Two identical CRC circuits are cross coupled to make alternate CRC calculations based on the other CRC circuit's calculation. Throughput of the CRC code calculation is improved by applying alternate input data simultaneously at each of the CRC circuits so that when one calculation is completed the next input data is available to immediately begin the next calculation. The output of each CRC circuit is fed into one of two latches that make up an LSSD register such that the first latch captures the first CRC calculation on a first clock of non-overlapping clocks. The second CRC calculation is captured by the second latch on a second clock of the non-overlapping clocks. Two CRC calculations can be made in one period of the non-overlapping clocks while avoiding race problems.

System performance is continually being improved in order to maximize the amount of information that can be processed in a given period of time. In computer systems, for example, it is desirable to make mathematical calculations as fast as possible since many problems require millions of such calculations. Likewise, in communication systems, if more data can be transferred between locations in a set time period, the communication can be performed more economically.
Several approaches have been taken to further improve system performance. These approaches include improving the semiconductor technology from which the systems are made, and increasing the hardware used to perform the system functions. Very Large Scale Integrated (VLSI) circuits may be made to operate faster by shrinking transistors to ever smaller feature sizes. Still more performance enhancements may be realized by processing information in parallel which typically requires duplicating the hardware in a system. Two data processors may be used, for example, where each processor performs a different instruction but at the same time (parallel processing).
A system which uses two processors to process instructions in parallel is described in Grote et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,930. In this system, data is latched for processing by a master processor, and other data is latched for processing by an independent slave processor. The slave processor processes its received data while the master processor is busy processing its received data. The slave processor does not completely depend upon the master processor to perform it functions. As a result, it is not necessary for the master processor to complete its processing before new data may be processed and performance can therefor be enhanced.
Parallel processing of two instructions in a single processor may be accomplished by using dual execution units (typically the portion of the processor containing the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) for performing logic and mathematical operations). Chuang U.S. Pat. No. 4,766,566 describes a processor having dual execution units on a single chip for executing ALU instructions in parallel wherein one execution unit includes an ALU and the other execution unit includes an ALU with additional related logic to allow processing of more complex calculations. The single processor as described may perform calculations in parallel thus increasing processing throughput.
In some processes it is necessary for one calculation to be processed before further processing can take place. Processing is thus required to be accomplished in a serial manner so that performance improvement may not be realized by simply duplicating hardware and performing parallel processing. A method well known to those skilled in the art for improving the throughput of serially executed instructions is pipelining. Basically, in a pipelined system, the result of one calculation or instruction execution is stored in a register for the next stage whose output is stored in a register for the next stage and so on. The registers are made up of latches which are under the control of a system clock so that on each clock cycle each stage is executing an instruction or performing a calculation to be provided to the next stage. Performance is improved since each stage can be executing a portion of the process instead of waiting for a result to propagate through the entire structure before another instruction can be started.
A special type of pipelining system exists wherein a process requires the result of a calculation stored in a register to be fed back into the circuit which made the calculation before executing the next calculation. The throughput of the process is limited by the propagation of the process through the circuit and the register. This type of calculation is hereinafter referred to as a dependent identical process. A traditional pipelining architecture does not improve performance since the stage to receive the results of the previous clock cycle is the same stage that provided those results.
An example of a dependent identical process generator is a Cyclic Redundancy Checker (CRC) circuit. A typical application of CRC circuits is to provide a check for ensuring that data sent from one location is the same data that is received at another location. To accomplish the data integrity check, a CRC circuit generates a CRC code representing the sent data. When that data is received, an identical CRC circuit generates a second CRC code. If the data received matches the data sent, the two CRC codes will match. Each CRC code is calculated from a series of CRC sums which are further calculated from each new data word and the previous CRC sum. Calculating the CRC code requires that each CRC sum be temporarily stored in a register which is then fed back into the inputs of the CRC circuit before the next calculation or sum can be computed. Thus, each CRC sum is a function of a previous CRC sum and the sent or received data.
A quasi parallel CRC circuit is described by Mead in U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,393. This invention describes a system where a number of bits for a CRC sum are processed in parallel. The next set of bits cannot be processed until the CRC sum of the previous bit is calculated and fed back into the inputs of the CRC circuit. In this scenario, processes such as CRC sums are not conducive to parallel processing since the present calculation is dependent upon the previous calculation. Furthermore, these calculations will not benefit from traditional pipelining methods since the previous CRC sum is fed back into the same processing block.
The problems of increasing performance of dependant identical processes may be further exacerbated by the need to ensure the integrity of the data that is stored in the registers. It is well known in the art to use Level Sensitive Scan Design (LSSD) techniques for improving the integrity of the stored data. A LSSD register includes two latches which are driven by non-overlapping clocks. In this scenario, the result of a CRC calculation would be loaded into latch one on a first clock and stored in the second latch on a second clock. As a result, only one CRC sum can be calculated during the period of the non-overlapping clocks.
Thus what is needed is an apparatus and method which provides for higher throughput of calculations of dependent identical processes wherein more than one calculation can be executed during the period of non-overlapping clocks in an LSSD design environment.

Method and apparatus for maximizing process throughput

International Business Machines Corporation


An apparatus and method for controlling a haptic actuator. A haptic actuator controller can includes driver input amplifier, an actuator feedback amplifier, an actuator driver, and a gain controller. The actuator driver is configured to drive a haptic actuator based on a difference of output of the input amplifier and output of the actuator feedback amplifier. The gain controller is configured to determine a boost interval for initiating motion of the haptic actuator, the boost interval based on a boost threshold back-electromotive-force (BEMF) voltage value exceeding a BEMF voltage generated by the haptic actuator. The gain controller is also configured to apply boost gains in the input amplifier and the feedback amplifier during the boost interval. The boost gains are higher than gains applied subsequent to the boost interval to maintain motion of the haptic actuator.

To improve operability, many electronic devices employ haptics or haptic feedback. Haptics provide information to the user of a device via the user's sense of touch. Accordingly, haptics may employ various stimuli that are sensed via touch, such as vibration, pressure, temperature, etc. Vibration (e.g., periodic motion) is commonly used to provide haptic feedback. For example, a device may momentarily vibrate when a user touches a control area of a touchscreen or when an alarm condition is triggered.
Linear resonant actuators (LRA) and eccentric rotating mass (ERM) actuators are two types haptic actuators employed to provide vibratory feedback. An ERM actuator includes an electric motor (e.g., a brushed DC motor) with an eccentric (off center) mass attached to the rotor shaft. When activated the ERM actuator produces a two-dimensional vibratory effect. An LRA includes a mass attached to a spring, and a coil proximate to the mass. Energizing the coil causes linear movement of the mass producing vibration in one dimension. Haptic systems employ driver or control circuitry coupled to a haptic actuator to induce motion in the haptic actuator.


A noise reduction system for removing unwanted audio noise during a pause. The system receives an intelligence plus noise signal that is split and fed to a first rectifier having a first polarity, and through a filter to a second rectifier having a polarity opposite to the first rectifier. The filter removes components below a frequency where most energy-frequency is distributed in human speech. The output of the rectifiers is summed to produce an output signal when most audio noise between pauses in voice is reduced.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing noise in electronic devices that receive or amplify signals, and more specifically, for reducing noise during pauses from an electronic device providing a human voice or other information.
Devices for reducing noise levels are generally known. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,507. This device includes a circuit that reduces noise during pauses in human voice. Included with this device is a detector that senses a syllable envelope within the audio signal. In response to the sensed audio signal, a DC balance control circuit in the device passes a DC signal to a differential amplifier. The amplifier controls the noise in the audio signal with a DC control.
However, as the noise level at the device's input changes, the DC balance control circuit must be readjusted to cancel the noise. When the noise level changes every two to three seconds, it is not possible to keep the DC balance control level adjusted.
A further drawback to this prior device is that noise may have the same general envelope shape as the syllable. When this noise is received, it will pass directly through the filter causing the noise to appear at the output of the device.


Catheters, balloons, and methods of manufacturing balloons for balloon catheters using lasers are disclosed. A catheter with a shaft sized for use with a 0.014 inch guide wire includes a polymeric balloon having a body portion with an inflated outer diameter of more than 6 millimeters. An inflatable balloon includes an inflated outer diameter to inner waist diameter ratio of 12.5 to 1. An inflatable polymeric balloon that has a body portion with two regions that have different molecular orientations is also provided. A method of processing an elongate polymeric material includes heating a portion of the polymeric material with a laser while longitudinally stretching the portion of the polymeric material. A method of manufacturing a balloon includes heating and longitudinally stretching a first and second portion of an elongate polymeric tube to form first and second end portion. The remaining body portion is radially expanded to form the balloon.

Balloon catheters are used to perform various medical procedures within the body. One example is a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). To perform a PTCA, a physician guides a balloon catheter through the vascular system over a guide wire until the catheter's balloon is positioned across a thrombus, commonly referred to as a lesion, that has reduced or completely blocked blood flow through a vessel. Once placed, the balloon is inflated radially, or that is, outwardly, to a pre-determined diameter, for example 9 millimeters, to reestablish blood flow through the vessel.
To maneuver a distal end of the balloon catheter through the vascular system to treat a lesion that has a very small opening requires the balloon catheter to have a small crossing profile, which is the largest cross-sectional diameter of the balloon portion of the balloon catheter. One portion of the crossing profile is the diameter of the catheter's shaft, which must be large enough to allow a guide wire to pass freely through a guide wire lumen in the shaft in a longitudinal direction. Catheters that use a guide wire with a larger diameter will have a larger catheter shaft and vice-versa. Existing catheters typically use guide wires that have cross-sectional diameters in the range of fourteen thousandths of an inch (0.014) up to 35 thousandths of an inch (0.035). Smaller guide wires make it easier to maneuver the balloon catheter through the body. Consequently, many doctors that perform cardiac procedures prefer using balloon catheters with a 0.014 inch guide wire.
Another portion of a balloon catheter's crossing profile is the thickness of the folded balloon, particularly at the balloon's folded cone and waist portions. Catheter balloons typically have a body portion near the center of the balloon, which is the portion of the balloon that expands. The balloon's waist portions are located at the balloon's proximal and distal ends, and the cone portions are located between the balloon's body portion and the waist portions. Typically, the wall thickness of the entire balloon is restricted to the dimensions of the original tubing material, or parison, from which the balloon is formed. Thus, an overall reduction in the wall thickness of the parison to reduce the thickness of the cone and waist portions will also result in a similar reduction of the wall thickness of the parison in the body portion. A reduced body portion wall thickness, however, limits the diameter to which the balloon may be inflated while maintaining a satisfactory hoop strength, which is a measure of a balloon's ability to withstand internal pressure. Consequently, there have been continuing efforts to form balloons made of materials suitable for cardiac procedures, such as Nylon 12, PEBAX, PET, and PEEK, that have large inflation diameters, for example 9 millimeters, and small crossing profiles.
One method of forming balloons with body portions that have a greater wall thickness and waist portions that have a reduced wall thickness is to physically remove, or grind away, the undesired thickness of the waist portions. This method may be performed, for example, by using a laser ablation process utilizing UV excimer lasers or ultrashort lasers. The physical removal of the wall, however, has not been able to produce a balloon that has an inflation diameter of greater than six millimeters for use on a catheter having a 0.014 inch guide wire.
The wall thickness of a polymer tube may also be changed by a stretching, or "drawing down," process. Using this process, the wall thickness of the tubing may be locally reduced in the cone and waist portions of the balloon. Heating is advantageous during the stretching process because polymers have certain thermophysical characteristics that cause them to soften and flow upon heating. Thus, with the use of heat, it is possible to target a specific portion of a polymer tube for stretching. Various heating methods are used to heat polymer tubes for stretching. These methods include passing a polymer tube through a heated ring and putting the tube in a hot oil or hot water bath. These methods, however, result in a large heating area and do not provide the ability to target small areas of the polymer tube for stretching. For example, the heating area of a heated ring is typically greater than five millimeters along the axial direction. The heating area of a hot oil or hot water bath is even greater. Thus, these methods that essentially provide heat from the outside of the tube are not suitable to vary the amount of stretching of a coronary balloon, which is typically one to two centimeters in length (the cone and waist portions being only a few millimeters in length). Moreover, it takes several seconds to change the amount of heat applied to the polymer tube using these methods.

Balloon catheters and methods for manufacturing balloons for balloon catheters


The present invention relates to coating compositions, systems and methods for coating substrates and, more particularly, metallic substrates with spherosiloxane based coating compositions. The spherosiloxane based compositions are applied utilizing conventional techniques such as chemical vapor deposition such that upon application, the spherosiloxane molecules bond with available oxide molecules provided along the substrate.

The present invention relates to coating compositions and systems, and more particularly, to spherosiloxane based coating compositions which are particularly useful for metallic surfaces, and methods of making and using the same.
Coatings for surfaces and, more particularly, metallic surfaces such as iron, aluminum, copper and stainless steel have been employed for years with the intention of providing such surfaces with enhanced protection against degradation and/or with aesthetical appeal. However, of the coatings which are known, many have been found to insufficiently bond to the desired metal substrate, especially under long term applications. Further, many of the coatings which are known often fail to endure post treatment processing of the surface such as those imparted during bending and shaping of the coated metal surface.
Still another perceived problem with many of the known coatings which are available and employed to coat metallic surfaces is that they fail to sufficiently protect the surface from contamination and corrosion.
Certain silicon based coatings, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,632 by Cabrera et al., based on amorphous silicon dioxide are known to offer relatively good adhesion when applied as a diffusion coating to steel surfaces. However, it was noted that the porosity of amorphous SiO.sub.2 hampers the film's effectiveness for purposes of corrosion inhibition. Water and water soluble ions, which catalyze corrosion, are able to penetrate through the hydrophilic amorphous SiO.sub.2 framework, thus making the coated surface susceptible to corrosion.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide coating compositions which inhibit corrosion of the article which is coated.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a coating compositions which readily adhere to the surface to be coated.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide coating compositions which are substantially hydrophobic in nature.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide coating compositions which are acid stable, and therefor resistant to chemical degradation.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide coating compositions which can be functionalized, thereby allowing them to be used as a primer layer in conjunction with conventional coating technologies.
The composition and methods of the present invention preferably employ:
a spherosiloxane composition including silicon atoms which are capable of bonding with available oxygen atoms provided along the surface of the substrate to be coated.


A closure assembly is disclosed for a work machine having a supply tank with a tank opening. The closure assembly has a lid and lift, actuator and latch mechanisms. When the closure assembly is attached to the tank, the lift mechanism is configured to support the lid off of the tank opening. The actuator mechanism mounts to the lid to move the lid with respect to the tank opening between first and second positions in which in the first position the lid overlies the tank opening and in the second position the lid is substantially clear of the tank opening. The latch mechanism may be moved into a latched orientation in which when the lid is in the first position the latch mechanism latches the lid into engagement with the tank opening.

Various work vehicles, agricultural machines and the like may carry large supply tanks or containers for various materials. As one example, supply carts for use with seeding machines have one or more tanks that contain various liquid or dry materials, such as fertilizers, seeds and the like. Typically, the tanks have large openings at their tops that are used to fill the tanks with material. Lids cover and seal the openings from outside of the tanks.
In practice, the supply carts are towed in a train with the seeding machine (e.g., before or after the seeding machine) by a tractor running over a field. The supply carts may have a pressurized delivery system that transfers materials within the tanks to the seeding machine. For dry materials, for example, the delivery system may be a forced air system. In any case, the tanks may be pressurized internally, and the corresponding internal force of pressurization acting on the relatively large tank lids may tend to dislodge or otherwise disrupt the seals at the openings. This may lead to pressure loss and poor operation of the delivery system as well as loss or contamination of the material supply.

Closure arrangement for tank opening of agricultural machine


An improved barrel link for consistently and reliably placing a barrel of a semi-automatic pistol into battery is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention extends the width of the barrel link beyond that of the receiving channel of the barrel lug legs so as to substantially equal the exterior dimension of the barrel lug. In addition, the portions of the barrel link extending beyond the width of the channel of the barrel lug are designed to provide multiple points of contact with the front face of the barrel lug in both vertical and horizontal positions so as to reliably and consistently place the barrel into battery. The additional width of the barrel link and additional contact between the link and barrel lug aids in stabilizing lateral and rotational forces prolonging the life of the weapon.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general, to a barrel link and particularly to a barrel link compatible with standard barrels found in semi-automatic handguns.
2. Relevant Background
A semi-automatic pistol functions by using the energy from the recoil of a single round of ammunition to extract and eject a fired cartridge from the pistol's chamber and load an unfired round from a magazine into the chamber for the next shot.
Most types of semi-automatic pistols rely on a removable magazine for supplying new ammunition to reload the chamber to be able to fire the gun again. The removable magazine is most often located inside a hand grip. Typically, the first round is manually loaded into the chamber by pulling back and releasing ("racking") the slide mechanism, after which the recoil operation of the handgun, when fired automatically, extracts, ejects, and reloads the chamber.
For a semi-automatic pistol, reload is typically accomplished by the recoil operation. This process can also be accomplished by harnessing gases produced when the gun is fired. In this case, the pistol siphons off some of the gases during the firing phase instead of relying on short recoil operation.
Self-loading automatic pistols can be divided into "blowback" and "locked-breech" categories according to their principle of operation. This classification roughly divides the operation into those specifically suitable for small-caliber versus large-caliber semi-automatic pistols.
In blowback semi-automatic pistols, generally .38 caliber (sometimes known as 9 mm Kurz, i.e., 9 mm Short) or smaller, the barrel is fixed to the frame and the slide or bolt; in its foremost position, it is held against the barrel only by the force of the recoil spring. The slide starts to move backwards immediately upon the gun's being fired, as there is no locking action to hold the breechblock and slide locked with the barrel, even temporarily. At the appropriate point in the rearward motion, extraction and ejection of the fired brass of the cartridge are accomplished, and the used brass is typically ejected to the right of the pistol.
During the motion rearwards, the striker, hammer, or firing pin may be re-cocked. A spring, called a recoil spring, slows the movement of the slide as it is compressed. When the slide reaches the rear of its travel, the recoil spring is fully compressed (if not, the pistol may suffer a failure, called a "jam"). The slide begins to move forward under the force of the spring, stripping a new cartridge from the magazine and pushing the new cartridge into the chamber. Upon the slide's return to its fully forward position, the pistol is ready once more to be fired by squeezing the trigger. The mass of the slide must be sufficient to hold the breech closed until the bullet exits the barrel and the remaining pressure drops to a safe level. A cartridge with too high a pressure, or a slide with too little mass, can cause the cartridge case to extract too early; this causes a case rupture.
In contrast, in a locked-breech design (typically .32 caliber or larger) the barrel is temporarily locked to the slide. The most common locked-breech type is the short-recoil design. In a short-recoil pistol, the slide and barrel recoil together a short distance while locked together, until the cartridge-firing chamber pressure has dropped to a safe level. After sufficient travel to allow the bullet to exit and the pressure to drop, the barrel then unlocks from the slide, and the barrel's rearward motion is stopped. The ejection and loading of the new cartridge are similar to that in a blowback pistol. After the slide seats the new round into the chamber, the barrel begins to move forward with the slide, locking into place, at which point the cycle is complete.
FIGS. 1-3 show side projection cut away views of a Colt M-1911 semi-automatic pistol as is known in the prior art in various phases of operation. FIG. 1 shows a side projection cut away view of the Colt M-1911 ready for firing. FIG. 2 shows a side projection cut away view of the Colt M-1911 in the recoiled position. In a locked-breech design, the barrel 110 is locked during what is generally known in the art as link-up. Barrel link-up or link-up/cam-up in pistols occurs as the slide assembly 120 moves forward from the recoiled position and the barrel breech 135 contacts the breech face 140 of the slide 120 causing the barrel to pivot upward on the barrel link 150. This causes the locking lugs 155 on the top of the barrel to index with the corresponding locking recesses 160 in the slide. Barrel link-up/cam-up in M-1911 pistols with bottom barrel lugs is assisted by the cam action of the bottom front barrel lug surfaces as they bear on and cam upward on the slide lock cross pin 156.
Vertical barrel and slide locking occurs as the slide 120 causes the barrel 110 to swing upward on the barrel link 150. Aggregate barrel 110, slide 120, frame 170, and barrel link 150 dimensional tolerances determine the extent to which a given barrel will link upward and to which locking lugs 155 will vertically engage in any given M-1911 or similarly designed pistol. Locked slide position permits the barrel 110 to move upward and prepares the pistol for firing, as shown in FIG. 1. This is also referred to by one skilled in the art as being locked in battery or in a battery position.
Firing is split into two phases because the thrust vector existing between the bullet and the breech is under pressure in the barrel. Firing occurs in the M-1911 pistols when the grip safety is depressed, the trigger is squeezed, and the interaction of the trigger releases the hammer. The released hammer then transfers its energy to the internal firing pin, which, in turn, strikes the primer. As the primer ignites the propellant charge in the chambered cartridge, the hot powder gasses expand thus building pressure that forces the bullet down the barrel. As the gasses expand, the barrel 110 and slide 120 remain locked together both horizontally and vertically during the initial firing phase. Then as the bullet travels down the barrel shown in FIG. 3, the barrel begins to move rearward pivoting on the link and link pin 150,156.
At the end of the firing phase, the bullet exits the muzzle and drops gas pressure inside the barrel. Bullet departure breaks the balanced thrust vector established when the bullet was in the barrel 110. In terms of the effect on the pistol, this action enables the top locking lugs 155 to horizontally disengage and imparts a rearward force on the slide 120 assembly equal to the inertia of the departing bullet. Then, because the slide 120 assembly has a greater relative mass, and with the added benefit of the recoil spring, inertial energy is absorbed as the slide recoils to the rear. FIG. 3 shows a side projection cut away view of the Colt M-1911 shortly after firing and the bullet's exit from the barrel. In pistols with standard ordnance dimension barrels, barrel link-down and vertical locking lug disengagement begin momentarily after the lugs 155 horizontally disengage at zero breech pressure just after the firing of a chambered round.
As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art and as shown in FIG. 3, the barrel link 150 is coupled to the barrel 110 by a lug pin 152 and to the frame 170 by a slide stop pin 156. As the barrel 110 moves forward, the curved portion of the barrel lug 130 aids in forcing the barrel 110 into a full lock-up position. The barrel lug 130 (sometimes referred to as link lugs) in the M-1911 is an integral part of the barrel 110 that extends from the barrel to form two laterally spaced legs. The channel formed by the legs of the barrel lug 130 receives and supports the barrel link 150. The accuracy of the M-1911 is determined by the consistency at which the barrel 110 is placed into battery. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, each time the barrel is removed from battery to eject the expended casing then placed back into battery with a new round, the placement of the barrel 110 with respect to the slide 120 and frame 170 may be slightly different. This inconsistency drives the ultimate accuracy of the weapon. A term known to one skilled in the relevant art for a measure of accuracy of a weapon is Minutes of Angle ("MOA"). One MOA is a mathematical term for 1/60th of an arc degree. 60 MOA=1 hour=1 deg. MOA measures the dispersion of a firing pattern at a certain range. One MOA at one hundred yards would be approximately 1 inch.
The accuracy of the M-1911 is inherently limited by the ability of barrel 110 to consistently achieve the same position in battery. This is reflected by its MOA. For example, if the barrel never left battery and was essentially a breech loaded single shot weapon, the MOA may be an order of magnitude smaller than that of a weapon in which the barrel is routinely disengaged and then reengaged into a battery position. The barrel link 150 is the primary means in the M-1911 by which the barrel is placed into battery, thus the vertical and horizontal movement of the barrel link 150 degrades the M-1911's accuracy. The link 150 acts as a single pivot point that transforms the forward motion of the barrel, as imparted to the barrel by the recoil of the slide, into a vertical motion so as to engage the lugs 155 and place the barrel into battery.
Furthermore, after repeated firings bearing stress, creep, due to the heat involved in repeated firings, and strain from the barrel link 150 and the pins coupling together slide 120, frame 170, and the barrel 110, reduces the ability of the link 150 to adequately and consistently place the barrel 110 into battery. After several hundred rounds of firing, the inherent accuracy of the weapon degrades and its MOA increases. The slide locking surfaces and those of the barrel 110 begin to degrade upon the first round fired. As a result, the economic life of the weapon is significantly reduced. Furthermore, accuracy is markedly lost in the first 250 rounds so as to make the firearm unable to perform as intended.


A disk apparatus comprises a slot for inserting a disk-shaped recording medium therethrough, a first guide member for guiding one side of the disk inserted through the slot, a second guide member for guiding the other side of the disk inserted through the slot, a disk abutting portion for abutting the disk inserted through the slot, a disk support arm for carrying the disk by supporting and swinging the disk and a recording/reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing information on and/or from the disk carried into the apparatus by the disk support arm, wherein a first disk having a diameter dA is loaded or unloaded by swinging the disk support arm, and wherein the disk support arm is disposed such that the disk abutting portion abuts and the disk support arm inhibits further insertion of a second disk having a diameter dB that is smaller than dA before the entire insertion of the second disk into the apparatus through any place of the slot while waiting for the insertion of the first disk through the slot.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk apparatus which drives a disk (for example, CD-R/RW, DVD−R/−RW/RAM/+R/+RW, etc.), a recording medium which records a large amount of information, among information equipment, such as various computer systems, and in particular, to a structure of the disk apparatus which can prevent the erroneous insertion of disks which are different in diameter.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a conventional disk apparatus built in a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as 'PC') or the like has a disk tray for loading a disk and said disk tray is constructed to advance or retreat. Also, a disk loaded in the disk tray is driven in a main body of the disk apparatus to record or reproduce information.
On the other hand, as another type of disk apparatus without a disk tray, a so-called slot-in type disk apparatus is also frequently employed. This type of disk apparatus is suitable to make a PC slim and small. Since the slot-in type disk apparatus is not provided with a disk tray for loading or unloading a disk to or from a main body of the apparatus, when an operator inserts over half of a disk into the insertion opening (slot), a loading mechanism of the apparatus body is then operated to load the disk automatically.
FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate a construction and an operation of a loading mechanism in a conventional slot-in type disk apparatus. In the construction illustrated in the figures, when an operator inserts a disk D, the disk D is regulated by a pin 100a provided at the tip of a first swing body 100, right and left guide bodies 101 and 102, and, from the midway, a pin 103a provided at the tip of a second swing body 103 on its elevation and right and left positions, and reaches a position illustrated in FIG. 23.
At this time, the first swing body 100 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 100A by the disk D that pushes the pin 100a provided at the tip of the first swing body 100, and the second swing body 103 is also rotated in the direction of an arrow 103A by the disk D that pushes the pin 103a provided at the tip of the second swing body 103. Also, a switching lever 104 is pushed by the end of the second swing body 103 and is rotated in the direction of an arrow 104A, and then a detecting switch 105 is operated.
When the detecting switch 105 is operated, a driving means 106 begins to operate, and a first sliding member 107 begins to move in the direction of an arrow 107A. The first sliding member 107 and a second sliding member 108 are connected to a slider coupling member 109 at the tip of each sliding member, and the slider coupling member 109 is pivotally fixed by a pin 110, and the second sliding member 108 advances in the direction of an arrow 108A when the first sliding member 107 retreats.
When the first sliding member 107 begins to retreat in that way, a follower pin 100b is guided in a cam groove 107a of the first sliding member 107, and the first swing body 100 supported by the first sliding body 107 in a cantilever-shape is rotated in the direction of an arrow 100B with a supporting point 100c as a rotating center. With these operations, the disk D is carried in the direction of the arrow 107A by the pin 100a provided at the tip of the first swing body 100 to a position where the disk D abuts pins 111a and 111b of a disk positioning member 111.
At this time, since the pin 103a of the second swing member 103 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 103A, the pin 103a of the second swing member 103 is moved in the direction of the arrow 103A while it synchronizes with the pin 100a at the tip of the first swing body 100 to support the disk D. Also, the pin 103a of the second swing member 103 is rotated to the position slightly away from the disk D after the disk D abuts the pins 111a and 111b of the disk positioning member 111.
The operation aspect of a loading mechanism when a disk D is loaded into the disk apparatus has been described hitherto. The operation aspect of a loading mechanism when a disk D is unloaded out of the apparatus is opposite to the above-mentioned operation. That is, when a disk D is at a fixed position in the disk apparatus, and a driving means 106 begins to operate in the reverse direction according to the instruction of unloading, the first sliding member 107 begins to advance in the direction of an arrow 107B, and, the second sliding member 108 connected to the first sliding member 107 by the slider coupling member 109 synchronously begins to retreat in the direction of an arrow 108B. Then, the first and second swing bodies 100 and 103 begins to swing in the directions of arrows 100A and 103B respectively, and then the disk D is unloaded to the outside of the apparatus by the pins 100a and 103a provided at the tip of each swing body.
In the disk apparatus constructed as described above, the disk D loaded into the apparatus is clamped by a clamping head 112 that ascends and descends at a fixed position. The clamping head 112 is integrated with a turntable 113 fixed to the driving shaft of a spindle motor 114. Also, the spindle motor 114 is disposed in a frame member, and raises or lowers the frame member with an elevating mechanism (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-117604).
The disk apparatus constructed as described above aims at accurately loading a 12-cm-diameter disk into the disk apparatus. That is, the loading mechanism for loading a disk into the disk apparatus is aimed at loading a 12-cm-diameter disk, and, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, the pin 100a provided at the tip of the first swing body 100, the right and left guide bodies 101 and 102, and the pin 103a provided at the tip of the second swing body 103 are disposed to regulate the elevation and the right and left positions of a 12-cm-diameter disk. Also, the pins 111a and 111b of the disk positioning member 111 are disposed to determine the position of a 12-cm-diameter disk. Accordingly, a slot-in type disk apparatus constructed as described above is aimed at loading a 12-cm-diameter disk only, not a disk having a diameter other than 12 cm.
However, as a disk such as CD or DVD etc., a standardized 8-cm-diameter disk as well as a 12-cm-diameter disk exists. The 8-cm-diameter disk is widely distributed and employed especially in portable electronic devices such as video cameras etc. If an 8-cm-diameter disk is erroneously inserted into the disk apparatus through the slot, the 8-cm-diameter disk may be trapped by the loading mechanism or the entire 8-cm-diameter disk may be put into the disk apparatus, and consequently, the operator cannot pull out the 8-cm-diameter disk from the disk apparatus.


The invention provides nucleic acids and nucleic acid expression vectors containing optimized mGluR6 promoters for expression of transgenes in the retina. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful for expression of gene products to preserve, improve, or restore phototransduction or vision.

Gene therapy is a promising approach for improving and restoring vision. Particularly, delivery of genes, such as photosensitive proteins, to diseased or damaged retinas in mice have been recently shown to improve and restore photosensitivity and visual signals. However, challenges still remain for the efficient targeting and expression of such genes in specific inner retinal neurons for ocular gene therapy. Accordingly, there is a pressing need for improved regulatory elements and expression vectors for the delivery and expressing of transgenes for ocular gene therapy.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Modified mGluR6 promoter and methods of use


Systems and methods relating to a core network detection mechanism for detecting abnormal signaling patterns for signaling aimed at wireless devices (e.g., low-power consumption wireless devices such as low-power consumption Machine Type Communication (MTC) devices) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a core network node in a cellular communications network comprises receiving signaling aimed at a wireless device, detecting, via a detection mechanism, an abnormal signaling pattern based on the signaling, and taking one or more actions upon detecting an abnormal signaling pattern. In this manner, an action(s) may be made to mitigate increased power consumption at the wireless device due to abnormal signaling.

For Machine Type Communication (MTC), there are use cases where it is almost impossible to replace or recharge the battery of the MTC device. For example, for MTC devices such as those used for animal tracking and cargo tracking, it is not desirable to either replace or recharge the battery, particularly during the transport period. For other use cases involving a large number of MTC devices without an external power supply (e.g., battery powered gas meters), it could be rather expensive to replace or recharge the batteries of all of the MTC devices.
In other use cases, the batteries of MTC devices could be replaced or charged, but a long battery lifetime is still desirable or needed for the particular application. For example, MTC devices have been proposed for tracking elderly people who have memory issues, tracking children, and tracking pets. In these use cases, the batteries of the MTC devices could potentially be replaced or charged; however, considering the worst-case scenario of the person, child, or pet going missing, the MTC devices should have very low power consumption and thus a very long battery life in order to provide sufficient time for the person, child, or pet to be found. MTC devices are already used by police for prisoner tracking. Prisoners will not cooperate with police and would wish that the MTC devices have drained batteries and, therefore, extra low power consumption is a required feature for these MTC devices.
For the above reasons, mechanisms that lower the power consumption of MTC devices are desired. Two such mechanisms that have been standardized in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) are extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) and Power Saving Mode (PSM). The principles for eDRX and PSM are in short to save energy by letting the eDRX and/or PSM capable User Equipment devices (UEs) only listen to the radio during short periods of time. This also means that the UEs are only susceptible for paging during these short periods.
More specifically, FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration of a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle. As seen from FIG. 1, a UE monitors the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) during the DRX ON duration of the DRX cycle. While in DRX mode (i.e., when the UE is in the DRX OFF state), the UE remains in a low-power consumption mode. For DRX, the UE will only periodically monitor the PDCCH and then for only a rather short time. The periodicity at which the UE monitors the PDCCH is decided by the DRX cycle. For each DRX cycle, one Paging Occasion (PO) will occur during which the UE is susceptible for paging. In particular, during the DRX cycle, the UE is operational for a certain period of time when all the scheduling and paging information is transmitted. This period of time is referred to as the DRX ON duration. During the DRX ON duration, the UE is referred to herein as being in the DRX ON state. During another period of time in the DRX cycle, the network (e.g., the enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB) (i.e., the base station) and a core network node such as the Mobility Management Entity (MME)) knows that the UE is completely turned off and is not able to receive anything. This period of time is referred to as the DRX time or DRX OFF duration. Further, during the DRX time, the UE is referred to herein as being in the DRX OFF state, or simply the OFF state. Except when in DRX OFF, the UE radio must be active to monitor PDCCH (e.g., to identify, e.g., paging requests). During DRX OFF, the UE radio can be turned off, and the eNB will not schedule the UE nor will the MME page the UE as they know that the UE radio is not active. The DRX ON duration is defined by an onDurationTimer and, as such, the DRX ON duration is sometimes referred to herein as onDurationTimer. The onDurationTimer specifies the number of consecutive PDCCH subframe(s) at the beginning of a DRX cycle during which the UE is to be in the ON state in order to monitor for a PDCCH transmission. For eDRX, the DRX cycle (sometimes referred to herein as the eDRX cycle) can be as long as 52 minutes. As such, eDRX functionality is an effective way to reduce the UE's battery power usage.
FIG. 2 illustrates PSM as defined by 3GPP. As illustrated, if a PSM-capable UE desires to use PSM, the UE (specifically the UE Non-Access Stratum (NAS)) sends a request to the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the cellular communications network for an Active Time value and optionally a periodic Tracking Area Update (pTAU) Timer value. If PSM is acceptable for the UE, the MME returns an Active Time value and a pTAU Timer value. Upon transitioning from CONNECTED mode (referred to as ECM_CONNECTED) to IDLE mode (referred to as ECM_IDLE), the UE starts an Active Timer that is set to the Active Time value and a pTAU Timer that is set to the pTAU Timer value received from the MME. The radio of the UE remains active, and the UE performs normal IDLE mode procedures until the Active Timer has expired. Once the Active Timer expires, the UE deactivates the radio of the UE, and the UE enters PSM. During PSM, a Mobile Originating (MO) call can occur, in which case the UE (specifically the US AS) re-activates IDLE mode procedures. Once the pTAU timer expires, the UE (specifically the UE AS) resumes IDLE mode procedures, thereby exiting PSM.
Thus, for PSM, the UE listens to the radio for only a short while (i.e., during the Active Time) after having transitioned from CONNECTED mode to IDLE mode. The UE returns to CONNECTED mode when the UE wishes to send data or when it is time to send a pTAU (and/or periodic Routing Area Update (pRAU)). The UE may also transition back to CONNECTED mode from IDLE mode as a consequence of being paged during its Active Time. To further reduce energy consumption, MTC devices that only send data at certain predefined periods may set the pTAU/pRAU timeout slightly longer than the uplink data time period since this would mean that sending of pTAUs/pRAUs can be omitted, thereby further reducing power consumption.
When using power-saving features such as eDRX and/or PSM, particularly for battery operated MTC devices for which batteries cannot be easily recharged or replaced, it is essential that the calculated lifetime of the batteries of such MTC devices not be considerably reduced.


Described is a medication recording device for optically enhancing the view of markings on the device. The device includes a bottle cap for connection with a prescription container. Markings indicative of at least one of a time and date are connected with the bottle cap. A prescription recording magnifier (such as a lens) is connected with the bottle cap and positioned over the markings such that the markings can be viewed through the prescription recording magnifier to optically enlarge the markings. This allows a larger portion the population with visual impairment to take advantage of new advances in home medication monitoring. Additionally, the medication recording device can be thrilled to include two lenses, where both lenses that are thrilled or shaped such that the viewing focal point of both lenses converge to a single focal point.

(1) Field of Invention
The present invention is related to a prescription container and, more particularly, to a medication recording device with a prescription recording magnifier that enlarges visual markings that are used with medication reminders.
(2) Description of Related Art
Many containers have been made for tracking the intake of medications. In many instances, the bottle cap is not of sufficient size to allow for the characters (i.e., numbers and/or letters) to be of sufficient size to be easily seen.
Numerous devices have been patented and produced that allow for a medication user to view items associated with their use of medication. Examples of such devices are as follows. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0187282, by Seijas, discloses a rotating dial affixed with the medication container. Alternatively, U.S. Patent Publication No 2006/0124501, by McNeely, discloses a slider rotating around the top of a medication lid. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,795, by Bartholomew, teaches a slider moving across a medication container lid. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 8,146,528, by Fralick, discloses a thumb wheel rotating on top of the medication lid. While operable to assist a user in identifying when to take a medication, each of these inventions have a limitation of physical size being dictated by the physical size of the container.
Such devices could be enlarged to improve visibility, however, that in turn creates additional disadvantages. Examples of such problems are as follows. For example, enlarged containers may be too large and can be clumsy to carry. Additionally, such enlarged containers require more space to store the medications and, further require more materials that must be used and discarded.
Thus, a continuing need exists for increasing the ability of a user to view relevant medication information without actually increasing the size of the medication container.


A method for use in a network having a plurality of host computers, at least one communication control processor (CCP) commonly connected to the host computers, and a plurality of resources connected to the CCP. According to the method, if a resource is to be added to or deleted from the network, an operator designates a reconfiguration directory including at least one reconfiguration designating data for defining a relation between the network and a resource to be changed. Each host computer is assigned a reconfiguration command. In response to this reconfiguration command, each host computer reconfigures its own network configuration definition information in accordance with the defined reconfiguration designating data within the designated reconfiguration directory. If the designated reconfiguration directory contains the reconfiguration designating data related to a resource to be connected to the CCP, a host computer operating as a master, issues a control command to the CCP in conformity with the reconfiguration designating data in order to reconfigure the network configuration definition information of the CCP.

The present invention relates to a method of processing network reconfiguration information. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of processing reconfiguration information of a network composed of at least one host computer, a communication control processor (hereinafter called CCP) connected to the host computer, and a plurality of resources connected to the CCP, suitable for dynamically changing the network configuration information of the host computer and CCP under operation.
In a conventional technique for dynamically changing the network configuration information of a CCP, there is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication JP-A-63-156264, a reconfiguration information processing system in which, as a reconfiguration command is entered from a host computer, the reconfiguration data of the host computer is sent to the CCP which in turn dynamically changes its own reconfiguration definition information in accordance with the reconfiguration data sent from the host computer. This Publication also discloses that the host computer sequentially stores inputted reconfiguration commands in a history infoldnation file, and when an NCP load module is loaded to the CCP, the reconfiguration data associated with the previously entered reconfiguration commands and read from the history information file is sent to the NCP, so that the CCP automatically reconfigure its original network configuration definition information as if the reconfiguration commands were actually entered again.
In a computer network, if for example the reconfiguration information designated by the reconfiguration command contradicts with the physical network structure to be actually changed, it becomes necessary to change the reconfiguration information to the proper information. However, the above-described example technique does not disclose an effective method of changing such a defective reconfiguration command to a proper one.
Furthermore, according to the above-described example technique, the network configuration information at a CCP side becomes coincident with that at a host computer when the CCP restarts its operation. However, if the host computer restarts its operation upon loading a program while the CCP is already operating, the host computer does not send the reconfiguration data to the CCP. Accordingly, if there is a reconfiguration command whose reconfiguration process failed previously at the CCP because of some trouble, there occurs a problem that the host computer restarts, having an inconsistence of configuration definitions between the host computer and CCP.
Still further, in a network arrangement having a single CCP connected to a plurality of host computers, consider the case where a host computer having operated as a slave is changed to a master. In this case, if the new master host computer happens to forget entering a necessary reconfiguration command existing in the past, there occurs an inconsistence of reconfiguration definition information between the master host computer and CCP.

Method of updating network reconfiguration information exchanged between a host computer and a communication control processor


A method, a computer program product, and a computer system manage meeting divergence for a meeting involving a plurality of participants to discuss a plurality of core intents. The method includes receiving a first contribution from a first one of the participants during the meeting. The method includes determining a first one of the core intents that the first contribution is associated. The method includes determining a linkage of the first contribution to at least one second, previous contribution provided during the meeting. The method includes generating a graphical representation of a progress of the meeting, the graphical representation including a first visual indicator corresponding to the first contribution and at least one second visual indicator respectively corresponding to the at least one second contribution. The first visual indicator is positioned with respect to the at least one second visual indicator to represent the linkage.

The exemplary embodiments relate generally to managing a progress of a meeting, and more particularly to determining when the progress of the meeting diverges from a core intent of the meeting.
A meeting may be performed in person where the participants of the meeting gather in a common location and/or electronically where the participants log in remotely through a meeting client using video and/or audio inputs and outputs. The meeting may vary in complexity, length, tense, formality, productivity, etc. and the participants may be invited to the meeting based on the characteristics of the meeting and one or more intended core intents to be covered in the meeting. The participants may each provide contributions toward the core intents of the meeting based on roles, expertise, etc. During the meeting, the productivity of the meeting may trend negatively where the conversation may relate to topics different from the core intents of the meeting. When this occurs, the meeting is likely to diverge from the core conversation regarding the core intents of the meeting, leading to the meeting being run inefficiently and participants becoming frustrated.

International Business Machines Corporation


A complex of glucosamine having a purity of at least about 99 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt. %, and a therapeutic drug having a pKa of less than 7. Preferably, the complex is stabilized by coating it with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer comprising a water-soluble, water-immiscible and/or water-swellable homopolymer and/or copolymer. Suitable polymers include carboxypolymethylene homopolymers and copolymers; polyethylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers, povidone homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylamide homopolymers and copolymers; polysaccharides; and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polymers. The resultant coated complex will be stable upon exposure to ambient temperature and/or the atmosphere. Suitable therapeutic drugs fall into the following classes: α- and β-Adrenergic Agonists; Narcotic and Non-Narcotic Analgesics; Anorexics; Antiallergics; Antianginals; Antiarrhythmics; Antiasthmatics; Antibiotics; Anticoagulants; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressants; Antidiabetics; Antihistaminics; Antihypertensives; Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatories; Antimigraines; Antineoplastics; Antiparkinsonians; Antipsychotics; Antipyretics; Antispasmodics; Antithrombotics; Antiulceratives; Anxiolytics; Decongestants; Diuretics; Hepatoprotectants; Sedatives; and Vasodilators.

Glucosamine is a well-known amino monosaccharide found in chitin. glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans. Glucosamine is widely used for the treatment of rheumatic fever, arthritic and arthosic complaints, in the acute as well as chronic forms, as well as in the treatment of pathological conditions originating from metabolic disorders of the osteo-articular tissue. Although products in the marketplace are labeled as, or referred to as, "glucosamine", they are misnomers since such products consist of glucosamine hydrochloride or as unreacted mixtures of glucosamine hydrochloride and a complex such as potassium or sodium sulfate.
One drawback of many therapeutic drugs is their relative insolubility in the body after they have been administered to a patient. It would be most desirable if more soluble versions of therapeutic drugs could be made available.
It has now been found that complexes of halide-free glucosamine and acidic drugs are more soluble than the drugs themselves. An added benefit is that glucosamine itself is formed in the body (typically in the form of glucosaine phosphate) and therefore no "foreign" ingredients will be introduced in the body when the complexes of the invention are administered to patients in need of such drugs.
Salts or mixtures of "glucosamine" or "glucosamine sulfate" and a therapeutic drug such as aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, etc. are known in the prior art, e.g., see U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0058642 A1; U.S. Pat. Nos.6,608,041 B2; U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,291,527 B1; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,604,206; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,008,874. However, the "glucosamine" or "glucosamine sulfate" employed in such compositions are misnomers, inasmuch as such materials are actually glucosamine hydrochloride or mixed complexes of glucosamine hydrochloride and an alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfate.
In contradistinction thereto, the glucosamine employed in preparing the complexes of the invention is halide-free (i.e., the glucosamine has a purity of at least about 99 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt. %) and as a result, the complexes of the invention will contain neither a halide nor any extraneous anions nor any extraneous cations (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.).

Halide-free glucosamine-acidic drug complexes


A motor vehicle door including a simple latch assembly comprising a preassembled and easily inspectable functional module and a moisture barrier which separates a dry zone sealed from external moisture and an unsealed wet zone. The latch lies completely within the dry zone. The latch is preassembled on the side of a mounting plate facing an inside door panel and includes a sealing element which seals at least a portion of the latch area against moisture.

The invention relates to a motor vehicle door, and more particularly to a door which includes a simple latch assembly comprising a preassembled and inspectable functional module and a moisture barrier which separates a zone sealed from moisture, or dry zone, and an unsealed, or wet zone, wherein the latch lies completely within the dry zone.
German Patent No. 40 26 217 A1 discloses a motor vehicle door with an outside door panel and a completely closed inside door panel on which components are mounted. It is proposed to provide corrugations and indentations in the inside door panel which can accommodate components, such as inside door control, latching, and central locking mechanisms, as well as the conductors and linkages connected thereto.
With this arrangement, openings through the inside door panel from the wet zone into the dry zone are avoided and a reinforcement of the door body are supposed to be obtained. An inner door lining covers the beads and indentations with the components contained therein.
The window frame is set in the dry zone of the door body from above and bolted to it with its essentially vertical window frame mounting uprights. An electrical window lifter is also attached to these uprights.
This solution has the disadvantage that the latch disposed outside the body of the door must be designed very stable, and reinforcement measures must be provided in the region of its attachment to the inside door panel in order to obtain adequate resistance to it being ripped out. An economical dry zone design of the latch also cannot be used since the engagement region of the latch into which a locking element on the vehicle body engages is located in the wet zone.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,129 discloses a mounting plate with a window lifter, a control handle, and a latch, which is attached to a plastic mount moveably mounted on the mounting plate. On one side surface of the mounting plate, the latch is connected first by means of simple snap connections and then connected via a control link with the control handle. This is supposed to simplify preassembly and transportation. In the assembly of the door, separate attachment points are provided between the mounting plate and the door as well as between the latch and the door.
The design principle described provides for inserting the preassembled mounting plate in the wet zone, formed by the outside door panel and the inside door panel, in order to be able to ensure high resistance of the latch to being ripped out. Thus, all components must be used in the expensive wet zone design, or separate moisture protection measures must be taken.

Brose Fahrzeugteille GmbH & Co. KG, Coburg


A method for performing operations on a structure. A moveable platform may be positioned in an area relative to the structure to define a working envelope. The moveable platform may be connected to a tool that may be moved around a plurality of axes within the working envelope using the moveable platform. The tool may be moved to a plurality of locations within the working envelope using the moveable platform. An operation may be performed with the tool through the working envelope at each of the plurality of locations using the moveable platform.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to manufacturing and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for forming holes. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for automatically generating holes in a structure.
2. Background
In manufacturing aircraft, various parts may be manufactured and assembled to form different structures for an aircraft. For example, without limitation, ribs, stringers, and spars may be arranged in a wing structure for a wing. Skin panels may then be placed over the structure for the wing and secured to the structure to form the wing.
In assembling spars, stringers, and ribs together to form the wing structure, holes may be drilled through the different parts, and fasteners may be secured in the holes to connect and/or attach the parts to each other. When skin panels are attached to the wing structure, thousands of holes may be drilled in the skin panels and/or portions of the wing structure. Fasteners may then be installed to attach the skin panels to the wing structure.
Drilling holes in an aircraft structure in final assembly may be considered a critical path process. For example, without limitation, the placement, size, orientation, and other factors for these holes may be important in insuring that the different parts can be secured within desired tolerances.
Currently available methods for drilling holes in the final assembly of an aircraft structure may involve multiple aircraft mechanics. The aircraft mechanics may be positioned in difficult to access areas around and/or in the structure to drill the holes using handheld power tools. This type of process may be tedious, exacting, and/or time consuming.
Further, current methods also may employ automated drilling systems. These drilling systems may be designed with mass and/or rigid foundation to react to forces created by the drilling process and may be difficult to position. In other words, the positioning of a spindle in an automated drilling system in the X, Y, and Z vector orientations for drilling may be difficult to perform in the assembly of the aircraft.
Further, the large size of the automated drilling machines and their movements may prevent aircraft mechanics from entering the area in and/or around which these machines are located to perform other tasks, while the automated drilling machine is in use. As a result, other tasks may be delayed until the drilling operations have been completed for a particular area.
Further, most holes drilled in the structure may be drilled in strips of several rows or pattern, that are not wide, but very long in length. These holes may be used to install fasteners and splice pieces of the aircraft together. Any automation must, at minimum, be able to traverse the width and length of a splice.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method that takes into account one or more of the issues discussed above, as well as possibly other issues.


A terminal apparatus includes a display, a display control unit configured to display a screen on the display in a given display mode, a first selection operation detection unit configured to detect that a first selection operation concerning the given display mode has been performed in a given area of the screen, and a second selection operation detection unit configured to detect that a second selection operation concerning given processing has been performed in the given area of the screen. The display control unit displays a screen by changing to a second display mode based on detection of the first selection operation in the screen displayed in a first display mode, performs the given processing based on detection of the second selection operation, and performs display control processing for displaying a screen in the first display mode after the given processing.

In a mobile terminal apparatus such as a mobile phone and PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), the display is increasingly becoming smaller in recent years due to miniaturization, leading to a limited display area. Also in a terminal apparatus other than a mobile terminal apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer), for displaying as much information as possible by, for example, arranging a plurality of windows on the display, each window may become smaller, leading to a limited display area for each window. When a screen is displayed in such a display area, display sizes of characters and images in the screen become smaller if the whole screen is made a display area so that the screen may be viewed more easily. If the display size becomes smaller, it becomes more difficult to select and operate a button, icon, hyper-link and the like arranged in the screen. Particularly when a touch panel is used as the display and a user performs a selection operation on the touch panel using a finger, it is difficult to finely specify the position.
Further, a mobile phone generally has a Web browser to view Web sites created for PCs mounted therein. In the Web browser, for example, a screen of a Web site created by assuming a mouse operation on a PC is displayed in a display area of the mobile phone. Thus, when a screen created with a layout by assuming a different display area is displayed, hyperlinks and the like in the screen are frequently positioned or have a display size inappropriate for selection operation.
In response to such a problem, an apparatus that enables the user to change the display scaling factor of the screen so that the user may perform a selection operation after the screen is displayed by being scaled up is proposed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-242981). In a flat coordinate input apparatus according to Patent Document 1, a tap operation and input coordinates thereof are detected through a flat coordinate input means. Then, the vicinity of the display position corresponding to the input coordinates is displayed by being scaled up in response to an odd tap operation and displayed by being scaled down to return to the original display scaling factor in response to an even tap operation.
However, the above apparatus is caused to change the display mode simply by the display scaling factor being successively specified through a tap operation. In contrast, for example, when a Web site is viewed via the Web browser of a mobile phone, screen transitions frequently occur because the user follows hyperlinks and the like. If the display scaling factor appropriate for selection operation and that appropriate for viewing are successively specified, there is a problem that operations become complicated and user convenience is reduced. This problem may also arise in devices other than the mobile phone.

Terminal apparatus and display control method


An image classification system uses curvature-based multi-scale morphology to classify an image by its most distinguishing features. The image is recorded in digital form. Curvature features associated with the image are determined. A structuring element is modulated based on the curvature features. The shape of the structuring element is controlled by making it a function of both the scaling factor and the principal curvatures of the intensity surface of the face image. The structuring element modulated with the curvature features is superimposed on the image to determine a feature vector of the image using mathematical morphology. When this Curvature-based Multi-scale Morphology (CMM) technique is applied to face images, a high-dimensional feature vector is obtained. The dimensionality of this feature vector is reduced by using the PCA technique, and the low-dimensional feature vectors are analyzed using an Enhanced FLD Model (EFM) for superior classification performance.

Accurate classification of images or features is an important field of study for a number of commercial applications. For example, the accurate classification of face images is essential for applications that involve automatic face authentication, e.g. for security systems and surveillance applications. The fundamental operation in such applications is face recognition, which involves the computation of similarities between face images. An unknown facial image is scanned, for example, by a security camera, and the unknown image is compared to a database of known images to find a match and identify the subject. The database may contain a number of varying images of the same subject to aid in recognition with different lighting, hair length, aging, facial hair, etc.
A number of approaches for face recognition, suitable for real-time applications, have been used in the prior art. These approaches can be classified as feature-based approaches, data or information-based approaches, such as Principal Components Analysis (PCA), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Enhanced FLD Model (EFM), and connectionist approaches employing artificial neural networks.
A facial image can be viewed as a two-dimensional collection of individual pixels. A straightforward method for comparing face images would be to compare each pixel of the unknown image to the pixel values of all of the images stored in the database and determine a distance measure based on pixel by pixel comparison. If the image is a monochrome gray-scale, then the distance measure is a comparison of the intensity of each pixel. The difference of each corresponding pixel intensity is measured and the differences are summed to attain a distance measure or a sum of absolute distances. The image with the least or minimum distance measure is the closest match. One drawback with pixel by pixel comparison between the unknown subject and every image in the database is the relatively long processing time needed to find the closest match. The pixel to pixel comparison also become complex if the images are misaligned, offset, or vary in size.
A histogram is another feature based classification method. The histogram separates the image into the number of pixels at varying intensity levels. For example, if the possible intensity levels falls between 0 and 255, then the histogram tracks the number of pixels with intensity levels between 0–5, and the number of pixels with intensity levels between 6–10, and so on up to 255. The histogram can be used to create a plot or distribution. The histogram plot of the unknown image is compared to the histogram plots of known images stored in the database to find the closest match in terms of similar distribution of data. One drawback with the histogram identification approach is that the comparison between plots does not distinguish different features or structure or content of the facial images.
Another technique for frontal face authentication has been proposed that involves extraction of feature vectors by employing multi-scale morphology followed by dimensionality reduction using PCA. This makes the technique both feature-based and data analysis-based. The multi-scale morphology employed in such techniques is performed with regular structuring elements. That is, the same generic structuring element is used at all points on a rectangular grid defined on the image.

Face classification using curvature-based multi-scale morphology


A smart shoe has a height-adjustable heel having a plurality of co-axially oriented, concentric cylindrical wall sections of progressively different diameters comprising a skeleton framework. The wall sections are extendable from a collapsible position wherein the wall sections substantially completely overlap in an axial direction to an extended position wherein the walls sections are extended in an axial direction. Heel height is determined by the number of uncollapsed wall sections. A controller element provides incremental heel height adjustments through the sequential collapse of one wall section at a time starting with the uppermost wall section. The smart shoe includes reversibly expandable components for automatically modifying its width, length, and arch support height to provide an optimal fit of both shoes comprising the pair of smart shoes at every selected heel height.

The wearing of high heeled shoes is a well-known risk factor for foot-related medical problems ranging from painful bunions to actual foot, ankle, or leg fractures. These problems occur because, unlike flat-heeled shoes, high heels cause undue stress on the front of the wearer's foot as she tries to maintain her balance while walking. Accordingly, high heeled shoes interfere with the anatomically desirable even distribution of weight throughout the foot while walking. The higher the heel, the greater the undesirable weight differential from the back to the front of the foot.
Despite these recognized problems, the popularity of high heels, including stiletto heels, is unlikely to wane. High-heeled shoes are often purchased and worn on the basis of their aesthetic appeal with little consideration to their "practical" comfort. For example, a business woman working in the city may need to walk some distance to and from her parked car or public transportation to her office building. Flat or low-heeled shoes are safer for walking any substantial distance because high heeled shoes interfere with both the wearer's balance and walking speed. Yet, while at the office or social gathering, women may prefer or even be required to wear high-heeled shoes due to the culturally ingrained perception that high-heeled shoes are more attractive and sophisticated relative to their flatter-heeled counterparts.
To address the effect of high heels on foot health and safety, a shoe wearer may transport different pairs of shoes to accommodate her various activities during the day. This approach has the disadvantages of requiring the user: 1) to carry additional cumbersome tote bags or bulky purses large enough to hold at least one extra pair of shoes selected on the basis of the shoe wearer's presumed schedule for the day; and 2) to find a convenient place to change from one pair of shoes to another, preferably while sitting.
A chair or bench may not be available for sitting when a show wearer desires to swap one pair of shoes for another pair. Standing is not the preferred position for inserting shoes onto feet for reasons ranging from potential injury resulting from balancing on one foot to difficulty in correctly securing the foot completely into the shoe. Many women also prefer smaller handbags roomy enough to transport their smart phones, credit cards, and keys, but not roomy enough to transport bulky items like shoes.
Finally, shoe wearers typically rely on only two shoe-size indicators when shopping for shoes: foot length and foot width. Narrow shoe widths such as AA are very difficult to find in today's market place. Generally, both on-line and brick-and-mortar retailers sell only B widths, and there is even a variation among manufacturers over their shoes' actual B width dimensions. With loose-fitting shoes, the wearer may find herself squeezing the front of her foot to help keep the shoe in place, thereby potentially causing foot-related problems. Individuals with high arches have an even more difficult time in finding comfortable shoes from flats to high heels.
In today's market place, "perfect fit" shoes are generally only achievable through custom made shoes designed specifically for the customer's feet whether as a high heeled-shoe or a flat-heeled shoe. There is thus a need for a shoe to resolve the foot health and safety shortcomings of high heels and at the same time provide a comfortable shoe fit. The present invention achieves these two objectives by providing a smart shoe capable of undergoing incremental height adjustments through an automatically collapsible and extendable heel, thereby allowing the wearer to quickly alter the shoe's heel height depending upon the particular preferences and the walking environment she finds herself in. The shoe further provides for incremental width and length adjustments to ensure the best possible fit no matter the user's selected heel height.


Systems or methods for managing transactions within a controlled environment facility provide an information management engine integrating transaction functionality and telephone calling functionality, establish an account associated with a resident of the controlled environment facility, and use the information management engine to conduct transactions associated with residents of the controlled environment facility. The transactions include at least requests, by the resident, for deposits into the account by a party outside of the controlled environment facility. The systems or methods accept requests from the resident and utilize the telephone calling services of the information management engine to facilitate the request for deposit. The systems or methods may place calls to the individuals outside the controlled environment facility to interact with the individual, request the deposit and accept such deposits.

In a controlled environment, such as within a prison or jail facility, controlling access, information, interaction, and/or transactions is often of particular interest. In a prison facility in particular, safety and security is of paramount importance and, therefore, the number one job of the personnel thereof is to effectively implement controls with respect to the residents (inmates) thereof. However, such controlled environments often provide an environment much like a small city in which a number of individuals work and live, thus requiring various goods and/or services associated with civilized society. Accordingly, various exchanges of information, money, goods, etcetera may be performed in association with individuals of a controlled environment, both within the controlled environment and external thereto. For example, an inmate residing in a prison facility may be allowed to place phone calls to friends and family outside of the prison facility. Likewise, an inmate may be allowed to purchase commissary items, such as through use of a prepaid account funded by friends and family, such as when visiting the prison facility or by mailing checks or money orders on behalf of an inmate. An inmate may also be provided medical services, such as dispensing of prescription medications.
Administering the aforementioned exchanges of information, money, goods, etcetera typically requires the time and efforts of the staff of the controlled environment facility and/or individuals associated with various service providers thereto. For example, prison and/or commissary personnel may be required to accept payments directly from visitors or receive mail including payments, identify the individual resident for which the funds are intended, access an account associated with the individual resident, and increment the balance thereof. Each such task requires time away from prison personnel's primary tasks associated with the operation of the controlled environment facility and/or increases the costs associated with a service provider serving that population. Moreover, such tasks as accomplished today are typically largely paper based and require appreciable manual processing, thereby further aggravating the directing of personnel's attention away from tasks more primary to the operation of the controlled environment facility and further adding to the costs. FIG. 1 illustrates a typical prior art commissary process flow. In addition to issues with respect to taking time and attention away from tasks of primary importance, the aforementioned exchanges may present increased safety and other issues. For example, increased contact between prison personnel and inmates can increase the danger to the prison personnel, thus interaction associated with collection of monies by prison personnel for deposit in inmate accounts can expose such personnel to claims of theft of such monies. Further, in an incarceration environment, using prison or jail personnel to retrieve account balances, and the like, is time consuming for these personnel taking time away from their primary duties and causing distractions which can present a security risk. Accordingly, inefficiencies exist with respect to the businesses and individuals conducting such exchanges associated with controlled environment facilities.
Individuals external to a controlled environment facility, which conduct exchanges therewith are often less than satisfied with the experience. For example, depositing monies on behalf of a friend or family residing within a controlled environment facility typically requires delivering such monies directly to the controlled environment facility or sending checks or money orders by mail, leaving little flexibility with respect to the forms and timing of payment. Additionally, the sending party may not be provided with any confirmation of the monies received. Furthermore, it is typically somewhat impractical for a resident of a controlled environment facility to request account deposits from third parties, as the resident's ability to communicate with parties outside of the facility are typically restricted.

Systems and methods for transaction and information management


The techniques disclosed herein provide a notification to a user that has been invited to participate in a communication session (e.g., a virtual meeting such as a video conference). The notification informs the user of contextual information associated with a meeting and provides a mechanism for the user to efficiently join the meeting. The notification can be provided based on different types of join events signaling that the meeting may be able to start. One type of join event can occur when the first person joins the meeting. Other types of join events can occur when an organizer of the meeting joins the meeting, when a required attendee is the first required attendee to join the meeting, when an external user is the first external user to join the meeting, or when a representative from each of a plurality of different stakeholder groups has joined the meeting.

There are a number of different systems and applications that allow users to collaborate. For example, some systems allow people to collaborate and/or conduct a communication session (e.g., a virtual meeting such as a video conference) by the use of live video streams, live audio streams, and other forms of real-time, text-based or image-based mediums. Some systems also allow users to share files during a communication session. Further, some systems provide users with tools for editing content of shared files during a communication session.
Typically, a scheduled start time is the main driver for determining if and/or when a user joins a meeting. Conventionally, users invited to attend the meeting are provided with a generic notification reminding the users that the meeting is set to begin at the scheduled start time. This generic notification is typically sent at a predefined time (e.g., when the meeting is scheduled to start, five minutes before the meeting is scheduled to start, etc.). In some situations, a user who is planning to meet with other users at a scheduled time may actually be able to meet earlier than the scheduled start time for various reasons. In one example, an obligation of the user may be canceled just prior to the scheduled start time thereby freeing up some calendar space and enabling the user to join the meeting earlier than expected. In another example, the user may have a tendency to join meetings early.
Unfortunately, users other than the one who joined the meeting early remain unaware that someone has joined the meeting early and that conducting the meeting earlier than scheduled may be possible. Moreover, the user that joins the meeting early often refrains from contacting the other users in order to request that the other users meet earlier, as this may inadvertently seem rude or pushy. These commonly occurring circumstances result in inefficient time and resource usage since common user behavior rigidly adheres to using the originally scheduled starting times to initiate meetings despite circumstantial changes making earlier (or later) meeting times more convenient.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.

Displaying notifications for starting a session at a time that is different than a scheduled start time