A method of annotating an electronic document includes generating a first annotation in a first electronic document using an annotation service, where the first annotation makes a first correction to a portion of text based on the context of the portion of text within the first electronic document. The method further includes storing the first annotation in the metadata of the first electronic document, detecting electronic copying of the portion of text to a copy buffer, and correcting the portion of text in the copy buffer according to the first annotation.

One of the most commonly used functions in electronic document processing is copy and paste, where a user copies text from one document and pastes the copied text into another document. Sometimes, the copied text is used as a quotation in the document where it has been pasted. However, semantic or syntax problems may arise when copying text from one document to another verbatim. For example, the copied text may contain pronouns or acronyms that are defined in the original document but not in the document in which it is being copied. When it is pasted in the new document, the copied text may be missing the necessary context to be easily understandable. Another example is when a portion of a sentence is copied and pasted. The ordering and tense of words may have to be changed for the pasted text to be syntactically correct. Copy and paste functions generally cannot change the text that is copied before it is pasted so the user must manually edit the text after pasting it to correct syntax errors and make the text more understandable.

Correction of quotations copied from electronic documents


A wiring substrate includes an insulating layer including a reinforcement member and having a first surface and a second surface positioned on an opposite side of the first surface, an electrode pad exposed from the first surface, a layered body including first insulating layers and being formed on the second surface, the first insulating layers having a first insulating material as a main component, another layered body including second insulating layers and being formed on the layered body, the second insulating layers having a second insulating material as a main component, and another electrode pad exposed from a surface of the another layered body that is opposite to the layered body. The number of the first insulating layers is equal to that of the second insulating layers. The first insulating layers have a thermal expansion coefficient that is greater than that of the second insulating layers.

Conventionally, there is known a coreless wiring substrate having a predetermined number of insulating layers and wiring layers alternately layered one on top of the other. The wiring substrate has one surface on which a semiconductor chip is mounted (semiconductor chip mounting surface) and another surface to which an external connection terminal is bonded (external connection terminal bonding surface). Among the insulating layers of the wiring substrate, glass cloth is included in the insulating layer that includes the external connection terminal bonding surface and is not included in the other insulating layers. The insulating layers that do not include the glass cloth are formed of the same insulating resin and are adjusted to have substantially the same thermal expansion coefficient (see, for example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2009-224739).

Wiring substrate, method for manufacturing the wiring substrate, and semiconductor package


A coated filter bag for use in cold or hot drinks, in particular, a novel method for administration of pharmaceutical actives, supplemental nutrients, genetically derived materials, or other beneficial agents using a coated filter bag that includes at least one agent that solubilizes when in contact with liquid and is dispersed in the proper dosage amount into the liquid for oral consumption.

There are a number of daily supplement or pharmaceutical agents, directed to the prevention or treatment of an assortment of medical issues. For example, it is well known that aspirin reduces the risk of heat disease and stroke and that a regular dose of anticoagulants and antiplatelets help to maintain a healthy concentration level of blood in the arteries. Other pharmaceuticals taken on a regular basis may include ace inhibitors, cholesterol and lipid reducing agents, and metabolism regulatory agents. The supplements or pharmaceutical agents can be administered using a variety of methods. The most popular and widely used method for daily intake of the pharmaceutical agent is to ingest a pill, tablet, or capsule containing the beneficial agent with a fluid to help dissolve the pill.
For those who have difficulty swallowing pills, however, such as in the case of infants, elderly persons, paralyzed persons, or severely injured persons, a variety of methods have been used, for example, pills or powdered medications crushed and mixed with food, such as apple sauce, covered spoon devices, medicated straws, and the like. A medicated delivery straw, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,681, allows the dry medication to be loaded in a delivery tube, dissolved by the fluid taken into the tube, and ingested. U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,955 teaches a bottle or vessel having a retention pocket to hold one or more beneficial agents in the form of granulations or capsules therein so that when liquid flows over the retention pocket, the beneficial agent is released into the liquid and ingested.
Hot liquid herbal tea beverages have also been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. These beverages are typically prepared by brewing the leaves, stems, or roots of plants known to contain therapeutically active compounds. For example, menthol derived from peppermint leaves and ephedrine from Ma Huang/ephedra plants have been used as decongestants. Sennosides A and B derived from senna leaves have been used as laxatives. The brew produced from these plants, however, is often foul tasting and offensive to the drinker. Furthermore, the delivery of the active ingredient is imprecise because the active ingredient must be leached from the plant material, which can lead to under- or over-dosing of the active ingredient.
Although these herbal tea beverages are used around the world for their therapeutic effects, lack of dosage uniformity has typically made this method unsuitable for use as a regulated pharmaceutical preparation. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, when combining a pharmaceutical agent with tea leaves, a portion of the active ingredient may be absorbed or adsorbed by the tea leaves prior to steeping the tea, affecting the potency of the pharmaceutical agent.
Powdered pharmaceutical preparations containing active ingredients, sweeteners and flavors, which are dissolved in hot water and consumed as a hot liquid medication, are commercially available. These products typically contain acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine maleate, pseudophendrine hydrochloride, and dextromethorphan hydrobromide and are used to provide temporary relief of the symptoms typically associated with the cold and flu. Since the active ingredient is in powdered form that dissolves in hot water, the dosing problems associated with herbal teas are obviated. These hot liquid medications have, however, found limited acceptance in the marketplace because they often have an artificial taste.
Despite these developments, there remains a need for a palatable, easy method for administering medications in proper dosage amounts for those who prefer not to or are not able to swallow a pill. In particular, there is a need for a medicated coating on a filter bag able to deliver at least one pharmaceutical active, supplemental nutrient, or other beneficial agent.

Coated filter bag material for oral administration of medicament in liquid and methods of making same


A computing device selects decision variable values. A lower boundary value and an upper boundary value is defined for a decision variable. (A) A plurality of decision variable configurations is determined using a search method. The value for the decision variable is between the lower boundary value and the upper boundary value. (B) A decision variable configuration is selected. (C) A model of the model type is trained using the decision variable configuration. (D) The model is scored to compute an objective function value. (E) The computed objective function value and the selected decision variable configuration are stored. (F) (B) through (E) is repeated for a plurality of decision variable configurations. (G) The lower boundary value and the upper boundary value are updated using the objective function value and the decision variable configuration stored. Repeat (A)-(F) with the lower boundary value and the upper boundary value updated in (G).

Facilitating effective decision making often requires the transformation of relevant data to high-quality models whether they are machine learning models or constrained optimization models. The transformation presents several challenges however. For example, a neural network type model often generates predicted outputs by transforming a set of inputs through a series of hidden layers that are defined by activation functions linked with weights. Determining the activation functions and the weights to determine the best model configuration is a complex optimization problem. The activation functions, number of hidden layers, annealing rate, and learning rate, among other parameters, are referred to herein as "decision variables" that are defined by a user to control determination of a model using various model types such as the neural network model type, a gradient boosting tree model type, a decision tree model type, a forest model type, a support vector machine model type, an optimization model, etc. For example, a chemical process may be optimized to determine parameters (decision variables) such as pressure, temperature, flow velocity, etc. Different decision variables are used based on the type of model. Each decision variable can be any value of a set of possible values that may be continuous or categorical. Though the model solutions are governed by the decision variables, there are typically no clear default values for the decision variables that generate a satisfactory model for a wide range of applications. Not only do the input values defined for the decision variables dictate the performance of the training process, but more importantly they govern the quality of the resulting models.
The approach to finding the ideal values for decision variables (tuning a model type to a particular dataset) has traditionally been a manual effort. For guidance in setting these values, researchers often rely on their past experience with the models to train new models. However, even with expertise in the model type and its associated decision variables, the best values of these decision variables change with different data. As a result, it is difficult to define the decision variable values based on previous experience. However, there is an inherent expense in training numerous candidate models to evaluate various values and combinations of values for the decision variables in terms of computing resources, computing time, and user time.

Distributed decision variable tuning system for machine learning


A surgical tool assembly for use in electrosurgery includes an elongated sheath movable in a longitudinal direction. The assembly includes a pair of jaws, with each jaw having a plurality of teeth for grasping tissue and a support element supporting the plurality of teeth. The support element is disposed partially within the sheath and extends to a distal end disposed outside of the sheath. The support element includes a first portion extending from the distal end and delineating a first region. The support element further includes a second portion extending from the first portion and delineating a second region. The second portion is curved to engage with the sheath such that the jaws move towards one another as the elongated sheath moves towards the distal end. The teeth extend from the first region into the second region.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates generally to surgical jaws for grasping and sealing tissue.
2. Description of the Related Art
Surgical tool assemblies for coagulating and cutting tissue, such as blood vessels, have greatly improved modern surgical techniques and are well known in the art. Such tool assemblies typically include a pair of jaws formed of wire for delivering electrical energy to the tissue, as shown in FIG. 2. The jaws each include a plurality of teeth for grasping the tissue and providing the energy to the tissue. A blade is often disposed adjacent to the jaws for cutting the tissue.
Unfortunately, such wire jaws have a short length, thus limiting the length of tissue coagulation. Furthermore, the curvature of the wires, i.e., the "humps" in the wire, commonly results in bulging of the tissue underneath the humps. Moreover, coagulation of the tissue disposed underneath these humps is usually poor and/or not complete.
The subject invention is directed toward these and other deficiencies of the prior art.


A server of a distributed computing system that is at least partially hosted on a particular access network receives a plurality of messages from a plurality of devices over a network, each of the messages associated with a corresponding source address. For each of the plurality of devices, a current access network is determined for the device. For each of the devices with a current access network being the particular access network, a first network policy is applied to the device. For each of the devices with a current access network being other than the particular access network, a second network policy is applied to the device, the second network policy defining a second encryption requirement.

This specification generally relates to describes methods and systems for applying network policies to devices based on their current access network.
In corporate and other networks, user devices may be configured to access a network in different ways. For example, devices may receive configuration information when they log on to a network from a central location, or may be initialized with such configuration information at regular intervals. The configuration information may control the network access behavior of the particular device.

Applying network policies to devices based on their current access network


Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are presented for aggregation platform permissions. A hardware computing device is configured to aggregate a user's data from a first plurality of third-party service providers for the user to access through a second plurality of third-party service providers. A permissions module is configured to monitor which of a second plurality of third-party service providers have access to which portions of data from which of a first plurality of third-party service providers. A graphical user interface is configured to prompt a user with one or more user interface elements allowing the user to grant and revoke access to portions of data from a first plurality of third-party service providers individually to a second plurality of third-party service providers in response to an individual third-party service provider from the second plurality of third-party service providers requesting access to portions of the data.

As users authorize multiple entities to access their online data, managing these authorizations becomes increasingly complex. A user may not know where or how to determine which entities are aggregating their data, how to change or revoke authorizations, or the like. Further, multiple entities accessing the same data for a user from a third-party may be inefficient or may lead the third party to block the user or one or more of the entities.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A pouch making machine has a pin conveyor which receives finished pouches from a knife and transfers them to a cartoner where they are stacked in a carton in a continuous motion. The cartoner indexes the carton after entry of each pouch, or group of pouches, so that an empty portion of the carton is aligned with the pin conveyor's discharge path to receive the next pouches released from the conveyor. When a carton is full the cartoner executes a long move to discharge the filled carton and position a succeeding carton for receipt of the next pouches. The cartons are held with the bottom wall angled or tilted from both the horizontal and vertical so that during filling pouches in the carton are neither standing on edge nor piled in a vertical stack.

This invention relates to a machine and method for continuously forming a series of filled pouches from a continuous web of flexible material and packing the pouches in a carton. The pouches are commonly used to package a wide variety of products such as sugar, sweeteners, drink mixes, soup mixes and the like in individual or small serving sizes. Liquid products as well as dry products can be packaged in this type of pouch. A variety of web materials can be used such as paper or foil which are relatively stiff and non-extensible or oriented polypropylene or polyester which are somewhat soft and extensible. The web may be coated on at least one side with a heat sealable material such as polyethylene which is suitable for forming heat seals.
An example of a prior art pouch machine is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,799, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The typical pouch machine includes a base supporting various components including an unwind stand for supporting a roll of pouch material. The web is unwound in a generally horizontal plane and advanced to a plow which folds the web generally in half about a longitudinal fold line. The fold line is disposed at the bottom of the web which then assumes a V-shape with front and back panels on either side of the fold in a substantially vertical plane.
The folded web is then pulled around a rotary vertical sealer which has a series of vertically extending circumferentially spaced heated lands on its periphery which are provided to form longitudinally spaced, vertically extending heat seals in the web. This sealing process forms pockets or pouches between the front and back panels of the web. The tops of the pouches remain open for filling at a filling wheel which opens the pouches and inserts the desired quantity of the product being packaged. Thereafter, the web is moved to a top sealer which seals the tops. The filled and sealed pouches are transferred to a knife which severs the pouches into what will be referred to herein as pouch units. Pouch units may be either single, individual pouches, or related groups of individual pouches, or groups of pouches that are not severed from one another but instead have perforations between them, e.g., multi-flavor packs.
The filling process naturally results in a greater portion of the product resting in the bottom portion of the pouch. Accordingly, the bottom of the pouch is often thicker than the top. This uneven thickness may create problems when many individual pouches are stacked adjacent one another or one on top of the other in a carton or other container. The pouches have a wedge-like shape and will not lay or stand in a uniform stack. If the pouches are laid flat, the stack quickly becomes out of balance, with the upper pouches tending to fall or slide off the stack. While it is possible to compensate for uneven thickness by turning half the pouches 180 degrees, extra equipment is required to do so. These handling difficulties increase the time and cost of packing pouches in cartons and make it virtually impossible to gather a complete stack outside the carton and then transfer that stack all at once into the carton. Instead, the carton must be filled gradually with pouch units as they come out of the knife.
One problem with loading pouch units seriatim into cartons is the need to alter the point where pouches are placed as the carton fills up. That is, once a conveyor or other device places a pouch in the carton, the succeeding pouch cannot follow the first pouch into the same space because if it were to do so the second pouch would collide with the first one. The second pouch has to be placed next to the first pouch. Thus, the target zone for the placement mechanism changes with every pouch. This moving target problem cannot be circumvented by inserting pouches at one end of the carton and letting them fall onto a stack built up at the opposite end of the carton. The reason is that the pouches will not reliably fall any appreciable distance without turning, tilting, twisting or canting within the carton. Instead of building up a neat stack with each pouch lying or standing flat against its neighbor, such a free falling system would lead to chaos wherein the pouches are oriented crazily in unknown fashion within the container.
There have been efforts to solve the moving target problem by moving the conveyor which places the pouches in the carton, i.e., moving the discharge point of the conveyor. This greatly complicates the conveyor's structure and fails to address the need to get a filled carton out of the way for the next, empty one.

Cartoner with direct dropping of pouches into cartons


The image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium by using coloring materials of at least three colors of cyan, magenta and yellow, wherein: at least one of the cyan and magenta color materials is a coloring material of lower density than the yellow; and ink brightness or perception of graininess on the recording medium is substantially the same for each of the three coloring materials, if recording is carried out on the recording medium according to any one condition of: a first condition wherein recording is carried out using substantially the same dot size for each color, at a recording rate of 100%; a second condition wherein recording is carried out using substantially the same dot size for each color, at the same recording rate for each color with respect to the surface area of the recording medium that is to be evaluated, and at an overlap rate of 100%; and a third condition wherein recording is carried out using substantially the same dot size distribution for each color, at the same recording rate for each color with respect to the surface area on the recording medium that is to be evaluated, and at an overlap rate of 100%, where a maximum number of dots recorded onto the recording medium per unit surface area is taken as Nmax, a number of dots actually recorded per unit surface area as r, a sum of a surface area covered by the recorded dots per unit surface area as c, a total surface area of the dots recorded per unit surface area as Ds, and the unit surface area as S, and the following equations are established: a recording rate=(r/Nmax)×100(%), a coverage rate=(c/S)×100(%), and an overlap rate={Ds/(S×Coverage rate/100)}×100(%)=(Ds/c)×100(%).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and method, and more particularly, to the structure of a recording head unit suitable for an inkjet recording apparatus forming color images by using inks of a plurality of colors, and to a recording control technology for same.
2. Description of the Related Art
When printing a color image, an inkjet printer uses inks of at least three colors, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), and furthermore, it may also form images using black (Bk), light cyan (LC), light magenta (LM), dark yellow (DY) and a special color (SPC), and the like.
In general, in a printer for producing print outputs of high quality (photographic quality), inks of six or more colors, including the addition of the light cyan (LC) and light magenta (LM) described above, are often used in order that the contrast between the grains of the printed dots is not noticeable. In inkjet printers of this kind, generally, the nozzle density in the head is set to the same density for each of the colors. Examples are known wherein document printing speed is emphasized, and Bk nozzles only are provided in greater number and higher density than the other colors, but in this case, all of the colors other than Bk are set to the same nozzle density as each other. More specifically, in general, if the number of colors is increased due to demands for high quality, then the number of nozzles also increases, accordingly.
Furthermore, in a conventional inkjet printer, in order to shorten the printing time, the time interval between ink discharges has been shortened (the discharge frequency has been increased), and the number of ink discharge nozzles in the recording head has been increased. Increase in the discharge frequency has been achieved either by raising the upper limit of the response frequency of the discharge mechanism (the pressurizing devices, such as a piezo element, or the heater), or by replenishing ink more quickly after ink discharge, or the like. Furthermore, increasing the number of discharge nozzles is achieved by improving the head processing and fabrication technology, and increasing miniaturization and density, and even in an inexpensive inkjet printer, the overall number of nozzles can be several thousand.
More specifically, the trend of technological development is moving towards heads of ever larger overall size, due to the multiplying effect of the number of colors and the number of nozzles in response to demands for high quality and speed.
Due to improvements of these kinds, it has been possible to shorten the printing time, but on the other hand, the following types of problems have arisen. More specifically, the increase in the number of nozzles described above leads to problems in that, in addition to raising the cost of the device, the increase in the total number of nozzles, and the fact that the total length of the flow passages inside the head for supplying ink to these respective nozzles becomes longer, give rise to an increased possibility of an ink discharge problem occurring in the head.
This is not limited to an increased probability of simple breakdowns, but rather means that there is an increased possibility of problems such as air bubbles becoming trapped inside the ink flow passages and it becoming impossible to perform normal discharge, or problems which are intrinsic to inkjet systems, such as the ink viscosity rising in the vicinity of the nozzles, and causing discharge failures.
More particularly, in a single pulse type inkjet printer, which, unlike a shuttle scan type printer for printing by scanning an inkjet head back and forth, has a fixed head of a length equal to or greater than the print image and performs printing by conveying printing paper in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the head, the number of nozzles per ink color may exceed 10,000, and hence the issue of increased possibility of problems such as those described above is very serious indeed.
Furthermore, if inks of six colors are used in a single pass type inkjet printer, then naturally, the overall size of the head will become very large, and the cost thereof will increase.
In order to deal with the issue of problems of this kind, although it runs counter to improvements aimed at enhancing image quality, if the number of nozzles could be reduced, then the possibility of problems occurring can also be reduced.
In relation to technology for improving image quality in an inkjet recording apparatus, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-286125 proposes a method for recording respective inks at a level of resolution that corresponds to the color appearance. The object of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-286125, as is evident from the statement that "recording is carried out at an image resolution corresponding to the color appearance, for each ink, independently", is to achieve the minimum required image resolution and to reduce the amount of image sent to the printer. Therefore, one pixel is recorded either by ejecting a plurality of droplets of dilute ink, or by means of a plurality of ink dots. However, ejecting droplets at different resolutions in this way is extremely complex, when it comes to carrying out image processing and determining the location of the dots. Furthermore, if a plurality of ink droplets are simply ejected, then since there is a limit on the capacity of the paper to receive ink, this is not a practicable way of achieving high image quality.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-211692 discloses technology for performing substitute recording using a low-density ink in the event of discharge failure of a high-density ink, in an apparatus having a recording head discharging inks of the same color and different densities. This technology has the object of providing a response for emergency use, in cases of an abnormality, wherein substitute recording is carried out by using a low-density ink, if there has been a discharge failure with a high-density ink, and it is similar to the disclosure in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-286125, in that, if there is a blockage, or if the dark ink has run out, then a plurality of droplets of lighter ink are ejected, or a large droplet of same is ejected.
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-44475 discloses technology for suppressing the volume of ink by raising the concentration of ink having high brightness or low perception of graininess, and performing correction to reducing the recorded ink volume of same, and it states yellow (Y) as the ink to which this is applied. This technology has the object of suppressing the overall ink volume by making the yellow ink darker than the ink of other colors, and controlling the amount of yellow ink used in such a manner that it is reduced, and for this purpose, it stipulates a relationship between the concentrations of the respective inks. Therefore, it does not disclose information of particularly great value with regard to reducing the number of colors (number of nozzles).


A display includes a plurality of elongated waveguides positioned adjacent to each other and extending along a first direction, a plurality of elongated upper electrodes positioned adjacent to each other on a first side of the waveguides and extending along the first direction, and a plurality of elongated lower electrodes positioned adjacent to each other on a second side of the waveguides opposite the first side and extending along a second direction transverse to the first direction. At least one of the waveguides comprises nonlinear materials having a third order susceptibility.

Passive matrix displays are a common type of two-dimensional display. A passive matrix liquid crystal display (LCD) comprises a liquid crystal material positioned between a grid of conductors. One side of the liquid crystal material has a series of conductors arranged in rows and the other side of the liquid crystal material has a series of conductors arranged in columns. Each point where a conductor row and a conductor column cross represents a pixel.
To illuminate a particular pixel, a charge is applied to one particular conductor row while one particular conductor column is grounded. This creates a potential difference between the conductors at the point where the activated row and the activated column intersect, thus causing the liquid crystal to emit light at that pixel.
However, given the materials necessary for creating a passive matrix LCD display, it is difficult for those materials and the resulting display to be transparent. Accordingly, a need exists for alternative systems for creating a transparent display.

Nonlinear optics enabled transparent display

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


Variation in temperature of a digital logic circuit that temporarily increases its heat production after a digital input signal changes state is limited using a heater that applies heat to the digital logic circuit at a variable rate. A control circuit monitors all of the circuit""s digital input signals and temporarily decreases the rate at which the heater applies heat to the digital logic circuit after each state change in a digital input signal. The amount of temporary reduction in heater output is sized to substantially match the amount of temporary increase in logic circuit heat production so that the temperature of the logic circuit remains largely unaffected. A feedback circuit is also provided to monitor the temperature of the digital logic circuit and to further adjust the heater output so as to help maintain the logic circuit at a desired temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to integrated circuits and in particular to a temperature control system for an integrated circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
In many applications it is important for transistors forming logic circuit to switch with constant, predictable switching speeds. However, the switching speed of a transistor, particularly a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor, is highly temperature sensitive; as a transistor warms up, it reduces the speed with which it turns on an off. A transistor""s temperature is influenced, for example, by its ambient temperature, the size, number and proximity of heat sources and sinks in its immediate vicinity, and by the heat transfer efficiency of its surrounding media. Since a transistor itself is a variable heat source, generating substantial heat when it is on and very little heat when it is off, the manner at which the transistor is operated can also influence its temperature. As the duty cycle of a transistor increases, it tends to generate more heat, warm itself up, and therefore slow down. This effect is tempered to some extent in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits where n-channel (nMOS) and p-channel (pMOS) transistors forming logic gates are paired and arranged such that the nMOS and pMOS transistors of each pair have opposite switching states. When one transistor of a pair is on, the other transistor of the pair is off. Thus the amount of heat the pair generates tends to be independent of the switching states of the transistors, provided the transistors are well matched.
Nonetheless, the temperature of a CMOS circuit can fluctuate not only due to variations in its ambient temperature but also due to changes in its frequency of operation. When a CMOS transistor pair changes state, the pMOS transistor turns on (or off) at the same time the nMOS transistor turns on (or off). But the two transistors do not turn on or off instantly; there is a period of time during a state change when both transistors are in their active regions, between fully off and fully on. During that time both transistors generate heat, and the total amount of heat they collectively generate per unit time is greater during state changes than between them. CMOS logic gates change state when their input signals change state. Thus as the frequency of a CMOS logic circuit input signal increases, the rate at which the logic gates forming that circuit change state also increases, and so too does the heat the logic gates generate. That is why CMOS circuits get hotter when they operate at higher frequencies. Therefore, in applications requiring a high degree of switching speed stability, it is helpful to control the temperature of an integrated circuit (IC), particularly when a circuit""s inputs change state at varying frequencies.
FIG. 1 illustrates a well-known feedback system for controlling the temperature of a CMOS or other kind of IC 10 so as to stabilize the switching speed of its transistors. A sensor 12 monitors the temperature of IC 10 and generates an indicating signal (IND) having a parameter indicative of the IC""s temperature. Sensor 12 may be, for example a thermistor in contact with IC 10. A control circuit 14 compares the IND signal to a reference signal (REF) and supplies an output control signal (CONT) to an external heater 16 near IC 10. When the magnitude of the IND signal exceeds the magnitude of the REF signal, indicating for example that IC 10 is hotter than desired, control circuit 14 signals heater 16 to reduce the rate at which it generates heat, thereby allowing IC 10 to cool down. Conversely when the magnitude of the IND signal falls below the magnitude of the REF signal, indicating that IC 10 is cooler than desired, control circuit 14 signals heater 16 to increase the rate at which it generates heat, thereby warming IC 10. The magnitude of REF therefore controls the temperature of IC 10.
One limitation on the ability of the feedback system of FIG. 1 to closely control IC temperature is that it takes time for a change in temperature of IC 10 to be detected by sensor 12, and additional time for a change in heat generated by the external heater 16 to influence the temperature of IC 10. This feedback delay limits the accuracy with which the feedback system can control the temperature of IC 10 when the rate at IC 10 generates internal heat changes rapidly, as when there is an abrupt change in input signal frequency. The temperature of circuits in integrated circuit testers and other applications that change abruptly from inactive to full speed operation can undergo a rapid swing before the feedback system of FIG. 1 has time to compensate for the changed operating conditions.
FIG. 2 illustrates an improved prior art temperature control system for an IC 18 that is topologically similar to that of FIG. 1 except that a sensor 20, control circuit 22 and heater 24 are implemented within IC 18 itself, with sensor 20 and heater 24 positioned as close as possible to the logic circuits 26 being temperature controlled. Sensor 20 monitors the temperature of logic circuit 26 and generates an indicating signal (IND) having a parameter indicative of the IC""s temperature. For example sensor 20 may be a diode and the IND signal may be the diode""s threshold voltage, a parameter that is highly sensitive to temperature. Or, as another example, sensor 12 may be a ring oscillator formed by gates implemented on IC 18 having a temperature sensitive frequency. Heater 24 can be implemented as a set of transistors that are turned on and off by the control signals CONT. This design reduces the feedback lag between temperature changes in logic circuit 26 and compensating changes the heat it receives from heater 24. However while sensor 20 may directly or indirectly sense the temperature of a particular part of IC 18, the sensed temperature may not be representative of the temperature or switching speed of all transistors on IC 18. The transistors forming logic circuit 26 are distributed in space and some of those transistors may be nearer sensor 20 or heater 24 than others. Also at various times the IC input signals may increase the frequency of operation of some portions of logic circuit 26 while decreasing the frequency of others. Thus the rate of internal heat generation within logic circuit 26 can vary from area-to-area of IC 18. When sensor 20 senses one area of IC 18 growing colder, controller 22 tells heater 24 to generate more heat, even though some parts of logic circuit 26 may already be growing warmer.
FIG. 3 illustrates a prior art temperature compensation system wherein the logic of an IC 30 is organized into a set of logic blocks 32, with each logic block 32 being provided with its own sensor 34, controller 36 and heater 38. Since this system localizes sensing and heating, the various logic blocks 32 are better controlled than in the centralized systems of FIGS. 1 and 2. While the system of FIG. 3 can be generally quite effective in controlling temperature of an IC subject to a slowly changing thermal environment, its ability to control the temperature of the transistors forming a given logic block 32 is still limited to some extent by lags in the feedback loop provided by sensor 34, controller 36 and heater 38. This feedback system is particularly vulnerable when a sudden change in the input signal frequency of a logic block 32 results in a sudden change in the amount of heat the logic block generates. Such an event can cause the transistor switching speed to briefly go out of its acceptable range before the feedback system has had time to detect the temperature change and to adjust the heat flow into the logic block.
What is needed is an improved temperature compensation system that quickly responds to changes in input signal frequency.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a temperature control system for an integrated circuit (IC) having one or more digital logic modules provides a separate heater circuit near each logic module for heating the logic module and a separate predictive control circuit for controlling each heater circuit. Each predictive control circuit monitors input signals supplied to its corresponding logic module. When any input signal changes state, the predictive control circuit signal the logic module""s heater to temporarily reduce its heat output. A change in state of an input signal to a logic module will cause the logic module to temporarily increase the rate at which it generates heat, but the temporary reduction in heat generation rate of the heater circuit offsets the temporary increase in heat production of the logic module, thereby reducing logic module temperature fluctuation.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a feedback system senses the temperature of each logic module and further adjusts the rate at which the module""s heater produces heat so as to maintain the logic module at a substantially constant temperature.
The temperature control system of the present invention is particularly suitable for controlling temperature of circuits in integrated circuit testers and other applications that change abruptly from being relatively inactive to full speed operation. Unlike systems employing only temperature sensing feedback, the system of the present invention predicts when a circuit is going to change its heat output and makes appropriate heater adjustments when the circuit changes its heat output rather than waiting until after the circuit temperature has already begun to change.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a temperature control system for an integrated circuit which holds digital logic modules therein at a substantially constant temperature despite abrupt changes in the switching frequency of the module""s input circuits.
The concluding portion of this specification particularly points out and distinctly claims the subject matter of the present invention. However those skilled in the art will best understand both the organization and method of operation of the. invention, together with further advantages and objects thereof, by reading the remaining portions of the specification in view of the accompanying drawing(s) wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

Predictive temperature control system for an integrated circuit


Wireless communication networks utilize various communication protocols to exchange data between wireless network devices. Overlapping communication frequencies between data exchange protocols present a collision problem when data transmissions interfere with one another during wireless transit. A device for moderating transmission traffic in a wireless network where overlapping communication frequencies coexist is described to reduce or avoid interference caused by signal collisions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless networking systems and, in particular, to a coexistive solution for frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication and networking protocols are increasingly used to provide connectivity for diverse classes of electronic devices. These wireless protocols permit electronic devices such as computers, personal digital assistants (PDA), and mobile phones to transmit and receive information without the requirement of physically interconnecting the electronic devices to one another or to communications mediums via wire or cable connections. Wireless connectivity in this manner increases portability and flexibility in electronic devices and has become an important method by which data and information is distributed.
Numerous standards have been proposed for use in transmitting and receiving information in wireless local area networks. Two emerging protocols which have received widespread acceptance include Bluetooth (BT) and IEEE 802.11 (WLAN) wireless protocols. These protocols share a common frequency spectrum in the 2.4-GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band and are used to exchange information between electronic devices which support the appropriate protocol. Both protocols offer high speed data exchange rates and may be integrated into devices for connecting to land-based or wired communications networks such as the Internet. In general, wireless protocols, such as BT and WLAN, transmit data by superimposing the desired information on a carrier radio wave. Data is recovered through the use of a receiver which specifically tunes to the transmission frequency of the carrier signal to receive the signal and decode the information contained therein.
The Bluetooth protocol is designed primarily for short-range wireless communication between electronic devices in small localized networks (piconets). The network topology in the Bluetooth piconet comprises up to eight active devices, with a maximum of three synchronous-connection-oriented (SCO) links. These SCO links further support real-time communications such as those required for voice or telephony applications. The Bluetooth protocol additionally supports asynchronous connection links (ACL) which are typically used to exchange data and information in non-time critical applications. Within the piconet topology, only one Bluetooth device may typically transmit at a time, and transmissions are managed using a master/slave relationship. One Bluetooth device is designated as a master device and controls other slave device transmissions within the piconet. The master device coordinates transmissions within the piconet by continually polling the slave devices to determine which slave devices require a clear channel to transmit data. Slave devices receive "permission" from the master device before transmitting information and only transmit information when "asked" to do so by the master device. Controlling slave transmission traffic in this manner permits the master device to schedule and manage information exchange within the piconet and prevents data collisions and corruption due to overlapping data transmissions from multiple devices.
Bluetooth device communication can be further characterized by the use of a frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technique. With the FHSS technique, data is transmitted in discrete packets along different frequencies within the 2.4-GHz ISM band. The Bluetooth protocol specifies that frequency hops be made at the rate of approximately 1600 hops/sec such that data exchange takes place with the data spread throughout the ISM band. This type of spread spectrum (SS) technique utilizes a relatively high energy transmission along a narrow band for a limited time.
Alternatively, the WLAN wireless protocols may be used to connect electronic devices in a peer-to-peer network. With the peer-to-peer type of network, there are no strict servers or hierarchy among communicating devices. In this network topology, each electronic device within the wireless network functions as its own server and determines when to send and receive information without a dedicated administrative server or master device. Devices in the WLAN wireless network contend for access to the available radio frequencies and bandwidth using a sensing and collision avoidance protocol to improve the rate of data and information transmission.
WLAN device communication can be further characterized by the use of a direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). In a DSSS communication environment, data is transmitted along a wide bandwidth with relatively low energy. Typically, DSSS divides the available ISM band into eleven to fourteen sub-channels for different countries over the world. Each DSSS network will use a band of several channels centered at one of these standard sub-channels. In a multiple access-area network, overlapping and/or adjacent areas using different channels can operate simultaneously without interference if the distance between the center frequencies is at least 30 MHz. WLAN protocols occupy these fixed channels of the ISM band, (passbands), to transmit and receive information between compatible devices.
While the aforementioned wireless protocols function well in environments where only one wireless protocol in the ISM band is in operation, a problem arises in local area networks where Bluetooth and WLAN devices coexist. The shared frequency range of the two protocols inevitably results in transmission interference and data corruption as the two protocols operate with transmission frequencies that overlap at various times during routine transmission of information. The resulting frequency overlap degrades the network performance and transmission rates in both families of devices due to a lack of ability of wireless devices which use differing protocols to coordinate their data transmissions. This problem is exacerbated as the number of wireless devices within the network increases and is further affected by the proximity in which the wireless devices are placed with respect to one another. Thus, in order to prevent undue network performance degradation, a compensation scheme must be devised to facilitate the coexistence of shared frequency network topologies such as those used by BT and WLAN protocols.
The widespread acceptance of both the Bluetooth and WLAN wireless protocols has further lead to the manufacture of a large number of electronic devices which typically incorporate only a single wireless technology or protocol for network communication. This creates an additional problem as there are many existing wireless networks which necessarily dictate the type of wireless protocol which can be used within the network or in the vicinity of those devices in the network. Wireless devices which do not comply with the protocol of the existing wireless network may be incompatible with the network and may be precluded from use. Thus, a user may be denied access to wireless devices which cannot be integrated into the existing wireless network infrastructure because of conflicting wireless standards. In the absence of a unifying device which permits the use of more than one wireless standard in the same service area, existing wireless devices in the network may be required to be replaced with updated devices which are capable of communicating using multiple wireless standards to prevent timing and data collisions. Clearly, device replacement in this manner is undesirable as it may be prohibitively expensive and preclude the use of wireless devices which operate with differing frequency-overlapping protocols.
Currently, coexistive methods and mechanisms are difficult to implement due to the requirement of using a wired back haul device or a dual mode radio with a special protocol. Additionally, interference and transmission collision between frequency competing protocols can be significant, and, therefore, coexistive systems are not easily implemented in current wireless local area networks that utilize a plurality of protocols. For example, a current collision avoidance method reduces collision interference by isolating competing protocols into separately designated access areas. Although isolating frequency-overlapping protocols may reduce collision interference, the convenience of using the wireless network access area diminishes due to a reduced wireless network transmission range.
Based on the foregoing, a need exists for a system to facilitate the coexistence of wireless devices which operate with different frequency-overlapping protocols such as the Bluetooth and WLAN wireless protocols. A desirable feature of such a system is to permit the use of existing wireless devices without substantial modification. Furthermore, this system should manage cross-protocol trafficking to reduce collisions and interference between the wireless protocols using mixed topologies so as to permit wireless devices with differing protocols to function within the same transmission area.

Remotely-cooperative scheduling solution for moderating wireless protocols


An overhead door assembly designed particularly for use with vehicles such as railroad cars is disclosed. The door assembly is made up of an overhead door, vertical guide members for guiding the overhead door in the vertical direction and horizontal guide members for guiding the door in the horizontal direction. A motor is provided for driving the door between an open and a closed position. According to the invention, the door is first guided to a position directly in front of the door opening, but slightly spaced therefrom. The door is then moved horizontally in a plugging movement so as to securely close off the door opening.

This invention relates to an overhead door assembly, suitable in particular for use in vehicles such as railroad cars, comprising an overhead door, vertical guide members for guiding the overhead door in the vertical direction, and the horizontal guide members for guiding the overhead door in the horizontal direction, as well as driving means for opening and closing the door.
Such overhead door assemblies are known from practice and are used for example with sheds, garages and the like. An overhead door may consist of a single stiff panel and is then usually referred to by the term up-and-over door. There are also overhead doors known which are built up from a plurality of panels extending horizontally across the entire width of the door and hingedly interconnected. Such articulated doors are referred to by the term sliding door.
The known overhead doors are not satisfactory for use with vehicles such as railroad cars, because the use in railroad cars involve entirely different forces than in stationary uses. Doors of railroad cars may for instance be subject to very strong suction forces, but also to great compressive forces when the end doors of carriages are involved. Under these conditions, the doors should remain closed hermetically and should vibrate as little as possible.


The invention relates to a water-soluble self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives and in particular, to a water-soluble self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives obtained by reacting polyaniline derivatives with 2-sulfobenzoic anhydride derivatives, which is composed of structural unit having following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein, M may be H, Na, K or NH.sub.4 ;. R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4 may be --H, --R.sub.o, --F, --Cl, --Br, --OR.sub.o, --COR.sub.o, --OCOR.sub.o, --NHCOR.sub.o, --NO.sub.2, --COOR.sub.o, --CN, --COOH; PA1 Q may be --H, --Ro, --F, --Cl, --Br, --OR.sub.o, --COR.sub.o, --OCOR.sub.o, --NHCOR.sub.o, --NO.sub.2, --COOR.sub.o, --CN, --COOH; PA1 R.sub.o is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; PA1 n is an integer of 0 to 4; and PA1 x+y+2z.ltoreq.1.0, and x.gtoreq.0.1; PA1 (1) a high water solubility; PA1 (2) a self-acid-doped property; PA1 (3) a high conductivity which may be up to 10.sup.-3 -10.sup.-4 S/cm; and PA1 (4) an easy synthetic procedure.. and a process for preparing the same.. The water-soluble self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives exhibits some characteristics as follows:. The invention relates also a process for preparing the above-said N-2-sulfobenzoic anhydride-substituted polyaniline derivatives by reacting polyaniline derivatives with 2-sulfobenzoic anhydride derivatives in a solvent and, optionally, in the presence of a catalyst, and precipitating and drying the reaction product.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a water-soluble self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives and in particular, to a water-soluble self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives obtained by reacting polyaniline derivatives with 2-sulfobenzioc anhydride derivatives and to a process for preparing the same.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
Many of the process for fabricating electronic elements are carried out under low moisture or vacuum where static electric charges tend to accumulate which may result into phenomena such as short-circuit or signal infidelity. Recently, use of polyaniline in antistatic application has received extensive emphases, for example, the antistatic layer on high density floppy disc (4 MB) developed by the Sony Corporation, Ltd., is comprised a material based on polyaniline (J C Lacroix, P Garcia, J P Audiere, R Clement and O Kahn, New J. Chem., 14(1990)87). In 1989, Angelopoulos et al. (J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B7(b) (1989)1519), during the production of mask by means of electron beam, coated a doped polyaniline over the electron beam photoresist whereby a deviation of pattern position up to less than one micron can be obtained. In addition, polyanilines, in admixture with onium salts, can be used as conductive photoresists when a electron beam were used as light sources (M. Angelopoulos, J M. Shaw, K L. Lee, W S Huang, M. A. Lecorre, and M Tissier, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B9(6)(1991)3428). Polyanilines are conjugated conducting polymers which show a high stability in air and are cheap with respect to their raw materials. However, their rigid main chains result in their poor solubilities and workabilities. They can only be dissolved in high polar and high boiling N-methyl-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), m-cresol, or 80% aqueous acetic acid solution, and have relatively low or even non solubilities in common organic solvent or water. Even theretofore, doped conductive polymers have, in general, poor film-forming and mechanical properties, probably due to the increased degree of .pi.-electron delocalization after doping. Therefore, how to enhance the mechanical strength while maintain the high conductivity of polyanilines is an important topic of research.
The structure of polyaniline is as follows: ##STR2## wherein y may vary from 0 to one, representing various degree of oxidation; however, synthetic polyanilines show a value of about 0.5 for y, which are called as "emeraldine base ". When y is equal to 0, they have a following structure of being completely oxidized and are called as "pernigraniline": ##STR3## And when y is equal to 1, they have a following structure of being completely reduced and are called s "Leucoemeraldine base": ##STR4## The value of y and hence the degree of oxidation of polyanilines can be modulated by means of electochemical or chemical methods so as to meet requirements of different characteristics.
Polyanilines can have electric conductivity after being doped by protic acidic substances which include, for example, inorganic acid (such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid), small molecular organic acids (such as acetic, dodecyl benzene sulfonic, or camphorsulfonic acids) and polymeric organic acids (such as polyacrylic acid, polystyrene sulfonic acid). Polyanilines have excellent electric conductivity after being doped with inorganic acid, nevertheless, they show poor solubility and tend to be hygroscopic, and meanwhile, inorganic acids volatize readily that results in lowering of conductivity and introduces corrosive problems, thereby reduces practicability of polyanilines doped with inorganic acids. Polyanilines doped with small melecular organic acid exhibit better solubility in few high polar solvent, however, small molecular organic acid is still liable to volatize and lower the electric conductivity. Polymeric organic acids are frequently used for synthesizing polyanilines in a process called Template method (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,370,825, and 5,489,400), wherein, in addition to provide an acidic reaction environment, polymeric organic acids play a role also in doping. Although there are no problem with respect to volatization, polymeric organic acids can have solubility only under low dosage of antioxidant that leads to low molecular weight of resulted polyanilines and lower conversion of aniline monomers.
Since polyanilines can be doped with protic acids, a self-acid-doped polyaniline can be obtained by introducing a pendant protic acid-containing group (such as --SO.sub.3 H) onto the backbone of polyanilines.
Manners for introducing pendant protic acid-containing group onto polyanilines include, for example, reacting polyanilines with fumed sulfuric acid (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,159,031, 5,164,465 and 5,208,301) to introduce an ortho sulfo group on the benzene ring, which resulted into a polymer having an electric conductivity of about 0.1 S/cm, being able to be dissolved in dilute alkaline aqueous solution (0.1M NH.sub.4 OH and NaOH), but sparingly dissolved in pure water, and while a great amount of spent sulfuric acid was generated, the production cost thereof as well as troublesomeness of pollution control could increase.
Reacting polyanilines with sultones can introduce an alkyl sulfonic acid group on the nitrogen atom of polyanilines (U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,859). Dehydrogenating polyanilines of emraldine base with sodium hydride and then reacting with propane sultone, the reaction product, poly(aniline-co-sodium N-propane sulfonate aniline) exhibitd relatively good water solubility, however, since it is in an undoped state, treatments by semi-permeable membrane and H-form ion exchange resin might be necessary to obtain a green aqueous solution of poly(aniline-co-N-propane sulfonic acid aniline) which, after being formed into a film, had an electric conductivity of about 10.sup.-2 -10.sup.-3 S/cm. Since high electric conductivity could only occur by treating reaction products with a semi-permeable membrane and H-form ion exchange resin, the production cost tended to be high due to the cumbersome purifying procedure. By using aniline and sodium diphenylatnine-4-sulfonate as monomers, a poly(aniline-co-N-(4-sulfophenyl) aniline) having pendant sodium sulfo group could be obtained (M. T. Nguyen, P. Kasai, J L. Miller, and A F Diaz, Macromolecules, 27(1994)3625), which, owing to the pendant sodium sulfo group, exhibitd partial solubility in water. Unfortunately, the yield of this copolymer tended to be low (the amount of products recovered was only about 19 to 70% based on the amount of the aniline monomer), while the water solubility thereof decreased as the amount of aniline used increased.
Further, by using aniline and o-anthranilic acid as monomers, a series of poly(aniline-co-o-anthranilic acid) copolymers could be synthesized (M. T. Nguyen and A F. Diaz, Macromolecules 28(1995)3411), which could be soluble in alkaline aqueous solutions and be coated to form a film, however, yields thereof could decrease from 84% to 22% as the aniline content reduced, and electric conductivity thereof also decreased from 5.2 S/cm to 1.times.10.sup.-8 S/cm, and meanwhile, there was a problem of low solubility in water.
In addition to the above-said manners for preparing self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives, pendant groups can be introduced on nitrogens of polyanilines, for example, after reducing polyanilines by hydrazines, reacting the reduced polyaniline with haloalkanes, epoxy, aziridine, isocyanates, anhydrides, thiirane, isothiocyanates (U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,023), acyl chlorides (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,254,670 and 5,250,639) and carboxy compounds (U.S. Pat. No.5,304,613) to introduce alkyl, aryl, polyethyleneglycol segments or polybutadiene segments. While reactions just mentioned can increase solubilities with respect to organic solvents, films formed from these reaction products still have to be doped with other acids. Since doping of polyanilines after film-forming is limited to the surface of the film (S A Chen, and H T Lee, Macromolecules, 26(1993)3254), the listed electric conductivities in the range of 0.009 to 0.5 S/cm are surface conductivities and the inner part of the film is still in an undoped state without electric conductivity. Moreover, when leucoemeradine was reacted with dicarboxyic anhydrides (U.S. Pat. No. 5,237,023), pendant carboxy group could be introduced, however, the acidity of carboxy group is too weak so that the self-acid-doping ability is not sufficient. Although the self-acid-doping ability could be promoted by means of the sulfo group in stead of the carboxy group through reacting with 4-sulfophthalic anhydride, the reaction rate was still too slow and the yield of grafting was lower. From the fact that the filn formed from the reaction product still had to be doped with sulfuric acid, it could see that the original degree of doping tended also to be lower. Furthermore, after being reduced into acidic state, these polymers exhibitd poor water solubility due to lower grafting yield and insufficient acidity.

Water-soluble self-acid-doped polyaniline derivatives and process for preparing the same

National Science Council of Republic of China


A master cylinder comprising a cylindrical body (1) which points along a main axis (X). The cylindrical body (1) has a free end (11) and an attached end (12) with a piston rod (2) extending axially from the attached end (12). An impact deflector (3) removably mounted on the cylindrical body (1) covers the free end (11). The impact deflector (3) has at least one deflecting surface (D) which is inclined obliquely to the main axis (X).

The present invention relates to a master cylinder comprising a cylindrical body pointing along a main axis and having a free end, an attached end, and a piston rod projecting axially from the attached end.
In practice, all the master cylinders used in hydraulic braking systems for motor vehicles ever since the latter were invented correspond to this definition.
However, a tightening of safety standards has revealed a need to develop master cylinders in such a way that a frontal impact applied to the vehicle cannot be readily transmitted to the driver's leg by the master cylinder, even if the impact occurs while the driver is putting all of his weight on the brake pedal.
In order to achieve this, it is known practice, at least in some recent embodiments, for the master cylinder locally to be given a shape by virtue of which it can retract laterally when it receives an axial impact from a part of the engine which has been displaced by a frontal impact of the vehicle.
Such a solution does, however, have two major drawbacks.
On the one hand, insofar as the internal layout of the engine bay of a vehicle is practically specific to each vehicle, and as the most dangerous angle of impact on the master cylinder therefore varies from one vehicle to another, the known solution requires a master cylinder to be designed for each vehicle, and this leads to absolutely prohibitive development and manufacturing lead times and costs.
On the other hand, insofar as a master cylinder has to be manufactured from a metal which has physical properties which suit the conditions of manufacture, leaktightness and reliability with which a master cylinder has to comply, any excess of this metal with a view to fulfilling an impact-deflector function leads both to a substantial on-cost and to a risk of degrading the inherent performance of the master cylinder.

Master cylinder with shock deflector insert


In an image display apparatus, the sub-pixel areas which are correspondingly assigned to the optical apertures are defined according to an observation position of a viewer, and the sub-pixel areas includes sub-pixel segments into which the sub-pixel positioned at a boundary between adjacent sub-pixel areas is separated. The sub-pixel segments correspond to the adjacent sub-pixel areas and are observed via adjacent optical openings. The sub-pixel display information obtained by mixing parallax information belonging to the adjacent sub-pixel areas is displayed in the sub-pixel including the adjacent sub-pixel segment.

There are known various types of three-dimensional image display apparatuses capable of displaying moving picture image, that is, three-dimensional displays. In recent years, a three-dimensional display, particularly of a flat panel type, has been desired to be developed which requires no dedicated glasses or the like. Some three-dimensional image display apparatuses of a type requiring no dedicated glasses are configured such that a light ray control element is installed immediately before a display panel (display apparatus) with fixed pixel positions, such as a direct-view liquid crystal display apparatus, a projection liquid crystal display apparatus or plasma display apparatus, so as to controllably direct the emission of light rays from the display panel toward an observer.
The light ray control element according to this scheme has a function to control light rays so that even when looking at the same position on the light ray control element, the observer views different picture images depending on the angle at which the observer looks at the light ray control element. Specifically, an array of slits (parallax barrier) or an array of lenticular lenses (lenticular sheet) is used as a light ray control element to apply only lateral parallaxes (what is called horizontal parallaxes). A pin hole array or a lens array is used as a light ray control element to apply not only horizontal parallaxes but also up-down parallaxes (vertical parallaxes).
The apparatuses for three-dimensional displays using a light ray control element are further classified into a binocular type, a multi-view type, a super multi-view type (super multi-view conditions for the multi-view type), an integral imaging type (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the II type), and the like. In the binocular type, at a preset observation position (viewpoint position), both eyes are subjected to binocular parallaxes for stereoscopic viewing. In the multi-view type, the super-multi-view type, or the like (hereinafter simply referred to as the multi-view type), a plurality of viewpoint positions are used to increase a visible range and to make side surfaces visible (to provide motion parallaxes). The II type display apparatus, invented about 100 years ago, is based on the principle of integral photography (IP) applied to three-dimensional photographs. A three-dimensional image display apparatus of the II type is known from Japanese Patent No. 3892808. Three-dimensional picture images (picture images) observed using the multi-view or II type more or less involve motion parallaxes and are referred to as three-dimensional picture images distinctively from binocular type stereoscopic picture images.
A three-dimensional image display apparatus with a combination of a light ray control element and a flat display device generally adopts a technique to design the apparatus with an assumed viewpoint position. However, the technique to design the apparatus with the assumed viewpoint position disadvantageously limits the viewpoint position. Furthermore, a technique to design the apparatus with no assumed viewpoint position disadvantageously slightly narrows a viewing space. Thus, there has been a desire to improve display images so as to eliminate the restraint on the viewpoint position and to maximize the viewing space.

Three-dimensional image display apparatus


Satellite scanning is an example of scanning a transmission spectrum, which relates to identifying satellite channels within a satellite broadcast spectrum. Rather than scanning the entire transmission spectrum at each possible combination of frequency and symbol rate, spectrum analysis may be performed over the transmission spectrum in order to determine an estimate of signal strength over the transmission spectrum in the frequency domain. The estimate of signal strength in the frequency domain can be used to identify candidate transmission channels (e.g. at frequencies where the signal strength is high). A targeted scan of the transmission spectrum can then be performed based on the identified candidate transmission in order to identify the transmission channels.

There are many types of signals which may be transmitted (e.g. broadcasted) to a receiver. For example, satellites may be used to transmit signals to satellite receivers. The signals may be any type of transmission signals such as broadcast signals including television signals or radio signals. It is useful for satellites to be in geostationary orbits around the Earth such that they maintain a fixed position relative to points on the Earth's surface. There are many different satellites in orbit around the Earth. A satellite may transmit multiple signals on multiple satellite channels. Frequency division may be used to distinguish between different satellite channels. That is, a satellite channel may be associated with a frequency range in which signals are transmitted on that channel, and there is typically a frequency gap (i.e. a guard interval) between different satellite channels, such that a satellite receiver can more easily distinguish between signals transmitted on different satellite channels.
Satellite broadcast signals might not be well-defined for particular geographical regions, e.g. because the signals from a satellite may be received over a wide area on the Earth's surface. Different satellites may broadcast satellite signals according to different formats. For example, the satellite channels transmitted from a first satellite may differ significantly (e.g. in frequency, bandwidth and/or coding protocol) to the satellite channels transmitted from a second satellite. Furthermore, one satellite may transmit multiple signals from different transponders (i.e. on different channels). A satellite receiver may be able to receive the satellite broadcast signals on multiple channels from a single satellite. Furthermore, by directing a dish of the satellite receiver towards different satellites, the satellite receiver may be able to receive satellite broadcast signals from different satellites. Typically, the frequencies of satellite broadcast signals are constrained to be within a satellite broadcast spectrum. That is, the satellite broadcast spectrum is the range of frequencies in which satellite signals may be broadcast. For example, the satellite broadcast spectrum may be the L-Band of the electromagnetic spectrum, which has frequencies in the approximate range from 1 to 2 GHz.
In order for a satellite receiver to properly receive and decode satellite signals, the satellite receiver first determines the frequencies and symbol rates of the satellite channels which it is receiving. A satellite receiver may do this by performing a two dimensional scan over the entire satellite broadcast spectrum at all frequencies and at all possible symbol rates. Typically, the satellite broadcast spectrum is approximately 1 GHz wide and the symbol rates may correspond to channel bandwidths from approximately 330 kHz to approximately 50 MHz. At each combination of frequency and symbol rate the satellite receiver may test the received signal to see if it can properly decode the signal: if it can properly decode the signal, then it is determined that there is a satellite channel at this frequency and symbol rate; but if it cannot properly decode the signal, then it is determined that there is not a satellite channel at this combination of frequency and symbol rate. A scan of the entire satellite broadcast spectrum performed in this way may take approximately twenty minutes to complete.
As well as satellite broadcast signals, other transmission signals may be transmitted to receivers, such as terrestrial broadcast signals (e.g. for terrestrial television and radio signals) or mobile telephony signals for transmitting signals within a mobile telephone network.

Transmission frequency spectrum scanning


An RFID reader is provided. The RFID reader includes a transmitter section and a receiver section. The transmitter section is configured to transmit a first RF signal which includes several carrier frequencies that are effective to simultaneously illuminate a tag at the plurality of carrier frequencies. The receiver section is configured to receive a second RF signal which includes several frequencies which each have the same information.

In passive RFID systems the tags receive their power from the RF field transmitted by the reader. The efficiency of the power transfer from the reader to the tags is essential for reliable operation.
It is well know in the art, that radio wave propagation suffers from multipath effects. In the presence of reflections, the power received by the tags varies over location and frequency. If the received power at the tag falls below the sensitivity threshold of the tag, the tag will be missed from the inventory. Typical sensitivity of the tags today is −15 dBm to −20 dBm.
There are two commonly used methods to minimize the effect of multipath propagation in RFID systems, space diversity and frequency hopping.


A gas spring with a filler block assembly defining the rear sealing wall of the gas chamber of the gas spring. The filler block assembly has an end cap with an internally threaded through passageway for filling the chamber with compressed gas. An externally threaded screw plug is threaded into the cap passageway and has an enlarged head portion with a conical sealing surface. An O-ring encircles the screw plug and is wedge-captured sealably between its sealing surface and a radial sealing surface on the cap front face. The screw plug and passageway threads are constructed and arranged to provide a gas chamber filling leakage path therebetween such that the gas spring chamber can be charged with pressurized nitrogen gas admitted into the rear end of the cap filling passageway with the screw plug and O-ring already installed in the cap in final operable position to function as a one-way check valve for admitting the pressurized gas to the spring chamber and to prevent egress of the gas therefrom. In one embodiment, the screw plug is imperforate. In another embodiment, the screw plug has a bleed passageway extending axially therethrough communicating at one end with the gas spring chamber and at the other end with the filling passageway. A bleed plug is threadably received in the cap filling passageway, and a sealing gasket is captured between the bleed plug and the screw plug for sealing the adjacent end outlet of the screw plug bleed passageway. The gas filling leakage path then also includes the clearance space between the threads of the bleed plug and the cap filling passageway.

Previously, self-contained gas springs have been constructed with an actuating rod connected to a piston slidably received in a cylinder having a chamber which is precharged at a predetermined pressure, such as 2,000 psi, with an inert gas such as nitrogen. When the rod and piston are forced into the chamber, the gas therein is compressed to a maximum operating pressure which is usually in the range of about 3,000 to 5,000 psi, depending on the volume of the chamber and the effective area and stroke of the piston. In normal use, the pressure to which a self-contained gas spring is initially charged is not varied or changed. The spring is initially charged, relieved and recharged through a high pressure charging valve construction mounted in a filler block closing the rear end of the casing of the gas spring. In some applications the charging valve is operable to adjust the gas spring charging pressure by release of gas pressure from the spring chamber to ambient and then recharging through the valve to a new set pressure. Preferably the chamber port of the filler block is internally threaded to receive a flexible hose coupled to an external gas source, as well as for threadably mounting the gas spring on a suitable externally threaded support.
Examples of prior gas springs and systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,792,128; 4,838,527; 5,020,570 and 5,303,906 assigned to Diebolt International, Inc., the assignee of record herein, and which are incorporated herein by reference. In particular, the gas spring charging valve filler block construction disclosed and claimed in conjunction with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-8 of the '906 patent has been used successfully commercially and has proved advantageous with respect to its relative simplicity of manufacture and assembly, and because it cannot be tampered with from outside the pressure vessel. The valve has no moving metal parts and merely uses an elastomeric O-ring as a movable one way check valve member and seal.
However, the valve is designed for charging of a gas spring one time only. In addition to this limitation, in commercial manufacture and use certain problems have been discovered relative to the construction and operation of this fill valve. Although the O-ring was specified with a preferred durometer of 70, experience has shown that a 90 durometer hardness was needed in the high pressure range of operation of the gas spring to resist extrusion of the elastomeric material of the O-ring through the small diameter charging hole 122 of the central modular head 114 of the valve construction. Even increasing the durometer to 94 has been found not to prevent such O-ring failure in certain applications. Moreover, use of the harder O-ring material limits the capability of the O-ring to seal at lower pressures, e.g., 200 to 400 psi, because of its reduced capability to fill in imperfections in the O-ring sealing surfaces 116 and 118 of this valve construction.
It has also been found that in the manufacturing process of the '906 filler block it is difficult to control or monitor the surface finish for these O-ring seating surfaces 116 and 118 in the rear head 114. Also, to prevent damage to the O-ring the lateral port 122 entering at the bottom of the V-shaped recess or groove 120 should be of relatively small diameter, preferably about 0.015 inches. Accordingly, the size of the drill required for drilling this charging hole is fragile and subject to breakage, which is difficult to detect in the manufacturing process. The drilling process also requires removal of burrs after drilling. Geometrically, the localized radial entry of this small diameter lateral port 122 at the bottom of the V-shaped groove 120 relative to the overlying O-ring 124 with its 360.degree. sealing surfaces 116 and 118 inherently contributes to unequal pressure distribution and hence sealing forces which can contribute to leakage problems.


An optical beam steering device and a method for beam steering are described. The optical beam steering device including: a laser source coupled to an optical phased array (OPA) The OPA includes: a beam splitter network optically coupled to the laser source and configured to split a laser beam generated by the laser source into N outputs to generate an output optical beam; a first network of first phase shifters configured to steer the output optical beam in a first direction away from a longitude direction; and a second network of second phase shifters configured to steer the output optical beam in a second direction away from the longitude direction, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

The use of devices utilizing free-space laser beams have been proven for numerous applications in three-dimensional mapping and imaging, such as geological surveying, and control and navigation for autonomous vehicles. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) has emerged as a technology for determining a variable distance of an object by transmitting a beam towards an object and measuring the time for light reflected off the object to return. In this context, the light beam has to be transmitted towards the object. To be able to map a target area around the sensor, the sensor's beam has to be oriented or steered in different directions.
Of course, mechanically moving the sensor is one way to achieve beam steering. One way to steer the beam of a LiDAR sensor without mechanical movement of the sensor is an Optical Phased Array (OPA). OPAs provide a more flexible and efficient beam steering device.
OPAs are designed to generate beams with different phase shifts so as to create patterns of constructive and destructive interference forming an output beam. However, conventional OPAs are not scalable and complex in both the architecture as well as electrical control when a large number of outputs are to be realized.

Phase shifter architecture for optical beam steering devices


A lapboard is adapted to be fitted to a chair with two arms, where the lapboard is a generally flat surface with a cleat positioned to generally parallel to and close one arm of the chair and a second cleat positioned generally parallel to and close to the other arm of the chair, plus securing means for securing the lapboard to the chair. The lapboard is secured by one or two straps connected to the rear right and left of the lap board and looped around behind the occupant of the chair, preferably fastened by a quick release clip. A second strap connected to the front right and left of the lapboard can be looped around the arms to secure the front of the lapboard.

Patients in chronic care facilities often are maintained in a chair for extended periods of time. Many chairs used for patient care can be fitted with a lapboard, which functions basically as a table to support a tray of food, reading materials, handicrafts, etc.
Lapboards used in the past have been designed to clip around the arms of a chair or wheelchair, snap onto a chair or wheelchair or to otherwise securably fasten to a wheelchair.


An apparatus and method for cleaning an optical component having opposed lens surfaces and an outer peripheral area. The apparatus includes a rotatable holder for supporting and retaining the optical component via the outer peripheral area so that at least a useful optical area of at least one of the opposed surfaces is fully exposed to air when the holder and optical component are rotated. A drive device is provided coupled to the holder for rotatably driving the holder to centrifugally force a liquid from the surface. The method includes the steps of, positioning the optical component within a holder and retaining the optical component in a region of the outer peripheral edge so that at least a useful optical area of one of the surfaces is fully exposed to air, applying a liquid to the exposed surface of the optical component, and spinning the optical component at a high rate of speed to clean and dry the optical component.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for cleaning optical components. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and process for cleaning optical components including ophthalmic lenses, telescope lenses, instrument lenses, camera lenses, optical filters, mirrors and ophthalmoscopic lenses used to examine and laser treat the eye fundus and anterior chamber angle (hereafter collectively referred to as "optical lens" or "lens") wherein the apparatus and process provide more consistently clean and residue free surfaces compared to other cleaning systems presently available.
Ophthalmoscopic lenses are commercially available in both contact and non-contact designs and may comprise one or more optical elements. Such lenses are described in various United States patents, including for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,738,521 and 5,046,836, both to Volk. Ophthalmoscopic lenses have opposed exposed front and back surfaces through which illumination as well as image forming light rays pass. The lenses are generally designed to be hand-held and are therefore mounted in a tubular or frustoconically shaped retaining ring or housing. Such a holding arrangement allows the practitioner or, in the surgical environment, the physician's assistant to handle the lens without touching the lens surfaces.
Telescope lenses, instrument lenses, camera lenses, and filters also have exposed front and back surfaces. Such lenses are frequently mounted in a similar tubular housing or ring.
It is a common experience and problem that dust, dirt and grime may collect on one or both of the exposed surfaces of a lens. However, an optical surface substantially free from debris or other contaminants is highly desirable to obtain optimum lens performance while avoiding glare, image distortion, and transmission loss. As such, many lenses, and especially ophthalmoscopic lenses, which are generally used in conjunction with intense illumination sources, are often cleaned before use.
Optical lenses which are anti-reflective coated, as well as surfaces which are coated to perform as filters or mirrors, are cleaned with evaporating solvents or ultrasonic cleaning systems prior to the thin film vacuum deposition process. Such cleaning systems are costly to use and do not always adequately prepare the surface for thin film deposition, especially larger surfaces which are more difficult to handle.
Lint free cleaning cloths and alcohol, acetone, or other chemically based cleaning solutions are commercially available to the end user for cleaning coated and uncoated optical surfaces of the types previously mentioned. However, despite the name, lint-free cleaning cloths typically will leave some lint and residue on the optical surface which remains once the surface has dried. Furthermore, constant cleaning of an optical surface with a cloth-type cleaner may scratch the optical surface or coating and degrade the performance of the optical component.