A phase-error detecting circuit for detecting a phase error of an output signal of the VCO in a QDPSK demodulating circuit in accordance with the Costas loop method is disclosed. The phase-error detecting circuit comprises a first circuit which generates a first product (P.times.Q) of a first demodulated signal (P) and a second demodulated signal (Q) of a QPSK signal. A second circuit generates the difference of the squares (P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2) of the first and second demodulated signals. A third circuit receives both the first product (P.multidot.Q) generated by the first circuit and the difference (P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2) generated by the second circuit and generates the product of the first product (P.multidot.Q) and the difference (P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2). The first circuit includes a first quadratic multiplier for generating the first product. The second circuit includes second and third quadratic multipliers, a phase-reversing mechanism for reversing the phase of the signal (Q), and an adding mechanism. The second quadratic multiplier generates the square of the first signal (P.sup.2). The third quadratic multiplier multiplies the second signal and the phase-reversed second signal generating (-Q.sup.2 ). The adding mechanism adds (P.sup.2) and (-Q.sup.2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a QDPSK (Quad Differential Phase Shift Keying) demodulating circuit in accordance with the Costas loop method, and in particular to an improvement in a phase-error detecting circuit for a demodulating circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
QDPSK is a formality of phase modulation in which the instantaneous phase of the subcarrier is shifted by 0, 90.degree., 180.degree. or 270.degree. corresponding to the 2 bit PCM code. Data transmission in accordance with the QDPSK, as is commonly known, has the advantage that demodulation can be effected without knowing the absolute phase of the standard-phase signal generated in the transmitter end. This causes, however, the necessity to regenerate the standard-phase signal in the receiver end. The Costas loop method provides a useful tool for regenerating the standard-phase signal.
A brief explanation will be given below on the Costas loop method with reference to the technical paper entitled "Principle of Operation of IC .mu.PC1478C adapted for QDPSK Demodulation in a Receiver for Satellite Broadcasting" on pages 917 through 924 of Data Book, Catalogue Number MA-102B, issued by NEC CORP. in December 1989.
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a QDPSK demodulating circuit. The demodulating circuit is made up of phase demodulators 12 and 14, phase-error detecting circuit 16, low-pass filter (LPF) 18, voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) 19 and phase shifter 20. QPSK signal S is supplied to phase demodulators 12 and 14 through input terminals 11. Each of phase demodulators 12 and 14 is provided with a multiplier and an LPF. The multiplier generates the product of signal S and regeneration signal L.sub.P or L.sub.Q, where regeneration signal L.sub.P is fed from VCO 19 directly to phase demodulator 12 and regeneration signal L.sub.Q is fed through .pi./4 phase shifter 20 to phase demodulator 14. The LPF cuts off the high frequency component contained in the product signal, thus delivering demodulated signal P or Q.
Now, if EQU S=Ecos (.omega.t+.theta.) (1) EQU L.sub.P =E.sub.1 sin (.omega.t+.theta..sub.1) (2)
and EQU L.sub.Q =E.sub.1 cos (.omega.t+.theta..sub.1), (3)
where .theta. takes values 2n.pi./4 (n=0, 1, 2, ...) corresponding to the PCM code to be transmitted, the standard-phase signal being Ecost .omega.t, then it follows that EQU S.times.L.sub.P= 2.sup.-1 EE.sub.1 { cos(2.omega.t+.theta.+.theta..sub.1) sin (.theta..sub.1-.theta.)}. (4)
Since the first term on the right side of equation (4) is cut off by the LPF in phase demodulator 12, it follows that EQU P=2.sup.-1 EE.sub.1 sin (.theta.-.theta..sub.1). (5)
Similarly, EQU Q=2.sup.-1 EE.sub.1 cos (.theta.-.theta..sub.1). (6)
Phase-error detecting circuit 16, receiving demodulated signals P and Q, computes (P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2) PQ and delivers the computation as phase error signal R. For this end, phase-error detecting circuit 16 is provided with multiplying circuit 161 to produce P.times.Q, adding circuit 162 to produce P+Q, subtracting circuit 163 to produce P-Q, multiplying circuit 164 to produce P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2 from the outputs of adding and subtracting circuits 162, 163 and multiplying circuit 165 to produce R=(P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2) PQ from the outputs of multiplying circuits 161 and 164.
It follows from equations (5) and (6) that ##EQU1##
Accordingly, if .theta.-.theta..sub.i takes any value of n.pi./4 (n=0, 1, 2, ...), then the QDPSK demodulating circuit is phase-locked. Conversely, if the ODPSK demodulating circuit is phase-locked for any input QPSK signal S, the QPSK signal is a signal which has a phase shifted by n.pi./4 radian with respect to a phase of the signal generated by VCO 19. Accordingly, the output signal of VCO 19 will be coherent, or phase-synchronized with the standard-phase signal when the QDPSK demodulating circuit is phase-locked. In this way, the standard-phase signal is regenerated in the receiver end.
The above is an outline of a QDPSK demodulating circuit according to the Costas loop method. FIG. 2 shows a typical phase-error detecting circuit of the prior art, and FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the quartic multiplier shown in FIG. 2.
The phase-error detecting circuit of FIG. 2 consists of two parts. The first part is a biquadratic multiplier made up of serially connected four-stage differential amplifiers. Hereafter, a differential amplifier made up of transistors Q1, Q2 is referred to as differential amplifier (Q1, Q2), and a differential amplifier made up of double differential amplifiers (Q1, Q2) and (Q3, Q4) is referred to as differential amplifier (Q1, Q2; Q3, Q4). The 1st stage differential amplifier (Q11, Q12) supplied with demodulated signal P and constant voltage V1 generates an output current signal proportional to P-V1. Hereafter the current signal proportional to P-V1 is referred to as current signal P. Current signal P drives the emitters of 2nd stage differential amplifier (Q13, Q14; Q15, Q16). Since differential amplifier (Q13, Q14; Q15, Q16) is supplied with demodulated signal Q and constant voltage V2, the cross-coupled collectors of differential amplifier (Q13, Q14; Q15, Q16) carries an output current signal proportional to (P-V1)(Q-V2). Hereafter the current signal proportional to Q-V2 is referred to as current signal Q. Thus, serially connected two-stage differential amplifiers (Q11, Q12) and (Q13, Q14; Q15, Q16) constitute multiplying circuit 161 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, which provides current output P.times.Q. This type of multiplier will be referred to as the multiplication demodulator type, because it is often used to demodulate a double-balanced modulated signal. Differential amplifier (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20), receiving signals P.sub.1 and Q.sub.1, provides an output current signal proportional to P.sub.1 -Q.sub.1. Signals P.sub.1, Q.sub.1 are, as will be described below, produced by shifting the voltage levels of demodulated signals P, Q, respectively, by the same amount, and further by reversing the phase of signal Q.sub.1. Thus P.sub.1 -Q.sub.1 =P+Q. Accordingly, differential amplifier (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20) corresponds to adding circuit 162 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Similarly, differential amplifier (Q21, Q22; Q23, Q24), receiving signals P.sub.2 and Q.sub.2, provides an output current signal proportional to P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2. Since signals P.sub.2, Q.sub.2 are also provided by shifting demodulated signals P, Q by the same amount, P.sup.2 -Q.sup.2 =P-Q. Thus differential amplifier (Q21, Q22; Q23, Q24) corresponds to subtracting circuit 163 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The connection between the cross-coupled collectors of differential amplifier (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20) and the coupled emitters of differential amplifier (Q21, Q22; Q23, Q24) constructs a quadratic multiplier for (P+Q)(P-Q). Thus this connection corresponds to multiplying circuit 164 shown in FIG. 1 and to multiplying operator 164 shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, the connection between differential amplifiers (Q13, Q14; Q15, Q16) and (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20) corresponds to multiplying circuit 165 shown in FIG. 1 and to multiplying operator 165 shown in FIG. 3. In this way, serially connected four-stage differential amplifiers (Q11, Q12), (Q13, Q14; Q15, Q16), (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20) and (Q21, Q22; Q23, Q24) constitute a biquadratic multiplier for computing P.times.Q.times.(P+Q).times.(P-Q).
The second part of the phase-error detecting circuit shown in FIG. 2 is made up of level-shifting circuits for shifting voltage levels of demodulated signals P, Q to the levels necessary to drive the bases of the differential amplifier arranged in each stage of the biquadratic multiplier. Differential amplifier (Q1, Q2) with load transistor Q7 is directed to shifting the voltage level of demodulated signal P to provide the base operating voltage for differential amplifier (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20). This level-shifting circuit provides signal P.sub.1 in phase with demodulated signal P. Differential amplifier (Q5, Q6) with load transistor Q8 is directed to shifting the voltage level of demodulated signal Q to provide the base operating voltage for differential amplifier (Q17, Q18; Q19, Q20). This level-shifting circuit provides signal Q.sub.1 in reverse phase to demodulating signal Q. In order to ensure the same voltage shift, load transistors Q7 and Q8 are applied with the same base potential. Similarly, differential amplifier (Q3, Q4) with load transistor Q9, and differential amplifier (Q5, Q6) with load transistor Q10 provide base operating voltage signals P.sub.2, Q.sub.2 for differential amplifier (Q21, Q22; Q23, Q24), both signals P.sub.2 and Q.sub.2 being in phase with demodulated signals P, Q, respectively. A computation carried out by the biquadratic multiplier is supplied to the bases of transistors Q25, Q26 in order to be level-shifted and supplied to VCO 19 through LPF 18 (c.f. FIG. 1).
A problem encountered in the phase-error detecting circuit described above is that, since the biquadratic multiplier made up of serially connected four-stage differential amplifiers is used for computing phase error R, it is difficult to use such a phase-error detecting circuit in an IC fabricated by the silicon processing normally operated by a low-voltage power source such as 5 volts, because such a low-voltage power source is incapable of supplying a sufficient operating voltage to all the stages of the serially connected differential amplifiers. As a result, the QDPSK demodulating circuit according to the Costas loop method has been difficult to operate together with peripheral circuits under a single low-voltage power source, which is at variance with recent growing demand both for the PSK transmission of digitalized informations and for making devices small-sized and portable.

Phase-error detecting circuit for QDPSK demodulator


A method for authenticating computers is disclosed. The method comprises issuing a credential from a first computer to a second computer. When the second computer authenticates to the first computer, the second computer transmits the credential and a first challenge to the first computer. The first computer determines whether the credential is valid, computes a first response to the first challenge, and generates a second challenge. The first computer transmits the first response and the second challenge to the second computer. The second computer determines whether the first response is valid and computes a second response to the second challenge. The second computer transmits the second response to the first computer in order to verify and authenticate the computers.

In order to access network resources, a user enters identification and password information into a client computer that is transmitted to a server computer over a computer network for authentication. In turn, the server computer authenticates the client computer using the password and identification information, thereby allowing access to network resources. If the connection with the server computer is terminated, the user must re-enter the identification and password information into the client computer in order to re-authenticate and reconnect with the server computer. The user must re-enter the information because the password is not stored on the client computer for security reasons.
A "credential" can be issued to the client computer for facilitating the reconnect procedure. The credential is data that is used to prove the identity of the subject. In this instance, the credential is used by the client computer to authenticate the client computer to the server computer such that the user does not need to re-enter or store on the client computer the password information. There is no need for the client computer to transmit the identification and password information to the server computer if the client computer has the credential because the credential ensures with a high degree of reliability that the client computer should have access.
The credential is generated by a trusted third party (TTP) such as the type used with the Kerberos system. The TTP issues the credential that allows the client computer to authenticate itself to the server computer. The credential may be time limited and encrypted by the TTP using a symmetric algorithm and decrypted/verified by the server computer using the same. The TTP is used for a large aggregation of machines and contains all of the keys used for authentication by both users and machines.
A drawback with the TTP is that it requires significant infrastructure and is a separate entity that must be configured. Furthermore, the configuration information must be present on all of the server computers. Therefore, in order to implement a change, all of the machines (i.e. client and server computers), as well as the TTP, must be re-configured. Another drawback of the TTP is that it is a high value target because it contains all of the keys used for authentication.
Another type of authentication mechanism is pretty good privacy (PGP Ticket). A TTP (e.g., server administrator) issues a credential to a client computer that allows the server computer to authenticate the client computer. The credential issued to the client computer is time limited and digitally signed by the TTP using commonly known public key technology. The credential is interpreted/verified by the server computer.
A drawback with PGP Ticket is that the security and verifiability of the TTP's public key is weak. Furthermore, a change to the TTP's key requires revoking all of the old keys and updating all of the server computers and client computers with new keys. Additionally, if the TTP's key is compromised, then all of the server computers that rely on that key are also compromised.

Server computer issued credential authentication


A product for controlling physical properties including data processing means with inputs and outputs is provided. The product has approved bounds of behavior. At least one of the outputs includes a control signal disposed to be output by the product. The product is arranged to control an entity for implementing building functionality. The data processing means includes a processing control means, and a software including at least one application, and having a certificate uniquely associated with the application such that authenticity relating to building regulation, standard or directive of the application can be checked. The processing control means includes means for confirming the application by verifying the certificate associated with the application, and means for checking functions of the application and functions of the product as a whole, such that the control signal does not violate the approved bounds of behavior of the product when the application is executed.

Systems for implementing building related functionality are often complex systems, and it is of particular importance for reliability and energy performance that elements of the complex systems are co-operating in a satisfactory manner. During start-up after building or upgrading a system, a lot of issues will show up. This is costly to cope with, and is time consuming. Although experienced craftsmen are handling the start-up, not all issues will be identified, and these issues can then for a long time degrade performance of the system. To minimise these issues, especially for energy reasons, there has been a given a number of standards, regulations and directives to improve compatibility of equipment used in these kinds of systems. However, due to the often existing large complexity of the systems, issues still remain due to overlooking effects of the aggregate function of the elements of the system, especially when the elements per se becomes more and more complex, e.g. with downloadable applications. Therefore, there is a problem with existing solutions how to ensure compatibility among this type of equipment.

Product for controlling behavior of control signals from a certified application


A system and method for efficient Asian character text input into a reduced keypad machine such as a word processor, telephone, hand-held computer, or personal computer is provided. The system comprises a data entry keypad associated with a monitor, and a disambiguation process supporting multiple keycap depression timespan range definitions and interpretations to produce accurate messaging with a reduced keypad.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of efficient character entry into electronic devices, and more specifically to an efficient keypad entry system and method for Asian languages.
2. Background Information
The use of reduced keypads, such as those found on mobile telephones, is manageable for entering text in the Roman alphabet because there are only 26 letters and various control characters to distribute over 8 keys, generally 3-4 letters per key. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese languages, by contrast, contain many characters and it is thus difficult to present all or even a meaningful subset of the languages' elements on a reduced keypad.
The modern versions of these Asian languages are written using Jamo/Hangul (Korean), Hanzi (Chinese), Kanji, Hiragana, Hatakana (Japanese), and Latin based characters with additions and tone markings (Vietnamese); each language also uses Latin characters. Text entry of these languages generally involves (1) keypad entry that is interpreted by an input method and a dictionary, and (2) interactive display and selection of candidates from a list presented as a result of the keypad entry.
Hangul, meaning Korean script, refers to the characters used to express contemporary written Korean. Hangul also refers to the scientifically designed Korean writing system, the Korean alphabet. Korean words are written in Hangul symbol blocks, rather than by arranging letters left to right in a row as in the use of a Western alphabet, but Hangul characters can be easily decomposed into Hangul elements, unlike the syllabic writing systems of Japan and China. Hangul elements represent individual sounds, but do not commonly carry any meaning. FIGS. 1A and 1B list Korean Hangul elements, known as "jamo", (meaning alphabet, sometimes referred to as "jaso") which include ten monothong vowel signs 501, eleven diphthong vowel signs 502, and nineteen consonant signs—fourteen consonants 512 and five double consonants 514.
There are six ways to combine jamo to form Hangul characters, which are usually composed of two or three jamo (some jamo are considered compound). A complete Hangul character (a pre-combined Hangul) includes up to four jamo. Written jamo are combined into syllable blocks, each block being similar in appearance to a Chinese character. A written syllable is composed of three positions, i.e., initial, medial, and final, to be written in that order. The initial position, coseong, is usually a consonant, and includes 19 different possible jamo, including the Zero consonant. The medial position, jungseong, is usually a vowel or diphthong letter, and includes 21 different possible jamo. The final position, jongseong, including 28 (counting the placeholder) different possible jamo, is usually either one or two consonant letters, or left empty. Korean Hangul uses spaces to separate words, unlike Chinese and Japanese.
Hanzi, Chinese characters also known as ideographs, pictographs, or logographs, represent meanings. Hanzi appear in other Asian languages (called hanja in Korean, kanji in Japan, and chú Hán in Vietnamese) and often have the same meaning in all languages. Hanzi are composed of radicals, of which there are 214, and other non-radical elements, and radicals are composed of strokes. Hanzi are combined to form compounds.
The Japanese Hiragana and katakana, collectively known as kana, represent the same 108 sounds but are drawn differently from each other. Kana are used along with kanji and Latin characters in the same Japanese language sentence. They cannot be decomposed in an alphabetic way, i.e. into vowels and consonants. Hiragana characters are typically used for writing grammatical words. Katakana characters are commonly used for writing words borrowed from other languages.
Each of these languages is represented by at least one character set standard, usually formulated and proliferated by a governmental organization. For example, KS X 1001:1992, formulated in South Korea, is a basic Korean character set standard that enumerates 8,224 characters, 4,888 of which are hanja, 4620 unique hanja, and 2,350 pre-combined Hangul. The standard specifies 19 character classes, including jamo, Hangul, Roman, Greek, Latin, Cyrillic, and other symbols.
As another example, GB 13000.1, China's new national character standard, comprises 20,902 characters, and represents an effort to create a common writing method for information and communication products. GB 13000.1 code defines how the Chinese language is taught in schools and is commonly written. To date, the GB 13000.1 is China's largest effort to define a stroke writing order for the Chinese language. The standard builds upon the previous GB 2312-80 code of simplified Chinese characters by adding traditional characters as well as Chinese characters used in Korean and Japanese.
Within these standards are character-encoding standards that enable electronic processing of Asian characters. For each character set, there are possibly several encoding systems, each basically providing a mapping between each character in a particular character set, e.g. the set specified by KS X 1001:1992, and a numeric representation mapped to that character. Encoding systems arose in response to particular problems, and were optimized accordingly. ISO 2022, Extended Unix Code for Korea (EUC-KR), Johab (meaning "combining"), and Unified Hangul Code (UHC) encode the KS X 1001:1992 character set. UHC and Johab are both forward compatible with Unicode, the international 16-bit character set developed by the Unicode Consortium. Thus there are mappings between Johab, for example, and Unicode, the encoding used in an illustrative embodiment of this invention.
The Johab encoding system, as an example of a particular implementation of encoding a character set, contains 11,172 combinations which represent all the possible pre-combined Hangul. This encoding is described in Annex 3 of the KS X 1001:1992 standard. Only a fraction of these combinations represents real words, similar to encoding all possible three-letter words in English. The 2350 pre-combined forms, known as the "standard plane", are a subset of all possible permutations. Johab encoding specifies a combination of up to 3 jamo, each using 5 bits, concatenated together, for a 15-bit combination. The 16th bit in the 2-byte word is reserved. The Unicode encoding standard maps these 16-bit combinations to other bit patterns.
Encoding systems enable electronic entry of language elements into a reduced keypad. As in English language data entry into such a reduced-size keypad, a disambiguation system is required. Further, efficient entry into a reduced-size keypad also requires intelligent placement of character elements on keys of the keypad in addition to user-friendly methods for candidate selection and word delimiting. For example, since Korean jamo are used commonly to make a limited number of syllables relative to the total possible combinations, as described above, and the frequency of the ordinary use of these syllables in particular positions in a word can be known, it is possible to employ for text entry a keypad that has fewer keys than the total possible number of jamo.
One possible electronic data disambiguation method for Asian languages allows for varying keypress timeframes that are used to differentiate between, for example in the Korean language, consonants and double consonants, or monothongs and diphthongs. By this method, the number of possible jamo from which the user could choose to construct a symbol is increased, but the necessity of a "soft key" (a control key used for delimiting and candidate selection) simultaneously limits the number of keys available for jamo placement.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system in which data entry keypress combines jamo selection, word building, and symbol selection that increases efficiency in the use of keypads for Korean text entry.

System and method for text entry on a reduced keyboard


This disclosure provides methods and devices for quantitating, separating and/or detecting water in a liquid, gas or solid sample comprising one or more chemicals, the method comprising: providing the liquid, gas or solid sample comprising water and the one or more chemicals; and exposing said liquid, gas or solid sample to at least one solid support including at least one dicationic and/or tricationic species of Formula I or II adsorbed, absorbed or immobilized on the solid support.

Versatile, rapid and accurate analytical techniques for the detection and quantification of water in a variety of materials remain an important and ubiquitous analytical problem. Indeed water is one of the most prevalent impurities in many industrial and consumer products and processes. In other cases, water is an essential component, the concentration of which must be known accurately and controlled.
The determination of water content in solvents and consumer products, including foods, pharmaceuticals, and industrial materials, is of great importance. Indeed analytical testing for the presence and concentration of water is one of the most frequent, important and ubiquitous measurements made in modern industrial society. Thus a versatile, simple and efficient analytical technique for the accurate quantification of water is imperative. The essentially universal presence of water requires accurate, facile and sensitive techniques to quantify it. While various techniques such as gravimetry, Karl Fisher titration (KFT), gas chromatography, near IR spectrophotometry, solvatochromic sensing, F-NMR spectroscopy, isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) and others have been reported in the literature, only a few methods are widely accepted and used.
Currently, the most commonly used method for water analysis is the KFT, which was first reported in 1935. In this titrametric method, I2 is reduced to HI in the presence of water. There are four components in the Karl Fischer reagent consisting of: iodine, sulfur dioxide, a suitable base (RN) (originally pyridine was used, but now imidazole is more common); and a suitable solvent such as methanol, ethanol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, etc.
The accepted mechanism of this two step reaction is:CH3OH+SO2+RN→[RNH]SO3CH3 H2O+[RNH]SO3CH3+I2+2RN→[RNH]SO4CH3+2[RNH]I
The end point is determined potentiometrically. Two types of KFT methods are used. They are the coulometric titration and the volumetric titration. Coulometric titration is used to detect trace amounts of water, ranging from 10 μg to 99 μg (1 ppm—5%), and it requires about 5 g or more of sample. Volumetric titration is used to detect water quantities higher than 1 mg (10 ppm—100%), and the amount of sample required varies from 0.1 mg to 500 mg. Therefore, prior knowledge of the approximate amount of water present in the sample is required in choosing the correct KFT method of analysis.
Although KFT is a well-established method, interference of side reactions, reagent instability, sample insolubility and pH issues prevent it from being accepted as a universal method. Variations on the basic KFT methodologies have been developed in an attempt to overcome these problems. However, many issues still remain, not the least of which is that the reagents degrade with time and there is residual water in all KFT reagents.
Another applied method for water detection is based on gas chromatography (GC). Early attempts using GC were mainly based on packed (molecular sieve) columns, involving both direct detection by thermal conductivity detector (TCD) and indirect detection (i.e. reacting water with calcium carbide to convert to acetylene) with a flame ionization detector (FID). Peak asymmetry, poor sensitivity, poor efficiency, strong adsorption of water and many solvents by the stationary phase, overlapping of the water peak by other larger peaks, and the inability to detect higher amounts of water limited its application in many cases. Attempts to eliminate peak asymmetry, using wide-diameter open tubular columns and capillary columns showed some improvement. Additionally, most conventional capillary column GC stationary phases are degraded by water.
One truly useful, broadly effective capillary GC method for water should meet several criteria including the following: 1) Water should not alter or degrade the stationary phase, thereby altering retention times and peak shapes; 2) There must be a considerable difference in the retention of water and most/all organic solvents especially when the solvent peak is very large relative to the water peak; 3) The water peaks should show good efficiency and symmetry; and 4) The water and solvent chromatogram should have sufficient separation space for an appropriate, baseline separated internal standard.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,182,581 to Armstrong et al reports diionic liquid salts comprising a dicationic or dianionic molecules and a counter-ion, and a method of using such diionic salts for separating one chemical from a mixture of chemicals. The methods comprise steps of providing a mixture of at least one first and at least one second chemical, and exposing that mixture to at least one solid support including a diionic liquid salt.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,721 to Armstrong et al describes triionic liquid slats comprising a tricationic or trianionic molecules and a counter-ion, and a method of using such triionic salts for separating one chemical from a mixture of chemicals. The methods comprise steps of providing a mixture of at least one first and at least one second chemical, and exposing that mixture to at least one solid support including a triionic liquid salt.

Methods for quantitating water using ionic liquid salts


A device for maintaining inflation pressure within a tire interior of a tire mounted on a rotating wheel with a rim. The device includes a compressor with piston penetrateably mountable on the wheel rim or in communication with a valve stem that incorporates air delivery to the compressor as mounted within the tire. The piston is in communication with a compressible piston driver having a distal end in contact with the inner floor of the mounted tire where the outer side of the tire contacts the ground once every revolution of the wheel. Repeated deformation of the rotating tire where it contacts the ground outside the distal end of the driver is transferred to the air compressor through a piston compression stroke. When such ground contact is not occurring, centrifugal force causes radial movement to accomplish the intake stroke of the piston. In this repetitious manner a small amount of air is forced into the tire during each rotation thereof when needed to maintain desired inflation pressure.

Maintaining correct inflation pressure in vehicle tires is accepted as an effective way to increase fuel economy, decrease tire wear and increase safety. Although proper tire inflation may be maintained by regularly checking tire pressure and adjusting accordingly, such maintenance tends to be largely ignored because of the inconvenience involved. Studies show that a tire will lose one to two psi of pressure per month in cool weather and more in warmer weather. Such resulting under-inflated tires not only cause fuel waste and excessive tire wear, estimated to cost over ten billion dollars annually in the United States alone, but also cause thousands of traffic accidents annually.
Prior art devices depending on tire deformation to move a piston and thereby activate a compressor located on a wheel generally transfer deformation motion directly to piston motion through rigid members, with larger deformations urging proportionately larger piston strokes. However, because an adequate compression ratio must be provided by a piston stroke for a slightly under-inflated tire that deforms only a fraction of an inch, an effective piston stroke must be provided by piston movement not exceeding a fraction of an inch. As is evident, when a tire is significantly under-inflated, direct coupling of deformation urges a piston movement far beyond its needed stroke length, thereby causing breakage of the rigid member or damage to the tire during each revolution as the rigid member bears the entire weight borne by the affected wheel-and-tire assembly.
In view of the economic and safety benefits of maintaining proper tire pressure, coupled with the general inconvenience of accomplishing such pressure maintenance and the inadequacies of prior art devices, it is apparent that a need is present for a dependable apparatus fully contained on a vehicle wheel or a portion thereof for maintaining proper inflation pressure within a mounted tire. Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an automatic tire inflation device that is simple, inexpensive, practical and easy to install on an existing wheel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a tire inflation device that can be added to existing wheels rather than requiring specially designed wheels for accommodation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a tire inflation device wherein a valve stem also functions as an air inlet for inflation maintenance.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent throughout the description thereof which now follows.

Rim mountable tire inflation maintenance device


The present invention provides a film for application to a surface of a material capable of transmitting heat and/or light. The film comprises: a solvent comprising at least one volatile organic compound in an amount sufficient to maintain flowability of the film after exposure to air and for a time sufficient to apply the film to the surface, whereupon the solvent evaporates and dries the film; a polymer in an amount sufficient to reversibly bind the film to the surface; and, an ultraviolet absorbent material in an amount sufficient to reduce transmission of said energy through said material. The film may be applied and removed upon demand by the user.

Often, it is desirable for glass plates or windows used in buildings, cars, etc. to be light and/or heat reflecting. Various methods and compositions have been used to vary the light and/or heat reflecting properties of glass plates that are consistently exposed to sunlight.
Methods have been developed to coat glass plates with heat and/or light reflective material. However, the methods and compositions that have been developed to date generally require a thermal decomposition step, during which the glass plate is heated to about 400.degree. C. As a result, most of such methods are restricted to the factory.
One type of commercially available device for temporary use is a roll of translucent darkened plastic sheeting provided with suction cups and/or VELCRO fixtures to attach the darkened plastic sheeting to and/or remove the sheeting from a glass surface. Although this type of darkened plastic sheeting may reduce the transmission of light and/or heat through the glass, this type of plastic sheeting is cumbersome to apply and typically can be applied only to a very limited surface area. Also, many states outlaw the application of fixtures, such as plastic sheeting, to the front windshield of a vehicle.
A heat and/or light reflective film that could be easily applied to and removed from glass on demand by the consumer would be highly desirable.


A circuit and method is disclosed that dithers a switching frequency of a DC-to-DC converter which gets modulated onto an RF carrier such that switching noise is spread over a given bandwidth that is wider than a communications measurements bandwidth. The circuit includes a switching circuitry adapted to transfer energy from a source to a load using a switching signal having a series of switching cycles and a switching frequency. Also included is a control circuitry adapted to generate a pseudo-random value near a beginning of each of the series of switching cycles to determine a maximum switching frequency value based upon the pseudo-random value. The method includes adjusting the switching frequency of the switching signal incrementally from a fixed minimum switching frequency value to the maximum frequency value and vice versa as a function of time during each of the series of switching cycles of the switching circuit.

A desirable component for a mobile phone is a switching power supply such as a direct current to direct current (DC-to-DC) converter that transfers energy from a source to a load. Typically, DC-to-DC converters offer much greater efficiencies than do linear voltage regulators while regulating power being transferred to a load such as the circuitry of a mobile phone. However, linear voltage regulators at present offer an advantage by generating much less spectral noise than DC-to-DC converters. Moreover, incorporating DC-to-DC converters into mobile phone circuitry is made more problematic by third-generation (3G) and later mobile phone standards, which are increasingly restrictive with regard to spurious radio frequency (RF) transmissions. As a result of a need to reduce spurious RF transmissions from mobile phones, any leakage of DC-to-DC converter switching noise into a mobile phone's transmitter circuitry is preferably reduced. Traditional attempts to reduce switching noise leakage have resulted in either prohibitively expensive filtering components or unacceptable results when mobile phone emission standards are applied.
Making the switching noise of a DC-to-DC converter less periodic by a frequency dithering of the DC-to-DC converter's switching signal is helpful. However, unlike a frequency dithering scheme for a crystal oscillator that provides acceptable electromagnetic interference (EMI) performance, a frequency dithering of a DC-to-DC converter's switching signal often results in an unacceptable increase in output voltage ripple. One reason for the increase in output voltage ripple is that a fundamental criterion for steady state operation of a DC-to-DC converter is violated by using frequency dithering.
Typical DC-to-DC converters have two distinct phases of operation. A first phase occurs when energy is stored in an inductor's magnetic field, and a second phase occurs when the stored energy is transferred to a load. An imbalance of energy transfer will often result in either an energy buildup in the inductor's magnetic field or a collapse of the inductor's magnetic field. As a result, undesirable output voltage variations will likely occur as an inductor current creating the inductor's magnetic field is integrated by one or more output filter capacitors. A resulting output voltage ripple will increase as a charge transfer to the filter capacitors becomes imbalanced. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the inductor current will show an imbalance as a pulse width modulated (PWM) switching signal is stepped from one period to another. In other words, the changes in switching signal frequency may introduce a variation of the inductor average current, which in turn results in an undesirable output voltage ripple. In FIG. 1, the switching signal labeled "PWM" may also be referred to as the "Lnode" signal. The "Lnode" signal is located on a node of an inductor that is either driven low or high by one or more power Field Effect Transistors (FETs) making up a part of a DC-to-DC converter's circuitry.
A challenge is how to change the frequency of a DC-to-DC converter without introducing a charge imbalance. FIG. 2 illustrates an adjusted inductor current resulting from an ideal PWM waveform. The ideal PWM waveform, shown in FIG. 2, and a corresponding flywheel voltage, will provide a constant average current independently of a frequency deviation. A plurality of transitional periods (T1, T2, and T3) may be calculated. Moreover, an output voltage ripple can be reduced to the integral of an inductor ripple current. A first order linear design approach based on inductor current is preferably used to simplify an implementation of a DC-to-DC converter having reduced output voltage ripple.
A transitional period required when switching between a switching frequency Fn and another switching frequency Fn+1 may be defined as:
                                          T            Transitional                    =                                                    (                                                      T                                          F                                                                    (                        n                        )                                                                              +                                      T                                          F                                                                    (                                                  n                          +                          1                                                )                                                                                )                            *                              (                                  1                  -                  D                                )                                      2                          ,                            Eq        .                                          1            where D is the Duty cycle, and TF(n)+TF(n+1) are the periods of the two frequencies Fn and Fn+1.
Equation 1 above may appear to be an over-simplification, but the generation of a PWM signal is as simple as comparing an error signal with a ramp using a voltage comparator. A fast dithering method of generating a PWM switching signal that allows the PWM switching signal to be changed every cycle without introducing a significant output ripple voltage is disclosed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 11/756,909, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,928,712, filed Jun. 1, 2007.
Spurious RF transmissions due to leakage of DC-to-DC converter switching noise into a mobile phone's transmitter circuitry may be reduced somewhat by a fast dithering of a DC-to-DC converter's switching signal. The fast dithering of a switching signal is a two-dimensional process that spreads a plurality of switching frequency spurs over a wide range while improving output voltage ripple rejection. While fast dithering of a switching signal provides good a design starting point it has been discovered that every data burst (FIG. 3) from a Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) mobile phone will have very similar signatures. As a result, fast dithering may result in a poor quality communications link as explained below.
In GSM, the quality of the link is measured in terms of bit error rate (BER) and a frame erasure rate (FER) for various traffic and control channels. Fast dithering affects a quality of service (QoS) for a mobile phone in at least two ways. For one, the quality of audio carried in audio channel will deteriorate from a tone produced by periodic switching noise generated by a mobile phone's DC-to-DC converter having a switching signal undergoing fast dithering. Secondly, a call in progress via a mobile phone may be dropped due to a repeated corruption of a slow control channel word or byte due to EMI from switching noise generated by a mobile phone's DC-to-DC converter having a switching signal undergoing fast dithering.
An examination of information carried over a GSM network is helpful in evaluating other negative impacts of a fast dithering of a DC-to-DC converter's switching signal. FIG. 3 depicts a GSM Frame with Burst structures. There eight bursts in a GSM frame of a mobile phone call. One burst is used for reception and another burst is used for transmission. The remaining bursts may be used to by a mobile phone controller to monitor an adjacent cell's signal power along with other information in case a handover of a call is needed. A normal burst typically includes a traffic channel that can carry audio and/or other types of data including control information.
In a case involving audio data, the audio data is segmented into 20 ms segments and is usually encoded using a Regular-Pulse-Excited-Linear-Predictive-Coder (RPELCPC). Each of the 20 ms segments generates 260 coded bits, which are classified in three groups known as group 1a, group 1b and group II. Based on subjective testing, the three groups exhibit significant variations in sensitivity to errors. Errors within the first 50 coded bits in group 1a cannot be tolerated, whereas the coded bits of group II can tolerate some errors. However, the coded bits of group II are relatively tolerant to errors.
A low signal to noise ratio or poor link quality due to EMI from switching noise generated by a mobile phone's DC-to-DC converter having a switching signal undergoing fast dithering will introduce errors into the coded bits of groups 1a, 1b and II. Individual errors in the coded bits may be corrected by a decoding process, but blocks of errors in coded bits of groups 1a, 1b and II are relatively harder to correct. If any of the group 1a coded bits remain incorrect after the decoding process a frame erasure is likely to occur. As a result of multiple frame erasures, a higher than acceptable BER and/or FER will result in unacceptable poor audio quality, slow data rates, dropped calls and failures to respond to paging. Moreover, other mobile phones in their respective downlinks will be negatively affected by a mobile phone having a DC-to-DC converter with a switching signal undergoing fast dithering. Thus, it may be tempting to try a slow dither the switching signal of a DC-to-DC converter. However, experience has shown that whereas a fast dither of a switching signal results in an increase in BER relative to FER, a slow dither of a switching signal results in an increase in FER over BER. Thus, there remains a need to provide switching signal dithering circuit and method for a switching power supply such as a DC-to-DC converter for a mobile phone that will yield a low voltage ripple while reducing EMI and RF spurious transmissions. Moreover, there is a need for a switching signal dithering circuit and method that will result in less stringent filtering requirements, reduced cost, and increased efficiency for switching power supplies.

3D frequency dithering for DC-to-DC converters used in multi-mode cellular transmitters


An insulated concrete panel having one or more tendons positioned in the insulation layer inside the panel which are put into tension after the concrete panel has been formed.

The invention relates generally to insulated concrete wall panels and, more specifically, to insulated concrete wall panels having tendons or rods that lie in the plane of the insulation and are placed under tension after the concrete panel has been cast.
Insulated precast concrete wall panels are well known in the art of building construction. Two general methods of panel fabrication are used, site-cast construction, in which the panels are fabricated horizontally at the building site and where they are subsequently erected, and plant-cast construction, in which the panels are fabricated horizontally at a fixed, remote plant and are shipped to the building site for erection.
A wall panel, at a minimum, must be capable of resisting forces applied both normal to and in its plane. Normal forces can result from environmental effects, such as wind, and geologic effects, such as from earthquakes. In-plane forces can also result from wind or earthquake, but are imposed on the wall panels through connections with the horizontal elements in the building, including horizontal roof bracing or diaphragms created by roof or floor systems. The weight of the panel will create in-plane forces, and, in many cases, a wall may also be required to carry superimposed gravity loads from roof or floor structures. Although columns that are independent from the walls could be used to carry these gravity loads, it is often economical—both in material and floor space—if the walls are used to support the perimeter of the roof or floor structures in lieu of an exterior colonnade.
Additional forces that must be considered in the design of wall panels include forces imposed during handling and erection of the panels, as well as internal forces created by temperature and shrinkage differentials that occur after the panel is erected.
Because concrete is itself a relatively brittle material with a low tensile capacity, it must be reinforced with a material capable of carrying large tensile strains without fracture. Although fiber composite materials can be used, the most common reinforcing material used in wall construction is steel. Regardless of the material used, the stress in the reinforcing at the time of fabrication defines still more subsets of wall construction types.
These additional types of wall construction are, in general, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete. In reinforced concrete, the initial strain in the steel is essentially equal to the initial strain in the concrete. The steel is placed in forms, followed by plastic concrete. When the concrete hardens sufficiently, the panel is ready for handling and erection, where the steel and the concrete are subjected to both tensile and compression strains. In contrast, even before handling, prestressed concrete is fabricated such that the strain in the steel is tensile and the strain in the concrete is compressive. The pre-imposed compressive strain in the concrete has a number of advantages, which will be discussed in more detail elsewhere in this specification. It is of interest to note that the shrinkage of concrete after it sets actually creates tensile strains in the concrete as well as compressive strains in the steel.
Within the classification of prestressed concrete, two further subsets of pre-tensioned and post-tensioned construction exist. These subsets are defined by the sequence and the methods used to prestress the reinforcing material and to transfer compressive stresses into the concrete. In pre-tensioned construction, the reinforcing material is placed in tension by jacking against a relatively stiff form or bed. The form or bed therefore supplies the reaction necessary to pull the reinforcing material. While the form or bed is therefore placed in compression, the strain in the bed has only a minor effect on the final wall panel itself. Plastic concrete is placed around the pre-tensioned steel and is allowed to cure and harden. When the concrete has reached a sufficient compressive strength to survive the imposition of compressive and flexural stresses imposed by the action, the external restraint is removed from the reinforcing. The reinforcing therefore shortens and imposes significant compression strains in the concrete itself, usually through bond between the concrete and the steel.
In post-tensioned construction, the initial construction sequence and therefore the initial strain in the concrete is nearly the same as those for reinforced concrete. The one major exception is that some or much of the reinforcing is isolated from contact with the plastic concrete. After the concrete has hardened and reached sufficient strength, this isolation allows the reinforcing to be tensioned by using the concrete member itself to supply the reaction. In this case, the concrete within the panel is placed in compression, and this compression is maintained by placing an anchorage that allows the tension in the reinforcing to be transferred as a compressive reaction at each end of the post-tensioned reinforcing.
Although tensile forces can arise from all sources cited above (including eccentrically applied prestressing), tensile forces resulting from flexural loads imposed by wind or earthquake as well as internal forces arising from temperature effects are usually the most significant.
Post-tensioning systems are well known in the art. Systems that incorporate threaded tension members are, for example, supplied by Dywidag and Williams Form Engineering. The Dur-O-Wall® Sure-Stress™ post-tensioning system is an example of similar systems used in masonry construction, and includes the use of steel rods and load-indicating washers.
One form of direct tension indicating washers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,618. These washers include indicating material, normally silicone, which is positioned in indentations within each washer. As the nut is turned on the bolt or, in this case, the post-tensioning tendon or rod, the tendon is placed in tension and the washer is compressed. As the indentations are flattened, channels formed from the indentations to the outside diameter of the washer allow the indicating material to migrate to the outer diameter of the washer. Sufficient washer compression and resulting rod tension are indicated when a designated number of channels have carried the indicating material to the exposed perimeter of the washer.
Lifting inserts and devices are well known in the art. The inserts are normally cast in the concrete layers and are loaded using proprietary lifting clutches that, in turn, connect to wire ropes. Examples of lifting devices that can be used with threaded rods are also known in the art. The Dayton/Richmond Swivel Lifting Plate consists of a heavy steel casting and a drop forged bail that is pinned to allow a full 180° swivel.


Novel compounds of the general formula ##STR1## wherein each R.sub.1 is independently a tertiary alkyl group containing from 4 to about 8 carbon atoms and each of X, Y and Z is independently hydrogen or a hydrocarbon-based group, provided at least one of X, Y and Z is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing at least 7 carbon atoms, and wherein R.sub.1 is different from the at least one of X, Y and Z that is an aliphatic hydrocarbon group containing at least 7 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is an alkylene or alkylidene group, and n is a number ranging from zero to about 4. Also disclosed are methods for preparing novel phenolic compounds, organic compositions, including lubricants based on oils of lubricating viscosity and fuels based on normally liquid fuels and additive concentrates containing the novel phenolic compounds of this invention.

Organic materials are often susceptible to oxidation, resulting in undesirable effects such as objectionable odor, sludge formation, loss of strength, development of or increased acidity, and the like.
Numerous compounds have been found to reduce oxidative susceptibility of various organic materials. Well known antioxidant compounds include various divalent sulfur-containing compounds, certain aromatic amines and phenolic compounds and derivatives. Certain hindered phenolic compounds have been described as being particularly suitable as antioxidants for organic materials, especially on a cost-performance basis. However, not all compounds of this type provide antioxidancy. Furthermore, numerous compounds of this type possess other properties which are objectionable. It is also desirable that lubricating and fuel compositions are essentially free of chlorine. Preferably, they contain no chlorine.
Davis, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,538,355 describes 2,2'-alkylene bis-4,6-dialkyl phenols of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is a straight chain alkyl radical of from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and R.sub.2 is a tertiary alkyl radical of from 4 to about 8 carbon atoms as rubber stabilizers.
Stevens et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,515,906 describes bis (hydroxyphenyl) compounds of the formula ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from the class consisting of secondary and tertiary butyl groups and R.sub.2 is selected from the class consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl and alkaryl groups as additives for oil. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,570,402, Stevens et al describes oils and gasolines containing these compounds.
Knowles et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,025 describes lubricating compositions containing monomeric condensation products of alkylated phenols with carbonyl-containing compounds. The condensation products are represented by the formulae ##STR4## wherein R is a hydrocarbon radical which may be alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl, R.sub.1 is tertiary alkyl, R.sub.2 is a hydrogen or an alkyl radical and R.sub.3 is a hydrocarbon radical such as R. R is preferably alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbons, R.sub.1 is tertiary alkyl containing 4 to 12 carbons, R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl and R.sub.3 is preferably alkyl or halogenated alkyl having up to 7 carbon atoms.
It has been found that in certain applications, many of the bis-t-alkyl phenols of the art are ineffective or only marginally effective. Lubricating oils require antioxidants that are soluble or dispersable in oil in amounts effective to provide antioxidancy. High temperature applications require additives that are stable at the elevated temperatures and which are substantially non-volatile under conditions of use. By substantially non-volatile is meant that at least 50%, preferably at least 75% and more preferably at least 90% by weight of the additive remains in the lubricant under conditions of use.
For fuels, solubility in the fuel is also required.
For use in other applications such as resins, rubbers, waxes, etc. it is generally desirable that the compounds do not impart pronounced color to the substrate and also are substantially non-volatile.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide novel phenolic compositions that will impart useful and desirable properties to organic materials.
It is a further object of this invention to provide novel organic compositions containing the novel phenolic compositions of this invention.
A further object is to provide novel lubricant and fuel compositions containing the novel phenolic compounds of this invention.
Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the present specification.

Tertiary alkyl alkylphenols and organic compositions containing same


An electrical connection box has a first case, a second case, a drain hole, an upward-protruding outer wall, and a downward-protruding inner wall. The second case is assembled beneath the first case. The drain hole is formed in an overlap surface of the second case overlapping the first case, the drain hole vertically penetrating the second case. The upward-protruding outer wall is formed at an outer side of the drain hole of the overlap surface, the upward-protruding outer wall being disposed at an outer side of the first case and protruding upward. The downward-protruding inner wall is formed on the first case, the downward-protruding inner wall being disposed at an inner side of the second case and protruding further downward than the overlap surface.

This application claims priority to JP 2013-214084 filed in Japan on Oct. 11, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to an electrical connection box that mounts to a vehicle or the like, and in particular relates to an electrical connection box formed by a second case assembled beneath a first case.
Conventionally, in a vehicle or the like, an electrical connection box such as a junction box or a relay box is used. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-345616, an electrical connection box is formed by a lower cover as a second case assembled beneath a box main body as a first case.
There are electrical connection boxes positioned at locations, such as an engine compartment, where water can penetrate during rain or during a carwash. With the conventional electrical connection box, as also disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-345616, the waterproofing properties are ensured by placing an outer wall of the box main body positioned above on an outer side of an outer wall of a lower cover positioned below, such that the box main body covers the lower cover.
However, with the structure as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-345616, during for example a car wash, when water is applied at high pressure, water enters through the space between the outer wall of the box main body and the outer wall of the lower cover, and the waterproofing properties are insufficient. In particular, there is the problem that the space between the outer wall of the box main body and the outer wall of the lower cover, which becomes the path of ingress for water, extends vertically and opens vertically inside of the box body such that water entering the space sprays upward inside the box main body, easily hitting electrical components inside the box body.
Thus, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-34320 discloses providing the box main body with an inner wall (reference numeral 33) extending downward at the inner side of the lower cover, and by having the path of ingress for water open downward inside the box body, water which has penetrated into the box main body is evacuated downward. However, the structure disclosed by Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-34320 still cannot be said to be a sufficient preventative measure because water is not actually prevented from penetrating through the space between the box main body and the lower cover, and when a large amount of water has penetrated it is likely that the water will spray inside the box main body due to vibrations while driving.


A prestaging method is adapted to a computer system comprising a central processing unit, a buffer and a secondary storage, where the prestaging method reads input data of a submitted job into the buffer from the secondary storage before executing the submitted job so as to carry out a prestaging. The prestaging method includes the steps of (a) obtaining a number of jobs for which prestagings are to be carried out simultaneously as the prestaging for the submitted job, (b) obtaining an effective data transfer speed based on the number of jobs and a data transfer speed of the secondary storage which stores the input data of the submitted job for which the prestaging is to be carried out, and (c) setting a prestaging start time from which the prestaging for the submitted job is to start by subtracting an effective data transfer time from it scheduled job start time from which the submitted job is to start, where the effective data transfer time is defined as a time which is obtained by dividing an amount of the input data by the effective data transfer speed.

The present invention generally relates to prestaging methods, buffer management methods and file systems, and more particularly to a prestaging method for reading data at a high speed when executing a job in a computer system, a buffer management method for use in the prestaging method, and a file system which can employ such a buffer management method.
FIG. 1 shows a computer system in which a prestaging process is carried out. The improvements in the performance of the recent computer systems are notable, but on the other hand, the difference between the performances of a central processing unit (CPU) and an input/output unit is becoming greater. In a normal computer system, the measures shown in FIG. 1 are taken so as to cope with the inevitably different performances of the CPU and the input/output unit.
In FIG. 1, a main storage 12 which is coupled to a CPU 11, a disk cache 13 which is used as a secondary storage and a disk 14 which is used as a secondary storage which have different processing speeds are arranged hierarchically, so as to improve the performance of the computer system as a whole.
If it can be predicted that a large amount of data on the order of Mbytes, for example, will be read when executing a job, as in the case of a super computer, the so-called "prestaging process" (or simply "prestaging") is carried out to input the data at a high speed. According to the prestaging technique, the input data are read into the disk cache 13, which can read and write data at a high speed, from the disk 14 which can only read and write data at a low speed, before execution of the job. The timing with which this prestaging is carried out affects the job execution performance and the performance of the computer system as a whole. For this reason, there is a demand to realize a method of determining an optimum prestaging start time for starting the prestaging.
According to a conventional prestaging method, the prestaging start time was set statically before the job is submitted into the computer system. In other words, the prestaging start time was determined from the job start time, the amount of input data related to the job and a data transfer speed from the disk 14 to the disk cache 13, by assuming that the data transfer speed is fixed.
However, the load on the computer system changes dynamically, and the data transfer speed actually changes depending on the situation. For this reason, even if the prestaging is started at the preset time according to the conventional prestaging method, the prestaging may end considerably before the job start time or, the prestaging may not end in its entirety by the job start time.
If the prestaging ends considerably before the job start time, one job will occupy a region of the disk cache 13 for a long time between the end of the prestaging and the start of the job, and there is a problem in that the performance of other jobs will be deteriorated thereby. In addition, the region used by the prestaging may be taken over by another job, in which case the prestaged data will be erased. In this case, the data must be read again from the disk 14 when executing the job, and there is a problem in that the execution performance of the job deteriorates because the data can only be read from the disk 14 at the low speed.
On the other hand, if the entire prestaging does not end by the job start time, only a part of the data is prestaged. Hence, in this case, the remaining data must be read from the disk 14 when executing the job, and there is a problem in that the execution performance of the job deteriorates because the remaining data can only be read from the disk 14 at the low speed.

Prestaging method, buffer management method and file system


The disclosure includes compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of Formula (I). Certain compounds and salts of Formula (I) are selective inhibitors of the Dopamine D2 receptor. The variables R1-R4, n, and L are defined herein. The disclosure also provides methods of synthesizing compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of Formula (I). Additionally the disclosure provides methods or treating patients suffering from central nervous system disorders, including Tourette's syndrome, bipolar disorder, hyperprolactinemia, tardive dyskinesia, Huntington's chorea, psychosis, depression, or schizophrenia.

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are among the most intensely investigated drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry. Over 40% of all FDA approved drugs target these important receptor proteins. Unfortunately, many of the ligands that are used as drugs or pharmacological tools are not selective and exhibit some unintended activity on non-target GPCRs or other proteins. This is because the orthosteric binding site is highly conserved among closely related types of GPCRs.
Dopamine receptors (DARs) belong to a large superfamily of neurotransmitter and hormone receptors. Five functionally active DARs have been identified in the mammalian genome. D1-like DARs (D1 and D5) are Gαs coupled, and D2-like DARs (D2, D3 and D4) are Gαi/o coupled. There are two isoforms of the D2 DAR, short and long (D2S and D2L), respectively, which are derived from alternative RNA splicing and vary in the size of their third intracellular loops. The D2L isoform is more prevalent, although both isoforms appear to be functionally similar. Amongst the DARs, the D2 DAR is arguably one of the most validated drug targets in neurology and psychiatry. For instance, all receptor-based anti-Parkinsonian drugs work via stimulating the D2 DAR (although controversy exists for a minor role of the D1 DAR), whereas all FDA approved antipsychotic agents are antagonists of this receptor. The D2 DAR is also therapeutically targeted in other disorders such as restless legs syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, Tourette's syndrome, psychosis, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and hyperprolactinemia. Most drugs targeting the D2 DAR (orthosteric agonists and antagonists) are problematic, either by being less efficacious than desired or possessing limiting side effects, most of which are due to off-target cross-GPCR reactivity. It is thus desirable to develop a class of novel therapeutic agents with high selectivity for the D2 DAR.
It should be noted that though the therapeutic potential for more selective D2 DAR antagonists may be enormous, this approach may also provide a way forward for developing selective pharmacological probes. Amongst the D2-like family of DARs (D2, D3, and D4), only the D4 DAR has ligands (both agonists and antagonists) that are truly specific, approaching 1,000 fold-selectively versus D2 and D3 DARs. This is not surprising given that the D4 DAR is more structurally divergent compared to the D2/D3 DARs. D2 and D3 receptors share 78% homology in their transmembrane spanning domains, which harbor the ligand binding sites and thus the pharmacologic properties between these two receptor subtypes are quite similar. Therefore, it is very challenging to identify small molecules that can selectively bind to and/or functionally modulate either D2 or D3 DAR receptor subtypes. A high level of probe selectivity will allow for definitive in vivo studies of receptor function. With respect to the D3 DAR, there are several compounds that exhibit good selectivity versus the D4 DAR and moderate (a few hundred fold) selectivity versus the D2 DAR. Some of these D3-selective compounds have been used for in vivo experiments but the results have been controversial in many instances. In contrast, to the best of our knowledge, there are only few series of compounds that exhibit even moderate selectivity for the D2 DAR receptor versus D3 and D4 within the D2-like DAR subfamily. Selective antagonists of the D2 DAR are useful for treatment of disorders currently treated with relatively non-selective D2 antagonists, including Tourette's syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, Huntington's chorea, psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia.
Patients suffering from schizophrenia comprise the largest patient population that would benefit from highly selective D2 DAR antagonists. Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, social withdrawal, attention, and cognitive defects. All current FDA-approved antipsychotic drugs have D2 DAR blocking properties. It is likely that D2 DAR antagonism will remain a mainstay for the treatment of psychosis, especially for the treatment of so-called "positive" symptoms of this illness. Unfortunately, all antipsychotic drugs that antagonize D2 DARs also interact with other GPCRs to varying degrees, including adrenergic, serotonergic, histaminergic, and cholinergic receptors. It is therefore not surprising that such drugs have multiple adverse effects including sedative, extra-pyramidal, endocrine, metabolic, and hypotensive properties. Because of the lack of highly selective ligands, it is not known to what extent other GPCRs contribute to the antipsychotic actions and/or associated side effects of these agents, although the H1 histamine receptor has been implicated in weight gain.
The present disclosure fulfills the need for highly selective D2 DAR compounds and also provides additional advantages.

11-OXO-10,11-dihydrodibenzo[B,F][1,4]thiazepine S-oxide derivatives and their use as dopamine D2 receptor antagonists

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


An exhaust muffler has an outer cylinder into which an exhaust gas from an engine is introduced and a muffling member made of a foamed ceramic material. The outer cylinder has an inner cylinder through which the exhaust gas passes, a part of the muffling member is supported by an outer wall of the inner cylinder via a holding member. The inner cylinder includes, in an area where the inner cylinder overlaps with the muffling member with respect to axial direction of the inner cylinder, a porous wall portion formed with communication holes communicating an inside and an outside of the inner cylinder. The holding member is arranged at a position where it does not overlap with a part of the porous wall portion, so that muffling effect is enhanced, and the muffling member having a low resistance to impact forces can be supported stably by the inner cylinder.

A foamed ceramic material is known for use as a muffling member arranged in an introduction chamber of an exhaust muffler. Patent Document 1 discloses a muffler structure using a foamed ceramic material for a muffling member, in which a mat member is wound on the outside of an inner cylinder to set the position of the foamed ceramic material. The foamed ceramic material has an advantage of a high muffling effect and light weight.
In the exhaust muffler having the above-described conventional structure, an exhaust passage, through which an exhaust gas from an engine flows, is constituted by a cylindrical member, a porous wall portion formed with a large number of small holes is provided in the cylindrical member, and the peripheral surface of the porous wall portion is covered with the muffling member of a foamed ceramic material, to provide a sound absorbing effect. The muffling member of the foamed ceramic material is supported by the porous wall portion of the cylindrical member via a cylindrical holding member formed of steel wool or the like.


An outlet-adjusting device suitable for a coin dispenser is provided. The outlet adjusting device comprises a directing element, an ejecting element and an positioning member, wherein the positioning member and the directing element are adapted for adjusting a biasing angle of a directing flange of the directing element so as to lead and dispense the coin from said coin outlet. Thus, the outlet-adjusting device allows the coin dispenser to dispense coins of various sizes.

The present invention generally relates a coin dispenser, and more particularly to an outlet adjusting device suitable for a coin dispenser capable of dispensing coins of various sizes.
The coin dispenser is usually placed in an entertainment facility for providing dispensing coins as a convenience to users. Coins, such as fifty, ten, five or one dollars, are of different sizes and thickness, and also the tokens designed by the entertainment facility management are different of sizes and thickness. Accordingly, the coin dispenser needs to have the coin outlet of various specifications corresponding to various sizes of coins in order to dispense coins of various sizes. The conventional coin dispenser, as shown in FIG. 10, has a motor to turn the rotating plate A1 having a plurality of protrusions A2. There is a gap between every two adjacent protrusions A2. The inner and outer sides of the coin outlet A3 have a directing element A4 and a fine adjustment switch A5 installed respectively. The rotating plate A1 is adapted to rotate in a manner that the protrusions A2 push the coins within the coin collector A6 to the inner side of the coin outlet A3, and the coins can also be sent out of the coin outlet A3 by the pushing force of the protrusions A2 and as directed by the directing element A4. The fine adjustment switch A5 is activated as the coins contacts the fine adjustment switch A5 while passing through the coin outlet A3, and this can be adapted for counting the number of coins dispensed.
The above conventional structure of the coin dispenser has a fixed space for the coin outlet A3, which is not suitable for fitting coins of various sizes, and if the space of the coin outlet A3 is smaller than the dimension of the coin, the coin cannot be dispensed from the coin outlet A3. On the contrary, if the space of the coin outlet A3 is larger than the dimension of the coin, then the coin will bounce all around while being dispensed out. Therefore, for dispensing coins with different sizes, the vender has to design coin outlets with various specifications, consequently the cost of the machine will be substantially increased.
Another conventional coin dispenser shown in FIG. 11 comprises a frame, a coin collector, a rotating plate, a service motor, a dispensing plate, an ejecting mechanism, a resilient steel bead and so on. The coin dispenser allows the coin within the coin collector fall into the coin slot effectively to prevent rotating in idleness, as well as to reduce the chances of jamming the coins and accurately count the quantity of the coins dispensed. However, the above conventional coin dispenser also have several defects as described below.
The dispensing plate B1 has a plurality of arch-shape flanges B2, and every arch-shape flange B2 is formed according to the coin B3 with the certain specification, therefore, different size of the coin B3 requires a different dispensing plate B1 with specification corresponding to the particular coin B3. Thus, a coin dispenser requires a plurality of dispensing plate B1, which is obviously impractical in consideration of cost.
The gap B11 between the dispensing plate B1 and the ejecting mechanism B4 is fixed and cannot be adjusted, thus the size of the coin B3 must be of a certain size in order to pass through the gap B11 between the dispensing plate B1 and the ejecting mechanism B4.
The dispensing plate B1 has a resilient plate B5 supporting a side and the ejecting mechanism B4 is controlled by the spring B6. When the coin B3 positions against the arch-shape flange B2 of the dispensing plate B1 and the roller B7 of the ejecting mechanism B4, the top flange at the bottom surface of the rotating plate B8 requires additional force to overcome the rebounding force created by the dispensing plate B1 and the ejecting mechanism B4. Accordingly, the rotating plate B8 is under increased stress due to resistance during rotation.
Accordingly, a solution to resolve the above defects of the convention coin dispensers is an important subject for the manufacturers in the field.

Outlet-adjusting device of coin dispenser

International Currency Technologies Corporation


An ignition coil includes a coil part having primary and secondary coils, a center core, and a peripheral core, a connector case part, a seal rubber, and a ventilation passage. The coil part is inserted in a plug hole of an engine, and the case part is outside the plug hole. An axial end of the peripheral core is inserted in an insertion hole of the case part. The peripheral core and an inner wall surface of the insertion hole define a ventilation clearance therebetween. A gap between the case part and the plug hole is sealed with the rubber. The rubber is closely-attached to the plug hole and the case part along its whole circumference. The passage, through which the plug hole is ventilated, includes the clearance and a ventilation hole formed at a certain position of the case part away from the rubber to communicate with the clearance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ignition coil used for generating a spark between a pair of electrodes in a spark plug in an engine.
2. Description of Related Art
In an engine in which gasoline, for example, is combusted, an ignition coil is attached to a spark plug that is arranged in a combustion chamber of each cylinder in a cylinder head. A spark is generated by the ignition coil between a pair of electrodes in the spark plug, and a fuel/air mixture of gas and air introduced into the combustion chamber is ignited. In a case where a coil part of the ignition coil is inserted in a plug hole of the engine, ozone gas caused due to high voltage, and the like, are generated in the plug hole. Accordingly, in order to ventilate the ozone gas in the plug hole using outside air that is outside the plug hole, a ventilation passage is formed in the ignition coil.
In the engine, pressure in the plug hole has a negative pressure when gas in the plug hole is cooled in a process, in which the engine is cooled from a state in which the engine is warmed up. Meanwhile, when the ignition coil is exposed to water, the water may enter into the plug hole through the ventilation passage Consequently, in order to prevent the water from entering into the plug hole, the formation of the ventilation passage is devised in a seal rubber or the like, which is disposed between the ignition coil and an opening of the plug hole.
There is an ignition coil for an internal combustion engines disclosed in JP9-158820A corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,870, as an example of the ignition coil (ignition system) in which the formation of the ventilation passage is devised. The above ignition coil is used with its cylindrical portion inserted into a plug hole formed in the engine and attached to a spark plug disposed in the plug hole, and with its head region disposed outside the plug hole. An annular sealing member (seal rubber) for sealing an upper part of the plug hole is arranged between the head portion and an engine head cover. An axial direction passage, through which the inside of the plug hole communicates with the outside, is formed in the head portion and the sealing member. Furthermore, a radial direction groove is formed to communicate with the axial direction passage, and the radial direction groove is covered with a cap, whereby water accumulated on the engine head cover is prevented from entering into the plug hole. Additionally, in an ignition coil disclosed in JP2006-179824A, a cylindrical portion (coil part) equipped with a primary coil and a secondary coil is inserted in an insertion retention opening of its connector case part through a cylindrical insertion component.
However, in the ignition coil in which the coil part is inserted in the connector case part, further devices are needed to prevent more effectively water or the like from entering into the plug hole using a simple structure.


Methods of attaching a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) element to a substrate include maintaining a gap between the PDC element and an adjacent substrate, and at least substantially filling the gap with a deposition process. Methods of forming a cutting element for an earth-boring tool include forming a PDC element by pressing diamond crystals together, forming a substrate including a particulate carbide material and a matrix material, leaving a gap between at least portions of the PDC element and the substrate, masking surfaces of the PDC element and of the substrate that do not face the gap, and forming an adhesion material on surfaces of the PDC element and of the substrate that face the gap. Cutting elements for earth-boring tools include a PDC element attached to a substrate with at least one of diamond, diamond-like carbon, a carbide material, a nitride material, and a cubic boron nitride material.

Earth-boring tools for forming wellbores in subterranean earth formations generally include a plurality of cutting elements secured to a body. For example, fixed-cutter earth-boring rotary drill bits (also referred to as "drag bits") include a plurality of cutting elements that are fixedly attached to a bit body of the drill bit. Similarly, roller cone earth-boring rotary drill bits may include cones that are mounted on bearing pins extending from legs of a bit body such that each cone is capable of rotating about the bearing pin on which it is mounted. A plurality of cutting elements may be mounted to each cone of the drill bit.
The cutting elements used in such earth-boring tools often include polycrystalline diamond compact (often referred to as "PDC") cutting elements, which are cutting elements that include cutting faces of a polycrystalline diamond material. Polycrystalline diamond material is material that includes inter-bonded grains or crystals of diamond material. In other words, polycrystalline diamond material includes direct, inter-granular bonds between the grains or crystals of diamond material. The terms "grain" and "crystal" are used synonymously and interchangeably herein.
Polycrystalline diamond compact cutting elements are formed by sintering and bonding together relatively small diamond grains under conditions of high temperature and high pressure in the presence of a metal solvent catalyst (such as, for example, cobalt, iron, nickel, or alloys and mixtures thereof) to form a layer or "table" of polycrystalline diamond material on a cutting element substrate. These processes are often referred to as "high temperature/high pressure" (or "HTHP") processes. The cutting element substrate may comprise a cement material (i.e., a ceramic-metal composite material) such as, for example, cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide. In such instances, the cobalt (or other catalyst material) in the cutting element substrate may be swept into the diamond grains during sintering and serve as a catalyst material for forming the inter-granular diamond-to-diamond bonds between, and the resulting diamond table from, the diamond grains. In other methods, powdered catalyst material may be mixed with the diamond grains prior to sintering the grains together in an HTHP process.
Upon formation of a diamond table using an HTHP process, catalyst material may remain in interstitial spaces between the grains of diamond in the resulting polycrystalline diamond table.
Differences in the thermal expansion between the diamond table and the cutting element substrate to which it is bonded may result in relatively large compressive and/or tensile stresses at an interface between the diamond table and the substrate that eventually lead to deterioration of the diamond table, cause the diamond table to delaminate from the substrate, or result in general ineffectiveness of the cutting element.
There are several conventional ways of making a PDC cutting element. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a single HTHP cycle (e.g., in a diamond press 25) may be used to press diamond feed 10 (e.g., polycrystalline diamond grit bound together in a matrix) and a carbide substrate 20 together. The HTHP cycle simultaneously binds the material of the PDC feed 10 together to form a PDC table 30 and binds the PDC table 30 to the carbide substrate 20 to form a PDC cutting element 40. In another example, shown in FIG. 2, diamond feed 10 may be pressed in an HTHP cycle (e.g., in a diamond press 25) to form a preformed PDC table 50. The preformed PDC table 50 may then be attached to a carbide substrate 20 in another HTHP cycle (e.g., in a diamond press 25) to form a PDC cutting element 60. In either of the first two examples (FIGS. 1 and 2), the PDC table 30, 50 may include a cobalt (or other metal) catalyst and the carbide substrate 20 may include cobalt (or other metal) in a matrix phase. Thus, the PDC table 30, 50 and the carbide substrate 20 may be bound together by cobalt (or other metal) at the interface between the PDC table 30, 50 and the carbide substrate. In yet another example, shown in FIG. 3, a preformed PDC table 50 may be formed by pressing diamond feed 10 in an HTHP cycle (e.g., in a diamond press 25). The preformed PDC table 50 may be attached to a carbide substrate 20 by high temperature brazing to form a brazed PDC cutting element 70. The PDC table 50 and the carbide substrate 20 may be bound together by a braze alloy.
Conventional methods of attaching a PDC to a substrate, such as those described with reference to FIGS. 1-3, may have certain disadvantages. For example, stress may be induced at an interface between the PDC and the substrate during the pressing cycle. Stress may also be induced at the interface due to the high temperature of a brazing process. The level of stress at the interface that is ideal for stress propagation when the PDC cutting element is used (e.g., in boring the earth) may not be ideal for reducing the stress state after the pressing or brazing cycles.
Conventionally, PDC cutting elements including a PDC table and a carbide substrate are formed as described and then attached to the surface of a bit body of an earth-boring tool. The PDC cutting elements may be attached to the bit body using a brazing process. The brazing process can cause thermal stress or degradation of materials at the interface between the PDC cutting elements and the bit body.

Methods of attaching a polycrystalline diamond compact to a substrate


A holster belt is configured to support a holster and a handgun combination. The holster belt has a belt portion defining an inner layer and an outer layer comprising an elastic material. The holster belt further has a closure and a holster engagement strip, wherein the holster engagement strip is rigid and is configured to support a holster and a handgun combination, wherein the holster comprises a holster body configured for receiving the handgun and a belt clip, wherein the holster engagement strip is configured to be sized for engagement with the belt clip of the holster.

Many users of handguns carry a handgun in a holster designed to protect the handgun and hold it securely. When the handgun is to be used, the user may withdraw the handgun from the holster, and then return it to the holster when finished. Holsters can be worn in a number of ways such as on a belt at the waist, on the thigh, under an arm, or around an ankle. In some cases, the holster may allow the user to conceal the handgun, or to conceal the fact that the user is carrying the handgun.
In some situations, the user may desire to carry the handgun while wearing clothing that doesn't lend itself to the use of a belt, such as athletic clothing, a skirt or dress, or like apparel.

Holster belt for carrying a handgun holster


An arrangement of foot operated elements for a motor vehicle includes a first element with a power booster for operating a brake and a second element with a second power booster for operating a clutch of the motor vehicle. The second power booster for actuating the clutch release is arranged adjacent the power booster for actuating the brake device. The power booster for the clutch has a linear guide which guides the second element, which is an actuating push rod by which the second power booster for the clutch can be operated directly. The second power booster for the clutch further has a servo device which further reduces the actuating forces and/or the operating paths for actuating the clutch.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to an arrangement of foot operated pedals for a motor vehicle which are connected with a power assist or mechanically powered device.
2. Description of the Related Art
In motor vehicles which have a clutch pedal and a brake pedal that are each operated by an operating lever, two foot-actuated operating levers are located next to one another, wherein the brake pedal is located on the right-hand side and the clutch pedal is located on the left side. The brake pedal is connected by a tappet or push rod to a first power booster which transmits the actuating forces of the brake pedal to the master cylinder which in turn transmits the actuating forces to a slave cylinder or brake cylinder which is arranged at the individual brake. The power booster usually has a diameter of magnitude such that the arrangement of other power boosters for the actuation of the clutch in the same horizontal plane of the foot space is prohibited. Currently known master cylinders which are connected with the operating lever for the clutch have no power boosting for actuating the release of the clutch. Instead of using a power boosting device at the foot pedal, the release of the clutch in prior art devices is effected by an externally arranged electric, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic source in response to a slave cylinder actuated by the master cylinder. The external source actuating the clutch is adjusted in response to a lever multiplication with respect to the master cylinder actuated by the operating lever such that a sufficient adjusting force is available over the entire path of the operating lever with respect to the above-described release path of the clutch. The lever multiplication is determined by the connection of the master cylinder, via a push rod, to a position on the operating lever which causes a path reduction in relation to the portion of the operating lever that the operator actuates. This enables the construction of relatively compact master cylinders, especially with respect to their cross-sectional dimensions. This, and the partially exposed position of the master cylinder arranged at the operating lever, leads to the current customary construction of master cylinders with small diameters and large lengths.

Arrangement of foot operating elements for a motor vehicle


Provided is an electrical connector including an insulative housing having a main body and a pair of tongue plates perpendicular extending from said main body along a mating direction. Said tongue plates are parallel to each other and each defines a plurality of terminal grooves thereon. A plurality of terminals are received in the terminal grooves. A metallic shell is retained on the main body of the insulative housing and encloses said pair of tongue plates thereby defining a mating opening therein. The mating opening defines a first and a second different interfaces in communication with each other. At least a partition portion protrudes toward the mating opening from said main body and defines a bottom surface to act as a top wall of the second interface.

1. Cross Reference
The present invention is related to "Electrical Connector" submitted on May 5, 2009 with Ser. No. 29/336,471, and "Cable Connector" submitted contemporaneously on the same date with Ser. No. 29/336,470, invented by the same inventors and commonly assigned to the same assignee.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a cable assembly integrated with first and second interfaces intended for interconnecting corresponding interfaces altogether.
3. Description of the Related Art
Chinese Utility Patent No. 200720034623.6 issued to Gu et al. on Feb. 27, 2008 disclosed a conventional electrical connector with at least two interfaces included therein. Referring to FIG. 12, the electrical connector is provided with an insulative housing mounted a plurality of terminals 2 therein and surrounded by a metallic shell 3. The insulative housing 1 forms a pair of tongue plates 11 and a partition board 12 located between said tongue plates so as to create two mating interfaces in the front of the insulative housing.
The arrangement of the partition board 12 could increase the rigidity of the insulative housing at one hand, however, the flip side is that it increases the height of the insulative housing at the same time and is not advantageous for the miniaturization trend of the electrical connector. If the partition board 12 of the insulative housing is omitted, the overall height of the insulative housing is surely and tremendously reduced, however, a boundary between the two mating interfaces is not properly defined, if a mating plug is inserted therein, a steady and reliable electrical connection therebetween can not be assured because the mating plug may shake in the vertical direction. Moreover, the reduction of the height of the insulative housing will only allow one plug to be inserted into at one time, and do not allow the two plugs to be inserted into simultaneously. Obviously, an improved electrical assembly is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problem.

Electrical connector with a metallic shell with a mating opening divided into two different interfaces