (e.g., towards the service provider via a network modem and the data network). In this regard, in one embodiment, the means for recognizing and directing includes a receiver (e.g., switch) which is capable of recognizing that the voice frequency modem call is subject to special processing and generating at least a first message having a query corresponding at least to the first termination telephone number, and a processor, interconnected to (e.g., in electrical communication with) the receiver, which is capable of retrieving from a database associated with the processor information in response to the first message to direct the routing of the first voice frequency call toward the data network via a first modem (e.g., any available modem) in a modem bank. More specifically, in one embodiment, the receiver includes an AIN capable switch having an AIN trigger capable of generating the first message upon receipt and identification of a voice frequency call to a specific number associated with the service provider. In another embodiment, the processor includes a Service Control Point (xe2x80x9cSCPxe2x80x9d) for retrieving information corresponding to the first termination telephone number from the database associated with the SCP and for generating a message to direct the routing of the voice frequency call to a data network via a first modem.
The converter for assembling packets of data is generally capable of converting voice frequency calls into packet switch calls having at least a first packet. As such, the converter is capable of receiving the output from a first modem, namely, the data in the voice frequency call from the first person, and packetizing the data for transport toward the appropriate service provider over the data network. For purposes of routing the packets within the data network, the packetizer may also address each packet with at least a destination address corresponding to the service provider and an originating address corresponding to the first person (e.g., the converter port through which the voice frequency modem call is routed). For purposes of properly addressing each packet, the packetizer may obtain the service provider""s address and/or routing instructions by interfacing with the AIN directly or by interfacing with the receiver (e.g., switch). In instances where at least a second modem user wishes to establish modem or ISDN B-channel data communication with the first service provider or a second service provider, the system may further include a multiplexer for multiplexing packets of data for transport toward the appropriate service provider via the data network.
For purposes of delivering data from the voice frequency call to a service provider not having the capability and/or desire to receive packetized and/or multiplexed data, the system may further include a packet disassembler for depacketizing packets and/or for demultiplexing packets. In one embodiment, where packetized data from modem users""voice frequency modem calls is to be delivered from the data network to the service provider via a channelized T-1 data delivery system (e.g., T-1 line), the system of the present invention includes a depacketizer and second modem associated with the service provider to deliver strings of data to the service provider. In another embodiment, where packetized data from modem users""voice frequency modem calls is to be delivered from the data network to the service provider as a Voice Frequency/Twisted Pair (xe2x80x9cVF/TPxe2x80x9d) data stream, the system of the present invention includes a diassembler for depacketizing and/or demultiplexing the packets. Otherwise, where the service provider is interconnectable (e.g., electrically linkable) to the data network and has the capability and/or desire to demultiplex and/or depacketize packets, the data from modem users may be delivered to the appropriate service provider via the data network as multiplexed and packeted data.
In another aspect, the present invention concerns a method for handling at least a first voice frequency data call (e.g., modem data, ISDN B-channel data) to/from at least a first modem user from/to a first termination telephone number associated with a first service provider, which includes the steps of recognizing the first voice frequency data call from the first modem user corresponds to the first service provider, directing the routing of the first voice frequency data call toward a data network via a first network modem, and processing the voice frequency data call, and specifically the data of the voice frequency data call, to convert the first voice frequency data call into a first packet switch call having at least a first packet transmittable toward the first service provider via the data network linkable to the first service provider. The first packet corresponds to data included in the first voice frequency data call. In this regard, the method of the present invention alleviates voice switch and trunk loading as communicating between modem users and service providers can be more efficiently established via a data network.
In one embodiment of the method of the present invention, the step of recognizing a first voice frequency modem call includes the steps of receiving the first voice frequency modem call from the first person (e.g., first modem user) via a first user modem associated with the first person and identifying that the first voice frequency modem call corresponds to the first service provider and, as such, warrants special processing. In order to obtain information regarding treatment of the first voice frequency modem call, the step of directing the routing includes the steps of processing at least the first termination telephone number to retrieve information concerning the routing of the first voice frequency modem call and routing the first voice frequency modem call to the data network via the first network modem.
In one embodiment, an AIN is utilized to perform the steps of processing at least the first termination telephone number to obtain information and providing instructions to route the first voice frequency modem call. More specifically, in this embodiment, the steps of processing the first voice frequency call and routing includes the steps of generating a first message to request data corresponding to at least the first termination telephone number, searching, in response to the first message, a database to retrieve data corresponding to at least the first termination telephone number, the data being stored in the database, and generating a second message to direct the routing of the voice frequency call to the first network modem, the second message being based upon data retrieved during the searching step. In one embodiment, the steps of receiving the voice frequency call and generating the first message to request information or data concerning how to route or process the voice frequency call is performed by an AIN capable switch, and specifically, an AIN trigger associated therewith. In another embodiment, the AIN, and specifically, a Service Control Point, is utilized to perform the steps of searching the database and generating the second message to direct the routing of the voice frequency call.
The step of processing the voice frequency call generally concerns converting the voice frequency modem call, and specifically, data from the voice frequency call, into a form which is transportable in the data network. In one embodiment, the step of processing the voice frequency call includes the step of packet assembling (e.g., packetizing) the data from the voice frequency call into a packet switch call having at least a first packet of data. The processing step may also include the step of addressing each of the packets to facilitate routing of the packets toward the first service provider via the data network. Addresses for services providers may be obtained by receiving such addresses from the receiver (e.g., AIN capable switch) or alternatively, from the AIN directly or, in another embodiment, from another database server. In another embodiment, where a second packet corresponding to a second person is to be transmitted toward the first service provider or a second service provider via the data network, the method of the present invention further includes the step of multiplexing at least the first and second packets corresponding to the first and second persons, respectively, for transport toward the appropriate service provider via the data network. In this regard, a plurality of multiplexed packets are substantially simultaneously transmittable toward the appropriate service provider via the data network.
The method of the present invention may further include the step of transmitting at least the first packet towards the first service provider via the data network which is interconnectable to the first service provider. In one embodiment, where the first service provider has the capability to disassemble (e.g., demultiplex and/or depacketize) packets, the method further includes the step of delivering at least a first packet to the first service provider over the data network. In another embodiment, where the first service provider does not have the capability and/or the desire to demultiplex (e.g., in instances where at least a second packet from a second person is multiplexed with the first packet) and/or depacketize packets, the method may further include the steps of disassembling (e.g., demultiplexing and/or depacketizing) at least the first packet to convert the packet switch call back to a voice frequency call and delivering data to the first service provider via VF/TP data delivery devices. In yet another embodiment, where the service provider does not have to the capability and/or the desire to demultiplex (e.g., in instances where at least a second packet from a second person is multiplexed with the first packet) and/or depacketize packets, the method of the present invention further includes the steps of disassembling (e.g., demultiplexing and/or depacketizing) at least the first packet into at least a first data string corresponding to data from the voice frequency call from the first person and delivering at least the first data string to the first service provider via a second modem associated with the service provider and a T-1 line (e.g., channelized T-1 data delivery).

Architecture and method for using an advanced intelligent network (AIN) to reduce voice switch and trunk loading

Qwest Communications International, Inc.


A vehicle storage battery protection system that senses a drop in battery voltage to a level at which the battery still retains sufficient power to start the vehicle. If the sensed voltage remains at or below this level for a time greater than the time normally required to start the vehicle, the battery is disconnected from the load and a hysteresis signal is provided to prevent a reconnection as the battery voltage begins to rise after the load has been disconnected. The load is automatically reconnected to the battery upon operation of the ignition switch to restart the vehicle. A reset circuit provides a small test voltage to the disconnected load, and senses a voltage drop caused by operation of the ignition switch to start the vehicle. This sensed voltage drop is detected and causes a main switch to reconnect the battery to the loads.

Battery protection systems typically sense battery condition when the battery is not being charged, as for example, when the engine of the vehicle is off. Should a load remain on after the vehicle is turned off, the load will be disconnected before the battery is completely discharged. However, when a partially discharged battery is disconnected from its load, the voltage appearing across the battery increases. Thus, measured voltage increases to an open circuit voltage, which could cause the load to be reapplied, resulting in a cyclic disconnect and reconnect operation. Further, during normal vehicle starting operations, sensed battery voltage will drop substantially due to the large current drain of the starting solenoid, but the system must not disconnect the loads.
In some prior systems, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,986, the system must be manually reset by the operator in order to start the vehicle engine after the loads have been disconnected. Some of these systems such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,001 also require special connections to other elements of the vehicle in order to reconnect the load. All of these special requirements and equipment are costly and inconvenient to the vehicle operator, who preferably should be able to start the vehicle by doing nothing more than inserting and turning the ignition.


Disclosed is an improved metal oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor having two diffused regions extending apart from under one and the other edge of the gate in the opposite directions, at least one of the diffused regions being composed of a first leastdoped, short section, a second lightly-doped, short section, and a third heavily-doped, long section. Either diffused region may be used as drain. The series-connection of least and lightly-doped sections of the same longitudinal size or depth improves the current driving capability of the semiconductor device. Also, methods of making such MOSFETs are disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor structure, and particualy to the drain structure of such semiconductor device. Also, the present invention relates to a method of making metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is well known, the lightly doped drain structure of a metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (abbreviated MOSFET) comprises a lightly doped section starting from a location under one edge of the gate and extending a relatively short distance apart from said location, and a heavily doped section following said lightly doped section and extending a relatively long distance apart from the gate. The presence of such lightly doped section ahead of the heavily doped section will cause the strength of the electric field appearing in the vicinity of the drain of the device to be reduced so as to suppress appearance of hot carriers. Such hot carriers are liable to invade the gate through the underlying metal oxide and to remain in the gate, and as a result the performance of the device will change with age. Adoption of the lightly doped drain structure in a MOSFET improves substantially the reliability of the device.
The lightly doped section, however, functions as a parasitic resistor, and disadvantageously it will lower the current driving capability of the device. In an attempt to solve this problem a profiled lightly doped drain structure (abbreviated PLDD) was proposed (See the paper "Profiled Lightly Doped Drain (PLDD) Structure for High Reliable NMOSFETs", Y. Toyoshima et al, Digest of Techical Papers, Symposium on VLSI Technology, pp.118-119, 1985). FIG. 1 shows, in section, a PLDD structure. It comprises a P-type silicon substrate 100, a gate insulating layer 101 formed on the top surface of the substrate 100, a gate 103 built on the gate insulating layer 101, an N-type source diffusion layer 108a, and an N-type drain diffusion layer 108b. The gate 103 has a surrounding wall 105, and the source and drain diffusion layers 108a and 108b have electrodes 109 and 110 respectively. These electrodes 109 and 110 are embedded in an overlying insulating layer 111. It is noted that: the drain diffusion layer is composed of an upper short projection 107 of least concentration of impurity such as arsenic, a surrounding section 104 of less concentration of impurity such as phosphorus, and an elongated section 108b of relatively high concentration of impurity such as arsenic, lying contiguous to the upper projection 107 and surrounding section 104, which end at a location under one edge of the gate 103.
The coexistence of less doped core 107 and least doped enclosure 104 prevents effectively the lowering of the current driving capability of the device.
In the PLDD structure, however, carriers are liable to come together toward the upper surface of the substrate 100, and as the device size is decreased, hot carriers will be most likely to appear in the vicinity of the upper surface of the substrate 100, invading the gate 103 through the underlying insulating layer 101 to lower the characteristics of the devive. Also, further miniaturization of MOSFETs having a PLDD incorporated therein will cause the least doped enclosure 104 to function as a parasitic resistor, thereby lowering the current driving capability of the device.

Method of making a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor


A method for producing a microfibrillated cellulose, which comprises subjecting a slurry containing a pulp having a solids concentration of 1 to 6 wt % to the treatment with a disc refiner repeatedly ten times or more, to thereby prepare a microfibrillated cellulose having a number average fiber length or 0.2 mm or less and an amount of water hold of 10 mL/g or more, the amount representing the volume of water capable of being held by a unit weight of the cellulose fiber. The method allows the production of a microfibrillated cellulose having high quality with stability and with good efficiency.

Microfibrillated cellulose fibers consist of a part or the whole of the fibers having extremely fine fibers, of specifically tens of cellulose chains thereof having the fineness of microfibrill level. So far, various methods for manufacturing microfibrillated cellulose fibers have been proposed. For example, a method of obtaining bacteria cellulose by fermentation using of acetobacter, a method for making pulp into microfibrillated fibers also using an abrasive grinding apparatus (JP 7-310296 A), and a method for treating pulp for a long period of time using a high pressure homogenizer have been proposed.
Any of such methods, however, requires a specially designed equipment and high energy, and the properties of the resulting final products are not consistent. At present, no method of continuously manufacturing microfibrillated cellulose fibers for an industry has been realized yet.
Note that in the paper manufacturing field, as a high efficiency beating and fibrillating machine, disc refiners such as a single disc refiner and a double disc refiner (hereinafter "DDR") are widely and generally used. Attempts have been made to obtain more finely microfibrillated cellulose fibers using the disc refiners. An example is a process of making highly beaten and fibrillated pulp which is used as a raw material for parchment paper.
In the above-mentioned process, however, it has been said that it is difficult to reach the micro refined level of microfibrillated cellulose fibers. Besides, no reports have been made that MFC has been obtained by means of a disc refiner.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing microfibrillated cellulose fiber


A computing system includes: a context module configured to determine a contextual information for representing the contextual information relative to a device; a zone module, coupled to the context module, configured to determine a proximity zone for identifying further devices within the proximity zone relative to the device; a proximate-device module, coupled to the zone module, configured to determine proximate-device identities for identifying the further devices relative to the device; and a configuration transfer module, coupled to the proximate-device module, configured to communicate a transferable configuration setting with a communication unit using the proximate-device identities for updating the device based on the transferable configuration setting and the contextual information for displaying on the device.

Modern consumer and industrial electronics, such as computing systems, televisions, tablets, cellular phones, portable digital assistants, projectors, and combination devices, are providing increasing levels of functionality to support modern life. In addition to the explosion of functionality and proliferation of these devices into the everyday life, there is also an explosion of data and information being created, transported, consumed, and stored.
The increasing demand for information in modern life requires users to access information at any time, while the variety of consumer devices allow for increased functionalities. However, device configurations for accommodating the information and the functionalities have often been difficult to control, such as in programming a videocassette recorder.
Thus, a need still remains for a computing system with configuration update mechanism for dynamically controlling configuration settings. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations and the diminishing opportunities for meaningful product differentiation in the marketplace, it is increasingly critical that answers be found to these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Computing system with configuration update mechanism and method of operation thereof


A metal plate in the form of a strip, bent into a bracket shape, is provided on the surface of a circuit board opposite to the surface of the board facing a human body. The proximal end of the metal plate is connected to a ground pattern provided on the circuit board, close to an antenna power supply point, with the longitudinal direction of the plate adjusted parallel to the main polarization direction of an antenna element.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a radio module connected to an antenna device, and a radio communication apparatus equipped with the radio module, and more particularly to a radio communication apparatus used close to or in contact with a human body, such as a portable telephone, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), cordless telephone, transceiver, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, mobile communication apparatuses, represented by portable telephones, use an antenna device including a whip antenna and a helical antenna. The antenna device is formed by attaching an element of the helical antenna to the tip of the element of the whip antenna with an insulating member interposed therebetween. When the radio communication apparatus is waiting for a call, the whip antenna is pushed in the housing of the radio communication apparatus and only the helical antenna is used. On the other hand, when the radio communication apparatus executes communications, the whip antenna is pulled out of the housing and used. Both the whip antenna and helical antenna emit vertically polarized radiation, and are designed to be omnidirectional in a horizontal plane.
However, during communication, mobile communication apparatuses such as portable telephones are used with their housing positioned close to or in contact with a body of the user, in particular, a head, of a user. In this state, the whip antenna is also positioned close to the head of the user. Accordingly, the orientations of the whip antenna in the horizontal and vertical planes are influenced by the body of the user, whereby a side lobe occurs and degrades the directivity of the antenna device.
To prevent this, Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-40910, for example, has proposed a structure in which a slim plate having an end connected to the entirely earthed surface of a circuit board is provided for reducing the current that flows on the ground pattern of the circuit board, thereby suppressing the degradation of the directivity.
However, in this structure, the L-shaped plate is located on the surface of the circuit board close to the head of a user, and has an end connected to the ground pattern at a position remote from the antenna power supply terminal on the circuit board, as is evident from FIGS. 1 to 4 of the publication. Since, in this structure, the plate is positioned close to the head of the user, it is liable to be influenced by the head. Further, since the connection position of the plate with respect to the ground pattern of the circuit board is remote from the antenna power supply terminal, the current flowing to the ground pattern of the circuit board cannot be efficiently guided to the plate. Thus, the conventional structure cannot provide a sufficiently improved effect.

Radio module and radio communication apparatus with the radio module


An implant is insertable onto a vertebral facet joint includes a body with an inner surface that mates with one or both articular processes of the facet joint. The inner surface may define an interior cavity that accepts at least a portion of an inferior articular process and a superior articular process forming the facet joint. The body may be constructed of a bone growth material that fuses with the articular processes. The implant may help retain bone growth promoting substance that is inserted between or on articulating surfaces of the facet joint. A receiving portion of an exterior surface of one or both articular process may be prepared to stimulate bone growth. The implant may be placed onto the receiving portion to cover an exterior junction between or on the articulating surfaces of the facet joint. The implant may be secured to one or both of the articular processes.

The human spine serves many functions. The vertebral members of the spinal column protect the spinal cord. The spinal column also supports other portions of the human body. Furthermore, moveable facet joints and resilient discs disposed between the vertebral members permit motion between individual vertebral members. Each vertebrae includes an anterior body and a posterior arch. The posterior arch includes two pedicles and two laminae that join together to form the spinous process. A transverse process is laterally positioned at the transition from the pedicles to the laminae. Both the spinous process and transverse process provide for attachment of fibrous tissue, including muscle. Two inferior articular processes extend downward from the junction of the laminae and the transverse process. Further, two superior articular processes extend upward from the junction. The articular processes of adjacent vertebrae form the facet joints. The inferior articular process of one vertebra articulates with the superior articular process of the vertebra below. The facet joints are gliding joints because the articular surfaces glide over each other.
Vertebral implants are often used in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders such as degenerative disc disease, disc herniations, curvature abnormalities, and trauma. Many different types of treatments are used. In some cases, spinal fusion is indicated to inhibit relative motion between vertebral bodies. Spinal fusion often involves the removal of the vertebral disc and insertion of an interbody implant to create a fused junction between a pair of vertebral bodies. Furthermore, the facet joints may be fused to complete the fusion between vertebral pairs. Facet fusion often involves destruction of the facet by decorticating the opposing articulating surfaces and packing bone growth promoting substances such as grafts or synthetic materials into the space between the articular processes. The facet joints are generally small as compared to the intervertebral space. Consequently, limited amounts of bone-growth promoting substances may be inserted into the joint. Some of the bone-growth promoting substances tend to disperse post-operatively resulting in a less robust fusion. Furthermore, the overlying fibrous tissue may further disperse the bone-growth promoting substances as a result of contact, friction, and/or the ingrowth of fibrous mass. These and other factors may result in pseudarthrosis or inadequate fusion.

Facet fusion implants and methods of use


Foot-supporting elements for articles of footwear or other products may include: (a) a first diagonally-oriented plate that extends from a lateral heel location of an article of footwear to a medial forefoot location of the article of footwear; and (b) a second diagonally-oriented plate that extends from a medial heel location of the article of footwear to a lateral forefoot location of the article of footwear. These foot-supporting elements may be utilized in foot-receiving devices that may include: (a) a foot-covering member (such as an upper); and (b) a foot-supporting element engaged with the foot-covering member.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional athletic shoe 100. Shoe 100 includes an upper 102 and a sole structure 104. The upper 102, which may include a Strobel or other lasting element (not shown), defines a foot-receiving chamber that may be accessed through opening 106. The upper 102 provides a covering for a wearer's foot and securely receives and positions the foot with respect to the sole structure 104. The sole structure 104 may be secured to a lower portion of the upper 102 and positioned between the foot and the ground when the shoe 100 is in use. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces, the sole structure 104 may provide traction and help control foot motion, such as pronation.
The sole structure 104 may have a layered configuration that includes a resilient midsole 108 (e.g., formed, at least in part, from a polymer foam material) and a ground-contacting outsole 110 that provides both abrasion-resistance and traction. A separate insole may also be included (e.g., within the upper 102). Suitable polymer foam materials for at least portions of the midsole 108 include ethylvinylacetate ("EVA") or polyurethane ("PU") that compress resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground reaction forces.
For example, some footwear users participate in events or exercise programs that require frequent direction changes, often at high speeds. Such direction changes typically require the athlete to solidly plant and then push off one foot in a sideways direction, at times with some amount of twisting or spinning action. During these and other types of events, a user's foot can experience significant forces and motions. Designing footwear to support and/or protect the foot during such activities remains an ongoing challenge.

Foot-support structures for articles of footwear


An imaging apparatus for conveying a virtual image superimposed within a view of an ambient environment has a waveguide having first and second surfaces. An in-coupling diffractive optic on one of the planar surfaces is disposed to direct image-bearing light beams into the waveguide. An out-coupling diffractive optic on one of the planar surfaces of the waveguide is disposed to direct the image-bearing light beams from the waveguide toward a viewer eyebox. An outer cover protects as least part of the waveguide from undesirable environmental influences of an ambient environment while supporting views of the ambient environment from the eyebox. A circular polarizer interposed between waveguide and the outer cover blocks the return of stray light into the waveguide.

Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) are being developed for a range of diverse uses, including military, commercial, industrial, fire-fighting, and entertainment applications. For many of these applications, there is particular value in forming a virtual image that can be visually superimposed over the real-world image formed in the eye from within the field of view of the HMD user. Image light guides convey image-bearing light along a transmissive waveguide from a location outside the viewer's field of view to a position in alignment with the viewer's pupil while preserving the viewer's view of the environment through the waveguide.
In such conventional image light guides, collimated, relatively angularly encoded light beams from an image source are coupled into a plate-shaped waveguide by an input coupling such as an in-coupling diffractive optic, which can be mounted or formed on a surface of the plate-shaped waveguide or buried within the waveguide. Such diffractive optics can be formed as diffraction gratings, holographic optical elements or in other known ways. For example, the diffraction grating can be formed by surface relief. After propagating along the waveguide, the diffracted light can be directed back out of the waveguide by a similar output grating, which can be arranged to provide pupil expansion along one dimension of the virtual image. In addition, a turning diffractive optic can be positioned along the waveguide between the input and output gratings to provide pupil expansion in a second orthogonal dimension of the virtual image. The two dimensions of pupil expansion define expanded eyebox within which the viewer's pupil can be positioned for viewing the virtual image conveyed by the light guide.
Conventional image light guides generally form a virtual image focused at optical infinity by conveying angularly encoded light beams of collimated light to the viewer eyebox. However, there can be advantages to forming the virtual image such that it appears to be focused at some closer distance, such as in the range from 1 m to 1.5 m, for example. Using near-focused solutions can allow the viewer to have the advantage of augmented reality imaging in applications where it is useful to have the real-world scene content at a close distance.
There can be further benefits to a head-mounted optical imaging apparatus with an image light guide that forms both a conventional virtual image at infinity and another virtual image at a near distance from the viewer. In addition, the apparatus should provide good visibility of the real-world scene that lies in the viewer's field of view.
Ambient conditions including excessively bright environments can reduce the contrast of virtual images that are superimposed on such environments. Dust, chemicals, and other environmental hazards can also impair the ongoing performance of image light guides that are exposed to such conditions. Thus, a need exists to provide protection against such environmental hazards to assure the proper operation of the optics used for augmented reality applications.

Image light guide with circular polarizer


A method for classifying a response signal of acceleration data of a structure includes obtaining at least one signal feature of a response signal, inputting the at least one signal feature into an artificial neural network, and classifying, using the artificial neural network, the response signal as an impact event or a non-impact event. One or more signal features may be used, including a response length feature, a number of peaks feature, a spectral energy feature, a dominant frequency feature, a maximum response feature, a center of mass feature, a slope feature, an average peak power feature, a response symmetry feature, or combinations thereof. One or more artificial neural networks may be used. The artificial neural networks may be trained using different combinations of signal features.

Bridges, such as low-clearance railroad bridges, are susceptible to impacts from vehicles that exceed the required clearance. Impacts may fall outside of a bridge's regular design considerations and may result in structural damage. It may be impractical to have an engineer watch the bridge constantly or review days of camera footage to determine impact events. Impacts can be detected by mounting accelerometers and inclinometers on the bridge. This instrumentation is capable of detecting and recording abnormal bridge responses and alerting stakeholders that an event has occurred; however, vehicle impacts are not the only cause of significant bridge responses for a bridge. A vehicle, such as a train, running over a railroad bridge may also generate a significant response, and responses produced by trains are not always dissimilar to those produced by vehicle impacts. A vehicle impact needs to be investigated due to the potential for structural damage, while a train crossing is part of a bridge's regular design considerations.
Accelerometers may be used to alert stakeholders when a threshold value has been exceeded, operating under the assumption that an impact causes larger lateral loads than a vehicle, such as a train, traveling across the structure. However, lighter impacts, such as a vehicle scraping along an underside of a bridge, may go unnoticed. Current systems may be reliant on railroad personnel, the police, and/or the general public to report strikes. Without any notification, a bridge may go uninspected but remain open to traffic. As a result, it could be many hours or days until debris and/or new damage is noticed and the bridge is inspected. Other disadvantages may exist.

Bridge impact detection and classification systems and methods


Novel methods of treating neuroendocrine tumors are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of a Wnt antagonist. In one embodiment, the Wnt antagonist is an anti-FZD antibody. In another embodiment, the Wnt antagonist is a soluble FZD receptor polypeptide. In a further embodiment, the Wnt antagonist is an anti-Wnt antibody.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the developed world, with over one million people diagnosed with cancer and 500,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Overall it is estimated that more than 1 in 3 people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, four of which—breast, lung, colorectal, and prostate—account for over half of all new cases (Jemal et al., 2003, Cancer J. Clin. 53:5-26).
The Wnt signaling pathway has been identified as a potential target for cancer therapy. The Wnt signaling pathway is one of several critical regulators of embryonic pattern formation, post-embryonic tissue maintenance, and stem cell biology. More specifically, Wnt signaling plays an important role in the generation of cell polarity and cell fate specification including self-renewal by stem cell populations. Unregulated activation of the Wnt pathway is associated with numerous human cancers where it can alter the developmental fate of tumor cells to maintain them in an undifferentiated and proliferative state. Thus carcinogenesis can proceed by usurping homeostatic mechanisms controlling normal development and tissue repair by stem cells (reviewed in Reya & Clevers, 2005, Nature 434:843; Beachy et al., 2004, Nature 432:324).
The Wnt signaling pathway was first elucidated in the Drosophila developmental mutant wingless (wg) and from the murine proto-oncogene int-1, now Wnt1 (Nusse & Varmus, 1982, Cell 31:99-109; Van Ooyen & Nusse, 1984, Cell 39:233-40; Cabrera et al., 1987, Cell 50:659-63; Rijsewijk et al., 1987, Cell 50:649-57). Wnt genes encode secreted lipid-modified glycoproteins of which 19 have been identified in mammals. These secreted ligands activate a receptor complex consisting of a Frizzled (Fzd) receptor family member and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 5 or 6 (LPR5/6). The Fzd receptors are seven transmembrane domain proteins of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and contain a large extracellular N-terminal ligand binding domain with 10 conserved cysteines, known as a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) or Fri domain. There are ten human FZD receptors: FZD1-10. Different Fzd CRDs have different binding affinities for specific Wnts (Wu & Nusse, 2002, J. Biol. Chem. 277:41762-9), and Fzd receptors have been grouped into those that activate the canonical β-catenin pathway and those that activate non-canonical pathways described below (Miller et al., 1999, Oncogene 18:7860-72). To form the receptor complex that binds the FZD ligands, FZD receptors interact with LRP5/6, single pass transmembrane proteins with four extracellular EGF-like domains separated by six YWTD amino acid repeats (Johnson et al., 2004, J. Bone Mineral Res. 19:1749).
The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway has been implicated in the development of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. Fujimori et al., Cancer Res. 61(18): 6656-9 (2001). Nuclear translocation of β-catenin protein but absence of β-catenin and APC mutation in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor has also been observed. Su et al., Ann. Surg. Oncol. 13(12): 1604-9 (2006). 72 cases of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor were investigated both immunohistochemically and by direct sequencing of beta-catenin. Accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus was observed in 57 cases (79.2%). Mutations were also detected in exon 3 of beta-catenin in 27 cases (37.5%), and in APC in one case (1.4%). Su et al. also reported the investigation of 91 gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors and, for comparison, 26 extragastrointestinal carcinoid tumors by immunohistochemical detection of beta-catenin protein and direct sequencing of exon 3 of the beta-catenin gene and exon 15 of the APC gene. Cytoplasmic accumulation and/or nuclear translocation of beta-catenin were found in 27 gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors (29.7%) but not in any extragastrointestinal carcinoid tumors. Neither beta-catenin nor APC gene mutation was detected in any of the cases with nuclear expression of beta-catenin.

Methods of treating neuroendocrine tumors using frizzled-binding agents


In a network system, an application receiving packets can consume one or more packets in two or more stages, where the second and the later stages can selectively consume some but not all of the packets consumed by the preceding stage. Packets are transferred between two consecutive stages, called producer and consumer, via a fixed-size storage. Both the producer and the consumer can access the storage without locking it and, to facilitate selective consumption of the packets by the consumer, the consumer can transition between awake and sleep modes, where the packets are consumed in the awake mode only. The producer may also switch between awake and sleep modes. Lockless access is made possible by controlling the operation of the storage by the producer and the consumer both according to the mode of the consumer, which is communicated via a shared memory location.

System wide optimization of network components such as routers, firewalls, or network analyzers is a complex problem, as it involves the proper orchestration of several (e.g., tens, hundreds, or even more) different processes and data structures that are interrelated in subtle ways. In these highly dynamic systems, bottlenecks can quickly shift from one component to another forming a network of micro-bottlenecks. This makes it challenging to determine which system components should be optimized, and the degree to which they should be optimized, to get an extra unit of performance.
Moreover, these shifting micro-bottlenecks are interconnected in peculiar ways so that optimizing one of them can sometimes lead to an overall degradation of performance. This is due to internal system nonlinearities such as those found in hierarchical memory architectures. For instance, while optimizing the transfer of packets from the wire to the application is known to be critical, in the limit, pushing too many packets to the application can be detrimental. The reason is, pushing the packets that may eventually need to be dropped because the application may become congested, can cause a net negative effect by thrashing the processors' local caches, increasing the overall cache miss ratios and, hence, decreasing the overall system performance.
Bottlenecks are often encountered in producer-consumer type network systems that are discussed below. In networking systems in general, the packets received at a node are typically analyzed and, thereafter, they may be consumed and/or forwarded to another node, or may be dropped. For example, if the node is a user device such a computer, tablet, or a smart phone, the packets may be consumed, for example, by rendering a web page, audio, video, etc., or the packets may be stored on the user device for later use. If the node is a router, the packets are typically forwarded to an appropriate destination node, which can be another router, a user device, or a server. If the node is a firewall, packets deemed harmful or those that need to be blocked may simply be dropped, and the other packets may be forwarded to a user device or a server, or to a router. A node can also be a dedicated network analyzer node that performs tasks such as intrusion detection, virus detection, malware detection, etc. Here again, the packets deemed harmful may be dropped, and the other packets may be forwarded to another node, such as a user device, a server, or a router. As opposed to using a dedicated node, the functions of a network analyzer may be implemented by another node.
The analysis of received packets can be performed in a single step/stage but, often, the analysis is performed in two or more steps/stages. For example, in the context of intrusion detection, a decision as to whether to drop or forward a packet may simply be made by identifying the source or origin of the packet. In particular, it may be readily decided that a packet should be dropped without further analysis if that packet were received from a source designated as malicious. Conversely, it may be readily decided without further analysis that a packet is to be forwarded to its destination, if the source of the packet is a trusted source. For other packets, however, further analysis, in addition to the identification of the source or origin of the packet, may be needed in order to determine whether those packets pose a threat or are safe.
In general, the more the analysis of packets to be performed, the longer the time needed to analyze the packet. As such, the need for a thorough packet analysis can create a bottleneck in a network, especially in high-speed networks processing packets at the rates of hundreds of megabits or a few, tens, or hundreds of gigabits per second. The two or multi-step/stage packet analysis can alleviate this problem to some extent, in light of the fact that network traffic is often non-uniform and includes bursts of packets. One process/processor (that may be called a producer stage/process or producer) can perform only a limited, partial packet analysis and, if further analysis is needed, that process/processor would simply place the packet in a queue. Another process/processor (that may be called a consumer stage/process or consumer) can retrieve the packets from the queue, and perform additional processing, as needed.
This solution also presents some challenges, however. First, the size of the queue must be large enough to accommodate a burst of packets that may be received at the maximum or peak packet arrival rate. A queue of arbitrarily large size can be implemented in software but, generally, a software implementation is slower than a hardware-implemented queue, and can become a bottleneck. A hardware-implemented queue, on the other hand, has a fixed size and a queue of an inadequate size can also become a bottleneck. In either case, packets may need to be dropped.
Second, because two different processes/processors need to access the queue, in order to avoid a potential corruption of the queue due to simultaneous access by two processes/processors, the queue must be locked such that only one process can access the queue at a certain time. This increases the operational overhead and, as such, the processing delay. Furthermore, if the producer needs to add one or more packets to the queue but if the queue is locked by the consumer, the producer may be forced to drop those packets. On the other hand, once the consumer has consumed all the packets in the queue, it must wait for the producer to add new packet(s) to the queue. As such, in one session in which the consumer has locked the queue, the number of packets the consumer can consume can be no more than the size of the queue, which can adversely affect the overall performance of the system.
Third, the solution described above assumes that the producer and consumer are always active, and that the producer would only place those packets in the queue that the consumer would consume (e.g., analyze and, thereafter, discard, forward, render, and/or store the packets). Enforcing these two requirements can impose a processing burden on the network system, and can become a bottleneck.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for providing lockless bimodal queues for selective packet capture


A power supply is for an electrical load in the form of a Notebook computer. The power supply includes first terminals which extend from the computer for releasably electrically connecting with a first energy storage device in the form of a battery during a first interval. A second energy storage device, in the form a second battery, releasably electrically connects with terminals during a second interval spaced apart from the first interval. This allows power to be supplied to the load during those intervals. A capacitive energy storage device supplies power to the load during a third interval that spans the spacing between the first and the second intervals.

A wide variety of portable electronic devices are available for both private and business use and for providing various functionality and utility. It is common in such devices to include volatile memory that must be continually powered to retain its veracity. This, in turn, requires a continuous supply of power to the processor or memory, even when the device is not being used. This is not particularly problematic, as the existing batteries can reasonably efficiently provide a current of the magnitude required. Where the difficulties arise, however, is when the battery needs replacing.
In some devices, this problem has been addressed by utilising a secondary or back-up battery that provides the necessary power to the memory in the interval between the spent primary battery being removed and a fresh primary battery being inserted.
Batteries, however, are expensive and it can be difficult to financially justify the cost of two batteries when one is only used intermittently. This is increasingly so for the larger devices such a portable computers where weight, size and cost considerations are paramount. The result being that such computers do not rely upon a secondary battery and, instead, are shut down between battery swaps with any necessary data being stored on a permanent hard drive rather than in volatile memory.
The major disadvantage that arises from this is that the shutting down of a portable computer, the removal of the spent battery, the replacement with a new battery and the rebooting of the computer consumes considerable energy and takes time, in the order of minutes. The first further limits the effectiveness of the portable power sources while the second is a source of frustration to users.
The discussion within the specification of the prior art is for the purposes of providing an addressee with some context of the field of the invention and is not to be taken as an admission of the extent of the common general knowledge in that field.


A staple and thread assembly to be driven into the bone by a power-driven stapler while the thread is attached thereto, the stapler having a head section at its forward end formed with a pointed tip for penetrating the bone when driven into it, and a shank section rearwardly of the head. The longitudinal axis of the shank section is offset from the axis of the head section and is formed with a pair of transverse holes through which the thread is secured such that the thread exits from the holes. The head section forms a protective shroud shielding the thread when driven with the staple into the bone. The thread is secured to the shank section of the staple at a point closer to the staple tip than the rear end of the staple. The staple is constructed from a metal possessing shape memory characteristics, and deforms from a straight configuration at room temperature, to a curved configuration upon being subject to body heat upon implantation into the body. The suture thread is secured to the shank section and, preferably, a recess is provided to the shank section to protect the thread.

The present invention relates to a staple and thread assembly particularly useful in power-driven staplers for medical suturing. The invention is especially useful in treating urinary stress incontinence in a manner as described in our prior Patent Application filed in Israel, Serial No. 103737 filed Nov. 13, 1992, and is therefore described below with respect to such an application, but it will be appreciated that the invention could advantageously be used in other applications as well. The teachings of that application are incorporated herein by reference.

Staple and thread assembly particularly for use in power-driven staplers for medical suturing