A system and method for automatically adjusting the gain of an audio system as a speaker's head moves relative to a microphone includes using a video of the speaker to determine an orientation of the speaker's head relative to the microphone and, hence, a gain adjust signal. The gain adjust signal is then applied to the audio system that is associated with the microphone to dynamically and continuously adjust the gain the audio system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to adjusting the gain of one or more microphones based on the position and/or orientation of a speaker relative to the microphones.
2. Description of the Related Art
Audio systems, including stage systems, teleconferencing and video conferencing systems, lecture videotaping and distance learning systems, mobile telephones, and other media typically include one or more microphones for receiving a person's voice, an amplifier that amplifies the output of the microphone, and an audio speakers that plays the amplified sound. Ordinarily, when an audio system is calibrated, the volume output by the audio speaker is adjusted (by, e.g., adjusting the amplifier gain) to a desired volume for the case where a person speaks directly into the microphone. This can be thought of as calibrating the system for a 0° orientation of the person's head relative to the microphone, at a nominal mouth-to-microphone distance.
Should the speaker move away from the microphone or turn her head away from the 0° orientation, however, the sound level at the microphone is less than what the system was calibrated for. The audio speaker volume accordingly decreases, which can be annoying and distracting. On the other hand, if the system is calibrated for a head orientation of other than 0°, when the person subsequently speaks directly into the microphone the audio speaker volume increases, again potentially distracting the intended recipient or recipients from what the person is saying.
The common approach to resolving the above-noted problem is to physically hold the microphone in a single location in front of the person's mouth, either by clipping the microphone to the person's clothes, by suspending the microphone from a head-worn harness in front of the person's mouth, or by training the person to steadily hold the microphone in front of her mouth. All of these approaches suffer drawbacks. Even when a microphone is clipped to clothing, the person can turn her head away from the microphone to an orientation other than that for which the system was calibrated. Many people do not like to wear harnesses on their heads, and even experienced stage performers can temporarily wave a hand held microphone away from their mouths without intending to.
Accordingly, the present invention recognizes that it would be desirable to automatically adjust the gain of an audio system in synchronization with the head movements of a speaking person relative to a microphone. Past attempts at automatic gain adjust do not use actual speaker motion to adjust gain but instead are based on attempting to vary gain to establish a baseline audio output in response to varying received audible levels, which at best are indirectly related to speaker motion. Representative of such systems are those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,640,490, 5,896,450, and 4,499,578. Unfortunately, a speaker might deliberately vary her voice volume, a speaking technique that is frustrated by systems that establish amplifier gain based only on received audio signals. The present invention understands that it would be desirable to more precisely adjust audio system gain based on actual speaker movement relative to a microphone or microphones. The present invention also recognizes that conventional AGC may amplify background noise when the speaker is silent.

System and method for microphone gain adjust based on speaker orientation


The present invention provides a tunneling field effect transistor and a method for fabricating the same which refer to a field effect transistor logic device and circuit in a CMOS ultra-large integrated circuit (ULSI). The inventive concept of the invention lies in that, in a case of an N-type transistor, a side portion of a doped source region adjacent to an edge of the control gate is further implanted with P+ impurities on a basis of the doped source region being initially doped N− impurities, so that the initial N− impurities in the implanted portion are completely compensated by the P+ impurities, and in a case of a P-type transistor, a side portion of the doped source region adjacent to an edge of the control gate is implanted with N+ impurities on a basis of the doped source region being initially doped P− impurities, so that the initial P− impurities in the implanted portion are completely compensated by the N+ impurities. In the transistor, the source region is implanted twice with different doping concentrations, such that a large current characteristic of the MOSFET can be effectively combined to increase an on-state current of the transistor, and also, the threshold adjustment for the MOSFET portion and the TFET portion of the transistor can be achieved in a self-adaptive way.

With the size of a MOSFET shrinks, the device is subjected to even more severe negative effects such as a short channel effect of the device and etc. after entering a nanometer scale, which causes an off-state leakage current of device increase. Meanwhile, since a subthreshold slope of a conventional MOSFET is limited by the thermoelectric potential and thus cannot be reduced synchronously as the size of device decreases, there is a theoretical limit at 60 mV/dec, causing that the leakage current further increases as the reduction of the supply voltage, and thereby increasing the power consumption of the device. The power consumption issue has now become one of the most serious problems in limiting the scaling down of the device.
In the field of ultra-low voltage and power consumption, a device using a new switching mechanism to obtain ultra-steep subthreshold slope and a process method for fabricating the same has become a focus of attention in recent years. Since such device is not restricted by the thermoelectric potential and thus can break the subthreshold slope limit of the conventional MOSFET, and thus has great advantages when applied into in the low power device. Among them, a tunneling field effect transistor (TFET) has attracted widespread attentions due to a very low leakage current and an ultra steep subthreshold slope. Unlike the conventional MOSFET, doping types of a source and a drain of the TFET are opposite to each other, the TFET can be turned on by a band-to-band tunneling of a reverse-biased P-I-N junction under control of a gate, and thus it can operate at a lower voltage, thus is suitable for being applied into the field of low voltage and low power consumption. However, the TFET faces a problem of a small on-state current due to constraints in the tunneling probability and tunneling area of a source junction, which is far less desirable than that of traditional MOSFET. Moreover, the TFET has an ambipolar effect, greatly limiting the application of the TFET.

Self-adaptive composite tunneling field effect transistor and method for fabricating the same


Disclosed is an X-ray detector assembly for use in a computed tomography system. The X-ray detector assembly comprises an array of detector cells coupled between two rails. A thermoelectric cooler is coupled to an end of each of the rails, and is controlled to alternatively heat or cool the detector array to maintain the array in a substantially isothermal and thermally stable condition. The detector assembly preferably includes both passive and active cooling devices and insulation materials for controlling the temperature of the detector assembly. An electrical heater coupled at the center of the detector array can be used in conjunction with the TEC's to control the temperature profile of the detector array, and to minimize changes in the temperature gradients.

The present invention is generally directed to an X-ray detector array for use in a computed tomography system, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for maintaining an X-ray detector array in a substantially isothermal and thermally stable condition.
A computed tomography (CT) imaging system typically includes an x-ray source and an x-ray detector array mounted on opposite sides of a gantry with an imaging area interposed between. The detector array typically includes a plurality of detector elements arranged in rows and columns. The detector array or module includes the detection elements and associated electrical components to convert the x-ray signal to either a measurable analog or quantifiable digital signal. In many configurations the array is mounted to the gantry on axially separated rails.
In operation the x-ray source generates x-rays that are directed at the array. When an object (e.g., the torso of a patient) is positioned within the imaging area, x-rays passing through the object are attenuated to different degrees, the varying degrees of attenuation dependent upon characteristics of the material through which the x-rays pass within the imaging area (e.g., bone may attenuate to a greater degree than flesh, etc.).
In CT, the gantry is used to rotate the x-ray source and detector array about an object to be imaged so that data corresponding to every angle is collected. Thereafter, the collected data is filtered, weighted and typically back projected by an image processor to generate one or more diagnostic quality images.
In image reconstruction, it is assumed that the gain of each detector remains constant throughout a data acquisition process and that any change in x-ray signal intensity at the detector is due to patient anatomy. Unfortunately, this assumption is not 100% accurate for several reasons. One particularly acute source of error in this regard has to do with how detector element operation is affected by element conditions during operation. More specifically, as is the case with many different electronic components, detector element response to a specific stimuli (e.g., a specific intensity x-ray) varies as a function of temperature.
There are several ways in which temperature affects element output and overall accuracy of acquired data. First, not surprisingly, temperature directly affects element output (or gain) during operation, the module can be subjected to temperatures different than the calibration temperature, resulting in uncorrected gain errors. Second, temperature gradients along array rails and between rails has been known to cause thermal distortions in the mechanical structure leading to uncorrected gain errors. In one particular use, when the relative temperatures of the center and ends of the array vary over time, image artifacts can be introduced. Third, other detector array components (e.g., photo diode associated with detector elements), are also affected by changes in temperature. Specifically the shunt resistance of a photo diode drops exponentially with temperature which results in leakage currents and generally a decrease in the signal to noise ratio.
When array output varies as a function of element and array environment temperature, the quality of resulting images is adversely affected. To this end, it has been observed that temperature effects on array output sometimes result in image artifacts that adversely affect the diagnostic usefulness of the resulting images.
There are many sources of heat in CT systems that directly affect the temperature of the array. Specifically, the X-ray tube used to generate the X-ray beam generates a large amount of heat in a CT system. In addition, motors, processors and other CT system components generate heat in the vicinity of the array. In recent years, the desire to increase patient throughput (i.e., the number of acquisition sessions performed per day) has fueled the use of more powerful x-ray sources so that the amount of data required to generate images can be acquired in a shorter period of time. These higher powered systems, while appreciably faster than their predecessors, have only exacerbated the array heating problem and the associated image degradation.
To address temperature related array operation problems, the industry has developed various solutions aimed at maintaining nearly isothermal and thermal stable arrays. To this end, accepting that elements will heat during operation, most solutions provide some type of element heating configuration that is mounted with the array on the rails. The heating configuration is generally used to heat the elements approximately to an expected high temperature level and to maintain that temperature level throughout an acquisition period. The heater control point is set to be consistent with the expected high temperature limit and the maximum allowable module temperature change.
Unfortunately, in high power systems the array temperature can exceed the temperature at which acceptable image quality is achieved. Under these circumstances, a heating control cannot maintain the detector array within an acceptable operational temperature.
There remains a need, therefore, for a simple and economic method for maintaining a detector array at a constant temperature, and particularly for maintaining a detector array at a constant temperature when operated in conjunction with high-powered X-ray tubes wherein the highest temperature is greater than what is permitted by the imaging system.

Thermoelectrically controlled X-ray detector array statement regarding federally sponsored research

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


Method and apparatus for contactless determination of lateral offset relative to a straight-ahead direction when an object moves relative to an object with a stochastic surface structure, in which the surface structure is imaged on at least two similar photosensors arranged behind one another at a defined separation in the straight-ahead direction and having a spatially resolving longitudinal extent transverse to the straight-ahead direction, a spatial frequency signal corresponding to the surface structure is generated by the sensors, the spatial frequency signal of a second sensor in the movement direction is read, temporally shifted relative to the spatial frequency signal of the first sensor, such that the same, at least partially overlapping surface structure is imaged on both sensors, the spatial frequency signals of the first and second sensors are correlated to determine a correlation coefficient, and the lateral offset of the correlated spatial frequency signals on the sensors is determined.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for contactless determination of a lateral offset relative to a straight-ahead direction when an object moves relative to an object with a stochastic surface structure, by imaging the surface structure on a photosensor.
Conventionally, for this purpose, a sensor is attached to an object in motion, by means of which measured variables relative to another object with a stochastic surface can be detected. For example, an object in motion can be a vehicle, the movement of which relative to the road surface is detected. Often in such cases, the lateral offset is to be determined as a deviation of the vehicle movement from straight-ahead travel. For as long as the vehicle travels, for example, straight ahead and no disruptive influences act on the vehicle, no lateral offset can be detected. It is conceivable that, for example, a side wind gust impinging upon a vehicle moving straight ahead displaces the vehicle laterally.
The invention relates particularly to a method and an apparatus for determining the angle as a variable for a deviation in the movement from the straight-ahead direction or target direction. In particular, the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for measuring the slip angle.
The slip angle is an important parameter in automotive technology and the development of non-rail-bound land vehicles. In the field of tire development, for example, by this means, conclusions can be drawn regarding the side forces and the running behavior of the tires of a vehicle.
The slip angle in this case is understood to be the angle between the direction in which a tire points and the direction in which it actually moves on the road surface. If, according to this, a tire has a large slip angle, a large lock angle is necessary in order to bring about the desired change of direction. The stiffer the tire construction, the smaller, usually, is the slip angle and the safer is the vehicle handling, although usually at the cost of comfort.
A tire which points straight ahead whilst the vehicle moves evenly straight ahead therefore has a slip angle of 0°; a tire which points 5° to the left whilst the vehicle continues to move straight ahead due, for example, to aquaplaning, has a slip angle of 5°.
Using simultaneous measurement of the slip angle at the front and rear wheels, conclusions can be drawn regarding the drift angle, that is the rotation of the whole vehicle relative to the movement direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,677 (=DE 40 30 653) describes a method for determining the slip angle of a braked vehicle. In the method described therein, based on a simplified vehicle model and using the wheel speed, the wheel angle, the yaw angle and the main brake cylinder pressure as measured variables, the slip angle is determined as an estimated variable. The method therefore requires a plurality of measured variables that have additionally to be detected or are known. It is not a measurement, but an estimation of the slip angle that is undertaken.

Method and apparatus for contactless determination of a lateral offset relative to a straight-ahead direction


A wig is fabricated by: a masking sheet, having a great number of openings around 10 mm in diameter formed therein, being applied to a side of a wig base which is to face the scalp of a wearer; a silicone adhesive agent being applied to the wig base through the openings; one end of a tablet formed of a silicone substance, which can be placed within the opening, being adhered to the silicone adhesive agent, and further, a silicone adhesive agent being applied to a surface of the tablet and dried; following which the masking sheet is removed, thereby providing silicone protrusions fixed to the side of the wig base which is to face the scalp of the wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wig, and more particularly relates to a full or a partial wig, with hair fibers implanted, which has protrusions formed of a silicone substance on a side facing the scalp of a wearer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wigs are generally used for hiding bald portions on a human scalp or portions thereof where hair growth is thinning, by covering these portions. Such wigs commonly have a great number of strands of human hair or artificial hair implanted in a wig base, which is formed of a net-like article obtained by weaving fibers into a net or grid form, or of an artificial scalp formed of synthetic resin. Implanting the hair fibers into the net has long been performed by knotting the hair fibers to the net in the case of using the net-like article, and inserting the hair fibers through the base where they are fixed by use of a synthetic resin adhesive agent in the case of using the synthetic resin artificial scalp.
However, wearing such a wig results in base tips of the hair fibers protruding from a back side of the wig base coming into contact with the human scalp, thereby causing pain. Particularly, wearing such a wig for long periods of time subjects the wearer to considerable discomfort.
Further, base tips of the hair fibers protruding from the rear side of the wig base give an overall rough feeling, so the wearer does not have a sensation of a fully sufficiently good fit, and accordingly, experiences unease in that the wig can be easily dislodged.
There have been some wigs with protrusions on a wig base, such as that disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-76804 wherein permanent magnets are arrayed on a rear side of the wig base, to which hair fibers have been implanted, for a purpose of encouraging growth of hair, or that disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 2-78522 wherein protrusions around 2 mm in thickness are arrayed on a rear side of a wig base, to which hair fibers have been implanted, for a purpose of creating a gap between the scalp and the wig at a time of wearing the wig, thereby allowing passage of air to prevent heat from collecting.
Also, there is a known arrangement wherein strands of hair material are implanted V-shaped into an artificial scalp face primarily formed of silicone resin, with hair root portions protruding from a scalp face side of a wig, with these protruding portions being glued to a cloth face, as disclosed in Japanese Examined Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. 5-27456.


In a method of managing emergency management information within an observation platform an emergency management and response application is provisioned at an observation platform. The provisioning is administered by a cloud services platform and includes configuration and deployment of the emergency management and response application within the observation platform. A communicative connection is established, via a gateway of the cloud services platform, between the emergency management and response application and a system external to the observation platform. In response to receipt at the observation platform of a report of an emergency, operation of the emergency management and response application is triggered within the observation platform. Emergency management information is sent, via the emergency management and response application, to a group of users of the observation platform. The emergency management information includes at least one of an alert related to the emergency and instructions related to the emergency.

Retailers are under constant pressure to cut costs, improve margins, and increase floor traffic and customer satisfaction. This has always been so, but the rise of the internet, available at home and while mobile, has increased the pressure greatly. Loyalty programs and per-customer pricing, such as special discounts, are one set of tools used in the past, and used more today. Moreover, there is an increased demand to manage and train associates and provide an increased measure of customer satisfaction in a retail environment. The shift to online buying and services is also putting pressure on brand images as bricks-and-mortar business must have clear brand awareness to retain customers in the newly fluid environment. Such concerns also extend to situations and environments besides retail settings.
The drawings referred to in this description of embodiments should be understood as not being drawn to scale except if specifically noted.

Configuring , deploying, and operating an application for structured communications for emergency response and tracking


A “Contact Discriminator” provides various techniques for differentiating between valid and invalid contacts received from any input methodology by one or more touch-sensitive surfaces of a touch-sensitive computing device. Examples of contacts include single, sequential, concurrent, or simultaneous user finger touches (including gesture type touches), pen or stylus touches or inputs, hover-type inputs, or any combination thereof. The Contact Discriminator then acts on valid contacts (i.e., contacts intended as inputs) while rejecting or ignoring invalid contacts or inputs. Advantageously, the Contact Discriminator is further capable of disabling or ignoring regions of input surfaces, such tablet touch screens, that are expected to receive unintentional contacts, or intentional contacts not intended as inputs, for device or application control purposes. Examples of contacts not intended as inputs include, but are not limited to, a user's palm resting on a touch screen while the user writes on that screen with a stylus or pen.

Many handheld computing devices allow users to input information by making direct contact with the display surfaces of the devices using either fingers (i.e., "touch input" or "touch-based input") or stylus-type input devices. Some computing devices furthermore permit use of distinct or tagged physical objects, including pucks, specialized tools such as brushes or airbrushes, mobile devices, toys, and other physical icons or tangible props. These types of input mechanisms are collectively referred to herein as contact-type input mechanisms.
For example, typical touch-based input mechanisms generally respond to direct touch inputs when a user touches a display surface of the computing device with one or more fingers. Similarly, typical pen- or stylus-based input mechanisms respond to direct pen or stylus input events when a user contacts the display surface with a pen or stylus device.
Unfortunately, both of these types of interface mechanisms introduce a number of challenges. For instance, consider the case in which a computing device allows a user to input information using both a touch input mechanism and a pen input mechanism. In the course of applying a mark on the display surface with a pen device, the user may inadvertently rest his or her palm (or other portion of the hand or wrist) on the display surface. The computing device may then incorrectly interpret this inadvertent palm contact as legitimate input activity, thereby causing potentially unwanted behavior by the computing device. A similar challenge may confront a user who is intentionally using the touch input mechanism. The user may attempt to apply a focused touch to a target object presented on the display surface, yet the user may accidently brush or bump his or her hand (or a pen or stylus device held in that same hand) against other parts of the display surface, causing accidental input events. Workflow disruptions to the user resulting from such problems may understandably frustrate the user whenever they occur.

Touch and stylus discrimination and rejection for contact sensitive computing devices


A method for scaling traffic engineering, TE, routing in a network, having a plurality of network elements (nodes) connected in a given layer to each other via links TE domain segments of a TE domain of said network are collapsed into a virtual TE nodes (VNs). Each VN having an allocated DE domain unique identifier and a detailed connectivity matrix, DCM, to provide a hierarchically virtualized network topology of the network.

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for scaling traffic engineering, TE, routing in a network, and in particular to a method and apparatus to scale traffic engineering of large networks using a traffic engineering, TE, hierarchical virtualization technique.
Traffic engineering, TE, on a contemporary transport network such as a wavelength division multiplexing, WDM, layer network does present several challenges. One of these challenges is the sheer amount of information data concerning network elements such as WDM reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexers, ROADM, and links interconnecting these network elements, wherein the information data has to be constantly rediscovered and redistributed to network traffic engineering applications in real time. A further challenge is potentially very big size of traffic engineering databases, TED, and therefore high memory and computation power requirements, especially when considering the complexity of employed path computation algorithms such as optical impairment aware path computations performed in WDM layer networks. What makes it even more difficult to meet these challenges is the fact that service paths in the network have often to be computed in real time, especially in the context of specific applications such as network failure service recovery application. With the increasing size of the network these challenges can become exponentially more difficult to address, so that scalable traffic engineering solutions that work with equal success on networks of different sizes become important.
A general principle of achieving a scalable routing solution is to make sure that there is no entity in the network that knows everything about every network element and link, instead, to orchestrate things in such a way that each entity responsible for route calculations gets an access to detailed information on some network elements and links, while summarized or aggregated information on the rest of the network elements and links is provided. The challenge is to define this aggregated information to be, on the one hand, a significantly smaller in size version of the detailed information, while, on the other hand, to be sufficient for each route computing entity to be able to calculate a route to each of possible network destinations. In other words, the challenge is to come up with the right level of abstraction when performing a summarization of routing information data to provide the shortest possible aggregate without losing any information that might be important for the route calculations.
For example, in IP intra-domain routing protocols, IGP, such as OSPF or ISIS, this is achieved by breaking the network in multiple areas and by flooding full router and link state advertisements only within the respective local areas of the network, while summarizing on the area borders the intra-area information in the form of IP prefix aggregates that describe the reachability within the areas, and flood the aggregates across the area borders into neighbouring areas. A final result is that any given OSPF or ISIS speaker can calculate a route to any IP destination located in its local areas, as well as to any IP destination located in remote areas. For example, a conventional multi-area IP network configuration is illustrated in FIG. 1. In this example, a node (network element) 18.104.22.168 has full/detailed information about all nodes and links of area 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. At the same time, this node 188.8.131.52 has information about area 2 in the form of a small amount of IP prefixes describing IP reachability within area 2. The IP prefixes are generated by area border node 18.104.22.168 as shown in FIG. 1 and flooded into area 1 via area 0 with the help of area border node 220.127.116.11. This makes it possible for node 220.127.116.11 to calculate IP routes not only to nodes within area 1 such as to node 184.108.40.206 but also to nodes in the remote area 2, for example, to node 126.96.36.199. This is achieved on the reduced network topology information, which is smaller in size and better manageable compared to one of a flat single-area configuration of the same physical network.
The most popular conventional way to scale the TE routing is to break the network into multiple TE domains and to map each of said domains onto a separate IGP (OSPF or ISIS) area as illustrated in FIG. 2. Because IGP uses the same mechanism to flood both IP routing and TE information, this approach limits the scope of TE information dissemination in the network and hence the traffic engineering database, TED, size on a given IGP speaker, such as node 18.104.22.168 to local to the node areas. The problem with TE routing is the difficulty of TE information aggregation for the following reasons. In contrast to IP routing, which deals only with IP reachability and is concerned only with IP addresses designed specifically to be aggregatable, traffic engineering, TE, routing, which is the process of computing of traffic engineering paths, deals with a much richer set of information about nodes and links within the network. This data is very difficult to summarize without losing details important for the traffic engineering, TE, path calculation. Therefore, inter-domain traffic engineering, TE, paths are commonly computed with no TE visibility into the remote TE domains.
One conventional way of doing so is by using a distributed path computation technique. Specifically, if node 220.127.116.11 located in TE domain 1, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which is to set up a service to node 22.214.171.124 TE domain 2, node 18.104.22.168 can compute a TE path to a border node 188.8.131.52 located on the border between TE domain 1 and TE domain 0, being the next TE domain towards the destination. Then, the node 188.8.131.52 can signal a service setup message along the computed path. When node 220.127.116.11, being the border node, receives the service setup message, it repeats the steps taken on node 220.127.116.11 and computes a path to the border node of the next TE domain towards the destination node, i.e. node 220.127.116.11 and signals the service setup message along the path, and so forth, until the path is computed to the service destination (by node 184.108.40.206). This conventional approach is rather simple, but has some severe deficiencies. On such deficiency is the necessity to know in advance the sequence of TE domains for the resulting path to be traversed. A further deficiency is a potential failure or sub-optimality of the distributed path computation. For example, a path segment chosen for TE domain N may yield no path segment across TE domain N+1 (which may exist should a different path segment across TE domain N has been selected). Yet another deficiency of this conventional approach is the complexity of computation of diverse end-to-end paths for the same service, and even more so, when computing concurrently paths for multiple services with distinct source/destination service termination points.
Another widely used conventional method to compute inter-domain TE paths under conditions of limited or no TE visibility is by using remote path computation elements, PCE, in accordance with the PCE-based architecture (RFC4655). Specifically, if a given node of the network such as node 184.108.40.206, as illustrated in FIG. 3, cannot compute path(s) to a destination located in one of the non-local TE domains because of lack of TE visibility (for example, to node 184.108.40.206), the path computation can be requested from one or more of the path computation elements, PCEs, of the network that supposedly have a better view of the TE domains across which the resulting path(s) will traverse. This conventional approach works exceptionally well when the paths are computed by a path computation element, PCE, that has full visibility in each of the network's TE domains, as shown in FIG. 3. However, in this case it is assumes that a single entity, i.e. the path computation element, PCE, knows all details about every network element and link of the network, which means a violation of the above-mentioned principle of network scalability. Consequently, this sets a limit to the extent the approach can scale. In other words, providing a given path computation element, PCE, with detailed traffic engineering, TE, information on each and every network TE domain does not solve the scalability problem, rather, pushes the problem from the network element to the path computation element, PCE.
It is also possible according to the path computation element, PCE-based network architecture to have several network path computation elements, PCEs, wherein each of them covers a sub-set but not all of the TE domains. Covering means in this context that a given path computation element, PCE, has detailed up-to-date information on a sub-set of TE domains. Consequently, it is possible to orchestrate the cooperation of the path computation elements, PCEs, to satisfy a given inter-domain path computation request as illustrated in FIG. 4. However, organizing such an orchestration, compared with the path computation in a single TE domain, is, generally speaking, extremely complex, cumbersome and computation timewise unpredictable to a point where it becomes totally impractical. To illustrate this, one can consider the example illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein a network is broken into 15 TE domains and wherein the network has 5 path computation elements, PCEs, each of which covering its own set of 3 domains. Suppose, the path computation elements, PCEs, are presented with a request to compute a path between destinations located, for example, in TE domains 1 and 13, respectively, which can potentially cross any of the domains. One can consider in this example the contribution of, for example, path computation element PCE3 to the path computation process. Because PCE3 does not have end-to-end TE visibility for the potential resulting path, it has no choice but to compute a full set of paths from all potential entry points into its TE visibility area (which are domains 7, 8 and 9) to all potential exit points from the area and to convey the entire path set to the next path computation element PCE, e.g. PCE4, which would augment/multiply the path set. These steps will be repeated on each of the path computation elements PCEs, until the request with the accumulated path set reaches the path computation element PCE5, covering local to the path destination TE domain, where the most optimal path from the set can be selected. The PCE orchestration described above becomes more complex with the increasing number of TE domains and inter-connections between them. The approach gets drastically more complex when it is required to compute more than one diverse path between a source and a destination, and the problem gets practically impossible to solve, when it is required to computer concurrently multiple paths for multiple services depending on a global optimization criterion.
In addition to the deficiencies described above, all conventional approaches based on mapping TE domains on IGP areas have the following drawbacks. They are based on the assumption that a universal TE address space across all domains does exist. This means that when adding new segments to the network, an operator has to coordinate the address assignment with all existing TE domains to avoid any address conflicts. This is very inconvenient and causes more configuration errors with the increasing size of the network. Further, the conventional approaches work under the assumption that all currently unreserved/uncommitted network resources of the network are equally available for all potential clients and services. It is impossible, for example, to ear-mark a set of resources to be available only for internal network building purposes, but not for the services provided for network clients.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a method and apparatus for scaling traffic engineering, TE, routing in a network which, on the one hand, overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and deficiencies and, on the other hand, provides a scalable traffic engineering solution that works equally well on networks of any size.

Method and apparatus for scaling traffic engineering routing in a network


Described are apparatuses and methods for generating a temperature-stabilized reference voltage on a semiconductor chip. An apparatus may include a differential amplifier including a first input, a second input, and an output. The apparatus may further include a first bipolar junction transistor (BJT) coupled to the first input; a second BJT coupled to the second input; and beta compensation circuitry, coupled to the first BJT and the second BJT, to regulate a first collector current of the first BJT to be independent of a first current gain of the first BJT and a second collector current of the second BJT to be independent of a second current gain of the second BJT. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Semiconductor bandgap voltage reference (BVR) circuits are used as voltage references for operating voltages in analog, digital, and mixed analog-digital circuits. For example, an accurate voltage reference is needed in almost any system on chip (SoC). Conventional BVR circuits operate on the principle of the addition of two partial voltages with opposite temperature responses. While one partial voltage rises proportionately with the absolute temperature (PTAT partial voltage, also referred to as "proportional to absolute temperature"), the other partial voltage falls as the temperature rises (CTAT partial voltage, also referred to as "complementary to absolute temperature"). An output voltage with low sensitivity to temperature is obtained as the sum of these two partial voltages.
With the development of ever-smaller microprocessors and memory cells, such as microprocessors and memory cells based on multiple gate field-effect transistors (MuGFET) and further process scaling, bipolar devices (e.g., bipolar junction transistor (BJT)) used in conventional BVR circuits have shown drastic degradation in reliability, particularly when the current-gain (β) of a BJT is low, e.g., less than three.

Bandgap reference circuit with beta-compensation


A plasma lighting system includes a magnetron configured to generate microwaves, and a bulb filled with a main dose and an additive dose. The main dose and the additive dose generate light under the influence of microwaves and have maximum intensities of respective intrinsic wavelengths at different wavelengths. A motor is configured to rotate the bulb. A controller is connected to the motor. The controller adjusts the Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) of the bulb to thereby adjust a color temperature of light emitted from the bulb.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma lighting system, and more particularly, to a plasma lighting system which may adjust a Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) of light.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
In general, a lighting system using microwaves (several hundred MHz to several GHz) is designed to generate visible light by applying microwaves to an electrodeless plasma bulb.
The microwave lighting system is an electrodeless discharge lamp in which a quartz bulb having no electrode is filled with inert gas. The microwave lighting system is configured to emit a continuous spectrum in a visible light range via high voltage electrical discharge using sulfur. The microwave lighting system is also referred to as a plasma lighting system.
Meanwhile, the plasma lighting system has no change in Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) in a thermally stabilized state thereof. That is, a color temperature of light from the plasma lighting system is determined only based on the quantity and kind of dose filling a bulb. In addition, when a change in color temperature is required, replacement of the entire bulb is necessary.

Microwave plasma discharge lighting system with adjustable color temperature


A variable resistor card for a fuel level sensor includes a first wiper contact area, a first electrically conductive pathway electrically communicated to the first wiper contact area, a second wiper contact area, a second electrically conductive pathway electrically communicated to the second wiper contact area, and a nonconductive layer on at least one of the first and second electrically conductive pathways.

A variable resistor is often used in a fuel level sensor to detect a change in fuel level in a fuel tank of an automobile. A typical variable resistor assembly has a wiper mechanically movable across contact segments of a resistor to change resistance value without interrupting a circuit to which the resistor is connected. The wiper is movable, usually in response to a float in a fuel tank responsive to changes in the level or depth of liquid fuel in the fuel tank. The typical variable resistor assembly has a resistor card including a ceramic substrate, two separate terminals on the substrate, and two separate and respective arcuate wiper contact areas on the substrate that are electrically connected with the terminals. Contact segments of at least one of the wiper contact areas are electrically connected to a resistor. Typically the wiper is pivotably mounted by an arm in relation to the substrate and bridges the wiper contact areas.
Typically, the resistance value of the variable resistor assembly varies in accordance with the position of the float. As the level of fuel within a fuel tank changes, the float member and actuator arm move and thereby cause the wiper to sweep over the arcuate wiper contact areas to change an effective length of the variable resistor between the terminals and thereby vary the effective resistance of the variable resistor. In accordance with the change in resistance, the output voltage of the resistor card changes and, thus, effects a change—such as from "Full" toward "Empty"—in a remote fuel level indicator useable by a driver in a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
In use, existing fuel level sensors can fail as a result of wiper and contactor wear associated with hundreds of thousands of resistor cycles and as a result of conductive contact segments reacting with liquid fuel or byproducts or additives contained within the liquid fuel. In an effort to combat such failure of fuel level sensors, various manufacturers have designed conductive wiper contactors and conductive contact segments composed of materials having an increased durability in the presence of a hostile fuel tank environment. Included in these materials are precious metals such as platinum, gold, silver, and palladium, which can be combined into alloys. Unfortunately, however, the cost of using such expensive alloy materials greatly contributes to the overall cost of a fuel level sensor assembly and such alloyed conductive layers are usually relatively unstable and require one or more plating and/or coating steps. The alloyed conductive contact segments require one or more layers of plating of nickel or nickel alloy material, and resistive portions of the resistor must be coated with an insulative protective coating prior to plating the alloyed conductive layers to prevent the resistive portions from becoming plated.
Moreover, existing fuel level sensors do not provide a means for preventing corrosion-inducing leakage currents between high potential areas. The electrical potential on a variable resistor card is highest between the terminals, is relatively high between respective electrically conductive pathways leading away from the terminals, and gradually decreases to near zero as the wiper and hence the circuit proceeds to distal portions of the wiper contact areas. Where the respective electrically conductive pathways are relatively thin and/or where the distance between the respective electrically conductive pathways is relatively small, electrical current has a tendency to leak therebetween. Such current leakage leads to corrosion of the electrically conductive pathways, the buildup of deposits, and eventual failure of the variable resistor assembly.

Variable resistor card for a fuel level sensor


A small form factor Microfused Silicon Strain gage (MSG) sensor incorporates an offset spring and feed-in features. A pressure sensor includes a spring having first and second coiled sections offset by a coiled center section in a middle that is used to make offset contact between two electrical contact pads.

The invention relates generally to pressure sensors, and more specifically to a small form factor pressure sensor.
Pressure sensors that use Microfused Silicon Strain gage (MSG) technology have become popular for variety of applications, such as automotive brake systems, automotive stability control systems, GDI fuel pressure, transmission systems, and so forth. These pressure sensors are generally small in form. A preferred design for a small form factor MSG sensor, which can have an outside diameter of less than 15 mm, typically uses a single printed circuit board (PCB) that connects directly to customer electronics in order to minimize component count. In these small form factor MSG sensors, a location of sensor PCB contact pads is generally constrained to a minimum radial distance from a center of the package due to a window in a center of the PCB to enable wirebonding to a strain gage.
What is needed is a solution for making offset pad connection with a single spring.


A video server inserts unique content identifiers into private packets of a digital program stream file as a result of loading the file onto a video server.

Certain conditions in content distribution networks may cause subscribers to view content that was erroneously sent to them. This may include fully-viewable assets as well as partial frames inserted into the wrong session. Some conditions which may result in this problem are: (1) incorrect data written to a disk; (2) disks that fail to write data; (3) data read from an incorrect location; (4) erroneously streaming two programs to the same location; and (5) erroneously streaming a program to the wrong locations.
The problem may be mitigated by the use of a "content crawler", which detects corruption and quarantines bad content from being accessed. Content may be checksummed when loaded on the video server. A server process continuously runs checksums across all content and compares to the original checksums. If the two checksums don't match, the content is quarantined (marked unreadable). It may take many hours to check all content on a system. Corruption may not be found for that period of time. That leaves a hole in the protection, a window after disk or volume corruption, and vectors unrelated to disk or volume corruption. Such vectors may include: (1) requesting the wrong content; (2) files being named incorrectly; (3) two streams sent to the same address; (4) a stream sent to the wrong set top box; and (5) packet corruption during network transmission and QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) processing.


A pharmaceutical composition for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), and in particular for BNCT on hepatoma is disclosed. The pharmaceutical composition contains a therapeutically effective amount of triphenylboroxin (phenylboronic anhydride) as a boron source and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as lipiodol.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,852, the inventor of the present invention discloses a boron-containing lipiodol pharmaceutical composition comprising lipiodol, submicron boron powder, lecithin and C12–C22 fatty acid, wherein said submicron boron powder is suspended in said lipiodol in the presence of said lecithin and said C12–C22 fatty acid such as linoleic acid. This B-lipiodol pharmaceutical composition is at least useful in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) of hepatoma, wherein the lipiodol has a property of a high retention in hepatoma, the lecithin has a boron carrying capacity, and the C12–C22 fatty acid has a function of rendering lecithin soluble in lipiodol. In this B-lipiodol pharmaceutical composition the submicron boron powder must have an appropriate distribution of particle sizes in order to be uniformly dispersed therein. Details of U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,852 are incorporated herein by reference.
Using BSH (borocaptate sodium) and BPA (boronophenylalanine) in clinical trails for treatment of malignant melanoma and brain tumor has been reported [Mishima, Y., et al. Lancet, 12, 388–389 (1989); Hatanaka, H. and Nakagawa, Y. Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys., 28, 1061–1066 (1994); Barth, R. F., et al. Int. J. Radiation Oncology Biol. Phys. Vol. 47, No. 1, 209–218 (2000)]. Further, Minoru Suzuki et al. have studied the effects of boron neutron capture therapy on liver tumors and normal hepatocytes in mice [Minoru Suzuki, et al., Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 91. 1058–1064, October 2000].
Carolyn Pratt Brock, Robin P. Minton and Kurt Niedenzu published an article in 1987 related to the structure and thermal motion of triphenylboroxin [Acta Cryst. (1987). C43, 1775–1779].

Pharmaceutical composition for boron neutron capture therapy containing triphenylboroxin


A master-slave device grips an object and performs a task while being in contact with a to-be-treated object. A force detection unit measures force information given to a slave mechanism. A force correction determination unit determines a force correction part serving as information from correction start to end times of force information transmitted to a master mechanism and, as a correcting method to perform correction, a first method determining a gain such that a reduction in absolute value of force information at the force correction part is maintained for a predetermined period of time or a second method determining a gain such that a reduction and an increase in the absolute value are repeated within a range that is not more than a value by reducing the absolute value. A force correction unit corrects information of a type of a force based on the force correction part and the gain.

The technical field relates to a control apparatus and method for a master-slave robot to generate or teach an operation of, for example, a robot arm master-slave robot, a master-slave robot having a control apparatus for a master-slave robot, and a control program for a master-slave robot. The present invention relates to a force measurement device in a manipulation by a person, a control apparatus and method for a master-slave robot that assists a manipulation by a person, a master-slave robot, and a control program.
In recent years, there is a master-slave robot in which a master robot is remotely manipulated by a person to cause a slave robot to perform a task.
For example, endoscopic surgery is performed such that an operator fits a tube called a trocar in a hole formed in the abdomen of a human body, inserts a tip end of a surgical instrument such as a dedicated endoscope or a forceps fixed to a slave from the trocar into the body, and manipulates a master while watching a video image of the endoscope displayed on a monitor screen to move the forceps fixed to the slave by remote control from the master. Even though a special doctor is not at the site, a surgical operation can be performed through the remote operation.
At a manufacturing premise, there is proposed a master-slave robot that remotely teaches a slave in an overseas factory from a domestic factory. In particular, regardless of location, a skilled task such as a flexible substrate insertion task can be taught such that a skilled person in the domestic factory remotely teaches a slave machine in an overseas factory.
In any master-slave system, in addition to a function of manipulating a master to smoothly manipulate a slave, a function of feeding back a force acting on the slave to the master is required.
However, in feeding back a force acting on the slave to the master, when the master and the slave have different inertia forces (for example, a slave is heavy and a master is light) and the force acting on the slave is fed back to the master, the inertia force in addition to the force is applied to the master. For this reason, large force is applied to the master, which causes large movement of the master. When the master largely moves, the slave also largely moves, and, by a work such as a flexible substrate gripped with the slave, a forceps gripped with an operator or the slave may hurt a living body.
As a method of feeding back a force acting on the slave to the master, force sensors are disposed on an arm portion of a surgical robot and a surgical instrument, and a force acting on a tip end of a forceps or a force acting on a robot arm is detected to feed back the force to the operator (see Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Translation of PCT Publication No. 2011-517419)).
As a proposal of feeding back a force acting on a slave to a master, there is a proposal that a force acting on the tip end of the slave is detected, and, when an impulse calculated from the detected force is a predetermined threshold value or more, the magnitude of a force fed back to the master is corrected to be decreased (see Patent Literature 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-164807)).
In addition, there is a proposal that, based on information of a force acting on the slave or a velocity thereof, the force acting on the slave is enlarged to fed back to the master (see Patent Literature 3 (WO 2012/029227)).

Control apparatus and method for master-slave robot, master-slave robot, and control program

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


Apparatus for wrapping articles in film material includes a stationary frame supporting a vertically reciprocable frame which in turn supports a rotatable ring member carrying a film carriage assembly by which film is wrapped around a load during rotation of the ring member. The ring member is a cast composite ring of a thermosetting, fiberglass reinforced polyester and comprises a flange by which the ring member is supported for rotation, and a body portion on which the film carriage and slip ring members are mounted.

One form of apparatus to which the improvements according to the present invention are applicable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,587,796 to HALOILA and U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,476 to MORANTZ, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein for background purposes. The apparatus disclosed in these patents includes a stationary frame for receiving an article or load to be wrapped, a vertically reciprocable frame supported on the stationary frame, and a ring member supported on the reciprocating frame for displacement therewith and for rotation relative thereto about a vertical ring axis. The ring member carries a film carriage assembly by which film is wrapped around a load during rotation of the ring member.
Heretofore, the ring member in such wrapping apparatus has been of metal construction fabricated from two matching pieces suitably secured together and machined in an effort to obtain the necessary accuracy and profile for rotating the ring at an acceptable speed with respect to achieving a desired wrapping rate. For all the effort in this respect, however, the ring is often out-of-round and/or not flat with respect to a plane transverse to the ring axis, and these problems limit the speed at which the ring can be rotated and thus the wrapping rate of the apparatus. Moreover, the ring generally has web and flange portions by which the ring is supported for rotation and, as a result of the out-of-round and non-flat problems, tracking of the ring relative to the rollers and wheels which support the ring for rotation is not good, and this too reduces the speed at which the ring can be rotated. Still further, the ring supports commutator or slip ring members by which electrical power is delivered to the carriage assembly during operation of the apparatus, and the foregoing problems with respect to the contour of the metal ring member cause relative bouncing between the moving, slip rings, and the fixed brush contacts therefor. Such bouncing causes arcing between the commutator rings and brushes, again limiting the speed at which the ring member can be rotated. Moreover, such bouncing increases the wear between and decreases the life of the slip rings and brush contacts, thus increasing the maintenance cost and time with respect to the apparatus.
The weight of the metal ring members, which are generally made from steel or aluminum, adds to the foregoing problems with respect to the contour and the effect of the contour on the ring speed. Especially in this respect, the weight of the metal rings affects the acceleration and deceleration rates of the ring with respect to a wrapping operation and, thus, the wrapping rate at which the apparatus can be operated. Still further, all of the foregoing problems are attendant to the use of metal rings with another form of wrapping apparatus in which the vertically reciprocable frame carrying the ring member is mounted in a cantilever fashion relative to the stationary frame. With this apparatus configuration, additional problems result from the weight of the ring. In this respect, the cantilever arrangement imposes undesirable bending forces between the stationary and reciprocating frames, thus requiring more rigid interengaging support arrangements and/or a counterweight arrangement and/or a positioning of the reciprocating frame relative to the stationary frame so as to shorten the length of the cantilever arm relative to the stationary frame. The latter arrangement, however, reduces the diameter of the ring member which can be used with the apparatus and, thus, the peripheral size of a load which can be wrapped by the apparatus.

Apparatus for wrapping articles in plastic film


An improved dimmable dual filament fluorescent lamp including a first filament and a second filament with automatic current switching between the first element and the second element when the first element opens due to a failure and further having a separating cold cathode getter plate disposed between the first filament and the second filament.

In the past, avionics displays have been called upon to perform in extreme environmental conditions. The typical cockpit display device needs to be visible in a bright sunlit cockpit at 40,000 feet at noon and also viewable in a dark moonless cockpit at midnight. Consequently, it has been desirable to have a backlighted liquid crystal display with a wide dimming range to accommodate the extreme ambient light conditions.
Additionally, there has been a seemingly never ending quest for avionics engineers to extend the bulb life for fluorescent lamps (i.e. increase the time between bulb replacements).
In the past, dual filament lamps have been proposed such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,616 entitled "Fluorescent Lamp with Double Cathode and Probe", which was issued to Donald P. Northrop on Mar. 29, 1988; which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. This patent shows the use of dual filaments in order to extend bulb life. However, this and similar designs have several serious drawbacks.
First of all, these lamps are not dimmable over a wide range which is needed for avionics applications.
Secondly, when the first filament burns out in the Northrop design it causes some material to be deposited on the second filament.
Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in fluorescent lamps used in the avionics areas.

Dual filament lamp and drive apparatus for dimmable avionics displays


The present invention provides a novel manufacturing method for a solid oxide fuel cell apparatus in which members of the apparatus are joined together with an adhesive, such as a ceramic adhesive. The method implements first and second types of drying and hardening steps. The first type of step may be called a workable hardening step and gives an assembly of members in the solid oxide fuel cell apparatus structural rigidity to go through assembling of the solid oxide fuel cell apparatus. The second type of step may be called a solvent elimination and hardening step and gives the assembled members property to withstand the operation temperature of the solid fuel oxide cell apparatus. The first type of step is performed at a first temperature lower than a second temperature at which the second type of step is performed. The second type of step is performed only after the first type of step is performed at multiple times.

1. Technical Field
The invention pertains to a solid oxide fuel cell, and more particularly to a solid oxide fuel cell and manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus for same.
2. Background Art
Solid oxide fuel cells ("SOFCs" below) are fuel cells which operate at a relatively high temperature in which, using an oxide ion-conducting solid electrolyte as electrolyte, with electrodes attached to both sides thereof, fuel gas is supplied to one side thereof and oxidant gas (air, oxygen, or the like) is supplied to the other side thereof.
A fuel flow path for supplying fuel to fuel cells, and an oxidant gas flow path or the like for supplying oxidant gas such as air, are built into a solid oxide fuel cell, and more particularly into a fuel cell module housing containing fuel cells. Normally these flow paths would be constituted of multiple constituent members, and flow paths are formed by the jointing of each of the constituent products. Since solid oxide fuel cells generally operate at high temperatures of 600 to 1000° C., each of the constituent members must be joined so as to withstand such high temperatures. In addition, airtightness must be secured in the joint portions of each constituent part forming the fuel flow path, the fuel gas flow path, and the like.
Therefore inside the fuel cell module, on joint portions for which airtightness is required between constituent members, methods have been used such as mechanically affixing the constituent members with bolts or the like, then injecting glass in paste form into the joint portion to secure airtightness.
In the fuel cells set forth in Japanese Patent 3894860 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application H6-215782 (Patent Document 2), adhesion of the constituent members in a fuel cell module using ceramic adhesive is described.

Solid oxide fuel cell and manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus for same


A portable traffic control comprising two display units, each responsive to a transmitter's radio signals, each display unit comprising a "stop" and a "go" lamp, the light from all lamps viewable by a person positioned between the display units. The system is optionally equipped with an audio warning means for detecting vehicles that ignore a display unit stop light, the display units each preferably employing a simplified circuit with a servo motor mechanism.

Portable traffic control systems particularly suited to controlling traffic in work areas have been disclosed (e.g., Moe, U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,718; Terrill, U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,362). Normally, the systems are used on roads that have two traffic lanes, each for traffic in a different direction. When repair work is being performed on one lane of the road, however, the traffic in both directions must use the other lane. The control systems employ traffic lights at each end of the traffic lane, alternately presenting a go signal first to traffic from one direction and then to traffic from the other direction. The signals are not only viewable by oncoming traffic but also by an operator standing between the display units.
It would be desirable, however, to have improved traffic control systems, for example, one having a warning device that is activated by the vehicle of a driver who ignores or does not notice a stop light. It would also be desirable to have a system that uses simplified control circuits with fewer moving parts so as to minimize repair costs for the circuits. Furthermore, it would be preferable that neither red nor green lights on the back side of a display unit be used to convey information to a person behind that display unit about the status of the traffic lights on its front side, since such lights might prove confusing to drivers who are supposed to respond to the front traffic lights on the other display unit.

Remote controlled portable traffic signals


An alternator fan includes a base member having a central hub, an outer peripheral edge, and a web that extends between the central hub and the outer peripheral edge, and a plurality of openings extending through web. A plurality of fan blade elements is arranged in corresponding ones of each of the plurality of openings.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of electric machines and, more particularly to a fan for an alternator.
Many electric machines include a stator and a rotor. The rotor is rotated relative to the stator to create an electromotive force. In many cases, a fan is mounted to the rotor either directly, or to a rotor shaft. In operation, the rotor spins the fan which, in turn, provides a cooling airflow to the electric machine. Typically, the fan is formed by stamping a fan form from sheet metal. The fan form includes a base portion that is mounted to the rotor integrally formed with a plurality of fan blades. The fan blades, when rotated, create the cooling airflow that is passed through the electric machine for cooling purposes.


A new and distinct cultivar of Cordyline plant named ‘Spricorhapso’, characterized by its upright and outwardly slanting growth habit; vigorous growth habit and relatively rapid growth rate; long lanceolate variegated leaves with brown, greyed red, light orange white-colored longitudinal stripes; tolerance to low and high temperatures; excellent keeping quality and good garden performance.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Cordyline plant, botanically known as Cordyline australis, and hereinafter referred to by the name 'Spricorhapso'.
The new Cordyline plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Cordyline australis 'Red Star', not patented. The new Cordyline plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor within a population of plants of 'Red Star' in a controlled greenhouse environment in Zhejiang, China on Apr. 2, 2004.
Asexual reproduction of the new Cordyline plant by micropropagated cuttings in Zhejiang, China since April, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Cordyline plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.


Disclosed is an optical head in which position adjustment of a photodetector light receiving surface or component parts may be simplified, production costs may be reduced and operational reliability may be improved. The optical head includes a light source 22, radiating light of a preset wavelength, an objective lens 27 for condensing the outgoing light from the light source 22 on an optical disc 2 and for condensing the return light from the optical disc 2, a beam splitter 25 for branching the optical path of the return light reflected by the optical disc 2, and for collimating the branched return light so as to be parallel to the outgoing light from the light source 22, a composite optical component including a splitting prism 30 arranged on a site of incidence of the branched return light for spatially splitting the return light, and a light receiving unit for receiving plural return light beams spatially split by the splitting prism 30 for producing focusing error signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical head for recording and/or reproducing the information for an optical disc, which permits optical information recording and/or reproduction, such as magneto-optical disc or phase-change optical disc, and a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, employing this optical head.
This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-155675 filed on May 30, 2003, and No. 2004-120747 filed on Apr. 15, 2004, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2. Description of Related Art
There has so far been known a recording and/or reproducing apparatus including a light source and an optical system which, for reproducing optical discs having different formats, such as CD (Compact Disc) or DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), is capable of radiating laser light beams of different wavelengths for coping with the respective formats.
Referring to FIG. 45, an optical system 201, provided to this sort of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus, includes, in an arraying order corresponding to the ongoing direction of the optical path, a double wavelength light source 211, selectively radiating laser light beams of respective different wavelengths to an optical disc 204, a diffractive lattice for three beams 212, for splitting the outgoing light radiated from the double wavelength light source 211 into three beams, a beam splitter 213 for separating the outgoing light and the return light from the optical disc 204 from each other, an aperture stop 214 for restricting the outgoing light to a preset numerical aperture NA, a double wavelength objective lens 215 for converging the outgoing light to the optical disc 204, and a light receiving unit 216 for receiving the return light from the optical disc 204.
As the double wavelength light source 211, a semiconductor laser is used, and selectively radiates a laser light beam of, for example, approximately 780 nm, and another laser light beam of approximately 650 nm, from a light emitting point 211a.
For producing tracking error signal by the so-called three-beam method, the diffractive lattice for three beams 212 splits the outgoing light, radiated from the double wavelength light source 211, into three beams, namely an order zero light beam and±order one light beams.
The beam splitter 213 includes a half-mirror surface 213a for reflecting the outgoing light, radiated from the double wavelength light source 211, in the direction towards the optical disc 204. The beam splitter reflects the outgoing light, radiated from the double wavelength light source 211, in the direction towards the optical disc 204, while transmitting the return light from the optical disc 204 onto the light receiving unit 216 to separate the optical path of the outgoing light beam from that of the return light.
The light receiving unit 216 includes, on a light receiving surface 216a, a photodetector for a main beam 217, as later explained, for receiving the order zero light beam split from the return light by the diffractive lattice for three beams 212, and a set of photodetectors for side beams, not shown, for receiving the±order one light beams, split from the return light by the diffractive lattice for three beams 212.
In the optical system 201, an astigmatic method is used for detecting focusing error signals. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 46(a) to 46(c), a light receiving surface of a photodetector for a main beam 217, receiving the return light, is substantially square-shaped, and is split into four equal light receiving areas A to D by a pair of mutually orthogonal splitting lines passing through the center of the light receiving surface. A pair of photodetectors for side beams is arranged on both sides of the photodetector for a main beam 217.
Referring to FIG. 45 the optical components of the optical system 201 are arranged on an ongoing path optical from the double wavelength light source 211 to the optical disc 204 so that image points as conjugate points of light emitting points 211a, 211b of the double wavelength light source 211 as object points are disposed on a recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204.
The optical components of the optical system 201 are also arranged on a return path from the optical disc 204 to the light receiving unit 216 so that, with the point on the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204 as object point, the image points as conjugate points are located on the light receiving surface of the photodetector for the main beam 217 of the light receiving unit 216.
Hence, the light emitting points of the double wavelength light source 211 of the optical system 201 are in a conjugate relationship with respect to the points on the light receiving surface of the photodetector for the main beam 217 of the light receiving unit 216.
The method for producing a focusing error signal by the light receiving areas A to D of the photodetector for the main beam 217 is hereinafter explained.
First, in case the double wavelength objective lens 215 is at an optimum position relative to the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204 and is focused with respect to the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204, that is, in a just-focus state, the profile of a beam spot on the light receiving surface of the photodetector for the main beam 217 is circular, as shown in FIG. 46(b).
However, when the double wavelength objective lens 215 has excessively approached to the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204, the double wavelength objective lens deviates from the just focus state, such that, due to the astigmatism generated as a result of the passage through the composite optical component 212 of the return light separated by a diffraction lattice for a beam splitter 212b, the beam spot on the light receiving surface of the photodetector for the main beam 217 is of an elliptical profile with the long axis of the ellipsis astride the light receiving area A and the light receiving area C, as shown in FIG. 46(a).
If the double wavelength objective lens 215 is moved excessively away from the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204, the double wavelength objective lens deviates from the just focus state, such that, due to the astigmatism generated as a result of the passage through the composite optical component 213 of the return light separated by the diffraction lattice for a beam splitter 212, the beam spot on the light receiving surface of the photodetector for a main beam 217 is of an elliptical profile with the long axis of the ellipsis astride the light receiving area B and the light receiving area D, as shown in FIG. 46(c). The beam spot profile in this case is elliptical with the long axis direction inclined 90° from the beam spot profile shown in FIG. 46(a).
With return light outputs SA, SB, SC and SD from the respective light receiving areas A to D of the photodetector for the main beam 217, the focusing error signals FE may be calculated as shown by the following equation (6):FE=(SA+SC)−(SB+SD)  (6).
That is, in the just-focus state of the photodetector for the main beam 217, in which the double wavelength objective lens 215 is at the focused position, the focusing error signal FE, calculated by the above equation (6), is zero, as shown in FIG. 46(b).
If, with the photodetector for the main beam 217, the double wavelength objective lens 215 has excessively approached to or moved excessively away from the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204, the focusing error signal FE is positive or negative, respectively.
The tracking error signal TE may be produced by the photodetectors for side beams receiving the±order one light beams, split by the diffraction lattice for three beams 212 and calculating the difference of the respective outputs of the photodetectors for side beams.
With the optical pickup device, having the optical system 201, constructed as described above, the double wavelength objective lens 215 is actuated and displaced, based on the focusing error signal FE obtained by the photodetector for the main beam 217 of the light receiving unit 216, and the tracking error signal TE obtained by the photodetector for side beams, whereby the double wavelength objective lens 215 is moved to the focused position with respect to the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204, such that the outgoing light is focused on the recording surface 205 of the optical disc 204 to reproduce the information from the optical disc 204.
However, in the above-described optical system, in which the beam splitting is made on the photodetector, the requirement for position accuracy on the light receiving surface of the photodetector is extremely severe. Additionally, since the focusing error signals are produced thanks to the severe position accuracy of the light emitting unit, light receiving unit or other components, an extremely severe tolerance is imposed on the shape or manufacture methods of base components of the optical pickup, or on the shape or the arranging method of other components.
For example, in an optical system, shown in FIG. 45, the optical axis of the return light is deviated by an error in the mounting angle or the error in thickness of the beam splitter 213. If the optical axis of the return light is deviated to the slightest extent in one or the other direction from the center of the photodetector for the main beam 217, the output for the just-focus state is not zero, and hence the focusing error FE is offset.

Optical head and recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing same


A noise making arrow is provided. The noise making arrow includes an arrow body having a head and a tail. A whistle is attached to the arrow body. The whistle may include a slot that is positioned in the same direction as the head of the arrow body. When the arrow is launched, air may rush through the slot and exit the slot, creating a whistle noise.

The present invention relates to a toy arrow and, more particularly, to a whistle attached to the tow arrow.
Toy arrows are typically launched into the sky by a rubber sling shot. Currently, toy arrows may include lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), to add to the experience. While lights may add to the visual effect, the toy arrows currently lack any audio affect.
As can be seen, there is a need for a whistle attached to tow arrows.


A topical drug application for the alleviation of kerato-conjunctivitis sicca (dry eye syndrome) is comprised of a solution of sex steroids or their derivatives suspended or dissolved in a vehicle, and the method of preparation and application of the same. In the preferred embodiments, the sex steroid consists essentially of conjugated estrogen in a lipid vehicle or a derivative of estrogen known as 17 beta-Estradiol 3-phosphate disodium dissolved in an aqueous vehicle having a pH of between 6 and 8.

The high incidence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in the population of postmenopausal women is attended by symptoms ranging from mild foreign body sensation to frank pain and visual loss due to ocular surface abnormalities.
The standard treatment with artificial lubricants, which provides temporary symptomatic relief in most cases does not, however, address the cause of the dry eyes. While Fried and deRoetth have anecdotally described treatment of post menopausal females with dry eye syndrome using oral premarin therapy, the oral or parenteral administration of estrogen frequently produces vaginal bleeding, breast tenderness and other undesired effects. Further, such oral or parenteral administration implicates the entire body structure in an indeterminate effort to secure an effect in a localized area (the eye), in the absence of any data relating the level of estrogen introduced into the blood stream to the level, if any, resulting in the tear fluid. Conservative medicine would indicate the desirability of limiting the specific effect of the hormone to the recipient site if possible.

Drugs for topical application of sex steroids in the treatment of dry eye syndrome, and methods of preparation and application


In relay weld diagnostic device, a threshold value determination unit (104) determines a threshold value on the basis of a resistance value that is set for each of a P-pole-side resistor (24) and an N-pole-side resistor (23) provided to charging equipment. A peak value measuring unit (110) measures the peak value of a voltage supplied to a voltage line by an alternating-current signal output circuit (112). A comparison diagnosis unit (111) assesses the state of a relay (14) on the P-pole side and a relay (15) on the N-pole side by comparing the peak value and the threshold value, and makes a diagnosis as to whether the relays (14), (15) are welded on the basis of the assessed state of the relays (14), (15) and the state in which the relays (14), (15) are controlled.

Conventionally, in a charging circuit of electric automobiles such as EVs (Electric Vehicles) and PHEVs (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) that can travel by using an electric energy accumulated in a battery as a driving source, a relay circuit for connecting or disconnecting a boost charging facility and a battery connection junction circuit at the time of charging is provided. Such a relay circuit includes a mechanical relay junction (hereinafter referred to as "relay"), and welding of the relay may be caused by the on/off performed with a high voltage and high current.
PTL 1, for example, discloses a technique for detecting welding of the relay. In the technique disclosed in PTL 1, the voltage across a positive electrode line and a negative electrode line is measured with a voltage detection circuit, and whether relays are welded is determined on the basis of results of the measurement.


The data processor related to the invention accesses memory with an address value which is expressed by signed binary notation expressed by twos compliment, is so constructed that the negative address value having maximum absolute value and the positive address value having the same are not wrapped around each other, is provided with hardware which signed extends the address values expressed by relatively small bit number, and is so constructed that the user area and the supervisor area are separated from each other in accordance with the positiveness and the negativeness of address value, so that the positive and negative address space are allowed to optionally be extended in the direction of the greater absolute value without being split, and extending process of address value is easy, furthermore, the user area and the supervisor area can be judged merely by means of the signed bit denoting either the positiveness or the negativeness, to thereby violation of the access right in the supervisor area under the user mode being able to easily be detected.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a data processor, more particularly, to a data processor which easily and optionally extends an address space comprised of a user area and a supervisor area by providing the supervisor area with a memory protective function, i.e., two-level memory protective functions, in the actual storage environment.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the address space of a conventional data processor which is provided with memory having addresses on a 1-byte basis, where these addresses respectively have a certain address space expressed by unsigned binary notation expressing absoluteness. Address values of address space shown in FIG. 1 are expressed by the digit notation.
FIG. 1 denotes in its right-side a practical system that has both the supervisor area and the user area extended when the address space of a data processor is extended to 64 bits. The address space containing 4 giga-bytes denoted by unsigned 32-bit binary notation (shown to the left) is discretely provided to the supervisor area which substantially corresponds to the upper 2 giga bytes made available for the supervisor as well as the user area which substantially corresponds to the lower 2 giga bytes made available for the user. When employing the above constitution, either the supervisor or the user can use the user area, whereas only the supervisor is allowed to use the supervisor area in order to securely protect memory. A technique which protects memory by dividing memory into a plurality of address space based on an idea similar to that shown in FIG. 1 is described in "VAX Architecture Handbook", Section 7, compiled by Education Department, Japan Digital Equipment Co., Ltd.
As shown in FIG. 1, if the address space expressed by unsigned binary notation is divided into the supervisor area and the user area, when extending the address space, the user area is split into two parts in the manner of sandwiching the supervisor area. This makes it quite difficult for any conventional data processor to extend the address space.
Furthermore, since in any conventional data processor, all the supervisor areas are present in teh address space having large values, when directly designating any address in the supervisor area, a longer code length is needed for designating specific addresses.

Data processor implementing a two's complement addressing technique


A system is provided for generating electricity from a fluid pressurized via a natural resource such as air compressed through a windmill, the compressed air stored in tanks by a windmill operated compressor, where the stored compressed air is then used to operate a turbine. The turbine has a nozzle configured to increase velocity of the compressed air entering the turbine. The rotor of the turbine has flat annular discs each set apart from one another by spacers to form a rotor stack with no central shaft. Permanent magnets are positioned radially about the end of the rotor stack. The magnets are arranged such that their poles radially alternate to interact with static wire coils positioned about the ends of the rotor stack to produce alternating current electricity. The compressed air enters the turbine at a tangent along the outer periphery of the rotor and exit axially through a central exhaust port.

Electricity is almost, if not completely, a necessity in today's society. Homes, businesses, communities and individuals need electricity for powering the devices and infrastructure that run the economy and our lives. In view of this, vast amounts of electricity must therefore be generated on a continuous basis. A lot of that electricity is currently generated using a prime mover or energy source that negatively impacts our environment and/or is not renewable or sustainable. Because of this, there is a growing push towards generating electricity using a prime mover that is environmentally friendly, renewable and sustainable (green). Prime movers such as moving water, wind and solar are considered green.
However, each of these green prime movers has its drawbacks. Because of current solar cell technology, it takes a sizable array of large solar cell panels to generate appreciable amounts of usable electricity. The array is stationary, takes up real estate, and is costly to maintain. It also requires sunshine to generate electricity. Water or hydroelectric systems can generate large amounts of electricity but must be located at the site of the moving or falling water. Such facilities are typically immense structures that may also be associated with a dam and are therefore expensive to operate and maintain. Wind is an excellent prime mover for generating electricity. However, because wind is variable, generating electricity directly from the wind is irregular. On some days, there is little to no wind which translates into little to no generation of electricity, while on other days, there is too much wind creating the possibility of damage to the wind receiving device or the intentional, protective shutdown of the wind receiving device where no electricity is generated. However, wind is arguably the best green energy source for the generation of electricity.
As gathered from the above, it would therefore be desirable to have a wind driven electricity generating system that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.
The present invention sufficiently accomplishes these means.

System using natural resources to generate electricity from a pressurized fluid


A modular datacenter includes a server rack, a main beam, and an attachment member. The server rack is configured to hold a plurality of servers. The main beam is configured to hold the server rack in a specific location within the modular datacenter. The attachment member is coupled to the main beam and connected to the server rack. The attachment member is configured to apply a force to the server rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and to change the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compression or the tension and on the location of the attachment member with respect to the server rack.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
A modular datacenter can be a datacenter that is mobile, such that the modular datacenter can be transported to a specific location to provide additional computing capacity. The modular datacenter can include multiple server racks, servers, cooling devices, and other components. Additionally, the modular datacenter is typically transported with the server racks fully loaded with information technology equipment, such as the servers. Thus, when the modular datacenter arrives at the desired location, the modular datacenter can be quickly set up and made operational.
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

Modular datacenter server rack retention


A process and system for recovering waste heat from a kiln used for lime or cement production. The system unifies the kiln, a waste heat recovery and power generation circuit and a dry scrubber for scrubbing the pollutants from the kiln offgas. Essentially, the system employs the boiler component of the waste heat recovery and power generation circuit as a heat exchanger to recover the waste heat from the kiln, which is used to drive the steam turbines. The heat absorption from the latter stage lowers the temperature of the kiln offgas sufficiently for optimum performance from the scrubber. The presence of lime particles in the offgas effectively protects the boiler tube surfaces from corrosion which would occur at optimum scrubber temperatures, and subsequently provides the lime required as a scrubbing medium for the dry scrubber. Further, the efficient scrubbing allows for the use of any fuel for firing the kiln inclusive of high sulphur content compounds. A process for effecting the technology is also provided.

It is well known that in North America, lime and cement is typically produced in rotary kilns. The primary energy consuming reaction in both processes is the conversion or calcination of limestone (CaCO3) to lime (CaO) also known as quicklime. The intense heat and energy needed to drive the reaction requires the use of fossil fuels. A byproduct of these processes is fine particulates trapped in air pollution control systems of rotary kilns commonly known as lime kiln dust (LKD) and cement kiln dust (CKD). LKD and CKD contain, primarily, limestone, fly ash from the fuel and quicklime.
The required use of fossil fuels can present pollution concerns and, depending upon the type of fuel used, may require a further unit operation, such as flue gas desulfurization, to satiate the problem. In furtherance, typical exit temperatures of kilns exceed that which can be effectively used for dry scrubbers. The dry scrubbing operation is best suited for temperatures in the range of 350° F. to 400° F. The discharge or offgas temperature of a long, straight-type kiln, for example can be in excess of 1000° F.
To achieve effective dry scrubber operation, the excess heat must be extracted from the offgas. Typically, it is dumped to the surrounding environment and wasted.
This is less energy-efficient, represents a sub-optimum economic condition, and contributes to long-term environmental concerns such as the production of green house gases.
Conventional boilers are commonly used to capture heat contained in offgases from fossil fuel-fired sources. Operational parameters and materials of construction must be carefully controlled in order to avoid corrosive chemical attack. Typically of greatest concern is in-situ formation of sulfurous acidic compounds. When burning fossil fuels containing sulfur, corrosive acidic formations will occur on boiler surfaces that are below acid dew temperature.
A gas scrubbing method is established in United States Patent Publication No. US2005/0031515, published Feb. 10, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference.