A tread band for vehicle tires is manufactured by conveying a primary elastomer material (4) through an extrusion path (11, 15) defined by a preforming channel (15) followed by an extrusion outlet (11) formed in a die (10). The preforming channel (15) is defined in a preforming device (9) comprising a drawer (12) operatively engaging a preformer (13). Formed in the drawer (12) is an auxiliary channel (17) the end length (17b) of which opens at right angles into the extrusion path (11, 15), close to the extrusion outlet (11). An auxiliary elastomer material (5) conveyed to the auxiliary feeding channel (17) is homogeneously distributed by a coating effect under the lower surface of the tread band (4a) crossing the extrusion outlet (11).

Applicant claims the right of priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7 119 based on patent application No. MI97A 000764, filed Apr. 3, 1997, in Italy.
The present invention relates to an extrusion method for manufacturing tread bands for vehicle tires, as well as an extrusion apparatus for carrying said method into effect, said apparatus being of the type comprising: at least one primary extrusion head for feeding at least one primary elastomer material; at least one auxiliary extrusion head for feeding at least one auxiliary elastomer material; a preforming device having at least one primary preforming channel connected to the primary extrusion head; an extrusion die operatively disposed downstream of the preforming device and having an extrusion outlet located at the end of the primary preforming channel and defining an extrusion path therewith.
It is known that in the field of tire manufacture for vehicle wheels, the tread band is obtained by extrusion of a workpiece in the form of a continuous strip which is subsequently cut into lengths of predetermined measure, each of which is adapted to be associated with the other tire components during an assembling step provided in the production process: during this step all workpieces forming the tire are fit together at room temperature, said pieces, being cold too, since they come from a storage magazine.
In more detail, the stretch forming the tread band is applied crownwise either to the carcass, usually already toroidally shaped, directly on the carcass ply or plies, or to the belt structure previously wrapped over said carcass, in such a manner that the opposite side edges of the tread band join the end flaps of the tire sidewalls. Depending on planning choices, these end flaps are either applied to the carcass plies so as to be enclosed between the latter and the opposite side edges of the tread band, or directly applied in superposed relationship to the opposite side edges of the tread band itself.
Usually, the type of blend used in making the tread band depending on the required performance (wear resistance and grip on a dry and wet road surface, for example) has such chemical features that it appears difficult to obtain an efficient cold adhesion to the elastomers employed in making the carcass and belt structures and the tire sidewalls. Under this situation, in order to eliminate the necessity to submit the tread band to processes involving application of a petrol solution in order to restore the necessary stickiness during the tire assembling step, in many cases use is made of a so-called xe2x80x9cskim coatsxe2x80x9d to be applied to the lower surface of the tread band and intended to get into contact with the carcass ply or belt structure. This skim coat is essentially made up of a thin layer of natural rubber-based blend that, being applied to the tread band when it is still hot immediately after its emerging from the extrusion head, can be efficiently anchored to the tread band blend and supplies an appropriate substrate for cold adhesion to the carcass without resorting to surface processes involving application of a petrol solution.
Likewise, in the case of overlapping of the sidewalls on the opposite side edges of the tread band, the side edges of the tread band as well are intended to be provided with two border inserts, the so-called xe2x80x9cmini-sidewallsxe2x80x9d also made of an elastomer material having such features that an efficient adhesion between tread band and sidewalls is ensured during the assembling step of the tire, usually by adopting the same blend for the sidewalls and mini-sidewalls in order to facilitate cold adhesion.
Application of mini-sidewalls to the tread band takes place by a co-extrusion process, a hot process therefore, which consists in employing on the same extrusion unit intended for the tread band formation, a second extrusion head supplying the blend for the mini-sidewalls along two auxiliary feeding channels converging at the opposite side portions of an extrusion outlet, in a direction substantially parallel to the course of the primary feeding channel through which the elastomer material intended for forming the true tread band is fed.
In the present state of the art, unlike the mini-sidewalls, the skim coat is produced in a separated unit, generally a calender, and rolled onto bobbins; each bobbin is then mounted on an appropriate unwinding device from which the skim coat is taken out for application to the tread band already provided with the optional mini-sidewalls, while said tread band is moving away from the corresponding extrusion unit.
Usually, since the skim coat is applied to the lower surface of the tread band, the unit carrying out unwinding of the skim coat is disposed under the whole tread band extrusion plant that consequently must be placed at a raised position, which will bring about complications in the plant structure and difficulties in acceding to all parts thereof.
In order to eliminate the requirement for use of a separated unit for skim coat production and a bobbin unwinding unit to deliver the skim coat to the tread band extrusion unit, attempts have been made to extrude the skim coat together with the tread band, in the same manner as pointed out with reference to mini-sidewalls, by adopting a co-extrusion method already known and successfully used for producing tread bands made up of two blends, where thickness of the lower blend layer is about half the thickness of the whole tread band.
The Applicant has however found that this co-extrusion method gives poor results when, in an attempt to make the skim coat, thickness of the underlying blend layer is reduced to values as low as two millimeters or less. Actually, in order to obtain very reduced thicknesses by extrusion, of 2 mm for example, due to swelling of the blend on coming out of the extrusion device, dies having apertures of about 1 mm are to be adopted and consequently possible blend impurities or dust may be entrapped into the die, thereby creating longitudinal scratches and therefore size irregularities in the extruded product or extrusion.
In addition, under such operating conditions checking of the blend flow rates at the different points of the extrusion section is very difficult and, therefore, sufficient assurances in terms of even and precise thickness of the skim coat and repeatability of results can be hardly given.
It is known that these difficulties are not present in calenders.
In accordance with the present invention it has been found that making the tread band provided with a skim coat in a co-extrusion process in which the skim coat itself has excellent qualities in terms of thickness evenness and thickness control is made possible if the blend intended for forming the skim coat is injected into the extrusion path of travel of the tread band in a direction perpendicular to, or in any case having a high angle of incidence with respect to the flow of the blend forming the tread band itself.
In a first aspect, the present invention relates to an extrusion method to make tread bands for vehicle tires comprising the steps of: conducting at least one primary elastomer material along an extrusion path comprising a primary preforming channel connected to an extrusion outlet the shape of which substantially corresponds to the required transverse section of the extruded product, conveying at least one auxiliary elastomer material to the extrusion path longitudinally passed through the primary elastomer, said conveying being carried out in a direction transverse to the movement direction of the primary elastomer longitudinally crossing the extrusion path, in such a manner that the auxiliary elastomer is distributed in the form of a thin layer over at least one surface of the extruded product being formed along the extrusion path.
In more detail the auxiliary elastomer material is conveyed to the extrusion path at a point immediately upstream of, or substantially close to the extrusion outlet.
Preferably, the conveying transverse direction of the auxiliary elastomer is substantially perpendicular to, or in any case forms an angle included between 30xc2x0 and 160xc2x0 relative to the movement direction of the primary elastomer along the extrusion path.
In a possible embodiment, the method in question further comprises the step of conveying at least one secondary elastomer to a pair of secondary preforming channels converging at two opposite side portions respectively of the extrusion outlet, in such a manner that two border inserts are formed on the tread band and extend along the opposite edges of the tread band itself.
Advantageously, the thin layer is applied to the lower surface of the tread band which is such arranged as to come into contact with a tire carcass on which said tread band will be employed.
Still in accordance with the present invention, the above method is carried into effect by an extrusion apparatus to make tread bands for vehicle tires, characterized in that it further comprises at least one auxiliary feeding channel connected to the auxiliary extrusion head and converging on the extrusion path in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the latter.
In more detail, the auxiliary feeding channel converges on the extrusion path substantially at said extrusion outlet, preferably in a direction forming an angle included between 30xc2x0 and 160xc2x0, and more preferably of 90xc2x0 relative to the longitudinal extension of the extrusion path.
In a preferential solution of the invention, the auxiliary feeding channel has a connection length formed in the preforming device which terminates at said auxiliary extrusion head, as well as an end length formed between the preforming device and the extrusion die. Said end length preferably is defined by a surface hollow formed in the extrusion die.
Advantageously, said preforming device comprises a preformer-holding drawer and a preformer operatively housed in said drawer, said primary preforming channel being formed between said preformer and preformer-holding drawer, and said auxiliary feeding channel being at least partly formed in the drawer.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, which is valid in itself also independently of the presence or not of the auxiliary feeding channel, the preformer is comprised of two end portions disposed in mirror image relationship and at least one central insert removably engaged between said two end portions, said central insert being interchangeable so as to adapt the width of the primary preforming channel to the width of the extrusion outlet arranged in said die.
Centering means comprising, for example, a keyway in the central insert of the preformner and a centering key in the preformer drawer, enable the preformer to be fixed at a centered position relative to the drawer.
In a possible embodiment, the apparatus in question further comprises at least one secondary extrusion head to feed at least one secondary elastomer material, said preforming device having a pair of secondary preforming channels connected to said third extrusion head and converging at opposite side portions of said extrusion outlet respectively, so as to form two border inserts extending along the opposite edges of the tread band thus made.
In a third aspect, the present invention relates to an extrusion method to make tread bands with an elastomer insert, comprising the steps of:
conducting a primary elastomer flow along an extrusion path comprising a primary preforming channel connected to an extrusion outlet of a shape substantially corresponding to the required transverse section of the extruded product;
opening an empty region, adapted to be filled with another material, into the primary elastomer flow,
conveying at least one auxiliary elastomer material to the extrusion path longitudinally passed through by the primary elastomer, said conveying being carried out in a direction transverse to the movement direction of the primary elastomer longitudinally passing through the extrusion path, in such a manner that the auxiliary elastomer is homogeneously distributed in the empty region opened in the primary elastomer flow.
In accordance with another aspect, the present invention relates to an extrusion apparatus to manufacture tread bands for vehicle tires comprising an elastomer insert comprising:
at least one primary extrusion head to feed at least one primary elastomer material,
at least one auxiliary extrusion head to feed at least one auxiliary elastomer material,
a preforming device having at least one primary preforming channel connected to the primary extrusion head,
an extrusion die operatively disposed downstream of the preforming device and having an extrusion outlet disposed at the end of the primary preforming channel and defining an extrusion path therewith, characterized in that it further comprises:
at least one auxiliary feeding channel connected to the auxiliary extrusion head and converging on the extrusion path in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the latter, and
means for opening an empty region adapted to be filled with another material, in the primary elastomer flow, and
means for enabling the auxiliary elastomer material coming from the auxiliary feeding channel to flow beyond the extrusion outlet and occupy said empty region.

Method for manufacturing tread bands for vehicle tires


The different switch modules making up a distributed virtual switch may route configuration commands for hardware resources to different modules within the distributed switch using a distribution and routing layer. At least one of the switch modules maintains a routing table that defines which switch modules are responsible for which hardware resources. The switch module uses the routing tables to forward the commands on the distribution and routing layer to the responsible switch module which then ensures that the relevant hardware resources are configured.

Computer systems often use multiple computers that are coupled together in a common chassis. The computers may be separate servers that are coupled by a common backbone within the chassis. Each server is a pluggable board that includes at least one processor, an on-board memory, and an Input/Output (I/O) interface. Further, the servers may be connected to a switch to expand the capabilities of the servers. For example, the switch may permit the servers to access additional Ethernet networks or PCIe slots, as well as permit communication between servers in the same or different chassis.

Distributing functions in a distributed and embedded environment

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention discloses a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment. The light-emitting diode illuminating equipment of the invention includes a heat-dissipating plate device, a plurality of heat-dissipating fins, a plurality of diode light-emitting devices, and a plurality of bar-shaped heat-conducting devices with high heat-conducting coefficient. The heat-dissipating fins extend from a surface of the heat-dissipating plate device. By mounting the heat-conducting devices onto the surface of the heat-dissipating plate device and disposing them among the heat-dissipating fins, a heat produced in operation by each diode light-emitting device is distributed uniformly on the heat-dissipating plate device and the heat-conducting devices due to the high heat-conducting efficiency of the heat-conducting devices, and then it is dissipated such that the diode light-emitting devices have a consistent junction temperature to make a consistency of luminous efficiency and lifetime of the diode light-emitting devices.

1. Field of the Invention
This present invention relates to a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment, and more particularly to the high-power light-emitting diode illuminating equipment with high efficiency heat-spreading and heat-dissipating structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A light-emitting diode (LED) has advantages of power saving, vibration resistance, fast response, production ability, and so on, so the illuminating equipment with light sources of LEDs is currently being studied and developed. When the current high-power LED emits continually in a period of time, there is a problem of over-high temperature so that the luminous efficiency of the LED is decreased and the luminance cannot be increased. Therefore, any product with high-power LEDs requires a good heat-conducting and heat-dissipating mechanism. In addition, the heat distribution of a conventional illuminating equipment with a plurality of LEDs in operation is not uniform so that the photoelectric effect of the LEDs sustains heat impact in the illuminating equipment to become decayed due to the over-high junction temperature and then the luminous efficiency decreases. Furthermore, if the illumination equipment dissipates heat non-uniformly, the lives of the LEDs in the illumination equipment will be different and the luminance of the whole illuminating equipment is indirectly affected.
Regarding the heat-dissipating problem, there is a method by dissipating heat with heat-dissipating fins currently. Please refer to FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A is a sketch diagram illustrating an apparatus 1 according to the method. The apparatus 1 includes a heat-dissipating plate device 11, a plurality of heat-dissipating fins 12, and a plurality of diode light-emitting devices 13. The heat-dissipating plate device 11 has a first surface 112 and a second surface 114 opposite to the first surface 112. The diode light-emitting devices 13 are disposed onto the first surface 112. The heat-dissipating fins 12 are formed on the second surface 114. Therefore, the heat produced by each of the diode light-emitting devices in operation is dissipated via the heat-dissipating plate device 11 and the heat-dissipating fins 12. In order to dissipate the heat uniformly, the distances from the ends of the heat-dissipating fins 12 to the second surface 114 are different. As shown in FIG. 1A, the middle heat-dissipating fins 12 are longer and can dissipate more heat than the sideward heat-dissipating fins 12, with the aim to avoid the occurrence of hot spot that causes the photoelectric effect of diode light-emitting devices 13 under heat impact to decay first and then to decrease the luminous efficiency. However, only the heat-dissipating fins 12 is still unable to dissipate heat uniformly since the temperature difference may be 10% or more, and the heat-dissipating efficiency is not good, so as to occur hot spots. Thus, the mentioned problem still remains unsolved.
Another solution is to dissipate heat by use of a vapor chamber. Please refer to FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B is a sketch diagram illustrating an apparatus 2 according to the method. The apparatus 2 includes a heat-dissipating plate device 21, a plurality of heat-dissipating fins 22, a plurality of diode light-emitting devices 23, and a vapor chamber. The heat-dissipating plate device 21 has a first surface 212 and a second surface 214 opposite to the first surface 212. The vapor chamber 24 is disposed onto the first surface 212. The diode light-emitting devices 23 are disposed onto the vapor chamber 24. The heat-dissipating fins 22 are formed on the second surface 214. Compared with the above apparatus 1, the apparatus 2 solves the problem of the non-uniform temperature distribution, but the cost of the vapor chamber 24 is too high and it is not easy to make, so that the apparatus 2 is not suitable for application. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a light-emitting diode illuminating equipment with high power, high heat-spreading efficiency, and uniform heat dissipation, so as to solve the problems mentioned above.

Illuminating equipment of high-power and clustered light-emitting diodes coupled to high efficiency heat-spreading and heat-dissipating module


A method for performing multiple functions by using a call key of a handset in a cordless telephone comprising the steps of checking whether a handset is in a standby state; if it is checked that a handset is in a standby state, opening a flip switch; inputting a function key to be set; checking the input of the function key; if it is checked that the function key is input, storing the input function in a memory; converting the state into a standby state; checking whether a ring is received in the standby state; inputting the call key when the ring is received to then form a general call; and if the ring is not received in the standby state, inputting the call key and performing the predetermined function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wireless telephone generally, and, more particularly, to a wireless telephone having a call key or talk key, installed in a handset thereof, capable of performing multiple functions and a method for setting up the call key and performing those multiple functions.
2. Description of the Related Art
Currently, in accordance with the development in the communication technology, various service functions of a communication system are frequently requested by telephone owners and service subscribers. Also, calling methods for telephones used in offices are varied. One group of telephones is called "wireless" because they are connected to a base station by radio link instead of by a wired link. The term wireless telephone pertains to a cordless telephone, a cellular telephone, mobile telephone or radiotelephone.
Regarding the cordless telephone, it is used an extension telephone in a home or business, and generally has two parts--a base unit and a portable unit. In one type of cordless telephone the portable unit, also known as a handset, houses a keypad. A conventional handset housing a keypad of a cordless telephone having a flip-type cover, or lid, colloquially known as a flip, and a flip switch is known as a portable telephone or flip-phone. In exemplars of conventional practice such as the Portable Radio Having Cover Releasing Mechanism and Receive Switch Which are Operable Together of Adachi, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,584, and the Pivotable Housing for Hand-Held Transceiver of Nils R. Rydbeck, U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,844. When the flip is closed the flip switch is also closed and the cordless telephone is usually in standby mode, which corresponds to the on-hook condition of a telephone set. When the flip is closed, only the call key (or talk key) is accessible. In order for a user to get the cordless telephone to perform various other functions, such as a redial function and an intercom function, the flip needs to be opened to establish an off-hook condition and the call key has to be activated before activating the function key for the desired function to be performed. Additionally, in such a handset, if there is an incoming call when the flip of the handset is closed, only the function of answering the call can be performed by pressing the call key.

Cordless telephone having a call key capable of performing multiple functions and a method for assigning alternate functions to the call key and performing the multiple functions


Provided herein is a sunlight generated power device having an upper fixing frame, a lower fixing frame, a main link, and a sub link, which together form a four bar link, and an actuator. The power device may be used to form a photovoltaic module installed at a building, bridge, park, and the like. Solar cell panels positioned on the power device are easily adjustable to enhance photovoltaic efficiency. The power device may also be constructed to display a luxurious image by providing an elegant appearance.

In recent years, concern about development of environmentally friendly alternative energy sources and diversification of future energy sources has become an international issue due to fossil fuel depletion, and solar batteries based on solar energy have attracted attention as alternative energy sources.
Generally, photovoltaic power generation uses characteristics of semiconductors to convert light energy into electrical energy, in which direct current (DC) generated by a solar battery is converted into alternating current (AC) in order to supply domestic electrical power. However, the photovoltaic power generation has such weak electromotive force that plural units, i.e. unit solar-battery modules, are connected to each other on a plate to produce a suitable electromotive force and may mostly be integrated, particularly, into constructions, such as buildings, houses or the like.
The minimum unit of a solar battery is called a cell, but the solar cell is rarely used as a unit cell in practice. Since a single cell generates a voltage of about 0.5 V, which is much lower than the several to hundreds of volts required in practical use, plural unit solar batteries are connected in series or in parallel according to desired unit capacity. To protect the plural cells connected according to desired unit capacity, the plural cells are packaged to constitute a solar cell panel. Electricity produced by the solar cell panel is supplied to buildings or the like.
In the related art, a solar cell panel is simply attached to a roof or outer wall of a construction, causing deterioration in an outer appearance of the construction. Further, since the conventional solar cell panel can be attached only to a roof or an outer wall, there is a limit in application ranges of solar cells. Further, the solar cell panel is configured to absorb sunlight to produce electricity, and it is thus advantageous to arrange the solar cell panel as perpendicular to sunlight as possible. However, it is difficult to mount the conventional solar cell panel to be varied perpendicularly to sunlight.

Photovoltaic module attached to guardrail


The present invention relates to an aiming device for a camcorder. An open frame with an attachment means is mounted to the camcorder such that one can see what the camcorder will record through the open frame yet still view the non recorded material at the same time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for aiming a camcorder. In particular the present invention relates to a device which can be attached to a camcorder and used to aim the camcorder while continuing to observe the action being recorded.
2. Description of Related Art
With the introduction of digital camcorders, their ease of use and cost effective price, we now see these devices almost everywhere. These new devices are designed for the average user and hence have concentrated on being user friendly. A trip to a local youth soccer game will quickly show the ubiquity of these devices.
Aiming the camcorder, that is the framing of the view that will appear on the finished video, is classically done by one of two means. Aiming is conventionally accomplished with use of either an electronic or optical viewfinder. An electronic viewfinder produces a digital image on a screen much like the finished video product and it is not uncommon to currently see two to three inch LCD screens for viewing the action as it is recorded. The alternative is the older optical system, where, through a series of optical lenses an approximation or actual view through the lens is accomplished to indicate the framing of what is being recorded. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,265 issued Mar. 24, 1992 to Lee, a combination optical and electronic viewfinder is provided which gives the user the option of which system to use with one device. Many camcorders have both devices as separate viewfinding devices.
A problem with viewfinders in general is that the image is so small on the viewfinder that while it is possible to frame the action while filming, it is virtually impossible to actually watch the action going on while filming it. Watching a youth soccer game and recording it at the same time can be extraordinarily frustrating if not impossible.


According to one embodiment, a light receiving circuit includes a light receiving element, a differential circuit, a fifth transistor, and first and second current sources. The differential circuit includes an amplifier and a bias circuit. The amplifier includes a first transistor, a second transistor, and a first feedback resistor. The amplifier is configured to convert a current from the light receiving element into a voltage. The bias circuit includes a third transistor, a fourth transistor, and a second feedback resistor. A reference voltage is supplied to a control electrode of the fourth transistor. The second and third transistors are included in a current mirror circuit. A fifth transistor has a control electrode connected to a connection point between the first and second transistors. A voltage signal switched to a high level or a low level according to a change of an optical signal is outputted.

A light receiving circuit that is mounted in, for example, a photocoupler is widely used in electronic devices for industry, for communication, for households, etc.
In such an electronic device, a signal is transmitted between different power supply systems such as a DC voltage system, an AC power supply system, a telephone line system, etc.
By using the photocoupler, an electrical signal can be transmitted in a state in which the different power supply systems are insulated.
The photocoupler includes the light receiving circuit that changes the optical signal into the electrical signal. In the case where the light receiving circuit includes a MOS transistor, the cut-off frequency of the transimpedance amplifier can be increased and a high speed response is easy to realize by increasing the transconductance.
However, the capacitance of the MOS transistor becomes large; the switching time of the current comparator that has a cascade connection to the transimpedance amplifier becomes long; and such a configuration is not quite sufficient to increase the operation speed of the entire light receiving circuit.
Also, in the case where the reverse voltage of the light receiving element is low, the operation speed of the entire light receiving circuit decreases due to the higher junction capacitance.


Gas-phase methods and systems for reducing NOx emissions and other contaminants in exhaust gases, and industrial processes using the same, are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, hydrocarbon(s) autoignite and autothermally heat an exhaust gas from an industrial process so that NH.sub.3, HNCO or a combination thereof are effective for selectively reducing NOx autocatalytically. Preferably, the reduction of NOx is initiated/driven by the autoignition of hydrocarbon(s) in the exhaust gas. Within the temperature range of about 900-1600.degree. F., the introduced hydrocarbon(s) autoignite spontaneously under fuel-lean conditions of about 2-18% O.sub.2 in the exhaust gas. Once ignited, the reactions proceed autocatalytically, heating the exhaust gas autothermally.

Without being bound by any particular theory, the background of the present invention will be described by way of a description of particular problems discussed in the art and various proposed solutions to such problems. For brevity, various references will be briefly and generally summarized herein. A more complete understanding of such background art may be obtained by a complete review of the documents cited herein, etc. What should be understood from the following discussion is that, despite such extensive prior efforts to provide various methods of NOx removal and the like, a continuing need exists for practical and low-cost methods of NOx removal in a variety of industrial processes, which may utilize a variety of commercially-available reductants.
Carbonaceous fuels are burned in internal combustion engines and other equipment such as boilers, furnaces, heaters and incinerators, and the like (i.e., in a wide variety of industrial process). Excess air frequently is used to complete the oxidation of combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons and soot. High temperature combustion using excess air, however, tends to generate oxides of nitrogen (often referred to as NOx).
Emissions of NOx include nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO.sub.2). Free radicals of nitrogen (N.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) combine chemically primarily to form NO at high combustion temperatures. This thermal NOx tends to form even when nitrogen is removed from the fuel. Combustion modifications which decrease the formation of thermal NOx generally are limited by the generation of objectionable byproducts.
Mobile and stationary combustion equipment are concentrated sources of NOx emissions. When discharged to the air, emissions of NO oxidize to form NO.sub.2, which tends to accumulate excessively in many urban atmospheres. In sunlight, the NO.sub.2 reacts with volatile organic compounds to form groundlevel ozone, eye irritants and photochemical smog. These adverse effects have prompted extensive efforts for controlling NOx emissions to low levels. Despite advancements in fuel and combustion technology, groundlevel ozone concentrations still exceed federal guidelines in many urban regions. Under the Clean Air Act and its amendments, these ozone nonattainment areas must implement stringent NOx emissions regulations. Such regulations will require low NOx emissions levels that are attained only by exhaust aftertreatment.
Exhaust aftertreatment techniques tend to reduce NOx using various chemical or catalytic methods. Such methods are known in the art and involve nonselective catalytic reduction (NSCR), selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or selective noncatalytic reduction (SNCR). Alternatively, NO may be oxidized to NO.sub.2 for removal by wet scrubbers. Such aftertreatment methods typically require some type of reactant for removal of NOx emissions.
Wet scrubbing of NO.sub.2 produces waste solutions that represent potential sources of water pollution. Wet scrubbers primarily are used for NOx emissions from nitric acid plants or for concurrent removal of NO.sub.2 with sulfur dioxide (SO.sub.2). High costs and complexity generally limit scrubber technology to such special applications. Wet scrubbers are applied to combustion exhaust by converting NO to NO.sub.2, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,219.
The NSCR method typically uses unburned hydrocarbons and CO to reduce NOx emissions in the absence of O.sub.2. Fuel/air ratios must be controlled carefully to ensure low excess O.sub.2. Both reduction and oxidation catalysts are needed to remove emissions of CO and hydrocarbons while also reducing NOx. The cost of removing excess O.sub.2 precludes practical applications of NSCR methods to many O.sub.2 -containing exhaust gases.
Combustion exhaust containing excess O.sub.2 generally requires chemical reductant(s) for NOx removal. Commercial SCR systems primarily use ammonia (NH.sub.3) as the reductant. Chemical reactions on a solid catalyst surface convert NOx to N.sub.2. These solid catalysts are selective for NOx removal and do not reduce emissions of CO and unburned hydrocarbons. Excess NH.sub.3 needed to achieve low NOx levels tends to result in NH.sub.3 breakthrough as a byproduct emission.
Large catalyst volumes are normally needed to maintain low levels of NOx and NH.sub.3 breakthrough. The catalyst activity depends on temperature and declines with use. Normal variations in catalyst activity are accommodated only by enlarging the volume of catalyst or limiting the range of combustion operation. Catalysts may require replacement prematurely due to sintering or poisoning when exposed to high levels of temperature or exhaust contaminants. Even under normal operating conditions, the SCR method requires a uniform distribution of NH.sub.3 relative to NOx in the exhaust gas. NOx emissions, however, are frequently distributed nonuniformly, so low levels of both NOx and NH.sub.3 breakthrough may be achieved only by controlling the distribution of injected NH.sub.3 or mixing the exhaust to a uniform NOx level.
NH.sub.3 breakthrough is alternatively limited by decomposing excess NH.sub.3 on the surface of a catalyst as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,431. In this case, the excess NH.sub.3 is decomposed catalytically following an initially equivalent decomposition of NOx and NH.sub.3 together. The decomposition of excess NH.sub.3, however, reduces the selectivity of the SCR method, increasing the molar ratio of NH.sub.3 with respect to NOx as much as 1.5 or higher.
In a combination of catalytic and noncatalytic reduction methods, both NOx and NH.sub.3 removal may be controlled by SCR following an initial stage of NOx reduction by SNCR. In the SNCR method, NOx emissions may be reduced partially without controlling NH.sub.3 breakthrough to a low level. The SCR method may decrease NOx further while also lowering NH.sub.3 breakthrough to an acceptable level.
The use of excess NH.sub.3 to enhance NOx removal by the SNCR method is described in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,978,514 and 5,139,754. With such methods, the NH.sub.3 injection to SNCR is controlled so that the unreacted NH.sub.3 remains sufficient for the subsequent catalytic reduction of NOx to a low level. This injection strategy is based on the use of excess NH.sub.3 for reducing NOx to lower levels, as with the SCR method described above.
Another method for combining SNCR and SCR methods is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,092. In this method, the catalytic NOx reduction is always maximized using a separate NH.sub.3 injection grid, and the NOx emissions are reduced noncatalytically only as needed to maintain a final low NOx level. This method decreases the consumption of NH.sub.3 by minimizing the use of SNCR which removes NOx less selectively than the catalytic method.
The low selectivity of the SNCR method and the use of excess NH.sub.3 for decreasing NOx levels is reported by Lyon, who is believed to have first suggested the noncatalytic reduction of NOx (U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,554). In commercial coal-fired boiler tests, 73% NO reduction has been reported with 2.2 ppm NH.sub.3 breakthrough using a 0.9 molar ratio of NH.sub.3 with respect to NO, while 86% NO reduction required 11 ppm NH.sub.3 breakthrough and a 2.2 molar ratio of NH.sub.3 with respect to NOx. These results are reported in Environ. Sci. Technol., Vol. 21, No. 3, pages 231-235, 1987.
In another article (Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., Vol. 25, No. 1, pages 19-24, 1986), Lyon also reports the inhibiting effect of NH.sub.3 on CO oxidation. This observation in experiments and commercial tests is confirmed by modeling studies. The inhibition has been explained in terms of competition between NH.sub.3 and CO for reaction with the OH free radical. It is believed that, while NH.sub.3 inhibits the oxidation of CO, the CO also decreases the selectivity of NO reduction by NH.sub.3.
This "sacrifice of residual CO oxidation" is described by Lyon as an important limitation of the noncatalytic reduction method. According to these teachings, the injection of NH.sub.3 should follow the completion of CO oxidation in order to overcome this limitation. When NH.sub.3 is injected before the completion of CO oxidation, the oxidation of residual CO tends to diminish, which may result in greater levels of byproduct CO emissions.
Despite this disadvantage of greater byproduct CO emissions, many patents teach the use of CO or other ancillary reducing materials to lower the effective temperature for reducing NO noncatalytically. For example, the use of CO to lower the temperature for NO reduction by HNCO is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,650 as follows: "Where it is desired to lower the operating temperature to a greater degree, larger amounts of CO or other H atom generating species will be added or vice-versa."
This lowering of the effective temperature for NO reduction has been repeated generally in a consistent manner throughout patent literature related to the noncatalytic method. The original discoveries of NH.sub.3 (U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,554) and urea (U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,386) as NOx reductants in the temperature range of 1600 to 2000.degree. F. both reported the use of ancillary reducing materials to enable noncatalytic NO reduction throughout the temperature range of 1300 to 2000.degree. F. Hydrogen (H.sub.2), CO, and hydrocarbon(s), including oxygenated hydrocarbons, have been proposed as ancillary reducing materials that may lower the effective temperature for noncatalytic NO reduction by NH.sub.3 or urea. This use of hydrocarbon(s) and CO is reportedly limited, however, due to incomplete oxidation, resulting in the production of air pollutants. Hydrogen has been cited as the preferred reducing material because it does not produce any air pollutants.
The use of hydrogen is limited because it decreases the selectivity for NO reduction by NH.sub.3 or urea. To overcome this limitation, the hydrogen may be added in successive multiple stages as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,554. A more detailed description of a multi-stage method for noncatalytic NO reduction using NH.sub.3 and hydrogen is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,515. This multi-stage method typically requires two or more locations along the flowpath of the exhaust gas to inject reducing gas mixtures. The optimum use of multiple injection stages and alternative reducing gas mixtures depends on the exhaust gas temperature in the vicinity of each injection location. The multi-stage method accounts for temperature gradients along the gas flowpath as well as variations in temperature at each injection location.
Generally according to the these teachings, NH.sub.3 is injected as the only reducing gas at temperatures in the range of 900 to 1000.degree. C. (about 1650 to 1850.degree. F.), while mixtures of NH.sub.3 and hydrogen are injected at temperatures in the range of 700 to 900.degree. C. (about 1300 to 1650.degree. F.). Decreasing the NO concentration in the first injection stage using NH.sub.3 alone minimizes the less-selective reduction of NO in the second stage where hydrogen is used as the ancillary reducing material.
Patents have proliferated since such disclosures of noncatalytic reduction methods. In particular, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,731,231, 4,800,068, 4,886,650 and 4,908,193 have disclosed the decomposition of cyanuric acid, (HNCO).sub.3, to generate isocyanic acid (HNCO) for NO reduction. Also, other patents (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,719,092, 4,751,065, 4,770,863, 4,803,059, 4,844,878, 4,863,705, 4,873,066, 4,877,591, 4,888,165, 4,927,612 and 4,997,631) have disclosed a variety of reducing materials as alternatives to NH.sub.3, urea or cyanuric acid, or as enhancers for use with NH.sub.3, urea or cyanuric acid.
Such patents primarily address the acute problems of NH.sub.3 breakthrough and byproduct CO emissions that are characteristic of the noncatalytic reduction method. In addition to the disclosures of various reductants and enhancers, other patents (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,024, 4,780,289, 4,863,704, 4,877,590, 4,902,488, 4,985,218, 5,017,347 and 5,057,293) describe elaborate control strategies and multi-stage injection methods.
Such control strategies and multi-stage methods primarily address variations in temperature. Combustion equipment typically operate throughout a load range, and exhaust gas temperatures generally increase at higher loads. Therefore, local temperatures vary at the fixed locations where the reductant(s) and reducing material(s) are injected into the exhaust gas. The noncatalytic methods do not control the local temperature for NOx reduction.
With noncatalytic reduction methods, the local temperature typically is used as a means for controlling the injection of reductant(s) and ancillary reducing material(s). The patents teach the use of ancillary reducing material(s) to lower the effective temperature for NOx reduction so that it matches the actual local temperature, which depends solely on the production of the exhaust gas. It is important to note that, in such teachings, the ancillary reducing material(s) are not injected to control the local temperature. Ancillary reducing material(s) may enable NOx reduction at lower effective temperatures, but may result in the formation of objectionable byproducts. Such teachings tend only to minimize disadvantages of noncatalytic reduction methods. Such techniques in general do not provide for concurrent depletion of NH.sub.3 and CO emissions.
The use of oxygenated hydrocarbons is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,839 as a means for scrubbing NH.sub.3 breakthrough from a previous stage of noncatalytic NOx reduction. With this method, vaporized concentrations of oxygenated hydrocarbons in the range of 2 to 500 ppm are added to the exhaust gas so that their weight ratios with respect to NH.sub.3 are in the range of 2 to 200. U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,219, however, subsequently discloses that oxygenated hydrocarbons oxidize NO to NO.sub.2 at temperatures below about 1600.degree. F.
Lowering the effective temperature for noncatalytic reduction below about 1700.degree. F. also slows the thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide (N.sub.2 O) as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,432. This patent teaches reheating of exhaust gases using a burner with a separate source of combustion air. The N.sub.2 O is decomposed thermally when the high temperature flue gases from the burner mix and reheat the primary exhaust gas above 1700.degree. F.
Formation of N.sub.2 O as a noncatalytic reduction byproduct is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,631. When NOx emissions are reduced by the noncatalytic method, a portion of the reduced NOx is converted to N.sub.2 O. As described above, N.sub.2 O levels decrease at higher temperatures, but also the reported data suggest much less N.sub.2 O formation when NH.sub.3 is used as the chemical reductant. Urea and cyanuric acid reportedly result in higher N.sub.2 O levels.
A different method for staging noncatalytic NO reduction is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,507. Hydrocarbons are disclosed to reduce NO when the molar ratio of O.sub.2 with respect to carbon is less than 2.5. Such low O.sub.2 levels, however, tend to result in the formation of objectionable byproducts, including NH.sub.3, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), CO and unburned hydrocarbons. Such byproducts are removed by oxidation using added air at elevated temperatures, e.g.,1100.degree. C. (about 2000.degree. F.), in a second stage.
Similar methods for staging noncatalytic NOx reduction are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,851,201 and 4,861,567. With these methods, reductant(s) are mixed with the exhaust gas and decomposed under fuel-rich combustion conditions in a first stage, and then NOx is reduced in a second stage with an excess of oxygen. The temperature and oxygen concentration are adjusted between the two stages. The temperature ranges for each stage depend on whether the reductant is cyanuric acid rather than NH.sub.3 or urea.
Another method for lowering the effective temperature for noncatalytic NOx reduction is described in Int. App. No. PCT/US92/07212 (Pub. No. WO 93/03998). It is suggested that hydrocarbons be injected so as to create stratified mixtures effective for generating partial oxidation products as ancillary reducing materials to lower the effective temperature for NOx reduction using cyanuric acid.
Based on such previous teachings, noncatalytic NOx reduction by hydrocarbon(s) alone tends to be limited to fuel-rich combustion conditions, i.e., low O.sub.2 levels. In the presence of excess O.sub.2, hydrocarbon(s) and CO are ineffective for NOx reduction, but may be used to lower the effective temperature for noncatalytic NOx reduction using chemical reductant(s). In such an ancillary role, such materials also are claimed to lower NH.sub.3 breakthrough, but such would be achieved only at the expense of decreased selectivity for NOx reduction.
Under these conditions, noncatalytic NOx reduction tends to be limited because excess NH.sub.3 breakthrough is needed to achieve low NOx levels, but the oxidation of CO is inhibited by NH.sub.3, so the lowering of noncatalytic reduction temperature using ancillary materials tends to increase byproduct CO emissions. Both NH.sub.3 and CO are objectionable SNCR byproducts. In general, even the most elaborate proposed SNCR controls and staging methods cannot deplete these objectionable byproducts concurrently. In general, such methods only minimize the disadvantageous production of one byproduct at the expense of increasing another.
Furthermore, noncatalytic reduction methods are highly dependent upon temperature, but tend to provide no means for controlling this key condition. Staging methods and elaborate controls are needed to maintain an effective temperature for the chemical reductant(s) when excess O.sub.2 is present at the local exhaust gas conditions. Injecting reductant(s) under specific fuel-rich combustion conditions also is claimed to require a staged introduction of excess air to complete the combustion of primary fuel.
Despite such staging methods and elaborate controls, the NH.sub.3 breakthrough from SNCR in general is depleted only by using a subsequent catalytic method. Such SCR methods, however, do not remove the objectionable byproduct CO emissions from SNCR without using a separate oxidation catalyst similar to NSCR. Alternatively, this disadvantage of SNCR may be minimized to the greatest extent by limiting noncatalytic reduction only to maintain a final low NOx level in combination with SCR as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,092.
Relegating the inherent advantages of a gas-phase method for reducing NOx to a subordinate role, however, does not minimize the key disadvantages of using solid catalysts. The expensive installation of large catalyst volumes intrudes adversely upon the combustion equipment. The catalyst bed adds pressure drop, and the vaporization of NH.sub.3 may derate the combustion equipment by as much as 2%.
As is well known, solid catalysts tend to gradually become plugged and poisoned under normal use and require periodic replacement. Premature replacement is needed when the catalyst is sintered or poisoned due to unusually high temperatures or contaminant levels resulting from combustion-related problems or other equipment failures. Like SNCR methods, catalytic reduction methods are highly dependent upon on temperature, but provide no means for controlling this key condition.
In considering the foregoing teachings and efforts, and in particular in view of the continuing need in numerous applications for practical, cost-effective reduction of NOx despite the extensive previous efforts, a need exists for new methods for selective NOx reduction, which may in general combine certain advantages of previously disclosed methods substantially, but without disadvantages thereof.
As will be described hereinafter, Applicants submit that they have discovered such methods.
It should be understood that the foregoing discussion of the background of the present invention, and the detailed description of the present invention to follow, is provided for understanding the context and applicability of the present invention, and is provided without being bound by any particular theory or the like. References to particular background patents or other materials are for general discussion purposes only and based on Applicants' understanding thereof, and the complete references should be consulted for the actual contents of such patents and materials.

Apparatus and method for reducing NOx from exhaust gases produced by industrial processes


An adhesive pad kit for footwear has a schematic having an indication of footwear. The adhesive pad kit has at least two pairs of thin adhesive backed pads. Each pad in the first pair has a predetermined shape having a length and a width. The length is at least four times the width. The indication depicts an operative location for at least one of the pads on the footwear.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related generally to adhesive pads for affixing to footwear, such as shoes or sandals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Shoes come in standard sizes, but they usually do not fit perfectly against the wearer's feet. Poor shoe fit may cause the wearer much discomfort. Shoe size primarily corresponds to the length of the foot. The size may also correspond to the ball width of the foot. But there are other important feet measurements that most standard shoe sizes do not account for, including: heel width, heel-to-ball length, and instep girth. Some shoes may offer choices of discrete widths, but there will still be shoe wearers who cannot find their comfortable fit within discrete sizes. Shoes corresponding to the wearer's standard size often may be ill-fitting, being too loose or too tight, or both. Straps on shoes often may not fit appropriately over the foot. The straps may be too tight and pinch the foot, or they may be too loose and rub against the foot. Efforts to adjust the fit of a shoe may detract from the appearance of the shoe. If material is affixed to the shoe to adjust the fit, the color of the material may not match the color of the shoe.
Available products offer limited solutions to poor fit and discomfort. One product that is designed for poor fitting shoes is the TACCO sling. TACCO slings are designed to be affixed to the heel strap of women's sling back shoes to keep the heel strap from slipping. The TACCO slings are sold as a pair of gray leather strips having the dimension of 1 cm by 7½ cm. TACCO slings may not have the color and style to match many shoes, thus detracting from the shoe's overall appearance. The TACCO slings may not be appropriate for other areas of the shoe, like the shoe throat or the heel portion of the sock lining.
Dr. Scholl's Suede Heel Grips are designed to affix to the heel backing to keep the heel snug in the shoe. The Heel Grips are designed and shaped only for the heel backing and may not conveniently be used in other problem areas on the shoe. The Heel Grips are designed for close-heeled shoes and are not designed to offer solutions for open-heeled shoes.
Poor fitting shoes may cause tender spots on the foot such as corns, calluses, and blisters. Moleskin may be affixed to the foot for the purpose of cushioning the tender spots on the foot or for preventing them. However, moleskin applied to the feet may fall off due to perspiration and require reapplication. Moreover, moleskin applied directly to the feet may show through sandals or other shoes with straps.
Some shoes may be provided with orthotic supports to align or support the foot. Orthotic pads can prevent, correct or accommodate foot deformities or weaknesses. Orthotics are typically molded out of plastic or thick pads, and designed to provide structural support for the foot. Orthotics are typically custom-made to fit and support the patient's foot.
What is needed is a convenient product that provides options to ensure a comfortable shoe fit and minimize rubbing and pinching of the foot by the surface of the shoe.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present invention relates generally to systems, methods, and computer program products for optimally allocating a fixed number of bits among a plurality of multi-media data channels. The optimal number of bits is determined by preprocessing each channel to calculate complexity data, and then the complexity data is used to determine the optimal number of bits to assign to each channel. The optimal number of bits may be determined by a closed loop controller in communication with one or more channel encoders, and the multi-media channels may contain video data conforming to the MPEG2 video format.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is drawn to optimally allocating bits among a plurality of data channels to be encoded by a plurality of encoders. The present invention utilizes a closed loop controller to optimally allocate bits among the plurality of channels by parsing a stream of complexity data generated by each encoder, and using the complexity data to determine the optimal number of bits to allocate to each channel. The complexity data of the present invention includes information about timing, frame type, and the bit requirements for every frame.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The past decade has seen the rapid emergence of multi-media data transmitted across networks, and particularly the transmission of digital video to provide services such as video-on-demand, digital television broadcasts, and video content distribution. Digital video, however, contains an enormous amount of data in its raw or uncompressed state, making video compression both necessary and enabling for the delivery of video content. Further, content providers, publishers, or broadcasters often need to combine and send, or multiplex, multiple channels of compressed video data into a single output stream with a fixed bit rate in real-time or near real-time. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for systems, methods, and computer program products to optimally allocate a fixed number of bits among multiple channels of multi-media data.
Multi-media data takes many forms known in the art, including audio, picture, and video data. For example, picture data is stored as files of binary data using various raw or compressed formats including GIF, JPEG, TIFF, BMP, and PDF. Audio data includes waveform audio (WAV), MP3, audio interchange file format (AIFF), musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), and sound files (SND). Video data includes QuickTime and the Motion Picture Experts Group format (MPEG). Further treatment of the subject is provided in the book Video Communication. (1) Image and Video Compression Standards, V. Bhaskaran and K. Konstantinides, Kluwer Academic, 1995, the contents of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system for delivering multi-media data using networked computer systems. The computer systems 101, 102, 103 and networks 105 can be of the types described in the embodiment of FIG. 3, which is discussed in more detail below. On a network 105, a process called a client process (hereinafter, simply "client") operating on one computer, called a client device, makes a request of another process called a server process (hereinafter "server") executing on a computer, called a server device 103, connected to the network 105. The server 103 performs the service, often sending information back to the client.
A server device 103 contains multi-media data and a media transmission process 104 that communicates the data over a network 105 to the media server device 102. The media server device 102 includes a media server process 107 that conditions the data for communication over network 105 to a media presentation process 112 on media client device 101. The media presentation process 112 presents the multi-media data to a user.
In some embodiments, the local networks 105 may comprise a direct connection between media client device 101 and media server device 103. In other embodiments, the networks 105 include one or more transcoders that convert from one type of signal to another, encoders for compressing data, or multiplexers that combine a plurality of data channels into one output channel. In various embodiments, the networks 105 include one or more wired, wireless, or optical links.
Networks 105 can be networks that use the Internet Protocol (IP) in various embodiments. In other embodiments, networks 105 are both non-IP networks, such as a network of satellite communication links or cable television links. On a cable television link, the media server device 102 is at the cable headend and the media client device 101 may be a television set-top box or personal computer.
Video data can be encoded or transcoded into a variety of formats depending factors such as the computing resources need for real-time or near-real time encoding and delivery, storage limitations, bandwidth limitations, or media device 101 display limitations.
In some embodiments, video data is encoded into MPEG compatible data streams. MPEG is a video compression standard that defines operation of an MPEG video decoder and the composition of a MPEG stream. The video data within the MPEG stream represents a sequence of video pictures or frames. The amount of information used in MPEG to represent a frame of video varies greatly depending on factors such as visual content including color space, temporal variability, spatial variability, the human visual system, and the techniques used to compress the video data.
MPEG data may be encoded using three types of picture or frame data: Intra-frame ("I-frame") data, forward Predicted frame ("P-frame") data, and Bi-directional predicted frame ("B-frame") data. I-frame data includes all of the information required to completely recreate a frame. P-frame data contains information that represents the difference between a frame and the frame that corresponds to a previous I-frame or P-frame data. B-frame data contains information that represents relative movement between preceding I-frame data or P-frame data and succeeding I-frame data or P-frame data. MPEG comprises various encoding standards, including MPEG 1, MPEG 2, and MPEG 4. MPEG 2 in defined in the international standard ISO/IEC 138181, 2, and 3, and these standards are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
MPEG reduces the number of bits required to represent video data by removing spatial redundancy within a video frame (intra-frame coding) and removing temporal redundancy between successive video frames (inter-frame coding). Each frame is made up of two interlaced fields that are alternate groups of rows of pixels. Each field is made up of multiple macroblocks (MBs). Each MB is a two dimensional array of pixels, typically 16 rows of 16 pixels. Each MB comprises four luminance blocks, typically 8 rows of 8 pixels each, and two chrominance blocks, also 8 rows of 8 pixels each. Motion compensation is used to reduce temporal redundancy, typically on a macroblock basis. Spatial redundancy is reduced using the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), typically on a block basis. During motion compensation, a motion vector is computed that indicates pixel locations on a reference frame that is the basis for a particular macroblock on a different, current frame. Differences between the reference macroblock and the particular macroblock are then computed using the DCT.
Each MPEG video sequence is composed of a series of Groups of Pictures (GOPs). Each GOP is composed of a series of I, P, and B frames, and each GOP begins with an I frame. As known in the art, a "slice" is a series of macroblocks and may make up a field or a portion of a field.
For decoding and display, the data in the MPEG stream is sent to a client computer system such as the computer system in the embodiment of FIG. 3. For example, the MPEG stream is sent over networks 105 to media device 110.
An MPEG stream must conform to certain criteria set forth in the MPEG standards. For example, the MPEG stream may provide 30 frames per second but should not provide so many bits per second that a client computer's buffers overflow. Buffer overflow can be mitigated by requiring that the received MPEG stream be of a constant or fixed bit rate. MPEG data channels may also contain variable bit rate streams, wherein a set of frames such as a GOP is encoded using a variable number of total bits.
Often, entities such as content providers, distributors, and publishers need to combine a plurality of MPEG compatible streams and transmit the output over a fixed bandwidth channel. In this case, the individual bit rates of the channels are free to change as long as the total bit rate is fixed. FIG. 2 provides a logical overview of a group of encoders 201, 202, 203 encoding input streams to produce a plurality of variable bit rate (VBR) output streams, which are then each input to multiplexer 204 ("mux"). The multiplexer 204 accepts the input streams, buffers data, and sends out the desired constant bit rate (CBR) data stream. Accordingly, a challenge exists in the art to optimally assign bit rates to each encoder so that the multiplexer can deliver the output stream at a constant bit rate without overflowing buffers, while at the same time optimally assigning bits to each channel to provide the best possible output quality.

Optimal rate allocation for a group of channels


A bone-derived implant is provided which is made up of one or more layers of fully mineralized or partially demineralized cortical bone and, optionally, one or more layers of some other material. The layers constituting the implant are assembled into a unitary structure to provide an implant exhibiting good overall load-supporting properties.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a bone-derived implant fabricated at least in part from strength-imparting cortical bone and intended for use in the repair, replacement and/or augmentation of various portions of animal or human skeletal systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a bone-derived implant which is made up of two or more layers at least one of which is fully mineralized or partially demineralized cortical bone and, optionally, one or more layers fabricated from some other material. The individual layers constituting the implant are assembled into a unitary structure capable of supporting loads.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of autograft bone, allograft bone or xenograft bone is well known in both human and veterinary medicine. See Stevenson et al., Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, 323, pp. 66-74 (1996). In particular, transplanted bone is known to provide support, promote healing, fill bony cavities, separate bony elements such as vertebral bodies, promote fusion and stabilize the sites of fractures. More recently, processed bone has been developed into shapes for use in new surgical applications, or as new materials for implants that were historically made of non-biologically derived materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,678,470 describes a non-layered bone grafting material produced from bone by a process which includes tanning with glutaraldehyde. The bone may be pulverized, used as a large block or machined into a precise shape. The tanning stabilizes the material and also renders it non-antigenic. The bone material may also be demineralized.
The use of a continuous sheet of demineralized bone or partially demineralized bone is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,430; however, the sheet must be sufficiently flexible, therefore sacrificing strength, in order to conform to the skeletal site to which it is applied.
The surgically implantable sheet described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,813 is formed from elongate bone particles, optionally demineralized, containing biocompatible ingredients, adhesives, fillers, plasticizers etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,973 discloses an artificial organic bone matrix with holes or perforations extending into the organic bone matrix. These holes or perforations are indicated to be centers of cartilage and bone induction following implantation of the bone matrix.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,370 discloses a one-piece sponge-like bone graft material fabricated from fully demineralized bone powder or micro particulate bone, and reconstituted collagen. The sponge-like graft is optionally cross-linked with glutaraldehyde.
Another one-piece porous implant is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,459. The implant is made up of a biodegradable polymeric macrostructure, which is structured as an interconnecting open cell meshwork, and a biodegradable polymeric microstructure composed of chemotactic ground substances such as hyaluronic acid.

Bone-derived implant for load-supporting applications


A memory having multiple locations for data storage is updated by performing the following method. The memory locations are grouped into commonly accessible groups of one or more data locations. First, a control array is provided. The control array is associated with a predetermined type of memory update operation, and has a local indicator for each commonly accessible group of memory locations respectively. Next, the instruction stream to the memory is monitored to determine the current memory operation type, and the set of groups of memory locations upon which the current operation is to be performed. If the current memory operation is an operation of the predetermined type, the control array is updated. If the current operation is an operation other than the predetermined type, the state of the respective local indicator of each group of the set is determined. The current operation is then performed upon each group in the set in accordance with the state of its respective local indicator. Embodiments permit following instructions to be processed as if the deferred memory operation were performed in a single cycle, even before the memory itself is updated.

The present embodiments relate to performing update operations to a memory and, more particularly, to performing large-scale update operations to a memory.
Data access speed is a crucial parameter in the performance of many digital systems, and in particular in systems such as digital signal processors (DSPs) which perform high-speed processing of real-time data. Many types of memories and memory access methods have been developed with the goal of improving memory access speed. While the access speed to individual memory locations has increased, writing large blocks of data to memory remains problematic. Power considerations limit the number of memory locations which can be updated simultaneously, so that writing to numerous locations in a memory requires many write cycles, and incurs a significant time overhead.
Memory caching is a widespread technique used to improve data access speed in computers and other digital systems. Cache memories are small, fast memories holding recently accessed data and instructions. Caching relies on a property of memory access known as temporal locality. Temporal locality states that information recently accessed from memory is likely to be accessed again soon, and that information close to that recently accessed is likely to be accessed soon. When an item stored in main memory is required, the processor first checks the cache to determine if the required data or instruction is there. If so, the data is loaded directly from the cache instead of from the slower main memory, with very little delay. Due to temporal locality a relatively small cache memory can significantly speed up memory accesses for most programs.
When new data is to be written to the cache, a decision is made using a cache mapping strategy to determine where within the cache to write the new data. There are currently three prevalent mapping strategies for cache memories: the direct mapped cache, the fully associative cache, and the n-way set associative cache. In the direct mapped cache, a portion of the main memory address of the data, known as the index, completely determines the location in which the data is cached. The remaining portion of the address, known as the tag, is stored in the cache along with the data. To check if required data is stored in the cached memory, the processor compares the main memory address of the required data to the main memory address of the cached data. As the skilled person will appreciate, the main memory address of the cached data is generally determined from the tag stored in the location required by the index of the required data. If a correspondence is found, the data is retrieved from the cache memory, and a main memory access is prevented. Otherwise, the data is accessed from the main memory. The drawback of the direct mapped cache is that the data replacement rate in the cache is generally high, since the way in which main memory data is cached is completely determined by the main memory address of the data. There is no leeway for alleviating contention for the same memory location by multiple data items, and for maintaining often-required data within the cache. The effectiveness of the cache is thus reduced.
The opposite policy is implemented by the fully associative cache, in which the cache is arranged in rows and cached information can be stored in any row. The fully associative cache alleviates the problem of contention for cache locations, since data need only be replaced when the whole cache is full. In the fully associative cache, however, when the processor checks the cache memory for required data, every row of the cache must be checked against the address of the data. To minimize the time required for this operation, all rows are checked in parallel, requiring a significant amount of extra hardware.
The n-way set associative cache memory is a compromise between the direct mapped cache and the fully associative cache. Like the direct mapped cache, in a set-associative cache the cache is arranged in rows and the index of the address is used to select a row of the cache memory. However, in the n-way set associative cache each row contains n separate ways. Each way can store the tag, data, and any indicators required for cache management and control. For example, each way typically contains a validity bit which indicates whether the way contains valid or invalid data. Thus, if a way containing invalid data happens to give a cache hit, the data will be recognized as invalid and ignored, and no processing error will occur. In an n-way set associative cache, the main memory address of the required data need only be checked against the address associated with the data in each of the n ways of the corresponding row, to determine if the data is cached. The n-way set associative cache reduces the data replacement rate (as compared to the direct mapped cache) because data in addresses corresponding to the row can be stored in any of the ways in the row that are still available. As a further possibility, if all of the ways in the row are full, but some contain data that is less likely to be needed, then the new data can replace the data least likely to be needed. Such a system requires only a moderate increase in hardware.
Cache memories store both memory data and control data. Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which shows an example of the data and control arrays for a 2-way set associative memory. The associative memory is organized into M rows, where the number of rows is determined by general hardware design considerations. Each of the M rows contains two ways, although in the general case of an n-way set associative memory, each row would have n ways. As described above, each way stores main memory data. Each way additionally stores control data including a tag (which together the row index determines the main memory address of the stored data in a given way), and indicator flags, such as the validity bit, lock bit, and any other required indicators. Additional control data may also be stored on a per index basis, or for a block of indices.
As with standard memories, cache memories suffer from speed problems when a large quantity of data is updated in the cache. In cache memories write accesses may be made to both memory data and control data. Cache management functions often require performing control operations on large portions of the cache. For example, during cache reset the data is invalidated for every way in the cache. The number of write cycles required to reset the cache depends on the write access width to the cache. If the write access width enables writing to an entire index in a single cycle, the number of write cycles required to reset the cache equals the number of indices in the cache memory. However, if the write access width is a single way, the number of write cycles required to invalidate an entire index equals the number of ways in the cache memory (which for an n-way set associative cache equals n times the number of indices).
Memory access speeds are a crucial factor in the performance of many systems. Modifying the data in a large number of memory locations is generally a time-consuming operation, since the number of memory locations which can be updated simultaneously is generally limited by power considerations and the data access width. In order to initialize a block of memory, for example, the required value is stored in each memory location in the block, which may require many write cycles. During the initialization process access to the memory is generally blocked, to ensure that no data is read from a memory location before its data has been brought up-to-date. The resulting delays are particularly problematic in cache memories, since updates to multiple data items occur relatively frequently.
There is thus a widely recognized need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a memory update technique devoid of the above limitations.

Memory updater using a control array to defer memory operations


Congestion in a radio access network (RAN) associated with transporting uplink information originating from one or more mobile terminals is detected. That detected RAN congestion is reduced using any suitable technique (several examples are described) and may be implemented in one or more nodes in the RAN. One advantageous (but non-limiting) application is to a RAN that supports high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) and/or one or more enhanced uplink dedicated channels (E-DCHs).

There is an ever increasing demand for wireless communication devices to perform a variety of applications. Some of those applications require substantial bandwidth. For example, next generation wireless communication systems may offer high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) and high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) to provide enhanced data rates over the radio interface to support Internet access and multimedia type applications.
The enhanced uplink concept currently being considered in the 3rd Generation Project Partnership (3GPP) intends to introduce substantially higher peak data rates over the radio interface in the uplink direction. Enhanced uplink data communications will likely employ fast scheduling and fast hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) with soft combining in the radio base station. Fast scheduling allows the radio base station to control when a wireless terminal is transmitting in the uplink direction and at what data transmission rate. Data transmission rate and transmission power are closely related, and scheduling can thus also be seen as a mechanism to vary the transmission power used by the mobile terminal for transmitting over an enhanced uplink channel. Neither the amount of uplink data to be transmitted nor the transmission power available in the mobile terminal at the time of transmission is known to the radio base station. As a result, the final selection of data rate will likely be performed in the mobile terminal. But the radio base station can set an upper limit on the data rate and/or transmission power that the mobile terminal may use to transmit over an enhanced uplink data channel.
Although the primary focus of enhanced uplink is on the radio interface performance and efficiency, the "bottleneck" may well occur further upstream from the radio interface in the transport of the uplink information between nodes in the radio access network (RAN). For example, the available uplink bit rate over the interface between a radio base station node in the RAN and a radio network controller node in the RAN (referred to as the Iub interface) may be a fraction of the available uplink bit rate over the radio interface. In this situation, high speed uplink packet access may overload the Iub interface between the radio base station and the radio network controller during peak bit rates. FIG. 1 illustrates that even though the downlink HSDPA bit rate over the radio interface is higher than the uplink HSUPA bit rate, the available bandwidth for high speed packet access data between the radio network controller and the radio base station is even less than the uplink HSUPA bit rate. The dashed line representing Iub High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) bandwidth limit is lower that the HSDPA and HSUPA bandwidths.
Consider the following simple example. A radio base station (sometimes referred to as a "Node B" using 3GPP terminology) controls three cells that have an enhanced uplink data transmission capability. Assume that the radio base station is connected to a radio network controller using one 4 Mbps link to support the enhanced uplink data transmitted from the radio base station and the radio network controller. Assume that the enhanced uplink capability may be up to 4 Mbps per cell. In this situation, enhanced uplink communication data from three cells at or near capacity cannot be transported from the radio base station to the radio network controller over the single 4 Mbps link. The result is a congested or overload situation. This congestion could result in long delays and loss of data, which reduces quality of service.
One possible solution to avoid this kind of overload situation would be to "over provision" the bandwidth resources in the radio access network for communications between radio network controllers and radio base stations. But this is inefficient, costly, and in some existing mobile communications networks, not practical. For high speed downlink, an HSDPA flow control algorithm could be employed by the radio base station to reduce the available downlink HSDPA bit rate to a level that suits the Iub interface bandwidth. But this control methodology cannot be employed in the opposite uplink direction because, as explained above, the amount of uplink data to be transmitted from mobile terminals is not known to the radio base station. Should the uplink enhanced bit rate over the radio interface significantly exceed the Iub uplink bandwidth, congestion will likely occur with long delays and possibly lost or otherwise corrupted data frames. What is needed, therefore, is a way to detect and then control an overload or other congested situation in the radio access network as a result of uplink mobile terminal communications being transported between nodes in the radio access network.
The technology described herein meets this need as well as other needs. Congestion associated with transporting in the RAN uplink information originating from one or more mobile terminals is detected. That detected congestion is then reduced using any suitable technique(s) and may be implemented in one or more nodes in the RAN. One advantageous (but non-limiting) application is to a RAN that supports high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) and/or one or more enhanced uplink dedicated channels (E-DCHs). Uplink congestion may be detected over an interface between a radio network controller and a radio base station (the Iub interface) and/or an interface between radio network controllers (the Iur interface).
Although congestion reduction may be performed in any suitable fashion, one example approach is to reduce a parameter associated with a bit rate at which uplink mobile terminal information is transported through the RAN. For example, where the uplink mobile terminal information is communicated using uplink data flows, the bit rate parameter may be reduced by reducing a bit rate of one or more uplink data flows. It may be appropriate to limit the bit rate of the one or more uplink data flows actually causing the congestion in the RAN; alternatively, the bit rate of one or more lower priority uplink data flows may be reduced.
There are a number of different ways that the bit rate parameter may be reduced. For example, a bit rate parameter value may correspond to an absolute bit rate parameter value or a relative bit rate parameter value sent to one or more mobile terminals, e.g., a maximum bit rate or transmission power or a percentage or fraction of a current bit rate or transmission power. Another approach is to reduce the bit rate parameter using a capacity limitation message. If the RNC detects a congested condition in the RAN, it can send a capacity limitation to a radio base station, which then schedules uplink transmissions from mobile terminals to effect that capacity limitation, e.g., by using scheduling grants or credits.
In some situations, more drastic measures may be necessary to reduce the bit rate parameter such as dropping one or more frames of one or more uplink mobile terminal communications. In soft/softer handover situations, one or more of the diversity handover links may be released to reduce the bit rate parameter. Another technique employs sending negative acknowledgment messages for received packets back to the mobile terminal causing the mobile terminal to retransmit those negatively acknowledged packets. This effectively reduces the uplink bit rate through the RAN.
The congestion control may be implemented by sending control information either over a separate control signaling channel or in a user data plane where the control signaling is sent along with the data over a data channel.

Uplink congestion detection and control between nodes in a radio access network


A device for accessing and for isolating a desired site within a patient's body, and for obtaining a body of tissue from a patient at the site that includes an electrosurgical cutting electrode near the distal tip of a shaft, an anchoring mechanism and an electrosurgical side-cutting device. Methods are provided for accessing a target site within a patient's body, anchoring a body of tissue at the site, and isolating the body of tissue at the site. The method may be performed for a surgical biopsy or lumpectomy at the target site within a patient's body.

In diagnosing and treating certain medical conditions, such as potentially cancerous tumors, it may be desirable to perform a biopsy, in which a specimen of the suspicious tissue is removed for pathological examination and analysis. In many instances, the suspicious tissue is located at a subcutaneous site, such as inside a human breast. To minimize surgical intrusion into a patient's body, it is desirable to be able to insert a small instrument into the body to gain access to the desired location for inspection and for extraction of a biopsy specimen.
Body tissue is often deformable, so that insertion of a needle or other device into a patient's tissues will often deform or displace the tissue through which the needle or other device moves. Tissues of interest, such as nodules, masses, tumors and the like, which are typically the desired targets of a biopsy sample, may be readily displaced, pushed aside or otherwise deformed during biopsy procedures, making it likely that some or all of the desired target tissue may be missed during the biopsy procedure, thereby increasing the likelihood of misdiagnosis of the condition that led to the need for the biopsy.
In extraction of a biopsy specimen with a probe, it may be desirable to anchor the probe in a desired position so as to insure that the probe remains in a proper position relative to the suspect tissue during manipulations and activities before and during the actual acquisition of the biopsy sample. In addition, it may be desirable to isolate tissue from neighboring healthy tissue in order to ensure that no diseased or abnormal tissue remains outside the sampled volume. Thus, the volume of tissue isolated may be larger than the minimum necessary so as to obtain margins of tissue free of disease for pathological diagnosis.
Electrosurgical techniques have been used in a variety of circumstances, including certain types of biopsy procedures. In electrosurgery, high frequency electrical energy is applied through a primary electrode to patient tissue. The electrical energy flows through the tissue to a return electrode that is in contact with the patent's tissue. Typically, the return electrode is attached to the patient at a point remote from where the primary electrode contacts the tissue. The tissue adjacent the primary electrode is ablated, to form an opening in the tissue.
When electrically activated, the electrode ablates the tissue adjacent the electrode, to produce a tissue opening which provides access to tissue to be taken in a biopsy sample. Guidance of the electrode tip to the desired site within a patient's body may be through stereotactic, radiological, ultrasonic, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or other means. However, there is frequently a delay between the positioning of the device and the taking of the biopsy sample, so that the device or tissue may move and prevent acquisition of the desired tissue. Accordingly, there is need in the art for means to mark a target site within a patient's body and for means to anchor the biopsy device in a proper location.
The tissue to be sampled or removed from the patient will often comprise a volume larger than the volume of the biopsy probe to obtain disease-free margins for pathological diagnosis. Accordingly, means for obtaining tissue samples larger than the probe itself are desired. In addition, it is of clinical interest to determine the extent of a diseased or abnormal portion of the tissue, and it is often desired that a border of normal tissue, surrounding any abnormal tissue present, be removed as well. It is further desired that the tissue to be removed be isolated from the body to prevent migration of diseased or abnormal tissue into other locations of the patient's body.
Accordingly, there is need in the art for devices and methods for accessing a desired site within a patient's body without displacing target body tissue, for anchoring devices at a desired site to prevent movement of such devices after arrival at a desired site, for isolating tissue, and for taking biopsy specimens from a patient.


A food package including a tray, a sleeve surrounding the tray and a rigid leg member extending from the back panel of the sleeve. The rigid leg member has a bottom edge that can rest on a support surface in order to position the front panel of the sleeve substantially perpendicularly to the support surfaces. In this way, the display surface can be better seen by potential consumers. A multipack food package is also disclosed.

This invention relates to a food package having a rigid leg member for displaying the front panel thereof.
Food packages, along with their obvious utilitarian purpose of allowing the food product therein to be shipped, must also "sell" the food product in the supermarket by providing attractive "facings" which are exposed to the potential consumer. Many irregular shaped packages, however, do not provide a proper facing. For example, an oblong or circular food package may not "stand up" and thus the supermarket customer cannot see the front panel of the food package which contains the graphics.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,090,615 and 5,234,159 provide a container/lid assembly which permits display of the front panel of the food package. However, there is not provided a sleeve which substantially surrounds the tray. This shortcoming limits the amount of facing surface available and so required labeling information (i.e., nutrition facts) must be placed on the front panel, thus detracting from the overall look of the front panel.
Commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/819,889, filed Mar. 18, 1997, discloses a food package including a tray and a sleeve. This food package, while providing an attractive facing, does not include means for allowing the package to "stand up" on a supermarket shelf.
What is needed, therefore, is a food package which provides an attractive facing that can be easily seen by supermarket shoppers.

Food package having a rigid leg member for displaying the front panel thereof


A blood filter is disclosed which actively removes unwanted particles from the blood without using passive elements such as a cartridge. The blood filter includes a housing having a blood inlet area for receiving blood to be filtered, a blood outlet area for providing filtered blood to a patient, and a blood return area for returning blood having unwanted particles to a reservoir. A plurality of independent blood paths extend from the inlet area to the outlet area of the housing for separate flows of blood therethrough. An array of detectors is placed adjacent the exterior of each blood path for detecting unwanted particles in the blood flowing therethrough. An array of valves is placed in operable relationship with the blood paths to close selected ones of the blood paths when unwanted particles are detected. Blood return conduits open to divert the particle-containing blood to a reservoir. Several arrays of detectors and valve combinations may be provided for redundancy. A feedback and control circuit monitors the number of closed blood paths and sends control or alarm signals when the outlet blood flow reduces below a predetermined minimum. A spiral-shaped inlet manifold distributes the incoming blood into different regions corresponding to mass to help improve the efficiency of the filter.

Blood filters are used in a number of medical environments to remove unwanted particulates from a blood stream. For example, an arterial blood filter is commonly used in an extracorporeal circuit for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to help minimize the dangers of embolism formation. Ordinarily, an arterial blood filter employed in conjunction with an oxygenator system is placed between the oxygenator and patient. Blood is directed from the oxygenator to the filter via a blood pump, and the oxygenated blood is filtered to remove emboli, bubbles, or other particles (generally "particles") before being returned to the patient.
Blood filters used in extracorporeal circuits should have a small priming volume to reduce the trauma to the patient from temporary loss of blood. In addition, extracorporeal filters should be effective in removing all the foreign particles in the blood without an excessive pressure drop, which creates a need for more pump work. Importantly, there should be no, or at least a minimal, chance of blockage, and filter performance should not decrease during the expected useful life of the filter, even during worst case partial plugging of the filter system. Finally, blood filters are disposable and thus should be relatively inexpensive since the filter has to be replaced after every procedure.
In conventional blood filters, a passive element such as a sock-like tubular cartridge, is installed in a generally cylindrical filter housing. Blood enters the housing on an inlet side (inside or outside) of the cartridge and passes through the cartridge walls to the other, outlet side. Because of the large surface area needed to filter an adequate flow of blood, conventional blood filters typically require a priming volume of 200 cc or more, which is proportionally significant in the overall extracorporeal circuit priming volume. Furthermore, fine mesh filter cartridges along with the housings are relatively expensive to continually replace.
Bubble formation may be a problem from the oxygenation process and simple air traps are often used to capture the bubbles before re-entering the patient. Other devices known utilize sensors to detect bubbles in the extracorporeal tubing downstream from the oxygenator. Such sensor devices, however, simply shut off blood flow altogether, or re-rout blood containing bubbles back through a pumping system. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,280,495 and 5,188,604. These setups may detect bubbles, but they also completely disrupt the return blood flow to the patient, which is counterproductive.
In short, there is a need for an effective, inexpensive blood filter with a low priming volume.

Active blood filter and method for active blood filtration