A cylindrical alkaline storage battery has a conductive cylindrical case whose outside diameter lies in a range from 13.5 mm to 14.5 mm, and an electrode assembly contained, together with an alkaline electrolyte, in the case. The electrode assembly is formed by spirally winding a belt-like negative plate and a belt-like positive plate with a separator intervened therebetween. The negative plate forms the outermost portion of the electrode assembly which contacts the inner wall of the case. The volume energy density of the battery lies in a range from 340 Wh/l to 450 Wh/l. The ratio of the volume of the positive plate to the characteristic volume of the case is in a range from 48% to 60%.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cylindrical alkaline storage battery suitable for achieving a high capacity.
2. Description of the Related Art
Alkaline batteries available include, for example, a nickel cadmium secondary battery and a nickel hydrogen secondary battery depending on the types of active materials contained in the batteries. Some of those alkaline batteries are of a cylindrical type which has a cylindrical case. The case is sealed with a lid having a relief valve and accommodates an electrode assembly together with an alkaline electrolyte. The electrode assembly is formed by winding a belt-like negative plate and a belt-like positive plate spirally with a separator in between and are contained in the case while that part of the negative plate which is wound around the outermost one of the electrode assembly contacts the inner wall of the case.
The positive plate, which is called a nickel electrode, is formed by filling a positive mixture in a nickel substrate having a three-dimensional mesh structure. The positive mixture includes nickel hydroxide particles as a positive active material, additive particles and a binder which binds those particles. The negative plate is formed by covering both sides of a metal sheet as a negative substrate with a hydrogen absorbing alloy layer as a negative active material layer. The metal sheet has through holes in which the negative active material is filled. The hydrogen absorbing alloy layer is comprised of hydrogen absorbing alloy particles which can absorb and desorb hydrogen as a negative active material, and a binder which binds the hydrogen absorbing alloy particles. While the capacity of each of the positive plate and the negative plate is defined by the amount of the active material or the amount of the hydrogen absorbing alloy contained therein, the battery capacity is defined by the capacity of the positive electrode. This is because the capacity of the negative electrode in this type of cylindrical alkaline storage battery is set greater than the capacity of the positive electrode in order to prevent the inner pressure from rising by reducing an oxygen gas produced in the positive plate with the negative plate when the battery is overcharged.
Recently has been increasing the demand for cylindrical alkaline storage batteries of this type, particularly, cylindrical alkaline storage batteries of AA size compatible with AA-size dry cells, as electronic and electric devices, such as a digital camera, which use the batteries as power supplies become popular. A cylindrical alkaline storage battery of AA size is strongly demanded of higher capacity or an improvement on the volume energy density in order to enable continuous use of the devices for extended time. To increase the battery capacity, the capacity of the positive electrode that defines the battery capacity should be increased. Specifically, the amount of the positive active material should be increased or the ratio of usage of the positive active material should be improved. To increase the amount of the positive active material, it is known to increase the length, thickness and area of the positive plate and the filling density of the positive mixture in the positive substrate. In case of increasing the thickness of the positive plate or enhancing the filling density of the positive mixture in the positive substrate, it is unnecessary to make the separator and the negative plate longer, thus ensuring an efficient increase in the amount of the positive active material. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-199520 discloses a cylindrical alkaline storage battery which achieves a high capacity by setting the thickness of a nickel electrode equal to or greater than 0.8 mm.
The following problems would however occur when the cylindrical alkaline storage battery described in the publication is adapted to an AA-size cylindrical alkaline storage battery whose case has an outside diameter of 13.5 mm to as large as 14.5 mm and whose positive plate is made thick enough so that the volume energy density becomes 340 Wh/l or higher.
First, the battery life becomes shorter with an increase in the thickness of the positive plate.
As the thickness of the positive plate increases, the distortion of a spiral shape drawn by the positive plate and the negative plate in view of the lateral cross-sectional area of the electrode assembly increases, making the gap between the positive plate and the negative plate nonuniform in the lengthwise direction of the positive plate and the negative plate. When the thickness of the positive plate becomes 0.95 mm or thicker, particularly, a fluctuation in the gap between both plates becomes greater. As the fluctuation in the gap between both plates becomes greater, an oxygen gas is locally produced when charging, increasing the inner pressure of the battery. This actuates the relief valve so that the alkaline electrolyte leaks out, thus shortening the battery life.
Secondly, when the inner end portion of the negative plate extends over the inner end portion of the positive plate in the circumferential direction of the electrode assembly on the outer surface side of the positive plate, a negative mixture comes off from that portion of the negative plate which extends over the inner end portion of the positive plate, thus decreasing the capacity of the negative electrode.
A clearance is defined in front of the inner end surface of the positive plate in view of the circumferential direction of the electrode assembly by the inner end surface of the positive plate and that portion of the separator which extends from the inner surface and outer surface of the positive plate over the inner end surface of the positive plate. The size of the clearance formed accords with the thickness of the positive plate. In the cylindrical alkaline storage battery which uses electrode assembly having such a clearance, after the initial charge/discharge, that portion of the negative plate which is positioned outside the clearance in the radial direction of the electrode assembly via the separator is bent toward the inner end surface of the positive plate in such a way as to reduce the clearance. When the thickness of the positive plate becomes 0.95 mm or greater, particularly, the bending of the negative plate in front of the inner end surface of the positive plate becomes larger, so that the negative mixture comes off from the bent portion of the negative plate, thus reducing the capacity of the negative electrode.
When the outer end portion of the negative plate extends over the outer end portion of the positive plate in the circumferential direction of the electrode assembly on the outer surface of the positive plate, the negative substrate may be broken at that portion of the negative plate which is overlaid on the outer surface edge of the outer end portion of the positive plate via the separator, thereby increasing the inner resistance, or the negative mixture may come off from that portion, thereby reducing the capacity of the negative electrode.
When the electrode assembly is wound, the portion of the negative plate which is overlaid on the outer surface edge of the outer end portion of the positive plate via the separator is bent. In addition, the outside diameter of the electrode assembly increases at the bent portion of the negative plate, so that the bent portion of the negative plate slides against the electrode winding machine or the case at the time the electrode assembly is wound or are inserted into the case. When the thickness of the positive plate becomes 0.95 mm or greater, particularly, the bending of that portion of the negative plate which is overlaid on the outer surface edge of the outer end portion of the positive plate and sliding of the bent portion of the negative plate against the winding machine or the case becomes intense. Therefore, the negative substrate may be broken at the bent portion of the negative plate, thereby increasing the inner resistance, or the negative mixture may come off from that portion, thereby reducing the capacity of the negative electrode.
Further, when the thickness of the positive plate becomes 0.95 mm or greater, the positive plate is broken and the broken portion breaks through the separator to contact the negative plate at the time the electrode assembly is wound, causing short-circuiting.
When the positive plate is made thick enough so that the volume energy density becomes 340 Wh/l or higher, the volumes of the negative plate, the alkaline electrolyte and the separator decrease and the excess space in the battery excluding those volumes and the volume of the positive plate decreases as well. This would raise the following problems. Before going into the detailed description of the problems, terms are defined as follows.
Capacity ratio: the ratio of the capacity of the entire negative plate to the capacity of the positive electrode
Non-overlapping portion: the portion of the negative active material layer which does not overlap the positive plate via the separator
Overlapping portion: the portion of the negative active material layer which overlaps the adjoining positive plate via the separator
Ratio of the non-opposing portion of the negative plate: the occupying ratio of the amount of the negative active material contained in the non-overlapping portion of the negative active material layer to the total amount of the negative active material
Opposing capacity ratio: the ratio of the capacity of the overlapping portion of the active material layer of the negative plate to the capacity of the positive electrode
Capacity-electrolyte ratio: the ratio of the volume of the alkaline electrolyte to 0.2 C capacity
To begin with, a decrease in the volume of the negative plate or a decrease in the amount of the negative active material reduces the battery life.
As the capacity of the positive electrode is increased by making the positive plate thicker, the capacity ratio decreases, thereby reducing the amount of the negative active material contained in the overlapping portion of the negative active material layer (hydrogen absorbing alloy layer). As the battery reaction mainly progresses between the positive active material and the overlapping portion of the negative active material layer at the time of charge/discharge, the battery reaction does not progress smoothly if the amount of the negative active material contained in the overlapping portion is small.
In a battery with the ratio of the non-opposing portion of the negative plate of 29%, for example, when the capacity ratio drops to 1.4 or lower, the opposing capacity ratio becomes 1.00 or less, so that the capacity of the negative electrode substantially becomes smaller than the capacity of the positive electrode.
When the opposing capacity ratio becomes 1.00 or less, it becomes impossible to exchange protons at the shortest distance at the time the battery reaction occurs. So the reaction is made non-uniform, thereby lowering the discharge characteristics. Further, the time for the oxygen gas that has been produced in the positive plate at the time of charging to pass through the separator, reach the negative plate and be reduced becomes longer, thus increasing the inner pressure of the battery. This actuates the relief valve, so that the alkaline electrolyte leaks out. When charge/discharge is repeated, therefore, the battery life becomes shorter due to two factors: early and local deterioration of the active material caused by the non-uniform reaction and the leakage of the alkaline electrolyte caused by an increase in the inner pressure of the battery.
Secondly, when the amount of the alkaline electrolyte decreases, the capacity-electrolyte ratio decreases. When the capacity-electrolyte ratio becomes 0.85 ml/Ah or less, the amount of the electrolyte becomes short at the portion where the positive plate and the negative plate overlap each other via the separator. This increases the electric resistance, lowering the discharge characteristic.
Because the alkaline electrolyte mainly exist in the form of being contained in the positive plate, the negative plate and the separator in entirety in the battery, some of the alkaline electrolyte is contained in the non-overlapping portion of the negative plate which does not directly contribute to the battery reaction and the separator adjoining to the non-overlapping portion. Accordingly, the amount of the alkaline electrolyte which is contained in the positive plate, the overlapping portion of the negative plate where the battery reaction takes place, and the separator sandwiched therebetween is what is obtained by subtracting the amount of the alkaline electrolyte contained in the non-overlapping portion of the negative plate from the total amount of the alkaline electrolyte. In the case where the capacity-electrolyte ratio becomes 0.85 ml/Ah or less, if a part of the alkaline electrolyte is contained in the non-overlapping portion of the negative plate, the amount of the alkaline electrolyte that is present in the place of the battery reaction becomes short. This increases the electric resistance between the positive plate and the negative plate, thus lowering the discharge characteristic.
When continuous charging takes place at a low temperature, the positive plate is expanded to absorb the electrolyte. In a battery which has a small amount of the electrolyte, therefore, the discharge performance after continuous charging drops, causing a significant voltage drop at the initial discharge stage. This low-temperature continuous charge characteristic also considerably decreases when the capacity-electrolyte ratio becomes 0.85 ml/Ah or less.
When a separator with a small thickness or a light weight per area is used to reduce the volume of the separator, short-circuiting is likely to occur between the positive plate and the negative plate, resulting in lower quality. Short-circuiting is particularly apt to occur at a circumferential position where the outer end portion of the positive plate is positioned. This is originated from the outside diameter of the electrode assembly being maximized at the circumferential position and a burr is present at the edge of the outer end portion of the positive plate. That is, as the outside diameter is the maximum, the outer end portion of the positive plate is compressed by the inner wall of the case from both radial sides. At this time, the burr at the outer end portion of the positive plate is compressed and breaks through the separator, thereby increasing the frequency of occurrence of short-circuiting.
When the excess space is reduced, the space for temporarily storing the oxygen gas produced in the positive plate is gone. When the oxygen gas is produced in the positive plate at the time of charging, therefore, the inner pressure rises immediately to actuate the relief valve, thereby causing the alkaline electrolyte to leak out.


A method and system for roaming mobile communications between networks is described. One embodiment includes a plurality of messages from a home network subscriber device that is device is roaming outside the home network. A communications link is established with a destination network, including modifying at least one of the messages such that the message appears to the destination network to originate from a partner network of the destination network. Both voice and data are transmitted via the communications link.

Traditionally, there are certain requirements for establishing a roaming relationship between two wireless communication network operators. These requirements include, network connectivity (for example, SS7 and/or Internet Protocol (IP)), a procedure for exchanging billing information, and a commercial roaming agreement (such as AA12-14 or AA31). These requirements must be met before International Roaming Expert Group (IREG) and Transferred Account Data Interchange Group ("TADIG") tests can be applied. With reference to FIG. 1, a traditional roaming scenario 100 is illustrated. An operator A 102 has an International Roaming Agreement 104 with an operator B 103. The operator A 102 has a fixed network 106A, a GSM system 108A, including a Visited Location Register (VLR) and a Home Location Register (HLR), an EDP center 110A, a billing system 112A, and finance software and hardware 114A. The operator B 103 has a fixed network 106B, a GSM system 108B, including a Visited Location Register (VLR) and a Home Location Register (HLR), an EDP center 10B, a billing system 112B, and finance software and hardware 114B. A subscriber 118 is a subscriber of operator B, but is roaming on the network of operator A. A subscriber 116 is a subscriber of operator A, but is roaming on the network of operator B.
As shown, the operators A and B communicate according to IREG and TADIG tests.
In voice roaming, network connectivity is established by International Switch Center (ISC) carriers or by direct connection. However, connectivity is generally the easiest part of establishing roaming. The more time time-consuming and/or difficult part is establishing a commercial agreement between the two operators before IREG and TADIG testing can proceed. Often, it is not a high priority for network operators to deal with smaller operators to set up roaming relationships. In addition, often it is not a high priority for network operators to set up roaming relationships with other operators in countries where the network operator already has at least one existing roaming relationship.
One approach to facilitating roaming is to piggyback on previously established roaming relationships, or partnerships. The partner operator is often called the sponsoring operator, and the piggybacking operator is often called the sponsored operator.
All current solutions that allow a sponsored operator to piggyback on the roaming relationships of a sponsoring operator only work for voice and Short Message Service (SMS) roaming. In these solutions, Message Application Part (MAP) signaling between the sponsored operator and the targeting roaming partner are relayed through a signal gateway that "fools" the targeting roaming partner into think it is dealing with the sponsoring network. For outbound roamers of the sponsored operator, a sponsoring operator IMSI is used in a dual IMSI SIM when roaming so the IMSI-Sponsoring is being replaced by the corresponding IMSI-Sponsored when the MAP signal is relayed through the signal gateway. The MAP signaling relay can also control MT-calls to inbound roamers from a target roaming partner to be routed through the sponsoring operator if desired.
While these prior solutions can be extended to deal with CAMEL and GPRS MAP signaling, no existing solutions allow a sponsored operator to piggyback on a sponsoring operator's GPRS roaming relationships. GPRS roaming involves both signaling and data sessions.

Signaling and packet relay method and system including general packet radio service (“GPRS”)


A system for generating a multi-modal summary of a digital document, comprising a processor adapted for: extracting from the document a plurality of graphical elements; generating a set of textual descriptions, each generated for one of the graphical elements and associated therewith; selecting, from the set of textual descriptions and a set of text fragments extracted from the document, a set of representative elements having a highest score computed by applying thereto a score function, where a set of representative elements' score is indicative of a degree by which the set of representative elements represents the document; for each representative element of the set of representative elements, where the element is a textual description of a graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, replacing the element with the graphical element associated therewith; and                generating, using the set of representative elements, another document comprising a multi-modal summary of the document.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a system and method for generating a graphical abstract of a document and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to generating a graphical abstract of an academic article.
Publishing is a business of making information available to the public, particularly sale or dissemination of literature, music, or information. Publishing may use digital media, for example a compact disk or a web site. Additionally, or alternatively publishing may use non-digital media, for example print, for example a book or a magazine. As used henceforth, the term publisher refers to an entity that publishes information. In addition, as used henceforth, the term document refers to a piece of written, printed, or electronic matter that provides information.
There exist fields where a published document is accompanied by an abstract, briefly summarizing the document. An abstract of a document is often used to help a reader quickly ascertain the purpose of the document. Some examples of a document that may be published with an abstract are a research article, an academic thesis, a review, proceedings of a conference, a patent application, and analysis of a subject. Some abstracts have text only.
Even though some publishers limit an amount of words in a text-only abstract, there exist readers who want the facts presented clearly in a concise visual representation. A graphical abstract is a single-panel image designed to give a reader an immediate understanding of the document, allowing the reader to quickly determine whether the document is relevant to the reader's interest at a glance without having to read through the entire document text or even a text-only abstract.
A graphical abstract may be displayed in a list of results of an online search. Some other uses of a graphical abstract include appended to the beginning of the document wen it is published electronically, for example via a web site, and in an online directory of published documents.

System and method for generating a multi-modal abstract

International Business Machines Corporation


The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein provide a light diffraction device positioned adjacent to a wall and comprising a laser and a diffractive imaging element. The diffractive imaging film having an image and positioned relative to the laser so as to create a projection of the image upon the wall. The diffractive film can also contain a series of images where the film is moved relative to the laser in order to create an animation effect upon the wall. In some embodiments, a distortion reflector may be positioned to accept the laser light exiting the diffractive imaging film and to distort the laser light to produce a desired image upon the wall. In some embodiments, additional reflectors may be used and in some further embodiments a distortion lens may be used.

Lighting devices such as nightlights, walkway lights, and accent lighting are used in a number of applications and for a number of different purposes. In some cases they are functional, providing illumination in specific areas which may be dark (either always or only during the nighttime). While in other cases they are aesthetic, adding color or accenting a wall or feature of a room for decorative purposes.


A code base, including a code base history, is searched for code term(s) and change(s) that have been made to the code term(s). The code base includes, but is not limited to, multiple: (i) instances of code; (ii) product releases; (iii) code components; and/or (iv) code drafting projects.

The present invention relates generally to the field of source code management, and more particularly to identification of "related code segments" (that is, portions of code that are potentially related for code revision purposes). Oftentimes during software development, a developer will change a portion of a set of code associated with a computer program. Further, the set of code, or code base, may include several branches associated with various versions of the program. When making a change to a portion of code within a code base, the software developer may attempt to identify other portions of code within the code base where a similar change may be helpful.
When searching for related code segments that are similar to a given piece of code (herein referred to as a "target code segment"), then software developers typically: (i) search a code base manually in order to find related code segments that are related to the target code segment; and (ii) analyze the related code segments to determine whether each of those related code segments would benefit from the same type of change that is being proposed for the target code segment. For example, a review of one of the related code segments, which is related to the target code segment might show that the related portion had already undergone a change similar to what is currently proposed for the target code segment, but, that the related code segment had later been reverted back to a state similar to the target code segment for some reason. In that example, the reversion of the related code segment might: (i) cause the developer to question whether the currently proposed revision really would be helpful for that related code segment; and/or (ii) cause the developers to question whether the change being proposed for the target code segment would really be helpful even with respect to the target code segment.
When performing the manual searches for related code segments described in the previous paragraph, developers search change repositories for the exact words used in a code to determine whether the same change was made elsewhere. Another known technique to find related code segments is the application of an automated, static analysis rule using exact words or phrases (also known as a code snippet) that are searched over the entire code base.
Some known software development systems provide for an integrated development environment (IDE) that notifies the developer in real-time, as a piece of code is being written, that there is already a piece of code in a repository that includes the exact words or phrases being written by using a static analysis of the code language. Some IDEs notify the user that another version of the edited file had been modified using the exact words or phrases found in the edited file by applying those exact words or phrases in a static analysis of the other version.


A transparent film scanner having a light source with a diffuser and a reflector includes a light source for generating a primary light that is diffused by a diffuser to obtain a more uniform secondary light. The secondary light source is then reflected by a reflector to produce a tertiary light for illuminating the film. With a diffused secondary light, the distance between the reflector and the film can be reduced, thus reducing the size of the scanner.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transparent film scanner having a light source system with a diffuser and a reflector for scanning transparent films.
2. Description of the Related Art
The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,523 to Skavnak, filed on Jul. 13, 1973, entitled by xe2x80x9cPHOTOCOPIER LIGHT BOXxe2x80x9d.
In scanning a transparent film or a transparency in a scanner, the transparent film is placed over a glass window. The light source is located over the film to be scanned. The transmitted light through the film is sensed by an optical sensing system placed underneath the window.
A traditional optical system for scanning a film is shown in FIG. 1. A film P1 is placed over a glass window G1. The lighting L1 for scanning the film P1 is a secondary light originated from a light source 10 and reflected by a reflecting plate 12. The optical sensor for sensing the light transmitted through the film P1 is located underneath the glass window G1 (not shown). The purpose for using a secondary light to scan the film is to obtain uniform light intensity.
The drawback of such a design is that the distance A1 between the reflecting plate 12 and the film P1 must be placed far away from the reflecting plate to obtain uniformity in light intensity. Such a structure increases the size of the scanner and is undesirable.
An object of this invention is to provide uniform illumination of a transparent film for a scanner.
Another object of this invention is to reduce the size of a scanner.
These objects are achieved by inserting a light diffuser in front of the light source. The diffused light is then reflected by a reflecting plate to illuminate the film placed on top of a glass scan window. When the light is thus diffused, the distance between the reflecting plate and the film can be made shorter than that in a traditional film scanner.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

Transparent film scanner having light source system with diffuser and reflector

29, Lane 1, Alley 607, Sec. 1, Kuang-Fu Road


A compact solar simulator includes a target surface for a solar module, an enclosure behind the target surface, and at least one source fixture including a lamp in the enclosure spaced from the target surface. Diffusing surfaces about the source fixture diffuse radiation emitted by the lamp. Specular reflectors are positioned to steer the diffused radiation to the target surface and are oriented to create a uniform intensity distribution across the target surface. Moreover, the surface area of any desired filters is reduced and any longitudinal non-uniform intensity distribution of the lamp is corrected.

Solar simulators are used to test solar panel modules. A viable simulator must include a light source whose output matches the solar spectrum. Specular spatial, irradiance spatial, and temporal uniformity are also requirements.
An example of a compact solar simulator is the "Spi-Sun Simulator™ SLP" offered by the applicant hereof. Other solar simulators are discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,514,931 and 7,528,615 incorporated herein by this reference. Compact solar simulators typically have a lamp or lamps fairly close to the target surface as opposed to some distance away as is the case with projection simulators.
In the prior art, a mask was sometimes used to control the intensity distribution of light from the source at the target surface upon which the solar panel module rests or over which the solar panel module is positioned. In one example, the mask was placed on filter panels themselves residing on an acrylic surface between the source(s) and the target surface.
Creating a mask for each production unit, installing it, and testing it is a very time consuming and expensive procedure. Creating a mask can also be a procedure which is difficult to replicate. A mask can also noticeably reduce the overall intensity at the test plane requiring that additional energy be put into the source lamp(s).


A multistage plunger lift system includes an upper production tubing segment positioned in a wellbore uphole of a lower production tubing segment, with the upper segment having a greater diameter than the lower segment. A lower travelling plunger and an upper traveling plunger are sized and configured to fit and travel within the lower segment and the upper segment, respectively. A plunger lift tool is positioned in the upper segment between the upper plunger and the lower plunger, and includes within its main body a fluid passageway with a one-way valve. A plunger receptacle sleeve at the bottom end of the lift tool receives the lower plunger and includes one or more vents configured to allow fluids to flow around the lower plunger when the lower plunger is received within the plunger receptacle sleeve.

Plunger lift systems are artificial lift systems that can used for oil production in oil wells that have a gas-liquid ratio that poses production difficulties for other artificial lift systems and for deliquification of gas wells. Plunger lift systems use wellbore pressure and plungers to transport wellbore fluids to the surface.

Tapered multistage plunger lift with bypass sleeve


While an AUX-bus selecting operator is being operated beyond a predetermined time period, displays of channel-ON operators, normally indicating ON/OFF states of corresponding input channels, indicate ON/OFF states of signal delivery from the input channels to the AUX bus. Thus, a user can readily confirm, with minimized operation, the ON/OFF states of the signal delivery from the input channels to the second bus. Operating any one of the channel-ON operators in this state can change the ON/OFF state of the signal delivery from the corresponding input channel to the AUX bus. Further, operating the AUX-bus selecting switch while keeping operating the layer operator, current fader settings of the input channels can be copied as delivery levels of signals from the input channels to the AUX bus. Because the delivery levels of sound signals from the input channels to the bus can be set using the fader settings of the input channels as initial values, time and labor necessary for the setting operation can be minimized.

The present invention relates to digital mixers for performing centralized control of audio equipment in sites where live concerts, live broadcasting, etc. are carried out.
The conventional mixers used in live concerts, live broadcasting, etc. are capable of mixing and outputting not only main sounds to be listened to by an audience but also motoring sounds to be supplied to individual performers. In a live concert, for example, the mixer mixes a plurality of performed sounds for the audience to output the mixed sounds to main speakers provided for the audience, but also mixes the same performed sounds for the individual performers to output the mixed results to monitoring speakers provided for the performers. Generally, the performed sounds to be included in the monitoring sounds and the performed sounds to be not included in the monitoring sounds normally differ between the individual performers. Therefore, for each of buses mixing the performed sounds for the performers, it has been conventional for a human operator of the mixer to make confirmation and necessary setting as to whether or not the performed sounds from individual input channels are to be input to that bus. For the confirmation and setting, the human operator calls a dedicated setting screen for each of the buses mixing the performed sounds for the performers.
For example, AUX (auxiliary) buses or the like are used to perform the mixing for the individual performers. Using the AUX-bus-specific dedicated setting screens as mentioned above, the human operator can set from which input channels and to which AUX buses performed sounds should be sent or delivered. AUX selecting switches are provided in corresponding relation to the AUX buses, for selecting any one of the AUX buses, i.e. for calling the setting screen of any one of the AUX buses. Namely, from which input channels performed sounds are to be sent to the buses (e.g., AUX buses) that mix the performer-by-performer monitoring sounds can be confirmed and set only via the respective dedicated screens of the buses, and such confirming and setting operation tends to be a very complicated one requiring considerable amounts of time and labor.
In the case where the AUX buses are used as the monitoring buses for the individual performers, send (or delivery) levels of signals to be delivered from the individual input channels to a given one of the AUX buses are set in accordance with a request of the performer listening to the monitoring sounds. It has been conventional to set the signal send levels, for example, by placing the AUX bus, to be used for the monitoring, in a selectable state, placing various setting items, related to the AUX bus, in a state settable via operators, such as faders and rotary encoders, provided on an operation panel and then appropriately manipulating these operators. The signal send levels can also be set on a predetermined separate screen that is displayed for making various settings related to the AUX bus. Also, it has been conventional to set sound signal levels of the individual input channels for mixing of the performer-by-performer monitoring sounds, independently of mixing of the main sounds for the audience. Namely, the human operator has to make all settings for the mixing of the performer-by-performer monitoring sounds from scratch (from nothing), independently of the mixing of the main sounds for the audience.


A method of performing plasma immersion ion implantation on a workpiece in a plasma reactor chamber, includes placing the workpiece on a workpiece support in the chamber, controlling a temperature of the wafer support near a constant level, performing plasma immersion ion implantation on the workpiece by introducing an implant species precursor gas into the chamber and generating a plasma while minimizing deposition and minimizing etching by holding the temperature of the workpiece within a temperature range that is above a workpiece deposition threshold temperature and below a workpiece etch threshold temperature.

The present invention concerns plasma immersion ion implantation reactors of the type disclosed in the above-referenced parent applications in which a pair of external reentrant conduits define a pair of transverse toroidal paths in which RF oscillating plasma currents are maintained by RF source power applied to the interiors of the conduits. A plasma immersion ion implantation process carried out in such a reactor typically requires that the semiconductor wafer be cleaned or otherwise prepared beforehand. Such a cleaning process can be carried out very rapidly using a plasma process, but this can leave the wafer surface very rough, leading to inferior results. For example, a rough surface that is ion implanted with a dopant material can have an excessive sheet resistance. Deposition of an epitaxial layer (by a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, for example) on a rough surface can result in a low quality deposited layer that is less crystalline and more amorphous. Such problems can be avoided by carrying out the wafer cleaning process using a cleaning gas without employing any plasma. This approach leaves the smoothest wafer surface but can be unacceptably slow, and in many cases should be carried out at a sufficiently high temperature to activate the gas species. Such a high temperature can exceed the wafer process thermal budget. In order to clean the wafer faster but avoid surface damage of the type encountered with plasma cleaning processes and high temperatures of the non-plasma cleaning process, the cleaning gas can be dissociated into reactive neutrals. This latter approach would be ideal, except that it requires a remote plasma source (RPS) reactor that furnishes the reactive neutrals or radicals to the main chamber. The problem is that the external feed from the RPS chamber to the main chamber holding the wafer does not provide a uniform distribution of the neutrals or radicals over the wafer surface, so that the wafer cannot be cleaned uniformly. Typically, the radicals or neutrals from the RPS chamber are fed to a side port of the main chamber, leading to the non-uniformity. What is needed is a way of cleaning a wafer rapidly and uniformly without impairing wafer surface quality and without having to employ very high temperatures.
A plasma immersion ion implantation reactor must be cleaned periodically. In some cases, such periodic cleaning is required to avoid excessive metal contamination of the wafer process. The best results (lowest contamination) are obtained when the chamber is cleaned every time a wafer is processed. This is only practical if the cleaning process is less than the time required to perform the wafer process, in order to avoid an excess loss of productivity. The fastest processes for cleaning the chamber interior are plasma cleaning processes, and these can meet the productivity goals. Unfortunately, plasma cleaning process are so fast that they tend to consume a relatively large fraction of the chamber surfaces and elements (such as process kits), and therefore are extremely costly insofar as they require frequent replacement of chamber interior parts and materials. The minimum consumption of chamber interior elements for a thorough cleaning is obtained using cleaning gases without a plasma, but this approach is too time-consuming. The best compromise is obtained by employing dissociated cleaning gases. The problem with this approach is that distribution within the main chamber of the dissociated cleaning gases from an external remote plasma source (RPS) chamber is non-uniform, so that the main chamber cannot be cleaned uniformly. This is because the external feed from the RPS chamber to the main chamber does not provide a uniform distribution of the neutrals or radicals within the main chamber. Typically, the dissociated gases from the RPS chamber are fed to a side port of the main chamber.
One problem encountered in plasma immersion ion implantation is that the dopant-containing process gas can sometimes form a film on the surface being implanted that can block the implantation or distort the implant depth profile from the desired one. Such an unwanted film can, in some cases, distort the ion implantation depth profile (or render it difficult to control during implantation), so that the resulting depth profile may not be ideal. Another problem is that the ion bombardment can etch away the surface being implanted, removing much of the implanted ions and thereby attenuating the desired effects of the implantation process. In a dopant implantation process in a semiconductor layer, this problem manifests itself as a high sheet resistance.
Another problem that can arise in any plasma process is contamination on the wafer backside that degrades subsequent wafer processing steps. Our experience has led us to believe that such backside contamination arises from contact between the wafer backside and the ESC top surface and the flexing of the wafer during wafer chucking and dechucking. Metallic contamination occurs because in many cases the insulating layer on the ESC surface is a metal-containing compound such as AlN. AlN particles scraped onto the wafer backside from the ESC can be dissociated in later plasma process steps to free the Al species and form metallic contamination, which can degrade process performance. There is a need to prevent such contamination without creating other burdens on the process.

Plasma immersion ion implantation process


A power voltage control circuit for a CPU. The CPU has at least one power indication pin to output a power indication signal. In the control circuit, a register stores an adjustment signal, and combination unit adds the power indication signal and the adjustment signal to output a first signal. A selection unit receives the power indication signal and the adjustment signal. A selection controller controls the selection unit to output the power indication signal or the adjustment signal. A PWM controller supplies a power voltage to the CPU according to the power indication signal or the adjustment signal from the selection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control circuit, and more particularly, to a power voltage control circuit for a central processing unit (CPU).
2. Description of the Related Art
CPUs in personal computers generally have at least one power indication (VID) pin to output a power indication signal SVID and to control the received power voltage, as shown in FIG. 1. When CPUs of different manufacture require different power voltages, the desired power voltage can be determined according to the power indication signal from the PID pin.
In the conventional method a CPU is overclocked by adjusting both the operating frequency of the CPU and the power voltage of the CPU. As shown in FIG. 2, a default value can be stored in the VID register 16 through an interface bus 14 such as a system bus, an I2C bus, or the like. VID controller 18 produces a selection signal Sel, and multiplexer (MUX) 20 outputs the signal SVID from the CPU 10 or the signal RVID from the VID register 16. The MUX 20 outputs the signal RVID to PWM controller 12 according to the selection signal Sel when the CPU is overclocked, so that the correct power voltage is output to the CPU.
The signal SVID from the power indication pin, however, fluctuates continuously as the load and operating temperature of the CPU 10 (based on specification VRD 10.0 proposed by Intel) fluctuates. As shown in FIG. 2, the control signal SVID from the CPU is isolated from the PWM controller 12 by the MUX 20 according to selection signal Sel. Consequently, the control circuit cannot adjust the power voltage output to the CPU 10 as CPU load and operating temperature fluctuate. Thus, the conventional control circuit as shown in FIG. 2 cannot efficiently provide the correct voltage necessary to overclock the CPU 10.

Circuit controlling power supplied to a CPU based on only a power signal or a combination of a power signal and an adjustment signal


An output apparatus is configured to output data for printing. The output apparatus acquires data based on identification information for identifying data to be acquired and merges the acquired data with each of a plurality of templates corresponding to the identification information. The output apparatus outputs the data merged with each of the plurality of templates according to a print setting for each template.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an output apparatus configured to output data for printing, a processing apparatus configured to process printing data, and a method therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is known a method for superimposing data on a form having a ruled line at the time of printing to print the resulting superimposed data. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-150920 discusses a method in which a format of a form and data are merged on a computer to generate form printing data and the generated form print data is printed, instead of superimposing data on a form having a ruled line at the time of printing.
In the above-described methods, data is superimposed on a form format, or data and a form format are mutually merged. Meanwhile, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open NO. 05-108636 discusses a method for automatically acquiring data to be merged with a form in order to automatically create a repetitive document. In the method discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 05-108636, a pointer indicating information describing a method for acquiring data is embedded in a form format. Furthermore, the data is acquired according to the method for acquiring data indicated by the pointer and the acquired data is merged with the form format.
Further, in a conventional method, a form template is divided for each print setting to be applied to separately and individually print the divided form templates, so as to allow a user to handle the printed form templates as one form for user convenience. However, even if data which is common among the divided form templates is acquired and merged, the form templates are printed as different forms. Accordingly, in this case, it is necessary to acquire data for each individual form template.
Accordingly, if a database has been changed during generation of an individual form, a user may output an individual form as one integrated form. In this case, values included in the data may differ among the forms when the same values should be included in the data.

Output apparatus configured to output data for printing, processing apparatus configured to process printing data, and method


Karate practice apparatus includes a target pad mounted on a horizontally extending arm, the arm being adjustably mounted on a vertical shaft which is anchored at its lower end in a base housing, and a resistance system in the base housing yieldingly resists rotation of the shaft when the target is truck from either side either by kicking or punching so as to return the target pad to its neutral position. The target pad is composed of a high density foam material which is molded around the support arm and is readily interchangeable so as to conform to the level of skill of the athlete.

In the field of martial arts, numerous training devices have been devised for the purpose of developing accuracy and speed in punching and kicking. In this field, it is desirable to build strength in one's arms and legs in very much the same manner as a body builder develops different sets of muscles by lifting weights. In developing punching and kicking skills, the aim is to improve timing, focus, balance and speed in striking a target with a given force while avoiding the necessity of having another person hold the target and minimizing the risk of injury.
In the past, devices have been employed which accomplish a number of the enumerated aims or objectives. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,749,184 to Tobin employs a target at the end of a padded sleeve with an elastic strap to encircle the target; and a free-standing support frame is provided with spaced-apart upstanding stationary portions in a generally triangular arrangement, the target being pivotally mounted to one of the portions with spring resistance members extending to and supported by the other portions to yieldingly resist pivotal movement of the target.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,316 to Prince also discloses a padded target which is free to swivel or rotate through a limited angle and includes a cushioned pad with an outer fabric cover and tubular support member which fits over an arm support for the target. Another form of padded target is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,913,419 to McAuliffe and which comprises a polypropylene board with a resilient mounting portion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,630 to Dignard et al. discloses another type of striking board, and U.S Pat. No. 4,564,192 to Lebowitz discloses a target which includes a cushioned or padded portion surrounding a support arm. Other representative patents in this field are those to Tomko, No. 4,309,029; Schustack, No. 4,635,929; Bryson, No. 4,807,871; Dong, No. 4,836,533; Beall, No. 4,932,652; and Wright, No. 4,964,629.
Nevertheless, there is a particular need for a martial arts training and practice device incorporating a novel and improved target pad of improved configuration and which is so mounted and arranged as to be readily conformable to the skill of the user; also to provide a novel and improved return mechanism for the target pad which is completely hidden in a base of the apparatus so as to increase the stability of the apparatus and substantially reduce the number of exposed moving parts.

Martial arts practice apparatus with automatic return


An electronic device includes a blade having a faceplate and a handle out locked position ejector. The handle out locked position ejector is configured to secure the blade to a chassis. The handle out locked position ejector includes two ejectors and a handle binding the two ejectors together. The handle out locked position ejector extends perpendicularly from the faceplate when the blade is secured to the chassis thus locating the handle out of the way of ports of the blade.

1. Field
The present application relates to the field of electronics, and more particularly, to structures for electronic devices and related methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
An electronic device such as a switch includes various components that are housed within a chassis. The chassis forms the framework that supports the various components while allowing the various components to be inserted and removed from the electronic device.
One example of a component such as a blade includes ejector handles for securing the blade to the chassis. The blade is inserted into the chassis. After insertion of the blade, the ejector handles are pivoted to rest against the front face of the blade thus locking the blade to the chassis.
The front face of the blade includes various ports to which cables are connected. To maximize the utilization of the blade, the ports are provided in a high density on the front face of the blade to facilitate a high density of cable connections to the blade. Unfortunately, the ejector handles block valuable area of the front face thus limiting the port density on the front face.
Further, cable management is a challenge in a switch having a large number of blades. For example, cables connected to upper blades can droop and block access to ports of lower blades. As the density of cable connections increases, it becomes increasingly important to manage the cables.

Ejector and cable management system and method


A new Eye Brow Trimming System for providing a painless, easy and efficient device for removing undesirable hair from a user's eyebrow. The inventive device includes a tube having a battery compartment, a vibrating motor within the tube, a shaft attached to the vibrating motor, an arcuate head having a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of vertical blades attached to the shaft opposite of the motor for cutting hair which projects through the apertures.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Brow Shaving Devices and more particularly pertains to a new Eye Brow Trimming System for providing a painless, easy and efficient device for removing undesirable hair from a user's eyebrow.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of Brow Shaving Devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, Brow Shaving Devices heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art Brow Shaving Devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,477; U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,382; U.S. Design Pat. No. 298,576; U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,971; U.S. Pat. No. 4,972,584 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,581.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new Eye Brow Trimming System. The inventive device includes a tube having a battery compartment, a vibrating motor within the tube, a shaft attached to the vibrating motor, an arcuate head having a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of vertical blades attached to the shaft opposite of the motor for cutting hair which projects through the apertures.
In these respects, the Eye Brow Trimming System according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a painless, easy and efficient device for removing undesirable hair from a user's eyebrow.


The invention provides a juicer and grater assembly comprising an extractor having a plurality of radially extending tabs integral with a lower portion thereof, a combination grater and strainer having at least a plurality of first apertures and a plurality of second apertures, wherein the extractor is removably secured on the combination grater and strainer in either a first position wherein the plurality of radially extending tabs cover the plurality of first apertures for allowing extracted juice to flow through the plurality of second apertures, or in a second position wherein the plurality of radially extending tabs cover the plurality of second apertures allowing juice and pulp to flow through the plurality of first apertures.

Prior art manual juicers are commonly used to extract juice from cut citrus fruit. One problem associated with the prior art manual juicers is that they collect pulp and seed on a strainer around the juicer and allow only the juice to pass through to the reservoir below. Therefore, if juice with pulp is desired, a separate step or apparatus is required to collect juice with pulp.
Moreover, since graters are not commonly used everyday, if a user desires to grate or zest the outer layer or skin of the citrus fruit, he must use a separate grater, which requires purchase and storing an additional kitchen appliance.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a manual juicer and grater assembly that will provide for both juice and juice with pulp when desired, and a grater for grating the outer layer or skin of citrus fruit.


A new Lobelia plant particularly distinguished by its compact, mounded, and pendant plant habit, short internodes, and large flower size with a very intense cobalt blue color is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of lobelia, botanically known as Lobelia erinus, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Lob Bule'. The new cultivar originated from a hybridization made in 2002 in Andijk, The Netherlands. The female parent was 'LOB02-12-1', a white proprietary lobelia line (unpatented), while the male parent was 'LOB02-14-1', a blue proprietary lobelia line (unpatented).
The new cultivar was created in 2002 in Andijk, The Netherlands and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Gilroy, Calif., and Andijk, The Netherlands over a two-year period. The plant has also been trialed at Gilroy, Calif., and Andijk, The Netherlands. The present invention has been found to be stable and true to type and to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.


A winding frame is provided which is swingably mountable on a machine frame and operable to support a rotatably driveable winding core for the winding of a filament thereon. The winding frame includes a damping apparatus for opposing unscheduled swing movements of the winding frame during regular winding of a filament onto the winding core.

The present invention relates to a winding frame which is pivotably securable to a winding machine support for supporting a rotatably driveable winding core onto which a yarn is wound. The term xe2x80x9cwinding corexe2x80x9d is to be understood as a proxy for the term xe2x80x9cwinding tubexe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cwinding packagexe2x80x9d. The term xe2x80x9cfilamentxe2x80x9d encompasses the totality of yarn formed geometries such as, for example, spinning or two-for-one or twist yarns of various machine assemblies.
A winding frame of the type above referred to is disclosed, for example, in DE-PS 38 09 421 A1, and includes two opposed carry arms between which is rotatably supported a winding core onto which yarn is to be wound. The rotatative driving of the winding core is effected by a friction drive roller against which the winding core lies and which performs the function of a support roller. Another possibility for effecting the driving of the winding core is an individual motor securable on the winding frame which directly drives the winding core which itself is supported against a freely rotatable support roller. In conventional winding frames, the damping apparatus, which is operable to oppose unscheduled swing movements of the winding frame during regular winding of a winding core, comprises a guide rod pivotally mounted to the machine frame along which a guide is movable, the guide being movably secured to the winding frame by ball pins or ball studs and having a friction-or brake-jaw movably secured thereto which is biasable by a spring against the guide rod. In this manner, a swing movement free rotation of the winding core during winding thereon to is ensured. A damping apparatus such as this isxe2x80x94especially because of the movable connection of the braking element on the guidexe2x80x94relatively prone to disruptions and is, thus, not operationally reliable.
The present invention achieves the objective of providing a winding frame, having a damping apparatus, of relatively simple construction which is nonetheless operationally reliable.
To achieve this objective, the inventive damping apparatus includes a guide rod movably secured to the winding frame upon which can act at least one braking surface adjustably movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide rod, the guide rod extending through a housing pivotally mounted on the machine frame.
In accordance with the present invention, only two swing movement dispositions are needed, namely, the swingable positioning of the guide rod on the winding frame and, on the other hand, the swingable positioningxe2x80x94that is, the pivotable positioningxe2x80x94of the housing, which houses the braking surface, on the machine frame. In this manner, a high functioning reliability of the damping apparatus is ensured and this is so especially because the braking surface is adjustable only in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the guide rod.
The braking surface can be actuated by spring or pressurized air.
Further features of the invention are set forth in the description and claims hereto.


Current supply circuit for supplying a circuit with an internal supply voltage on the basis of an external supply voltage with an bipolar transistor for realizing reverse-connect protection for the circuit to be supplied, a supply current flowing through the bipolar transistor's collector-emitter path, a regulating circuit connected to the bipolar transistor ensuring that the bipolar transistor is operated at the limit to saturation.

In a plurality of technical applications it is desirable these days to operate an electronic circuit at an operating voltage which may vary within a wide range. In automobile applications, the operating voltage may vary, for example, between 3 volts and 34 volts. In addition, it is necessary to provide protection against polarity inversion of the operating voltage. For reasons of cost and reliability, the circuit for voltage stabilization and the reverse-connect protection are to be integrated on the integrated circuit to be supplied. To keep costs low and yield high, the additional technological expenditure due to monolithic integration of the circuits for voltage stabilization and for reverse-connect protection is to be as small as possible. It is admissible, for example, to use one to two additional uncritical masks in comparison with a conventional process. In addition, the circuit for voltage stabilization and reverse-connect protection is to be robust against technological variations.
Since the circuitries for voltage stabilization and for protection against polarity inversion are typically considered a unit and are also partly realized by one electronic component, it is necessary to consider the requirements placed upon the overall system consisting of voltage stabilization and reverse-connect protection.
The regulator mostly is required to provide good suppression of external operating-voltage variations, even at high frequencies, and to react in a very robust manner to other electrical interferences. This is to be achieved without using any external blocking capacities, since they increase the number of pins of the integrated circuit and cause additional cost. In addition, it is very important for the voltage drop across the overall circuit for voltage stabilization and reverse-connect protection to be as small as possible. A voltage drop of only 0.2 volt to 0.4 volt as a maximum between the external and internal supply voltages is desirable.
Currently, several circuitries are known which can realize both reverse-connect protection and voltage regulation. Typically, a suitably driven transistor serves as a voltage-regulating element, it being possible to use both bipolar transistors and field-effect transistors. One must differentiate between circuitries wherein the reverse-connect protection is guaranteed by the regulating transistor without any further expenditure in terms of circuitry, and circuitries wherein additional measures must be taken in terms of circuitry, in addition to the regulating transistor, to guarantee reverse-connect protection. When using high-voltage pnp bipolar transistors, reverse-connect protection is ensured by the vary sequence of layers of the transistor, and no additional reverse-connect protection diode is required. However, when using high-voltage pnp bipolar transistors, suppression of high-frequency interferences on the external supply voltage is poor due to the circuit concept required here and to the resulting high parasitic capacitances. Improving the circuit properties by using a vertical pnp bipolar transistor requires additional technology steps and is therefore not desirable. Similarly, with some technologies the production of high-voltage pMOS field-effect transistors requires additional technology steps. When using high-voltage pMOS field-effect transistors, reverse-connect protection is not a matter-of-course condition, since the n trough (=bulk) of the transistor is mostly connected to the external operating-voltage terminal and forms a parasitic diode to the p substrate (=mass). With this transistor type, protection against polarity inversion is possible only to a limited extent if the bulk terminal is not directly connected to the operating-voltage pin. Here, however, there is a risk of latch-up. If the bulk terminal is connected, via a resistor, to the operating-voltage pin and the source terminal of the transistor, a relatively large current may flow through the parasitic pnp transistor in reverse operation.
If high-voltage npn bipolar transistors or high-voltage nMOS field-effect transistors, which are connected as emitter followers or source followers, are used as regulating transistors, protection against polarity inversion is not ensured by the regulating transistor itself, since a parasitic diode to the substrate exists at the collector or drain. For reverse-connect protection, additional high-voltage pnp bipolar transistors or high-voltage diodes must be used. This increases the entire voltage drop across the regulating transistor and reverse-connect protection circuit with conventional circuitries to about 0.8 volt to 1 volt. In addition, npn bipolar transistors can be produced with additional technology only.
Furthermore, the drive circuit for the transistors varies depending on the type of transistor used. With high-voltage pnp bipolar transistors, driving may be effected via a current source connected to the reference potential. If a high-voltage pMOS field-effect transistor is used as a regulating transistor, same requires a voltage drive related to the external operating voltage. A high-voltage npn bipolar transistor is driven by a base current, the base potential being generally positive towards the internal operating voltage. When using a high-voltage nMOS field-effect transistor of the enhancement-mode type, the gate potential is, in normal operation, positive towards the regulated supply voltage. It is possible to achieve such a positive potential towards the internal supply voltage by means of a charge pump, this resulting, however, in a very slow control behavior since the gate reload current can only be very small due to the load pump.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, some embodiments of monolithically integratable current supply circuits with reverse-connect protection and voltage regulation in accordance with the prior art will be explained in more detail.
FIG. 4 shows a current supply circuit designated by 10 in its entirety and which creates an internal voltage supply VDDint of 2.5 volts due to an external supply voltage VDDext which may vary between 3 and 34 volts. A lateral high-voltage pnp bipolar transistor 12 is connected, as a regulating transistor, between the external supply voltage VDDext and the internal supply voltage VDDint. This bipolar transistor 12 is used as a regulating transistor and ensures reverse-connect protection. The drive signal for bipolar transistor 12 is generated by a voltage regulation circuit 14 consisting of a "band gap" reference voltage source 16 and a transconductance amplifier 18 coupled thereto. A high-voltage n-channel MOSFET 20 is connected between the output of the transconductance amplifier 18 and the base terminal of bipolar transistor 12, as a high-voltage cascode so as to decouple the output of the transconductance amplifier from the high voltage at the base of the pnp transistor. The gate terminal of this field-effect transistor 20 is connected to the internal voltage supply VDDint. In addition, in the present circuit, there is an inevitable parasitic capacitance Cpar between the base terminal of the bipolar transistor 12 and the reference potential GND. In addition, the circuitry includes a sensor circuit 22 supplied by the internal supply voltage VDDint. All circuit components use the same reference potential GND.
In the circuitry of claim 4, the lateral high-voltage pnp bipolar transistor 12 acts as a regulating transistor and as reverse-connect protection at the same time. However, such a circuitry is sensitive towards high-frequency glitches on the external supply voltage VDDext. This is due, in particular, to the parasitic capacitance Cpar which fixes the base potential with respect to alternating voltage. Thus, high-frequency interferences on the external supply voltage VDDext strongly impact the voltage across the base-emitter path of the bipolar transistor 12, which results in poor suppression of high-frequency interferences on the external supply voltage VDDext. Slow variations of the external supply voltage VDDext, however, may be regulated via the voltage regulation circuit 14, via the field-effect transistor 20 used for decoupling the bipolar transistor from the regulating circuit, and via regulating transistor 12, so that the internal supply voltage is maintained constant. It is possible to replace the lateral high-voltage pnp bipolar transistor 12 by a vertical pnp bipolar transistor. Even though this reduces the parasitic capacitance and thus improves the circuit's behavior toward high-frequency interferences on the external supply voltage, it requires additional technology steps, which clearly increases manufacturing cost and reduces yield.
FIG. 5 shows the circuit diagram of a further embodiment of a current supply circuit with reverse-connect protection in accordance with the prior art, designated by 30 in its entirety. From an external supply voltage VDDext in the range of 3.5 volts to 34 volts, an internal supply voltage VDDint of 2.5 volts is generated. The reverse-connect protection here is achieved by a lateral high-voltage pnp bipolar transistor 32 which is clamped as a diode, i.e. its base and collector terminal are short-circuited. The emitter terminal is connected to the external supply voltage VDDext. A high-voltage npn bipolar transistor 34 is connected in series with this pnp bipolar transistor, the collector terminal of said high-voltage npn bipolar transistor 34 being connected to the collector terminal of the pnp bipolar transistor 32, and the emitter terminal of the high-voltage npn bipolar transistor 34 having applied thereto the internal supply voltage VDDint. Regulation of the internal supply voltage VDDint is performed, in turn, by a voltage regulation circuit 14 consisting of a "band gap" reference voltage source 16 and a transconductance amplifier 18. The control current available at the output of the transconductance amplifier 18 is supplied to the base of the regulating transistor 34 via a further high-voltage npn bipolar transistor 36 which is operated in the common-base circuit and acts as a high-voltage cascode. In addition, the constant-current source 38 is connected between the external supply voltage VDDext and the base of the regulating transistor 34 so as to allow an upward adjustment of the internal supply voltage via the high-voltage npn bipolar transistor 34. A sensor circuit 22, in turn, is supplied with the internal supply voltage VDDint.
In the present embodiment, a lateral high-voltage pnp bipolar transistor which is switched as a diode is thus used as reverse-connect protection. Here, a voltage drop of about 0.6 to 0.7 volt is to be expected across the emitter-collector path of the bipolar transistor 32. In addition, there is also a slight voltage drop across the collector-emitter path of the npn regulating transistor 34. Thus, the entire voltage drop across the reverse-connect protection circuit and the regulating transistor is about 0.8 to 1 volt. Thus, the external supply voltage VDDext must amount to at least 3.5 volts to be able to ensure internal supply voltage of 2.5 volts. Consequently, one may state that the circuitry shown does not meet the requirements placed upon it with regard to a small voltage drop. Thus, it is not suited for being employed in an environment with the above-mentioned specifications. What also is to be stated is that the production of the two npn bipolar transistors 34, 36 requires additional technology steps in comparison with standard CMOS technology. This, too, is unfavorable with regard to the goal of low manufacturing cost.
Further circuitries for voltage supply in accordance with the prior art may be found in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,394; U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,456; U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,265; U.S. Pat. No. 6,005,378; U.S. Pat. No. 6,137,276; U.S. Pat. No. 6,504,424.

Reverse-connect protection circuit with a low voltage drop


A wildlife guard for electrical power distribution equipment is easily and safely installed by hot stick without power interruption. The guard includes a disc of electrically insulating material having a hollow center for mounting an insulator, a cutaway tab-and-ring section of the disc for adapting the disc to a plurality of insulator core sizes, and at least one installation grip section of the disc for receiving a gripping portion of hot stick. The guard also may include an adaptation section of the disc for adapting the disc to also protect an adjacent or physically associated insulator. In addition, a guard may include a comb or toothed inlet guide section for ease of installation and for subsequently holding the disc in place around an insulator. The guard also eliminates the need for a service interruption during installation and protects the crew members in the installation area by providing for installation with insulated manipulator sticks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wildlife guards for protection of electrical power distribution and substation equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Distribution and substation equipment used to supply electrical power have used wildlife protection to prevent wildlife from simultaneously contacting energized and grounded surfaces. If such contact occurred, short circuits and consequent power outages frequently were the result. The wildlife protection was typically applied to an equipment bushing or lightning arrester of the distribution or substation equipment. So far as is known, existing types of wildlife guards have required separate guards for both the bushing and the arrester. For adequate protection, a number of presently available wildlife guards have also required an insulated or covered wire between the bushing and arrester.
Available wildlife guards have posed problems regarding their installation. Some of the present wildlife guard designs have required service interruptions so that the guard could be installed safely by hand on deenergized equipment. These types of wildlife guards were of a unitary, one-piece structure and have required service interruption so that a conductor known in the art as a "stinger," or jumper wire, could be removed from the equipment terminal of an insulator. This removal was needed to enable the conductor to be inserted through the wildlife guard. After the "stinger" wire was reconnected to the equipment terminal, the guard was then fitted to the insulator. It should be noted that this unitary type of wildlife guard could not be used where there was a jumper wire between the equipment insulator bushing and an adjacent lightning arrester. Service interruptions are undesirable to both customers and the electrical utility. A service interruption is a nuisance for customers because it has required customers to reset digital clocks and other such devices. For a utility, a service interruption has required that a fused distribution cutout be opened. On systems with linkbreak cutouts this has required that the fuse link be broken and replaced with a new one. On systems with non-linkbreak, non-loadbreak cutouts, it has been necessary for line crew members to use a load breaking device known in the art as a loadbuster tool to interrupt the load. These devices are cumbersome, time consuming and difficult to use. In addition, the loadbuster tools are expensive to purchase and costly to maintain.
Other available wildlife guards have been a two-piece or hinged design. Although the two-piece guards usually did not require service interruptions, the two-piece or hinged guards have required rubber glove handling in order to avoid direct contact with "hot" current-carrying equipment. Further, where guards were applied near a grounded surface, such as a transformer tank, use of insulating rubber blankets was typically required for the safety of line crew members. There was reluctance to install wildlife guards which called for rubber glove handling of "hot" or live equipment due to practical safety concerns. Line crew members, therefore, typically deenergized equipment before installing contemporary wildlife guards, even those guards having a hinged design or a two-piece design.
For substation applications, a prefabricated guard, the "Squirrel Guard" made by the Raychem Corporation exists, but so far as is known, has been limited to installation on deenergized circuits. This type of guard has been fabricated in two main pieces and has had to be fitted and secured to insulators by hand. It was not shotgun stick installable on energized circuits. In addition, this type of existing wildlife guard has used an insulating cover of either a cone-shaped design, a cylindrical design, a cap-shaped design, or some combination or variation thereof over energized conductors. Such designs have been comparatively large because of their need to fit over and enclose an insulator skirt. Consequently, these cover designs have required significant storage space both in warehouses and on line crew trucks before they were installed.
Further, certain wildlife insulator guards for distribution applications have required custom fabrication of guards into a required shape from sheets of insulative material by end users. In particular, end users have been required to cut these sheets by hand to a required shape adapted to fit the particular distribution equipment. So far as is known, all of these types of wildlife guards are of the two-piece design which require hand-on assembly onto the insulator. This normally requires deenergizing the equipment before installation of the wildlife guard assembly. In addition, distribution cutouts, especially cutout arrester combinations, near grounded equipment have been a major source of wildlife outages. So far as is known, no satisfactory wildlife protection is available for distribution cutouts or for arresters mounted on cutouts as part of an assembly known in the art as a cutout-arrester combination.

Wildlife guard for electrical power distribution and substation facilities


Method of locating the position of wheels (2-5) of a vehicle (1) equipped with an electronic module (6-9) and with transmitting antennas (12-14) positioned in such a way as to present a coverage area in which at least one wheel (2-5) is located. Furthermore, n successive transmissions are ordered, by each transmitting antenna, of an identification request signal, and the number of identification request signals received by each electronic module (6-9) is counted. Furthermore, a ratio representative of the number of counted identification request signals received by each electronic module (6-9) is calculated, relative to the number of identification request signals actually transmitted by the transmitting antenna (12-14), and an indication of presence of the electronic module in the coverage area of the transmitting antenna is provided when the calculated ratio is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

More and more motor vehicles have, for safety purposes, monitoring systems comprising sensors mounted on each of the wheels of the vehicle, dedicated to measuring parameters, such as pressure or temperature of the tires fitted on these wheels, and intended to inform the driver of any abnormal change in the measured parameter.
These monitoring systems are conventionally provided with a sensor mounted on each wheel of the vehicle and comprising a microprocessor and a radio frequency transmitter (or RF transmitter), and a central processing unit for receiving the signals transmitted by the transmitters, comprising a computer incorporating a radio frequency receiver (or RF receiver) connected to an antenna.
One of the problems that has to be resolved with such monitoring systems lies in the obligation to have to associate, with each signal received by the receiver of the central processing unit, an indication concerning the location of the sensor and therefore of the wheel originating this signal, this obligation lasting throughout the life of the vehicle, that is, having to be respected even after wheel changes or, more simply, after the positions of these wheels have been reversed.
At the present time, a first locating method consists in using three low-frequency antennas, each positioned in the vicinity of one of the wheels of the vehicle, and in performing a locating procedure consisting in successively exciting each of these three antennas by transmitting a low-frequency magnetic field.
According to this procedure, the sensor mounted on the wheel located in the vicinity of the excited antenna orders, in response to and for the central processing unit, the transmission of a low-frequency signal comprising an identification code of said sensor, in such a way that the successive excitation of the three antennas leads to the locating of the three sensors mounted on the wheels next to these antennas, and, by deduction, to the locating of the fourth sensor.
The main advantage of such a method lies in the fact that the locating procedure is very fast and results in virtually instantaneous locating after the vehicle has been started up.
However, this solution requires the vehicle to be fitted with three antennas with all the attendant constraints: connecting cables, command amplifiers, etc., such that it proves costly.
This drawback concerning the cost of installation of the means of implementing the locating method can be resolved when the vehicle is fitted with a hands-free access device intended to allow access to said vehicle and the latter to be started up.
In practice, the solution then consists, as in particular described in patent application WO 02/051654, in using the transmitting antennas of this hands-free access device mounted on the vehicle to implement the wheel locating procedure.
As described in the abovementioned patent application, implementing this solution involves, for example, ordering the transmission by the transmitting antennas of an uncoded signal when said antennas are used to locate the wheels, and in ordering the transmission of a coded signal when using these antennas for their original vehicle access control purpose.
Such a theoretically very seductive solution does, however, prove very difficult to implement in practice. In practice, the antennas of the hands-free access devices are not positioned ideally to allow for the locating of the wheels of a vehicle.
Because of this, and firstly, the selective nature of this locating procedure can be obtained only through very accurate settings of the antenna transmitting power, and normally requires the sensitivity of the receivers mounted on the wheels to be increased, consequently sensitizing these sensors to external disturbances.
In practice, these extreme setting conditions often lead to problems of noise immunity and sensitivity tolerance of the sensors, resulting in a very relative reliability of the locating method.

Method and device for locating the position of wheels of a vehicle


In a method for treating or preventing allergy or allergic disorders an effective amount of a compound that inhibits intracellular generation of phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol is administered. The intracellular generation of phosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol results from allergen presentation or mast cell/basophil activation.

Allergic rhinitis is the sixth most common chronic condition in the United States, outranking heart disease. Between 5 and 22% of the United States population are estimated to have allergies--40 million people being a median estimate. Some allergy victims experience only mild and seasonal symptoms, yet others experience severe, almost continuous symptoms. Incidence of allergy is equally as common for either sex. Evidence predicts genetic predisposition to allergic disorders, such as, for example, asthma, rhinitis, urticaria, and eczema.
The allergic response is classified by three stages: 1) a sensitization stage; 2) an immediate hypersensitivity reaction; and 3) a late phase hypersensitivity reaction. Sensitization occurs when an allergen first enters the body. The allergen causes no overt symptoms, but instead it prepares the body to react promptly to future encounters with the allergen. During sensitization, macrophages phagocitize, process and present the allergen on their surface, activating helper T cells. Activated T cells produce interleukin-4 (IL-4), which is necessary for IgE production by B cells. IgE production also requires physical interaction of CD40, expressed on the surface of B cells, with CD40L, a CD40 ligand expressed on the surface of T cells.
IgE synthesized by B cells in response to initial exposure to allergen then binds to its high affinity receptor, Fc.epsilon.RI, which is expressed on the surface of mast cells and basophils, thus priming the body for its next encounter with allergen.
Subsequent contact with the allergen induces an immediate hypersensitive reaction. Allergen cross-links IgE bound to its receptor on mast cells, initiating activation of multiple kinases, which results in rapid changes in protein phosphorylation. Eiseman et al., Nature, vol. 355, 78-80 (1992) and Li et al., Mol. Cell Biol., vol. 12, 3176-3182 (1992).
In one event triggered by this response, tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C.gamma.1 (PLC.gamma.1) increases hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol to inositol triphosphates and DAG, in turn increasing intracellular levels of calcium, and activates protein kinase C (PKC). Park et al., J Biol. Chem., vol. 266, 24237-24240 (1991).
Other enzymatic activities implicated as components of the allergic response include: hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) to phosphatidic acid (PA) by phospholipase D (PLD); dephosphorylation of PA to DAG by phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase (PAPH); activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by DAG; the release of arachadonic acid from phopholipids by phospholipase A.sub.2 (PLA.sub.2); metabolism of arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase and lipoxynase to form prostaglandins and leukotreines; regulation of calcium influx by G proteins; and post-translational isoprenylation of proteins. This sequence of events ultimately results in degranulation, and the synthesis and secretion of prostaglandins and leukotreines. Lin et al., Biochem J., vol. 287, 325-331 (1992) and Ozawa et al., J. Biol. Chem., vol. 268, 1749-1756 (1993).
During the late phase hypersensitivity reaction, mast cells recruit, prime and activate other cells, such as neutophils, macrophages, basophils and eosinophils, by secreting cytokines and chemokines. Some cytokines that are produced, such as interleukin-3 (IL-3)--a mast cell growth factor-, IL-4(an IgE "switch factor"), IL-5 (an eosinophil differentiation factor), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)--a factor controlling immunoglobulin secretion, are known to be produced by a subset of T cells, Th2 cells. Other cytokines include interleukin-1(IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF.alpha.), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interferon-.gamma.(INF-.gamma.), JE, macrophage inhibitory peptide-1.alpha.(MIP1.alpha.) and macrophage inhibitory peptide-1 .beta.(MIP1.beta.). Plaut et al., Nature, vol. 339, 64-67 (1989) and Burd et al., J Exp Med, vol. 170, 245-257 (1989).
In addition to producing IL-4, mast cells and basophils also express the ligand (CD40L) to the CD40 receptor, permitting direct regulation of IgE production independent of T cells. Gauchat et al., Nature, vol. 365, 340-343 (1993). In turn, many of the cells recruited to the inflammation site produce their own cytokines as well as histamine-releasing factors, causing a corresponding release of histamine. Activating and recruiting additional inflammatory cells to the initial contact site escalates and prolongs the inflammatory response.
For one particularly prevelent disease, asthma, estimates predict that 4 to 5 percent of the population in the United States, approximately 10 million people, suffer from its symptoms. Inadequate asthma therapies have, in part contributed to increased morbidity and mortality associated with this disease. Statistically, allergic asthma accounts for 90% of all asthmatic conditions in victims under 16 years old, 70% of asthmatic conditions in victims under 30 years old, and 50% of asthmatic conditions in those over 30 years old.
Asthma is a chronic illness characterized by episodic coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and dyspnea. Allergen such as, ozone and tobacco, microorganisms, exercise or stress are some of the many causes of asthma. Much like an allergic response, asthma has an early and late phase response. Acute symptoms of the early phase usually peak in 30 to 60 minutes and then resolve within a few hours, either spontaneously or with treatment. Inflammatory events of the late phase usually peak in 5 to 6 hours and last from several hours to several days.
In allergic asthma, as in an allergic response, allergen cross-links IgE receptors on mast cells, triggering an early phase, asthmatic response. Activated mast cells then release histamine and other inflammatory mediators. Some pathologic consequences of histamine and inflammatory mediator release are: impaired bronchial smooth muscle contraction, heightened vascular permeability, epithelial damage, and vasodilation. Clinically, the symptoms are bronchospasm, mucus secretion, and edema. The late phase response is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and other inflammatory cells, coupled with secretion of highly viscous mucus.
Approximately 50% of all adults with early phase, allergen response will have a late phase response. Thus, if an early phase response were inhibited, likelihood of a late phase response occurring would be severely diminished. The various early events in the allergic response (discussed above) have therefore been of significant interest in investigations aimed at finding therapies that would inhibit or prevent both an early and late phase response.
Research has shown that an immediate consequence of IgE-primed Fc.epsilon.RI engagement by allergen on mast cells results in signal transduction through a second messenger pathway. The inventive method for inhibiting an allergic response makes use of compounds that inhibit allergen-stimulated Fc.epsilon.RI signal transduction.

Method for inhibiting mast cell and basophil activation