A sealed lead-acid battery includes a separator made from hydrophilic treated sheet made from synthetic fiber which wraps at least either one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. A mat type separator made from fine glass fiber is disposed between the wrapped electrode and its opposite electrode. This structure is adopted in a battery which uses a paste type electrode where an expanded grid having no outer frame on both edges is used, thereby prolonging cycle life even after cycling of charge and deep discharge.

In general, a discharge reaction of the lead-acid battery produces lead sulfate (PbSO4) through electrochemical reduction and oxidation of lead dioxide (PbO2) and lead (Pb) in sulfuric acid (H2SO4) electrolyte solution; where PbO2 and Pb are active materials of positive and negative electrodes. The produced PbSO4 on the positive and negative electrodes is electrochemically reduced as well as oxidized by charging, thereby not only producing PbO2 and Pb, but also revitalizing H2SO4. The overall reaction of charge/discharge of the lead-acid battery is described as the following formula (1):

The following characteristics are desirable for the separator of the lead-acid battery:
1. Acid-resistant, anti-oxidation and anti-reduction:
Since strong-acid H2SO4 may be used as electrolyte, and also, electrochemical oxidation as well as reduction is repeated on both the positive and negative electrodes through charging and discharging processes, a chemically stable material from which a harmful substance is not soluble should be selected.
2. High ion-conductivity and no possibility of internal short-circuit due to contact between the positive and negative electrodes:
Electrolyte is easy to permeate and diffuse through the separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes because hydrogen ion H+ and sulfate ion SO4−2 are of electrolytic dissociation in the electrolyte together with active materials PbO2 and Pb of the positive and negative electrodes and are reaction species, whereby the separator is vulnerable to be permeated as well as diffused with the electrolyte. In order to avoid contact between the positive and negative electrodes, it is desirable for the separator to be long and bent in shape, and to have a micro-porous construction. Particles in the active materials of the positive electrode, by charge/discharge cycling, tend to drop from an electrode grid which is an electric collector and active material holder. Thus caution is desirable to avoid this particle drop. To be more specific, a micro-porous sheet made of rubber or resin, and pulp or glass-fiber reinforced with resin, is used as the separator.
A paste type electrode plate process which is in high productivity is widely used, among others, in the lead-acid batteries. When using this type, a synthetic resin sheet having the micro-pore structure and a glass mat are used for the separator. The glass mat is in contact with both sides of the positive electrode, thereby preventing the active material of the positive electrode from dropping. As a result, the number of internal short-circuits is reduced. This example is substantially effective when the electrode plate is used in a vented type car battery which is exposed to violent external forces such as vibration, shock, and acceleration.
Recently, Japanese utility model H07-34555 discloses another idea as follows which further reduces the internal short-circuit. An envelope type separator made from micro-porous synthetic resin sheet includes a glass mat which is broader than the separator, being laid on the separator, wherein the separator is folded so that side portions of the synthetic resin sheet may contact each other. Both edges where the synthetic resin sheet side portions are contacting and the outer edges of the glass mat adhere in order to form an envelope.
This separator is also developed to be used in a vented type battery, where the negative electrode is accommodated into the envelope, and the positive electrode is disposed to contact an outer surface of the glass mat. The electrode group thus formed is incorporated in a cell container, thereby forming the cell.
In order to make maintenance of the lead-acid battery easy, a sealed lead-acid battery has been widely used. Oxygen (O2) gas generated from the positive electrode by over-charging is eliminated by an oxygen cycle reaction on the negative electrode. The same process is seen also in a sealed nickel-cadmium battery.
The separator of the sealed lead-acid battery desirably has the following functions other than the above:
(a) O2 gas, generated from the positive electrode during a period between an end of charging and over-charging of the positive electrode, flows to the negative electrode with ease because of excellent ventilation, and the electrolyte is prevented from being fluid.
(b) The electrolyte pertinent to charge/discharge is retained as much as possible around the positive and negative electrodes.
In order to turn the electrolyte to a non-fluid condition, two methods are available:
(1) Retainer method: The electrolyte is absorbed into the positive and negative electrodes as well as the separator so that the electrolyte turns into the pore of solid substance.
(2) Gelled method: The electrolyte turns into gell with colloidal silica.
The retainer method is now mostly used, and it is sometimes called "Absorbed method" or "Starve method." The retainer method adjusts a quantity of the electrolyte so that ventilation works in some part when the electrolyte is absorbed into the mat type separator and turned into solid. A mat sheet made from fine glass fiber is widely used as a separator satisfying the above functions. This separator made from the mat type glass fiber is a kind of non-woven cloth that can include short fibers made of borosilicate glass having a diameter of not more than 1 μm.
FIG. 3 shows a typical structure of an electrode group used in a conventional sealed lead-acid battery. Mat type glass fiber separator 3 is folded to form a U-shape, and negative electrode 1 is inserted therein, then the outer side of the folded separator 3 is nipped by positive electrode 2, and whereby the electrode group is formed.
When using electrodes of the same dimension, a number of plates is increased in step with capacity, and the electrode group is formed in the same manner. In general, the number of negative electrodes 1 is larger than that of positive electrodes 2 by one. The electrode group is accommodated into the cell container, and the most appropriate quantity of electrolyte is poured therein. Finally, the cell container and its cover are sealed to complete the cell.
In this case, the separator 3 is shaped longer than both sides and upper ends of the negative electrode 1 and positive electrode 2 in order to avoid an internal short-circuit. This structure finds no problem when used in a battery of small size, relatively low capacity, and the positive and negative electrodes with a casting grid having an outer frame; however, when used in a car battery or an electric vehicle (EV) battery, they are relatively high capacity, and in a sealed lead-acid battery, internal short-circuits sometimes occur, because these batteries are exposed to violent outer forces such as vibration, shock, and acceleration. When an expanded grid which has no outer frame on both edges is used in the electrodes, an internal short-circuit often occurs particularly in cycling of charge and deep discharge, because the active materials expand in step with increasing cycles of charge/discharge, which expands an edge of the positive electrode to overgrow the edge of the separator, and whereby the positive electrode makes contact with the negative electrode.
The envelope type separator of which both sides are sealed has been thus proposed in order to solve the above problem; however, it has been difficult to tie both edges of the separator comprising a mat type sheet made of glass fiber while keeping high productivity. Thus felt type non-woven cloth is adopted, which is made from acid proof and thermoplastic synthetic fiber such as polyester or polypropylene, and fine powder of acid clay as well as fine glass fiber mixed therein. Namely, the felt-type non-woven cloth of which dimension is large enough to fold the electrodes therein is doubled-back to form a U-shape, and both edges thereof are heat-sealed to make the envelope type separator. Then the electrode is inserted into this envelope. An example of this method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open H07-60676, where an envelope separator is used, which comprises felt-type non-woven cloth made from thermoplastic synthetic fiber such as polypropylene and fine glass fiber evenly dispersed therein. Although this separator has two advantages including (a) retaining electrolyte and (b) good heat-sealing, it has less ability of retaining electrolyte than the mat-type separator purely made from glass fiber, and yet, ventilation is not enough since the diameter of synthetic fiber is in general larger than that of glass fiber. While increasing the glass fiber content in order to improve the retainability of electrolyte, tightness of heat-sealing lowers, i.e. these two factors are in a trade-off relation. Therefore, the separator disclosed in H07-60676 does not work well in a sealed lead-acid battery with the glass fiber content of 10–25 wt % defined in H07-60676.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The production of pouch-shaped or pot-shaped parts is undertaken in two steps. In the first step, a film located above a die is pressed by a stamp into a cavity that reproduces the part and is subsequently pressed apart in the lower region of the cavity by deformation of the stamp in this region. The device has a rubber-like stamp that expands out on all sides once it has reached the bottom wall of the cavity and causes the film to conform to the shape of the cavity. The stamp is preferably designed in two parts, wherein a stamp insert is guided within a stamp guide and the stamp insert then has at least one deformable region. For removal of the formed film, provision is made that the die can be swung open.

For nearly daily monitoring of, for example, a patient's blood sugar levels, the patient has a portable diagnostic unit or system. In addition to such a unit, an analytical indicator strip with an orientation index, which must be fed to the diagnostic unit by hand, is known from DE 695 13 409 T2.
Conventional indicator strips, which must be separately fed, are unsuitable in the general effort to make execution of the overall diagnostic process automatic and patient-friendly, i.e., without additional effort on the part of the patient.
Consideration has been given to replacing the indicator strips with well-like or pouch-shaped receptacles, which are made of plastic or a similar material in which a non-woven, spun-bonded fabric required for the analysis is embedded to keep it from falling out.
DE 38 40 080 A1 discloses a packaging for small items in the form of a blister, wherein the blister consists of a deep-drawn film having wells to accommodate the individual items. In this context, it would be necessary for the film to be glued in place, for example, to keep it from falling out, which can be a disadvantage for analytical evaluation.
For pouch-shaped or pot-shaped receptacles or the like, which have a narrower inlet cross-section than in the lower (receptacle) section itself, such a process cannot be used.

Method and device for producing pouch-shaped or pot-shaped parts and use of the parts for accommodating samples or the like


A container that holds the golf balls for sequential dispensing of golf balls from an interior cavity through an opening between a pair of opposing legs and a projecting stop movable from a first position for holding one of the golf balls between the legs and retained by the projecting stops to a second outward position sufficient for the golf ball to pass by the projecting stops. A method of holding and sequentially dispensing golf balls for play is disclosed.

The sport of golf is an entertaining activity involving athletic skill and mental concentration to play a round in as few strokes as possible. There are a number of different types of clubs used in playing golf. These clubs are carried in an elongate open-ended bag. The bag is carried by a shoulder strap. Typically, golf bags include a number of pockets which are closed with zippers, buttons, or snaps. The pockets are used for carrying supplies such as golf balls, golf tees, towels, gloves, score cards, and other accouterments particular for golfing.
To be successful in golf, a golfer must drive the ball within the fairways and the approaches to the greens, while avoiding hazards on the course. Hazards include the rough or tall brush areas, sand traps, water hazards, and other grounds areas that are out of bounds or leave the golfer with a difficult shot. While driving the ball within the fairways is the preferable goal leading to success, golfers often have problems with losing golf balls. For example, drives may the golf ball to hook or slice and send the ball into fairway hazards. The rough particularly poses problems, as the rough includes areas along the sides of the fairways, and a driven ball that hooks or slices may easily carry into the rough. Rough can vary from grass standing slightly taller than the grass in the fairway to tall grass, brush, bushes, and trees. Although golfers assist each other by observing the flight of the ball, balls driven into rough frequently are lost. Generally, if a short search does not locate the ball, the golfer selects and plays a new ball, with a stroke penalty. Similarly, a ball driven into a water hazard typically is not playable, unless closely near a shallow edge of the water hazard. Generally, a ball driven into rough or into a water hazard necessitates having to replace a lost ball to resume play.
While bags have pockets for holding golf balls, selecting a particular ball from a group of balls in a pocket is cumbersome and time consuming. For example, golfers often include in the pockets a number of older balls for practice together with new or better ones of the golf balls for use in play. Selecting a new ball for replacement involves searching through the balls in the pockets of the golf bag or locating the particular pocket with new balls prepositioned for play. In addition to time spent searching for a ball lost in the rough, selecting a new ball from a collection of balls may further delay the play of the round. Some courses have strict time limits on the amount of time one can spend searching for a ball, in order to avoid inconveniencing other players on the course.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved carrier for holding golf balls for selective access for play when necessary. It is to such that the present invention is directed.


Techniques are disclosed for ACK/NAK bit bundling in carrier aggregation scenarios. Such measures exemplarily comprise generating a set of acknowledgement bits confirming receipt of payload data of a radio frame in a carrier aggregation mode aggregating a primary and at least one secondary carrier, said radio frame being divided into a plurality of downlink subframes and uplink subframes, each of said downlink subframes comprising at least one codeword per carrier, each of said acknowledgement bits is allocated to one of said codewords of one of said downlink subframes, and applying spatial domain bundling and/or time domain bundling on said set of acknowledgement bits distinctive for each of said primary and said at least one secondary carrier, wherein said spatial domain bundling is an AND operation of all acknowledgement bits allocated to each codeword of one carrier of said primary and said at least one secondary carrier and one downlink subframe.

The present specification generally relates to feedback control of downlink connections in carrier aggregation scenarios, especially in scenarios where time division duplex (TDD) is deployed.
In Long Term Evolution (LTE) Rel-10, the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 3 only supports up to 20 ACK/NAK bits per feedback transmission. Hence, PUCCH format 3 can only support ACK/NAK feedback for TDD configuration 5 with up to two component carriers (CC), since in case of more CCs, more than 20 ACK/NAK bits would arise. In case of two CCs, a maximum number of ACK/NAK bits of 36 may arise. Hence, in case of two CCs (if the total number of ACK/NAK bits exceeds 20), spatial bundling is applied. At that, spatial (domain) bundling means that if two (more than one) codewords are transmitted per subframe, the ACK/NAK bits corresponding to each of the codewords are combined via an AND operation and the resulting bit is the spatial bundled ACK/NACK bit. In LTE Rel-10 in relation to PUCCH format 3 for TDD configuration 5, no time or carrier domain bundling is supported.
In LTE Rel-11, a user equipment (UE) configured with TDD configuration 5 and more than 2 CCs will be required to provide downlink (DL) peak data rates. In recent RAN1 meetings, the necessity of support of the ACK/NAK feedback in this case is raised and different bundling schemes to support the ACK/NAK feedback are discussed.
The following table illustrates the maximum number of ACK/NAK bits that may arise in the case of TDD configuration 5. It is to be noted that according to TDD configuration 5, a ratio of uplink (UL) subframes to DL subframes is set to 9:1. In particular, subframe 0 is set to DL, subframe 1 is set to DL/special subframe (guard periods), subframe 2 is set to UL, and subframes 3 to 9 are set to DL. As is derivable from the following table, in case of TDD configuration 5 and 5 CCs, the maximum number of ACK/NAK bits that may arise is 45 after spatial domain bundling.
The number of CCs2 CCs3 CCs4 CCs5 CCsMaximum number of A/N36547290bits without bundlingMaximum number of A/N18273645bits with spatial domainbundlingHence, the problem arises that in a deployment with more than 2 CCs which uses TDD configuration 5, the required ACK/NAK bits, even if spatial bundling is applied, exceed 20, which is the maximum number of ACK/NAK bits that PUCCH format 3 can carry.
Hence, there is a need to provide for ACK/NAK bit bundling in carrier aggregation scenarios.


A light emitting diode apparatus that includes a single DC/DC converter section that has two circuits connected in parallel: a flyback type boosting circuit and a boosting circuit. The former includes a transformer and a switching device and the like to boost DC voltage of a DC power supply, and the latter includes a transformer and a switching device and the like to do likewise. A control section carries out switching control of the switching devices and in such a manner that shifts from each other the phases of current Ida and current Idb to be supplied from the two boosting circuits and to a plurality of LED and the like connected in series in a light emitting section.

Conventional lighting apparatuses using light-emitting diodes (called "LEDs" from now on) include the following:
As a first conventional example, an apparatus is known which has a plurality of LEDs connected in series, supplies the LEDs connected in series with a voltage boosted from a power supply voltage by a DC/DC converter, and causes the same current to flow through all the LEDs to light them (see Patent Document 1, for example).
As a second conventional example, an apparatus is known which employs a charge pump type boosting power supply using a capacitor, and arranges a constant current circuit using a transistor in series with an LED element to carry out constant current drive of the LED element (see Patent Document 2, for example).
As other conventional technologies relating to lighting of LEDs, the following Patent Document 3 to Patent Document 6 are known.
Patent Document 1, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-187614;
Patent Document 2, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-359090;
Patent Document 3, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-317978;
Patent Document 4, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-134146;
Patent Document 5, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-134147; and
Patent Document 6, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-206074.
The conventional LED lighting apparatuses have the foregoing configurations. Among them, the first conventional example (Patent Document 1) is characterized by preventing the effect due to variations in the forward voltage drops of the individual LEDs by connecting them in series, and by preventing variations in the amount of emission of the individual LEDs by equalizing the current flowing through the LEDs, thereby simplifying the circuit configuration by constructing the power supply from a single circuit.
On the other hand, LEDs, high-intensity LEDs in particular, have a high forward voltage drop of about 3 V. Accordingly, to light the plurality of LEDs connected in series, it is necessary to supply the LEDs connected in series with a voltage equal to or greater than the sum total of the forward voltage drops of the plurality of LEDs. To achieve this, the first conventional example has the boosting DC/DC converter consisting of a single circuit and boosts the power supply voltage. The boosting DC/DC converter utilizes flyback energy at energizing a coil, which repeats cycles of storing energy in the coil, first, and then discharging the energy. Thus, every cycle has timing at which the coil does not output any energy. To supply current continuously to prevent the LEDs from turning off even at the timing, the first conventional example has in parallel with the LEDs a smoothing capacitor for storing the energy once, and for discharging the energy at the timing at which the energy is not output.
Besides, the LED has forward voltage characteristics of nearly constant voltage characteristics. Thus, when the smoothing capacitor discharges its energy, the current flowing through the LED drops exponentially in accordance with the voltage drop of the smoothing capacitor due to the discharge. On the other hand, when charging the smoothing capacitor with energy, a slight increase in the voltage causes a current to flow through the constant voltage characteristic LED exponentially, thereby preventing a voltage increase of the capacitor. Thus, the capacitor cannot be charged with the energy sufficiently which is stored in accordance with (C×V×V)/2. Accordingly, to cause the current to flow through the LED stably, a large capacitance smoothing capacitor must be used to maintain the energy for a slight voltage change.
As described above, as for the configuration of connecting the smoothing capacitor in parallel with the LEDs having the constant voltage characteristics, although it is easy for the boosting circuit to make the terminal voltage to be applied to the LEDs constant, it is difficult to make the current flowing through the LEDs constant. A shortage of the capacitance of the smoothing capacitor will prevent the current from flowing constantly, and if the current flowing through the LED is intermittent, the light emitted by the LEDs is also intermittent, that is, turned on and off. Thus, the first conventional example has a problem in that the current flowing through the LEDs is intermittent, and hence the light emitted by the LEDs is also intermittent. In this case, if an object receiving the light is an object at rest, it is perceived quite normal even if it is illuminated by the blinking light source. However, if it is a moving object, it is perceived as if it were at rest for a moment because of a stroboscopic phenomenon, which is undesirable. In particular, when the LED lighting apparatus is applied to a lighting apparatus of vehicle lights such as headlights, the intermittent (blinking) lighting that causes the stroboscopic phenomenon is undesirable for driving the vehicle.
In addition, the configuration of the first conventional example, which requires a bulky capacitor as the smoothing capacitor with a large capacitance, has a problem of preventing the miniaturization of the apparatus.
As for the second conventional example (Patent Document 2), it includes, in addition to the boosting power supply, the constant current circuit for the individual LEDs. Accordingly, although the LED current does not become intermittent, when the plurality of LEDs are connected in series as in the first conventional example, the charge pump type boosting power supply of the second conventional example has the timing at which the energy is not supplied in every cycle as well. Thus, it has a problem of having a potential possibility of bringing about the stroboscopic phenomenon as in the first conventional example.
The present invention is implemented to solve the foregoing problems. Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide, in the configuration of lighting a plurality of LEDs connected in series by using a boosting type DC/DC converter, a light-emitting diode lighting apparatus and a vehicle light lighting apparatus using the same capable of preventing the current flowing through the LEDs from becoming intermittent and the light emitted by the LEDs from becoming intermittent, and capable of reducing the size and price using a smoothing capacitor with small capacitance or without using a smoothing capacitor, thereby preventing a large-sized, large-capacitance smoothing capacitor from being used, and simplifying the circuit configuration.

Light-emitting diode lighting apparatus and vehicle light lighting apparatus using the same


A silica matting agent has a wax coating comprising a mixture of three waxes, i.e. hard microcrystalline, plasticising monocrystalline and synthetic polyethylene. The use of this ternary mixture gives the matting agent improved interaction with lacquers and improved sedimentation.

It is well known that micronised waxes will impart these desirable features to the paint or lacquer film. However, when a silica is coated/impregnated with the wax a process usually performed by jointly grinding the silica and wax in a fluid energy mill (microniser), further product benefits are immediately available. The mixed phenomenon of coating and impregnating, resulting from the inherent porosity of the silica, is hereinafter referred to as "coating". The wax can improve compatibility of the silica with the paint or lacquer preventing interaction with other components in the formulation, but another function is to prevent the formation of hard sediment during storage which is not redispersible. Whilst the mechanism by which this protection is afforded is still not fully understood, its benefit to the paint or lacquer manufacturer is widely recognised because, if hard sediments which cannot be redispersed are formed, none of the benefits described above can be realised.
1. Literature
Two types of wax coated silicas are generally disclosed in the literature. GB 798,621 (Grace) discloses a silica matting agent produced by co-milling an intermediate density silica gel with a microcrystalline wax in a fluid energy mill. GB 1,236,775 teaches a silica matting agent can be prepared by treating precipitated silica with an aqueous emulsion or dispersion of a wax, including thermoplastic materials. The properties of the silica matting agents prepared by the so-called "dry" co-micronising route have been further improved by adding fatty acids (GB 1,461,511 - Grace) or synthetic polyethylene waxes of varying molecular weight (U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,302--SCM) to the microcrystalline wax before feeding to the fluid energy mill. The former improves the dispersibility of the wax coated products, whereas the latter shows products having enhanced settlement characteristics compared with commercially available materials can be prepared. The "dry" processing routes described above use temperatures in excess of the melting points of the waxes or wax blends whereas GB 1,538,474 (BASF) discloses a process which can produce satisfactory wax coated silicas at micronising temperatures of below 50.degree. C., where functional waxes such as montan acid ester are employed.


Speech recognition is provided which is operable with a host computer having a keyboard. An electrical circuit inclusive of the speech recognition is incorporation into the host computer. A first electrical connector communicates between the electrical circuit and the computer and a second electrical connector communicates between the electrical circuit and the keyboard. A microphone inputs voice commands to the electrical circuit and a software application installed in the host computer configures and trains the voice commands with corresponding key-press information. A microcontroller controls the transmission of the voice commands to the host computer while the electrical circuit includes a switch for allowing the microcontroller to send the key-press information to the host computer via the first electrical connector such that the key-press information is communicated separately from the voice commands communicated to the host computer. In a preferred embodiment, another electrical connector is provided for communicating between the electrical circuit and another port of the computer. The foregoing is also applicable to an internal circuit board installed into the computer. In still another embodiment, the key-press entry is communicated separately from pre-loaded commands sent from the computer.

It is known in the prior art to have voice recognition systems that incorporate a speech synthesizer chip technology, but none of the teachings incorporate the technology of the present invention. Rather, the prior art speech recognition systems are not controlled by the supplied software as in the present invention where personalization of the pre-loaded commands are permitted, but not by function keys or cursor controls connected to the applications program that resides in the computer's RAM memory at all times. Further, the prior art discloses transferring data from the host computer to the speech recognition chip through the keyboard port, while the present invention only sends a key press entry that is assigned to the newly spoken and recorded command to the host computer's keyboard port, with the actual data being sent and received by the host computer's data bus (internal ISA device); the serial port (COM RS-232C device), the parallel port (parallel port device); and the USB port (USB device).
The prior art patents that show systems operating in response to voice commands are as follows:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,569 to Nakano et el. is directed towards a computer controlled by voice input, wherein the voice control device is completely incorporated into a host computer so that each keyword corresponding to a start address of a program among a plurality of programs stored in memory can be specified by a voice input by utilizing digital codes formed from complex circuitry involving a computation section, speech recognition start control section, data table of storage contents stored in a program memory, speech synthesis data storage section, and an operator guidance control section. This system does not disclose a microcontroller and a speech recognition chip that connects to a keyboard and a host computer, for sending scan codes to the host computer's keyboard port based on speech recognition and for disconnecting and reconnecting the keyboard from the serial data path by switch means when sending the scan codes, while the software loaded into the host computer sends/receives commands and data through the host computer's data bus.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,696 to Reimer et al. relates to a voice control system that controls the execution of a video game by suspending the game during the entire voice input and recognition intervals. This is accomplished by having the microphone outputs connected to either a clipping circuit or a filter having a narrow bandpass filter connected to a peak connector, and then connected to a microprocessor. However, the present speech recognition system does not suspend the game while the voice commands undergo filtering means.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,016 to Hansen relates to a voice control system which is designed to be adaptable to existing computers and operated by voice commands. This patent is directed to an external device connected solely between the keyboard and the computer, without any other extraneous connections needed for power supply or any other reasons. The patent is also directed towards having software control the priority switch, which enables the keyboard to have priority over voice entries allowing the keyboard input port to upload and download information so that the keyboard is able to be used when connected into the circuit. However, the disclosure does not allow the user to program the user's own voice commands in any language and sent data through the host computer's data bus as in the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,377 to Kuroda et al. is directed towards a speech recognition system having an interface to a host computer bus for direct access to the host memory for accessing the main memory of the personal computer based on fenonic Markov models. The patent is also related to a system capable of performing real time recognition of a large vocabulary by means of a signal processing card packaged on a bus of a personal computer that uses polling fast match and detailed matching.
Thus, the prior art has failed to provide a simple speech recognition system having either an internal or external device comprised of a microcontroller and speech recognition chip that works in conjunction with a software application stored in the RAM memory of the host computer and sends scan codes to the host computer's keyboard port without using digital codes; filtering means; loading or saving programs through keyboard I/O port; and matching based on fenonic Markov models.
Accordingly, the prior art has failed to provide a speech recognition system which is easy to assemble and to install, which does not require additional circuitry such as speech synthesis means, A/D converters, clipping or digital circuitry, preamplifiers, and interfacing with cursor controls, function keys, or loading/saving programs utilizing keyboard I/O ports. More particularly, the prior art has failed to provide a relatively quick, low cost system with a step-by-step process of configuring verbal commands of the user's own voice by utilizing software loaded in the host computer and communicates with the system's ports that requires no additional support and consumes no system's resources during game play.

Speech recognition method and apparatus with voice commands and associated keystrokes


A guest operating system executing on a virtual machine hosted by a host operating system may forward information about the state of the guest operating system to the host operating system for analysis regarding security threats. The host operating system may also forward information about the state of the host operating system to the guest operating system for analysis regarding security threats. One or both of the guest operating system and the host operating system may also forward the information about their state(s) to a remote server for analysis regarding security threats to the machine running the host operating system and hosting the virtual machine running the guest operating system. Security threats may be identified based on a detection of abnormal behavior. Abnormal behavior may be detected using machine-learning models. The machine-learning models may be trained/refined over time based on collected state information.

A computing device may host one or more virtual machines. Virtual machines provide a duplicate of a real-world computing device. The hosting of virtual machines may be referred to as virtualization. Operating system software hosting one or more virtual machines may be referred to as a host operating system. Virtualization may be controlled by software referred to as a hypervisor. In some cases, a hypervisor may be provided by a host operating system. For example, a hypervisor may include one or more processes that execute on the host operating system. Operating system (OS) software executing on a virtual machine may be referred to as a guest operating system.
Computing raises the possibility of information security threats such as, for example, due to malicious software. In the case of a virtualization, such security threats may arise in the context of a host computing device and the host operating system and/or in the context of a virtual machine hosted by the host computing device and the guest operating system executing on that virtual machine. As such, security threats may affect one or both of the host operating system and/or the guest operating system.
Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.

Security threat detection in hosted guest operating systems


A prehospital telemedicine system comprises a physiologic monitor; an electronic patient care reporting system (ePCR) system; and a point-of-care blood analyzer communicatively coupled to the physiologic monitor and the ePCR system. The point-of-care blood analyzer is configured to perform an analysis of a blood sample based on an indication of a need for a specific blood analysis provided by one of the physiologic monitor and the ePCR system, and to automatically transmit a result of the analysis to a remote data receiving system. The indication of a need for a specific blood analysis may be based upon any one of the following: vital signs data obtained for a patient by the physiologic monitor; and/or current documentation or past medical history captured on or available through the ePCR system.

For patients experiencing a medical emergency, blood analysis is often performed as a part of the diagnostic process. Various measurements may be made from a sample of a patient's blood, such as measurements of aspects of blood chemistry, or measurements of concentrations of biomarkers in the blood. Such an analysis is traditionally performed in a laboratory of a hospital, pursuant to a doctor's order. In these situations, the blood analysis results are sent to the doctor that ordered the test. For a patient with a pre-hospital emergency who is first contacted and treated by emergency medical services (EMS) and then transported to the hospital, a potential inefficiency in this process is that the blood analysis cannot be performed until the patient arrives at the hospital, and the hospital doctor may then have to delay medical decision-making and treatment until the blood analysis results become available. So-called Point-of-Care (POC) blood analysis systems have been developed, which can be used at the patient's side either inside or outside of the hospital, and which can shorten the time interval until an analysis result is available. However, such POC blood analysis systems have several potential limitations, particularly when considered for use in the prehospital environment. POC blood analysis systems frequently exhibit lower accuracy than blood analysis systems used in the central testing laboratory of a hospital. The decision of when it is appropriate to perform a certain test in the prehospital environment may be made by an EMS provider such as a paramedic with less training and experience than a doctor, and that provider must then manually interpret the results, manually enter test information into the medical documentation, and manually communicate the results to remote personnel or remote medical facilities. Accordingly, a goal of the present invention is to provide a system to enable blood testing to be performed safely and effectively, and to be integrated into other electronic data present within and shared between other medical devices in the patient's vicinity outside of a hospital setting, for example, in an emergency medical situation being attended to by a paramedic in an ambulance.

Integration of a point-of-care blood analyzer into a prehospital telemedicine system


Disclosed herein is an apparatus for measuring the differential mode delay of multimode optical fiber. The apparatus includes a tunable laser source, an interferometer, a data collecting device, and a computer. The tunable laser source outputs light, frequencies of which vary linearly. The interferometer generates multimode light and single mode light by separating light, which is output from the tunable laser source, transmitting the multimode light and the single mode light to the multimode optical fiber, which is a measurement target, and a single mode path, which is a reference, and generating a beating signal by causing the multimode light and the single mode light to interfere with each other. The data collecting device collects the beating signal from the interferometer. The computer converts the frequency components of the beating signal into components in a time domain, and calculating the mode delay of the multimode light.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for measuring the differential mode delay of a multimode optical fiber and, more particularly, to an apparatus for measuring the differential mode delay of a multimode optical fiber using a tunable laser source and optical frequency domain reflectometry.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, interest in realizing gigabit Ethernet by using an 850 nm Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) is increasing. In order to achieve such a gigabit Ethernet, research into a MultiMode optical Fiber (MMF) is actively being conducted. In the research of the MMF, the analysis of Differential Mode Delay (DMD), which is one of the important characteristic evaluation factors, is essential in order to evaluate MMF performance, so that a lot of research into MMF has recently been conducted.
FIG. 6 shows a conventional apparatus for measuring the DMD of an MMF. The conventional apparatus includes a pulse laser 61, a high-speed light detector 62, and a sampling oscilloscope 63. The pulse laser 61 applies a short laser pulse, which oscillates only for a specific time, to the MMF. The short laser pulse is resolved due to mode separation and difference in traveling velocity between modes while passing through the MMF. The intensities of resolved pulses based on mode are converted into electronic signals by the high-speed light detector 62. The sampling oscilloscope 63 measures the time delay between the pulses, which have been converted into electronic signals, in a time domain.
The conventional apparatus for measuring differential delay in a time domain requires the short laser pulse and the high-speed sampling oscilloscope and, therefore, increases the cost of the optical fiber because the prices for realizing the short laser pulse and the high-speed sampling oscilloscope are high and, therefore, the cost of an optical fiber test increases. It is further difficult to provide the above-described high-priced optical fiber test equipment to every optical fiber production line for the tests of optical fiber, so that a lot of time for testing of optical fiber is required and, therefore, a barrier exists to the mass production and sale of optical fiber. Furthermore, in conventional time delay measurement, modes are separated when an optical fiber has a length more than 500 m, so that a mode delay characteristic can be analyzed only for an optical fiber longer than 1 km, but cannot be analyzed for an optical fiber having a short length. Accordingly, in order to determine the mode delay characteristic of the MMF having a length less than 1 km, the development of a measurement apparatus that can analyze an optical fiber having a short length is required.

Apparatus for measuring differential mode delay of multimode optical fiber

Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology


Provided herein are methods of reconstructing an image from projection data provided by a tomography scanner that is based on geometric optics comprising scanning an object in a cone-beam imaging geometry following a non-standard spiral path or a general piecewise smooth scanning path wherein projection data is generated and reconstructing an image according to a closed-form formula that is either in the filtered backprojection (FBP) or backprojection filtration (or backprojected filtration, BPF) formats. Also provided herein are associated systems and apparatuses for tomographic imaging.

A. Field of Invention
This invention generally relates to tomographic imaging systems and methods for exact reconstructing three/four dimensional (volumetric/dynamic) images from the data obtained in a non-standard scan, such as a non-standard spiral or non-standard saddle or a general piecewise smooth scan.
B. Description of Prior Art
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are pervasive (American Heart Association 2004). CVD is the number one killer in the western world. The cost of the health care for CVD is skyrocketing. In 2004, the estimated direct and indirect cost of CVD was $368.4 billion.
Coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death as a result of a myocardial infarct (heart attack) without any symptom. Because of its ultra high temporal resolution, electron-beam CT (EBCT) can quantify calcification in the arteries, which is an indication of atherosclerosis. EBCT scanners are now considered instrumental for detecting early heart diseases and are a centerpiece of preventive cardiology programs.
Just as tomographic equipment is needed in patient studies, micro-tomographic devices are needed in small animal studies. In order to understand etiology and pathogenesis of CVD, such as high blood pressure, coronary artery diseases, congestive heart failure, stroke and congenital cardiovascular defects, as well as to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies, small animals have become some of the most common models of human diseases.
Although there has been an explosive growth in the development of micro-CT scanners, there has been no development of a micro-CT scanner that allows ultra fast in vivo imaging to study dynamic processes in high spatial and contrast resolution. As a primary example, prior to the present invention, cardiac micro-CT of the mouse was simply impossible.
In order to use these animal models fully and explore their phenotypes at the whole organ and whole animal levels, the extension of cardiovascular imaging and physiological methodologies to small animals, such as mice and rats, is imperative.
Over the last thirty years, computer tomography (CT) has gone from image reconstruction based on scanning in a slice-by-slice process to spiral scanning. From the mid 1980s to present day, spiral type scanning has become the preferred process for data collection in CT. Under spiral scanning a table with the patient continuously moves through the gantry while the source in the gantry is continuously rotating about the table. At first, spiral scanning used a one-dimensional detector array, which received data in one dimension (a single row of detectors). Later, two-dimensional detectors, where multiple rows (two or more rows) of detectors sit next to one another, were introduced. In CT there have been significant problems for image reconstruction especially for two-dimensional detectors.
For three/four-dimensional (also known as volumetric/dynamic) image reconstruction from the data provided by a spiral scan with two-dimensional detectors, there are three known groups of algorithms: Exact algorithms, approximate algorithms, and iterative algorithms. While the best approximate algorithms are of Feldkamp-type, the state of the art of the exact algorithms is the recently developed Katsevich algorithm.
Under ideal circumstances, exact algorithms can provide a replication of a true object from data acquired from a spiral scan. However, exact algorithms can require a larger detector array, more memory, are more sensitive to noise, and run slower than approximate algorithms. Approximate algorithms can produce an image very efficiently using less computing power than exact algorithms. However, even under typical circumstances they produce an approximate image that may be similar to but still different from the exact image. In particular, approximate algorithms can create artifacts, which are false features, in an image. Under certain circumstances these artifacts can be quite severe.
To perform the long object reconstruction with longitudinally truncated data, the spiral cone-beam scanning mode and a generalized Feldkamp-type algorithm were proposed by Wang and others in 1991. However, the earlier image reconstruction algorithms for that purpose are either approximate or exact only using data from multiple spiral turns.
In 2002, an exact and efficient method was developed by Katsevich, which is a significant breakthrough in the area of spiral cone-beam CT. The Katsevich algorithm is in a filtered-backprojection (FBP) format using data from a PI-arc (scanning arc corresponding to the PI-line and less than one turn) based on the so-called PI-line and the Tam-Danielsson window. The principle is that any point inside the standard spiral or helical belongs to one and only one PI-line. Any point on the PI-line can be reconstructed from filtered data on the detector plane with the angular parameter from the PI-arc. In 2003, a backprojected-filtration algorithm (BPF) was developed for helical cone-beam CT based on the Katsevich algorithm by exchanging the order of integrals. For important biomedical applications including bolus-chasing CT angiography and electron-beam CT/micro-CT, generalization of the exact cone-beam reconstruction algorithms from the case of standard spirals to the case of nonstandard spirals and other scanning loci is desirable and useful.
Although the current Katsevich-type algorithms are known for a standard spiral scan, there are no known closed-form algorithms, systems, devices and methods that can reconstruct an image exactly or quasi-exactly from data acquired in a non-standard spiral scan or a general piecewise smooth scan.
Cone-beam CT along non-standard spirals is much more flexible than standard spiral CT in biomedical imaging applications. Algorithms, systems, devices and methods are needed to achieve FBP or BPF reconstructions in non-standard spiral cone-beam scanning cases. Particularly, non-standard spiral EBCT and micro-CT systems, devices and methods are needed to facilitate dynamic volumetric imaging. Such imaging systems, devices and methods can be used in small animal and patient imaging, including cardiac imaging, bolus-chasing CT angiography, and other applications.

Systems and methods of non-standard spiral cone-beam computed tomograpy (CT)


An acoustic control apparatus which can be applied to an electronic musical instrument controls the acoustics of a musical tone to be generated in response to variation of an image. In order to detect the variation of an image, the acoustic control apparatus extracts a predetermined image element from image information to be given thereto. This image element can be identified as movement of an image, color of image or an outline of image. The color of an image can be detected by detecting hue and/or number of colors in the image. In addition, in response to periodicity in variation of this image element, a performance tempo of musical tone can be controlled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an acoustic control apparatus, and more particularly to an acoustic control apparatus capable of controlling or varying the acoustics, musical tone or the performance tempo in connection with an image.
2. Prior Art
As the conventional automatic performance apparatus, the automatic rhythm performance apparatus and automatic accompaniment apparatus of electronic musical instrument are known. In addition, there is another known automatic performance apparatus which automatically performs a melody accompaniment etc. based on performance data which are sequentially read in accordance with the preset tempo stored in memory means such as a magnetic tape, a punch tape, a semiconductor memory and the like.
These automatic performance apparatuses are automatically set by adequately setting the tempo by a player or operator or in accordance with tempo data stored in the memory means.
For this reason, in the case where such automatic performance apparatus is used for assigning the music to a desirable image, there is a disadvantage in that it demands high skill or it is impossible to match the performance tempo of the music with the movement of the image.
In the conventional electronic musical instrument and the like, various effects can be given to the performance tone by controlling frequency characteristic, reverberation characteristic and the like of the performance acoustics by use of the digital signal processor (DSP) or by directly controlling tone color, tone volume and the like at a tone source. Such control of performance tone is executed by manual operation of a player. Therefore, there is a limit in variation of the performance contents in such control.

Acoustic control apparatus for controlling music information in response to a video signal


A method and apparatus for controlling operation of an electric motor. A controller is configured to identify a position of a disc relative to a plate with coils physically associated with the plate. The controller is further configured to control a current sent to the coils based on the position of a disc. The disc is configured to move such that a closest point between the disc and the plate changes along a periphery of the disc.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to electric motor systems and, in particular, to controlling electric motor systems. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a reluctance motor system.
2. Background
An electric motor is a device that converts electrical power into mechanical power. Electric motors are used for various applications. These applications include fans, pumps, tools, disc drives, drills, and other types of devices that may be found in these and other types of platforms.
One type of electric motor is a reluctance motor. A reluctance motor may be, for example, an asynchronous reluctance motor, a variable reluctance motor, a switched reluctance motor, a variable reluctance stepping motor, or some other similar type of motor.
These types of motors may provide a desired level of power density for a desired cost. A reluctance motor may provide an ability to hold positions with a desired level of accuracy. A reluctance motor also may provide a desired level of torque with a smaller size in addition to positioning accuracy as compared to other types of electric motors. These types of motors may be ideal for various applications. For example, the reluctance motor may be used to move aerodynamic control surfaces of an aircraft into position. For example, reluctance motors may be used to move stabilizers, rudders, flaps, ailerons, and other suitable control surfaces into a desired position. Additionally, the reluctance motor also may be used for propulsion of an aircraft.
Although a variable reluctance motor may provide a desired level of torque and positioning accuracy, managing movement of a reluctance motor with a desired level of smoothness may be more difficult than desired. Therefore, is would be desirable to have a method and apparatus that take into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as other possible issues.


A random wavelength access monochromator incorporates a pair of coaxial off-axis parabolic reflectors configured so that the spherical aberrations introduced by the reflectors cancel each other. Light enters through an entrance slit and impinges upon a first off-axis parabolic reflector that collimates the beam and directs it towards a stationary grating. The grating in turn defracts the light and directs it towards a high speed scanning mirror which reflects the defracted light onto a second off-axis parabolic reflector which in turn focuses the beam to an exit slit. Both off-axis parabolic surfaces share the same axis of revolution and the same collimated beam axis. In order to make the apparatus practical, the beam is folded twice so that the exit point is focused away from the internal path of the beam. The resulting instrument is capable of accepting a broad wavelength beam of light, dividing that broad band light into discrete wavelength bands of less than 1 nm optic wavelength, and emitting only the desired wavelength band.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention comprises a random wavelength access monochromator incorporating a pair of coaxial off-axis parabolic reflectors whose spherical aberrations mutually cancel each other.
2. Description of Related Art
For close to a century, optical instrument manufacturers have been able to produce devices capable of dividing a broad band beam of light into individual wavelengths, and emitting only desired wavelength(s). These devices could be manually changed to emit different wavelength bands.
More recently, motor drives have been added that allowed rapid and automatic changes between wavelength bands. The speed of transition from one wavelength band to another has been, and is still, limited by the torque generating capacity of the motor, and the mass of the mechanism used to divide the broad band light into its discrete wavelength bands. High precision stepping motors are typically used, with large ratio (200:1) reduction-gear attached to provide the necessary precision of positioning. Typical positioning requirements are on the order of 0.004 degrees, equivalent to a change of 0.25 nm of optical wavelength for a 1/4 meter class monochromator (assuming 1200 l/mm grating).
While these motors do provide for improved usefulness and control over manual methods, their speed is limited by the fact that they must always move in increments of precision equivalent to their smallest step, and they must always move using the same high ratio reduction gear drive. Therefore, to move from a position of, for example, 450 nm to 600 nm, if the system had a precision of 0.25 nm, the motor has to make 600 individual steps. Further, each step is driving a 200:1 drive train. As a function of physical laws, the greater the speed of the transition, the less accurate the positioning. Conversely, the more accurate the positioning, the slower the transition. Typical practical transition times are "2100 nm per minute", or approximately 30 milliseconds per nm. The transition time for the example above would be 30 milliseconds.times.150 nm=4.5 seconds with an accuracy of 1 nm.
In order to achieve a more rapid transition between wavelength bands, the use of multiple beams of filtered wavelengths, combined by optical-mechanical methods, is prevalent. This is a costly solution, and does not provide for sequential wavelength scanning of the full spectrum of wavelengths.
The recent development of high speed, low torque oscillating motors, or galvanometer scanners has improved the situation somewhat. The scanner is typically attached to a small mirror, which oscillates between two angular positions. When properly positioned near the exit aperture of the monochromator, the instrument can oscillate between two discrete wavelength bands of emitted light. Unfortunately, these motors are not capable of producing very high torque. Therefore, due to mass constraints, the mirror must be relatively small. The small size of the mirror severely restricts the optical wavelength range within which the instrument can oscillate (usually 50-100 nm), which means that the instrument must have a second (slower, higher precision) drive to extend the oscillating range to a more practical range. Another problem with this methodology is that the beam exiting the monochromator changes angle as it changes wavelength. The closer the scanning mirror is to the exit slit, and the greater the transition angle of the scanner, the greater the angle that the beam changes. This leads to alignment problems with "downstream" optics. Further, the scanners can typically only oscillate at fixed resonant frequencies about 2 fixed positions. This prevents the instrument from being useful for anything but slewing or oscillation between fixed wavelengths, at fixed separations, at fixed speeds. There is no practical way to scan or randomly select wavelengths at various high speeds using this methodology.
More recent developments in scanner motor design have led to a scanner that can not only oscillate, but can move randomly or sequentially throughout its full angular transition range. The precision of positioning is on the order of 0.004.degree. within that range. At least one instrument has been developed that uses this class of motor to select emitted wavelengths. This instrument directly couples the motor to the optical component that separates the broad band light into discrete wavelengths by using a moving grating. However, due to the mass of the grating and its mount, the transition speed is limited. The transition time between wavelengths is only in the millisecond time domain when the wavelengths are relatively close (50 nm), and only when moving in one direction. The inertia of the same component, and the low torque capacity of the motor, requires additional time to slow, stop, and accelerate the component back to the original position. This restriction prohibits the instrument from being able to maintain millisecond transition times for almost any practical wavelength separation range, or mode of change.
The prior art patent literature describes a variety of devices that use multiple mirrors, some of them parabolic, in the context of slit imaging systems. A relevant sampling of those patents is described below.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,276 entitled SLIT IMAGING SYSTEM USING TWO CONCAVE MIRRORS describes an off-axis system employing two mirrors P.sub.1 and P.sub.2.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,532,818 entitled DIFFERENCE DISPERSIVE DOUBLE PATH MONOCHROMATOR HAVING A WAVELENGTH INDEPENDENT IMAGING POINT describes a monochromator that employs two parabolic mirrors to reflect the path of the light energy.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,915 entitled FABRICATION OF ASPHERIC SURFACES THROUGH CONTROLLED DEFORMATION OF THE FIGURE OF SPHERICAL REFLECTIVE SURFACES describes another system which could employ an off-axis parabolic mirror or a torque mirror in a specific context.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,725 entitled MONOCHROMATOR ARRANGEMENT also describes a monochromator system employing a parabolic mirror.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,656 entitled ASTIGMATISM CORRECTED GRATINGS FOR PLANE GRATING AND SPHERICAL MIRROR SPECTROGRAPHS describes another arrangement for correcting astigmatic problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,083 entitled RANDOM ACCESS MONOCHROMATOR suggests the general state of the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,192,981 describes a CZERNY-TURNER MONOCHROMATOR which is typical of early prior art efforts and is a technique that is generally well known.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,231 entitled MONOCHROMATOR HAVING AN OSCILLATING MIRROR BEAM-DIFFRACTING ELEMENT FOR SPECTROMETERS describes another technique employing lenses, a two position oscillatory mirror, and a grating.
The following patents are cited as being of general interest only and do not appear to be otherwise relevant to the specific invention: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,984,888; 4,995,721; 5,448,351; and 5,285,255.
In general, insofar as understood, none of the prior art when taken individually or in combination appears to suggest the novel system described herein in which two concave parabolic mirrors are aligned in a coaxial arrangement such that their spherical aberrations subtract and substantially cancel. Moreover, this arrangement is preserved by the use of a folding mirror located between the dispersive elements, i.e., the grating, and either one of the concave off-axis parabolic mirrors. Lastly, the invention is unusual in the fact that the same folding mirror, and not the grating (as is typically the case), is used as the primary means of a wavelength selected.

Random wavelength access monochromator incorporating coaxial off-axis parabolic OAP reflectors


Methods and systems for searching multiple databases are presented. Search connectors are defined between a first and second database, including a search connector having a shared field of the first and second database. Edge connections are generated between the first and second database using the search connector. Each of the edge connections include one or more instances of the shared field in the first and second database. A search query is received from a user interface. The search query is mapped to one of the plurality of search connectors having a specific shared field. A specific instance of the specific shared field is returned, and may be one of the edge connections between the first and second database. In another example, a natural language search query is received, and is translated using the defined search connectors. In a further example, data corresponding to the view name is imported.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to databases and searching systems, and more particularly to methods and systems for searching multiple disparate databases. Many industries rely upon complex supply chains, in which multiple, independent parties participate. These supply chain participants typically each maintain their own databases and affiliated systems in order to track information about products, services, manufacturing, reliability, testing, and other details related to various items such as deployed products and services. Because of the proprietary nature of the information, each participant does not typically reveal all data to other participants. However, to the extent that certain participants have partnered with one another, there may be a desire to share some of the data related to their common interests.
In one example, physical products may be manufactured, sold, installed, deployed, and serviced by different entities. In order to facilitate lifecycle management of such physical products, the entities may share data through bulk downloads of raw data, password access to multiple different systems, or other offline, non-integrated means. Such techniques do not allow for real-time mining of the data, and instead store information, such as engineering drawings, specification, transaction data, etc., in various disparate IT systems, making search and retrieval difficult. Therefore, a need exists for techniques to improve process efficiency in such multi-vendor systems.


Disclosed herein is an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly includes a connector member, a wedge sleeve, a wedge, and outer sleeve, and an inner sleeve. The connector member has a first end section and a second end section. The wedge sleeve has a general tube shape. The wedge sleeve includes a front end and a rear end. The front end of the wedge sleeve is mounted onto the second end section of the connector member. The wedge is configured to be located between the wedge sleeve and a core member of a cable. The outer sleeve is located around the wedge sleeve. The outer sleeve has a front end which is attached onto the connector member. The inner sleeve is configured to be fitted between the outer sleeve and the cable. An outer surface of the inner sleeve comprises a first knurled area.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electrical cable connector and, more particularly, to an inner sleeve for an electrical cable connector for power lines.
2. Brief Description of Prior Developments
Electrical connectors for connecting power lines are designed to provide reliable connections in power distribution networks. As electric utility operating environments become more severe and demanding, there is an increasing demand to improve the efficiency of the electrical connectors. One method to improve the efficiency of an electrical connector is to reduce the electrical resistance between mating connector components. Improved electrical connector efficiency leads to reduced costs and improved power transmission capabilities.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electrical connector having reduced electrical contact resistance.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Knurled inner sleeve for a cable connector


A method for testing a working memory and fluid reasoning of a subject includes the step of sequentially presenting to a subject a first plurality of images, wherein each image is positioned in a different sector of a display device. The first plurality of images totals one fewer than a total number of sectors. Next the subject is simultaneously presented with a second plurality of images. One of the second plurality of images bears an analogous relationship to the first plurality of images. The subject is then asked to select an analogous image from the second plurality of images.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for testing intelligence, and, more particularly, to such system and methods for testing working memory and/or fluid reasoning.
2. Description of Related Art
Tests are known in the art for testing a subject's ability to fill in a pattern of images, including those that present a series of images to the subject for subsequent filling in one of a plurality of other images (Clark, U.S. Pat. No. 1,139,256), complete a pattern (Press, U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,418), or perform a matching task (Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,902; Reynolds et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,581; Hersh, U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,226).
However, there are no tests known in the art that also require an additional memory dimension imposed by removing presented images sequentially.

Sequential reasoning testing system and method


A compressor for suppressing leakage of lubricating oil has a casing, a motor and a scroll mechanism coupled to the motor by a drive shaft. The drive shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing. The lubricating oil is supplied between the drive shaft and the bearing. An oil collecting portion is formed at an end portion in the axis direction of a bearing portion. The bearing portion is constituted of an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the bearing. The oil collecting portion includes an oil groove formed in the periphery direction of the drive shaft. An oil passage is formed to conduct the lubricating oil into the oil collecting portion.

Conventionally, compressors equipped with some types of compressing mechanisms, such as a scroll type and a swing type, have been used for refrigeration devices performing refrigeration cycle, such as an air conditioner.
In such compressors, as shown in Laid-Open Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-79153, a scroll-type compressing mechanism and a motor are disposed in a sealed casing, and the compressing mechanism is coupled to the motor by a drive shaft.
Further, a bearing for the drive shaft is provided between the compressing mechanism and the motor. A suction pipe is coupled to the compressing mechanism, while a discharge pipe is coupled to the casing. The discharge pipe is disposed close to the bearing.
In the compressor, the drive shaft and the bearing constitute a journal bearing. As shown in FIG. 8, a conventional journal bearing (101) comprises a drive shaft (103) and a bearing (105) through which the drive shaft (103) passes, while an oil supply passage (107) is formed in the drive shaft (103). Lubricating oil from the oil supply passage (107) through a branch passage (109) is supplied to a gap between an outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft (103) and an inner peripheral surface of the bearing (105).
The lubricating oil supplied to the gap between the drive shaft (103) and the bearing (105) generates an oil-film pressure by wedge effect, and this oil-film pressure enables the drive shaft (103) to be supported by the bearing (105) so as to rotate therein. A distribution of the oil-film pressure in the axis direction shows its characteristics shown in FIG. 9. Namely, because both of upper and lower end surfaces (111, 113) of the bearing (105) are affected by atmospheric pressure, it has the greatest oil-film pressure at its central portion in the axis direction and the pressure gradually decreases toward the both ends, having a mountain-like shape. As a result, the lubricating oil supplied to the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft (103) and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing (105) is discharged from the both of upper and lower end surfaces (111, 113) of the bearing (105).
The lubricating oil provided at the journal bearing (101) plays important roles of not only supporting a load, but also cooling a friction heat caused by the drive shaft (103) and the bearing (105).
Problems to Be Solved
The conventional journal bearing (101) in the above-described compressor is just so constituted that lubricating oil merely flows out of the both of upper and lower end surfaces (111, 113) of the bearing (105), without taking any measures against the flowing-out of lubricating oil.
Accordingly, there was a problem that when the lubricating oil flows out of the lower end surface (113) of the bearing (105), the lubricating oil flows into and down the discharge pipe along with a coolant flowing in the discharge pipe. Because the discharge pipe is disposed such that it opens close to the journal bearing (101). Thus, this leakage of lubricating oil caused a problem that the compressor may be lack of lubricating oil.
Herein, some measures to restrict the lubricating oil flowing out can be considered, such as reducing the amount of lubricating oil supplied to a bearing portion (115) constituted of the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft (103) and the inner peripheral surface of the bearing (105), and sealing the both ends of the bearing portion (115) by sealing materials.
However, in the measures of reducing the supply amount of lubricating oil, the function of supporting the drive shaft (103) may deteriorate, and the cooling effect by lubricating oil may decrease. On the other hand, in the measures by the sealing materials, the cooling effect by lubricating oil may deteriorate due to stagnation of the lubricating oil at the bearing portion (115). Thus, either of measures may cause other problems.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress such leakage of lubricating oil by suppressing the lubricating oil flowing out of at least one end of the bearing.

Compressor having an oil passage which one end is connected to oil collecting groove and other end is opened to cover end surface of bearing


DNA sequencing and mapping are performed by using a Raman spectrometer with a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate to enhance the Raman signal. A SERS label is attached to a DNA fragment and then analyzed with the Raman spectrometer to identify the DNA fragment according to characteristics of the Raman spectrum generated.

Spectroscopy is an analytical technique concerned with the measurement of the interaction of radiant energy with matter and with the interpretation of the interaction both at the fundamental level and for practical analysis. Interpretation of the spectra produced by various spectroscopic instrumentation has been used to provide fundamental information on atomic and molecular energy levels, the distribution of species within those levels, the nature of processes involving change from one level to another, molecular geometries, chemical bonding, and interaction of molecules in solution. Comparisons of spectra have provided a basis for the determination of qualitative chemical composition and chemical structure, and for quantitative chemical analysis.
One particular spectroscopic technique, known as Raman spectroscopy, utilizes the Raman effect, which is a phenomenon observed in the scattering of light as it passes through a material medium, whereby the light suffers a change in frequency and a random alteration in phase. Raman spectroscopy is a spectrochemical technique that is complementary to fluorescence, and has been an important analytical tool due to its excellent specificity for chemical group identification. One of the major limitations of Raman spectroscopy is its low sensitivity. Recently, the Raman technique has been rejuvenated following the discovery of enormous Raman enhancement of up to 106 for molecules adsorbed on microstructures of metal surfaces.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the main carrier of genetic information in most living organisms. DNA is essentially a complex molecule built up of deoxyribonucleotide repeating units. Each unit comprises a sugar, phosphate, and a purine or pyrimidine base. The deoxyribonucleotide units are linked together by the phosphate groups, joining the 3' position of one sugar to the 5' position of the next. The alternate sugar and phosphate residues form the backbone of the molecule, and the purine and pyrimidine bases are attached to the backbone via the 1' position of the deoxyribose. This sugar-phosphate backbone is the same in all DNA molecules. What gives each DNA its individuality is the sequence of the purine and pyrimidine bases.
The resolution of the genetic material of an organism into linear sequence of the material's elements is known as "genetic mapping". In decreasing order of size these elements include the chromosome, the genes, the codons, and the nucleotides of the DNA. Complete mapping of the genetic material of an organism implies the complete description of its DNA sequences. This has been achieved in only a few cases, with small viruses with sequences only a few thousand nucleotides long. Higher plants or animals have vastly longer sequences.
Current DNA sequencing techniques are based on two methods developed in the late 1970's. Most previous research efforts have been devoted to automation of existing sequencing methods and the use of fluorescent labels. Two of the most prominent sequencing techniques are known respectively as the Sanger method and the Maxam-Gilbert method. In both, radiolabeled DNA fragments are generated chemically or enzymatically. The DNA fragments are then separated on a molecular weight basis using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gels are dried and autoradiographed to image the DNA band pattern. The band pattern is interpreted to yield sequence information, and the sequence data are entered into a computer for further analysis.
Although these sequencing methods are very useful, they suffer from several notable limitations. For example, the radioactive labels used for detection present a potential health hazard. These radioisotopes are also unstable and expensive for large-scale applications. Moreover, they require highly trained personnel and their disposal often creates serious environmental and safety problems.
L. M. Smith et al, in Nature, Vol. 321, p. 674 (Jun. 12, 1986), describes a fluorescence method for partial automation of DNA sequence analysis. The detection of the DNA fragments obtained by the Sanger method is performed by measuring the emission of a fluorescent label covalently attached to the oligonucleotide primer used in enzymatic DNA sequence analysis. Four different types of fluorescent labels were used for each of the reactions specific for the bases adenosine (A), cytosine (C), guanosine (G), and thymidine (T). The reaction mixtures are combined and co-electrophoresed down a single polyacrylamide gel tube. The basic structure of the Smith et al. sequencer is illustrated in FIG. 1. The sequencer includes upper and lower buffer reservoirs 10 and 12 between which extends a polyacrylamide gel column 14. The fluorescent bands of DNA are detected near the bottom of the tube 14 with a detector 16 and the sequence information is acquired directly by a computer 18. An idealized output of the sequencer is illustrated in FIG. 2.
Another system for DNA sequencing in which four chemically related, yet distinguishable fluorescence-tagged dideoxynucleotides are used to label DNA by a modified Sanger protocol has been recently developed by Prober et al., as described in Science, 238, 336 (1987). It was suggested that the fluorescent sequencing fragments are resolved temporally rather than spatially in a single band by conventional polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The dyes used are a family of 9-(carboxymethyl)-3-hydroxy-6-oxo-6H-xanthines or succinylfluoresceins. These fluorophores have largely overlapping yet distinct emission bands. The automated sequencer is capable of determining 50 bases per hour per lane. A fully loaded gel thus yields a throughput of about 600 bases per hour.
There has been little progress made in the development of advanced detection technologies that will provide new or improved systems for DNA sequence detection and analysis. Current instruments use straightforward fluorescence detection with optical filters. These detection techniques are based solely on a single spectroscopic method which may be prone to misreading errors. For example, the fluorescence spectra of the three chemical dyes or "labels" NBD (4-chloro-7-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1-diazole), Texas Red dye, and Fluorescein, which are commonly used for DNA sequencing, are broad, structureless and overlap one another severely.
Thus, there is a need for new or improved methodologies and instrumentation that will improve the accuracy, speed and efficiency of DNA sequencing.

Raman-based system for DNA sequencing-mapping and other separations


A fastening assembly, method of use and associate kit for use in firearms assembly is provided. In one embodiment, at least one insert having at least a first mating portion and slanted surface is provided. A second mating portion is provided and is adjacent at least one of a receiver or barrel and configured to interlock and mate with the at least first mating portion. A stock is also provided, having at least one sidewall and at least one seating portion provided adjacent or integrated with the one sidewall and dimensioned to correspond and accept at least a portion of the insert. In particular embodiments, a fastener is also provided to fasten and secure the at least one insert to the at least one seating portion of the stock.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to firearms. More particularly, the teachings of the present disclosure provide novel and effective firearm fastening assemblies, kits and methods of use for securing a firearm's receiver and/or barrel to another portion of a firearm, such as a stock.
2. Related Art
Since the beginning of the introduction and use of firearms in human history, various designs and means for assembling various components of firearms have been investigated and utilized. Typically, a firearm generally comprises groups of components, each one typically consisting of several additional subcomponents. These groups include the receiver, a barrel attached thereto and the stock. The stock provides a user a convenient element by which the firearm is typically carried and utilized, as known in the art.
Various methods have been utilized to bed or fit receivers and/or barrels into a stock. Stocks are typically provided with a top portion that is provided with an appropriate recess or recesses, shaped and formed to comport with the shape of the receiver and/or barrel fitted thereto. In some more modern and specialized firearms, such as benchrest and target/competition rifles, the barrels are free-floated, that is, the stock is shaped so that the barrel does not come in contact with the stock.
Previous methods for securing the receiver and/or barrels to the stock include clamping mechanisms or bands that clamp, directly or indirectly, the barrel and/or receiver to a stock. Such methods are typical found in early examples of firearms. Another method utilizes studs that depend from the underside of the receiver and/or barrel, the stock being appropriately recessed to accept and secure the studs and thus the receiver and/or barrel, to the stock.
Another very popular and widely utilized method for securing receivers and/or barrels to stocks incorporates threaded channels. Such channels are typically provided in the underside of a receiver and/or barrel, or are provided as part of a member depending therefrom. Screws of appropriate and sufficient length are provided that typically extend through the stock and engage the threaded channels, thus securing the receiver and/or barrel to the stock.
In particular configurations, such screws are provided fore and aft a trigger guard, which secures the trigger guard, and usually a floor plate, to the bottom of the stock while at the same time securing and bringing the receiver and/or barrel down into the stock's recess. In such configurations the floor plate and usually a rear tang of the trigger guard act as compression plates in contact with the bottom portion of the stock, securing the receiver into the stock. This configuration is the typical method by which many modern bolt-action rifles secure their receivers and barrels to stocks. Examples of rifles that incorporate such configurations can be found in the Remington Model 700 series of rifles, for example.
In another prior art method, the receiver is secured to the stock by utilizing a trigger housing group that includes a trigger guard that is hinged and can pivot about a point on a trigger housing group frame. The trigger guard can include a trigger guard extension arm, usually two arms, that includes a latch portion. Here, the receiver includes a projecting member that depends from a bottom portion of the receiver and includes a cutout or recess appropriately configured to comport with and engage the latch portion of the trigger guard extension arm. The receiver is dropped into the stock and the trigger housing group is inserted into the stock via the bottom of the stock, with the trigger guard in a forward position, thus positioning the latch portion of the trigger guard extension arm rearwardly (in the direction of the butt-end of the stock). Once the trigger housing group is so inserted into the stock, the trigger guard is swung rearwardly and up, thus bringing the latch portion of the trigger guard extension arm forward (toward the muzzle portion of the barrel), bringing the latch portion into engagement with the cutout or recess of the projecting member depending from a bottom portion of the receiver. This then results in a compression force that pulls the receiver and the trigger housing group towards each other and resultantly secures the receiver and trigger housing group to the stock. As, known in the art, this method does not require screws or other types of fastening. This is at least one reason that such configurations are found in some military and military-style rifles. An example of a firearm that utilizes such a configuration can be found one of the previous U.S. battle rifles, adopted in the 1950's, widely known as an M14, and such a receiver to stock securing configuration can also be found in the civilian version of this rifle, widely known in the art as an MIA, as produced by Springfield Armory (Geneseo, Ill. USA).
Although the various methods above are widely utilized, they can still permit substantial movement of the receiver in the stock. Use of securing forces associated with the use of screws and associated configurations can be lost due to handling of the rifle and particularly due to recoil generated during the firearms' firing as well as disassembly and re-assembly. Similarly, the configuration utilizing compression between a trigger housing group and the cutout or recess of a projecting member depending from a bottom portion of the receiver can also be subject to shifting and associated loses in accuracy.
Stability and maintenance a "perfect fit" is especially important to those marksmen and shooters that pursue an exacting and tight fit between the receiver and stock. Such shooters can employ a well known method, which utilizes fiberglass compositions, to glass bed their actions to the stock to achieve that "perfect fit". There is an interesting irony to glass bedding in that once the expense and trouble associated with such bedding jobs, executed to increase accuracy of a particular firearm, have been overcome, the gained stability and accuracy of the firearm is eventually diminished over time. This is because in addition to the effects of recoil on the bedding (e.g., upward and rearward thrusting, torque and vibration forces exerted on the components of the firearm), the gained effect is further diminished by the servicing of the now glass-bedded rifle. Removing and reinstalling the action for cleaning/service aggravates the bedding with every disassembly-re-assembly cycle, thus hastening the necessity for a bedding touch-up or complete re-bedding. In some circumstances and after a sufficient number of disassembly-re-assembly cycles, wear on the factory latches of a trigger housing group (e.g. like the ones utilized in M1A/M14-type rifles) the can proceed to a point for which the only remedy is replacement of the whole of the trigger group.

Firearm fastening assembly and method of use


In sport equipment in the form of short ski-like rollers for each foot, with a support as base for the shoe of the user and only one front wheel and one rear wheel each, a particularly compact and maneuverable construction of the equipment is achieved owing to the fact that the front wheel and the rear wheel and their axes are disposed within the longitudinal extent of the support.

Since the ski season is limited to a few months of the year and, in addition, sufficient snow is a prerequisite for skiing, a series of proposals have already been made for remaining at least in training for also the remaining part of the year. This is important above all because skiing, perhaps more than any other type of sport, makes manifold physical demands on the body and requires the mastery of very different series of movements. An untrained sportsman frequently is not sufficiently fit for these high demands, so that ligament strains and tears, muscle strains and sprains, or even bone fractures result especially in the first days of a skiing vacation, and a vacation, which was intended to be for relaxation, frequently ends up in a hospital.
Various proposals have therefore already been made, for remaining in training also in the snow-free months or outside of the actual winter sport season, for example, by dry skiing exercises, etc. Sport equipment has also already been developed, which simulates at least the individual series of motions or permits these to be carried out. For example, skateboard-like equipment has been created, in which short ski-like supports have been provided with rollers and in this way permit movements which correspond at least to cross-country skiing. All of the previously known sport equipment has almost the same construction, which is similar to that known, for example, from German Gebrauchsmuster No. 89 04 308. They have a support as a base for the shoe of the user, a shoe holder similar to a ski binding and a front wheel and a rear wheel, which are mounted on the support, each on one axis. Two wheels are also frequently provided at the rear. In addition, this previously known equipment has a brake system consisting of a brake and a brake operating mechanism. The latter is accommodated in a ski pole and is connected with the brake by means of a Bowden cable.
It is a disadvantage of the previously known equipment that its materials are expensive, its safety is slight and it does not fully take into consideration the manifold series of motions, stresses and demands made on the sportsman.


A television picture image processing apparatus includes a horizontal edge gate pulse generator, a vertical edge gate pulse generator, an AND combiner for ANDing horizontal and vertical edge gate pulses applied thereto respectively from the horizontal and the vertical edge gate pulse generators, a sawtooth pulse generator, an amplifier for controlling the gain of sawtooth pulses from the sawtooth pulse generator in accordance with an external DC voltage, and a luminance processor. The apparatus prevents picture quality of a television set from being degraded due to a poor contrast and brightness occurring in each corner of a television picture screen.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture image processing apparatus, and more particularly to a television picture image processing apparatus capable of preventing a picture quality of a television set from being degraded due to a poor contrast and brightness occurring in each corner of a television picture screen.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, to enhance the picture quality of a TV set, a picture analysis and compensation technique has been employed, wherein chromatic aberration of an image-processed picture is detected in a facial or non-facial tone detector, for thereby deciding whether or not a flesh color is generated.
The compensation value of the detected color tone is selected in a normalizing circuit after the value of the color tone passes through a facial tone combiner for a facial color tone, and a non-facial combiner for a non-facial color tone.
The selected compensation value combined with a color offset value is fed back to an image processor for color compensation.
After detecting a ceiling or bottom value of Y-output, the compensated value may be fed back to a fuzzy logic processor, so that the picture quality can be enhanced by compensating the contrast or brightness thereof.
In the case of a color compensation, a flesh color is allocated in a region such as a R-Y or B-Y domain, and each value for the colors in the region is decided accordingly.
With regard to a contrast or brightness compensation, the value thereof is decided depending on a fuzzy logic operation.
However, the above-described conventional picture quality compensation has a disadvantage in that as a television picture screen increases in size, the picture quality is degraded in each corner of the TV picture screen.

Television picture image processing apparatus