In ultrasonic imaging, a physically consistent value of blood flow velocity is measured in the vicinity of body tissues. The ultrasound imaging apparatus comprises a shape extraction part for recognizing shape data of biological tissues by using echo signals reflected from a test subject irradiated with ultrasonic waves, a flow velocity distribution acquisition part for detecting blood flow velocities in the vicinity of the tissues from the echo signals, and a velocity determination part for extracting velocity information desired by a tester (objective velocity information). The velocity determination part sets a model of the objective blood flow, and determines a velocity of actually measured velocity distribution consistent with velocity distribution estimated from the model.

In the circulatory system for circulating blood in the bodies, the blood circulation efficiency and pattern closely relate to cardiovascular diseases. For example, an inefficient circulatory system imposes a load on the heart to increase the risk of cardiac failure. In order to investigate such hemodynamics, it is necessary to accurately obtain cardiac blood flow velocity. In particular, the pressure gradient for two points in the living body as important information for diagnosis is obtained by using valve regurgitation flow velocity, and therefore accurate flow velocity information focused on the valve regurgitation is required.
There is the Doppler measurement technique utilizing the Doppler effect as a method for obtaining blood flow velocity using ultrasonic waves. In the Doppler measurement technique, blood flow velocities are detected in all the regions irradiated with ultrasonic waves, and therefore the obtained velocity information (blood flow velocity distribution and blood flow velocity) has a certain width (range). Therefore, it is necessary to extract velocity information considered by a tester to be appropriate, but such extraction of velocity includes ambiguity, which leads to ambiguity of diagnosis.
Patent documents 1 and 2 disclose techniques for preventing errors of trace lines of Doppler waveform due to noises or signal aliasing in determining velocities on the basis of the Doppler waveform. Further, Patent document 3 discloses a technique of automatic tracing of the Doppler waveform utilizing a plurality of luminance levels lower than the maximum luminance level by predetermined degrees as the tracing levels, as for the basis of tracing of the Doppler waveform.


Methods for improving the health of a female human or non-human animal are disclosed. The methods include the step of administering to the animal compositions including an effective amount of glycomacropeptide (GMP) for effectuating the methods. Specifically, the methods can be used to increase the rate of fat metabolism or fat oxidation, decrease percentage of body fat, increase the rate of bone mineralization, increase bone mineral content, increase bone mineral density, and/or increase bone strength in the animal.

Human health can be negatively affected by factors such as increasing body fat or decreasing bone strength or bone mineralization.
For example, obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health. Obesity increases the risk of developing certain diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is a growing public health problem in the United States and throughout the world.
Dieting, behavior modification and physical exercise are the standard treatments for obesity. However, despite widespread awareness of the importance of diet and exercise, obesity is increasingly prevalent in both adults and children. Current alternative treatments for obesity include medications to reduce appetite or to inhibit fat absorption. In severe cases, surgery is performed to reduce stomach volume and/or bowel length, leading to earlier satiation and reduced ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Interventions aimed at increasing the rate of fat metabolism could potentially reduce the symptoms of obesity by facilitating the increased oxidation of excess fat, leading to a decreased percentage of body fat. However, the biochemical factors that may increase or decrease the rate of fat oxidation are not well-understood. Although physical exercise has been shown to increase the rate of fat metabolism, few foods or dietary supplements have been shown to effectively increase the rate of fat oxidation. Thus, there is a need in the art for foods, dietary supplements or nutraceutical that have the demonstrated ability to increase an individual's rate of fat metabolism/oxidation or to decrease the percentage of fat in an individual's body.
As a second example, mineralization of bone is the result of a complex process in which crystals of calcium phosphate are produced by bone-forming cells and laid down in precise amounts within the bone's fibrous matrix or scaffolding. Bone mineral loss is a well-known consequence of aging, and both men and women slowly lose bone mineral content and exhibit decreased bone mineral density beginning at age 30. Post-menopausal woman are at increased risk for additional loss of bone mineral content and decreased bone mineral density, most likely due to decreased estrogen levels.
Decreasing rates of bone mineralization, decreased bone mineral content, and decreased bone mineral density are associated with a wide variety of conditions, and may result in significant medical problems. For example, osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in humans characterized by marked decreases in skeletal bone mass and mineral density and corresponding increases in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture in afflicted individuals. Fractured hips, wrists, and vertebrae are among the most common injuries associated with osteoporosis. Hip fractures in particular are extremely uncomfortable and expensive for the patient, and for women, correlate with high rates of mortality and morbidity. Osteoporosis is preceded by clinical osteopenia, a very common condition throughout the world. The frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis increases with age, and they are much more common in women than in men.
Current strategies for the prevention of osteopenia, osteoporosis, and other conditions associated with bone mineral loss include physical activity with the onset of advanced age (specifically, weight bearing activity), preventing calcium deficiency through diet, and avoiding consumption of tobacco. For patients with clinical osteopenia or osteoporosis, most current therapeutic strategies are directed to reducing further loss of bone mass by inhibiting the process of bone resorption.
However, no foods or dietary supplements have been explicitly shown to effectively increase the rate of bone mineralization, or the mineral content or mineral density of bone. Thus, there is a need in the art for foods, dietary supplements or nutraceutical that have the demonstrated ability to increase an individual's bone mineral content or bone strength, particularly in women. Such compositions could be utilized to treat a wide variety of conditions, such as osteopenia, osteoporosis, increased susceptibility to fractures, and other disorders associated with decreased bone mineralization.

Use of glycomacropeptide to improve women's health

Abstract: GMP-containing compositions can be used according to the disclosed methods to treat obesity and related metabolic conditions, or to treat or prevent osteoporosis, osteopenia, and other conditions related to loss of bone mineral content or bone strength.


A controller and one or more intermediate devices that are connected to a plurality of processors and this controller so that communications are possible are provided. A first access message including a designated value designated by the processor is transmitted to the controller by a first intermediate device connected to the processor. The controller specifies a local memory address corresponding to the designated value included in the first access message, and transmits a second access message including this specified local memory address to two or more other processors. The two or more other processors or second intermediate devices that are connected to these processors access local memory regions of two or more local memories respectively corresponding to two or more other processors, which are local memory regions corresponding to the local memory addresses included in the second access message.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for a system comprising a plurality of processors, e.g., a storage system and storage control method that control access to storage.
2. Description of the Related Art
For example, the disk array control device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-306265 is known as a system comprising a plurality of processors. This disk array control device comprises a plurality of channel adapters that perform input-output control with a host computer, a plurality of disk adapters that control input and output with magnetic disk devices, and a shared memory mounted processor that comprises a shared memory and an internal data cache. A plurality of channel adapter mounted processors are mounted on the plurality of disk adapters. Access to the shared memory from the channel adapter mounted processors and disk adapter mounted processors is performed via the internal data cache. As a result, the time required for access to the shared memory can be reduced.

Storage system and storage control method


A method for the production of inorganic aluminum substances and amorphous silica from aluminum oxide containing ores, comprising: (a) leaching of said ores with fluorosilicic acid to obtain aluminum fluosilicate solution; (b) filtering said leached solution from insoluble materials; and (c) washing said insoluble materials.

Bauxite and calcinated kaolin are the main minerals used for the production of aluminum oxide (alumina) and aluminum salts. Various methods are known in the art for carrying out this procedure, and some of them are described in Encyclopedia Kirk-Othmer (Volume 2; pages 252–271; 337) and Ullman (Volume A1, page 527–535).
The Bayer process is a traditional technology known for extracting aluminum hydroxide from bauxite by using caustic soda under pressure. This process comprises more than 15 stages and is a costly process. One problem with the aluminum sulfate produced from bauxite and kaolin, which is used mostly for the purification of water, is that it contains 0.3% to 0.8% Fe2O3 (Chemical Economics Handbook 1998). Hence, for the production of iron free aluminum sulfate of less than 100 ppm Fe2O3, which is used for example in the paper industry, pure aluminum hydroxide must be used. Many methods are known for extracting aluminum hydroxide from bauxite and from clay. Those from clay require a calcination step of considerably high temperature, usually higher than 1,100° C.
The Bayer process using bauxite for the production of aluminum hydroxide is known for 120 years. This process however, is very complicated and costly. Recently published, namely U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,758 to Nehari dated 1999, describes a process for the recovery of alumina and silica from aluminosilicate. This process comprises the steps of (a) heating the aluminosilicate to approximately 1000° C. with hydrated CaCl2 to obtain calcium-alumino-silicate and calcium-aluminate products, wherein the CaCl2 is substantially free of MgCl2; (b) leaching the products with HCl to form a solution comprising AlCl3 and CaCl2, and insoluble silica; (c) separating the insoluble silica from the solution; and (d) crystallizing AlCl3 from the solution and recovering the alumina from the crystallized AlCl3.
The process may further comprise the steps of: (e) substantially removing MgCl2 from the CaCl2 solution of step (d); and (f) recycling the CaCl2 solution for use in step (a). It is thus clear that the drawback of aforementioned process is costly. Thus, a more cost-effective process would therefore be beneficial for the recovery of alumina and silica from materials containing alumino-silicates. This process should avoid both calcination steps at high temperature, and further, should be insensitive to iron contamination in the process.

Production of aluminum compounds and silica from ores


A system for supplying compressed air and foam to produce a fire stream comprising an aerated foam is disclosed. The system includes an air compressor driven from a split shaft gear box of the type provided on fire trucks.

This invention relates generally to an air supply system for firefighting apparatus, and more particularly to a system for supplying compressed air and foam to produce a fire stream comprising an aerated foam.
Air supply systems of the above-indicated type are known and are referred to in the art by the terms CAFS (compressed air foam system) and WEPS (water expansion pumping system). A typical system includes a foam injection system, a water pumping system and an air compressor. When employing mixture ratios of 1 cfm of air to 1 gpm of water, these systems can produce very desirable results in firefighting by the use and application of "Class A" foams to help achieve fire suppression and to deal with increased fire loads and related hazards.
It is the general object of the invention to provide an air supply system of the indicated type including means for driving an air compressor using a split shaft gear box of the type commonly employed on fire trucks. More specifically, the air compressor is mounted on the housing of the gear box in a manner so that a shaft extension of the air compressor is contained in the gear box to be driven by a gear which also drives the fire pump that is also mounted on the fire truck adjacent the gear box.
In accordance with another object of the invention the drive for the compressor is provided with a clutch which allows for the selective use of the compressor.
More specifically, the air supply system in accordance with the invention comprises a rotary vane compressor mounted on the split shaft gear box of the midship pump provided on a fire truck. By this arrangement, compressed air can be introduced into the water stream to make an aerated foam, which foam is more effective as a fire stream than plain water and penetrates faster.
Another feature of the air supply system in accordance with the invention is that by introducing air into the fire hose, the actual weight of the hose is significantly reduced. Thus, it makes handling a 21/2 inch fire hose become a one man job instead of requiring two or three men to handle the hose.
Furthermore, the booster tank provided on the fire truck as a water supply for immediate use at a fire scene can be used over a longer time period since the water supply can be stretched. This makes the fire truck apparatus more effective in that the first fire truck to arrive at a fire scene can be used to apply a fire stream to the fire for a longer time period to limit the fire damage until a subsequent fire truck can be hooked up to the hydrant and supply an additional fire stream.

Air supply system for firefighting apparatus


A head of an open ended ratchet features outer face plates with voids that delimit a jaw space that is open at one end. Two gripping pieces face toward one another from opposing sides of the jaw space. A working side of each gripping piece features two working faces that lie at an oblique angle to one another to define an inner corner that fits over a respective outer corner of a fastener. The gripping pieces are displaceable along the plates into working positions reaching further into the jaw space. A force member is slidable along the plates to force the gripping pieces into the working position, in which the working faces frictionally engage peripheral faces of the fastener. A handle coupled to the head is pivotally movable in opposing directions to push and release the force member, thereby controlling engagement and release of the gripping pieces with the fastener.

There have been numerous open ended socket wrench designs in the prior art, including those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,695,125, 4,204,440, 4,441,387, 4,562,757, 4,604,919, 5,249,487, 5,287,777, 5,454,283, 5,533,428, 5,553,520, 5,582,083, 6,158,309, 7,024,971, 7,188,550 and 7,249,539, and U.S. Patent Application Publication Numbers 2007/0044593 and 2011/0209583
However, Applicant has developed a new open ended socket wrench of unique design not seen heretofore.


A panel inspection apparatus inspecting a display panel, including: a panel supporting table supporting the panel; a plurality of cameras installed being spaced from the panel supporting table and photographing the panel supported by the panel supporting table; and a rotatable camera support rotatably supporting at least one of the plurality of cameras. As a result, the number of cameras required is reduced, costing less, and easy installation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a panel inspection apparatus, particularly, to a panel inspection apparatus having an improved support structure of a camera used to inspect a display panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most recent research related to display devices is focused on scaling-up the size of the screens, reducing the dimension of the screens, and reducing the weight of the screens. Various display panels, such as, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a PDP (Plasma Display Panel) have been developed as a result of such research. Accordingly, there has been a growing need for a panel inspection apparatus during the manufacturing process of the display panels.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional panel inspection apparatus. As illustrated, a conventional panel inspection apparatus 101 comprises, a panel supporting table 110 to support a panel 103, a camera unit 104 installed above the panel supporting table 110 to photograph the panel 103 supported by the panel supporting table 110, and a camera support 130 supporting the camera unit 104.
The panel supporting table 110 is shaped like a table, and supports the panel 103 placed on a palette 111.
The camera unit 104 is installed on the camera support 130, and comprises, a first camera 105 installed to face the panel 103 perpendicular to the center of the panel 103 supported by the panel supporting table 110, and four second cameras 107 installed north, south, west, and east of the first camera 105 installed perpendicular to the center of the panel 103.
The first camera 105 installed perpendicular to the panel 103 photographs the area of the panel 103 from the direction perpendicular to the panel 103, while the four second cameras 107, installed at predetermined angles from the panel 103, photograph the panel 103 from the predetermined angles.
Accordingly, the camera unit 104 comprising the first camera 105 and the four second cameras 107 installed on the camera support 130 photograph the panel 103 supported on the panel supporting table 110 from the direction perpendicular to the panel 103 and from four different directions within the predetermined angles, respectively, to allow inspection for a defect that may occur on the panel 103, such as a fleck.
However, the conventional panel inspection apparatus is expensive because the inspection apparatus requires at least five cameras to allow inspection of the entire area of the panel 103. In addition, according to the conventional panel inspection apparatus, as the size of the panel increases, the number of cameras required to inspect the panel also increases, resulting in additional expense for installation of the additional cameras. For example, in order to inspect a 14-inch panel using the conventional panel inspection apparatus, one camera unit comprising five cameras is required, while a 21-inch panel would require at least four camera units or 20 cameras total.


A structure and method of making resistive emitting members which exhibit high resistivity while at the same time providing high temperature operation significantly above that known in the art. Specifically the use of nitrides of Group IVB transition metals from the periodic table, exclusive of titanium is described.

The present invention relates to ohmic heating elements, and more particularly to emission of thermal energy from refractive metal compounds resistive members. The present invention finds particular application for the production of infrared (IR) or thermal images from tightly packed pixel elements formed from these materials.
A major challenge in resistive IR emitter array technology is to produce a high emittance structure that requires relatively little electrical current during operation. The key factors which contribute to high emittance are the density of the pixels which form the array, and the maximum operating temperature of the pixels. High pixel density has been achieved in the prior art using a multi-level pixel structure. The multi-level pixel structure maximizes the radiating area by placing the pixel drive and addressing electronics directly under the a resistive emitting member. High radiance is achieved by fabricating the resistive emitting member of the pixel using a thin, absorbing film, and placing a reflector below this film to direct radiation outward.
The electrical current used by a thermal emitting pixel is strongly linked to the material used to form its resistive emitting member. In prior art systems the designer traded off low current operation for high temperature operation or compromised on other pixel characteristics. For example, metal films used for the resistive member such as platinum, although potentially having good high temperature properties, do not have high resistivities. Thus, platinum resistive members must be patterned into an extremely thin serpentine film to maximize their resistance. Unfortunately, the adhesion of these platinum films is poor, making the pixel structurally weak.
Titanium nitride is another material which has been used to form resistive members in thermal emitters. Titanium nitride has good temperature properties, satisfactory resistance and structural properties, but unfortunately involves sensitive pixel fabrication steps. Specifically, an annealing is typically done during processing of the thermal emitter to stabilize the device for high temperature operation. The resistance of titanium nitride varies considerably in the range of temperatures used for this anneal. This sensitivity can lead to large variations in pixel resistance from array to array and possibly large variations in emmisivity from pixel to pixel in the same array. In fact, the range of resistance of the titanium nitride resistor can in some cases cause pixels to become inefficient or completely inoperative. Titanium nitride resistive members also suffer from some difficulty with lifetime high temperature stability.

High temperature ZrN and HfN IR scene projector pixels


The present invention is to provide a system that displays interactive messages by light emission of preset response depending on the direction of the light from indefinite light source; a light collecting device is used to collect the incidental light from an indefinite light source into clustered beam with higher luminance to be projected into one end of a light guide device before being projected in one direction or multi directions from another end of the light guide device, or light emitted display of selected text or graphics.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a display system, and more particularly to one that intensifies the luminance from optical energy of incidental light and reflects the text or graphic response for display.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The conventional reflective display device, e.g., a reflective sign, usually displays by reflecting the incidental light from indefinite light source by a coated surface or a surface that reflects geometric shape.

Display system on reflective interaction guided by a light source


An information processing apparatus has a processing unit exclusively used for code information and a processing unit exclusively used for pattern information so that a total processing speed and a processing efficiency is increased when both the code information and the pattern information are processed by the same information processing apparatus. A code information processing unit exclusively processes the code information. A pattern information processing unit exclusively processes the pattern information, the pattern information processing unit being separated from the code information processing unit. Inputting/outputting information to/from each of the code information processing unit and pattern information processing unit is controlled so that a suitable processing can be applied to each of the code information requiring a relatively small processing capability and the pattern information requiring a relatively large processing capability. Thus, a speed and efficiency of processing are increased in the information processing apparatus as a whole system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an information processing apparatus and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus which concurrently processes code information and pattern information.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a conventional information processing apparatus used as a part of an office automation system. The information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a computation control unit 1, a keyboard 2, a mouse 3, a display unit 4, an external memory apparatus 5 and a printer 6. The computation control unit 1 is comprised of a personal computer or an end terminal unit of a UNIX system. The keyboard is used for inputting information from an operator. The mouse is used as a pointing device. The display apparatus 4 comprises a screen such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) to display input information or a result of processing. The external memory apparatus 5 comprises a floppy disk drive (FDD), a hard disk drive (HDD) or a magneto-optical (MO) disk drive so as to record information therein. The printer 6 prints a result of processing onto a recording sheet.
The computation control unit 1 comprises, as shown in FIG. 2, a central processing unit (CPU) 11, a memory unit 12, a font unit 13, and various drivers 14-18. The CPU 11 controls an entire operation of the computation control apparatus 1. The memory unit 12 comprises a memory for storing an operation system (OS) program or an application program for operating the CPU 11 and a memory used as a working area for the CPU 11. The font unit 13 stores font information used for converting code information into image information. The driver 14 controls communications with the keyboard 2 and the mouse 3. The driver 15 controls communications with the display unit 4. The driver unit 16 controls communications with the external memory unit 5. The driver 17 controls communications with the printer 6. The driver 18 controls communications with an external apparatus (terminal) which is connected via a network such as a local area network (LAN).
An early data processing system (computation control apparatus) had a simple structure such as described above since operations to be performed were simple. Additionally, the above-mentioned conventional structure of the computation control apparatus was sufficient since most of the early computation control apparatuses were operated as closed systems, that is, most of the computation control apparatus were operated as stand-alone systems.
However, in recent years, a need for processing pattern information (image information) has drastically increased as has a need for processing code information. This is because the information processing apparatus is used for processing pattern information such as audio information and video information such as those processed in a multi-media system. Additionally, a need for background processing, which is to be performed concurrently with processing of a main job, is increased. This requires multi-task processing. Accordingly, the conventional structure of the hardware and software of the information processing apparatus should be changed to more efficiently process the information including both the code information and the pattern information.
In order to process the code information and the pattern information, a conventional computation control apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 3 has a complex structure. That is, the computation control apparatus 20 comprises, further to the computation control apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2, an image editing unit 21, a compressing/extending unit 22, a drawing unit 23, an optical character reader (OCR) 25 and drivers 24 and 26. The image editing unit 21 edits the image information. The compressing/extending unit 22 increases a transmission speed of the image information. The drawing unit 23 performs a drawing operation. The driver 24 receives the image information read by a scanner 7. The OCR 25 converts the image information received by the scanner into code information. The driver 26 comprises a modem to control communications with external apparatuses via a telephone line. Additionally, the CPU 11 of this apparatus further has a function to read and process image information and audio information from new media such as a CD-ROM.
That is, the computation control apparatus 20 performs processing of both the code information and the pattern information which requires a high processing speed. Additionally, a high reliability is required as the apparatus becomes more complex.
Accordingly, in the information processing apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the concurrent processing of the code information and the pattern information has become a serious problem since the capability of the apparatus for processing the code information is different from the capability required for processing the pattern information. That is, the processing system used for the code information is normally operated as a serial processing system in which a plurality of tasks in a single job are serially processed, whereas the processing system used for the pattern information is normally operated as a parallel system in which a plurality of tasks are concurrently processed. Thus, the processing of the pattern information requires a greater capability of the CPU than that of the code information. Additionally, the size of a data bus used for the code information processing system can be much less than the size of a data bus for the pattern information processing system. Accordingly, if the code information is processed by the same processing system as the processing system used for the pattern information, the processing system has too much capacity for processing the code information. Thus, a CPU having an unnecessarily large capability must be used when both methods of processing are performed by a single CPU.
For example, if the code information such as command information and the pattern information such as audio information are processed by the same CPU, there may be a problem that processing the audio information is interrupted when the code information is processed. For example, in a case where the code information is processed as a main job and the audio information is processed as background music, the processing of the background music must be interrupted while the code information is processed. The interruption may last for a very short period of time, but it may be recognizable by the user.
Additionally, it has been suggested that file data having code information be added to the front end of the pattern information as shown in FIG. 4. This kind of data format has been suggested in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No.5-303596 filed by the present applicant. The file of information shown in FIG. 4 has a sub-data area and a main-data area. The sub-data area contains only code information and the main-data area contains the pattern information. The code information in the sub-data area is used for controlling the processing of the pattern information in the main-data area. When the file data of this kind is processed, input data input from the external apparatus to the computation control apparatus contains both the code information and the pattern information. In the conventional computation control apparatus, the code information and the pattern information are processed by the same CPU. Accordingly, the capability of the CPU must be determined to have such a capacity sufficient to process the pattern information. Thus, the capability of the CPU is larger than necessary for processing the code information.

Information processing apparatus for separately processing code information and pattern information


A mobile power system for producing power at a desired location includes a first power generating device of a first type coupled to a transportable housing, and a second power generating device of a second type coupled to the transportable housing. The first type of power generating device is different than the second type of power generating device. According to an exemplary embodiment, the mobile power system may provide easy access to different types of power outputs. Further, the housing may have the approximate size of a standard freight container.

While electric power from traditional electrical power grids is readily available in many locations throughout the world, there remain vast regions where no electric power is available. Even in locations where electric power is available, there is a variety of situations where a supplemental or substitute power source would be desirable.
Solar and wind power generation systems are known and may be applied in many different applications. Traditional solar and wind power generation systems, however, have several shortcomings. For example, these systems generally have not been standardized. As a result, they must be custom built for each particular application and/or at each desired site, which makes these systems expensive. Custom built solar and wind power systems typically require days to assemble or disassemble. Further, traditional solar and wind power systems are not modular. Specifically, once a particular solar or wind power generator system has been designed and manufactured to include a certain number of power generating devices (such as photovoltaic or wind turbine devices), additional devices may not be added to the system without significant difficulty including, for example redesign and modification of the power system and/or redesign and modification of the power generation system site.
Additionally, conventional power generating systems generally are not designed for efficient transportation to a desired location, and are difficult to disassemble and remove once they have been constructed at the desired location. Many power generating systems are transported in a piecemeal fashion from a number of different manufactures or retailers. The components are then assembled and coupled to preexisting housing structures or to specialized housing structures constructed at the desired location of the power generating system.
Conventional power generation systems also do not provide adequate versatility for receiving power from different types of power generating devices, and for supplying power to a variety of different power receiving devices requiring different types electrical supply. Many power generation systems are designed with a single type of power generating device (such as diesel powered or wind powered generator) supplying power directly to one or more power receiving device. Accordingly, interchanging power receiving devices from the power generating device is difficult or impossible in existing power generating systems.
The present invention provides a power generating system that avoids some or all of the aforesaid shortcomings in the prior art.


An attenuator/filter is disclosed that is inherently tuned and provides for a stimulated Brillouin scattering effect having a predetermined threshold that fixes the output thereof at a predefined power level. The stimulated Brillouin scattering effect is disclosed as being provided by either a fused silica optical fiber or a fiber-optic ring resonator both of which act as a filter to allow selected frequencies to pass. The SBS threshold is selected to improve the sideband to carrier power ratio which, in turn, determines the modulation depth for the modulated signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sensing, transmitting and processing of electrical signals carried by an optical carrier wave. More particularly, the present invention relates to modulating optical carriers, having sidebands, with relatively weak signals, and improving the power ratio of the sidebands relative to their carrier wave by the use of a Brillouin medium.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The processing systems that utilize fiber optics and electro-optical modulators to modulate information carried by optical carrier waves and their sidebands are of ever increasing importance. The modulation efficiency of electro-optical modulators has a direct impact on the efficiency of the optical processing systems. One of the contributing factors that degrades the modulation efficiency is that most modulators exhibit large switching (on-off) voltages and so small input signals have little effect on the optical carrier transmitted from the electro-optical modulator. The modulator output commonly consists of a strong unmodulated optical carrier with relatively weak signal sidebands.
The strong unmodulated optical carrier is further typically and undesirably strengthened because it is desired to have high optical power levels in order to create relatively high signal-to-noise ratios of the signals being carried by the optical carrier. However, these strong unmodulated optical signals that correspond to weakly modulated optical waves (having small modulation indices, commonly referred to as a depth of modulation) leave significant unmodulated signal power in the original carrier. Hence, despite a high average optical power needed to increase the electrical signal power for desired signal-to-noise ratios, the electrical power carried by the modulated signals may be quite small. The unmodulated signal, that is, excess optical power not being utilized for modulation purposes is detrimental in at least two ways. First, optical amplifiers are limited by both their average input and output powers; therefore, optical amplifiers will have limited use to boost the weakly modulated optical wave contained in the carrier signal. More particularly, the high unmodulated signal sets the operating value of the amplifier which may not allow for the amplification of the low modulated signal having a need for amplification. Second, and even more important, the average optical power must be kept below approximately 5 milliwatts (mW) to avoid signal reduction, distortion and damage to the photodetector that commonly receives the output of the electro-optical modulator. This 5 mW limitation does not take advantage of the existing optical signal generator having average optical power outputs approaching 100 to 200 mW levels.
Accordingly, it is desired that an apparatus and a method of operation thereof be provided to reduce the unmodulated carrier power so that amplifiers can be efficiently used and so that optical carrier generators having relatively high output power levels may be detected by a photodetector without any operation degradation of the photodetector or without any damage to the photodetector. If such an apparatus and method are provided then optical amplifiers may be more efficiently utilized and a corresponding reduction in the fiber-optical link loss may be realized. Furthermore, the provided apparatus and method may be utilized in conjunction with other optical systems that utilize linear carrier filtering techniques so as to make additional improvements in the fiber-optic link efficiency. If such an apparatus and method of operation thereof are provided the sensitivity and efficiency of the overall fiber-optical link or its related system may be improved.

Stimulated Brillouin scattering for fiber-optic links


In a web movement control device with a sensor which detects the edge of a moving web of material in a contact-free manner and can be adjusted by a sensor adjustment device, to compensate for a change of material to be controlled and/or a soiling of sensors, the sensor adjustment device is driven by an electronic signal processing device to adjust movement transversely with respect to the edge of the web. The signal processing device monitors the sensor signal changes which occur and derives a bright value or a dark value from the absence of a signal change during the movement adjustment stores the value. An intermediate value is calculated from the stored value as a control value for web movement control and stored. Under given operating conditions, this program cycle is repeated. Thereafter, the intermediate value determined in this process is compared with the originally detected value and, if a difference results, a correction factor is calculated by wherein the last intermediate value detected is corrected to match the originally detected control value.

When controlling the movement of a webs of material which are transparent to a different degree using an optical sensor, different signal deviations of the sensor are obtained as a function of the transparency of the material between the bright value (with a sensor completely uncovered) and a dark value (the sensor is completely covered by the respective web of material). Therefore, in known devices for controlling web movement, variable settings are required when changing material to set the working point of web movement control to the respective material.
Frequently a sensor is soiled during operation. As a result, signal deviation varies and control is adversely affected.

Method for setting a sensor which detects the edge of a moving web of material in a contact-free manner


An image forming apparatus includes a volatile memory configured to temporarily store usage information of the image forming apparatus, and a non-volatile memory configured to finally store the usage information. An access control device is provided to access the non-volatile memory and output at least an address, data, and a control signal thereto as private use signals independent from a control of the CPU. The access control device may copy the usage information of the non-volatile memory to the volatile memory before image formation is started, and periodically update the non-volatile memory with new usage information temporarily stored in the volatile memory during the image formation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to image forming apparatuses, such as printers, copiers, facsimiles, etc., and more particularly to image forming apparatuses capable of efficiently accessing a non-volatile memory, which stores maintenance and supervisory information related to the image forming apparatuses, and capable of obtaining a high performance while reducing load on a CPU.
2. Discussion of the Background
Recently, various high value-added functions are proposed to be equipped with image forming apparatuses such as digital copiers, etc., and are gradually being adopted therein. For example, usage career data, such as indicating a number of used sheets and so on, is stored in a non-volatile memory, and a parameter for controlling an image forming process is changed in accordance with the usage career data to thereby obtain a stable image over a long period of time. In addition, career data related to a problem such as a paper jam, a self-diagnosis error, etc., is also stored in the non-volatile memory, and maintenance is performed in accordance with the career data as appropriate. Further, data indicating a unique operational procedure is also stored in the non-volatile memory per a user or an objective job so that an operational condition can be set and customized. Thus, the above-described usage information is included, for example, in a digital copier as important information to improve usability when a maintenance is performed and the image forming apparatus is supervised. Accordingly, the usage information should not be subject to a problem such as a data crash.
For a non-volatile memory storing such usage career data, a NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory) or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory) is frequently employed. The NVRAM is generally more compact and cheaper than a magnetic memory such as a hard disc memory, and generally has an advantage that a backup use power supply is unnecessary when compared with a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The NVRAM includes a memory cell composed of a pair of cells of the SRAM and EEPROM and functions to store data of the SRAM into the EEPROM. The NVRAM recalls data of the EEPROM to the SRAM. In addition, depending upon a usage manner, the NVRAM does not have to consider a life of the EEPROM. However, a variety in NVRAM rarely exists and the NVRAM is sometimes costly when compared with an EEPROM.
In contrast, the EEPROM includes varieties and is relatively cheaper. However, a memory such as an EEPROM generally has a lifetime limited by a number of rewriting times (e.g. from a few thousand to a few hundred-thousand times). Thus, if rewriting in the EEPROM is performed every access to the CPU, an expected product life of an image forming apparatus may not coincide with the life of the EEPROM. As a result, an operation of the image forming apparatus is not assured.
In view of such an aspect, an accessing system is proposed. For example, a working area is formed in a section of a memory such as an SRAM, a DRAM, etc., and contents (data) in the EEPROM are copied to the working area when the electrical power is supplied to the image forming apparatus. Typical reference and update operations are performed with regard to the working area, and the contents of the EEPROM are periodically updated by the contents of the working area. In such a situation, a value obtained by dividing a lifetime (e.g. 5 to 10 years) of the digital copier with a number of times that an EEPROM can be accessed can be set as a number of times for updating the EEPROM.
FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary control section that operates in accordance with the background accessing operation. A main control section 21 of a digital copier is controlled by a CPU 211, and includes a ROM 212, an operation memory 213, e.g. a working memory, a timer 214, and a non-volatile memory 215, respectively, connected to each other by a CPU bus. The CPU 211 of the main control section 21 performs a series of control operations in accordance with a control program stored in the ROM 212 after the electrical power is supplied (ON).
The operation memory 213 is utilized as a working area, and the non-volatile memory 215 is utilized to store a variety of important information to be preserved together with the above-described usage information. The timer 214 is provided to generate a timing signal for periodically updating the non-volatile memory 215.
FIG. 13 illustrates a background operation control flow for reading and writing data from and to a non-volatile memory in the system of FIG. 12. Referring to FIG. 13, the electrical power is initially supplied (step S61), and data of the non-volatile memory 215 is simultaneously copied to the operation memory 213 (step S62). Then, reference and update operations are performed (not shown in the flow) with regard to the operation memory 213 to change usage information stored therein in accordance with a change in usage information when an image forming apparatus is operated. However, the non-volatile memory 215 is not accessed. Subsequently, the timer 214 performs a timing and determines a preset writing cycle (step S63), and data of the operation memory 213 is copied to the non-volatile memory 215 every timeout (step S64). Then, the timer 214 is reset (step S65), and the flow is terminated.
Such a writing cycle of the timer 214 is generally optionally set. Thus, if the writing cycle is preferably set in view of a rewritable lifetime of the non-volatile memory 215, the lifetime can coincide with a product lifetime of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 14 illustrates a usage condition of such a background system that updates information stored in the non-volatile memory at a cycle set by the timer. As shown in FIG. 14, an update duration of 10 milliseconds for updating the non-volatile memory 215 periodically occupies the CPU bus in a timeout cycle of 80 ms, and accordingly, performing a task A (50 ms) three times and a task B (30 ms) twice takes 240 ms, totally.
Like the control system of FIG. 12, when the operation memory 213 and the non-volatile memory (EEPROM) 215 are connected to the same CPU bus, the CPU bus is occupied by such an updating operation for the non-volatile memory 215 as illustrated in FIG. 14. Thus, if an amount of information to be transferred to the non-volatile memory 215 is small, there is almost no problem. However, based upon the recent tendency to desire high performance, an amount of the information to be preserved in the non-volatile memory 215 is increasing. As a result, updating the non-volatile memory 215 now takes a more significant period of time, and the result is that there is a probability of lowering a performance of the entire system of the image forming apparatus.

Nonvolatile memory life prolonging circuit and image forming apparatus


Methods and apparatus for metering electrical energy are disclosed in an electronic meter which includes a first oscillator for generating a first clock signal to within a first accuracy and a second oscillator for generating a second clock signal within a second accuracy. A processor, operable in relation to a clock signal, measures time and periodically compensates for the accuracy of the first oscillator. The first clock signal is used for measuring time when power is applied to the meter and the second clock signal is used by the processor for measuring time when power has been removed from the meter. The accuracy of the first oscillator is compensated periodically in relation to a compensation factor stored in memory. In one embodiment, the processor includes a counter for counting from a first value to a second value in response to the first clock signal. In such an arrangement, the processor substitutes the first compensation factor for the first value. The meter can further include a timer, wherein the processor substitutes the first compensation factor for the first value in response to the first timer. The processor also is shown to implement a process for compensating for the accuracy of the second oscillator. This process compensates for the accuracy of the second oscillator in relation to the first oscillator. To this end, the process calculates a second compensation factor. The second compensation factor is determined when power is applied to the meter, wherein after power has been removed and restored, the second compensation factor is used to compensate time measured in relation to the second oscillator during the period power had been removed.

Meters for metering the various forms of electrical energy are well known. Utility company meters can be of three general types, namely, electromechanical based meters (output generated by a rotating disk), purely electronic component based meters (output component generated without any rotating parts) and a hybrid mechanical/electronic meter. In the hybrid meter, a so-called electronic register is coupled, usually optically, to a rotating disk. Pulses generated by the rotating disk, for example by light reflected from a spot painted on the disk, are utilized to generate an electronic output signal.
It will be appreciated that the use of electronic components in electric energy meters has gained considerable acceptance due to their reliability and extended ambient temperature ranges of operation. Moreover, contemporary electronic signal processing devices, such as micro controllers, have a greater accuracy potential for calculating electrical energy use than prior mechanical devices. Consequently, various forms of electronic based meters have been proposed which are virtually free of any moving parts.
Examples of electronic meters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,548,527--Hemminger et al. and 5,555,508--Munday et al., incorporated herein by reference. In those meters, signal processing has been generally distributed between a digital signal processing integrated circuit device and a microcontroller device. As will be apparent, clock signal generation is necessary for the operation of such devices. Indeed, for applications in which such electronic devices are used to monitor time-based parameters, such as time-of-use metering, the accuracy of such clock signals can have a significant impact on the accuracy of the monitoring data. In metering applications, clock signals are typically generated in two ways, namely, in relation to the line frequency or through the use of an internal oscillator.
In the United States, quality clock signals can be generated in relation to line frequency, i.e., the frequency of the voltage signal being supplied to a given customer, which is 60 Hz. It is widely known that the frequency of the U.S. power grid is extremely stable over long periods of time. Internationally, the reliability of line frequency based clock signals is inconsistent, particularly in third world countries. In such environments, some other method is required for monitoring time, such as internal oscillators.
In view of the above, an electronic based energy meter will have maximum salability if it can monitor time accurately in all environments, i.e., environments in which grid frequency is stable and environments in which grid frequency is unstable. Moreover, in time-of-use meters, the measurement of real time must be maintained at all times, even during power outages. To these ends, the meters described in the above patents incorporate two crystal oscillators, one of the oscillators being used to measure real time during power outages, i.e., low power battery operation.
The accuracy of a crystal oscillator is its ability to generate a consistent signal over time. This characteristic is described in terms of PPM (parts per million). A 1 MHZ crystal which has an error of .+-.10 PPM will generate between 999,990 and 1,000,010 pulses every second. Since in metering applications, customer billing is based on measured time, accuracy is very important. Presently, many utility companies desire accuracies of 5 PPM.
One method for ensuring accurate crystal oscillator signals is to purchase commercially available oscillators having the desired accuracy characteristics. Unfortunately, such oscillators are relatively expensive and for high volume products such as energy meters, such expense becomes economically prohibitive. Moreover, during power outages, meters such as those described in the above patents, go into a low power mode. 32.768 kHz crystal oscillators have been used for such low power operations because they are inexpensive and well suited for low power operation. Unfortunately, the initial and long term accuracy of such crystals is commonly 50 PPM or greater. Obtaining such an oscillator with the desired accuracy specifications is also cost prohibitive.
Consequently, a need still exists for an electronic meter which incorporates accurate, low cost, crystal oscillators.

Methods and apparatus for oscillator compensation in an electrical energy meter


In an assembly (20) of an elongate inflator (10) which has an outer housing (14) with outflow openings (18) spread along the circumference (U) and defining an outflow area (16) and an outflow direction, and of a clamp-type diffusor (22) enclosing the outflow area (16), the diffusor (22) includes a central receiving opening (24) into which the outer housing (14) protrudes so that the diffusor (22) circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing (14) which comprises the outflow area (16). At the inner side of the diffusor (22) delimiting the receiving opening (24) at least one bearing surface (34) and at least one gas guiding surface (30) are provided, wherein the bearing surface (34) bears directly against the outer housing (14) of the inflator (10) and the gas guiding surface (30) is radially spaced apart from the outer housing (14) while forming at least one collecting chamber (30) into which gas flowing out of the outflow area (16) is flowing. The collecting chamber (32) opens into at least one outlet opening (36) through which gas exits the diffusor (22) in an outlet direction (RD) transversely to the outflow direction out of the inflator (10).

In elongate inflators, also referred to as tubular inflators, the outflow area usually is formed by a plurality of outflow openings distributed over the circumference of an outer housing of the inflator. The outflow openings are frequently provided in a filter housing at an axial end of the inflator. Therefore, the gas flows out of the inflator in the radial direction. In order to keep the inflator thrust-neutral upon activation thereof, the outflow openings frequently are distributed evenly around the circumference.
In many airbag modules the inflator is arranged so that its outflow area is located inside the inflatable volume of the airbag. This design is found, for example, in curtain-type side airbags or else in side airbags which are installed in a seat back of a vehicle seat.
The airbag must be protected against the gas flow exiting the inflator. To this end, it is known, for example, to provide a specific fabric layer which surrounds the outflow area of the inflator in the circumferential direction and which both protects the airbag fabric and deflects the gas flow in the axial direction. An axially directed outflow offers the advantage that the gas can be better distributed within the airbag.
Moreover, it is known to provide a so-called gas lance which, as a main component, includes a tube section open at both ends and which is axially attached to an inflator to transfer the outflowing gas over a distance of several decimeters to an airbag disposed remote from the inflator. Although, in this way, a directed gas flow into the airbag can be generated, it is not possible, however, to dispose the outflow area of the inflator directly inside the airbag, thus inevitably causing the dimension of the airbag module to be increased.

Assembly comprising a diffuser and a gas generator, airbag module and method for installing an assembly


An electropneumatic brake system, for a commercial vehicle which is provided for pulling a trailer, includes at least one service brake circuit configured to activate service brake actuators, a parking brake circuit having parking brake actuators on at least one axle, a trailer brake circuit configured to provide a trailer brake pressure at a trailer brake pressure port, and a manually actuatable operating unit in a driver's cab. The manually actuatable operating unit has a first operating element and a second operating element. In the case of actuation of the first operating element when the vehicle is driving, the parking brake actuators are activated and a trailer brake pressure is output at the trailer brake pressure port. In the case of actuation of the second operating element when the vehicle is driving, only a trailer brake pressure is output.

In such an electropneumatic brake system, control devices, or modules, are generally provided for controlling the various brake circuits, such as, for example, a central module for the at least one service brake circuit as well as a parking brake module for the parking brake circuit and a trailer control module for the trailer brake circuit.
Such electropneumatic parking brake modules, also called electropneumatic handbrake modules, serve to actuate so-called parking brakes, generally spring-loaded brakes, of a pneumatic brake system for a commercial vehicle.
Spring-loaded brakes can be used as parking brakes and have a spring-loaded brake actuator which applies the brake without pressure so that, in the pressureless state, the vehicle is correspondingly braked. For releasing the spring-loaded brakes, compressed air is applied thereto, so that the spring-loaded brakes are released against the force of the spring.
Such electropneumatic parking brake modules therefore generally have a supply port for connection of a compressed air supply, and at least one spring brake port for connection of at least one spring-loaded brake cylinder. It is thereby conceivable that all the spring-loaded brake cylinders of the commercial vehicle, in particular of the tractor of a tractor/trailer combination, also called a vehicle combination, are connected to a single spring brake port. It is also possible that separate ports are provided therefor.
Such electropneumatic parking brake modules generally use a relay valve to supply the spring brake port and thus the spring-mounted brake cylinder with a volume flow. They further use a bistable valve to maintain the state of the spring-loaded brake cylinder, that is to say either an aerated state or a vented state, in driving operation and/or in the parked state without permanently having to feed current to an electromagnetic valve for this purpose.
Trailers which are connected to the commercial vehicle in order thus to form the vehicle combination generally additionally also have spring-loaded brakes. However, the precise implementation is different in Europe and in North America. While activation of the spring-loaded brakes conventionally takes place directly at the trailer in Europe, namely by means of a so-called push-pull valve, in North America the spring-loaded brakes are engaged by switching off the supply pressure for the trailer. This can also be carried out from the driver's cab.
In Europe, however, in addition to this parking function, supplementary braking is also effected via the parking brake circuit, for example in critical driving situations or when one of the service brake circuits fails. For this purpose, the driver generally actuates the corresponding parking brake switch in the driver's cab, in order thus also to actuate the corresponding brake actuators during driving. Supplementary brakes exist in North America for such functions. In addition, anti jackknifing braking is generally initiated from the driver's cab via a separate operating element, for example an anti jackknifing brake lever.
There is a need to replace this purely mechanical valve by an electrical circuit in order in particular to perform actuation of the parking brake circuit and also of the parking brakes in the trailer electrically.
Such a solution is known, for example, from DE 10 2013 107 503 A1. There is proposed therein an electropneumatic parking brake device for a tractor of a tractor/trailer combination, having at least one parking brake signal transmitter which generates signals corresponding to a driving function and a parking brake function. The signal transmitter is connected to at least one electronic control device which, in dependence on the electrical signals, activates at least one electromagnetic valve of a valve unit which on the one hand is connected via a supply port to a compressed air supply and which on the other hand, in dependence on this activation, outputs pneumatic signals corresponding at least to the driving function and the parking brake function at its output ports, of which a first output port is connected by means of a pneumatic connection to a pneumatic control port of a trailer control module or trailer control valve, of which an output port is connected to a "brake" coupling head, and of which a second output port is connected to spring-loaded brake cylinders of the tractor. It is further provided that a separate electromagnetic valve device is arranged in the pneumatic connection between the first output port of the valve unit and the pneumatic control port of the trailer control module or trailer control valve, wherein, in order to achieve an anti jackknifing braking function for braking the trailer independently of the tractor in response to electrical anti jackknifing signals generated by the parking brake signal transmitter or by a further signal transmitter and corresponding to the anti jackknifing function, a) at least one electromagnetic valve of the valve unit is so activated by the control device that the first output port is connected to the supply port and the second output port is aerated, and b) the electromagnetic valve device is so configured and so activated by the control device or by a further control device that it outputs at the pneumatic control port of the trailer control module or of the trailer control valve a control pressure that is metered in dependence on the anti jackknifing braking signal.
There is further known, from EP 1 997 700 B1 of the present applicant, an actuating device for a brake system of a vehicle, having a service brake provided for driving operation and a parking brake provided for immobilizing the vehicle. The actuating device has a manually actuatable actuating element for actuating the parking brake which can be deflected along a movement path, wherein the actuating device has a plurality of switching states. In a first switching state, the braking action of the parking brake is provided in dependence on the deflection of the actuating element along the movement path, and in a second switching state, the full braking action of the parking brake is provided. The actuating device is further so configured that, in a first mode and when the actuating element is positioned in the first deflection region, in the neutral position or in a so-called third deflection region which is adjacent to the neutral position but spaced apart from the first deflection region and delimited by a so-called third deflection position, it is in the second switching state and, in a second mode and when the actuating element is positioned in the first deflection region, in the neutral position or in the third deflection region, it is in the first switching state. Two different modes in which the actuating device is actuatable are therefore provided.
From EP 2 059 425 B1 there is further known a brake system for a vehicle having a parking brake having an air-flow-boosting valve device for aerating and venting at least one spring-loaded brake cylinder of the parking brake, which brake system comprises at least one electrically actuatable control valve for controlling the air-flow-boosting valve device, an electrical control device, electrically coupled with the electrically actuatable control valve, for controlling the electrically actuatable control valve, and an electrical actuating device, coupled with the control device, for aerating the parking brake. The actuating device has two different switches which each have a release position and an engage position, and possibly a neutral position, for releasing or engaging the parking brake. The anti jackknifing function can additionally be integrated.
There is further known from EP 1 923 286 B1 an electropneumatic brake system for commercial vehicles with a tractor and a trailer, having an electrically activatable test valve device which is suitable for aerating or venting a pneumatic control input of a trailer control valve device independently of the aeration or venting of spring-loaded brake cylinders of the tractor. Connected in series downstream of the test valve device is an electrically activatable anti jackknifing valve device which in a first switching state transmits a control pressure provided by the test valve device to the pneumatic control input of the trailer control valve device and in a second switching state vents the control input of the trailer control valve device.

Electropneumatic handbrake system for commercial vehicles with spring-loaded parking brakes


An improved ski binding reduces the risk of knee injuries. The binding measures the angle of the knee flex of the skier with a sensor and used this measurement in making the retention/release decision. When the skier is in a position susceptible to knee injury, the release of the ski boot from the ski is caused or facilitated.

Downhill snow skiing (also known as alpine skiing) is a popular cold-weather outdoor sport requiring skill and proper equipment. Standard skiing equipment includes the skis themselves, ski boots, ski bindings, and ski poles. The ski bindings are mounted to the skis and are designed to hold the boot to the ski at most times, but to release the boot if it pulls away from the ski in such a way that an injury to the skier might occur. Conventional ski bindings contain spring-loaded jaws which are adjusted for tension according to the skiing conditions and the weight and skill of the skier. Conventional ski bindings are purely mechanical ana base their retention/release decision solely on the forces which develop between the boot and the binding.
The role of ski bindings in reducing the risk of injury during skiing has long been recognized. Within the past decade, it has also been found that the ski boot itself can play a major role in injury reduction. Older ski boots were relatively rigid and permitted little movement of the lower leg relative to the foot. As a result, many breaks of the tibia (the lower leg bone) occurred at a location corresponding to the top of the boot. Modern ski boots permit much more flex, especially forward flex. Many ski boots now contain separate leg and foot sections which are connected together with ankle pivots. The combination of modern ski bindings and improved ski boots has led to an 88 percent reduction in tibia fractures over a recent 15 year period. R. J. Johnson et al., "Skier Injury Trends," Seventh International Symposium on Skiing Trauma and Safety, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa. 1989.
Unfortunately, while tibia fractures and ankle sprains have been decreasing, serious knee injuries have shown a 2.7-fold increase. Knee injuries currently account for more than 20 percent of all alpine skiing injuries and the knee has become the most common injury site. It has been suggested that two major factors are responsible for the persistence of the knee injury rate: (1) Conventional ski bindings do not offer sufficient modes of release to protect the knee; and (2) The knee can become the weak link in the lower extremity because its strength varies as a function of the angle of knee flex. S. M. Maxwell et al., "Measurement of Strength and Loading Variables on the Knee During Alpine Skiing," Seventh International Symposium on Skiing Trauma and Safety, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, Pa. 1989. More specifically, it is known that the knee is weakest when hyperflexed or fully extended and is strongest when bent slightly. When the knee is weakest, it is susceptible to serious injuries such as sprains or tears of the anterior cruciate ligament. Accordingly, S. M. Maxwell et al. suggest the desirability of a ski binding that incorporates some method of determining knee strength to satisfy release and retention requirements simultaneously.
Although there is no commercial ski binding available which bases its retention/release decision on knee strength, a number of ski bindings have been disclosed which employ electronics in the retention/release decision. For example, Smolka, U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,566, issued Dec. 4, 1973, discloses a ski binding containing sensors mounted onto the foot which pick up bio-electrical currents from muscle movements. When the currents reach a preselected value, the binding is automatically released. Courvoisier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,909,028, issued Sep. 30, 1975, discloses a ski binding having a sensor which detects twisting of the lower leg. Sittmann, U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,051, issued Mar. 30, 1976, discloses a ski binding having sensors on the foot which detect forces between the foot and the boot and cause the binding to release when these forces become excessive.
Accordingly, a need still exists for a ski binding which reduces the risk of knee injuries by basing its retention/release decision, at least in part, on knee strength.


An electric connector for attaching a chip module onto a circuit board comprises a main body and a pressing structure pivotally mounted on two lateral sides of the main body for confining a chip module within the main body. The main body further comprises an insulating body and a plurality of conducting terminals, wherein the insulating body includes a plurality of receptacles for the conducting terminals and a plurality of retaining projections slightly higher than the conducting tips of the conducting terminals extended from the receptacles. There are at least two depressed sections, each provided with a sloppy surface, respectively along two opposite sides of the body for facilitating the removal of a chip module from the electric connector.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric connectors, more particularly to an electric connector connecting a chip module to a circuit board.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Following the fast development of electronic technologies, the LGA type chip module is more and more commonly used. An electric connector of the prior art for connecting the chip module to a circuit board comprises a main body, a mount for housing the main body, a pair of clipping plates pivotally mounted on two sides of the man body and a rotary stick. The moan body further includes a terminal receptacle that houses a terminal for electric conduction and a retaining piece higher than the terminal receptacle. There is a through hole between the clipping plates when they are closed. The middle parts on two opposite inner rims of the through hole are each provided with an inwardly extended support piece, whereby a central processing unit of the chip module disposed within the electric connector can be driven to electrically connect the electrodes on a circuit board. The rotary stick can be locked on a retaining portion of the mount, so that the electric connection can be secured. However, the conventional electric connector has the disadvantage that the chip module is hard to take out, which influences the efficiency of a worker.
Therefore, it is necessary to invent a new electric connector that overcomes the above disadvantage.

Electric connector for releasably attaching a chip module


A method for rapid acquisition of a specific subscriber by a ground-based beamformer includes the steps of defining a coverage area as an arrangement of a plurality of cells wherein one of the plurality of cells includes a specific subscriber; defining a partition of cell clusters wherein one of the cell clusters includes the one of the plurality of cells that includes the specific subscriber; forming a beam that corresponds to an area of one of the cell clusters; and scanning the beam to the cell cluster that includes the specific subscriber.

The present invention relates generally to ground-based beamformers. More specifically, but without limitation thereto, the present invention relates to finding a cell in which a specific user is located within the coverage area of a stratospheric transponder platform linked to a ground-based beamformer.
An antenna array on a stratospheric transponder platform can support multiple subscribers dispersed over a wide coverage area. To reduce weight, power consumption, and cost of the stratospheric transponder platform, a ground-based digital beamformer may be used that performs the beam calculations on the ground from a ground station linked to the antenna elements on the stratospheric transponder platform. In this arrangement, the element excitation signals are passed between the antenna elements on the stratospheric transponder platform and the digital beamformer in the ground station using CDMA techniques, for example.
Solar powered stratospheric transponder platforms have the capability of staying aloft for a long period of time, but their weight and power generation capacity are disadvantageously limited. Ground-based digital beamforming removes the weight and power requirements of the beamformer from the stratospheric platform to the ground station, and also provides an advantageous system architecture known as "spokes and hub." In this architecture, all system data and communications processing functions are co-located in the ground station. Because system data does not have to be passed back and forth between the stratospheric transponder platforms and the ground station, valuable communications resources are conserved, resulting in faster processing time and system response.
An important function performed by communications systems including ground stations in a spokes and hub architecture is acquiring a specific subscriber, i.e., locating the cell in a platform coverage area in which a specific subscriber is located.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a method 100 for locating a specific subscriber 102 in a coverage area 104. According to the method 100, each cell 106 within the coverage area 104 is scanned by stepping a beam 108 from a beamformer located in a stratospheric transponder platform 120 sequentially to each cell 106 until the cell containing the specific subscriber 102 is located. Although a communications satellite is used to illustrate a transponder platform in this example, other transponder platforms may be used, such as unmanned aircraft and antenna towers
In this example, the coverage area 104 is 64 km×64 km and is divided into 64 cells 106 that are each 8 km×8 km. The beam 108 is stepped in raster scan fashion from cell to cell in each row, and from one row to the next until the specific subscriber 102 is located, in this example, after stepping the beam 108 30 times. Assuming a dwell time of T, locating the specific subscriber 102 requires from T to 64 T, depending on where the cell containing the specific subscriber 102 is located.
Disadvantageously, the method 100 requires an average acquisition time of 32T, or more generally, NT/2, where N is the number of cells in the coverage area. Because N may be a large number, processing the many beams slows acquisition time and thus adversely affects the system response.

Rapid user acquisition by a ground-based beamformer


The embodiments herein relate to a method for delivering nutrients to the plants in a hydroponic system. The method comprises delivering a nutrient solution, planting a plurality of plants in a plurality of plant receivers, combining a plurality of angled joints with a single side of one plastic pipe with rest of the plastic pipes, combining a plurality of T-fitting/connectors with the plurality of plastic pipes, closing an end of the plastic pipes with a plurality of pipe caps and delivering water to the plurality of pipes using a customizable water pipe. The method further comprises adjusting the plurality of plastic pipes with an adjustable pipe brace and circulating the nutrient solution in the reservoir to the plurality of plant receivers using an electrical pump.

Technical Field
The embodiments herein are generally related to a horticultural system. The embodiments herein are particularly related to a hydroponic plant growth system. The embodiments herein are more particularly related to a method of plantation using an indoor/outdoor hydroponic nutrient delivery system with a self-contained reservoir.
Description of the Related Art
Hydroponics is defined as a method and a system of growing plants and other vegetation without the use of soil. The hydroponic systems are designed to deliver a nutrient solution to the plants at a controlled and predictable rate periodically. The delivery of the nutrient solution to the plants at a controlled rate causes an accelerated plant growth within the limited spaces.
In the conventional hydroponic nutrient delivery systems, the nutrient solution is periodically filled and drained. This conventional system is not desirable, as there is a lack of continuous flow of the nutrient solution, which results in stunted growth of the plants. Further, the conventional hydroponic systems require the external reservoirs to deliver the nutrient solution and the reservoirs consume more space. Furthermore, the conventional hydroponic systems are not cost effective.
Hence, there is a need for a new method of conducting plantation using hydroponic nutrient delivery system that includes self-contained reservoirs. Further, there is a need for a method of plantation that allows a continuous flow of the nutrient solution, which results in an efficient growth of the plants. Still further, there is a need for a method of plantation using hydroponic system that consumes less space and provides economic value for the users.
The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

Method for delivering nutrients to the plants in a hydroponic system


A method and device for the treatment of anxiety disorder, including panic attacks. A hammer is used to tap the cutaneous region of the bladder channel on the back until the skin turns pink. The skin on the abdomen, arms, legs, and buttocks can also be used for treatment. The hammer preferably has a magnetic piece in one end of the hammer head. The method can treat anxiety disorder including panic attack, general anxiety, phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, stress related tension headache, insomnia, and any stress. Patients can use the hammer to treat themselves at home, office, and during traveling. The method and device are simple, effective, nontoxic, safe, have no side effects, inexpensive, and convenient.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a method and a device for the treatment of anxiety disorders including panic attacks.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
Anxiety disorders are common psychiatric illnesses associated with considerable morbidity and social cost. Panic attack is one form of anxiety disorders. The criteria for panic attack diagnosis is in DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ed. 4). One published epidemiological study using DSM-III-R panic disorder criteria found a lifetime prevalence of 3.5 percent. Of course many sufferers are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or untreated. Patients with panic attack suffer severely by the sudden onset of fear of dying, fear of insanity, palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, sweating, choking, and dizziness.
In Western medicine, there have been three main approaches to the treatment of anxiety disorders—pharmacotherapy (medications), non-medication therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (discussion, relaxation, other psychological methods) and combinations of the two approaches. All three approaches have been helpful to some degree in many patients but have not been entirely satisfactory.
For pharmacotherapy treatment, it is important that the patient be aware of drug side effects and possible interactions with other medications. Effective types of medication include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, benzodiazepines, and serotonergic agents.
Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, has been shown to be helpful in double blind studies. The acute effect of imipramine is to block the re-uptake of the neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and serotonin, from the synaptic cleft into the presynaptic neuron. Many patients are sensitive to impipramine (side effects), but high doses are necessary to be helpful. Other tricyclics, such as desipramine (Norpramine), amitryptaline (Elavil), doxapin (Adapin), nortryptaline (Pamdor), and chloripramine (Anatranil) may also be effective dicyclics, but not well tolerated by all patients and are dangerous if overdosed.
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, for example phenelzine (Nordil), are also somewhat effective antipanic agents by inhibiting the extraneuronal enzyme, monoamine oxidase, from metabolizing monoamines. Three to six weeks of drug administration are necessary before the drug becomes effective. The main drawback is the tendency of these drugs to develop the tyramine effect, allowing tyramine to enter the blood and provoke a hypertensive crisis.
Special diazepams, such as alprozalam (Xanax) and clorazepam (Klonopin), are somewhat effective against panic attack. It is believed that these drugs attach to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain, thus inhibiting neurons by inhibiting chloride ionophores. Conventional diazepams such as Valium are not reliable for blocking panic attacks.
Still another class of antipanic medications is seratonin-specific reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as paroxetine (PAXIL) and sertaline (ZOLOFT). This group of drugs is characterized by its ability to selectively inhibit the reuptake of seratonin. Although SSRIs are effective in open trials, controlled studies have not yet been published. SSRIs can also cause gastrointestinal distress, hypomania, headaches, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia.
Non-medication approaches include (1) cognitive therapy and psycho educations, (2) applied relaxation, (3) respiratory control, and (4) exposure therapy. Cognitive therapy techniques include convincing the patient that the panic attack is short-lived and not very serious. Applied relaxation includes progressive muscle relaxation and thought control. Respiratory control techniques are to prevent hyperventilation. Exposure therapy means confrontation of the patient with the panic stimulus. Sometimes the combination of pharmacotherapy and cognitive therapy provides effective results.
All the above treatments have some merit, but they tend to have a slow and incomplete effect. In addition, the treatments can be expensive and the medications can be somewhat toxic. It is desirable to have a simple, effective, nontoxic, safe, inexpensive, time-saving, and convenient treatment for panic disorders.

Method and device for the treatment of anxiety disorders


A plurality of work stations each imparted with a multi-window control function are interconnected through an integrated service digital network (ISDN), wherein control communication route is established among a plurality of stations between which interlocutory communication are to be performed. The work stations transfer control commands by way of the control communication route in accordance with operation by users under the control of an interlocution control program to thereby establish or disconnect a logical communication route between designated application programs of the work stations. So long as the logical communication route is established, the application programs can execute data processing in cooperation with each other. In that case, identical change of display in the windows corresponding to the application programs, respectively, takes place in the work stations. User can perform conference or document edition processing by designating the position of data of concern by a pointing object while conducting conversation by using a telephone set installed at the work station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a joint information processing system. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an electronic interlocution system in which a plurality of terminal apparatuses (also referred to simply as terminals) are interconnected through communication channels and in which data communication is carried out between or among the terminals to perform information processing jointly in cooperation with one another while the users of the terminals perform voice interlocution through telephone sets.
2. Description of the Related Art
In connection with a prior art data processing system or terminal apparatus of the type which has a data processing capability, an information processing program which has excellent interaction characteristics and is capable of outputting data which is easy to understand visually was at one time premised on the dedicated use of the program for the individual. A computer system using such program is described in detail in Seybold, Jonathon, "Xerox's `Star`", in the Seybold Report Media, PA: Seybold Publications, Vol. 10, No. 16, (1981). However, this computer system is not equipped with any function which allows a plurality of users to make access simultaneously to the same data constituting a document, table and the like and which can reflect the results of the processing as performed onto a display on a real time basis. Although electronic mail is described in the publication cited above as one function of the system which allows the same data to be utilized by a plurality of users, electronic mail is a system in which a plurality of users cannot make access to the same document or the like simultaneously but only at different times.
On the other hand, in a communication between persons at remote locations, the telephone has been made use of among others. The telephone system is advantageous in that reactions of interlocutors can be transmitted straightforwardly on a real time basis and in that voice information is used which is very easy to understand. However, the inability to handle other than voice information in such a system presents a problem. Experience shows that even a fact which can be readily understood through the medium of a simple picture is difficult to understand when it is to be elucidated through verbalization. In other words, if a memorandum or document can be made use of in the course of conversation a mutual understanding of the information being discussed could be promoted significantly.
From JP-A-62-53084, such a system is known in which two terminals each equipped with a telephone set are interconnected through a communication channel, wherein the same images are displayed on the display devices of both terminals, respectively, together with a cursor inputted in one terminal and a cursor inputted from the counterpart or partner terminal to thereby allow a conference to be conducted by viewing the displays.
When each of the terminals is provided with a multi-window display function in the system mentioned just above, it is possible to generate simultaneously on one and the same screen both a joint use window for displaying the same document in at both terminals through inter-terminal communication and a local window for displaying a document or data to be used only in the one terminal. In conjunction with the communication system including the multi-window terminals mentioned above, there is known an approach, as proposed in JP-A-63-67958, according to which the positional information of the local windows is mutually transferred between the interconnected terminals so that the user of the terminal can know the state of the display on the screen of the partner terminal. With this arrangement, the user of one terminal can command the partner to displace a local window when the former desires to explain the content of a document or other data generated in an area of the window dedicated for joint use which is however covered by the local window in the partner's terminal.

System and method for performing interlocution at a plurality of terminals connected to communication network


A centrifuge includes a frame, a damper connected to and supported on the frame for isolating vibrations, a drive unit connected to and supported by the damper, a swing-bucket rotor rotated by the drive unit, an accelerometer for detecting when part of the drive unit contacts part of the frame due to vibrations of the drive unit exceeding a predetermined amplitude, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit based on output from the accelerometer. When amplitude of vibrations in the drive unit exceeds a predetermined value, a portion of the drive unit contacts a portion of the frame. The accelerometer detects an impact caused by the contact between the drive unit and the frame. The drive unit is halted when output detected from the accelerometer exceeds a threshold value for detecting imbalances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a centrifuge, and more particularly to a centrifuge used for a sample separation.
2. Description of Related Art
In a conventional centrifuge, torque is produced by a power generator (generally an electric motor) that is part of a drive unit, and transferred to a rotor via a rotating shaft, causing the rotor to rotate. There are several types of rotors used for this type of centrifuge according to the type and amount of sample being separated and the like. These rotor types include a fixed-angle rotor provided with a plurality of holes at fixed angles for holding sample tubes that have been injected with samples, a swing-bucket rotor having vessels called buckets that are swingably supported on rotor arms so as to be able to swing independently while the rotor arms rotate and capable of holding a plurality of sample tubes, and a horizontal rotor in which sample tubes are mounted in a horizontal state.
In general, a rotor suitable for the intended purpose is selected from one of the above rotors. Vessels, such as sample tubes that have been injected with a sample, are inserted into the rotor, and the rotor is rotated, generating a centrifugal force for separating the sample or for shaking off droplets or the like deposited on the side walls of the sample tubes. However, since the user is responsible for injecting samples in the tubes and inserting sample tubes into the rotor, the manufacturer cannot guarantee a precise balance in the rotor.
For example, blood tests, which are widely used for medical diagnoses and the like, generally employ vacuum blood collection tube for drawing blood from the patient. However, the amount of blood that is drawn depends upon the patient and the person drawing the blood, and the evacuated tubes mounted in the rotor vary in number and weight. As a result, the centrifuge commonly operates in an imbalanced state, even when the user takes balance into consideration. Accordingly, manufacturers have been committed to developing sturdy devices that can withstand imbalances as much as possible and design devices that can allow imbalances to a certain degree.
If the imbalance exceeds a predetermined amount, then the force of the imbalance that increases as the rotations increase has an adverse effect on the bearing supporting the rotating shaft, which can bend the rotating shaft or cause other problems. Further, it is inevitable that imbalance exceeds the allowable amount when the user mistakenly injects the wrong amount of a sample or inserts the sample tubes in the wrong sample tube holes. Accordingly, most centrifuges are provided with sensors for detecting vibrations or amplitude. When the sensors detect that the centrifuge is operating in a state of imbalance exceeding the tolerable amount, the centrifuge halts rotations of the rotor before the device malfunctions.
One such sensor is an accelerometer that is mounted on the drive unit in the centrifuge for measuring accelerations to detect wobble (vibration or oscillation during rotation) in the rotor caused by an imbalance. The accelerometer is now being used for detecting vibrations caused by imbalances exceeding the tolerable amount and abnormal vibrations caused by operator error. (For example, some centrifuges generate self-excited vibration when the user does not firmly fix the rotor onto the rotating shaft.) However, the output obtained by an accelerometer is acceleration, calculated as follows.α=−Aω2 sin ωt (α: acceleration, A: amplitude, ω: angular velocity)
Hence, output for acceleration at low speeds (when ω is small) is low, making it difficult to establish a threshold for detecting vibrations.
Japanese patent application publication No. 2002-306989 (kokai) discloses a technique for overcoming this deficiency, wherein an amplification circuit is provided for amplifying signals outputted by the accelerometer, and the gain is modified according to the rotational speed.
By amplifying output at low speeds using the technique described above, detection near the resonance point (Nc) at low speeds is possible. This technique can also incorporate other techniques, such as varying the threshold for detecting imbalance based on the type of rotor. Hence, this technology has begun to be employed in a wide variety of centrifuges. With this method, a simple construction can be used to detect with great accuracy imbalances exceeding the allowable amount according to design specifications.


A net boundary indicator can comprise a strap comprising an inside surface and an outside surface opposite the inside surface. A reinforcing member can comprise a top end and a bottom end, the reinforcing member being attached along a length of the inside surface of the strap. A top clip can be coupled to the strap adjacent the top end of the reinforcing member. A bottom clip can be coupled to the strap adjacent the bottom end of the reinforcing member. A first sleeve can be attached along a length of a surface of the strap. An aligning device can be coupled to the surface of the strap below the first sleeve and in-line with the first sleeve, and a bubble level can be coupled to the strap.

Nets are a common piece of sporting equipment that can be used for various sports including volleyball, a wallyball, a badminton, a tennis, and other sports. Sporting nets can sometimes include antennas or extension rods that are used to mark or designate boundaries of the game.
Volleyball is an example of a net sport using an antenna. A volleyball net is approximately 3 feet wide and 32 feet in length when stretched across the volleyball court. Volleyball nets normally are made of 4-inch square mesh of linen twine and re rigged at the top and bottom edges to a rope or cable in conventional manner. Volleyball rules require that a long vertically disposed antenna be suspended by the net at each sideline of the volleyball court so the antennas extend to a height of approximately 76 to 107 cm (or 2.5 to 3.5 feet) above the net. The antennas are secured to the net at approximately 8½ inches from the ends thereof and are normally in the order of ⅝ths of an inch in diameter. The antennas are typically made of fiberglass or the like.
The antennas can be secured at the top and bottom of the net, including upper and lower edges of the net, and define the lateral width of play of the volleyball court. If the ball touches one of the antennas, it is considered to be out of bounds.