A pronunciation practice system, device and method allows the user, while watching the television screen, to speak-the part of the character which has been selectively turned off, and to check his pronunciation with the subtitle or voice playback simultaneously or successively, thus making it possible to learn a language enjoyably and effectively while at the same time watching attractive images and listening to music. The system, device and method allow pronunciation to be practiced effectively by selecting a first sound signal and a second sound signal from a first sound channel CH1 and a second sound channel CH2, turning at least one of the voices from one of the channels off, and processing this voice which has been turned off with the aid of mixers and a speaker with attached microphone.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to learning and entertainment devices, methods and systems, and in particular embodiments, to a pronunciation, teaching and practice device which utilizes videos, CDS and other storage media.
2. Related Art
English conversation and other forms of language study have become popular in recent years, and various types of practice device and method are employed. Practice face-to-face with a teacher is the most common method, but systems which permit practice at home either individually or in small groups are also effective. The video-player is very popular in the ordinary home, but it is normally used for recording broadcast programmes or playing rented video tapes, and its use is limited if applied to the study of English (or other language) conversation without further modification. The problem is that practice becomes one-sided, and it is impossible to practice living conversation enjoyably. Moreover, it is not very effective.
Recent years have seen the emergence of new storage media such as CDS(CD family) and DVDS, but no proposals have been made for their use as effective pronunciation practice devices.
Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a device, method or system which enables a user to practice language and pronunciation skills effectively and enjoyably by using a video-player without further modification.
Moreover, preferred embodiments of the present invention involve a format which enables the learner to practice pronunciation effectively by using compact discs (CDs) and storage media which permit the recording of images without any modification to the playback device, and further involve a pronunciation practice device and method for that purpose.
In addition, further preferred embodiments of the present invention involve a format which enables the learner to practice pronunciation effectively with an admixture of subtitles by using digital video discs (DVDS) and modern multimedia storage media without any modification to the playback device, and further involve a pronunciation practice device and method for that purpose.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a learning system comprises a monitor television, a video-player connected to this monitor television, and a storage medium in which prescribed image signals and sound signals are stored, a first sound signal and a second sound signal of the storage medium corresponding respectively to a first sound channel and a second sound channel of the monitor television, and a switching means for being provided whereby to switch between the first sound channel and the second sound channel in such a manner as to make it possible to select the first sound signal and the second sound signal of the storage medium set in the video-player, structured in such a manner that during playback of the storage medium it is possible while watching the playback image on the monitor television to use the means of switching in order to turn off at least one of the sounds provided by the first and second sound signals, a first mixer and a second mixer having input/output portions which correspond respectively to the first sound channel and the second sound channel, the input portions being connected to each other, while this connection is further connected to the video-player or to a means of control whereby this is controlled, the output of the first mixer being connected to a speaker of the monitor television, and the output of the second mixer to a microphone and an audio-phone(i.e. an ear-phone or a headphone) used by the operator, the sound signal which is output from the microphone being input to the first mixer, and the sound which has been turned off being audible to the operator through the audio-phone, while the sound of the operator input through the microphone is audible other than to the operator in place of the sound which has been turned off.
A storage medium (i.e. Laser Disc, video disc, video CDs, karaoke CDs, CD-IDV), according to preferred embodiments, stores image data and sound data corresponding to the images in a plurality of separate channels, wherein at least in part of the practice area, the sound data relating to two predetermined sounds (e.g. the voices of characters A and B whose images are displayed) out of a plurality of types of sound which are to be played back (i.e., which correspond to the images) is allocated during storage respectively to the first sound channel (e.g. left-hand channel) and second sound channel (e.g. right-hand channel), respectively. In the above structure, only specific sounds are stored from each sound channel. As described in further detail below, the selective use of sounds from each channel can be controlled to allow pronunciation to be practiced.
The term xe2x80x9csoundxe2x80x9d as used herein includes not only the human voice, but other sounds as well, including, but not limited to, the sounds of specific musical instruments-for instance. In other words, the present invention may be adapted for use not only in language study and vocal practice, but for practicing musical instruments and other purposes.
Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pronunciation practice system employs a storage medium as described above and is structured in such a manner as to facilitate pronunciation practice, wherein the system includes:
a) a sound feed device which feeds sound individually to a user engaged in pronunciation practice,
b) a sound input device which changes voices uttered by the user into a sound signal,
c) a switch having two input terminals and two output terminals, the sound signal of the first sound channel and the sound signal of the second sound channel being input to both of the input terminals in parallel way, while in a first selection state (e.g. when character A is selected) the sound signal of the first sound channel is output from the first output terminal, the sound signal of the second sound channel being output from the second output terminal, and in a second selection state (e.g. when character B is selected) the sound signal of the first sound channel is output from the second output terminal, the sound signal of the second sound channel being output from the first output terminal,
d) an amplifier which feeds the sound signal fed from the first input terminal of the switch to the sound feed device, and
e) a mixer which synthesizes the sound signal fed from the second output terminal of the switch with the sound signal-from the sound input device, and outputs them as a sound input signal corresponding to the displaying image by a playback device. Under xe2x80x9cvoicexe2x80x9d as used here is subsumed not only the human voice, but the sound of playing musical instrument. The switch may be, for example, a normal audio switch or an audio mixer structured in such a manner that it is possible to alter the output level channel by channel. It may be housed within the playback device or form part of a device which combines at least two of the above switch, mixer and amplifier. In the sound feed device and monitor device it is possible to set each of the sound input signals at will, and to decide whether output is from the left-hand stereo channel or from the right-hand channel. It is also possible to partition the sound signal from one channel between the left-hand and right-hand channels when listening.
A storage medium (i.e., medium suitable for multimedia like DVD and the like), according to preferred embodiments of the invention, stores images and subtitle data relating to the sounds uttered during the course of these images in a plurality of subtitle channels. having a first subtitle channel wherein in at least part of a practice area subtitle data is added only in relation to a specific predetermined sound (e.g. the sound of character A) from among a plurality of types of sound (which are to be played back to correspond with the images), the addition of subtitle data in relation to sounds other than the specific sound (e.g. the sound of character B) being prohibited, and a second subtitle channel wherein the addition of subtitle data in relation to the specific sound is prohibited, while subtitle data is added in relation to sounds other than the specific sound. The first subtitle channel is, for example, for the purpose of displaying only the words spoken by a specific character among the characters displayed on the screen, while the second subtitle channel is for the purpose of displaying the words spoken by characters other than the specific character.
A storage medium according to preferred embodiments has, in addition, a third subtitle channel wherein subtitle data is added not only in relation to the specific sound but also in relation to sounds other than the specific sound. In other words, regular subtitle data is also added.
The above storage medium has a first sound channel wherein in the practice area sound data is stored only in relation to the. specific sound, and a second sound channel wherein sound data is stored only in relation to sounds other than the specific sound. For instance, a specific character is allocated to the first sound channel, and other characters to the second sound channel. The above storage medium has in addition a control data storage area (e.g. an information portion or segment play portion after the lead-in area) wherein is stored control data which allows the sound data of the first sound channel to be output as a first sound and the sound data of the second sound channel as a second sound when the specific sound (e.g. the sound of character A) is designated, while allowing the sound data of the second sound channel to be output as a first sound and the sound data of the first sound channel as a second sound when a sound other than the specific sound (e.g. the sound of character B) is designated. It has in addition a third sound channel wherein in the practice area sound data is added not only in relation to the specific sound but also in relation to sounds other than the specific sound.
Moreover, the above storage medium has in addition a control data storage area wherein is stored control data which allows the sound data of the first sound channel to be output as first sound and the sound data of the third sound channel as second sound when the specific sound is designated, while allowing the sound data of the second sound channel to be output as first sound and the sound data of the third sound channel as second sound when the specific sound is not designated. In other words, regular sound data is also added.
In further preferred embodiments, the storage medium has, in addition, a control data storage area for use in playback control wherein is stored menu data in which jump destination data is set, making it possible to jump to the practice area in accordance with the command of the user.
The menu data is preferably structured in such a manner as to make it possible to select slow mode, allowing the image data to be played back in slow mode in the practice area which is set as a jump destination of the slow mode, the sound height of the sound signal being the same as at normal speed by virtue of the fact that the same waveform is repeated a prescribed number of times in a uniform cycle, and the sound being compressed during storage in such a manner that the playback time is of a length which corresponds to the image signal in slow mode.
Therefore, a pronunciation practice system according to one preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes the above storage medium, is structured in such a manner as to facilitate pronunciation practice, and has:
a) a sound feed device which feeds sound individually to a user engaged in pronunciation practice by causing it to correspond to the first sound output fed from the playback device which plays back the storage medium,
b) a sound input device which changes sounds uttered by the user into a sound signal, and
c) a mixer which synthesizes the sound signal from the sound input device with the second sound output fed from the playback device, and outputs them as a sound input signal corresponding to the displaying image by the playback device.
Here, for instance, the sound feed device and sound input device comprise a headset having a speaker which is structured in such a manner as to be capable of feeding sound individually to the ears of the user, and a microphone which changes the sound of the user into a sound signal.
Moreover, the sound feed device and sound input device may comprise a receiver which feeds sound to the ears of the user and receives the user""s sound while the user grasps it.
Furthermore, the sound feed device and sound input device may comprise a microphone set having a microphone which changes the sound of the user into a sound signal and an earphone which feeds sound to the ears of the user, wherein the microphone has a retaining member, which holds the earphone, in a part of the microphone""s body.
A method of pronunciation practice according to one preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a storage medium wherein the channel by which sound is output from the playback device is fixed:
a) During pronunciation practice using the sound of the first sound channel, sound corresponding to the sound signal of the first sound channel by playing the storage medium back is fed to the ears of the user, while sound corresponding to a sound signal obtained through synthesis of the sound signal of the second sound channel with a sound signal generated in response to the user""s pronunciation is fed in such a manner as to be audible to an audience, and
b) During pronunciation practice using the sound of the second sound channel, sound corresponding to the sound signal of the second sound channel by playing the storage medium back is fed to the ears of the user, while sound corresponding to a sound signal obtained through synthesis of the sound signal of the first sound channel with a sound signal generated in response to the user""s pronunciation is fed in such a manner as to be audible to the audience.
Moreover, a method of pronunciation practice according to one preferred embodiment of the invention further utilizes a storage medium wherein the channel by which sound is output from the playback device is capable of being changed at will:
a) During pronunciation practice using the sound of the first sound channel, subtitles based on subtitle data of the first subtitle channel or the third subtitle channel and output by playing the storage medium back are displayed on the monitor device, while sound corresponding to the sound signal of the first sound channel and output by playing the storage medium back is fed to the ears of the user, sound corresponding to a sound signal obtained through synthesis of the sound signal of the second sound channel with a sound signal generated in response to the user""s pronunciation being fed in such a manner as to be audible to an audience, and
b) During pronunciation practice using the sound of the second sound channel, subtitles based on subtitle data of the second subtitle channel or the third subtitle channel and output by playing the storage medium back are displayed on the monitor device, while sound corresponding to the sound signal of the second sound channel and output by playing the storage medium back is fed to the ears of the user, sound corresponding to a sound signal obtained through synthesis of the sound signal of the first sound channel with a sound signal generated in response to the user""s pronunciation being fed in such a manner as to be audible to an audience.
The term, xe2x80x9cstorage mediumxe2x80x9d is used herein to mean something on which information (mainly digital data, programs) is recorded by some kind of physical means or other, being such as can have the requisite function performed by a player or a processing device such as a computer. In other words, this need only be something that can provide sound data or subtitle data into a player or a computer by some means or other and cause the requisite function to be performed. Included in such media are, for example, magnetic tape like video tape or DAT tape, laser disc, video disc, video CD, karaoke CD, CD-IDV, CD-ROMs, DVD-R, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, flexible disks, MD, DCC, hard disks, photomagnetic disks, ROM cartridges, RAM memory cartridges equipped with battery back-up, flash memory cartridges, and non-volatile RAM cartridges. These shall extend to cases where data transfers are received from a host computer via wire or wireless communications lines (public lines, dedicated data lines, satellite circuits, etc.). The so-called Internet is also to be included in the recording media spoken of here.

Learning and entertainment device, method and system and storage media thereof


In a patient bed system, comprising a patient bed, a support column for supporting the bed and a trolley for transporting the bed, the bed having arranged on it first coupling elements (22) which are intended for selective connection to second or third coupling elements (24, 26) on the support column and on the trolley respectively, locking means (60, 62) being provided on at least one of the coupling elements, in order to lock the first coupling elements (22) alternatively to the second or third coupling elements (24, 26) when the bed is coupled to the support column or to the trolley (16), the locking means have at least one locking element (60, 62) which is arranged adjustably on one of the coupling elements (22, 24, 26) and which, in the engagement position of two coupling elements (22, 24, 26), engages into a clearance (76, 82) of the coupling element adjacent in each case, the coupling elements having formed on them control cams (88), by means of which, during the operation of transferring the bed from the support column onto the trolley, or vice versa, the locking element (60, 62) is shifted positively into the clearance or is shifted out of the latter.

Such a system is known, for example, from EP 457 246 B1. To transfer the bed onto the trolley, the latter is brought into a suitable position in relation to the support column. By means of the downward movement of the height adjustment device of the support column, the bed is first lowered, until it lies on the trolley. At the moment of transfer the first coupling elements on the bed are simultaneously in engagement with the second and third coupling elements on the column and on the trolley respectively.
In the patient bed system known from EP 457 246 B1, the coupling elements of the bed are assigned two spring-loaded locking bolts, of which one locking bolt latches in the coupling element of the column when the bed lies on the column and the other locking bolt latches in the coupling element of the trolley when the bed lies on the trolley. In the case of the take-over operation, for example from the trolley onto the column by means of an upward movement of the column, the locking bolt latched in the coupling element of the trolley is pressed back by a control contour of the column and consequently unlocks the bed on the trolley. At the same time, the presence of the trolley initially prevents the latching of the other locking bolt in the coupling element of the column. Only by the bed being lifted out of the trolley can the second locking bolt latch into the coupling element of the column under spring prestress at an increasing distance from the coupling element of the trolley. Conversely, the locking bolt latched in the coupling element of the column is pressed back by a control contour of the trolley, whilst the other locking bolt latches in the coupling element of the trolley under the action of the spring force at an increasing distance of the column from the bed. At the moment of take-over, that is to say when the coupling element of the column and the coupling element of the trolley are in engagement with the coupling element of the bed, the bed is not protected by any locking bolt against being lifted out. Moreover, situations may arise in which the locking bolts are prevented from snapping in under spring force, for example if the coupling elements are tilted slightly with respect to one another.


An electronic ballast for a gas discharge lamp includes an adjustable constant current source circuit adapted to convert a direct current input to provide an initial start current and a variably controlled constant current. A coupling transformer circuit is connected to the adjustable constant current source and adapted to couple the initial start current to the gas discharge lamp to provide a corresponding start voltage approximately equal to a strike voltage of the gas discharge lamp and to convert the variably controlled constant current to a square wave current to power the gas discharge lamp thereafter. A current sense circuit is adapted to sense an operating current at the coupling transformer and to provide corresponding current sense information to the adjustable constant current source, wherein said current sense information is used to vary the variably controlled constant current.

The invention relates to electronic ballasts for gas discharge lamps. More specifically, the invention relates to a high efficiency electronic ballast that adjustably controls current.
Fluorescent light operates by creating a discharge or arc across an ionized gas within a glass tube. In traditional fluorescent lighting, the gas tube is filled with mercury vapor which, when ionized, collides with electrons from a current flow induced between the electrodes of a lamp, causing the emission of photons. These photons strike fluorescent material on the inner wall of the glass tube and produce visible light.
Fluorescent and other gas discharge lamps require a ballast to operate. The ballast conditions the electric power to produce the input characteristics needed for the lamp. When arcing, the lamp exhibits a negative resistance characteristic, and therefore needs some control to avoid a cascading discharge. Both manufacturers and the American National Standards Institute specify lamp characteristics, which include current, voltage, and starting conditions. Historically, 50–60 Hz ballasts relied on a heavy core of magnetic material; today, most modern ballasts are electronic.
Electronic ballasts can include a starting circuit and may or may not require heating of the lamp electrodes for starting or igniting the lamp. Prior to ignition, a lamp acts as an open circuit; when an arc is created the lamp starts, the entire ballast starting voltage is applied to the lamp. After ignition, the current through the lamp increases until the lamp voltage reaches equilibrium based on the ballast circuit. Ballasts can also have additional circuitry designed to filter electromagnetic interference (EMI), correct power factor errors for alternating current power sources, filter noise, etc.
Electronic ballasts typically use a rectifier and an oscillating circuit to create a pulsed flow of electricity to the lamp. Common electronic lighting ballasts convert 60 Hz line or input current into a direct current, and then back to a square wave alternating current to operate the lamps. Some lighting ballasts further convert the square wave to more of a sine wave, typically through an LC resonant lamp network to smooth out the pulses to create sinusoidal waveforms for the lamp. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,681,654 to Quinn, or U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,093 to Nalbant.
The square wave approach is common for a number of reasons. Many discrete or saturated switches are better suited to the production of a square wave than a sinusoidal wave. In lower frequency applications, a square wave provides more consistent lighting; a normal sinusoid at low frequency de-ionizes the gas as the voltage cycles below the discharge level, which then requires additional energy to re-ionize the lamp. A square wave provides a number of other features, such as constant instantaneous lamp power, and favorable crest factors. With a square wave, current density in the lamp is generally stable, promoting long lamp life; similarly, there is little temperature fluctuation, which avoids flicker and discharge, damaging the lamp.
It is known that higher frequencies can produce more efficient lighting. In general, if de-ionization is minimized or avoided, then less energy is needed because there is no re-ionization of the gas; that is, a higher frequency avoids the cycle of decay and recovery of ionization within the lamp. Further, the anode fall voltage can be lower when the frequency is higher than the oscillation frequency of the plasma.
However, higher frequency ballasts suffer some problems. First, electronic ballasts can create harmonic disturbance, due in part to the use of pulses or square wave signals. Harmonics are signals in which the frequency is a whole number multiple of the system's fundamental frequency; the third harmonic is most damaging. The total harmonic distortion (or "THD") is one measure of ballast performance. Harmonics create unexpected or nonlinear loading of circuit elements; the harmonic signals cause voltage drops at points of impedance, at the frequency of the harmonic current. At high frequency, the circuitry required to convert a square wave into a sinusoidal wave may limit the available frequency of operation; high frequency voltage drops can change the voltage values of the fundamental wave. A ballast with a high THD may also create electromagnetic interference with nearby electrical equipment, necessitating additional circuitry to filter harmonics; however, such circuits can introduce additional problems such as high inrush current. Second, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,173,643 to Takehara, it is generally believed that operating frequencies above 50 KHz may introduce stray capacitance into lamp circuitry. Finally, the semiconductor switches of many oscillating circuits in electronic ballasts have faced inefficiency or losses, including thermal dissipation, at high frequency driving. Thus, ballast technology has heretofore been limited, thereby also limiting the opportunity for improved energy efficiency.

High efficiency ballast for gas discharge lamps


A garnish for a vehicle body including a plastic exterior skin and a metal reinforcement member. The garnish is installed on the vehicle for coating or painting and then the garnish and the vehicle body are sent through a bake oven to cure the coating or paint. After exposure to the bake oven, the garnish is removed from the vehicle body for installation of a headlight assembly. The garnish is then reinstalled on the vehicle body after the headlight assembly is installed.

1. Field of the Invention
A method and apparatus for mounting a body part on a vehicle body for painting. In particular, a reinforcement member is connected to an exterior skin of the body part to prevent sagging of the body part during manufacture and subsequent use of the vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
A vehicle body is the shell to which body parts of the vehicle are attached. Portions of the vehicle body that are easily visible after the vehicle is fully assembled include, for example, the A-pillar, the vehicle roof, and the areas surrounding the hood, fenders, doors, and trunk. Body parts typically include exterior vehicle components that are attached to the vehicle body. These body parts, which are non-integral to the body may include, for example, plastic garnishes, bumpers, fenders, grilles, passage doors, and fuel doors.
Traditional body parts may be made of a plastic derivative or of metal. Plastic body parts and metal body parts each have inherent advantages and disadvantages. For example, while the plastic body parts may be formed into many more shapes than the metal body parts, the plastic body parts are not as rigid as metal body parts when a force is applied to them. Plastic body parts, however, are more sensitive to elevated temperatures that can occur both during the vehicle manufacturing process and in customer use, as will be discussed hereinafter. On the other hand, while metal body parts are sturdy, a metal body part typically weighs more than the equivalent plastic body part. As such, the fuel economy may be reduced on a heavier vehicle. Metal body parts also may rust or corrode, thereby detracting from the appearance of the vehicle. Accordingly, a vehicle made of both metal and plastic body parts is desirable for a variety of reasons.
During the manufacture of a vehicle, vehicle bodies and body parts are coated during a series of steps as they are conveyed along a coating line. This coating may be traditional spray painting, electro-static coating, powder coating, or other traditional body coating methods. These coating steps include applying a primer to prepare the respective surfaces of the body and body parts for painting, applying a base coat for adding color to the body and body parts, and applying a clear-coat that functions as a protectant for the body and body parts.
In between these coating steps, the vehicle body and body the parts are passed through bake ovens. In the bake ovens, heated air is directed toward the body and the body parts. The bake ovens ensure that the coatings applied to the body and the body parts are adequately dried.
When the body and the body parts are made of different materials, there are usually separate bake ovens for baking the body and the body parts. The separate bake ovens are usually operated at dissimilar temperatures. Furthermore, the amount of time that the coated body and coated body parts are in the different bake ovens can be altered to affect the amount of heat that is exposed to the coated body and coated body parts. For example, the coated body may be baked by exposure to a high temperature for a short period of time. Alternatively, the coated body part may be baked by exposure to a low temperature for a long period of time.
The body parts and the body that are made of dissimilar materials are separately passed through the bake ovens because of differences in the heat tolerances of the materials that make up the body and body parts. For example, the vehicle body is made of steel, and the body parts are made of some derivative of plastic. The steel vehicle body may be exposed to a much higher temperatures in the bake ovens than the plastic body parts. Unfortunately, there are several unintended consequences of preparing the parts in this separate manner.
Since the vehicle body and the body parts are separately coated and baked, there can be an appearance mismatch between the vehicle body and the body parts. Specifically, because of lot to lot variation in coating ingredients and exposure to different baking conditions, the vehicle body and the body parts can have different appearances due to color and finish differences. The body and body parts may have slightly different color hues after being coated, the amount of sheen of the clear coat may be different, and/or the respective surfaces may have different levels of smoothness. As the body and the body parts are usually assembled so that they border each other, any appearance difference is easily detected and thus, undesirable.
Furthermore, additional labor is required when the vehicle body and the body parts are separately coated. The body parts must first be coated and then later assembled with the vehicle body. As such, to be coated, the body parts are attached to a jig to be fed through the coating line and then removed from the jig after completion of the coating. Then, the body parts are installed on the vehicle body.
Accordingly, it is considered apparent why it is not desirable to separately coat the vehicle body and body parts. However, numerous difficulties are also encountered when the vehicle body and body parts are coated and baked as a single entity. For example, as mentioned hereinbefore, the vehicle bodies are usually made primarily of some form of steel and the body parts can be made of a material different than steel, such as, for example plastic. When the combined body and body parts are coated and baked together, difficulties arise during the baking process.
The body parts, which are made of plastic, are not typically as tolerant of high temperatures as the body that is made of steel. As such, damage can occur to the body parts when the body and body parts are jointly baked at a higher temperature. Primarily, any body part that has a wide horizontal section is especially susceptible to sagging. Sagging is not only an appearance defect, but can also cause misalignment issues. For example, if the body part is located near the vehicle hood and headlight opening, the sagging body part can prevent opening/closure of the hood.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for a body part that is made from a plastic material and is tolerant of the increased temperatures of a bake oven that is traditionally used for metal vehicle bodies.

Method for mounting flanged plastic garnish with support post, for painting on-line


A water vehicle comprising in combination an ovoid, inflatable tube with an open bottom, rigid seat platform suspended above the water line, a dry duffel compartment, a removable, dry, duffel day-pack and detachable wet and dry stowage compartments which allow the user easy access to stowage areas during operation and ease of portage of the entire water vehicle as a lightweight tote when stowed in a removable, dry, duffel day-pack or a backpack.

The present invention relates to a water vehicle for use by fisherman, waterfowl hunters, scuba and skin divers, and recreational boaters and more particularly to a water vehicle comprising in combination an ovoid, inflatable tube with an open bottom, rigid seat platform suspended above the water line, a dry duffel compartment, a removable, dry, duffel day-pack and detachable wet and dry stowage compartments, which allow ease of portage as a lightweight tote when stowed in a removable, dry, duffel day-pack or a backpack.
Single operator, multi-purpose, inflatable water vehicles are known. Such single operator, inflatable water vehicles include, among others, canoes, rafts, kayaks, and lifeboats. The present invention is particularly concerned with a single operator, multipurpose water vehicle intended for use in fishing, waterfowl hunting, scuba and skin diving and other similar recreation. Such a water vehicle ideally allows for ease of manual propulsion, with the operator's hands free to operate other equipment. Such a water vehicle should function with a low center of gravity yet allow support of the operator's pelvis and torso above the water line, enabling use of the water vehicle on bodies of water where the danger of the operator's body striking submerged objects is a concern. Such a water vehicle should be constructed with suitable stowage for accoutrements. Such a water vehicle should be easily stowed and transported upon deflation.
Inflatable life boats or rafts of various types which are intended for use on stationary or flowing bodies of water are known. Examples of inflatable boats and rafts utilizing endless tubular hulls are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,370,069, issued to F. F. Patten; U.S. Pat. No. 2,456,086, issued to Schwall, Jr.,; U.S. Pat. No. 2,894,270, issued to A. G. Manthos; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,607, issued to R. R. Cantwell and H. J. Pohl.
Examples of inflatable boats or other water devices which provide improved mobility and stability for operators such as fisherman have been previously described. The water saddle, U.S. Pat. No. 2,894,270, issued to A. G. Manthos, is constructed of a generally ovoid endless inflatable tube having an inner fabric deck with two holes through which the operator's legs may be submerged into the water. The operator is suspended with the upper body above water by straddling the flooring between the two leg-holes. The occupant's weight is supported solely by a thin strip of fabric running under the operator's groin. Prolonged periods of use will lead to considerable discomfort. Lack of operator back support does not allow optimal leverage for foot propulsion. The water saddle is not configured to promote ease of portage.
The foot propelled water vehicle, U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,996, issued to Mickulecky, designed for use by fishermen, is constructed of a rigid oval buoyant shell incorporating three stowage compartments. The operator sits in a semi-reclined position with only his feet extending over the side of the water vehicle. Such operator positioning decreases thrust potential and leads to inadvertent splashing while kicking. The rigid construction makes stowage and transportation by a single individual difficult as well as increasing the danger of capsizing during operation.
The buoyant bathing implement, U.S. Pat. No. 1,996,576, issued to E. C. Hegewaldt, and the float conveyer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,080,216, issued to H. R. Rea, are water vehicles which provide for an open-bottom inflatable endless tube upon which a rigid seat platform is suspended. Both provide for a low center of gravity and stability, with the seats being suspended below water level. Seating the operator below the water line increases drag, reduces mobility, precludes extended use in cold water, and provides greater opportunity for the operator to strike submerged objects.
"Float tubes" are designed and marketed in the United States as self-propelled water vehicles intended for use by fishermen. The general construction utilizes a circular inflatable tube with the approximate dimensions of a tire "inner tube". An underwater harness suspends the operator up to his chest in water, allowing foot propulsion while freeing the hands. The operator generally wears chest-waders to remain dry and scuba fins to maximize propulsion. Suspending the operator as such reduces maneuverability because of drag. The operator's position limits use in water less than approximately four and one-half feet deep as well as use in flowing water, where the operator may strike submerged objects. Excessive body heat loss restricts extended use in cold water.
The Water Otter, a water vehicle marketed in the United States and intended for use by fishermen, is made of two inflatable pontoons held together by an aluminum frame which incorporates a seat platform. There is an opening in the frame behind the operator into which an ice chest may be placed. This water vehicle is intended for use by fishermen and allows foot propulsion while maintaining the torso of the operator above water. The operator sits approximately one foot above the water's surface, resulting in a high center of gravity and reduced stability in rapidly flowing water. Only the operator's feet and ankles are to be submerged for propulsion, which produces suboptimal thrust efficiency. The rigid heavy construction precludes ease of stowage and transportation by a single operator. The pontoons make for difficulty in turning the craft against the direction of the current flow and therefore make for difficulty in maneuvering the craft. The vehicle is not designed for use with oars.
What was needed was a water vehicle with a low center of gravity when occupied by the operator, which allows the operator's torso to remain above the water while simultaneously allowing foot propulsion, or alternatively, propulsion using oars. The water vehicle needed to provide an adequate amount of easy access to wet and dry stowage and be lightweight, collapsible, and transportable by a single operator. None of the above discussed prior art meets all these requirements.
The present invention constitutes an improvement over previous apparatus for optimal utility during operation or portage by providing a lightweight, manually propelled, easily toted, water vehicle. The present invention is directed to overcome the aforementioned problems, thereby providing an improved fishing, waterfowl hunting and recreational boating experience.


A procedure for starting up a fuel cell system that is disconnected from its primary load and has both its cathode and anode flow fields filled with air includes initiating a flow of air through the cathode flow field and rapidly displacing the air in the anode flow field by delivering a flow of fresh hydrogen containing fuel into the anode flow field, and thereafter connecting the primary load across the cell. Sufficiently fast purging of the anode flow field with hydrogen prior to connecting the cells to the load eliminates the need for purging the anode flow field with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, upon start-up.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to fuel cell systems and, more particularly, to procedures for starting up a fuel cell system.
2. Background Information
It is well known in the fuel cell art that, when the electrical circuit is opened and there is no longer a load across the cell, such as upon and during shut-down of the cell, the presence of air on the cathode, coupled with hydrogen fuel remaining on the anode, often cause unacceptable anode and cathode potentials, resulting in catalyst and catalyst support oxidation and corrosion and attendant cell performance degradation. It was thought that inert gas needed to be used to purge both the anode flow field and the cathode flow field immediately upon cell shut-down to passivate the anode and cathode so as to minimize or prevent such cell performance degradation. Further, the use of an inert gas purge avoided the possible occurrence of a flammable mixture of hydrogen and air, which is a safety issue. While the use of 100% inert gas as the purge gas is most common in the prior art, commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,617 and 5,045,414 describe using 100% nitrogen as the anode side purge gas, and a cathode side purging mixture comprising a very small percentage of oxygen (e.g. less than 1%) with a balance of nitrogen. Both of these patents also discuss the option of connecting a dummy electrical load across the cell during the start of purge to lower the cathode potential rapidly to between the acceptable limits of 0.3-0.7 volt.
It is undesirable to use nitrogen or other inert gas as a shut-down or start-up purge gas for fuel cells where compactness and service interval of the fuel cell powerplant is important, such as for automotive applications. Additionally, it is desired to avoid the costs associated with storing and delivering inert gas to the cells. Therefore, safe, cost effective shut-down and start-up procedures are needed that do not cause significant performance degradation and do not require the use of inert gases, or any other gases not otherwise required for normal fuel cell operation.

Procedure for starting up a fuel cell system using a fuel purge


Improved duplicate and near-duplicate detection techniques may assign a number of fingerprints to a given document by (i) extracting parts from the document, (ii) assigning the extracted parts to one or more of a predetermined number of lists, and (iii) generating a fingerprint from each of the populated lists. Two documents may be considered to be near-duplicates if any one of their fingerprints match.

§1.1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns information management and retrieval in general. More specifically, the present invention concerns detecting, and optionally removing, duplicate and near-duplicate information or content, such as in a repository of documents to be searched for example.
§1.2. Related Art
In the following, the term "document(s)" should be broadly interpreted and may include content such as Web pages, text files, multimedia files, object features, link structure, etc. Also, it should be noted that when near-duplicate documents are detected, exact duplicate documents will also be detected as a consequence (though such exact duplicates might not necessarily be distinguished from near-duplicates).
Detecting near-duplicate documents has many potential applications. For example, duplicate or near-duplicate documents may indicate plagiarism or copyright infringement. One important application of near-duplicate document detection is in the context of information storage and retrieval.
Efficient techniques to detect documents that are exact duplicates exist. Detecting whether or not documents are near-duplicates is more difficult, particularly in large collections of documents. For example, the Internet, collectively, includes literally billions of "Web site" documents.
Sources of duplicate and near-duplicate documents on the Internet are introduced in §1.2.1 below. Then, problems that these duplicate and near-duplicate documents raise, both for end-users and for entities assisting end-users, are introduced in §1.2.2 below. Finally, previous techniques for detecting duplicate and near-duplicate documents in the context of large document collections, as well as perceived shortcomings of such techniques, are introduced in §1.2.3 below.
§1.2.1 Sources of Duplicate and Near-Duplicate Documents on the Internet
On the Internet, the World Wide Web (referred to as "the Web") may include the same document duplicated in different forms or at different places. (Naturally, other networks, or even stand alone systems, may have duplicate documents.) Sources of such duplication are introduced here.
First, some documents are "mirrored" at different sites on the Web. Such mirroring is used to alleviate potential delays when many users attempt to request the same document at the same time, and/or to minimize network latency (e.g., by caching Web pages locally).
Second, some documents will have different versions with different formatting. For example, a given document may have plain text and HTML (hyper-text markup language) versions so that users can render or download the content in a form that they prefer. As more and more different devices (e.g., computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, etc.) are used to access the Internet, a given document may have more and more different versions with different formatting (text only, text plus other media, etc.).
Third, documents are often prepended or appended with information related to its location on the Web, the date, the date it was last modified, a version, a title, a hierarchical classification path (e.g., a Web page may be classified under more than one class within the hierarchy of a Web site), etc. An example of such near-duplicate documents is illustrated in §4.4 below, with reference to FIGS. 13 through 18.
Fourth, in some instances a new document is generated from an existing document using a consistent word replacement. For example, a Web site may be "re-branded" for different audiences by using word replacement.
Finally, some Web pages aggregate or incorporate content available from another source on the Web.
§1.2.2 Problems Raised by Duplicate and Near-Duplicate Documents
Duplicate and near-duplicate documents raise potential problems for both people accessing information (e.g., from the Web) and entities helping people to access desired information (e.g., search engine companies). These potential problems are introduced below.
Although people continue to use computers to enter, manipulate and store information, in view of developments in data storage, internetworking (e.g., the Internet), and interlinking and cross referencing of information (e.g., using hyper-text links), people are using computers (or more generally, information access machines) to access information to an ever increasing extent.
Search engines have been employed to help users find desired information. Search engines typically search databased content or "Web sites" pursuant to a user query. In response to a user's query, a rank-ordered list, which typically includes brief descriptions of the uncovered content, as well as hyper-texts links (i.e., text, having associated URLs) to the uncovered content, is returned. The rank-ordering of the list is typically based on a match between words appearing in the query and words appearing in the content.
From the perspective of users, duplicate and near-duplicate documents raise problems. More specifically, when users submit a query to a search engine, most do not want links to (and descriptions of) Web pages which have largely redundant information. For example, search engines typically respond to search queries by providing groups of ten results. If pages with duplicate content were returned, many of the results in one group may include the same content. Thus, there is a need for a technique to avoid providing search results associated with (e.g., having links to) Web pages having duplicate content.
From the perspective of entities hosting search engines, duplicate and near-duplicate documents also raise problems—giving end-users what they want, being one of them. To appreciate some of the other potential problems raised by duplicate and near-duplicate documents, some search engine technology is introduced first.
Most search engines perform three main functions: (i) crawling the Web; (ii) indexing the content of the Web; and (iii) responding to a search query using the index to generate search results. Given the large amount of information available, these three main functions are automated to a large extent. While the crawl operation will associate words or phrases with a document (e.g., a Web page), the indexing operation will associate document(s) (e.g., Web page(s)) with words or phrases. The search operation then (i) uses that index to find documents (e.g., Web pages) containing various words of a search query, and (ii) ranks or orders the documents found in accordance with some heuristic(s).
Recall that the Web may include the same documents duplicated in different forms or at different places on the Web. For example, as introduced in §1.2.1 above, documents may be "mirrored" at different sites on the Web, documents may have a number of different formats so that users can render or download the content in a form that they prefer, documents may have a different versions with different information prepended or appended, some documents may have been generated from others using consistent word replacement, and some documents may aggregate or incorporate documents available from another source on the Web. It would be desirable to eliminate such duplicates or near-duplicates. Aside from eliminating duplicate or near-duplicate documents to meet user expectations and wishes, eliminating duplicate or near-duplicate documents is desirable to search engine hosting entities to (i) reduce storage requirements (e.g., for the index and data structures derived from the index), and (ii) reduce resources needed to process indexes, queries, etc.
In view of the foregoing, techniques to detect (and eliminate) near-duplicate documents are needed.
§1.2.3 Known Techniques for Detecting Duplicate and Near-Duplicate Documents
Some previous techniques for detecting duplicate and near-duplicate documents involve generating so-called "fingerprints" for elements (e.g., paragraphs, sentences, words, or shingles (i.e., overlapping stretches of consecutive words)) of documents. See, e.g., the articles: A. Z. Broder, "On the Resemblance and Containment of Documents," Proceedings of Compression and Complexity of Sequences 1997, pp. 21-27, IEEE Computer Society (1988); and S. Brin et al., "Copy Detection Mechanisms for Digital Documents," Proceedings of the ACM SIGMOD Annual Conference, San Jose 1995 (May 1995). Some or all of the generated fingerprints could be used in a duplicate/near-duplicate determination. More specifically, two documents would be considered to be near-duplicates if they share more than a predetermined number (at least two, and generally much higher) of fingerprints. That is, such methods determine when documents share multiple common fingerprints. Generally, if the predetermined number is too low, too many false positives would be generated.
For a large collection of documents (e.g., billions of documents to be indexed by a search engine), this determination becomes quite expensive, computationally and in terms of storage. See, e.g., the article, M. Fang et al., "Computing Iceberg Queries Efficiently," Proc. 24th Int'l. Conf. On Very Large Databases, pp. 299-310 (1998). This problem is not easily overcome. For example, it is not especially useful to "preprocess" the representations of such documents used in the Broder technique to eliminate from further consideration, fingerprints known to be unique. This is because even documents with non-unique fingerprints (i.e., documents remaining after such preprocessing) may, nonetheless, have no near-duplicate documents. Thus, a better duplicate/near-duplicate determination technique is needed.

Detecting duplicate and near-duplicate files


A control module which controls camless hydraulically driven intake and exhaust valves and an hydraulically driven fuel injector of an internal combustion engine. The module contains a valve assembly to control the intake valve, a valve assembly to control the exhaust valve and a valve assembly to control the fuel injector. The valve assemblies preferably each contain a pair of solenoid actuated two-way spool valves. The solenoids are actuated by digital pulses provided by an electronic assembly within the module. The solenoid actuated spool valves control the flow of a hydraulic fluid to and from the fuel injector and the intake and exhaust valves. The hydraulic fluid opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves. The hydraulic fluid also actuates the fuel injector to eject a fuel into a combustion chamber of the engine. The electronic assembly of each module can be connected to a main microprocessor which provides commands to each assembly. Each electronic assembly processes the command, feedback signals from the hydraulically actuated devices and historical data to insure a desired operation of the fuel injector and intake and exhaust valves.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control module for controlling the actuation of hydraulically driven fuel injectors and intake/exhaust valves for an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of Related Art
Compression ignition internal combustion engines contain a plurality of reciprocating pistons located within combustion chambers of an engine block. Associated with each piston is a fuel injector that sprays a highly pressurized fuel into the combustion chamber. The fuel is mixed with air that is introduced into the chamber through an intake valve. After combustion the exhaust flows out of the chamber through an exhaust valve. The injection of fuel and movement of the intake and exhaust valves are typically controlled by mechanical cams. Cams are relatively inefficient and susceptible to wear. Additionally, the cams do not allow the engine to vary the timing of fuel injection, or the opening and closing of the intake/exhaust valves.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,641 issued to Schechter and assigned to Ford Motor Co. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,777 issued to Cannon and assigned to Caterpillar Inc. disclose hydraulically driven intake/exhaust valves that do not require cams to open and close the valves. The movement of the intake/exhaust valves is controlled by a solenoid actuated fluid valve(s). When the fluid valve(s) is in one position an hydraulic fluid flows into an enclosed stem portion of the intake/exhaust valve. The hydraulic fluid exerts a force on the stem which opens the valve. When the fluid valve(s) is switched to another position the intake/exhaust valve moves back to the original closed position. The fluid valve(s) is switched by an electronic controller. The controller can vary the timing of the intake/exhaust valves to optimize the performance of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,329 issued to Sturman discloses an hydraulically driven fuel injector. The Sturman injector contains a solenoid actuated fluid valve that is connected to an electronic controller. The valve and controller control the timing and amount of fuel injected into the combustion chamber of the engine. To date the camless intake/exhaust valves disclosed in Schechter and Cannon, and the hydraulically driven fuel injector disclosed in Sturman have always been provided as separate units which must be individually assembled to the engine block. Each unit has separate electrical wires that must be connected to the engine controller. Connecting a number of wires and separate actuating components increases the assembly cost of the engine. Additionally, because of manufacturing tolerances there may be variations in the lengths of the wires. A variation in the wire length may change the timing and amplitude of the driving signals transmitted to the solenoid actuated control valves. A change in the driving signals may degrade the performance of the engine. It would be desirable to provide a single electronic hydraulic module that controls camless hydraulically driven intake/exhaust valves and a fuel injector of a combustion chamber. It would also be desirable if the single module had a minimum number of external wires.
The solenoid actuated fluid valves for the intake/exhaust valves are typically connected to a single microprocessor which can vary the valve timing in response to variations in a number of input parameters such as fuel intake, hydraulic rail pressure, ambient temperature, etc. The microprocessor can vary the start time and the duration of the driving signal provided to the fluid valves to obtain a desired result. Because of variations in manufacturing tolerances, different valves may have different responses to the same driving pulse. For example, given the same driving pulse one intake valve may open for a shorter period of time than another intake valve in the same engine.
The Schechter patent discusses a process wherein each valve is calibrated to determine a correction value. The correction value is stored within the electronics of the engine and used to either shorten or lengthen the driving pulse provided to each valve so that the valves are all open for the same time duration. Although effective in compensating for variations in manufacturing tolerances, the Schechter technique does not compensate for variations that occur during the life of the engine. For example, one of the valves may stick and require more energy to move into an open position. It would be desirable to provide a module which can individually analyze the intake/exhaust valves and fuel injector to insure that the corresponding combustion chamber is operating at an optimum performance during the life of the engine.
The hydraulic fluid for hydraulically driven fuel injectors is typically provided by a pump and a series of fluid lines. The fluid system typically contains a spring biased pressure relief valve which opens to insure that the fluid pressure does not exceed a certain level. The pump performs work to overcome the spring of the relief valve during the by-pass mode of the system. It would be desirable to provide an hydraulic system for a camless engine, wherein the fluid pressure can be controlled without any additional components, or without requiring additional work by the pump to reduce the pressure within the system.
Some internal combustion engines contain a "turbocharge" assembly which varies the air flow into the combustion chambers. Some turbochargers contain complicated electronic devices to vary and control the air flow into the chamber. The electronic devices add to the cost and complexity of the engine. It would be desirable to provide a single control module that can control a fuel injector, an intake valve, an exhaust valve and a turbocharge unit.

Control module for controlling hydraulically actuated intake/exhaust valves and a fuel injector


Compounds used to block non-essential androgen receptors are described. In particular, cyclohexenone compounds containing an alkyl group may be used in the treatment of conditions mediated by the blocking of non-essential androgen receptors such as acne, male patterned baldness, keloids, skin-wrinkling, and osteoarthritis. The cyclohexenone compound may be administered orally, topically, or internally.

It is well know that androgen plays a significant role in causing a variety of conditions such as acne and male patterned baldness. Other conditions that are thought to be related to androgen include keloids, adhesions, elastin synthesis, wrinkling effects, and osteoarthritis.
Methods for treating conditions mediated by or related to androgen include blocking the associated androgen receptors. There are different types of androgen receptors and they may be broadly separated into two basic groups, essential androgen receptors and non-essential receptors. Generally, compounds that are effective in blocking androgen receptors are referred to as anti-androgen compounds or androgen blockers.
Compounds that block the non-essential receptors are of particular importance because these compounds tend to be effective at treating conditions mediated by androgen without causing anti-androgen-like responses, such as affecting sexual potency or libido.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Compounds for blocking androgen receptors


A header intended to be installed in a horizontal platform in the form of a working table of a recoating machine to repair lids, lids, comprises a copying device (1) sustained by a cam support (5), joined in turn to an upper support (4), the copying device having a copying cam body (3) solidary to the cam support (5), the static solidary set of these three elements (3-4-5) being coupled around the main rotary shaft (10), to which lower extremity a drum (18) is affixed dragging the copying device with its rotary movement. The copying device has, among its elements, roller followers (25) driven in grooves (3′) located in the copying cam body 3, the copying device (1) also having coating guns (17).

There are currently different types of revarnishing machines capable of repairing easy-open lids existing in the market; however, they are focused and limited, in general terms, to lids of a circular shape, which is why they are not versatile to the rest of lid shapes existing in the market.
The implantation of the new head is intended to provide a unit suitable for the revarnishing of lids of all types of shapes.

Revarnishing head for lids of a rounded shape


The present invention comprises, in one embodiment, a load control apparatus comprising a control unit for controlling the supply of power to a load. The control unit has a first state and a second state. When the load control apparatus is disposed in the first state, the control unit enables power to be supplied to the load. When the load control apparatus is disposed in the second state, the control unit prevents power from being supplied to the load. The load control apparatus further comprises a switch for causing the control unit to switch from one state to another. The switch is actuatable external from the control unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to energy metering, and more specifically, relates to a load control means utilized in energy metering applications.
2. Related Art
Energy meters have evolved from the early mechanical meters to solid state meters. Among other advantages, solid state energy meters provide power utility companies with increased flexibility in implementing various rate schedules. More particularly, the solid state energy meters provide increased functionality, such as time keeping, than previous mechanical meters. The meter time keeping function is used, for example, to implement a time-of-use rate schedule.
With a time-of-use rate schedule, the amount of energy consumed during predefined time periods is determined and stored in the meter. The utility company collects such data for billing purposes. In addition to billing a consumer for the total energy used, the utility takes into consideration the time and date when the energy was used.
For example, a utility may define two time periods--from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Time Period I) and from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. (Time Period II). The utility charges a higher rate for each unit of energy used in Time Period I and a lower rate for each unit of energy used in Time Period II. It should be understood, of course, that the above time periods are merely provided by way of example and such time periods typically vary from location to location. The general reasoning for such an approach to billing is that it is more expensive to provide energy during Time Period I (a higher energy usage period) than in Time Period II (a lower energy usage period). Particularly, in order to satisfy consumer energy needs during the high energy use period (Time Period I), more generating power and high voltage rated transformers and lines must be provided.
To reduce energy bills, consumers are encouraged to control the time at which energy is used. Load control devices are used for controlling time of energy usage. An example of an apparatus which can be utilized as a load control device is set forth in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/505,287, Late Point Optical Output For Electronic Meter (abandoned in favor of continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/989,993). which is assigned to the present assignee.
The domestic water heater is probably the most common load controlled in this manner. Particularly, since it is less expensive to heat the water in the hot water heater during the off-peak energy demand time, the load control device prevents energy from being supplied to the hot water heater during the peak demand time period.
Usually a watthour meter in conjunction with a time switch is employed in order that the load may be disconnected during the time of system peak demands. The time switch, for example, may be a time-controlled relay which "opens" during the peak demand time periods and "closes" during the off-peak demand periods. In this manner, energy used for the hot water heater is controlled.
It has been found that relays, if subjected to cycling temperature and humidity prior to installation, may not initially properly operate. It is therefore desirable to be able to test the operation of the relay immediately after installation. With known solid state meters, however, the load control function is controlled by computer code stored in the meter's electronic memory. Access to such code typically can only be obtained by using electronic programmer devices. It would be desirable to provide a simple mechanism to facilitate testing of the load control function without requiring electronic programmer devices or other special tools.
Further, in order to access and test a load control mechanism, it may be necessary to remove the meter cover. When removing a meter cover, however, it is possible that seals which protect the meter components from the external environment may be broken. It would be desirable to enable testing of the load control mechanism without removal of the meter cover.
Moreover, with such a load control mechanism, a customer may not be able to obtain hot water during the peak demand periods. If the water stored in the hot water heater has cooled, the customer would have to wait until the off-peak demand time period to obtain hot water. Having to wait for hot water can become very frustrating. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a simple and easy to use mechanism so that a customer can override the load control mechanism.
Additionally, if a failure occurs, e.g., the hot water heater breaks down, a customer cannot get hot water when expected. If a service person is dispatched to the customer's house during the peak energy demand time period, however, the water heater is normally de-energized due to the operation of the load control means. The service person therefore must override the load control means so that the hot water heater can be energized and tested. It is advantageous, therefore, to provide an override mechanism for load control means that is easy to access and use.
Although the above discussion uses a hot water heater as an example of a device controlled by load control mechanisms, it should be understood that many other devices could be controlled. The present invention is not limited to use with load control mechanisms for hot water heaters.

Solid-state energy meter with time-of-use rate scheduling and load control circuit


An on-vehicle navigation system having a route searching function for automatically selecting a guiding route to a destination in consideration of run experiences of the user. Run experience data indicative of the run experience is formed every road unit which the vehicle has run and is stored, a plurality of traveling routes which a vehicle can run between a start point and the destination are searched for and weights of the road units in the traveling route and the corresponding run experience data is obtained from memory for each of the plurality of traveling routes in the route searching operation, the weight of each road unit in the traveling route is corrected by the corresponding run experience data for each of the plurality of traveling routes, a sum value of the corrected weights corresponding to the road units in the traveling route is calculated for each of the plurality of traveling routes, and a traveling route of which sum value is the minimum is selected from the plurality of traveling routes. The route including the roads which the user has run previously is preferentially selected as a guiding route, so that a route search which makes the most of the run experience of the user is performed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an on-vehicle navigation system having a route searching function.
2. Description of Background Information
There is a well known on-vehicle navigation system which is constructed such that map data including road data produced by converting each point on roads of a map to numerical values is stored into a memory medium such as a CD-ROM or the like, a group of map data in an area of a predetermined range including the present location of a vehicle is read out from the memory medium and is displayed on a display as a map of a region around the present location of the vehicle while recognizing the present location of the vehicle, and a vehicle's location indicative of the present location of the vehicle is automatically displayed on the map.
Since the conventional on-vehicle navigation system constitutes what is called a locating system which merely shows the present location of the vehicle to passengers by means of a display, an on-vehicle navigation system having a function for automatically searching for traveling routes to a destination and for performing guidance has been developed recently. When the route is searched for, a calculating method such as a Dijkstra method or the like for obtaining the shortest distance is generally used. According to this method, weights are produced for a road between crossings in consideration of road attributions such as express highway, distance, road width, and the like and a route in which the sum of the weights is the minimum value is derived as a guiding route.
A conventional route searching function will now be specifically explained. It is now assumed that there are a plurality of roads as shown by solid lines in FIG. 1 and intersection points A, B, . . . , and E are set to points as crossings of the roads. One road between the crossings is now called a "road unit". A numerical value written to each road unit denotes a weight of the road unit. For running from a point "A" (selected as a start point) to a point "B", the following three routes 1, 2, and 3 are conceivable.
Route 1: A.fwdarw.C.fwdarw.B PA1 Route 2: A.fwdarw.D.fwdarw.B PA1 Route 3: A.fwdarw.C.fwdarw.E.fwdarw.B PA1 Route 1: 3+5=8 PA1 Route 2: 8+5=13 PA1 Route 3: 3+3+5=11
The sum of weights for each route is shown as follows:
Among the three routes, since the sum of the weights of the route 1 which is shown by bold lines in FIG. 2 is the minimum, the route 1 is to be selected as a guiding route.
In such a conventional route searching operation, however, there is a problem such that even in such a case that the user, e.g., a driver or the like, can reach the destination in a shorter time by taking a route selected according to the user's run experiences than following the guiding route, the same route is always automatically selected as a guiding route from the same point to the same destination as long as a new road attribute which changes the weight is not generated.

On-vehicle navigation system having route searching function


To provide a method and a device for subjecting a film to be treated to a heating treatment effectively by a lamp annealing process, ultraviolet light is irradiated from the upper face side of a substrate where the film o be treated is formed and infrared light is irradiated from the lower face side by which the lamp annealing process is carried out. According to such a constitution, the efficiency of exciting the film to be treated is significantly promoted since electron excitation effect by the ultraviolet light irradiation is added to vibrational excitation effect by the infrared light irradiation and strain energy caused in the film to be treated by the lamp annealing process is removed or reduced by a furnace annealing process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a constitution in the case where lamp annealing is utilized as a heating treatment method frequently used in a fabrication process of a semiconductor device. Particularly, the present invention is effective in fabricating a semiconductor device such as a thin film transistor (TFT) on a glass substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, development of TFT formed by utilizing a semiconductor thin film (typically thin film whose major component is silicon) on a glass substrate has significantly been progressed. Further, demand of an electrooptical device in which a pixel matrix circuit, a driver circuit, a logic circuit and the like are monolithically mounted on a glass substrate has been promoted.
The most significant restriction caused in forming TFT on a glass substrate is temperature of process. That is, a restriction whereby a heating treatment cannot be carried out at a heat resistant temperature of glass or higher narrows the margin of process.
Therefore, laser annealing process has been utilized as a means for annealing selectively a thin film. According to the laser annealing process, only a thin film can selectively be heated by elevating instantaneously temperature of a sample by irradiating a pulse laser beam onto the sample. However, there has been posed a problem in view of mass production steps in which an optical system is complicated to deal with a laser beam and the uniformity is difficult to ensure.
Hence, a lamp annealing process using a strong beam emitted from an arc lamp, a halogen lamp or the like has recently been spotlighted. This technology is referred to as RTA (Rapid Thermal Annealing) or RTP (Rapid Thermal Processing) in which a film to be treated is heated by irradiating a strong beam in a region of wavelength that is apt to be absorbed by the film to be treated.
Normally, the lamp annealing process utilizes a region of visible light to infrared light as strong beam. The light in this wavelength region is difficult to absorb by a glass substrate and accordingly, the heating of the glass substrate can be restrained to a minimum. Further, time periods for temperature rise and temperature drop are extremely short and accordingly, high temperature treatment at 1000° C. or higher can be carried out in a short period of time of several seconds to several tens seconds.
Further, a complicated optical system such as used in a fabrication process by using a laser beam is not needed and therefore, the process is suitable for treating a comparatively large area with excellent uniformity. Also, the yield and throughput are promoted since the high temperature treatment is basically carried out by a sheet by sheet process.
It is a problem of the present invention to improve the above-described lamp annealing process and to provide a method for effectively subjecting a film to be treated to a heating treatment.
Further, according to the conventional lamp annealing process, light has been irradiated only from an upper face side of a film to be treated and therefore, when a layer which does not transmit the light (for example, electrode made of a metal) or a layer which hinders irradiation of light is present at a portion or a total face of the film to be treated, the film to be treated beneath the layer could not be annealed.
Particularly, when the conventional lamp annealing process was used in a step of activating impurities doped in a semiconductor thin film, an electrode made of a metal and an insulating film which were laminated on the semiconductor thin film hindered irradiation of light and source/drain regions excellent in uniformity could not be formed.
It is one of the problems of the present invention to provide a semiconductor thin film having source/drain regions excellent in uniformity by activating impurities through a step using a heating treatment method improving the conventional lamp annealing process in a semiconductor thin film doped with impurities and by heat treatment at later steps.

Heating treatment device, heating treatment method and fabrication method of semiconductor device

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.


Methods and apparatus are provided for ranking information content based on performance data of prior users of the information content. Information content is ranked by receiving a search request specifying search criteria; identifying a preliminary document list by searching a corpus using the search criteria; identifying content elements in documents in the preliminary document list; assigning a value to at least one document in the preliminary document list based on a score for each content element in the at least one document, wherein the score is based on a performance measure of one or more related users that accessed one or more documents having a given content element; and providing search results based on the assigned values. The score can be assigned, for example, based on a regression model between the performance measure and one or more of the content elements and/or one or more social network metrics.

Increasingly, enterprises are seeking to improve the productivity of employees who must find valuable information. Existing search and recommendation systems help users to find information content relevant to user queries or profiles. Such existing search and recommendation systems often rank documents using a score based on the number of links among documents. Enterprise documents, however, such as enterprise forms and manuals, often do not contain links. Thus, existing search systems do not perform well for employees searching enterprise documents, such as material that will allow the employee to increase his or her productivity.
To help employees find valuable information that improves their productivity, a comprehensive understanding is required of the intrinsic characteristics of information content within enterprises and how this is related to worker productivity. To this end, recent empirical work has started to capture people's electronic communications (e.g., email, text messaging, and document repositories) as well as productivity metrics (e.g., revenues and performance ratings). In particular, such electronic communications data have the advantage of wide coverage and minimal need of human involvement.
Based on the personal relationships revealed by the captured data, research has shown the benefit of social networks on information worker productivity within an organization. See, for example, S. Aral et al., "Information, Technology and Information Worker Productivity Task Level Evidence," Proc. of the 27th Annual Int'l Conf. on Information Systems (2006); or L. Wu et al., "Value of Social Network—A Large-Scale Analysis on Network Structure Impact to Financial Revenue of Information Technology Consultants," Winter Conf. on Business Intelligence (2009). Most existing studies, however, focus on social network topologies and node properties. There is little, if any, research investigating the correlation between productivity and the ample yet diverse information content created by people's communications.
In particular, existing research does not explain how content can impact information workers' productivity, an issue especially important to enterprises. For example, a "hot" topic mentioned frequently by many people may appeal to the personal life of an employee, but may not improve his or her productivity. Thus, a need still exists for methods and apparatus for discovering valuable topics in an enterprise environment, such as information to improve worker productivity. Yet another need exists for methods and apparatus that rank information content by value to productivity by mining the relationship among people's productivity data (e.g., financial performance), generated information content and social network.

Ranking information content based on performance data of prior users of the information content

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention provides a therapeutic agent for the treatment of a melanoma or melanomas by injection or intravenously including a mixture of: (a) a water soluble dispersible component; (b) an emulsifier component; and (c) a water insoluble carotenoid component in a suitable carrier medium.

Melanomas are caused generally by the exposure of skin to sunlight. Persons of fair complexion have the greatest risk especially those who develop moles.
Melanomas originate from a change in normal skin cells, melanocytes, which produce the brown pigment melanin we recognise as tan. Moles and freckles result from areas of the skin with many melanocytes.
The influence of light on melanocytes is one way by which they can be changed to grow and divide differently, possibly causing a melanoma. The melanomas may be malignant, spreading to other parts of the body. Melanomas which do not spread are called benign.
Although melanomas normally form on exposed skin they can start in places such as the mouth or bowel.
Melanomas grow in size and need to be surgically removed before they spread and invade other parts of the body. If the melanomas spread to the inner organs, removal and treatment is more difficult and chemotherapy or radiotherapy need to be employed.
It has been hypothesised that carotenoids and in particular beta-carotene may reduce the risk of breast, lung, colon, prostate and cervical cancer, heart disease and stroke and may retard macular degeneration. In this respect, one hypothesis is that in mammals beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A and vitamin A analogues or retinoids (see Moon RC: Comparative aspects of carotenoids and retinoids as chemopreventive agents for cancer. J Nutr 119:127-134, 1989). It is this pro-vitamin A activity and the ability to prevent oxidative damage that has made carotenoids and in particular beta-carotene a compound of interest in chemopreventive studies. For instance, anti-oxidants are used, amongst other things, to quench free radicals that are by-products of normal metabolism in cells.
Beta-carotene has also been used in the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). EPP is a genetic disease causing an inadequacy in the metabolism of porphyrin compounds. It results in a rapid blistering of the skin on exposure to sunlight.
When considering the use of carotenoid compositions for human application an immediate difficulty arises as a result of the nature of carotenoids.
Carotenoids are lipophyllic and therefore not soluble in water in useful quantities. It is believed that they are transported in the bloodstream as low density lipoproteins.
The current principal means by which carotenoids are introduced into the body is orally. However, this method is often unsatisfactory because the poor absorption of the carotenoid composition by the alimentary canal limits the concentrations in the blood which can be achieved. Further, there will be a substantial delay before a required level of carotenoids in the bloodstream or a specific organ is reached. Sometimes the required level cannot be reached as certain individuals do not absorb carotenoids very well, especially beta-carotene. There is about a tenfold difference in the ability of human individuals to absorb beta-carotene. There have been over 500 carotenoids isolated, but only approximately 15 have been shown to occur in the bloodstream.
Physicians often seek to administer compounds by injection or by intravenous drip rather than oral ingestion. However, because of the virtual water insolubility of carotenoid compositions it is very difficult to administer them either by injection or intravenously. The compound must be made dispersible in an aqueous base so that it is available to the body's cells. In this regard, the base must be compatible with, for example, the bloodstream or lymph, and the material must be prepared in a biologically sterile form. The base must itself be non-toxic to the human cells.
To date several in vitro studies have taken place to determine the effect of beta-carotene on normal and transformed cell types using solvents to solubilise the beta-carotene such as tetrahydrofuran, butanol, chloroform, hexane, dimethylsulfoxide, ethanol or in a liposome micelle. Previous liposome preparations have shown toxicity in cell line cultures as well as being limited in application (see Bertram J S, Pung A, Churley M, et al: Diverse carotenoids protect against chemically induced neoplastic transformation. Carcinogenesis 12:671-678, 1991; Hazuka M B, Prasad-Edwards J, Newman F, et al: Beta-carotene induces morphological differentiation and decreases adenylate cyclase activity in melanoma cells in culture. J Am Coll Nutr 9:143-149, 1990; Schultz T D, Chew B P, Seaman W R, et al: Inhibitory effect of conjugated dienoic derivatives of linoleic acid and beta-carotene on the in vitro growth of human cancer cells. Canc Letters 63:125-133, 1992; Schwartz J L, Shklar G: The selective cytotoxic effect of carotenoids and a-tocopherol on human cancer cell lines in vitro. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 50:367-373, 1992; Schwartz J L, Tanaka J, Khandekar V, et al: Beta-Carotene and/or Vitamin E as modulators of alkylating agents in SCC-25 human squamous carcinoma cells. Canc Chemother Pharmacol 29:207-213, 1992; Zhang L-X, Cooney R V, Bertram J S: Carotenoids enhance gap junctional communication and inhibit lipid peroxidation in C3H/10T1/2 cells: relationship to their cancer chemopreventive action. Carcinogenesis 12:2109-2114, 1991; and Zhang L-X, Cooney R V, Bertram J S: Carotenoids up-regulate connexin 43 gene expression independent of their provitamin A or antioxidant properties. Canc Res 52:5707-5712, 1992). These solvents have been found to have a toxic effect which is dose dependent. These solvents are also incompatible with human blood or lymph for the purposes of intravenous or injectable preparations.
Accordingly, investigations were carried out to develop a carotenoid composition which could be accepted by the human body and other animals and display efficacy in the treatment of melanomas.

Therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanomas


Methods and systems for increasing normalized production rate of an oil and gas reservoir by optimizing a pressure drawdown of a subsurface formation are disclosed. The methods include determining permeability of the subsurface formation as a function of effective stresses, determining a stress sensitivity factor for the core sample, upscaling the sensitive stress factor, determining the optimum pressure drawdown for the subsurface formation, and controlling the pressure drawdown in a field operation such that it does not exceed the optimum pressure drawdown for the subsurface formation.

Pressure drawdown, which is defined as the difference between initial reservoir pore pressure and the fluid pressure in a production well, is a key parameter to control and optimize gas production from a shale gas reservoir. In general, a larger pressure drawdown is expected to give a larger production rate at a given production time because a larger pressure drawdown corresponds to a larger fluid pressure gradient between the reservoir and the production well, and thus a larger gas flow rate to the well. However, for stress-sensitive shale gas reservoirs, the relation between the pressure drawdown and gas production is not straightforward.
Fluid production causes a decrease in pore pressure and thus an increase in effective stress on the subsurface formation. The compacted reservoir can reduce the porosity and permeability, which tends to reduce the production rate. Thus, during production process in a stress-sensitive unconventional reservoir, there exists two competing mechanisms that are related to the pressure drawdown and impact the production; pressure gradient between the reservoir and production well, and stress dependency of permeability. The combination of the two mechanisms results in the potential existence of the optimum pressure drawdown corresponding to the highest production rate. Beyond an optimum pressure drawdown, the production rate decreases with further increasing pressure drawdown for a given reservoir. Therefore, it is important to understand the conditions for a controlled drawdown, and the conditions where the pressure drawdown does not exceed the optimum pressure drawdown. Thus, the determination of the optimum pressure drawdown is important for drawdown management in field operations. This disclosure develops a simple and practical method to estimate optimum pressure drawdown based on reservoir properties.

Methods and systems for determining optimum pressure drawdown in a production well for a shale gas reservoir


A two-step back-side hydrogenation process includes the steps of first bombarding the back side of the silicon substrate with hydrogen ions with intensities and for a time sufficient to implant enough hydrogen atoms into the silicon substrate to potentially passivate substantially all of the defects and impurities in the silicon substrate, and then illuminating the silicon substrate with electromagnetic radiation to activate the implanted hydrogen, so that it can passivate the defects and impurities in the substrate. The illumination step also annihilates the hydrogen-induced defects. The illumination step is carried out according to a two-stage illumination schedule, the first or low-power stage of which subjects the substrate to electromagnetic radiation that has sufficient intensity to activate the implanted hydrogen, yet not drive the hydrogen from the substrate. The second or high-power illumination stage subjects the substrate to higher intensity electromagnetic radiation, which is sufficient to annihilate the hydrogen-induced defects and sinter/alloy the metal contacts.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to hydrogenation of silicon substrates in general and in particular to an improved hydrogenation method for passivating defects in silicon solar cells.
2. Background of the Invention
A typical silicon solar cell comprises a p-type and an n-type conductivity region in a silicon substrate and generates electricity when impinging radiation creates electron-hole pairs that migrate to the respective p-type and n-type conductivity regions. Unfortunately, certain impurities in the silicon substrate, as well as defects in the crystal lattice itself, can reduce the efficiency of the solar cell over what otherwise could be achieved if the silicon substrate were perfect and defect free. Consequently, researchers have searched for ways to minimize the effects of such defects and impurities, thus increasing the overall efficiency of the cell.
One method to minimize the effects of the defects and impurities is to hydrogenate the cell by implanting hydrogen into the silicon substrate. Although the exact effect that hydrogen has on the substrate is not yet fully understood, it is known that the hydrogen minimizes or "passivates" the defects and impurities in the substrate. For example, many of the unit cells in the crystal lattice may be missing one or more silicon atoms, creating voids or areas where silicon atoms should be, but are not. Hydrogenating the substrate allows hydrogen atoms to fill those voids in the unit cells, thereby reducing the deleterious effects of those voids or defects. In fact, it is now well established that the performance of solar cells, as well as many other electronic devices that are fabricated on p-doped and n-doped silicon substrates, such as integrated circuits, can be improved by such hydrogen passivation. With regard to solar cells, hydrogen passivation improves cell efficiency by reducing minority carrier recombination losses at grain boundaries, dislocations, and other defects in the crystal lattice. Unfortunately, while the improved performance resulting from hydrogen passivation has been demonstrated in the laboratory, it has been difficult to apply hydrogen passivation techniques commercially, because the precise effects of hydrogenation on the silicon substrate still are not well understood.
In the past, solar cells have been hydrogenated by introducing hydrogen into silicon substrate from the junction or front side of the cell by using an RF plasma or by ion implantation. However, front-side hydrogenation is not without its disadvantages. For example, all the cell processes that require temperatures in excess of 300.degree. C. must be carried out prior to hydrogenation, since temperatures above about 300.degree. C. will drive the previously implanted hydrogen out of the substrate. Moreover, because hydrogen ions do not readily pass through the anti-reflective (AR) coatings usually placed on the front-side of the cell, front side hydrogenation also must be performed prior to the deposition of the AR coating. Therefore, the subsequent AR coating process must be carried out at a temperature below 300.degree. C., which, unfortunately, requires the use of more expensive coatings and processes. Also, such coatings and processes make it more difficult to achieve good AR coatings over large areas. Another significant disadvantage associated with the front-side hydrogenation process is that it creates a damaged surface layer on the front side of the substrate. The actual thickness of the damaged surface layer is relatively small compared to the total thickness of the substrate, but the damaged surface layer nevertheless reduces cell performance.
Recognizing the disadvantages associated with front surface hydrogenation, researchers have developed various processes to hydrogenate the substrate from the back-side. A primary advantage of back side hydrogenation is that the damaged surface layer is created on, and confined to, the back side of the substrate, away from the junction side of the cell, thus minimizing its adverse effect on cell performance. Another advantage associated with back-side hydrogenation is that it can be performed after the deposition of the front-side AR coating, since the hydrogen ions are implanted from the back-side of the cell. Unfortunately, however, back side hydrogenation is not without its drawbacks. For example, back-side hydrogenation requires either a fully open or a partially open back contact, so the hydrogen can be implanted into the substrate. Another disadvantage is that it is still necessary to ensure that the subsequent processing steps, such as annealing or alloying, are carried out at temperatures below 300.degree. C. to prevent the hydrogen from escaping from the substrate.
One way around the temperature limitation described above is to coat the back side of the cell with a hydrogen-encapsulating material to prevent the escape of the implanted hydrogen during subsequent high-temperature processing. In my paper entitled A Backside Hydrogenation Technique for Defect Passivation in Silicon Solar Cells, J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 64, 15 November 1988, pp. 5264-5266, I described a process to confine the hydrogen in the silicon substrate during the subsequent back-side contact alloying process. Essentially, that process required the deposition of a layer of aluminum about 2000 .ANG. thick on the back side of the cell to prevent the hydrogen from escaping during subsequent high-temperature processing. Although the foregoing process attempted to maximize the then-recognized benefits of substrate hydrogenation, the aluminum coating process represented an additional step that did not directly add to cell efficiency. Also, at that time it was not generally recognized that the hydrogenation process, while effectively reducing the minority carrier recombination losses, introduced its own performance degrading effects on the solar cell, which effects should be minimized to maximize cell efficiency.
Therefore, there is a need for an improved hydrogen passivation process that maximizes the passivation effect on defects and impurities in the silicon substrate, while at the same time minimizing the deleterious effects associated with hydrogenation itself. Ideally, such a process should be able to be performed on completed solar cells and with a minimum number of steps to minimize cell production costs. Until this invention, no such process existed.

Back-side hydrogenation technique for defect passivation in silicon solar cells