A device for dissipating heat from ferrite cores of inductive components is provided. Specifically, in order to dissipate heat from cores made from ferromagnetic material for inductive components, an electrically and thermally conductive layer which can be coupled thermally to a heat sink is provided on prescribed surface areas of the core.

The present invention relates to a device for dissipating heat, and more specifically to a device for dissipating heat from ferrite cores of inductive components.
It is known from EP 0 532 360 A1 to provide in the region of a magnet core and of windings of a transformer an electrically conducting medium which forms a restriction in which the magnetic flux emanating from the magnet core and the windings is concentrated. Leakage inductances of transformers can be reduced or controlled using this construction. The electrically conducting medium can, for example, be applied in the form of a metal layer to a magnet core, the metal layer being slit to prevent an electric short circuit.
However, while the employment of an electrically conducting medium, such as a metal layer, is useful in reducing or controlling leakage inductances, heat accumulation in transformers remains a problem. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and construction for dissipating heat from magnetic cores and windings of transformers.

Device for dissipating heat from ferrite cores of inductive components


In order to provide a recording tape cartridge which always can be piled up stably while a region for a label can be secured, there is provided a recording tape cartridge comprising a case having a substantially boxed shape and rotatably accommodating a reel around which a recording tape is wound, a recessed portion formed on an upper surface of the case, and a stacking rib protrudingly provided manner on a lower surface of the case, for engaging with the recessed portion when a plurality of the recording tape cartridges is stacked, a protruding portion, which defines a label region, being formed at a position in the recessed portion, which position does not interfere with the stacking rib when the plurality of the recording tape cartridges is stacked.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention principally relates to a recording tape cartridge which accommodates a single reel onto which recording tape such as a magnetic tape or the like is wound in a case, for use as a recording/replaying medium for computers and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a magnetic tape cartridge has been known in which a magnetic tape, which is used as a data recording/replaying medium for computers or the like, is wound onto a single reel and this reel is accommodated in a case. At a distal end of such a magnetic tape, a leader member, such as a leader pin, a leader tape, a leader block or the like is provided. Drawing-out means, which is provided at a drive device, draws the leader member out through an opening of the magnetic tape cartridge and winds the magnetic tape, which is fixed to the leader member, onto a drive device side winding reel.
A reel gear is provided in an annular form at a lower face center of the reel and exposed through an opening hole, which is formed in a lower face of the magnetic tape cartridge. A drive gear, which is provided at a drive device side rotation shaft, meshes with the reel gear. By this structure, the reel is driven to rotate. When the reel of the magnetic tape cartridge and the winding reel of the drive device are rotated at the same time, data can be recorded to the magnetic tape and/or data that has been recorded to the magnetic tape can be replayed.
In a magnetic tape cartridge having such structure, large amounts of information can be recorded, on the other hand, a little space is sufficient for the magnetic tape cartridge when it is stored. As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges 70 are stored in a stacking manner, in order to pile up the plurality of the magnetic tape cartridges 70 stably, a recessed portion 73, which also serves as a region for a label, is formed on an upper surface of an upper case 72, and stacking ribs 75, which are engaged with wall portions 73A of both right and left ends of the recessed portion 73 and both front and rear ends of the recessed portion 73, are formed on a lower surface of a lower case 74. (For example, refer to Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (JP-U) No. 5-33382)
However, because the recessed portion 73, with which the stacking ribs 75 are engaged, also serves as the region for a label as mentioned above, when a label R is pasted on the recessed portion 73 by a user, there may be a case in which a portion of the label R hangs on any one of end portions (the wall portions) of right, left, front, rear of the recessed portion 73. In this case, the stacking ribs 75 cannot surely be engaged with the recessed portion 73, therefore a problem arises in which the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges 70 cannot be piled up stably. By the way, in the present situation, as the region for a label which is used only for the label R being pasted thereto, such wide area of the region shown in FIG. 8A is not necessary.


A system for diffusing one or more volatile compounds included in a volatile compound mass includes a base and a pod tray, carried by the base. At least one pod is carried by the pod tray, the pod having a housing holding a volatile compound mass. The volatile compound mass and the housing are moveable relative to one another. An actuator is carried by the base, the actuator operable to engage the pod and move the housing and the volatile compound mass relative to one another. The pod and the actuator are positionable relative to one another such that the pod and the actuator can be positioned proximate to one another to enable the actuator to engage the pod and move the housing of the pod and the volatile compound mass relative to one another to thereby diffuse the volatile compound.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems for diffusing volatile compounds such as fragrant materials, disinfectants and pesticides into surround air.
Related Art
There exist a variety of systems that diffuse volatile compounds into an environment. One such example is the well-known air freshener that diffuses scented materials to freshen the air of homes, vehicles, offices and the like. Air fresheners such as these can be as simple as cardstock impregnated with a volatile compound, or as sophisticated as electronic systems that selectively diffuse measured quantities of liquefied compounds at varying frequency and potency.
While many such systems exist, they generally suffer from significant loss of performance over time, or they are so complex that cost considerations become prohibitive, or both. For at least these reasons, designers continue to seek solutions to simplify operation of such systems while maintaining superior performance.

Systems for diffusing volatile compounds utilizing moveable pods


A heat exchanger has a plurality of tubes and a plurality of fins alternatively arranged to define a core portion of the heat exchanger. A side plate is arranged at opposite sides of the core portion. Each end of the tubes and side plates extend through a core plate. Each core plate mates with a respective tank to define a sealed chamber. The ends of the tubes are disposed within the sealed chamber. The ends of the side plates and disposed outside the sealed chamber. This allows for a non-brazed connection between the core plates and the side plates.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
Heat exchangers are used to exchange heat between two fluids. In the automotive industry, a heat exchanger in the form of a radiator is used to exchange heat between an engine cooling fluid and air. In addition, a heat exchanger is used to exchange heat between the engine coolant fluid and air to be blown into the passenger compartment to heat the air. Also, a heat exchanger in the form of a condenser is used to exchange heat between a refrigerant and air. Finally, a heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator is used to exchange heat between a refrigerant and air that is to be blown into the passenger compartment to cool the air.
Each of these heat exchangers includes a plurality of tubes through which a fluid flows, a plurality of fins arranged between adjacent tubes to be bonded to the tubes, a core plate connected to each longitudinal end of the plurality of tubes, a tank member disposed at each end of the plurality of tubes and an insert or side plate located at opposite sides of the plurality of tubes and fins. The inserts or side plates provide stability to the assembled heat exchanger.
Typically, the plurality of tubes and the inserts or side plates extend through apertures formed in each core plate and this assembly is brazed to maintain its integrity as well as to seal the interface between the tubes and the core plates and interface between the inserts or side plates and the core plates.
When both the insert or side plates and the plurality of tubes are brazed to the core plate, problems can occur due to thermal stress. In cold ambient temperatures and hot coolant conditions, the tubes want to expand due to their increased temperature due to the hot coolant. The inserts or side plates want to contract due to the cold ambient temperature. This creates relatively high stresses at the interfaces between the tubes and core plates and the interfaces between the inserts or side plates and the core plates. This high stress creates the potential for cracking and cooling leaks.


An orthopaedic surgical instrument including a shaft including a head sized to be received in the socket of a medical device is disclosed. The orthopaedic surgical instrument includes a retaining flange that is rotatable relative to the head about an axis between a first position in which a tip of the retaining flange is aligned with the head and a second position in which the tip of the retaining flange is received in one of a number of apertures of the medical device when the head of the shaft is received in the socket of the medical device. A system and method including the orthopaedic surgical instrument are also disclosed.

Joint arthroplasty is a well-known surgical procedure by which a diseased and/or damaged natural joint is replaced by a prosthetic joint. For example, in a hip arthroplasty surgical procedure, a patient's natural hip ball and socket joint is partially or totally replaced by a prosthetic hip joint. A typical prosthetic hip joint includes an acetabular prosthetic component and a femoral head prosthetic component. An acetabular prosthetic component generally includes an outer shell configured to engage the acetabulum of the patient and an inner bearing or liner coupled to the shell and configured to engage the femoral head. The femoral head prosthetic component and inner liner of the acetabular component form a ball and socket joint that approximates the natural hip joint.
To facilitate the replacement of the natural joint with a prosthetic hip joint, orthopaedic surgeons may use a variety of orthopaedic surgical instruments such as, for example, reamers, drill guides, drills, positioners, and/or other surgical instruments. An orthopaedic surgical instrument may be used to manipulate a medical device relative to the patient's bone including, for example, to remove the medical device from the patient's bone, or, in conjunction with a surgical drill, to rotate the medical device to advance it into (or out of) the patient's bone.

Orthopaedic surgical instrument for manipulating a medical device


A rotation-sensored rotary connector includes: a rotary connector for electrically connecting an electrical component installed on a steering to a vehicle-body side; and a rotation sensor for detecting a rotational angle of the steering; wherein the rotation sensor includes a rotor to be directly mounted on a steering shaft, and the rotary connector includes a rotor to be rotated in compliance with the rotor of the rotation sensor, thereby allowing to detect the rotational angle of the steering with an excellent precision.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotation-sensored rotary connector comprising: a rotary connector for electrically connecting an electrical component installed on a steering to a vehicle-body side; and a rotation sensor for detecting a rotational angle of the steering.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Included in a conventional type of rotary connector is a structure in which a projection protruded from a rotor of a rotary connector is fitted to a steering, to thereby transmit the driving torque of the steering to the rotor of the rotary connector.
JP-A-11-329649 (329649/1999) describes the above-mentioned constitution which further includes a rotation sensor mounted on the rotary connector to thereby unitize them so as to detect a steering angle of the steering by the rotation sensor. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of such a constitution in which the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 is mounted to the steering W of a steering shaft S, and the rotation sensor 60 includes a rotor 61 coupled to the rotor 51 via looseness compensating spring (not shown in FIG. 1). Namely, the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 is mounted on the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50, to thereby transmit the driving torque of the steering W to the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60. The rotation sensor 60 further includes a stator 62, and the rotor 61 and stator 62 are provided with sensing members, respectively, so as to detect the rotational angle of the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 as the rotor 61 rotates.
Relatedly, outputs of rotation sensors are exemplarily used as a piece of information of vehicle stability control for stabilizing behavior of a vehicle during running, or used to adjust an oil pressure of a power steering, thereby requiring a strict precision. Thus, outputs of rotation sensors have to be measured precisely.
However, in the above-mentioned constitution, it is likely that the rotational angle can not be detected precisely, because of accumulation of misalignment between the steering shaft S as a measuring target and the rotation sensor 60, including looseness (i.e., play) between the steering shaft S and steering wheel W, and including relative angle deviation between the rotors of the rotary connector 50 and rotation sensor 60 such as due to the looseness compensating spring.
There will be described hereinafter the reason why larger detection errors are caused particularly when the output of the rotation sensor 60 is detected through the rotary connector 50.
The output signal of the rotation sensor 60 has precision which is affected by the looseness between the rotor 61 and stator 62 of the rotation sensor 60. Namely, if the relative positions of the rotor 61 and stator 62 are changed by the looseness therebetween, the output signal is correspondingly changed of course.
It is thus preferable that the relative positions of the rotor 61 and stator 62 of the rotation sensor 60 are always kept unchanged so as to obtain outputs with higher precision, such that the clearance between the rotor 61 and stator 62 is exemplarily restricted to an extremely small value of ±0.2 mm to obtain satisfactory characteristics for products.
Meanwhile, because the required precision of the rotary connector 50 is not so strict as the rotation sensor 60, the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 coupled to the steering W has a clearance between the coupling portion of the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 and the coupling portion of the steering W which clearance is usually larger than that between the rotor 61 and stator 62 of the rotation sensor 60, and such a larger clearance is generally on the order of ±0.5 mm (which is 2.5 times that for the rotation sensor). Conversely, if no clearance were provided between these coupling portions, the dimensional precision of those members constituting the coupling portions of the steering shaft S and steering W and of the steering W and rotary connector 50 should be set extremely strictly. Even if the members could be machined with such a strict dimensional precision, assembling is made difficult in turn. It is, thus, inevitable to provide a duly larger clearance between the coupling portion of the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 and the coupling portion of the steering W.
Therefore, the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 is displaced by an amount corresponding to the above-mentioned looseness concerning the rotary connector 50, in case that the steering angle of the steering W is detected by the rotation sensor 60 through the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50. Thus, the output signal of the rotation sensor 60 is fluctuated by an amount corresponding to the looseness, thereby failing to detect a steering angle with an excellent precision.
There will be described hereinafter further defects to be caused when the rotation sensor 60 detects the rotational angle of the steering W through the rotary connector 50.
As described above, the clearance between the rotor 61 and stator 62 of the rotation sensor 60 is on the order of ±0.2 mm. Since the stator 62 of the rotation sensor 60 is mounted on a combination switch bracket via cushioning member, the stator 62 is allowed to move by a certain amount correspondingly to the looseness of the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 relative to the stator. However, the looseness compensating capability of the stator 62 of the rotation sensor 60 is occasionally exceeded, such as when the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 is largely moved due to the clearance between the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 and the steering W. In such a situation, the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 may impose an excessive side pressure onto the stator 62 to thereby increase the rotational torque of the rotor 61, and in the worst case, the rotor 61 is prevented from rotating to thereby possibly disable the rotational angle detection.
Moreover, the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 is generally integrated with a canceling cam (not shown in FIG. 1) for operating a canceling mechanism for blinkers. The canceling cam is to rotate while striking against the canceling mechanism, when the canceling mechanism is to operated. Thus, vibrations upon striking the canceling mechanism in the conventional constitution are inevitably transmitted to the rotor 61 of the rotation sensor 60 through the rotor 51 of the rotary connector 50 because the rotor 61 is coupled to only the rotor 51, thereby possibly affecting the output signal of the rotation sensor 60.


Methods, machines, and machine-readable media for enhancing image resolution are described. In one aspect, a respective motion map is computed for each pairing of a reference image and a respective image neighboring the reference image in a sequence of base images. Each motion map includes a set of motion vectors mapping reference image pixels to respective neighboring image pixels. Respective regions of a target image are assigned to motion classes based on the computed motion maps. The target image has a target resolution level and the base images have a base resolution level equal to or lower than the target resolution level. Pixel values for the target image are computed based on corresponding pixel value contributions from the motion-compensated neighboring base images selected in accordance with the motion classes assigned to the target image regions.

The resolution of an image is determined by the physical characteristics of the sensor that is used to capture the image. In some resolution enhancement approaches, the spatial dimension of an image is increased by interpolating between pixel values of a single image to generate an enhanced image. Both linear and non-linear interpolation techniques have been applied to a single image to produce an image with a higher spatial dimension than the original image. In these resolution enhancement techniques, however, the overall information content in the enhanced image is the same as the original image: the pixel number is increased, but the resolution is not improved. In other approaches, image resolution is increased by obtaining multiple displaced images of the scene and combining the information from the multiple images into an enhanced image. The process of reconstructing an image from several displaced images of the same scene often is referred to as "super resolution". In these resolution enhancement techniques, the overall information content in the enhanced image may be greater than the information content in the individual original images.
In some super resolution methods, one of the lower resolution images in a sequence of lower resolution images is designated as a reference image. The coordinate frame of the reference image is up-projected to the higher resolution level to define the coordinate frame of the higher resolution image. Motion vectors between the reference image and each of a selected number of lower-resolution images neighboring the reference image in the multi-image sequence are estimated. The motion vectors then are up-projected to the coordinate frame of the higher resolution image. The up-projected motion vectors are used to re-map the neighboring images to the coordinate frame of the higher resolution image. Next, the coordinate frame of the higher resolution image is populated with pixel values that are computed based on combinations of pixel values from the re-mapped lower resolution images. In some approaches, a non-linear interpolation technique is used to reconstruct the higher resolution image from the re-mapped pixel values.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.

Photovoltaic cells ("PV cells") convert light, such as sunlight, into an electric current. PV cells may provide electric power to a system using solely light as an energy source. Consequently, PV cells may provide electric power to a system without the use of traditional energy sources such as chemical energy sources (e.g., batteries, fossil fuels) and/or an electric power grid.
The ability of PV cells to convert light into an electric current makes PV cells an attractive electric power source in many applications wherein it is undesirable, impractical, uneconomical and/or impossible to use traditional energy sources. For example, PV cells commonly power emergency roadside call boxes located in rural areas where an electric power grid is not readily accessible. As another example, hand held calculators are commonly powered by one or more PV cells; the PV cells allow use of the calculator wherever light is present without requiring the use of batteries or a connection to an electrical outlet.
In certain applications, it is desirable that PV cells be at least partially transparent to one or more predetermined frequencies of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation. For example, if PV cells are to power a radar unit from sunlight, it may be desirable to place the PV cells on an outer surface of the radar unit so that the radar unit's structure will not shadow the PV cells. However, prior art PV cells are generally opaque to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation and therefore, may interfere with operation of the radar unit if placed on the radar unit's outer surface. This opaqueness is largely due to the fact that prior art PV cells generally contain at least one layer of metal, which blocks the passage of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation through the PV cell.
A common source of metal in a PV cell is the PV cell's back contact layer. The back contact layer is one of two electrical contact subsystems in the PV cell that enable it to be electrically connected to an external system. Stated in another manner, the back contact layer may serve as one of two electrical terminals on the PV cell, much like a terminal on a battery. The back contact layer functions to collect electrical charge from the back section of the PV cell. Consequently, the back contact layer must be an electrical conductor and must be in electrical contact with the PV cell.
As its name implies, the back contact layer is generally located near the back or bottom of the PV cell. The back of the PV cell is the PV cell's side that is opposite from the PV cell's light source; the front or top of the PV cell is the PV cell's side that is proximate to the light source. The PV cell's other electrical contact subsystem is often referred to as the top contact layer or subsystem and is commonly located near the front of the PV cell.
A back contact layer may be formed of a material that is non-transparent to light, such as molybdenum, aluminum or nickel. Such materials are also non-transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation. A back contact layer also may be formed of a material that is transparent to light, such as zinc oxide or indium tin oxide. Although such materials are transparent to light, they are non-transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation.
Many prior art PV cells have a solid metallic back contact layer. For example, a prior art PV cell may have a solid back contact layer formed of or containing molybdenum. Although such cells may exhibit relatively high efficiencies, the solid metallic back contact layer also blocks the passage of radio frequency electromagnetic radiation through the PV cell.
Other prior art PV cells have a non-solid metallic back contact layer, an example of which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,989 to Wakefield et al., entitled "Contact for Solar Cell." Wakefield discloses a PV cell with a back contact layer having a "checkerboard pattern" intended to permit the "passage of radiation through the cell which would otherwise decrease efficiency due to heat generation." Although Wakefield's back contact layer apparently passes at least some infrared radiation, which may generate heat, the back contact layer is not transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation of one or more predetermined frequencies.
Thus, there is a need for a PV cell having a back contact layer that is at least partially transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation of one or more predetermined frequencies ("radio frequency transparent PV cell").

Airship with a radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell


A papermachine clothing cleaning apparatus has a fluid injection nozzle with an apertured plate (14). The injection nozzle directs fluid onto the papermachine clothing (11) in order to clean the clothing. The areas of papermachine clothing that are adjacent the areas of clothing being impacted by the fluid are located in a press formed by the apertured plate (14) and a body (15) provided at the opposite surface of the fabric (11).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cleaning papermachine clothing and particularly, but not exclusively, to an apparatus and method for cleaning press felts.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally speaking papermaking machines are made up of three sections, namely the forming, pressing and drying sections. In each section a fabric belt is used to transport a continuous paper sheet through the papermaking equipment as the paper is being manufactured. When in use, the fabric belts become contaminated with components from the pulp such as aluminium hydroxide, natural wood resin components, resin components, resin size, latex binders and inorganic coating pigments. The problem of belt contamination is increasing as the use of recycled paper in the pulp becomes more common. Debris on the belt may contaminate the paper product supported by the belt.
The traditional method of cleaning papermaking belts, such as press felts, is to direct jets of high pressure water onto the paper stock carrying surface of the felt from an apparatus which traverses the cross-machine direction of the belt. The water penetrates into the body of the felt and returns out through the paper side of the felt. As the water returns out through the felt surface, felt fibre ends are brought out from the felt. These shredded felt fibres contaminate the paper product supported by the belt.

Apparatus and method for cleaning papermachine clothing


A chemically inducible gene promoter sequence, and particularly, but not exclusively, a chemically inducible gene promoter sequence based on cis regulatory elements from the maize glutathione S-transferase 27 (GST-27) gene. In a preferred embodiment, the promoter sequence is operatively linked or fused to a gene or series of genes whereby expression of the gene or series of genes may be controlled by application of an effective exogenous inducer.

The present invention relates to a promoter and to a construct comprising the same.
In particular, the present invention relates to a chemically inducible gene promoter sequence, and particularly, but not exclusively, a chemically inducible gene promoter sequence based on cis regulatory elements from the maize glutathione S-transferase 27 (GST-27) gene. The present invention also relates to gene constructs, expression systems, plants and promoter/inducer combinations comprising the chemically inducible gene promoter sequence.
Recent advances in molecular biology techniques have resulted in a better understanding of plant promoters. Cis-regulatory elements have been identified and used to localise reporter gene activity to specific differentiated cell types and to defined stages of plant development (Drews et al., 1992; Guerrero et al., 1990). While current technology exists to regulate trans-gene activity in a spatial or temporal manner, the external control of introduced genes by application of an inducing chemical is not well established in plants.
The ability to regulate genes in an inducible manner is well established in bacteria, fungi, insects and animal cell cultures. For inducible regulation systems to be effective there should be a zero or low level of expression in the absence of inducer, high expression following treatment with inducer and no effect of the inducer on other cellular functions.
Whilst numerous inducible genes have been isolated from plants (Kuhlemeier et al., 1987), a well defined inducible regulation system is not in common use. A number of genes have been described which are activated by pathogen attack or environmental stimuli, including light, oxygen and temperature levels. Although some of these are well characterised at the molecular level, they cannot be utilised for inducible genes system due to illegitimate activation by environmental signals.
The involvement of chemical stimuli, including plant growth regulators, in activation of gene transcription is well documented in plants. Application of these compounds may be better controlled, in comparison with environmental stimuli, however they cannot be considered for inducible genes systems due to undesirable pleiotropic effects.
A number of recent studies have demonstrated that control of trans-genes in plants can be achieved by application of exogenous chemicals. These include activation by salicylic acid (Williams et al., 1992), tetracyline (Weinmann et al., 1994], glucocorticoids (Schena et al., 1991) and copper ions (Mett et al., 1993). Although these systems fulfil the prerequisites described earlier, and therefore have utility for research applications, their use will be limited as the chemicals described are not compatible with current agricultural practice.
A potentially attractive group of chemicals which may have utility in regulating gene expression in transgenic plants are herbicide safeners. These compounds are currently used in agriculture and function to selectively elevate the metabolism of certain herbicides, primarily by inducing the detoxifying enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (Hatzios, 1991) and cytochrome p450-dependent mixed function oxidises (Fonne-Pfister and Kreuz, 1990). Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are multi-functional enzymes which catalyze the conjugation of the thiol group of glutathione to electrophilic centres of lipophilic compounds leading to their detoxification (Mannervik and Danielson, 1988). GSTs are ubiquitous and their role in xenobiotic metabolism in mammals and plants (Lamoureux and Rusness 1989) is well established.
The best characterised system of plant GSTs is found in maize, where they account for 1-2% of soluble protein (Timmerman, 1989). Four isoforms of GST have been described in maize, GST I (Mozer et al., 1983; Weigand et al., 1986), GST II (Mozer et al., 1983; Holt et al., 1995), GST III (Moore et al., 1986) and GST IV (Irzyk and Feurst, 1993). GST-27 is a component of GST II and GST IV which exhibit safener dependent inducibility.
In our International Patent Publication No. W093/01294, the teaching of which is hereby incorporated by reference, we demonstrated that the promoter region controlling GST-27 can be used to achieve safener dependant trans-gene expression. These studies revealed that a 3.8 kb GST-27 promoter, in addition to directing safener inducible trans-gene expression, also gave a constitutive level of expression in root tissues.


A method of manufacturing an article comprising: (a) performing an additive manufacturing process to firm an article in an initial state, the article comprising mounting features and being supported during the additive manufacturing process by support structures; and (b) performing a second manufacturing process to transform the article into a second state, which second manufacturing process is a subtractive process comprising: (i) mounting, via the mounting features formed during the additive manufacturing process, the article in a holding device of a machine for operating on the article, with the support structures or at least remnants thereof remaining on the article, and (ii) with the article so mounted in the holding device, processing at least one feature on a surface of the article on which the support structures were provided to remove material on the at least one feature provided by the support structures.

Rapid manufacturing techniques are becoming more widely used to produce a wide variety of parts, in particular, techniques which build parts layer-by-layer are becoming more well known and used in industry to manufacture custom parts. Selective laser sintering is one such rapid manufacturing technique whereby products can be built up from powdered material, such as powdered metal, layer-by-layer. For example, a layer of powdered material can be applied to a bed of the laser sintering machine and a laser is then controlled so as to sinter or melt select parts of the powdered material so as to form a first layer of the part. Another layer of powder is then applied on top and the laser is again controlled to sinter or melt another layer of the part. This process is repeated until the whole part is formed. The formed part is then removed from the bed of powder. Such techniques are well known and for instance described in EP1021997 and EP1464298.
Compared to more traditional techniques such as milling parts from billets or blanks, such techniques offer rapid manufacturing, as well as facilitate manufacturing of complex parts and can help to minimise material wastage. As a result it is becoming more desirable to manufacture parts using such techniques. Indeed, it is known to use such a technique for forming dental restorations, and in particular dental frameworks, which arc typically complex bespoke parts.
However, products made by such a technique sometimes need a further operation. in order to alter the surface finish, and/or the precision of certain features on the part, which cannot be achieved via the rapid manufacturing technique alone.
EP1974688 discloses a technique in which a plurality of dental prostheses are formed by a rapid prototyping method within a frame, with the frame being held within a finishing machine tool. WO2011/124474 discloses a grip fixture and connector structure to grip a semifinished part in a finishing machine tool, the semifinished part being formed by selective laser sintering. EP2238941. discloses a drill template formed by rapid prototyping with reference points used to position the drill template in a milling machine for subsequent processing.
WO2012/064257, published after the priority date of the present application, discloses a dental bridge intermediary structure comprising a superstructure, the superstructure comprising a connection piece, the connection piece comprising connection means for connecting the dental bridge intermediary structure to a cutter.
US 2005/0060868 discloses a re-orientable sample ho comprising kinematic mount features.
The present application describes a method of manufacturing, via an additive manufacturing process, an article which comprises at least one (e.g. a set of) mounting feature(s) and which When subsequently mounted in a holding device of a machine tool control the position of the article to a known position and orientation.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


In one embodiment, during runtime use of a configurable application that is used by multiple service requesters, a configuration dependency manager is integrated in the configurable application to check a set of features for one of the service requesters. The method receives a service requester configuration for the set of features. A configuration dependency manager determines a set of dependencies for the set of features that have been configured by the service requester configuration and determines a developer's configuration for a plurality of features for the configurable application. Then, the configuration dependency manager analyzes the set of dependencies with corresponding dependencies in the developer's configuration to determine when an issue exists with the service requester configuration and provides a visualization of the set of features based on the analyzing the set of dependencies, wherein the issue is shown on the visualization.

In a multi-tenant enterprise software-as-a-service (SAAS) product, multiple service requesters share an instance of the product. That is, the product provider may run a single instance of the product on a server that can be used by multiple service requesters. However, each service requester's data may be separated from other service requesters' data. The product provider may attempt to provide features desired by all service requesters. However, service requesters may desire a tailor-made and highly-customized version of the product that feels/looks like a personalized product that solves each service requester's unique problems.
To address the above customization issues, the product provider may include configurable features that service requesters can configure manually. Typically, an administrator or professional services for the service requester perform the feature configuration. This is often at a cost to the service requester. Also, many times the configuration may not be correct, which results in the feature not working in the product and application downtime. To fix any configuration issues, it is often difficult to pinpoint the problem. Typically, an engineering team needs to be contacted, which consumes engineering hours that could be used for other purposes.

Configuration dependency manager for configurable applications


The invention disclosed herein provides for automatically controlling positioning of a moistening nozzle relative to an envelope flap being moved therepast at high speed. The invention has particular application as an envelope flap moistener in a high speed mailing machine. Envelopes are moved to and past the nozzle at a speed of at least about 65 inches per second along a given path with the flap extending from the envelope in an opened configuration thereof. A sensor attached to the nozzle senses the location of the edge of the flap within about 0.2 inch of the nozzle upstream thereof a plurality times as the flap moves to and past the nozzle. The nozzle is then positioned to track the flap edge in accordance with sensing of the envelope flap. The nozzle may be pre-positioned by a lower bandwidth servo system having an envelope sensor located further upstream of the tracking sensor. A higher bandwidth servo loop controls tracking of the nozzle in response to the tracking sensor. It is not necessary to use stored or computed envelope flap profiles, envelope speed, etc., for the nozzle to track the envelope flap.

This invention relates generally to applying liquid to a region of an object such as the flap of an envelope or the like, in which relative movement brings the object and a liquid applicator adjacent each other. More particularly, the invention relates to controlling the position of a liquid applicator outlet for rapid application of liquid to envelope flaps moved at high speed past the liquid applicator outlet. The invention has particular application to a method of moistening of gummed envelope flaps in a mailing machine by a method for positioning a liquid outlet of a liquid application for applying liquid to an envelope flap being moved to and past the liquid outlet along a given path with the flap extending from the envelope in an opened configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,911,862 discloses a moistening system for envelope flaps.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 291,461 and 291,844, both filed on Dec. 28, 1988, disclose the high speed moistening of envelope flaps in which the edge of the envelope flap is sensed a given distance upstream of a spray nozzle, the velocity of the envelope is determined, and movement of the nozzle is controlled as a function of the given distance, the sensed flap edge and the envelope velocity. The inventor and assignee in both of those applications are the same as herein, and the disclosures of those two applications are incorporated herein by reference.


A semiconductor circuit allows a timing adjustment after detailed routing without rearrangement and rerouting, an adjustment of delay variance due to process variation, and a delay adjustment even after chip formation using a primitive cell with a built-in means for adjusting delay time. The circuit connected between an input pad and an output pad, an operating method for the same, and a delay time control system circuit, which externally adjusts delay time of a plurality of control terminal-equipped/variable capacitance embedded buffers configures a semiconductor circuit. The structure includes: a first buffer connected between the input pad and the output pad; and a plurality of capacitances connectable in parallel between a fixed potential and a current flowing path, which is positioned between the first buffer and the output pad, and that controls connection between each of the plurality of capacitances and the output pad.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor circuit. More specifically, it relates to a semiconductor circuit, which allows a timing adjustment after detailed routing without rearrangement and rerouting by using primitive cells (variable delay cells) including a built-in means that adjusts delay time, and which is utilized for cell-based designs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), data writing and reading can be successively performed in sync with an external clock while switching banks, which are provided by dividing a memory cell array into multiple banks. Furthermore, a memory operating at a high-speed data rate, such as a double data rate SDRAM (DDR-SDRAM) capable of operating at a double data transfer rate, has recently been in the mainstream. However, an application requiring a random cycle such as a network system needs to accelerate operations in the same bank. A double data rate fast cycle random access memory (DDR-FCRAM) resolves this problem. A DDR-FCRAM is capable of being successively written and read at a high speed in sync with an external clock in units of banks provided by dividing a memory cell array into multiple banks. A DDR-FCRAM is useable for an application such as a network system because it is capable of not only transferring data at a double data rate, but also carrying out a high-speed random cycle operation implemented through improvement of memory cell array operations or using a new writing system.
A DDR interface (I/F), a clock generating circuit and the like require strict timing adjustment. That amount of adjustment is often less than the buffer delay time of a primitive cell. With conventional technology, interconnects are deliberately diverted and relevant cells are deliberately rearranged at long a distance. Therefore, troublesome overheads of rerouting, re-extraction, delay time recalculation and the like occur. Furthermore, not only can the effects of that adjustment not be known until executed, but there may be adverse affects to other portions as well. Moreover, this adjustment method can basically only increase delay, and is equivalent to not having an adjustment method for reducing delay.
A DDR I/F requires strict timing adjustment. For example, there is a constraint where changes in 64-bit data signal arrival time must be within ±150 picoseconds (ps). Even if this constraint is imposed on a conventional engineering design (EDA) tool, it is difficult to be satisfied, thereby requiring manual fine adjustment by analyzing the results from that tool. For example, fine adjustment such as delaying Data [0] by 30 ps and, expediting Data [1] by 40 ps or the like is carried out. However, since the buffer delay value of the primitive cell is about 100 to 200 ps according to a 130 nm process, signal arrival time cannot be delayed by adding a buffer. Thus, delay needs to be adjusted by deliberately diverting interconnects, which increases interconnect capacitance. In order to expedite the signal arrival time, the interproximal interconnect capacitance is reduced by placing a single open track and forming relevant interconnects, or cells are rearranged so that the interconnect lengths can be shortened; however, the results thereof are insignificant. In the case of insufficient improvement in the timing, relaxing constraints or restarting from routing may be necessary. Relaxing constraints may cause wider margins and a decrease in yield, and restarting from routing delays design completion.
An ASIC including multiple clock drivers, which are arbitrarily connectable to a clock signal line and have different correctable driving capabilities (transistor channel widths), is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-111391 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 12, and 13).
A delay time adjustment cell library and a delay time adjustment method allows adjustment of off timings without rearrangement and rerouting. This is accomplished by using a delay time adjustment cell library for a group of interconnect cells that include basic cells, transistor cells with multiple basic cells, and interconnect patterns, each connecting between devices within a basic cell or between basic cells. See Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-230324, for example.
However, an objective of Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-111391 is to adjust a hold margin for clock delay and adjustment of variance due to process variation is not considered. Furthermore, both Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-111391 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-230324 are for making a delay adjustment before or during the process, and do not consider delay adjustment after chip formation.

Semiconductor circuit, operating method for the same, and delay time control system circuit


A method and processor for providing context-based adaptive binary arithmetic CABAC coding. Binarization is performed on one or more syntax elements to obtain a binary sequence. Data bits of the said binary sequence are provided to an arithmetic encoding unit in bulk. Binarization is performed on one or more syntax elements to generate exp Golomb code by converting mapped syntax-element values to corresponding floating point type values. Re-normalization of CABAC encoding is performed by restructuring the re-normalization into two processing units including an arithmetic encoding unit and a bit writing unit. The bit writing unit is configured to format signal bits into a multiple-bit sequence, and write multiple bits simultaneously during an execution of a bit writing loop.

1. Field
The present invention generally relates to entropy encoding of video data. The present invention can be used, amongst other things, to increase the speed of implementation of context-based adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) in H.264/AVC video encoders.
2. Background
The increasing demand to incorporate video data in transmission and storage systems and the desire to improve the quality of video in such systems have prompted rapid advancement in video compression techniques. During the last decade, many ISO/ITU standards on video compression (e.g., MNPEG.1, MPEG2, MPEG.4, H.263, and H.2.64) have evolved. These standards exploit the spatio-temporal correlation in the video data and utilize entropy coding techniques to achieve high compression ratios. Entropy coding is a loss-less compression process that is based on the statistical properties of data. Entropy coders assign codes to symbols so as to match code lengths with the probabilities of occurrence of the symbols. The basic idea is to express the most frequently occurring symbols with the least number of bits.
Some of the commonly used entropy coding techniques used in video compression include Golomb coding, Hauffman coding and Arithmetic coding. Arithmetic coding combined with context-adaptive modeling techniques has shown better compression results compared to the other forms of entropy coding. Owing to its higher coding efficiency, several video coding standards, including the latest in the line H.264/AVC video standard, support Arithmetic coding as a higher compression mode. The H.264/AVC video standard supports a base-line entropy coding method known as Context Adaptive Variable Length Coding (CAVLC) and a high efficiency entropy coding method known as Context-based Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding (CABAC). CABAC offers a different compression-complexity tradeoff at a higher coding efficiency and higher complexity level compared to the base-line CAVLC. Some important properties of CABAC include the binary nature of symbols, adaptive context modeling, and a table driven arithmetic coding engine.
Despite its higher coding efficiency, one main disadvantage of Arithmetic coding lies in its high computational cost. This issue relating to high computational cost applies to CABAC as well. The CABAC encoding algorithm includes three basic steps: binarization, context modeling, and binary arithmetic encoding. In the binarization step, a non-binary syntax element is mapped to a unique binary sequence. In the H.264/AVC standard, the binarization schemes are either manually chosen or are obtained by a combination of four elementary code types. The four elementary code types include unary codes, truncated unary codes, kth order Exp-Golomb codes and fixed length codes. In conventional systems, each bit of the binary sequence is passed through a context modeling stage, where a context-dependent probability model is selected. The bit along with its model is then passed on to the arithmetic encoding engine, where coding of the bit takes place and the model gets updated.
Although the binary nature of CABAC reduces its model-update overhead, its inherent sequential nature and extensive memory accesses make its computational requirements high. The increased computational complexity hampers the adoption of CABAC in solutions running on low powered DSPs (digital signal processors) and other processing devices. Keeping in view the fact that H.264/AVC is expected to supercede all previous video coding standards, it may be appreciated that it would be desirable to develop methods that reduce the implementation complexity of the CABAC algorithm.

Method and system for fast context based adaptive binary arithmetic coding


A catalytic converter comprises an exhaust manifold comprising a manifold wall; a catalytic converter shell, wherein a portion of the catalytic converter shell is disposed within the manifold wall; and a catalyst substrate disposed in the catalytic converter shell.

Catalytic converters are universally employed for oxidation of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons and reduction of the oxides of nitrogen in automobile exhaust gas streams. A catalyst substrate comprising a catalyst, disposed within the shell of the catalytic converter, facilitates the oxidation and reduction process of the exhaust gas stream. Catalyst substrates tend to be frangible and have coefficients of thermal expansion differing markedly from their metal, usually stainless steel, shells. As a result, the mounting means of the substrate, typically a mat support material disposed between the catalyst substrate and the shell, must provide resistance to mechanical shock due to impacts and vibrations and to thermal shock due to thermal cycling. Both thermal and mechanical shock may cause deterioration of the mat support material, which once started, quickly accelerates and ultimately renders the device useless.
Intumescent and non-intumescent sheet mat support materials do an adequate job of holding the substrate in place while resisting erosion at moderate exhaust temperatures, and moderate pressure pulsations of the exhaust gas. However, when positioning the catalytic converter closer to the engine exhaust manifold, the converter, including the mat support materials are subjected to much higher exhaust temperatures. Under these conditions, over a period of time, existing mat support materials can be eroded.
A catalytic converter may be placed anywhere in the exhaust system. However, it is advantageous to locate a catalytic converter as close as possible to the combustion chamber in an engine compartment. Placing a catalytic converter closer to the combustion chamber quickens the converter's light-off time. The light-off time is the point at which the catalyst reaches fifty percent efficiency over a period of time (measured in seconds) during start-up of the automobile.
Placing catalytic converters into an engine compartment, however, creates additional packaging constraints. "Packaging constraints" is an industrial term referring to the question, "how do we fit a part in a vehicle?", taking into consideration the space and volume of the area of interest, including the parts nearby and the interaction of those parts.
Generally, a catalytic converter 20 utilizes a pair of endcone assemblies 22 welded onto a shell 30 to provide a gas tight seal and for attaching the converter to the mobile vehicle's exhaust system (See FIGS. 1 and 2). Typically, endcone assemblies 22 comprise both an outer endcone 24 and an inner endcone 26. Inner endcone 26 reduces the likelihood of mat erosion and thermal deterioration of a mat support material 28 during operation of converter 20. Inner endcone 26 is welded into outer endcone 24 using a costly and inefficient manufacturing procedure. When outer endcone 24 is welded onto shell 30, inner endcone 26 is inserted "blind" into mat support material 28, which is wrapped around a catalyst substrate 32 and concentrically disposed within shell 30 (FIG. 2). The "blind" insertion of inner endcone 26 can periodically cause catalyst substrate 32 to break during assembly of converter 20. As a result, alternatives are being sought for inner endcone 26.
Some catalytic converter designs, and especially designs without inner endcones, incorporate an edge protection material around the intake area of the catalyst substrate to reduce thermal deterioration of the mat support material (e.g., mat protection ring or endring). Incorporating edge protection materials while assembling a catalytic converter, however, requires additional labor. In addition, edge protection materials increase the overall weight of the catalytic converter as well as its cost. This, in turn, ultimately reduces the chances of meeting the customer's requirements.
A catalyst disposed on a frangible substrate is supported within the catalytic converter to facilitate the oxidation and reduction process of the exhaust gas stream. During operation, the exhaust gases pass over the substrate and contact the catalyst where the amount of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen are reduced. The temperature of the catalyst is typically between 750° C. and 950° C. and may be higher depending upon the location of the catalytic converter relative to the engine of the automobile. To lessen the effects of this high temperature, a support material cushions and insulates the catalyst material from a housing in which the substrate and catalyst are mounted.
Currently, manifold converters are manufactured by welding cast or fabricated exhaust manifolds to a catalytic converter shell. Thin-wall castings are also available that incorporate the converter shell and manifold into a single casting. Fabricated manifolds are easily joined to converter shells, but are difficult to manufacture compared to a casting of the same. Conventional welding techniques have been commonly used to form and join these catalytic converters to exhaust manifolds. However, the microstructure of nodular cast iron exhaust manifolds is not designed for welding. If welded, the microstructure has a band of high hardness martensite immediately adjacent to the weld in the heat-affected zone. A welding filler metal with intermediate thermomechanical properties having a sufficient high temperature strength and toughness is required for the manifold converter to survive. The welding filler is quite expensive, however, and the welding operation must be closely monitored.
Thin-walled castings eliminate the welding operation, but the thin-walled castings are still 3–4 mm thick compared to the 1.5 mm thick wrought shell. The thin-walled castings add mass and decrease converter performance due to the increased thickness. On the other hand, cast and fabricated stainless steel manifolds eliminate the cast iron welding difficulties, but are extremely expensive.
In addition, the drawbacks of conventional welding techniques include the creation of a high amount of heat that risks damage to the parts being welded. Another drawback is that dissimilar metals and work pieces of different gauge thicknesses cannot be joined, thereby limiting the materials used in forming catalytic converters. Lastly, conventional designs of the sheet metal or cast-metal heat resistant shells incorporate several welding steps. Welding is not only costly from an equipment standpoint due to the amount of materials, consumables, and labor associated with the process, but also leads to considerable in-plant control costs and warranty.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an apparatus and method for manufacturing a catalytic converter attachable to an exhaust manifold without a welded joint that is cost effective.

Exhaust manifold with catalytic converter shell tube


Improvements are disclosed in apparatus and techniques for activating an implantable medical device, such as a neurostimulator adapted to treat and control a disorder of a patient where the disorder is susceptible to relief in response to predetermined modulation of the electrical activity of a selected nerve or group of nerves of the patient. The neurostimulator includes a stimulus generator responsive, when activated, to generate a programmable electrical waveform, and an electrode array electrically connected to the stimulus generator for delivering the waveform to a selected nerve of the patient, such as the vagus nerve. The neurostimulator is also adapted to be programmed to provide the waveform with parameter values selected to stimulate the selected nerve to produce the predetermined modulation of the nerve's electrical activity. The neurostimulator is implemented to respond to a patient initiated signal which may be derived either manually or automatically to selectively activate the stimulus generator. Response to a manually derived signal produces a signal to trigger activation of the stimulus generator. Response to an automatically derived signal indicative of a manifestation of the disorder being treated will separately trigger activation of the stimulus generator.

The present invention relates generally to techniques and apparatus for activating implanted battery-operated medical devices, such as neurostimulators for treating or controlling medical, psychiatric or neurological disorders by application of modulating electrical signals to a selected nerve or nerves of the patient.
Extra-physiologic electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve for treatment of epilepsy and various forms of involuntary movement disorders is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,254 to J. Zabara (referred to herein as "the '254 patent"). An implantable neurocybernetic prosthesis (NCP) utilizes neurocybernetic spectral discrimination by tuning the external current of the NCP generator to the electrochemical properties of a specific group of inhibitory nerves that affect the reticular system of the brain. These nerves are embedded within a bundle of other nerves, and are selectively activated directly or indirectly by the tuning of the NCP to augment states of brain neural discharge to control convulsions or seizures. According to the patent, the spectral discrimination analysis dictates that certain electrical parameters of the NCP pulse generator be selected based on the electrochemical properties of the nerves desired to be activated.
An improved implantable neurostimulator device is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/434,985, filed Nov. 10, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,154,172, issued Oct. 13, 1992 to Reese S. Terry, Jr., et al. (referred to herein as "the '172 patent), assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The disclosure of the '172 patent is incorporated by reference herein. For the sake of convenience, a block diagram of the stimulus generator of a neurostimulator of the type disclosed in the '172 patent is illustrated in FIG. 1, and further details of location of an implantable version of the device and the associated lead/electrode system are shown in FIG. 2. The implanted device communicates with a programmer and/or monitor external to the patient's body by means of asynchronous serial communication, to control and indicate device states.
Stimulus generator 10 is implanted in the body of a patient 30 in a surgically-formed pocket immediately beneath the skin in the chest (FIG. 2). Housing 21 is hermetically sealed and composed of a material biologically compatible with the fluids and tissue of the patient's body. The neurostimulator also includes implantable stimulating electrodes 25 together with a lead system 22 for applying the output signal of the stimulus generator to a selected nerve such as the patient's vagus nerve 27. Components external to the patient's body include a programming wand 33 for telemetry of parameter changes to the stimulus generator and monitoring signals from the generator, and a computer 35 and associated software for adjustment of parameters and control of communication between the generator, the programming wand and the computer.
The stimulus generator includes a battery 12, such as a lithium thionyl chloride cell, having terminals connected to the input of a voltage regulator 13. The regulator smoothes the battery output and supplies power to logic and control section 15, which includes a microprocessor and controls the programmable functions of the device, such as current or voltage, frequency, pulse width, on-time and off-time of the output pulses generated by the genrator. The programmability allows the output pulse signal to be selectively tailored for modulating the electrical activity of the vagus nerve to produce the treatment regimen applicable to the disorder. Timing signals for the logic and control functions of the generator are provided by a crystal oscillator 16. A magnetically-actuated reed switch 14 provides the capability for patient activation of the device.
Built-in antenna 17 enables communication between the implanted stimulus generator and the external electronics (including both programming and monitoring devices) to permit the device to receive programming signals for parameter changes, and to transmit telemetry information, from and to the programming wand. Once the system is programmed, it operates continuously at the programmed settings until they are reprogrammed (by the attending physician) by means of the external computer and the programming wand.
It is important to conserve energy in any battery operated device implanted for medical treatment of a disorder. To that end, a power down circuit 18 may be electrically connected to reed switch 14 and logic/control circuit 15 and timed by the clock pulses from the crystal oscillator 16 to reduce power to the microprocessor of section 15 and/or to the oscillator to a point at which the device is essentially in a sleep state but sufficiently alert to be awakened on command. The power down mode or sleep state may be initiated automatically within a timed interval after the device has been activated to generate its programmed stimulating output signal. Alternatively, the device may stay in a reduced power state until the microprocessor is awakened by manual activation of the device by the patient.
Logic/control section 15 of the stimulus generator 10 controls an output circuit 19 which generates programmed signal levels. The programmed output signal of section 19 is fed, via an electrical connector 20 on the generator case (housing) 21, to the lead assembly 22 which is connected at its distal end to the stimulating electrodes (FIG. 2). The parameters of the stimulating signal of the implanted device are calibrated by telemetry (via the programming wand 33) according to the patient's needs, and programmed into the microprocessor for delivery of treatment upon activation of the stimulus generator.
FIG. 2 illustrates the location of generator 10 in the patient's chest with nerve electrode array 25 and associated lead 22 implanted in the patient's neck. The lead is attached at its proximal end to connector 20 of housing 21. Electrode array 25 is a bipolar stimulating electrode, for example of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,481 to Bullara.
The implanted NCP of the '254 patent or neurostimulator disclosed in the '172 patent is activated manually or automatically to provide treatment for the duration of the seizure. The patient can manually activate the device by positioning a magnet over the implant site to actuate the reed switch at onset of the seizure. Automatic activation is triggered upon detection of instantaneous changes in certain state (EEG) parameters immediately before or at onset of a seizure. Also, a prophylactic or preventive mode may be employed in which the implanted device is activated periodically to reduce the occurrence and/or the intensity of the seizures.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide improvements in techniques for manual and automatic activation of an implanted neurostimulator.

Activation techniques for implantable medical device


A renewable-energy power plant including a first structure, a second structure, a first flue, a second flue and a turbine arrangement comprising at least one turbine, wherein the first structure includes a primary fluid inlet and the second structure includes a secondary fluid inlet and a primary fluid outlet, wherein the secondary fluid inlet is connected to the first flue, wherein the primary fluid inlet is located lower than the secondary fluid inlet and the primary fluid outlet is located lower than the secondary fluid inlet, wherein the turbine arrangement is provided inside the second flue, wherein the power plant includes wetting means arranged to discharge an additive fluid to the working fluid passing through the secondary fluid inlet, wherein the turbine arrangement is arranged to generate power due to the working fluid flowing in a downwards direction inside the second flue and passing through the turbine arrangement.

In recent years, several alternative energy sources have been proposed to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. Such alternative energy sources include solar energy, wave power, tidal power and wind power. A problem with the alternative land based energy sources, namely solar power and wind power, is that they require large amounts of land area in order to provide significant amounts of energy. Conventional power plants such as a coal power plant or a nuclear power plant are much more space efficient in their energy generation, thus providing a clear benefit over the alternative energy sources listed above.
Two other types of alternative energy sources recently proposed are a so-called solar updraft tower and a so-called downdraft energy tower. The solar updraft tower utilizes solar energy to heat air which then rises in a chimney-like structure due to the conventional chimney effect. The structure is then provided with means to generate energy from this updraft. Often, the solar updraft tower includes a radially extending greenhouse-like structure arranged to increase the temperature of the air surrounding the inlet of the solar updraft tower. This is to increase the efficiency of the energy generation by increasing the temperature of the ambient air. A problem with this solution is that its uptake area, due to the inclusion of the greenhouse-like structure, is very large. The downdraft energy tower is a chimney-like structure provided with a sprinkler system at the top of the tower. The energy generation of this downdraft energy tower is based on the principle that by spraying water on hot air, the hot air can be caused to cool off while simultaneously taking up some of the water that is sprayed onto it. Thus, the density of the air just below the sprinklers is increased, such that a downdraft is created. Means for energy generation are then placed in an outlet of the chimney-like structure, thus allowing energy to be generated. A problem with this technology is that a very hot and arid climate is required in order for the air in connection with the sprinklers to be sufficiently hot and dry. Also, the downdraft energy tower is limited in how high it can be due to the fact that the temperature of the ambient air generally decreases the further from the ground you go. At 1 km altitude, the temperature is generally about 6.5° C. lower than at the ground. At very high altitudes, the temperature is therefore so low so that efficient use of the downdraft energy tower is impossible.
Thus, it would be beneficial to provide an alternative energy source which is renewable, space efficient, and possible to scale up so that large scale energy production is achieved.


A voltage comparator having hysteresis includes a comparing section that compares an input voltage with a reference voltage so as to output a high-level or low-level signal; and a reference voltage changing section that changes the reference voltage when a low-level signal is output from the comparing section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a voltage comparator having hysteresis characteristics, and more specifically, to a voltage comparator having hysteresis characteristics, in which a reference voltage changing section composed of a small number of elements is added so that a voltage comparator safe from input noise can be designed and the magnitude of a hysteresis voltage can be accurately set and simply changed by varying the value of a resistance.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a voltage comparator compares an input voltage with a reference voltage and amplifies the difference therebetween so as to output a high-level or low-level signal. Since a conventional voltage comparator does not have a function of compensating for noise with respect to an output, a separate analog or digital compensating circuit is added thereto.
As a circuit added to the voltage comparator in order to solve the noise problem, there is provided a Schmitt trigger circuit having hysteresis characteristics. However, the Schmitt trigger circuit is sensitive to process variation when determining a positive threshold voltage Vth+ and negative threshold voltage Vth−.
Recently, a voltage comparator itself is designed to have hysteresis characteristics.
After comparing an input voltage with a reference voltage, the voltage comparator having hysteresis characteristics outputs a high-level or low-level signal if the input voltage is larger than the reference voltage. That is, the voltage comparator is used in comparing an input signal.
The voltage comparator having hysteresis characteristics has two points where the output changes, that is, an upper reference voltage and lower reference voltage.
In order to implement a voltage comparator which is safe from noise, the voltage comparator should be designed to have hysteresis characteristics. Accordingly, if the hysteresis characteristics are varied in accordance with a process, an error is generated in the voltage comparator itself, thereby deteriorating the reliability of the overall semiconductor.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a voltage comparator 100 according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional voltage comparator 100 is composed of first and second transistors 101 and 102 which are driven by the input voltage Vin, third and fourth transistors 103 and 104 which are driven by the reference voltage Vref, a voltage drop unit 105 which is connected to the second and third transistors 102 and 103 and a ground terminal so as to generate a voltage drop, a fifth transistor 106 which is connected to the second transistor 102 and a ground terminal so as to be driven by the voltage generated by the voltage drop unit 105, a sixth transistor 107 which is connected to the fifth transistor 106 and a ground terminal so as to be driven by a power supply voltage, and a bias current section 108 which is connected to the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth transistors 101, 104, 106, and 107 and a common terminal of the second and third transistors 102 and 103 so as to maintain a constant amount of current.
The first to fourth transistors 101 to 104 are composed of PNP transistors, and the fifth and sixth transistors 106 and 107 are composed of NPN transistors.
The voltage drop unit 105 is composed of seventh and eighth transistors 105a and 105b connected in a current mirror relationship, and the seventh and eighth transistors 105a and 105b are composed of NPN transistors.
When the voltage comparator 100 having such a construction compares the input voltage Vin and the reference voltage Vref so as to output a high-level or low-level signal, the process is explained in FIG. 2, and will be described in detail as follows.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an operational process of the conventional voltage comparator with an output signal according thereto. FIG. 2A shows an input voltage Vin and reference voltage Vref of the voltage comparator in accordance with time. FIG. 2B shows an output signal Vout of the voltage comparator in accordance with time.
First, when the input voltage Vin is smaller than the reference voltage Vref, that is, in an interval A, the second transistor 102 is turned on and the third transistor 103 is turned off, because of a characteristic of PNP transistors. Then, the bias current I1a of the voltage comparator 100 flows into I2a. Accordingly, a voltage drop is generated in the voltage drop unit 105, so that a constant voltage is applied to the emitter of the fifth transistor 106. At this time, since the voltage is larger than the threshold voltage of the fifth transistor 106, the fifth transistor 106 is turned on.
Therefore, the emitter of the sixth transistor 107 receives a collector-emitter voltage of the fifth transistor 106. Since the voltage, which is about 0.1 V, is less than the threshold voltage of the sixth transistor 107, the sixth transistor 107 is turned off.
Then, the output terminal of the voltage comparator 100 receives a power supply voltage VDD, so that a high-level signal is accordingly output, as shown in FIG. 2B.
When the input voltage Vin is larger than the reference voltage Vref, that is, in an interval B, the second transistor 102 is turned off and the third transistor 103 is turned on, because of a characteristic of PNP transistors. Then, the bias current I1a of the voltage comparator 100 flows into I3a. In this case, a voltage drop is not generated in the voltage drop unit 105, and an emitter voltage which can turn on the fifth transistor 106 is not applied. Accordingly, the fifth transistor 106 is turned off.
Therefore, the emitter of the sixth transistor 107 receives a power supply voltage VDD of the voltage comparator 100. Then, the sixth transistor 107 is turned on, so that a low-level signal is output to the output terminal of the voltage comparator 100, as shown in FIG. 2B.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an output signal in accordance with the input noise in the conventional voltage comparator. FIG. 3A shows an input voltage Vin and reference voltage Vref when noise is generated in an interval where the input voltage Vin is larger than the reference voltage Vref. FIG. 3B shows an output signal when the noise is generated.
In a stable voltage comparator, the output of the voltage comparator is maintained at low level, even though noise C is generated in the input voltage Vin at an interval where the input voltage Vin is larger than the reference voltage Vref. However, the above-described conventional voltage comparator responds to the noise C so as to output a high-level signal, as shown in FIG. 3.

Voltage comparator having hysteresis characteristics


In a communication terminal device, in a case where the arrangement of the windows is changed in a list screen, an overhead screen is initially displayed, in which the list screen is overviewed, and the arrangement of the windows is subsequently changed in the overhead screen, and a magnified screen (original screen) of the overhead screen, in which the arrangement of the windows has been changed, is displayed last, as described in the foregoing. By displaying a magnified image, it is possible to make windows better visible in a small display area of a mobile phone. Also, in a case where a window exists that cannot be displayed in a magnified screen, by displaying an overhead screen, it becomes possible for a user to recognize a fact that a window that cannot be displayed exists in a magnified screen, and also recognize a position of the window.

A multi-window system, in which plural windows can be displayed, is known. In a case where the multi-window system is applied to an electronic device such as a mobile phone, an operation to select a window can be inconvenient. For example, in an electronic device that does not have a pointing device such as a mouse for selecting a position (coordinate), an operation to select a desired window is likely to be inconvenient if the number of windows displayed increases.
Also, in a case of an electronic device such as a mobile phone that has a small display area, if all displayable windows are displayed, the size of each window has to be smaller, which makes it difficult for a user to recognize a content of each window. Conversely, if each window is displayed in an appropriate size so that a user is able to recognize a content of the window, not all displayable windows can be displayed, and only some of the windows is displayed. As described in the foregoing, if the multi-window system is applied to an electronic device having a small display area, a case may occur in which it is difficult for a user to select a desired window from among plural windows.
As a technique for improving operability in the multi-window system, a technique described in JP 2003-280630 A and JP 2007-122633 A is known. The technique described in JP 2003-280630 A and JP 2007-122633 A is a technique by which a special window is displayed in a display area and displayed in the special window is an overhead screen showing the arrangement of all windows including any hidden windows.

Display device with scaling of selected object images


A system and method are provided for enabling a user to annotate a medical image. A collection of key-value pairs is provided, in which a key represents an image-observable quantity and a value represents the value of the image-observable quantity. A collection of structured finding objects is provided, wherein each structured finding object represents a set of key-value pairs, each set of key-value pairs representing a different annotation of the medical image. The user is enabled to select one or more of the collection of key-value pairs, thereby obtaining a user-selected structured finding object which represents a preliminary annotation of the medical image by the user. At least one recommended structured finding object is selected by using the user-selected structured finding object as input to a probabilistic recommendation algorithm. Feedback is provided to the user on the basis of the recommended structured finding object. The annotation is well suited for, e.g., pointer-based selection via a graphical user interface, speech recognition, etc. Moreover, machine interpretability may be improved compared to conventional string-based annotation.

Annotation of medical images is common practice in the medical field. For example, a radiologist may study a medical image and write down his/her observations and/or inferences from the observations, e.g., as part of a text report, as image labels, etc. In general, such annotations may be stored in the form of metadata of the medical image.
It is known to enter an annotation as a string in a text entry area of a user interface, e.g., of a radiology reporting tool. Moreover, it is known to, in general, provide string-based suggestions during text entry. For example, in the medical field, it is known to provide such string-based suggestions based on a controlled vocabulary, e.g., using a medical ontology such as SNOMED. A specific example are the string-based suggestions of the SNOMED CT browser, as may be accessed via browser.itsdotools.org.
Disadvantageously, the machine-interpretability of such string-based annotations are poor. In addition, known string-based suggestion techniques are typically limited to keyboard entry, and not easily applicable to other forms of user input.
WO 2015/114485 A1 describes a system and method which automatically determines a list of recommended annotations based on clinical context information. A user may select a desired annotation as one or a combination of such recommended annotations.


A method for, in a map of background objects, registering presence of a stationary object exhibiting motion at a location in a scene monitored by a radar detector comprising detecting over time radar echoes at a radar detector monitoring a scene. The moving object is one of a true moving object or a stationary object exhibiting motion. The over time detected radar echoes are evaluated for finding a stationary object exhibiting motion. The presence of the stationary object exhibiting motion is registered at a location, corresponding to the location of the stationary object exhibiting motion, in a map of background objects. A method for detecting moving objects using a radar detector is also presented wherein the map of background objects is used as input.

Methods for detecting motion are known in the art. One type of method relies on the use of Radar detectors for detecting velocity of moving objects in a scene monitored by the Radar detector. A challenge with such methods of the art is to achieve an efficient and reliable triggering event for the relevant types of moving objects. Part of the challenge has its origin in the fact that there are many stationary objects which exhibit motion in one respect or another, and thus may result in an erroneous, or at least unwanted, triggering event for a method detecting motion. Examples of such stationary objects exhibiting motion is flags, trees, bushes or the like. There is a need in the art for an improved method for detecting moving objects wherein the method has means for avoiding triggering on the stationary objects exhibiting motion.

Method for registering presence of a stationary object exhibiting motion at a location in a scene monitored by a radar detector


The present invention increases the positional accuracy of a floating cutter unit with respect to a press upper die for main trimming. A floating cutter unit is provided with: a floating cutter for cutting scrap from a plate-shaped material, said floating cutter being attached to and used in a trimming press processing device that cuts scrap from a plate-shaped material along a trim line Tr and that additionally cuts scrap along a scrap cut line Sc; a spring that is brought into contact with the tail end surface of the floating cutter and with a holder set for holding the floating cutter so as to be movable in the direction of an axial center O, and that applies reaction force to the floating cutter; and a guide member that is attached to the holder set, brought into contact with the floating cutter, and used to guide movement in the direction of the axial center O.

Usually, a trimming press processing device that can divide a scrap arising from trimming is provided with trimming press upper and lower dies having cutting teeth for cutting off a scrap other than a product part from a plate material along a trimming line and in addition scrap cutting press upper and lower dies having cutting teeth for dividing the cut-off scrap further along a scrap cut line. Between the trimming press upper and lower dies, the trimming press upper die comprises a main trimming press upper die and a sub trimming press upper die. The main trimming press upper die moves up and down in relation to the trimming press lower die that is stationary, and the sub trimming press upper die moves synchronously or asynchronously with the main trimming press upper die depending on the situations.
The processing process by the trimming press processing device comprises two steps: a trimming processing step (first step), in which the trimming press upper and lower dies cut off the scrap; and a scrap dividing step (second step), in which the scrap cutting press upper and lower dies divide the scrap further.
In the first step, the sub trimming press upper die moves down together with the main trimming press upper die, and holds the plate material between the main trimming press upper die together with the sub trimming press upper die and the trimming press lower die, to cut off the scrap other than the product part from the plate material along a trim line. Thereafter, in the second step, the sub trimming press upper die that further moves down together with the main trimming press upper die comes in contact with the scrap on the scrap cutting press lower die, to press against the scrap with a constant load and maintain that state, and then moves up in relation to the main trimming press upper die. The scrap cutting press upper die moves down together with the main trimming press upper die. When the sub trimming press upper die relatively moves up after cutting-off of the scrap other than the product part, the scrap cutting press upper die continues pressing against the scrap with a constant load, holds the scrap between the scrap cutting press upper die and the scrap press lower die, and divides the scrap along the scrap cut line.
The Patent Literature 1 discloses a floating cutter unit provided with a floating cutter that is used as a sub trimming press upper die.
This floating cutter unit comprises: a floating cutter; a holder set, which holds the floating cutter movably in the axial direction; and a spring, which is in contact with a tail end surface of the floating cutter and gives reaction force to the floating cutter.
The holder set comprises: a cutter holder, in which a through-hole for inserting the floating cutter is formed; a bush, which is fitted in the through-hole of the cutter holder and has an inner peripheral surface that comes in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the floating cutter; and a spring holder, in which a through-hole for inserting the spring is formed coaxially with the through-hole of the cutter holder.
The spring prevents by reaction force the floating cutter from moving up in relation to the main trimming press upper die at the time when the trimming press upper and lower dies cut off a scrap. On the other hand, after cutting-off of the scrap, the spring allows the floating cutter to move up in relation to the main trimming press upper die at the time when the floating cutter comes in contact with the scrap cutting press lower die and is pressed against by the scrap cutting press lower die.

Floating cutter unit and trimming press processing device


In an apparatus for the production of tubular bodies such as tubes from a foil strip including a weldable plastic material, the longitudinal edges of which are welded together between two endless belts under the effect of heat and pressure with subsequent cooling, part of a belt runs against a mandrel in which individual portions thereof can be set to different temperatures to provide for selective control of the belt in order to increase the rate of production.

One form of procedure for the production of tubular bodies for packaging tubes involves producing the tubular bodies from a foil strip which includes a weldable plastic material, by virtue of the longitudinal edges of the foil strip being thermally joined together in mutually overlapping relationship. The thermal joining or seaming operation is carried out in an apparatus referred to as a longitudinal seam welding machine or side seamer, which may comprise a shaping belt for shaping the foil strip around a mandrel to provide the tubular body, with a lower driven transportation belt running against the mandrel and an upper driven transportation belt, with the longitudinal edges of the foil strip being received between the belts in mutually overlapping relationship. A heating means acts on the upper transportation belt to cause the overlapping longitudinal edges to fuse together and the fused edges are then pressed, with pre-hardening of the plastic material. The pre-hardened plastic material is then finally hardened under the action of a cooling means disposed downstream of the pressing means. The upper and lower transportation belts which thus run one above the other are generally made of metal so that the action of heat and pressure on the belts causes the material of the overlapping edges to be fused together in a fused seam before the resulting seam is then cooled to effect hardening thereof.
In such an apparatus, the upper transportation belt passes around sets of rollers, wherein the heat generating, pressing and cooling means are disposed between the upper and lower runs of the upper belt, being adapted to act on the lower run thereof. In the part of the apparatus in which the fusing, pressing and cooling operations, that is to say the actual operation of forming the welded seam, takes place, the lower transportation belt runs in the same direction as the upper belt, in the mandrel referred to above.
In that arrangement, the upper run of the lower belt is guided on a surface of the mandrel and co-operates with the lower run of the upper belt in the manner of a support means while the lower run of the lower belt experiences a change in its direction of movement of the mandrel and goes back in the mandrel.
The upper run of the lower belt may be heated before it passes on to the mandrel, by means of external heating devices which apply heat to the upper run of the belt. The mandrel may also include heating inserts on which the upper run of the lower belt moves. In order to accelerate cooling of the welded seam, the mandrel may be cooled in the section which co-operates with the cooling means that acts on the upper transportation belt.
The mandrel in the above-indicated apparatus is the cause of limitations in terms of an increase in operating speed and economy of longitudinal seam welding machines or side seamers, such limitations being due to the quality requirements in respect of the welded seams. It is not possible to make use of tubular bodies with defective welded seams, welding which is incomplete in places on the tubular body or seams which have unwelded material squeezed out of the edge portions of the mutually overlapping longitudinal edges of the foil strip, as they could result in the packaged material being unacceptably contaminated.
In an endeavor to eliminate those and other seam defects when using high operating speeds, the heat applied to and the heat removed from the weld, by way of the two belts, that is to say the lower run of the upper belt and the upper run of the lower belt which thus act as welding tools, in conjunction with the effect of pressure applied to the weld, are to be kept closely matched to the nature and material of the plastic foil and the speed of movement, that is to say the operating speed of a side seamer.
In regard to the upper belt, it is substantially possible to achieve good matching in relation to laminate materials by virtue of adjustability of the individual action of the heating means, pressing means and cooling means, which represent individual elements that are structurally separate from each other, and which thus constitute sections of the arrangement which are individualized in terms of heat produced and pressure applied as well as cooling effect, over the welding section of the apparatus.
However the mandrel in the above-indicated apparatus cannot provide for a comparable matching effect, for the reason that, when the belt is heated and cooled upstream of and in the mandrel, the belt experiences a temperature gradient which decreases in the direction of the cooling portion, and that temperature gradient can be adjusted overall, but it cannot be adjusted in an individualized fashion for each section, in order to provide a good matching effect. That means that the above-indicated mandrel which contributes to the welding process determines to a not inconsiderable degree the operating speed and economy of side seamers as well as the quality of the welded seams produced.

Apparatus for the production of tubular bodies


One embodiment of a dispensing device for viscous products which includes a container, a screw-feed advancing assembly, and a hub assembly. Rotation of the screw-feed assembly causes the hub assembly to advance upwards and thereby advance the product upwards inside the container. The device maintains a separation of the screw-feed advancing assembly below from the product above and allows the user easier access to the product inside the container.

1. Field of Invention
This invention generally relates to a dispensing device, and specifically to a dispensing device that can be used with viscous products.
2. Related Inventions
Previously, other types of dispensing devices have been designed to advance a product upwards in a container, but none have the advantages in design as stated in the present invention.
The present application applies where the value of the product is such that the user desires a large quantity of a viscous product in a vertical container. The larger, taller container is desired because viscous product inside a smaller, shallower container would be easily accessible to the user, but not as economical to buy. In a taller container, as the user manually removes the product, the level of the top of the product lowers inside. As the product level gets lower inside the container, the user tends to soil their hands and the handles of utensils they use while attempting to extract the product.
There are previous dispensing devices where a push top pump acts to dispense the product, but those designs are not practical where the product has a high viscosity, such as with peanut butter. A flexible squeeze tube design is also not practical for most users of large vertical containers of viscous product. An advancing plunger design would perform better in this application for moving a viscous product.
There are elongated plunger designs, such as those used for cookie presses, where the plunger stem and handle are external, below the product container. However, for those designs, the elongated stem of the plunger would take up a great deal of vertical shelf space. Also, when the container is full of product, the device would be top heavy. The high center of gravity in the container would make the device susceptible to tipping over. An elongated plunger would be awkward to use and to store in this type of application.
There are screw-feed assembly devices, such as those commonly used for dispensing solid sticks of deodorant or lipstick. Examples of these patents include U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,496 and 6,435,748. These devices are used with solid or gel products, and they have a central threaded member that rotates and thereby moves a plunger and the product upwards inside the container. However, the central threaded member rotates through and is in direct contact with the product.
There are viscous products such as peanut butter, where it is desired that the integrity and purity of the product be maintained. If the central threaded member was in direct contact with the product, it would provide an avenue for contamination to be communicated from the area below the plunger to the product chamber above. The object is to keep the product above the plunger separate from the feeding mechanism below. The design objective is to have a screw-feed assembly where the central threaded member does not penetrate the plunger, nor contact the product above, but such assembly would provide sufficient advancement elevation of the plunger inside the container.