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This invention relates to thrust generating engines of the fluid expansion type for propelling a body through a fluid medium such as sea water and more particularly to underwater propulsion engines for torpedoes as disclosed in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,783,814, issued Jan. 8, 1974. The foregoing type of propulsion engine involves the acceleration of water during passage through channels in the engine rotor. The inlet ends of the channels are opened and closed in response to rotation of the engine rotor, such rotation being induced by flow of the water along the helical paths of the channels to control cyclic intake into, filling of and outflow of the water from the channels. A pressurized propellant gas is injected into the inlet ends of the channels to accelerate the columns of water in the channels toward the exit ends. Expansion of the propellant gas at the inlet ends of the channels induces said acceleration of the water and resulting axial propelling thrust during its outflow from the exit ends of the channels. Practical underwater applications of the foregoing type of propulsion engines are associated with a source of hot propellant gas. During injection of the gas into the engine channels, it was discovered that rapid cooling of the gas occurs with resultant high loss of energy to substantially offset the otherwise advantageous attributes of the engine. Such rapid cooling rate could not heretofore be explained by heat transfer through the gas-water interface adjacent to the inlet ends of the rotor channels. It is known that cavitation bubbles will form at the inlet ends of the channels when the water inflow is cut off. Such cavitation bubbles become attached to the flow blocking section of the engine body and the propellant gas has heretofore been injected into the bubble cavities. Apparently, rarefaction wave flow from the cavitation bubbles into the enclosing water mass causes the water to accelerate toward such bubbles and breaks the water up into many smaller bubbles or droplets, thereby increasing the interface surface area and the cooling rate. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to substantially reduce the cooling rate of hot propellant gas injected into the columns of fluid medium filling the channels of an expansion thrust engine, whereby engine operation may be achieved with greater efficiency. An additional object of the invention in accordance with the foregoing object is to reduce the cooling rate of hot propellant gas within the channels of an underwater propulsion engine by reducing water foaming activity during injection of such gas into the channels.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game played with a game board and the method of playing the game. In particular the present invention relates to a game which provides a strategic challenge to players to define pathways which limit the movement of the other players so that at the end of the game the winning player has no pieces remaining. The purpose of the game is to get rid of as many pawns and connecting pieces and connectors or connecting pieces by putting paths and shapes on the board, and also by encircling an area so that the opponent's circled pieces are returned to him or her. In particular, the present invention is a game having a game board formed of 64 square grids. Each of these square grids is raised so as to form recesses between the square grids in which playing pieces can be inserted. Pieces used in the game include rectangularly shaped pieces called "pawns" and connecting pieces, or connectors, having one of several shapes: cross shapes, I- shapes, L-shapes, and T-shapes. The purpose of the game is to define paths to be taken by each player. Players alternatively take turns placing their pawns followed by a connector. The game starts at the center, where a cross piece is located. The cross piece defines one of four possible paths which can be taken. A player must then insert a pawn near one of these paths defined by a cross shaped piece located in the center of the board, and after the pawn place one of the connectors. The next player must then continue along any of the paths that are available either from the centrally located cross piece or from one of the paths defined by the connector piece that the previous player had placed. In this way, the game provides a strategic challenge to players to define pathways which limit movement upon the other players so that at the end of the game the winning player has no pieces remaining. The purpose of the game is to get rid of as many pawns and connecting pieces by putting paths and shapes on the board, and also by encircling an area so that the opponent's circled pieces are returned to him or her. 2. The prior art Board games are known in the prior art. One such board game is U.S. Pat. No. 2,162,876 to Barton. In this patent (the '876 patent), a board is provided with hollowed out squares and with square shaped pieces which fit into the hollowed squares and which have various configurations inscribed thereon. These inscriptions indicate directions of movement for subsequent players. This game is initiated at one of four middle points at the borders of the game board. The object of the game is that the game is played until only one player can move. This player is declared the winner (page 2, left hand column, lines 71-74). A player may reclaim pieces on the board and thus keep playing after six of his pieces on the board have been used (page 2, right-hand column, lines 9-12). This game does not teach using up pieces nor that the pieces used or played are both pawns and connectors to determine pathways, and thus is less complex, and does not require the degree of strategy as required by the present invention. It would therefore desirable to provide a game board with pieces wherein a strategic game can be developed which provides for developing paths for encircling given fields or areas so that one or more opponent can be forced to reclaim his or her pieces, and that only the player who has encircled this field can place his pieces therein.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for scaling persistence data accumulated in a digital storage oscilloscope for display using interpolation. Traditionally, digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) capture an electrical signal (waveform) and allow the user to view a trace of the captured signal in a time (x-axis) versus amplitude (y-axis) display. In addition to simply acquiring and displaying a single signal trace, DSOs can accumulate data from a periodic signal. This repeatedly (or continuously) captured and stored data is called persistence data. Persistence data is a powerful tool for analyzing signals, since it may reveal signal features and events not discernible in a single trace. In conventional DSOs, the persistence data is constrained by the display system. This is because the persistence data is accumulated at the same scale as the display. For example, if the display is 600 pixels wide, the persistence data is accumulated in a buffer also having a width of 600 pixels. Once accumulated, the persistence data is transferred in its entirety into the display memory, without any scaling. The problem with this approach is that resizing the display forces a reset (and another accumulation) of the persistence data. Thus, any change in the scaling results in a reset of the persistence data, or in certain conditions scale changes are simply not accepted. Because the operator may be looking for rare events, the more persistence data that is acquired the more useful it is in analyzing the signal. However, it may take a relatively long time to acquire enough data to be useful. Thus, any time the persistence data is reset, as when scaling or zooming the display, the user not only loses valuable information but must also wait for the persistence data to again accumulate. Moreover, when an operator zooms-in on a portion of the persistence data, he generally desires to view additional detail in the current data, not to view a new set of persistence data. Anytime a new signal is acquired, there is a risk the new data will not have the same signal pathology (i.e. the same features).	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In present navigation systems, navigation instructions are provided to a subscriber using on-board navigation systems. There are navigation systems that have the ability to select a route based on criteria such as shortest distance or shortest travel time, avoidance of traffic jams, toll routes or accidents, scenic beauty, and the like. It has been observed that the transfer of information in these navigation systems from a radio network to the subscriber over the air can be expensive. Furthermore, subscribers can be in bad locations, which suffer from poor communication infrastructure or capability. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to a method for applying a light shielding paint to a peripheral area of a lens, particularly a plastic lens, such as used in an optical system of binoculars, cameras, video projectors or television receiver sets, to form a light-shield coat thereon. Hitherto, two types of light shielding paint for application to lenses have been available: One is a light shielding paint of a type containing an volatile solvent and the other is a two-component paint capable of hardening at room temperature. The application of any one of these light shielding paints requires manual intervention and skill. More specifically, not only does it often occur that particles of the light shielding paint tend to stain an effective aperture area of a lens, but also the application of the paint is carried out in two separate steps to prevent the effective aperture area of the lens from being touched. (The term "effective aperture area" used in the specification and claims is to be understood as meaning a central area of the lens practically utilized for the passage of rays of light of interest therethrough in a direction parallel to the optical axis of such lens, in contrast to the peripheral area which is utilized for the support thereof on a lens mount or barrel.) Moreover, once the paint has been applied, the drying takes overnight, or several hours at least, constituting one of the major causes of the increased manufacturing cost of lenses coated on the peripheral area with the light shielding paint. The above discussed problem may be negligible if the production of such lenses remains limited. However, when it comes to a projection type television receiver set, the production of lenses having a relatively large size is desired and, therefore, improvement of the productivity has come about by the use of an injection molding technique, the minimization of the weight and the minimization of the manufacturing cost. Thus, with the increased production of the lenses, a demand has arisen for a light shielding paint capable of hardening quickly. Since the conventional method for forming a light-shield coat on the peripheral area of a lens is performed by a skilled worker using a brush and a black-colored paint, not only does the thickness of the resultant coat vary from one lens to another, but also a single lens tends to have a varying thickness of the coat. This is a problem in that the coated lens as a whole fails to meet the design requirements to such an extent that, when it is fitted in a lens mount, barrel or any other lens support, it tends to lack stability. Moreover, with the conventional method, the application of the black-colored paint has to be performed so as to form a light-shield coat to a thickness selected in consideration of the possible damage the coat may be subjected to when the coated lens is mounted on the lens mount, barrel or any other lens support. The conventional method has a problem as regards the minimization of the lens manufacturing cost and the uniformity in quality of the lenses. Furthermore, on the one hand, while the production is increasing, the number of skilled workers competent to apply the paint to the peripheral area of each lens is limited, and on the other hand, no method for the formation of a coat of uniform thickness has yet been established and, therefore, the production tact time cannot be improved at all. When it comes to conventional coating apparatuses, some employ a spray system and some employ a transfer system using rolls. In the spray system, the paint used is of a type containing a volatile solvent and it has numerous disadvantages in that it is difficult to keep the viscosity of the paint at a predetermined value throughout the coating operation because of the hardening of the material thereof, clogging of the paint tends to readily occur in a spray nozzle, spray of the paint often stains the apparatus, and solvent gases are susceptible to explosion unless the utmost care is taken in the environment in which the coating operation is performed. As regards the transfer system, not only is it difficult to apply the paint simultaneously to two faces of the angled peripheral area of the lens, but also the transfer roll or rolls are susceptible to wear so as to reduce their life time, particularly when the peripheral area of each lens has a plurality of projections such as gates of a few millimeters in length. When it comes to a screen printing technique, it cannot be applied, without considerable difficulty, in coating a curved surface having indentations and, moreover, some limitations are imposed on both the hardening and drying time of the paint attributable to the reduced production tact time. Apart from the above, so far as the paint of a type capable of hardening when exposed to ultraviolet rays, i.e., a photo-setting paint, is concerned, it can result in a film or coat of a thickness not greater than 30 micrometers and must be repeatedly applied at least two times to form a double-layered coat in order for the lens to have a light-shielding property. However, it often happens that the first and second layers forming the double-layered coat separate from each other.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The invention relates to a method for the removal of particulates and for the simultaneous removal of SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x from exhaust or combustion gases. Flue gas resulting from the combustion of carbonaceous material can contain hundreds to thousands parts per million (PPM) SO.sub.2 and several hundred PPM of NO.sub.x. The NO.sub.x generallyis in the form of NO. In previous flue gas clean-up processes, sulfur dioxide was removed by wet-scrubbing. In one method, the flue gas was passed through an aqueous slurry of lime or limestone for reaction with SO.sub.2 to form insoluble calcium sulfate and/or calcium sulfite. In a variation, known as the dual alkaline method, the flue gas passed through a scrubbing solution containing a sulfur dioxide absorbent such as sodium carbonate which reacted with SO.sub.2 to form sodium bisulfite. The scrubber solution was regenerated by contact with a lime or limestone slurry where the sodium bisulfite reacted with calcium to form large quantities of insoluble hydrated calcium sulfite and calcium sulfate. The insoluble salts typically were sent to landfills for disposal. These processes used alone were not effective in removing oxides of nitrogen, particularly NO, from exhaust gases. In one effort to simultaneously remove oxides of sulfur and oxides of nitrogen (SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x) from exhaust gases, the gas was contacted with an aqueous absorbent containing a metal sulfite, ferrous ions and an aminopolycarboxylic acid. The aminopolycarboxylic acid removed the oxides of nitrogen and the oxides of sulfur were removed as dithionates (M.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.6) in a crystallization separation. Unfortunately, the dithionates are difficult and expensive to decompose. In an earlier effort the present inventor found that the liquid absorbent for the oxides of sulfur could be regenerated in an electrodialysis process and the resulting sulfur-containing material removed as sulfuric acid (U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,780). Although this process is effective in the simultaneous removal of SO.sub.2 and NO.sub.x from exhaust or combustion gases, various problems have arisen. The anion selective membranes used in the electrodialysis stack have been degraded by deposits of iron ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The use of bipolar membranes for acid production prevented current reversal to remove the deposits. Also, the presence of acid exacerbated iron EDTA deposits and decreased current efficiency by hydronium ion permeation through anion selective membranes. Therefore in view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the removal of oxides of sulfur and oxides of nitrogen from exhaust gases. It is a further object to provide a process in which particular material can be removed along with the oxides of sulfur and oxides of nitrogen. It is also an object to provide a regeneration method for an absorbent of SO.sub.2 in which electrodialysis is conducted at near neutral pH values. It is one other object of the present invention to provide an electrodialysis regeneration method with reduced membrane fouling in the electrodialysis compartments. It is yet a further object to provide an improved electrodialysis regeneration process compatible with the use of metal chelates for the absorption of NO.sub.x gases.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
(1) Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a casting system for use in forming turbine engine components and to a refractory metal core used therein. (2) Description of the Related Art Investment casting is a commonly used technique for forming metallic components having complex geometries, especially hollow components, and is used in the fabrication of superalloy gas turbine engine components. The present invention will be described in respect to the production of superalloy castings, however it will be understood that the invention is not so limited. Cores used in investment casting techniques are fabricated from ceramic materials which are fragile, especially the advanced cores used to fabricate small intricate cooling passages in advanced gas turbine engine hardware. These ceramic cores are prone to warpage and fracture during fabrication and during casting. Conventional ceramic cores are produced by a molding process using a ceramic slurry and a shaped die. The pattern material is most commonly wax although plastics, low melting point metals, and organic compounds, such as urea, have also been employed. The shell mold is formed using a colloidal silica binder to bind together ceramic particles which may be alumina, silica, zirconia, and alumina silicates. The investment casting process used to produce a turbine blade, using a ceramic core is as follows. A ceramic core having the geometry desired for the internal cooling passages is placed in a metal die whose walls surround but are generally spaced away from the core. The die is filled with a disposable pattern material such as wax. The die is removed leaving the ceramic core embedded in a wax pattern. The outer shell mold is then formed about the wax pattern by dipping the pattern in a ceramic slurry and then applying larger, dry ceramic particles to the slurry. This process is termed stuccoing. The stuccoed wax pattern, containing the core is then dried and the stuccoing process repeated to provide the desired shell mold wall thickness. At this point, the mold is thoroughly dried and heated to an elevated temperature to remove the wax material and strengthen the ceramic material. The result is a ceramic mold containing a ceramic core which in combination define a mold cavity. It will be understood that the exterior of the core defines the passageway to be formed in the casting and the interior of the shell mold defines the external dimensions of the superalloy casting to be made. The core and shell may also define casting portions such as gates and risers which are necessary for the casting process but are not part of the finished cast component. After removal of the wax, molten superalloy material is poured into the cavity defined by the shell mold and core assembly and solidified. The mold and core are then removed from the superalloy casting by a combination of mechanical and chemical means. Attempts have been made to provide cores for investment casting which have improved mechanical properties, thinner thicknesses, improved resistance to thermal shock, and new geometries and features. One such attempt is shown in published U.S. Patent Application No. 2003/0075300, which is incorporated by reference herein. These efforts have been to provide ceramic cores with embedded refractory metal elements. There remains a need however to improve the casting yields when these ceramic cores are being used. One particular problem which needs to be addressed is how to better maintain the position of the core in the wax die during shelling and maintain the position of the core within the shell during casting. Historically, pins of platinum, quartz, or alumina have been used in investment castings to support the casting core and prevent core shift. Pins are highly effective during the wax and shelling operations, but as platinum dissolves in molten alloy, the platinum pins are not as effective in maintaining position during casting. Ceramic pins have disadvantages in that they leave holes or inclusions in the castings.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Although many bacterial diseases are, in general, easily treated with antibiotics, very few effective treatments exist for many viral, parasitic, cancerous, and genetic diseases. Cancer, for example, may be treated by surgical resection of a solid tumor. Nevertheless, a majority of patients with solid tumors also possess micrometastases beyond the primary tumor site. If treated with surgery alone, approximately 70% of these patients will experience recurrence of the cancer. Thus, cancer accounts for one-fifth of the total mortality in the United States, and is the second leading cause of death. In addition to surgery, many cancers are now also treated with a combination of therapies involving cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine, cisplatin, methotrexate, 5-FU, etc.) and/or radiation therapy. One difficulty with this approach, however, is that radiotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic agents are toxic to normal tissues, and often create life-threatening side effects. In addition, these approaches often have extremely high failure/remission rates (up to 90% depending upon the type of cancer). Numerous other methods have been attempted in order to bolster or augment an individual's own immune system in order to eliminate cancer cells. For example, some scientists have utilized bacterial or viral components as adjuvants, in order to stimulate the immune system to destroy tumor cells. Such agents have generally been useful as adjuvants and as nonspecific stimulants in animal tumor models, but have not yet proved to be generally effective in humans. Lymphokines have also been utilized in the treatment of cancer (as well as viral and parasitic diseases), in order to stimulate or affect specific immune cells in the generation of an immune response. One group, for example, utilized the lymphokine Interleukin-2 in order to stimulate peripheral blood cells in order to expand and produce large quantities of cells which are cytotoxic to tumor cells (Rosenberg et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 313:1485-1492, 1985). Others have suggested the use of antibody-mediated treatment using specific monoclonal antibodies or “magic bullets” in order to specifically target and kill tumor cells (Dillman, “Antibody Therapy,” Principles of Cancer Biotherapy, Oldham (ed.), Raven Press, Ltd., New York, 1987). One difficulty, however, is that most monoclonal antibodies are of murine origin, and thus hypersensitivity against the murine antibody may limit its efficacy, particularly after repeated therapies. Common side effects include fever, sweats and chills, skin rashes, arthritis, and nerve palsies. One approach which has recently garnered significant interest is the use of gene therapy, which has been utilized to treat not only genetic diseases, but viral and cancerous diseases as well (see PCT Publication Nos. WO 91/02805, EPO 415,731, and WO 90/07936). Briefly, specifically designed vectors which have been derived from viruses are used to deliver particular genetic information into cells. Such genetic information may itself be useful to block expression of damaging proteins or antigens (e.g., antisense therapy), may encode proteins which are toxic and kill selected cells, may encode therapeutic proteins which bolster a cell's immune response, or encode protein's which replace inactive or nonexistent proteins. One protein which has recently been suggested for use in such therapies is the type 1 Herpes Simplex Virus thymidine kinase (HSVTK-1). Briefly, thymidine kinase is a salvage pathway enzyme which phosphorylates natural nucleoside substrates as well as nucleoside analogues (see Balasubramaniam et al., J. of Gen. Vir. 71:2979-2987, 1990). This protein may be utilized therapeutically by introducing a retroviral vector which expresses the protein into the cell, followed by administration of a nucleoside analogue such as acyclovir or ganciclovir. HSVTK-1 then phosphorylates the nucleoside analogue, creating a toxic product capable of killing the host cell. Thus, use of retroviral vectors which express HSVTK has been suggested for not only the treatment of cancers, but for other diseases as well. The present invention provides novel thymidine kinase mutants and TK fusion proteins with enhanced biological activities which are suitable for a variety of applications, such as gene therapy, and further provides other, related advantages.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the method of and apparatus for fueling an internal combustion engine with a vapor derived from a water-hydrocarbon emulsion, to electrolytically conductive emulsions useful for producing the vapor, and to vaporizers for electrolytically producing the vapor fuel from the emulsions. 2. Related Applications My copending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 475,645, filed June 3, 1974 entitled "Vaporization Means and Method" discloses a vaporizer useful in connection with the present invention. My copending patent application U.S. Ser. No. 544,145, filed Jan. 27, 1975 entitled "Gasoline-Water Emulsion" discloses a water-hydrocarbon emulsion system useful with the present invention. 3. Prior Art Hydrocarbon fueled internal combustion engines are produced in large numbers and have been the subject of intensive research and development over many years, but they all exhibit well recognized shortcomings in certain aspects of their performance. One difficulty derives from the fact that the fuel/air ratio required to produce reliable ignition fills the combustion chamber with substantially more fuel than can be consumed during the ensuing explosion. The unburned hydrocarbons substantially lower the fuel efficiency of the engine, represent a substantial pollution factor in the exhaust, and tend to adhere to the walls of the combustion chamber, causing predetonation. If the fuel/air ratio is lowered to the point where the entire fuel charge is consumed during the explosion it is difficult to sustain reliable ignition of the charge. The liquid hydrocarbon, typically gasoline, is not itself explosive; rather, only the vapor derived from the liquid is explosive. Since the vaporization process is exothermic, past efforts have been made to warm the fuel charge before it is admitted to the combustion cylinders, in order to hasten the vaporization. A variety of heat exchangers which warm the charge with the combustion exhaust products have been proposed as well as various electric resistant heaters. In most modern carburetors a "hot spot" is provided which is heated with the exhaust gas. Also, various forms of "atomizers" have been proposed to subdivide the fuel into droplet form, thereby increasing the surface area of a given fluid quantity to hasten its vaporization. While all of these devices have some utility, the fact remains that in modern automotive engines much of the fuel is still in liquid form at the start of the combustion chamber explosion despite the fact that both the fuel economy of the engine and the cleanliness of its exhaust would be improved if the charge were in pure vapor form. Another manner in which the efficiency of an internal combustion engine may be improved is by the mixture of water vapor with the intake fuel charge. The latent heat of vaporization of the water vapor absorbs some of the heat energy of the explosion and thus slows the combustion process. This decreases the tendency toward pre-ignition and allows the use of a lower octane fuel for given engine compression ratio. A variety of arrangements have been proposed for injecting water vapor into the combustion chamber with the fuel charge. The use of a water-fuel emulsion to provide water vapor in the combustion chamber has also been proposed but despite extensive development this technique has not been applied to any substantial commercial use.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In the preparation of bread and other baked products from dough, it is generally desirable to increase the shelf life of the baked product. For that purpose maltogenic alpha-amylase is often added to the dough. However, bread under storage may develop a rancid flavor or even taste. This tendency to develop rancid flavor or taste under storage is further increases when lipolytic enzymes, such as phospholipases are used for e.g. dough strengthening. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bread making process which can be free from the above disadvantage.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to a reference standard block and a method of manufacturing reference standard blocks for use in calibrating eddy current nondestructive testing probes. More particularly, the invention relates to reference standard blocks having superficial flaws that simulate fatigue cracks and a method of manufacturing such reference standard blocks. 2. Description of the Related Art Eddy current probes have been used and accepted as a means for locating structural flaws such as fatigue cracks formed in metal structures during nondestructive testing or eddy current nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Fatigue cracks are generally of microscopic dimensions and usually do not form a void in the metal matrix in which they are found. These cracks are also generally called discontinuities, and can weaken the structural load-bearing capabilities of the metals in which they are formed. The detection of structural flaws is of particular significance to industries such as the air transportation industry, for cracks can develop in aircraft framework as a result of repeated aircraft pressurization/depressurization events, impact associated with aircraft landings, and possibly other operational procedures. Failure to detect the presence of such structural flaws and attend to their correction can present a considerable risk to the health and safety of the crew operating the aircraft, as well as to the persons and cargo carried thereby, particularly if a structural failure occurs while the aircraft is at altitude. For these reasons, testing procedures capable of detecting flaws such as cracks in aircraft framework that are not readily detectable by the unaided human eye are particularly desirable, for such procedures allow for the repair and/or replacement of components before a potentially harmful failure can occur. Eddy current probes which are to be used to detect flaws such as fatigue cracks in structural members need to be calibrated with a specimen which simulates the type of fatigue crack anticipated to be found in the structural members under study. The reference standards which have been produced to date have many shortcomings in this regard and do not enable accurate calibration of eddy current probes for the detection of fatigue cracks and dislocations. In general, eddy current testing works on the following principle. A high frequency alternating current is driven through a wire coil contained in the probe. This current produces an alternating magnetic field which emanates form the end of the coil. When the end of the coil is brought into proximity of a conducting material, the magnetic field induces circulating electric currents, known as eddy currents, in the material being tested. The presence of cracks or discontinuities in the test material will alter the pattern of the induced eddy currents and the associated magnetic field, thereby producing a change in the electrical parameters of the coil in the probe. These changes in electrical parameters are electronically manipulated into a useful form, such as a meter reading or a graphic display, thereby allowing for the identification and detection of flaws that may have otherwise been visually undetectable. One of the commonly measured electrical parameters is electrical impedence. In order to optimize the accuracy of measurements obtained from eddy current nondestructive testing of structures, the eddy current device must first be calibrated to ensure that the measurement obtained during nondestructive testing can be properly interpreted. Eddy current probes are generally calibrated by using a reference standard or test block having formed therein a manufactured flaw such as a minute fissure of prescribed dimensions. A reference standard having a manufactured flaw of dimensions at least as large as the smallest flaw for which detection is sought during an inspection of a test structure is selected for probe calibration. Eddy current values as measured by a particular probe on the selected reference standard are compared to values produced by the probe on an actual flaw or fatigue crack in a part under test to provide an indication of the severity of the flaw. Flaws of prescribed dimensions are formed in the reference standards usually through the use of milling equipment or electrical discharge machining (EDM). Reference standards in use to date have gained notoriety for being highly variable both dimensionally and in their eddy current response. At present, there are no specifications covering the production of artifact standards or blocks, and as a result there has been a proliferation of commercial and "homemade" calibration standard blocks of variable quality. The proliferation of these blocks has caused considerable confusion in the structural flaw testing field as to which calibration standard is appropriate in a given test situation. Instruments that are sensitive to eddy current signal phase and amplitude are able to show considerable differences in phase between a relatively wide EDM notch or milled slot, and a naturally-produced fatigue crack. Saw cuts and relatively narrow EDM notches provide more reasonable flaw approximations for probe calibration incident to an inspection testing or comparatively large defects, but fatigue crack detection requires a more precise evaluation and calibration regimen, as fatigue cracks are generally of small dimensions and are therefore difficult to identify. Naturally-produced fatigue cracks that have been identified in portions of previously studied structural members have been used to a limited extent for probe calibration purposes, but these fatigue cracks have proven to be difficult to use on a widespread, regular basis for several reasons: (1) they are difficult to reproduce; (2) the dimensions of the crack can change over time as crack tip stresses force the crack faces toward one another and into electrical contact; and (3) the precise dimensions of the crack are never actually known until the crack is broken apart and analyzed, thereby terminating further utility of the specimen as a probe calibration device. A number of reference standards have been produced for calibrating eddy current probes and ultrasonic-vibration testing apparatus using a wide range of manufacturing techniques. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,315 discloses a reference block for nondestructive testing that includes a plurality of inserts fitted within a housing that defines the reference block. However, a metallurgical bond is formed between the inserts and the housing by a process that includes heat treatment. A principal limitation of this reference standard lies in the fact that the reference standard is formed with numerous substantive discontinuities by virtue of the inserts positioned within the specimen. Another reference standard is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,892, which provides a control specimen having a plurality of cavities machined into a portion of the specimen. This reference, and the majority of the reference standards in the prior art, however, attempt to simulate defects in the surface of a specimen rather than flaws such as cracks which extend inwardly from the specimen surface. In view of the foregoing limitations in the related art, it is clear that there exists a need for readily reproducible reference standard blocks that permit for the accurate and reliable calibration of eddy current probes prior to use of the probes in testing structural components for flaws such as cracks that are not detectable with the unassisted human eye.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Various methods are known in the art for the synthesis of nucleotides or oligonucleotides with a modified phosphate moiety. Synthetic (deoxy) oligonucleotides are usually prepared on a solid phase with the aid of phosphoramidite chemistry. Glass beads with pores of a defined size are usually used as the solid phase (abbreviated in the following as CPG= controlled pore glass). The first monomer is linked to the support by a cleavable group so that the free oligonucleotide can be cleaved off after completion of the solid phase synthesis. In addition the first monomer contains a protected hydroxyl group in which case dimethoxytrityl (DMT) is usually used as the protective group. The protective group can be removed by acid treatment. Then at the 5′ end 3′ phosphoramidite derivatives of (deoxy) ribonucleosides that are also provided with a DMT protective group are successively coupled to the reactive group that is freed in each case of the DMT protective group in a cyclic process. Alternatively 3′ dimemoxytrityl-protected 5′ phosphoramidites are used in inverse oligonucleotide synthesis. The H-phosphonate strategy is also used in particular to introduce modifications on the phosphate backbone, e.g., to prepare radiolabeled phosphorothioates. Various strategies are also already known for preparing modified or labeled oligonucleotides: trifunctional support materials are used according to the prior art to prepare oligonucleotides labeled at the 3′ end (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,290,925, 5,401,837). Labeled phosphoramidites in which the labeling group is bound to the phosphoramidite via a C3-12 linker are usually used to prepare oligonucleotides labeled at the 5′ end (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,997,928, 5,231,191). Furthermore modifications can be introduced into oligonucleotides on the individual bases (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,241,060, 5,260,433, 5,668,266) or by introducing internal non-nucleoside linkers (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,656,744, 6,130,323). Alternatively an internucleoside phosphate can be labeled by postsynthetic labeling of phosphorothioates (Hodges, R. R., et al., Biochemistry 28 (1989) 261-7) or by post-labeling a functionalized phosphoramidite (Agrawal, S., Methods in Mol. Biology 26 (1994) Protocols for Oligonucleotide Conjugates, Chapter 3; Humana Press, Totowa, N.J.). However, these methods have not gained acceptance due to the instability of the phosphoramidites and phosphoric acid thioesters. It is also already known from the prior art that modifications can be introduced on the inter-nucleoside phosphate residue of oligonucleotides. In the most prominent cases these are phosphothioates (Burgers, P. M., and Eckstein, F., Biochemistry 18, (1979) 592-6), methylphosphonates (Miller, P. S., et al., Biochemistry 18 (1979) 5134-43) or boranophosphates (WO 91/08213). Special monomers have to be synthesized in order to prepare methylphosphonate oligonucleotides. In contrast conventional phosphoramidites or H-phosphonates can be used to synthesize phosphorothioates and boranophosphates in which case the borano or thio modification can be introduced directly during or also after oligonucleotide synthesis by using special reagents that react with the H-phosphonate or with the phosphonic acid triester. Although all these methods lead to modified oligonucleotides, the requirements of the synthesis chemistry used for this does not allow labels that can be detected in this manner or functional groups to be directly introduced on the phosphate backbone of the oligonucleotide chain during oligonucleotide synthesis. Baschang, G., and Kvita, V., “Angewandte Chemie” 85(1) (1973) 43-44 describe the reaction of a nucleotide phosphoric acid triester with azides such as methylsulfonyl azide to prepare tri-alkyl(aryl)imidophosphates which are, however, unstable and decompose. Nielsen, J., and Caruthers, M. H., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110 (1988) 6275-6276 describe the reaction of deoxynucleoside phosphites provided with a 2-cyano-1,1-dimethylethyl protective group in the presence of alkyl azide. Furthermore, the authors suggest that this principle is suitable for preparing nucleotides that are modified on the phosphate residue without elucidating which types of modifications prepared with the aid of the disclosed method could have particular advantages. In particular the authors suggest the introduction of alkyl residues. WO 89/09221 discloses N-alkyl phosphoramidites or rather oligonucleotides substituted with N-alkyl on at least one phosphate residue which are prepared by oxidizing nucleoside phosphites (provided with a protective group) with iodine in the presence of suitable alkylamines. WO 03/02587 discloses the preparation of modified oligonucleotides in which H-phosphates are converted by amination into phosphoramidates. Thus all of these publications describe the preparation of molecules which contain a phosphoramidate instead of a phosphate residue. However, molecules containing phosphoramidate are susceptible to hydrolysis since the amine group is protonated in an acidic environment and is then substituted by water. In addition WO 01/14401 proposes nucleotide building blocks or oligonucleotides in which a phosphate residue is substituted with N—ClO3, N—NO2 or N—SO2R. According to the teaching from WO 01/14401 such substances can be prepared by reacting the free hydroxyl group of a deoxy nucleoside with amidophosphonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine. However, this type of preparation is complicated, time-consuming and unsuitable for the routine synthesis of nucleotides or oligonucleotides. The preparation of Acc azides such as acyl azides and sulfonyl azides is simple and known for a long time (Review. Brüse, S., et al., Angewandte Chemie 117 (2005) 5320-5374, 3.4 and 3.5.2). They are preferably prepared from acyl chlorides or sulfonyl chlorides using sodium azides or from hydrazides using nitrous acid. Dye sulfonyl azides are for example also used in dyeing processes (e.g. DE 19650252). Cyanogen azide can be simply produced by reacting sodium azide with bromocyanogen in acetonitrile (McMurry, J. E. et al., J. Organic Chemistry 38(16) (1973) 2821-7). Heteroaryl azides can be prepared by nucleophilic substitution of a halogen with azide or from heteroaryl hydrazines. A prerequisite is that the electron-attracting nitrogen is in the para or ortho position relative to the azido group since only then is a resonance-stabilized phosphate mimetic formed. Ortho and para N-alkyl pyridinium azides are particularly suitable in this connection. Some acyl, sulfonyl and pyridyl azides are also commercially available. The technical object forming the basis of the present invention was thus to provide improved labeled oligonucleotides and to provide labeling reagents which can be used within a simple process for their preparation.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing apparatus control method, an image pickup apparatus, and an image pickup apparatus control method. Description of the Related Art There has been known a type of image pickup apparatus that uses a pupil division-type phase difference detecting method or a plurality of images different from one another in blurring to detect a defocus amount (the difference between a light receiving plane and an image forming plane of a lens). A method of calculating the defocus amount from the image deviation amount (parallax amount) of an image is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-15754. An image is divided into minute blocks, a correlation value is calculated by deviating data relative to a pair of pieces of pixel data in one of the minute blocks, and a deviation amount at which the correlation is highest is obtained as the parallax amount. From the calculated deviation amount and a conversion efficient, which is determined based on an image pickup element's pixel pitch and a lens that are used, the defocus amount is calculated with respect to an expected image forming plane of an object image plane. A method of calculating the defocus amount by Depth from Defocus (DFD) is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-253964. In DFD, a photographing parameter of an image pickup optical system is controlled so as to obtain a plurality of images different from one another in blurring, and the amount of correlation in blurring between a measurement target pixel and its surrounding pixels in the plurality of obtained images is calculated to calculate the defocus amount. The defocus amount calculated by these methods is a distance on the image plane, and object distance information can therefore be calculated further by converting the image plane distance into an object plane distance with the use of the lens equation. Technologies of applying the defocus amount and the object distance that are calculated by these methods to various types of image processing have been disclosed as well. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-45457, face brightness correction includes performing processing in which a correction gain is changed in relation to the defocus amount so that the face in focus has an appropriate brightness. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-243529 includes performing processing in which an image pickup apparatus uses the object distance to pick up an image of an object when the object is within a prescribed distance from the image pickup apparatus.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a valve for an anti-lock brake system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a valve for an anti-lock brake system, in which a sleeve sheet is assembled with a lower portion of a valve housing, so that the external shape and the structure of the valve are simplified. 2. Description of the Related Art In a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle, hydraulic pressure is applied to a master cylinder according to an operation of a brake pedal, so that braking is achieved. At this time, if braking force is greater than static friction force between a tire and a road, the tire may slip on the road, which is called “slip phenomenon”. However, since a dynamic coefficient of friction is smaller than a static coefficient of friction, the slip phenomenon must be prevented to realize an optimum braking operation. In addition, handle-lock phenomenon that makes it impossible to control a handle during the braking operation must be prevented. For this reason, there has been suggested an ABS (anti-lock brake system) which prevents the handle-lock phenomenon by controlling hydraulic pressure applied to a master cylinder. The ABS basically includes a plurality of solenoid valves, an ECU for controlling the solenoid valves, an accumulator, and a hydraulic pump. The solenoid valves are classified into normal-open type solenoid valves, which are installed at an upstream side of a hydraulic brake and normally maintain an open state, and normal-close type solenoid valves, which are installed at a downstream side of the hydraulic brake and normally maintain a closed state. Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional normal-close type solenoid valve (hereinafter, simply referred to as a solenoid valve) is installed in a modulator block 1 to increase the integration degree. A valve bore 2 is formed in the modulator block 1 through a cutting process such that a valve can be installed in the valve bore 2. The valve bore 2 is communicated with an internal fluid path formed in the modulator block 1 and a valve housing 3 is inserted into the valve bore 2. A cylindrical sleeve 5 is coupled to one end of the valve housing 3 such that an armature 4 installed in a hollow section of the valve housing 3 can move up and down through the cylindrical sleeve 5, and a valve core 6 is coupled to an open end of the sleeve 6 to close the open part of the sleeve 6 and to allow the armature 4 to move up and down. In addition, the armature 4 is provided at an end portion thereof with a plunger 8. The plunger 8 opens/closes an orifice 7a of a valve seat 7 as the armature 4 moves up and down, and extends toward the valve seat 7 installed in the hollow section of the valve housing 3. A spring 9 is installed between the armature 4 and the valve core 6. The spring 9 elastically supports the armature 4 such that the orifice 7a can be maintained in a closed state by the armature 4 in normal time. An excitation coil (not shown) is provided at an outer portion of the sleeve 5 and the valve core 6 in order to induce electronic interaction to move the armature 4 up and down. As power is applied to the excitation coil, electromagnetic force is generated between the valve core 6 and the armature 4, and the armature 4 is moved toward the valve core 6 due to the electromagnetic force, thereby opening the orifice 7a of the valve seat 7. In contrast, if the power being applied to the excitation coil is shut off, the electromagnetic force is not applied to the armature 4, so the armature 4 returns to its original position by elastic force of the spring 9. Thus, the orifice 7a is closed. However, according to the conventional solenoid valve having the above structure, components are installed about the valve housing 3, so the valve housing 3 must be formed with a space for installing the plunger 8, the orifice 7a, the valve seat 7 and a sealing member 10. In addition, the valve housing 3 must be formed with an inlet 3a and an outlet 3b for fluid communication. For this reason, the valve housing 3 may have a complicated configuration, so that the valve housing 3 must be processed through a plasticizing process, such as a forging process, and a precise cutting process. Therefore, the size of the valve housing 3 is enlarged, so that the size of the solenoid valve is also enlarged, causing increase in the manufacturing cost for the solenoid valve.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention Embodiments of this invention relate generally to electrical circuits and input/output (“I/O”) interfaces, and, more particularly, to a method and driver circuit for controlling slew rates and power of current-mode logic (“CML”) output drivers. 2. Description of Related Art Electrical circuits and data storage devices have evolved becoming faster and transmitting greater amounts of data. With the increased speed and bandwidth capabilities of electrical circuits and data storage devices, I/O interfaces must be adapted to be compatible with new system requirements. As technologies for electrical circuits and data storage devices have progressed, there has developed a need for backward-compatibility with older and slower technologies, particularly in the area of I/O interfaces. However, power and signal speed considerations introduce substantial barriers to backward-compatibility for I/O interfaces. Parameters such as output voltage, skew and slew rate requirements are particularly problematic. Typically, in modern implementations for I/O interfaces, either a voltage-mode differential pre-driver or a current-mode differential pre-driver drives a current-mode differential output driver. However, using either of these pre-drivers fails to provide a sufficient solution for backward-compatibility of I/O interfaces. State of the art voltage-mode pre-drivers have limited ranges for tuning slew rates and cannot simultaneously meet multiple, strict skew and slew rate requirements. State of the art current-mode pre-drivers are also incapable of successfully meeting multiple power requirements in conjunction with the necessary slew and skew considerations.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field Example embodiments relate to methods of forming a pattern and methods of manufacturing a memory device using the same. Example embodiments relate to methods of forming an active pattern by an epitaxial growth process and methods of manufacturing a memory device using the method of forming the active pattern. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, non-volatile memory devices are classified into floating gate type memory devices and/or floating trap type memory devices. A silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-semiconductor (SONOS) memory device may serve as the floating trap type memory device. The SONOS memory device may include a tunnel insulation layer formed on a semiconductor substrate, a charge trapping layer, a blocking insulation layer and a gate electrode. The tunnel insulation layer may include silicon oxide, the charge trapping layer may include silicon nitride, the blocking insulation layer may include silicon oxide, and the gate electrode may include a conductive material. The SONOS memory device may perform programming tasks by storing electrons in a trap site formed in the charge trapping layer, which is disposed between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate, and erasing tasks by storing holes in the trap site formed in the charge trapping layer. The tunnel insulation layer may be formed to have a relatively small thickness because the electrons and/or the holes may be stored in the trap site of the charge trapping layer. The SONOS memory device may be operated even by a lower operation voltage so that a structure of a peripheral circuit may be simplified. The SONOS memory device may have an increased integration degree. Recently, a width between isolation regions for isolating memory cells has been decreased as a design rule of the memory cells is reduced. The isolation regions may be formed by forming a photoresist pattern on a substrate, etching the substrate using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask to form a trench at upper portions of the substrate, and filling the trench with an insulator. Forming the isolation regions using the photoresist pattern may become a challenging task because the design rule of the memory cells has become smaller. As a critical dimension (CD) of the photoresist pattern gets finer, a thickness of the photoresist pattern may get smaller, and thus etching the substrate using the photoresist pattern may result in being more difficult. The photoresist pattern may be fine enough that the photoresist pattern may be broken. Accordingly, a roughness of a side face of the photoresist pattern may not be uniform, thereby disfiguring a shape of the trench that may be successively formed by the etching process.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Ultrasound and vibratory type emitting devices have been used for medical therapeutic applications over the years. Various types of therapeutic devices have been proposed that apply ultrasonic oscillations and vibrations directly to an affected body part so as to relax muscles, quicken blood flow circulation, enhance healing of the skin, etc. See For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,127 to Abdelghami; U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,334 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,559 to Klopotek; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,202 to Noda et al. However, these devices and systems have practical type limitations. For example, most of these devices are limited to direct contact of a portion of the device itself against the skin of the patient. As a result, the field of application is generally restricted to the areas directly beneath the skin contact point. The body contacting requirement does not allow these devices to easy slide over and across one's skin to different areas to be treated. Thus, moving these devices to other body areas usually requires that the device be physically raised, moved and lowered again to the area to be treated. Furthermore, these devices are generally limited to using acoustical type vibratory signal emissions from a single generator type unit such as an electromagnetic generator, and does not use other energy sources, nor applies other energy emissions for treatments. Still furthermore, the single generators are generally limited to generating only fixed frequency outputs. The subject inventor has previously sold a basic handheld tool entitled: Tens Cam having a single fixed frequency generating crystal that solely relied on an electromagnetic induction coil to drive a single crystal. The Tens Cam unit consisted only of a Coil wrapped around a longitudinal Crystal, powered by LISS BODY STIMULATOR power pack, where LEDs (light emitting diodes) are used to indicate power being turned on. The operation of the Tens Cam used a fixed frequency of approximately 8 Hertz that was generated by an electromagnetic source in a narrow beam having a diameter of approximately 1 to approximately 2 millimeters. The delay time for therapeutic effects of the Tens Cam unit was between approximately two to approximately four (4) minutes. The Tens Cam unit had problems due to it's' weight of approximately one pound and its' rough appearance and oblong shape. Taking up to four minutes to generate therapeutic effects on the patient was difficult to do over continuous treatments, since it required the operator to physically hold the one pound unit in a raised position above the patient being treated. Thus, operator fatigue was an inherent result of using this unit. By physically holding the vibrating unit above a patient throughout a several minute treatment process the operator received direct vibratory effects from the unit. The combination of constantly holding the weight of the unit and the direct vibratory effects, along with the operator being constantly within the generation field of the unit created side effects such as but not limited to fatigue and malaise for the operator. Operators repeatedly using the Tens Cam have complained of side effects of medium nerve paraethias, which is a numbness and tingling effect to their hands and fingers. Additional problems with the Tens Cam unit as with other electromagnetic and with vibratory units is that all these units can be known to give off heat which has caused tissue damage. Furthermore, theses prior art type units have limitations as to the tissue penetration being achieved, since the tissue penetration depth is limited by the mechanical nature of the vibrations. All of the prior art units are limited to generating energy directly from electric power supplies and fail to take in additional energy to aid in the therapy treatment. Ambient energy is not used by the prior art devices. Prior art units have been known to cause injuries directly to the patients. Using a strictly handheld supported vibrating and/or heat generating and/or electrically driven device can potentially injure the patients themselves, if the operator directly contacts the patients with the devices. Electric shocks, burns and other damage can be caused by the patients coming into direct contact with many prior art therapy devices. Thus, the need exists for solutions to the problems with the prior art devices.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to the field of soybean breeding. In particular, the invention relates to the novel soybean variety 0385240. 2. Description of Related Art There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirable plant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definition of problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishment of program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives. The next step is selection of germplasm that possess the traits to meet the program goals. The goal is to combine in a single variety an improved combination of desirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits may include higher seed yield, resistance to diseases and insects, better stems and roots, tolerance to drought and heat, better agronomic quality, resistance to herbicides, and improvements in compositional traits. Choice of breeding or selection methods depends on the mode of plant reproduction, the heritability of the trait(s) being improved, and the type of variety used commercially (e.g., F1 hybrid variety, pureline variety, etc.). For highly heritable traits, a choice of superior individual plants evaluated at a single location will be effective, whereas for traits with low heritability, selection should be based on mean values obtained from replicated evaluations of families of related plants. Popular selection methods commonly include pedigree selection, modified pedigree selection, mass selection, recurrent selection and backcrossing. The complexity of inheritance influences choice of the breeding method. Backcross breeding is used to transfer one or a few favorable genes for a highly heritable trait into a desirable variety. This approach has been used extensively for breeding disease-resistant varieties (Bowers et al., 1992; Nickell and Bernard, 1992). Various recurrent selection techniques are used to improve quantitatively inherited traits controlled by numerous genes. The use of recurrent selection in self-pollinating crops depends on the ease of pollination, the frequency of successful hybrids from each pollination, and the number of hybrid offspring from each successful cross. Each breeding program should include a periodic, objective evaluation of the efficiency of the breeding procedure. Evaluation criteria vary depending on the goal and objectives, but should include gain from selection per year based on comparisons to an appropriate standard, overall value of the advanced breeding lines, and number of successful varieties produced per unit of input (e.g., per year, per dollar expended, etc.). Promising advanced breeding lines are thoroughly tested and compared to appropriate standards in environments representative of the commercial target area(s) for generally three or more years. The best lines are candidates for new commercial varieties. Those still deficient in a few traits may be used as parents to produce new populations for further selection. These processes, which lead to the final step of marketing and distribution, may take as much as eight to 12 years from the time the first cross is made. Therefore, development of new varieties is a time-consuming process that requires precise forward planning, efficient use of resources, and a minimum of changes in direction. A most difficult task is the identification of individuals that are genetically superior, because for most traits the true genotypic value is masked by other confounding plant traits or environmental factors. One method of identifying a superior plant is to observe its performance relative to other experimental plants and to one or more widely grown standard varieties. Single observations are generally inconclusive, while replicated observations provide a better estimate of genetic worth. The goal of plant breeding is to develop new, unique and superior soybean varieties and hybrids. The breeder initially selects and crosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing and selection, producing many new genetic combinations. Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to the next generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and different geographical, climatic and soil conditions, and further selections are then made, during and at the end of the growing season. The varieties which are developed are unpredictable. This unpredictability is because the breeder's selection occurs in unique environments, with no control at the DNA level (using conventional breeding procedures), and with millions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resulting lines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion. The same breeder cannot produce the same variety twice by using the exact same original parents and the same selection techniques. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of large amounts of research monies to develop superior new soybean varieties. The development of new soybean varieties requires the development and selection of soybean varieties, the crossing of these varieties and selection of progeny from the superior hybrid crosses. The hybrid seed is produced by manual crosses between selected male-fertile parents or by using male sterility systems. Hybrids may be identified by using certain single locus traits such as pod color, flower color, pubescence color or herbicide resistance which indicate that the seed is truly a hybrid. Additional data on parental lines as well as the phenotype of the hybrid influence the breeder's decision whether to continue with the specific hybrid cross. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection breeding methods are used to develop varieties from breeding populations. Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more varieties or various broad-based sources into breeding pools from which varieties are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. The new varieties are evaluated to determine which have commercial potential. Pedigree breeding is commonly used for the improvement of self-pollinating crops. Two parents which possess favorable, complementary traits are crossed to produce an F1. An F2 population is produced by selfing one or several F1's. Selection of the best individuals may begin in the F2 population (or later depending upon the breeders objectives); then, beginning in the F3, the best individuals in the best families can be selected. Replicated testing of families can begin in the F3 or F4 generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits with low heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F6 and F7), the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are tested for potential release as new varieties. Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations of either self-or cross-pollinating crops. A genetically variable population of heterozygous individuals is either identified or created by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selected based on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellent combining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a new population in which further cycles of selection are continued. Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genetic loci for simply inherited, highly heritable traits into a desirable homozygous variety which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to be transferred is called the donor or nonrecurent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., variety) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. After the initial cross, individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selected and repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. The resulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrent parent (e.g., variety) and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent. The single-seed descent procedure in the strict sense refers to planting a segregating population, harvesting a sample of one seed per plant, and using the one-seed sample to plant the next generation. When the population has been advanced from the F2 to the desired level of inbreeding, the plants from which lines are derived will each trace to different F2 individuals. The number of plants in a population declines each generation due to failure of some seeds to germinate or some plants to produce at least one seed. As a result, not all of the F2 plants originally sampled in the population will be represented by a progeny when generation advance is completed. In a multiple-seed procedure, soybean breeders commonly harvest one or more pods from each plant in a population and thresh them together to form a bulk. Part of the bulk is used to plant the next generation and part is put in reserve. The procedure has been referred to as modified single-seed descent or the pod-bulk technique. The multiple-seed procedure has been used to save labor at harvest. It is considerably faster to thresh pods with a machine than to remove one seed from each by hand for the single-seed procedure. The multiple-seed procedure also makes it possible to plant the same number of seeds of a population each generation of inbreeding. Enough seeds are harvested to make up for those plants that did not germinate or produce seed. Descriptions of other breeding methods that are commonly used for different traits and crops can be found in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, 1960; Simmonds, 1979; Sneep et al., 1979; Fehr, 1987a,b). Proper testing should detect any major faults and establish the level of superiority or improvement over current varieties. In addition to showing superior performance, there must be a demand for a new variety that is compatible with industry standards or which creates a new market. The introduction of a new variety will incur additional costs to the seed producer, the grower, processor and consumer; for special advertising and marketing, altered seed and commercial production practices, and new product utilization. The testing preceding release of a new variety should take into consideration research and development costs as well as technical superiority of the final variety. For seed-propagated varieties, it must be feasible to produce seed easily and economically. Soybean, Glycine max (L), is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goal of plant breeders is to develop stable, high yielding soybean varieties that are agronomically sound. The reasons for this goal are to maximize the amount of grain produced on the land used and to supply food for both animals and humans. To accomplish this goal, the soybean breeder must select and develop soybean plants that have the traits that result in superior varieties.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
With development of new energy vehicle, especially electric-only vehicle technology, two ways to provide electric energy for electric vehicles are getting popular. Particularly, one way is to directly recharge a vehicle, which takes long time; the other is to swap the battery of a vehicle, that is to say, detach the depleted battery pack and attached a fully charged battery pack, achieving the purpose of fast energy replenish. With regard to the second way, however, quick change connectors, as electric interfaces, are required to connect the battery pack to the vehicle body. Since the back pack is not always assembled on the vehicle body in the latter way of providing electric energy, the quick change connector is prone to being exposed to external contaminants or dust during its storage and transportation and thus deteriorates. For example, the contact resistance of the power supply connector is getting bigger, or the liquid cooling joint is clogged, even the male and female parts of the quick change connector become mismatching, negatively influencing normal operation of the back pack and the electric vehicle. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a sealing device for quick change connector of battery pack, which can solve the previously mentioned problems.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a semiconductor inspection apparatus and a semiconductor inspection method and, more particularly, relates to a method for adjusting an imaging magnification of an inspection apparatus which takes an image of a structure on a semiconductor wafer and analyzes it. 2. Description of the Related Art A charged particle beam apparatus such as a scanning electron microscope is a device suitable for measuring and observing patterns formed on a semiconductor wafer whose miniaturization has been advancing. In the case where the patterns formed on the semiconductor wafer are measured or observed, inspection by the charged particle beam apparatus is automatically and continuously performed. However, imaging conditions, image processing conditions, and inspection conditions such as inspection items, which are for observing and measuring, need to be manually set by an operator. For example, a measurement magnification for a measurement point or a length measurement point is judged and determined by the operator so that a pattern is entered in a field of view and a range for length measuring can be specified. In such a method, however, all of the measurement points or the length measurement points in a recipe need to be checked and determined one by one by the operator. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-102259 discloses a secondary electron image magnification setting means for setting a secondary electron image magnification into an electron beam device so that the number of wirings n in a region corresponding to a field of view of the secondary electron image falls in a certain range on the basis of design data of wiring patterns. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-95657 discloses that it is possible to estimate an inspection object size and determine a magnification for photographing the inspection object by specifying an inspection position and an inspection item by means of design data. In the Cited Document 1, the magnification is calculated by the number of wirings included in a layout drawing based on the design data. However, in a situation where recent design data is complicated, wirings which can be counted up are not necessarily present at a place to be desirably measured. Furthermore, the magnification is determined so that the number of wirings n falls within a range of n1≦n≦n2 in determining the magnification; however, there is not disclosed how n1 and n2 are determined. In the Cited Document 2, the imaging magnification cannot be specified unless a line width, a space width, a pitch width, and the like are preliminarily specified as inspection items. In such a method, it is very troublesome because pattern shapes (line, hole, and the like) and measurement portions (line width, hole size, and the like) to be measured need to be preliminarily set with respect to very many inspection positions.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention is concerned with improving the protective ability of a coating having a higher thermal expansion coefficient than the metal it covers. The invention is particularly directed to protecting space shuttle reentry thermal protection systems, aircraft gas turbine engine components, and other applications where coatings must provide environmental protection for refractory metals. Superalloys can also be protected in this manner. Conventional slurry silicide coatings have been modified to change the composition of the external metal di-silicide or the sub-silicide layers which form between the di-silicide and the refractory metal to be protected. Such modifications have, in essence, changed the oxides which form upon silicide coating oxidation. Extra oxides form in addition to silicon dioxide which is the primary protective oxide. These secondary oxides are readily formed at intermediate temperatures thereby enabling the silicides to resist catastrophic intermediate temperature oxidation, commonly called silicide pest. They also aid in filling the cracks formed in most silicide coatings and thus block direct exposure of the crack tips to air. Cracks are formed in silicide coatings because of the large thermal expansion mismatch between metal silicides and the refractory metals. More particularly, the thermal expansion coefficient of the metal silicides is generally greater than that of refractory metals. Since silicide coatings generally have columnar grain structures oriented perpendicular to the substrate, the crack formations at the grain boundaries produce short paths between the oxidizing environment and the refractory metal substrate. Such cracks are potential oxidation failure sites.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The occlusion of body cavities, blood vessels, and other lumina by embolization is desired in a number of clinical situations. For example, the occlusion of fallopian tubes for the purposes of sterilization, and the occlusive repair of cardiac defects, such as a patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosis, and left atrial appendage, and atrial septal defects. The function of an occlusion device in such situations is to substantially block or inhibit the flow of bodily fluids into or through the cavity, lumen, vessel, space, or defect for the therapeutic benefit of the patient. The embolization of blood vessels is also desired in a number of clinical situations. For example, vascular embolization has been used to control vascular bleeding, to occlude the blood supply to tumors, and to occlude vascular aneurysms, particularly intracranial aneurysms. In recent years, vascular embolization for the treatment of aneurysms has received much attention. Several different treatment modalities have been shown in the prior art. One approach that has shown promise is the use of thrombogenic microcoils. These microcoils may be made of biocompatible metal alloy(s) (typically a radio-opaque material such as platinum or tungsten) or a suitable polymer. Examples of microcoils are disclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,994,069—Ritchart et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,731—Butler et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,911—Chee et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,312,415—Palermo; U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,259—Phelps et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,382,260—Dormandy, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,472—Dormandy, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,074—Mirigian; U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,619—Ken; U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,461—Mariant; U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,558—Horton; U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,308—Snyder; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,711—Berenstein et al; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A specific type of microcoil that has achieved a measure of success is the Guglielmi Detachable Coil (“GDC”), described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,136—Guglielmi et al. The GDC employs a platinum wire coil fixed to a stainless steel delivery wire by a solder connection. After the coil is placed inside an aneurysm, an electrical current is applied to the delivery wire, which electrolytically disintegrates the solder junction, thereby detaching the coil from the delivery wire. The application of current also creates a positive electrical charge on the coil, which attracts negatively-charged blood cells, platelets, and fibrinogen, thereby increasing the thrombogenicity of the coil. Several coils of different diameters and lengths can be packed into an aneurysm until the aneurysm is completely filled. The coils thus create and hold a thrombus within the aneurysm, inhibiting its displacement and its fragmentation. A more recent development in the field of microcoil vaso-occlusive devices is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,619 to Greene, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,602,261 to Greene, Jr. et al., and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/631,981 to Martinez; all assigned to the assignee of the subject invention and incorporated herein by reference. These patents disclose vaso-occlusive devices comprising a microcoil with one or more expansile elements disposed on the outer surface of the coil. The expansile elements may be formed of any of a number of expansile polymeric hydrogels, or alternatively, environmentally-sensitive polymers that expand in response to a change in an environmental parameter (e.g., temperature or pH) when exposed to a physiological environment, such as the blood stream. This invention is a novel vaso-occlusive device, a novel expansile element, and a combination thereof.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
While many products are transported in packages or containers, many other products are transported in bulk where the desired amount of product is placed into the vehicle that is to be used to transport the product. The vehicles typically used to transport bulk products include trucks, trailers, rail cars, carts, wagons, and other various containers with open tops. These vehicles typically include an open top to facilitate placing the bulk product into the vehicle. To reduce the potential of product falling out of the vehicle as the vehicle is moved and to reduce the potential of the product being damaged by environmental factors, it is customary to place a cover over the open top of the vehicle. To facilitate placing the bulk product into the vehicle, the cover is typically retractable such as rolling up. An example of one such cover is marketed under the designation SRT-2 by AgriCover such as is illustrated in FIG. 1. This tarp system uses the tarp to pull the roll tube across the hopper as it rolls up the tarp. An internal torsion spring in each spool (similar to a garage door spring) is preloaded to provide tarp tension in the closed position. As the tarp is being rolled up and begins to grow in diameter, the roll tube begins moving faster than the cable is unrolling and the spools begin to turn slightly on the roll tube, winding the spring even tighter. This increase in speed occurs because the tarp diameter becomes larger than the spools and the roll tube moves farther per revolution than the spools whose circumference remains the same. To close the tarp, the motor reverses and the torque tensioned spools “reel in” the cable, pulling the tube back across the hopper. Other side roll-up tarp systems are marketed by Michel (FIG. 2) and Shur-Co., the assignee of this patent application, under the designation Super Duty Swing Arm Electric System (FIGS. 3-4). Both of these tarp systems use extension springs and spools that are rigidly mounted to the roll tube. Michel's tarp system uses a tapered grooved spool and Shur-Co uses a narrow, flat bottom, grooveless cable spool. Both systems pull cable from a side mounted tube at a 90° angle as the roll tube moves across the caps. Both systems unroll cable from their respective spools as the tarp is opened. Both systems' roll tubes move further than the amount of cable unrolled, which results in extending the springs as the tarp moves to the open position thus giving the force needed to keep the cable tight allowing the spools to reel in the cable which closes the tarp.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Conventional wind turbines operate on the energy of the wind to turn two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The rotor is connected to either a vertical or horizontal shaft mounted generator that spins to generate electricity. Wind turbines are preferably mounted on a tower or building structure so as to capture the most energy in a location so as to receive the full effects of the wind yet not disturb the immediate environment. Typically wind turbines are positioned about thirty meters (30 m) above the ground where they can take advantage of winds that are not affected by ground effect obstructions. Wind turbines consist generally of blades that spin with respect to two orientations, vertically orientated axis or horizontally orientated axis. Wind energy is fueled from the kinetic energy of the wind, making wind a clean fuel source. Wind energy will not pollute the air like power plants that rely on combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. Wind turbines that rotate about a horizontal axis are best suited for large unobstructed areas hence the creation of the wind farms. Vertically disposed wind turbines are well suited for congested areas, such as residential neighborhoods. Wind power must compete with conventional generation sources on a cost basis. Depending on how energetic a wind site is, the wind farm may or may not be cost competitive. Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past ten (10) years, the technology still requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators as they typically operate at ten percent (10%) efficiency. Further, although wind power plants have relatively little impact on the environment compared to other conventional power plants, there is some concern over the noise produced by the rotor blades, aesthetic (visual) impacts, and sometimes birds that have been killed by flying into the rotors of horizontal placed axis. The need for renewable energy sources is constantly increasing. A focus on improved wind turbines has steadily increased over time. The general quandary with wind turbines to date relates to the inefficient transfer of kinetic energy to mechanical energy for power generation. A conventional wind turbine converts as little as ten percent (10%) of the possible kinetic energy into mechanical energy for electricity generation due to the many factors that affect the efficiency of a conventional wind turbine. What is lacking in the art is a vertical axis wind turbine design capable of producing a wind turbine capable of improving upon the efficiencies necessary to convert a higher amount of kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The instant invention addresses these and other shortcomings by introducing a vertically aligned wind turbine power generator having improved rotor and stator blade geometry.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention is related, in general, to signal conversion and signal processing and the use of integrated circuits to perform these functions. More specifically, this invention provides a circuit and method using averaging, folding and interpolating for converting analog data to digital data. It is common that converters provide conversion of analog signals to binary bits, providing N-bit accuracy. Typically this requires 2N pre-amps and comparators, making the analog-to-digital integrated circuit complex. Integrated circuit implementations of analog-to-digital converters face the design trade off of increased resolution versus minimizing the cost and complexity overhead. One method of reducing the number of comparators is known as folding. Signal folding involves combining the differential outputs of several pre-amplifiers at a common comparator. In three times folding, three differential pre-amplifiers drive each comparator. Classical folding begins with the generation of a folded version of an input signal and then quantizing that folded signal. However, this simplified approach results in distortion at the bends, i.e., locations where the folded signal has zero slope and then reverses slope. Each folded signal is slightly offset from the adjacent folded signals such that the bend in the fold is not used. The family of folded signals is interpolated to effectively increase the quantity of input signals and enhance the accuracy of the converter. Another limitation of the prior art is cell mismatch. Cell mismatch occurs when successive pairs of differential pre-amplifiers have amplification differences. Individual mismatches between pre-amplifiers result in errors known as Differential Non-Linearity (DNL). The accumulation of DNL mismatch error is known as Integral Non-Linearity (INL). A process referred to as averaging purports to solve the errors associated with DNL and INL. Averaging takes into account a group of folded signals above and below the zero crossing. This technique requires the incorporation of current sources and impedance strips, i.e., resistor strips, coupled to the outputs of the pre-amplifier cells. This architecture intends to xe2x80x9caverage outxe2x80x9d cell mismatches by adding folds in the pre-amplifier circuits, an inefficient and costly solution. By now it should be appreciated that a cost-effective solution to the problem of averaging differential and integral non-linearity at the upper and lower extremes of the input signal range is needed.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present general inventive concept relates to a mobile communication terminal, a digital hearing aid, and a method of controlling the digital hearing aid using the mobile communication terminal, and more particular, to a mobile communication terminal and method capable of providing information about an operation of a digital hearing aid and an environmental situation to a user wearing the hearing aid and controlling the operation of the hearing aid, and a wireless digital hearing aid. 2. Description of the Related Art In general, a hearing aid is fitted to an ear. An audiologist finely adjusts fitting information (for example, frequency amplification conditions) according to an audiogram of a corresponding user at an initial time. Since the user may be in contact with various noise environments in everyday life, he/she may be inconvenienced when the fitting information is not properly changed according to an environment. It is very troublesome for the user to again wear the hearing aid after detaching the hearing aid from the ear and adjusting the fitting information whenever the user environment is changed. Generally, the user does not adjust the fitting information, and must receive assistance of the audiologist. Since a digital hearing aid operates in a state in which the hearing aid is fitted to a user's ear, it is difficult for the user to accurately identify an operation state of the hearing aid during everyday life. For example, the user may determine that the hearing aid has failed due to other factors in spite of a state in which a normal operation is disabled due to only an electric power shortage. This inaccuracy may frequently occur because the user cannot accurately recognize the electric power shortage. When large noise suddenly occurs in a situation where the conventional hearing aid does not receive information in surrounding environments of the user, especially, auditory information, the user may undergo an acoustic shock. When the hearing aid adapted for a specific environment is directly used regardless of an environmental change, that is, when updated fitting information is not received, the user may be inconvenienced in everyday life.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Generally, two types of injury trauma exist, those caused by force and those caused by overuse. Force traumas cause injuries in which an individual receives an acute injury to body tissues. Examples of force traumas include: broken bones, dislocations, muscle bruises, blunt trauma, sprains, and other wounds. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive overuse of certain body tissues resulting in microscopic tissue injury. Generally, the body is not allowed adequate time to heal because the individual fails to adequately recover from continually repeated movement or prior workouts. As a result, minor injuries are aggravated into more serious injuries. Examples of overuse injuries include: shin splints, tendonitis, carpal tunnel injuries, and stress fractures. Pathology and disease states such as arthritis, lupus, degenerative muscle disorders may also cause or result in injury to tissues and pain. Injuries are generally classified as acute or chronic. An acute injury is a recent injury that occurred as a result of a traumatic event or action. Acute injuries include: muscle pulls, ligament sprains, fractures, dislocations, contusions and bruises, among other things. Chronic injuries occur as a result of overuse or a long-standing condition. Chronic injuries seen in orthopedics include: overuse syndromes, tendonitis, bursitis and arthritis. Overuse syndromes, also called cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) or repetitive strain injury (RSI), are conditions characterized by chronic irritation to a body part. Many conditions fall within the category of overuse syndromes. “Tissue” refers to soft tissue, muscle tissue, bone tissue, tendons, ligaments and cartilage among other things. In general, the healing process for traumatized tissue follows a specific physiological sequence. Within the first 24 hours, a series of vascular, cellular and chemical events occur following an initial trauma. Immediately following an injury that is, during the acute phase, blood flow to the injury site increases. Blood vessels, broken during injury, are sometimes not able to contain the blood flow to the injured area. As a result blood spills into the injured area, causing inflammation, or more commonly, swelling, of the area. There are two primary causes of pain in injuries, (1) a nerve ending sending an impulse to the brain and (2) inflammation causing nerve endings to be stretched and send an impulse to the brain. There are certain factors that impede tissue healing. The nature or the amount of the inflammatory response is determined by the extent of the tissue injury. Edema impedes tissue healing because the increased pressure caused by swelling retards the healing process, causes separation of tissues, inhibits neuromuscular control, produces reflexive neurological changes and impedes nutrition to, and waste removal from, the injured area. Bleeding, or hemorrhage, occurs with even the smallest amount of damage to the capillaries which can add to further inflammation. Additional inflammation adds more pressure and pain to the injured area. Vascular supply to the area has an effect on healing and also has an effect on the healing process. Injuries to tissues with a poor vascular supply heal poorly and at a slower rate. For example, injuries to tendons and ligaments, in general, heal more slowly because they have low vascular supply. The type of tissue injury can also affects the healing process. In general, mechanically separated, smooth edges heal better and more quickly than jagged edged damaged tissue. Muscle spasms in the injured area may also affect healing as traction on torn tissue prevents approximation of the injured edges of the tissue. Atrophy, the wasting away of muscle tissue, begins immediately with trauma. Oxygen tension relates to the neovascularization of the wound. Optimal saturation with oxygen is required for the return of maximal tensile strength and development. Of course, the health, age and nutrition intake of the individual will also affect the healing capacity of the body to the injury. Acute injuries become chronic injuries when the body ceases to be able to cope with the tissue destruction, edema, and/or continued overuse. Pain and swelling continues at rest and the movement or joint motion remains suboptimal for days to months or more. A joint is the location at which two or more bones come together within the anatomical structure. Joints allow movement and provide mechanical support. Joints are mainly classified structurally and functionally. Structural classification is determined by how the bones connect to each other. There are three structural classifications of joints. A fibrous joint is joined by fibrous connective tissue, while a cartilaginous joint is joined by cartilage. Synovial joints are not directly joined. Functional classification is determined by the degree of movement between the articulating bones and the amount of mobility that they allow. A synarthrosis joint permits little or no mobility. Most synarthrosis joints are fibrous joints, such as those, for example, in the skull. An amphiarthrosis joint permits slight mobility. Most of these joints are cartilaginous joints, for example, vertebrae. A diarthrosis joint permits a variety of movements. All diarthrosis joints are synovial joints. Such joints include the shoulder, hip, elbow and knee. A diarthrosis and a synovial joint are considered equivalent. Joints can also be classified based on their biomechanical properties. Biomechanically, joints are subdivided into simple, compound and complex. Simple joints have two articulating surfaces, such as the shoulder and the hip. Compound joints such as the radiocarpal, or wrist joint, have 3 or more articulating surfaces. A complex joint such as the knee has 2 or more articulating surfaces and an articular disc or meniscus. With the foregoing basic understanding of anatomy and physiology, one recognizes that joint and muscle mechanics are interconnected. Bones are required for movement and locomotion, but they are unable to move on their own. They must be moved by the alternate contraction and relaxation of the skeletal muscles. Skeletal muscles (also known as striated, voluntary muscles and skeletal muscle) act on the bones that serve as a system of levers. Voluntary muscles control the movement that you have direct control over. These muscles are responsible for making almost any movement that is required. Voluntary muscles are also found in your face and jaws, so they are used when you smile or frown and when you talk, eat or drink. Joints are the points at or around which the bones move to create motion. Many bones have ridges and protuberances which provide an area for muscle attachment. Muscles may move the whole body, or part of it, or some material along a tube within it. That is, movement does not depend on movement from only one joint (location). Specific joint stability is not solely dependant on the stability of that specific joint alone. This being said, injuries to one joint affect other joints and musculature and therefore the support and rehabilitation of anatomy, and training for a certain action, often requires rehabilitation and training of other areas of the body, often in conjunction with the perceived injured joint and musculature. For every muscle or group of muscles that bring about movement of a certain part of the body, there is another muscle, or group of muscles, which bring about an opposite movement. All muscles work in pairs. This is because muscles can contract and relax but cannot push or stretch themselves. Muscles that bring about opposite movements are called antagonistic muscles. As the one muscle contracts, the other relaxes, and vice versa. The antagonistic action allows the smooth coordination of movement possible. When a muscle is stimulated it contracts and becomes shorter and thicker thus moving the bone to which it is attached. When it is relaxed, the muscle becomes longer and thinner. For example, in moving one's arm, when the biceps contracts it flexes the elbow joint. At the same time it also pulls the triceps to make it longer. So the triceps is stretched by the biceps pulling it. When the triceps contracts it extends the arm and at the same time it pulls the biceps and makes it longer. So these two muscle groups work together, antagonistically. Movement is brought about by muscles doing work by pulling as they contract. No work is done by a muscle pushing as it elongates. The functional element of striated muscle is the muscle fiber, which has many fine threads or myofibrils running throughout its length. After nervous stimulation, electrical changes in the membrane surrounding each myofibril cause the release of calcium ions which results in muscle shortening. Oxygen is carried to muscles by the blood, which runs in a plexus of fine capillaries in between the fibers. Waste products such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid are carried away in the blood. The nerve supply to a striated muscle usually enters along with the blood vessels. The nerve to a muscle is mixed, that is it contains both motor fibers which convey impulses from the spinal cord to the muscle and sensory fibers which relay information back to the spinal cord. The motor fibers branch within the muscle, and one nerve cell supplies several muscle fibers distributed throughout the muscle. Each muscle fiber receives only one terminal branch of a nerve fiber at the neuromuscular junction. The signal is passed between the two cell membranes, that of the nerve fiber (called the pre-synaptic membrane) and that of the muscle cell (called the post-synaptic membrane). A wave of depolarization (movements of sodium and potassium ions) along the fiber releases calcium ions and initiates the process of contraction. A sensory receptor is a part of a sensory neuron or cell that receives information from the world and relates it to the nervous system. There are several different types of sensory neurons within the body. For example, Pacinian corpuscles in the skin are the deep pressure receptors. Some outside force has to have a way to act on the sensory nerve. In the case of the Pacinian corpuscle, a very forceful pressing on the skin activates it. Mechanoreceptors respond to mechanical stress or mechanical strain. Muscle spindles contain mechanoreceptors that detect stretch in muscles. Nociceptors respond to damage to body tissues leading to pain perception. Thermoreceptors respond to temperature, either heat, cold or both. Cutaneous receptors are sensory receptors found in the dermis or epidermis. Proprioceptors provide the sense of position. Within and around a joint are many structures required to allow function of that structure. There are many muscles and tendons, which insert or originate on the distal end of the femur or proximal end of the tibia and fibula and cover and support the patella. The femur, tibia and patella are the bones that create the knee joint. There are ligaments that hold bone to bone and cartilage is at the distal and proximal ends of the bone to cushion areas of bone to withstand force and to protect the bone from wear and tear. A bursa is a small fluid filled sac or saclike cavity situated in places in tissues where friction would otherwise occur. Bursae function to facilitate the gliding of skin, muscles or tendons over bony or ligamentous surfaces. They are numerous and are found throughout the body; the most important are located at the shoulder, elbow, knee and hip. Inflammation of a bursa is known as bursitis. Synovium is the smooth lining of a joint. A flexible joint is lined by a synovial membrane. Synovium produces synovial fluid (illustration), a clear substance that lubricates and nourishes the cartilage and bones inside the joint capsule. Injury to any of these structures (muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage, meniscus, bursa or synovium) can result in pain. There are two menisci in your knee. The medial meniscus is on the inside of the knee while the lateral meniscus is on the outside of the knee. Each meniscus rests between the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). The menisci are made of tough cartilage and conform to the surfaces of the bones upon which they rest. These menisci function to distribute the body weight across the knee joint. If the meniscus was not present, the body weight would be unevenly applied to the bones in the legs (femur and tibia). Relative strength differences between ligament and bone can predict the location of injury within the joint. In pediatric patients, the ligament is generally strongest at the growth plate or the bone is weakest at the growth plate. When there is stress on the joint, injury is likely to occur at the growthplate. With an adult, bone is normally stronger than the structure of the ligament. As a result, in an adult, ligaments rupture first. In geriatrics patients, the ligament is stronger than the bone. As a result, frequently, the bone will fracture first. Sprains occur when there is a tear to a ligament. Grade I sprains result from stretching of the ligament or a minor tear of the ligament. There is no laxity of the ligament. Grade II sprains are a result of an incomplete tear. Laxity of the ligament is evident and there is usually swelling associated with the injury. A Grade III sprain is characterized by a complete tear of the ligament. There is increased laxity of the ligament with swelling (edema). The individual is definitely experiencing pain. The most common cause of joint pain is overuse and/or repetitive motion. Certain types of athletic activities employ repetitive motion. Other repetitive motion pain and injury occurs through simple use of a joint over time. Overuse injuries are also frequently work-related injuries associated with continued repetitive motion such as typing, working with tools and other simple repetitive motions. Overuse injuries are caused in two basic ways. In the first scenario, the movement is inconsistent with the anatomy used to make the movement. Alternatively, repetitive motion can cause muscle fatigue to exhaustion and stress is on the insertion or origin of the muscular tendon. Repetitive rubbing of the tendon thru a boney canal causes inflammation and therefore, pain thru that area. Pain is the patient's first warning of an injury. If pain continues, the area will continue to experience damage and swelling will increase. Swelling results in pressure and damage results in bleeding (hemorrhage) which also results in pressure. Pressure and structural damage trigger pain receptors within the tissue. The physical response to inflammation is pain to the individual. Continued movement of the painful area often results in further injury. Once tissue is injured, it takes longer to heal and may require surgical intervention. Age can define what kind of damage occurs at a joint. The young tend to receive trauma, fractures, or ligamentous and meniscal injuries. The middle age to older individuals are often struck by arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis or degenerative joint disease. Arthritis can occur following trauma or an infection of the joint. Arthritis may occur from aging alone. Abnormal anatomy may contribute to early development of osteoarthritis. It is the leading cause of disability in people over the age of 55. For the person experiencing the pain, it is sometimes difficult to identify the origin of the pain. For example, when a patient has a “sore knee” it can be the whole knee that is in pain. Diagnosis is simpler during the acute phase of an injury as the patient may have been more likely to pinpoint the location of specific pain. Early identification of the injury frequently narrows down the offending movements sooner and could lead to injury prevention. However, most people, particularly athletes, continue workout and therefore continue to subject the injured area to the offending motion until the pain is more global and affects more of the joint. Unfortunately, by that time other muscle groups are involved and it is more difficult to understand where and what caused the injury.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
DE 101 25 059 A1 describes an inductive voltage generator which comprises a mechanical energy storage device. The energy storage device stores actuation energy until a transition point has been reached, after reaching which a permanent magnet of the induction system undergoes an abrupt movement. As a result of this movement the magnetic flux changes abruptly and at the beginning or end of its movement the permanent magnet strikes the core. An inductive voltage generator can be used in connection with a remote switch. At present, however, a great deal of mechanical energy is needed in order to be able to produce enough electrical energy to operate the remote switch.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Industrial control systems comprise one or more controllers coupled with at least one Human Machine Interface (HMI) over a network or other communication system. The one or more controllers are linked to field devices or peripherals that gather data and perform control tasks—for example sensors, actuators, motors, console lights, switches, valves and contactors. Control systems also include I/O devices which connect controllers to field devices, and which perform an interface function between the two. The input component of an I/O device may comprise one or more signal conditioning or signal conversion circuits, which enable conditioning and/or conversion of data signals received from a field device into logic signals capable of interpretation by the corresponding controller. The output component of an I/O device may comprise one or more signal conversion circuits configured to convert control signals from the controller into digital or analog signals that can be used to control various field devices. Depending on type and model of a field device in use, corresponding input signals to, or output signals from such field device can vary significantly. Owing to limitations of existing technology, prior art control systems required a compatible I/O device to be selected and implemented for every different field device type or signal type. FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary control system 100 incorporating prior art I/O devices. Control system 100 includes human interface station (HIS) 102 which comprises an operator or user interface that is communicably coupled with field controls stations (FCS) 104 and 106. Each FCS comprises a controller that performs control computation functions for one or more function blocks within the control system, and which controls I/O functions for field devices. In the illustration of FIG. 1A, FCS 104 includes field control unit (FCU) 108—which implements the control functions of FCS 104. FCS 104 additionally includes a plurality of node interface units (NIU) 110a to 110d. Each NIU 110a to 110d comprises an interface that communicates with and enables field control unit 108 to communicate with I/O devices (I/OD) 112a to 112c, and with field devices (FD) 114a or 114b that are connected to an NIU through such I/O device(s). The NIU may additionally include an interface that enables it to communicate with another NIU. It would be understood that FCS 106 may have a configuration similar to FCS 104. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, each of NIU 110a, 110b and 110c are communicably coupled with I/O device 112a, 112b and 112c respectively. Of these, I/O devices 112a and 112b are respectively coupled with field device (FD) 114a and 114b. I/O device 112c remains available for coupling with a field device. Likewise, NIU 110d remains available for coupling with an I/O device and/or a corresponding field device. Recent advances in I/O device technology have resulted in development of versatile I/O devices that are capable of interfacing with and processing I/O signal types. Stated differently, the new I/O devices accommodate multiple I/O signal types (and are therefore compatible with multiple field device types) and are capable of functioning as universal I/O and signal conditioners. Additionally, a single advanced I/O device of this type may be capable of being configured to simultaneously couple with one or more analog input field devices, analog output field devices, digital input field devices, and digital output field devices. In one implementation, the recent I/O devices include multiple types of signal conditioners/converters on a single (or unified) baseplate, which enables flexible configuration and assignment of the I/O device so as to accommodate any one of a plurality of different field device types. These advanced I/O devices are also configured to have multiple I/O points, each I/O point being configured to function as an interface point for an I/O channel established between a field device and the I/O device. The ability to bind multiple field devices to a single I/O device lowers the overall device footprint, and improves cost efficiencies. Additionally, the ability to flexibly bind a single I/O device type to multiple field device types results in significantly faster project completion without compromising quality. FIG. 1B illustrates an advanced I/O device (I/OD) 116 of the type described above—which I/OD 116 is communicably coupled to multiple field devices (FD) 118a to 118d. It would be understood that the total number of field devices that may be connected to a single I/O device of the type illustrated in FIG. 1B is limited by the maximum number of I/O points provided in the I/O device. The availability of multiple I/O points in a single I/O device provides the ability to simultaneously establish multiple I/O channels, and additionally to combine multiple I/O channels into a single combined I/O channel, which combined I/O channel may be assigned or communicably connected to a field device. In an embodiment, the combination of multiple I/O channels may be achieved by configuring multiple I/O points within an advanced I/O device in a manner such that the individual I/O channels established at said multiple I/O points behave as a functionally combined I/O channel. By way of example, multiple digital output channels of an I/O device may be combined into a single digital output channel to increase an output current delivered to a field device. In a more specific example, two single digital output channels, each respectively capable of carrying an output current of 0.67 amperes, may be combined to deliver an output current of approximately 1.3 amperes to a field device. In another example, three single digital output channels, each capable of carrying an output current of 0.67 amperes, may be combined to deliver an output current of approximately 2 amperes to a field device. Similarly (i) multiple digital input channels associated with an I/O device may be combined into a single digital input channel (ii) multiple analog output channels associated with an I/O device may be combined into a single analog output channel and (iii) multiple analog input channels associated with an I/O device may be combined into a single analog input channel. The ability to combine multiple channels established by an I/O device into a combined single I/O channel has presented a previously unanticipated difficulty in testing whether the I/O points associated with such combined channels have been appropriately configured, and whether the resulting combined channels are operating correctly. Since a combined I/O channel comprises more than one individual component channel, conventional testing of a combined I/O channel requires testing of each component channel separately. FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart setting out conventionally understood steps for ascertaining whether a combined I/O channel is operating correctly. A combined I/O channel comprises a primary channel and one or more secondary channels. As illustrated in FIG. 2, conventional testing of a combined I/O channel involves at step 202, performing a signal check across the primary channel. Thereafter, step 204 comprises ascertaining whether any secondary channels associated with the primary channel remain to be tested, and if so, performing a signal check on the untested secondary channel at step 206. The method repeats steps 204 and 206 until signal checks have been completed on the primary channel as well as on all secondary channels associated with the combined I/O channel. Step 208 thereafter determines the status of the combined I/O channel based on results of testing of each of the primary and secondary channels. The conventional testing method illustrated in FIG. 2 suffers from multiple drawbacks, including (i) requiring serialized testing and validation of signals on each of the primary and secondary channels—whereas ideally each of the primary and secondary channels should be tested concurrently, (ii) requiring manual comparison and analysis of anticipated signal values against measured values (iii) the signal testing is carried out manually, with the aid of physical sensors or measurement devices (such as a voltmeter, multimeter, ammeter or other sensing device) which is laborious and prone to human measurement and validation errors. Additionally, since this method relies on testing of individual I/O channels, the testing process can only be carried out after all channels between the I/O device and the concerned field device have been established (i.e. after the actual physical, wired or wireless connections have been established). There is accordingly a need for an automated and accurate system for testing an I/O device configured to implement one or more combined I/O channels, which testing can be carried out even without establishing actual physical connections between the I/O device and the concerned field device.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Numerous microorganisms, for example, those of the genera Arthrobacter, Brevibacterium, Microbacterium, Protaminobacter, Bacillus, Norcardia, Streptomyces, and especially Mycobacterium, are capable of degrading zoosterols and phytosterols to carbon dioxide and water. During the degradation, 4-androstene-3,17-dione and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione are formed as intermediates. The degradation of the sterols to avoid further degradation of the thus-formed 4-androstene-3,17-dione or 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione is accomplished by using inhibiting additives or mutated microorganisms. See DOS's (German Unexamined Laid-Open Applications) 1,543,269 and 1,593,327, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,684,657.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Until recently, the cable network was predominantly a vehicle for delivering entertainment. With the advent of the Internet and the rise in demand for broadband two-way access, the cable industry began to seek new ways of utilizing its existing plant. Pure coaxial (“coax”) cable networks were replaced with hybrid fiber networks (HFNs) using optical fiber from the head end to the demarcation with the subscriber coax (usually at a fiber node). Currently, a content-based network, a non-limiting example of which is a cable television network, may afford access to a variety of services besides television, for example, broadband Internet access, telephone service, and the like. One significant issue for a cable operator desiring to provide digital service is the configuration of its network. Designed for one-way delivery of broadcast signals, the existing cable network topology was optimized for downstream (toward the subscriber) only service. New equipment had to be added to the network to provide two-way communication. To reduce the cost of this equipment and to simplify the upgrade of the broadcast cable for two-way digital traffic, standards were developed for a variety of new cable-based services. The first of these standards, the Data Over Cable System Interface Standard (DOCSIS® standard), was released in 1998. DOCSIS® establishes standards for cable modems and supporting equipment. DOCSIS® (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) is a registered mark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc., 400 Centennial Parkway Louisville Colo. 80027, USA, and will be referred to for the remainder of this application in capital letters, without the ® symbol, for convenience. Currently, subscribers may be charged a monthly fee for Internet access, regardless of the amount of bandwidth they consume. Some customers may use an inordinate amount of bandwidth, which is unfair to those who use a reasonable amount.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Technical Field Embodiments of the invention relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) systems, and more specifically, to a system and method for hyperpolarizing a substance. Discussion of Art MRI is a widely accepted and commercially available technique for obtaining digitized visual images representing the internal structure of objects having substantial populations of atomic nuclei that are susceptible to nuclear magnetic resonance (“NMR”). Many MRI systems use superconductive magnets to scan a subject/patient via imposing a strong main magnetic field on the nuclear spins in the subject to be imaged. The nuclear spins are excited by a radio frequency (“RF”) signal/pulse transmitted by a RF coil at characteristics NMR (Larmor) frequencies. By spatially disturbing localized magnetic fields surrounding the subject and analyzing the resulting RF responses from the excited nuclear spins as they relax back to their equilibrium state, a map or image of the nuclear spins responses as a function of their spatial location is generated and displayed. An image of the nuclear spins response provides a non-invasive view of a subject's internal structure. In certain MRI procedures, referred to as Hyperpolarized MRI, e.g., Metabolic MRI, it is sometimes advantageous to inject a subject/patient with a hyperpolarized substance. The term “hyperpolarized,” as used herein with respect to a substance, refers to a state of the substance in which the number of nuclear spins of the substance having a polarized state is greater than the number of nuclear spins of the substance having a polarized state at thermal equilibrium conditions. Due to the high percentage of nuclear spins having a polarized state, a hyperpolarized substance may generate an MR signal more than 10,000 times stronger than many non-hyperpolarized substances. Thus, many hyperpolarized substances are effective MRI tracers. Methods of producing hyperpolarized substances often involve lowering the temperature of a substance in the presence of persistent radicals within a strong magnetic field, and subsequently irradiating the substance and persistent radicals with microwaves. As used herein, the term “persistent radical” refers to an atom and/or molecule that has a free electron and remains within a substance for an indefinite amount of time, and which is not readily removable from the substance without de-hyperpolarizing the substance. Following a Boltzmann distribution, the electron spins of the persistent radicals become highly polarized at low temperature within the strong magnetic field, and the microwaves transfer polarization from the persistent radicals to the nuclear spins of the substance. Many hyperpolarized substances created by such methods, however, often have short life spans, i.e., the amount of time such substances are in a hyperpolarized state. In particular, the persistent radicals themselves contribute to de-polarization of the substance over time. Accordingly, it is usually necessary to create a hyperpolarized substance at the same location/site at which an MRI procedure utilizing the hyperpolarized substance is performed. Many systems capable of creating hyperpolarized substances, however, are often expensive and/or require a large amount of space. Additionally, it is also usually necessary to create a hyperpolarized substance within a short time period of beginning an MRI procedure which utilizes the hyperpolarized substance. Thus, many systems for creating a hyperpolarized substance are often limited in the number of MRI procedures that they can service in a single day. What is needed, therefore, is an improved system and method for hyperpolarizing a substance.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to a method for charging secondary batteries, in particular, to decrease the charging time. Since secondary batteries such as a lithium ion battery, have various advantages, such as a large capacity and so on, secondary batteries have been put to practical use in various fields. On the other hand, secondary batteries also have disadvantages, such as a small tolerance against overcharge and over-discharge, and a narrow usable voltage range. In view of this, a method of controlling the applied voltage for charging the batteries, in consideration of a voltage drop caused by the internal resistance of the batteries, has been effective. An example of this method has been disclosed in JP-A-7-240235 (1995). In accordance with the disclosed method, the charging current is switched off during the charging of a battery, the internal resistance of the battery is calculated based on values of the voltages before and after the switching off, and the voltage applied to the battery is maintained at a designated value by charging the battery with a charging voltage, to which is added an extra voltage equal to the voltage drop caused by the internal resistance of the battery. A relationship between the charging voltage and the charging current at the time of charging a battery, when the battery is conventionally charged with a constant designated voltage without considering the internal resistance of the battery, is shown in FIG. 10. During the initial period, charging is performed with a constant current so as not to allow the charging current to exceed a designated value, because the voltage of the battery is low. After the voltage of the battery is increased to reach VU, the charging is performed with a constant voltage. Then, the internal resistance of the battery during the charging is determined. An example of conventional methods for determining the internal resistance, wherein the internal resistance of the battery is determined by switching off the charging current completely during the charging of the battery, is indicated in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows that it takes a long time to stabilize the terminal voltage of the battery at a constant value after switching off the current. FIG. 11 also shows that it takes a long time to stabilize the voltage at a constant value after switching on the current. In accordance with the above-described conventional method, the following problems are generated, because the charging current is switched off completely during the charging of the battery. (1) It takes a long time to stabilize the voltage at a constant value after switching off the current. (2) Accordingly, an effect of decreasing the charging time is not significant, because the charging is stopped for a long time during the charging operation.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to Faraday shields, particularly to Faraday shields used in conjunction with a transformer and most particularly to Faraday shields used in conjunction with a planar transformer. Faraday shields have been placed between the primary and secondary windings of a transformer to reduce the electromagnetic interference or noise capacitively coupled between the windings of the transformer. The noise is often created by dv/dt signals cause by, for example, field effect transistor (FET) drain voltages or diode snaps. Transformers have included Faraday shields between the windings to reduce the noise coupled between the windings. A typical prior art Faraday shield is a continuous solid layer of copper connected to a voltage source so as to guard against noise being coupled between the windings. The Faraday shield reduces the capacitively coupled noise by reducing the interwinding capacitance of the transformer. However, addition of the Faraday shield adds resistive losses to the transformer. The resistive losses or I2R losses result from eddy currents being induced in the Faraday shield. Until such time as a superconductor can replace the conductive materials used to make the Faraday shield, it will be impossible to eliminate resistive losses due to eddy currents. In view of the foregoing short comings associated with previous Faraday shields, there is a strong need in the art for an improved Faraday shield having low eddy current losses while maintaining a low noise environment for the transformer. The present invention includes a Faraday shield having low conductivity areas that reduce resistive losses associated with eddy currents while the high conductive areas of the Faraday shield guard against the occurrence of noise in a transformer. The Faraday shield of the present invention, like the Faraday shields of the prior art, reduces electromagnetic interference or noise in the transformer. Noise typically results from dv/dt signals generated by FET drain voltages and diode snaps, although noise from other sources also occurs, and is coupled between the windings by the interwinding capacitance. Faraday shields, when placed between the windings, guard against the coupling of noise between the windings. The reduction of noise results in a more ideal transformer. However, the transformer flux is not ideally oriented and thus induces eddy currents which flow in loops in the Faraday shield. Resistive losses occur as a result of the flux because the conductive material which forms the Faraday shields is not a perfect conductor. The resistive losses make the transformer a less ideal transformer. To avoid this problem the present invention includes low conductivity areas in the Faraday shield. The low conductivity areas in the Faraday shield inhibit the looping eddy currents thereby reducing the resistive losses. Accordingly, a more ideal transformer is achieved through the use of the Faraday shield of the present invention. To accomplish the foregoing and related ends, the invention comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings. The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which several embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention, however, may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment shown. The several embodiments described are provided.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The invention relates to a battery with a battery housing and a cooling apparatus for temperature control of the battery, wherein the battery has a plurality of individual cells which are connected in parallel and/or in series with one another. A battery for use in motor vehicles, in particular in motor vehicles with a hybrid drive or fuel cell vehicles usually has a cell block of a plurality of individual cells electrically connected in series and/or in parallel (also called individual cells), for example, lithium ion cells. The individual cells have to be cooled in order to discharge the resulting lost heat. For this, a cooling apparatus is used, which is thermally connected to the individual cells. With a so-called head cooling of the individual cells, the cooling apparatus is arranged at a pole side of the individual cells, where electrical pole contacts of the individual cells are present, which are connected to each other in pairs in an electrically conductive manner using cell connectors. These batteries are amongst others disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,347 B1, DE 100 03 740 C1, DE 602 13 474 T2 and US 2005/0174092 A1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,347 B1 discloses a battery whose cooling apparatus is formed as a cooling tube that can carry a coolant, which tube is connected to the individual cells in a heat-conducting manner via heat-conducting plates arranged between these. With the battery disclosed in DE 100 03 740 C1, the cooling apparatus is formed as a heat-conducting plate formed on a pole side of the individual cells, which plate is in thermal contact with cell connectors of pole contacts of the individual cells for cooling the individual cells. With the battery disclosed in DE 602 13 474 T2, the cooling apparatus is formed as a cooling bellows of a deformable heat-conducting material. The cooling bellows is placed around the individual cells in several folds and can be flown through by a heat transfer medium, via which heat can be discharged from the individual cells. US 2005/0174092 A1 discloses a battery whose cooling apparatus comprises a number of cooling channels. Thereby, for cooling the individual cells, pole contacts of the individual cells and cell connectors electrically connecting them are arranged in the cooling channels and can be cooled convectively using a gas flowing through the cooling channels. The cell connectors preferably have cooling blades extending into the cooling channels in order to enlarge their coolable surface. The cell connector simultaneously serve for fixing the individual cells, in that they are formed as washer elements for screw nuts for the attachment of the pole contacts to walls of the cooling channels. The present invention provides a battery with improved cooling of the individual cells. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the battery with a battery housing comprises a plurality of individual cells connected in parallel and/or in series according to the invention, which are attached in a prestressed manner to a cooling apparatus using the cell connectors. With known batteries with head cooling, the individual cells are usually respectively connected to the cooling apparatus via forces acting upon pole contacts. In contrast, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide that the individual cells can be attached to the cooling apparatus via a connection that can be prestressed of the individual cells arranged on or in pole contacts of the individual cells in a form-fit and force-fit manner and thus to cell connectors supported thereon. The individual cells are in particular pressed to the cooling apparatus via the prestressable cell connectors to the cooling apparatus, e.g., to an underside of the cooling apparatus. The pulling force to be applied for this is thereby introduced into the individual cells via the cell connectors, so that the pole contacts are relieved mechanically. Using the direct pressing of the individual cells to the cooling apparatus, the cooling of the individual cells and the stability of the cell compound of the individual cells are improved. A durable pre-stressing is additionally effected in the pressing compound of the cooling apparatus and the individual cells over the lifetime of the battery. In one aspect of the present invention, the cell connectors are formed elastically, in particular resiliently, for a prestressable connection of individual cells and cooling apparatus. Such an arrangement of the prestressable connection has the advantage that the pre-stressing can be adjusted individually for each individual cell by corresponding tightening of the cell connectors e.g., using a screw. Differences of the dimensions of the individual cells caused by manufacture can thereby be compensated for in a particular advantageous manner. In one aspect of the present invention, the cell connectors have an omega-shaped or loop-shaped longitudinal section. Thereby, the height of the pre-stressing is determined by the distance of the omega legs to the o-shaped or the circular omega element and the height of the hollow space of the o-shaped or the circular omega element. The cell connectors are, for example, arranged in such a manner on the pole contacts that that they depict an omega standing on its head in the longitudinal section of the battery, whose omega legs are attached to the pole contacts of adjacent individual cells and whose circular omega element abuts the face side of the individual cells in a form-fit manner and in a force-fit manner in the assembled state. The height of the cell connectors is furthermore conveniently larger than the height of the pole contacts of the respective individual cell projecting from the cooling apparatus. During the assembly of the cell connectors to the pole contacts of the individual cells, the cell connectors are prestressed in such a manner that they press the cooling apparatus against the compound of the individual cells in an advantageous manner and thereby produce an improved heat-conducting contact between the cooling apparatus and the cell compound. Using the contact of the cell connectors to the cooling apparatus, a part of the lost heat generated in the individual cells is additionally transferred to this cooling apparatus via the pole contacts of the individual cells and via the cell connectors arranged on these, which abut the cooling apparatus. An alternative aspect of the present invention provides that respectively one cell connector is provided with respectively one spring element. In other words, the cell connector has an additional spring element, which is arranged at the cell connector and which is aligned in the direction of the face sides of the individual cells. For a simple and fast assembly, the respective, in particular s-shaped spring element can be arranged at and attached to the respective cell connector in a form-fit and force-fit manner, in particular a locking manner. For the electrical insulation with regard to the cooling apparatus, the respective spring element is formed at least of electrically insulating material, e.g., plastics. The respective spring element is furthermore at least temperature-resistant. The cooling apparatus is preferably a heat-conducting plate which is heat-conducting contact with the individual cells. This enables a simple and installation space-saving construction of the battery. Using the elastic formation of the cell connectors, they press the heat-conducting plate against the individual cells in a simple manner. In a further aspect of the present invention, the cell connectors are in heat-conducting contact with the cooling apparatus formed as heat-conducting plate. In order to further improve the heat conduction and to electrically insulate the cooling apparatus against the cell connectors, an electrically insulating heat-conducting film is present on the cooling apparatus, in particular on the upper side in the direction of the cell connectors, in an advantageous arrangement of the invention. The cooling apparatus, in particular the heat-conducting plate, conveniently has bores and/or incisions in the region of the pole contacts of the individual cells for passing the pole contacts through. The heat-conducting film conveniently also has recesses for passing the pole contacts through. Additionally, a heat-conducting and electrically insulating molded body can be arranged between the heat-conducting plate and the individual cells. This serves in particular for the electrical insulation of the pole contacts of an individual cell. For an optimum heat discharge, the heat-conducting plate can have a channel structure for a coolant flowing through this channel structure. The channel structure is, for example, connected to an air conditioning or cooling cycle of the vehicle, wherein, for example, cooling air or a cooling means of the air conditioning system flows through the channel structure of the heat-conducting plate, so that the lost heat of the individual cells transferred to the heat-conducting plate via the coolant can be discharged from the battery. Furthermore, the respective individual cell preferably has a honeycomb casing, which also enables an optimized cooling in that the honeycomb casing is preferably formed of an electrically insulating material and which conducts heat in a particularly good manner. The battery is preferably a vehicle battery, in particular a battery for a vehicle with hybrid drive or a fuel cell vehicle. Parts corresponding to each other are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Low-cost production of solar cells on flexible substrates using printing or web coating technologies is promising highly cost-efficient alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells. Recently, solution-based solar cells fabricated from alloys of copper (Cu) and indium (In) with selenium (Se) or sulfur (S) have been developed. Such CIGS solar cells have been fabricated using a non-vacuum process in which a water-based precursor ink is formulated containing mixed oxides of Cu, In and Ga, which is then coated on rigid or flexible substrates (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,127,202, issued October 2000 to Kapur et. al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,014 issued July 2001 to Eberspacher and Pauls). The resulting oxide mixture was then subject to reduction in H2/N2 mixture and selenization in an H2Se/N2 mixture at high temperatures between 400 to 500° C. The resulting CIGS solar cells typically have efficiency in the range of 8 to 11%. Another alternative ink-based approach used metallic powder paste to coat on substrates followed by selenization under H2Se/N2 at high temperature to form a CIS (or CIGS cell) solar cell (Kapur, V. K., et. al. Sol. Energy Mater Sol. Cells, 60 (2000) 127-134 and Kapur et al, Thin Solid Films, 431-432 (2003) 53-57 and also Kaelin, M., Meyer, T., Kurdesau, F., Rudmann, D., Zogg. H. and A. N. Tiawri. Low Cost Cu(In, Ga)Se2 Absorber Layers from Selenization of Precursor Materials, 3rd World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, Osaka, Japan, 2003). Unfortunately, the high temperature reduction and selenization steps used in each of these solar cell fabrication processes are neither cost effective nor easily scaled to high-volume production. Specifically, the H2Se gas used is both highly toxic and flammable. Thus, when H2Se is used at high temperatures, safety, environmental impact, and overall cost are serious concerns in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, the high temperature reduction and selenization steps make it impractical to make CIGS solar cells on inexpensive polymer or metallized polymer substrates that would warp, melt, or otherwise degrade at such high temperatures in the presence of reducing and/or oxidizing agents. Although it is possible to make CIGS-based inks without using oxides, such inks have been produced in the prior art have several drawbacks for high-volume, roll-to-roll processing. For instance, the use of bulk CuInSe2 as a starting material is challenging as bulk CuInSe2 has a melting point around 1000° C. However, since most of the flexible substrates such as Al foils and plastic foils cannot withstand such a high temperature, it is not possible to melt bulk material directly onto a substrate. Even glass will have serious warping problems at this temperature and substrate warping typically leads to inefficient cell performance—so even with deposition onto glass, it is very difficult to create high-performance solar cells by melting bulk material. Moreover, the energy requirements needed for high temperature manufacturing at 1000° C. will incur substantial cost. Consequently, processes occurring at much lower temperatures are preferred. However, annealing at a lower temperature tends to hinder the manner of crystal grain growth that is critical for the proper electronic properties of CIGS solar cell. Certain fluxing agents have been used to reduce the melting point and sintering temperature for CuInSe2 (A. Vervaet et al. in 9th European Communities PV Solar Energy Conference, 1989, 480). Unfortunately, such fluxing agents can introduce unwanted crystalline phases and alter the electronic properties of CIGS, thus lowering the efficiency of a CIGS solar cell. Thus, there is a need in the art, for a non-oxide based precursor ink that overcomes the above disadvantages.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for controlling microbial nitrification and more specifically, to apparatus and methods for providing a dose of ultraviolet-A (UVA)/Visible light in covered drinking water storage facilities to control nitrification. It is well established in the scientific literature that the enzymes used by nitrifying microbes to first oxidize ammonia to nitrite and then nitrite to nitrate are inhibited by UVA and visible light. Potable water is often stored in large water storage tanks. Nitrifying microbes may produce nitrites and nitrates through the oxidation of ammonia produced by the degradation of chloramine disinfectant. In covered drinking water storage, nitrification contributes to the loss of disinfectant residual, stimulates the growth of other nuisance microbes and produces nitrite and nitrate, both of which are regulated drinking water contaminants. Nitrate is the cause of methemoglobinemia (blue-baby syndrome) in infants.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The invention described and claimed in parent application Ser. No. 10/729,920 provides a surface acoustic wave sensor or identification device having a piezoelectric substrate, an interdigitated transducer (IDT) input/output mounted on the substrate for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and propagating a corresponding surface acoustic wave along a surface of the substrate, and an IDT reflector array mounted on the substrate and operable to receive the surface acoustic wave and reflect the surface acoustic wave in modified form back to the IDT input/output for transmission of a corresponding modified RF signal from the device. The IDT reflector array has at least one reflector sector whose reflectivity characteristics are controlled to control the nature of the modified RF signal. The device also includes at least one reflector segment having a fluidic chamber which in use contains fluid operable to control the nature of the reflected surface acoustic wave and hence the nature of the modified RF signal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface acoustic wave sensor or identification device of this kind which has a biolayer which is modified by the fluid in the fluidic chamber.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
To record a color image, toners or inks of four colors of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are typically used, for example. Recently, there have been developed and known methods for applying a protective material to give a special effect or the like to a recording medium (refer to Patent Literature 1, for example). Examples of the protective material include a transparent or white special toner that can give a special effect. Patent Literature 1 describes a configuration that sets the amount of a toner per unit area of a transparent image based on the specification of an image formation mode from a high-gloss image formation mode and a low-gloss image formation mode. The recording medium to which the special toner is applied has various uses. The conventional technologies may possibly apply the special toner more than necessary to provide a desired special effect and thus apply the special toner more than the amount with which the desired special effect can be provided. In view of the above, there is a need to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a computer program product that can reduce the amount of consumption of a special toner.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a common approach to implement a multi-carrier communication system that uses a very large bandwidth over a frequency-selective communication medium. OFDM systems typically use multiple carriers at different frequencies that experience different fades, for example, due to different channel attenuations and different phase rotations. Link adaptation deals with tailoring the amount of data on a carrier based on the physical characteristics of the communication medium. Link adaptation including, for example, bit-loading can be performed at various granularities. In some cases, the code rate and/or modulation size is adapted for different OFDM symbols and all carriers in a given OFDM symbol use substantially the same code rate and modulation size. In other cases, the carriers in each OFDM symbol can have the same code rate but different modulation size. Alternatively, multiple code rates can be achieved on each OFDM symbol, for example, by spreading the encoded bits on carriers associated with the same code rate across multiple OFDM symbols. Such an approach may increase the latency of the system, for example, if all of the multiple symbols need to be received for decoding. Multiple code rates can also be achieved by assigning small encoded blocks to carriers associated with the same code rate in a single OFDM symbol. This approach reduces the latency, but produces lower coding gains because of the reduced block size.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Transformation and melting plants for metal charges are known, of the continuous charge type, which comprise an electric arc furnace suitable to collaborate with transport means of the linear conveyor type. The electric furnace provides at least a container, or hearth, and a covering roof. The electrodes are placed through suitable holes in the roof. A further hole, technically denominated the fourth hole, is normally provided in the roof for the extraction of the fumes. The continuous conveyor means can be of the vibrating type in order to allow the charge to advance, and cooperate with the electric furnace on one side and with a scrap loading system on the other. The last segment of the conveyor means normally consists of an independent conveying segment, hereafter called connection conveyor, associated with translation means, which may consist of a mobile slider or any other means of translation suitable for its operating positioning. The translation means are suitable to create the desired connection between the continuous conveying means of the charge and the lateral introduction aperture of the metal material into the electric furnace. The front end of the connection conveyor is positioned flush with the inside wall of the furnace, for example in the continuous scrap loading step, or distanced from it, for example in the tapping step, when the furnace is inclined in order to tap the liquid metal. When the end of the connection conveyor, associated with the translation means, reaches the inside wall of the furnace, the vibration imparted thereto determines the advance and the subsequent fall of the scrap inside the furnace. When, on the other hand, the connection conveyor is distanced from the furnace, the vibration is stopped, so that the scrap possibly present therein does not advance. It is known that solutions of the continuous charge type use a loading system with baskets in order to carry out the first start-up load with the furnace switched off, in order to create on the bottom of the furnace a mass of metal material to be melted when the cycle starts. Normally the quantity of material introduced with the basket is the amount necessary to define the so-called “liquid foot”, that is, the quantity of liquid metal which is always kept inside the furnace even after tapping. The use of the basket to carry out the first charge is determined by the fact that the switching on and start-up of the furnace require that the bottom of the hearth is covered by material that is sufficiently well distributed. The use of a basket to carry out the first charge, although on the one hand it satisfies this need, on the other hand it makes the whole melting cycle more complex, in that it requires the use of specific equipment, such as the basket, the filling systems, the transport systems, a suitable storage zone etc., which are used for only a small fraction of the cycle, remaining idle for the rest of the melting cycle. Moreover, since the use of the basket means the scrap is loaded from above, the electrodes must first be completely extracted and moved to the side, the furnace roof must be opened and then the roof must be closed again and the electrodes re-introduced. The cycle therefore becomes longer, due to the times needed for the first loading step, and the whole system becomes more onerous in terms of time and cost, it requires more equipment used, more operations to be carried out and coordination between a typical discontinuous loading step and the typical continuous loading steps. The document U.S. Pat. No. 3,211,304 describes a furnace of the Martin-Siemens type in which a discontinuous loading system is provided which uses a longitudinally mobile container inside and outside the furnace. The container, placed in a position outside the furnace, is loaded from above with the material, for example scrap, to be introduced into the furnace, and then progressively moved to the inside of the furnace. Together with the container, in the direction it enters into the furnace, a barrier element moves, which, in the innermost position in the furnace, is also positioned inside the furnace. When the container is retreated, on the contrary the barrier element remains stationary, so that the scrap is stopped by the barrier element which causes it to fall inside the furnace. This solution therefore provides a discontinuous loading procedure using a longitudinally mobile container inside and outside the furnace, but it does not provide any type of continuous loading with vibrating conveyor. The loading method provided by U.S. '304 can unload scrap only during the retreat of the container. Moreover, since the loading of the scrap is determined by a fixed barrier element, the unloading modes depend only on the distribution of the scrap on the container, and can in no way be controlled so as to define a desired distribution of the scrap inside the furnace. With the device in U.S. '304 the scrap tends to accumulate in the part of the furnace near the entrance where the container is introduced, that is, in the fixed point where it stops and the barrier element, which causes the scrap to fall inside the furnace, is held stationary. Purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, eliminating the need to resort to a basket even for the first charge, and using for this operation the same equipment which is then used in the continuous load step when the furnace has been started. The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates generally to connectors for terminating multiple conductors, and more particularly to a connector assembly for selectively terminating multiple conductors and having a structure that permits dual termination of selected conductors, common grounding and isolation of differential signal conductors. Many electronic devices, especially computers, utilize additional electronic devices which are known in the art as "peripherals". Examples of these peripheral devices are disk drives, CD-ROM drives, digital video disk ("DVD") drives, modems, network adapters, and the like and these peripheral devices utilize power wires and a plurality of signal wires to connect to the computer. These devices utilize ribbon cable for the signal wires for ease of connection to the many associated circuits on the motherboard of the computer. Ribbon cable consists of a plurality of wires that are formed together as a single extent where the wires are formed together in side-by-side order. The individual conductors of the ribbon cable are surrounded by a flexible insulation. These conductors are spaced close together along the width of the cable and include specific signal and ground conductors corresponding to specific circuits of the peripheral device. In order to terminate such conductors, insulation displacement type terminals ("IDT") are used. IDT type connectors for ribbon cable include an insulative housing, a mating face for mating with another, complementary conductor, an appropriate cable-receiving face and at least two rows of terminal-receiving passages extending between the two faces. Conductive terminals are received in the passages and each such terminal has a mating portion that extends into the mating face and a U-shaped or a V-shaped insulation displacement portion extending into the cable-receiving face of the connector. A cover is provided to maintain the conductors of the cable into contact with the insulation displacement portions of the terminals. One problem that occurs with such IDT connectors is a function of the close density of the conductors in the ribbon cable, such as in instances where the wires are spaced on a 0.025 inch pitch. This close spacing of the conductors requires that the insulation displacement portions of the terminals be arranged in two spaced-apart rows wherein the terminals in each row are offset from each other to define, in effect, four rows of staggered IDTs along the cable-receiving face, with adjacent terminals of the connector being located in two distinct rows on the mating face of the connector. Hence, these type of connectors are often referred to as "dual row" connectors in the art. A conductor that will be terminated in either of the rear rows will have to necessarily pass between two insulation displacement terminals of the two forward rows along the cable-receiving face. This close spacing creates problems and may result in shorting where the rear row conductor inadvertently contacts and is pierced by one of the forward IDTs. One solution to this problem is to modify the physical structure of the connector housing, rather than the structure of the terminals and utilize what is known as a "hill and dale" system to locate adjacent conductors in the IDTs at different vertical levels. This modification of the connector housing complicates the molding of the connector housing and adds to cost of the connector. Additionally, in these type of IDT systems with dual row terminals, the contact portions of the IDTs are arranged on different sides of the connector mating face. These systems require alternating termination of the first side and then the second side contact portions for successive adjacent conductors in the ribbon cable. This alternating termination must be followed in order to avoid termination of conductors of unfavorable signal types positioned in areas detrimentally affecting differential pairs of signal conductors. The alternating termination must be maintained and therefore detail must be taken in arranging the termination of the conductors to the IDTs to avoid having the unfavorable ground-type signal wires positioned in a manner that will detrimentally affect the signals carried by the differential pairs of signal conductors. A need therefore exists for an improved connector in which conductors are easily aligned with the respective terminals of the connector and which permits dual termination of certain conductors and which permits differential wire isolation.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
It has been a long standing practice to route the exhaust gasses from the exhaust manifold of an engine or power plant through a muffler and tail pipe, to reduce engine noise. While this is effective for conventional use, the back pressure caused by the exhaust gasses passing through the muffler results in a loss of efficiency which adversely affects the engine performance. Many high performance engines operate most efficiently when the muffler and tail pipe are removed or bypassed. While this improves engine performance, the resulting noise from the engine would prohibit use of the vehicle where unrestricted engine noise would be undesirable. Therefore, what is needed is a way to selectively route exhaust gasses from the exhaust manifold through a conventional muffler and tail pipe for conventional engine use, while allowing the exhaust gasses to bypass the muffler and tail pipe when peak engine performance is desired, such as during competition racing on land, water, or in the air. In addition, other types of engines, such as used on farm tractors, combines, or the like, often work best at peak performance when the exhaust gasses are not restricted by a muffler or tail pipe. However, at times it may be desirable to selectively pass exhaust gasses through a muffler and tail pipe in areas where the additional engine noise would be undesirable.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
A common method of generating clock signals in high-frequency systems, including microprocessors systems operating in the GHz frequency range, is to use a phase-locked-loop (PLL) or a delay-locked-loop (DLL). A typical DLL employs a variable delay block in which the delay time depends on a digital code applied to the delay block. DLLs are simple to design using a digital design methodology, but they do not provide good range, and they are susceptible to different types of noise. One noise source is jitter in the least significant bit (LSB) of the digital code around the lock condition. The LSB itself might not be uniform across the range of operation. If, for example, the DLL is nearing lock at a frequency where the LSB is large, the associated jitter will also be large. Compounding this problem is jitter caused by power supply voltage (Vcc) variationsxe2x80x94particularly bad at low power supply voltages. FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art delay cell that is based on transistor gate capacitance loading in the signal path. The delay is controlled by the control signal C1 which connects the gate capacitance of MP2 to the signal path through MP1 when C1 is high. Such xe2x80x9cRCxe2x80x9d delay cells take up considerable die area, and are difficult to design for small ( less than 100 ps) delays. Frequently, a cascade of delay cells are used as the delay block. That is, a series of delay cells are arranged so that the output of each delay cell serves as the input to the next delay cell. FIG. 2 shows a prior art DLL in which the delay block includes a cascade of xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d delay cells such as those shown in FIG. 1. The delay cells are controlled by a digital code that is represented by code signals C1, C2, . . . Cn from a counter which is incremented and decremented by an up/down control signal from a phase detector. A problem with the circuit of FIG. 2, however, is that the jitter from each of the cells sums cumulatively.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In many on-line data processing systems, devices remote from each other and from the data processor may communicate with each other over a leased or dial line via the data processor and a connected communications control unit. Typically, such a system may include a multiplicity of remote devices connected via leased or dial lines to an IBM 3705 communications controller which is in turn channel connected to an IBM System 370 computer. The devices may communicate, for example, using Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) and Binary Synchronous Line Control (BSC). The computer will, for example, be provided with a suitable access program such as the IBM Basic Telecommunications Access Method (BTAM). Other devices and access methods may also be used for effecting the desired device to device communication. The example set forth above is typical of such a connection. The code set provided in EBCDIC is fixed, however, and provides limited text and control codes. In those instances where the devices communicating with each other require commands and/or instructions not provided in the EBCDIC code set, some provision must be made to encode and communicate these commands and/or instructions from one device to the other via the intervening devices and access programs set forth above as examples. In many access methods new codes not provided for in the code set, such as EBCDIC, are stripped or mutilated by the access program. When this takes place, the commands and/or instructions fail to reach or are mutilated before reaching the recipient device. In either event, the received message, including the commands and/or instructions will not be suitable for use at the recipient device. Several prior solutions to the above problem are available. None of these solutions is fully satisfactory for a variety of reasons. The access method can be modified to accommodate additional codes which will permit encoding of the necessary commands and instructions. This solution is totally unacceptable in view of the time, effort, and cost of modifying an existing access method. Another solution is to utilize a rigidly formatted command instruction and text format. Such a solution incurs a modest additional cost in machine development and manufacturing which is tolerable from this point of view. However, it requires skilled or trained operators. In machines intended for secretarial personnel unskilled in data processing, use of such a rigid format would inhibit productivity and incur substantial training cost and is, therefore, undesirable.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Some breast cancer cells require estrogen as a growth factor, the estrogen acting by binding to estrogen receptors on the cancer cells. Compounds which act as competitive estrogen receptor antagonists bind to the estrogen receptor without triggering the estrogen response, and can competitively block binding by native estrogen. Drugs which act through the competitive estrogen antagonism pathway have been successfully used to treat breast cancer. Tamoxifen is an anticancer drug which has been used for over 40 years to reduce the risk of occurrence or recurrence of cancers, primarily breast cancer. Tamoxifen acts via estrogen receptor antagonism, but tamoxifen itself is actually a prodrug, and in its parent form has moderate to low affinity for the estrogen receptors in breast tissue. Tamoxifen's efficacy relies on metabolism in the liver by cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 to transform tamoxifen into the active metabolites, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (afimoxifene) and N-desmethyl-4-hydroxytamoxifen (endoxifen). Some patients do not respond to tamoxifen treatment because they do not produce adequate amounts of afimoxifen and endoxifen, sometimes due to low levels of the metabolizing enzymes. Giving the active (Z)-endoxifen form directly to tamoxifen non-responsive patients has been shown to result in significantly higher endoxifen blood levels compared to giving a similar dose of tamoxifen, and shows evidence of tumor regressions as shown in a phase I study. Endoxifen exists as two forms, E and Z, with the Z form more active at the estrogen receptor. Endoxifen is frequently synthesized as a mixture of E and Z, with a difficult separation of isomers required to obtain pure Z isomer. Some procedures in the art separate the E and Z isomers via methods which are expensive and difficult to perform on larger scale, such as preparative HPLC. Thus there is a need in the art for a practical, scalable synthesis that gives access to highly pure (Z)-endoxifen.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid jet recording process and apparatus therefor, and more particularly to such process and apparatus in which a liquid recording medium is made to fly in a state of droplets. 2. Description of the Prior Art So-called non-impact recording methods have recently attracted public attention because the noise caused by at the recording can be reduced to a negligible order. Among these, particularly important is the so-called ink jet recording method allowing high-speed recording on a plain paper without particular fixing treatment, and in this field there have been proposed various approaches including those already commercialized and those still under development. Such ink jet recording, in which droplets of a liquid recording medium, usually called ink, are made to fly and to be deposited on a recording member to achieve recording, can be classified into several processes according to the method of generating said droplets and also to the method of controlling the direction of flight of said droplets. A first process is disclosed for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,060,429 (Teletype process) in which the liquid droplets are generated by electrostatic pull, and the droplets thus generated on demand are deposited onto a recording member with or without an electric-field control on the flight direction. More specifically said electric-field control is achieved by applying an electric field between the liquid contained in a nozzle having an orifice and an accelerating electrode thereby causing said liquid to be emitted from said orifice and to fly between x-y deflecting electrodes so arranged as to be capable of controlling the electric field according to the recording signals, and thus selectively controlling the direction of flight of droplets according to the change in the strength of the electric field to obtain deposition in desired positions. A second process is disclosed for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,275 (Sweet process) and in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,030 (Lewis and Brown process) in which a flow of liquid droplets of controlled electrostatic charges is generated by continuous vibration and is made to fly between deflecting electrodes forming a uniform electric field therebetween to obtain a recording on a recording member. More specifically, in this process, a charging electrode receiving recording signals is provided in front of and at a certain distance from the orifice of a nozzle constituting a part of a recording head equipped with a piezo vibrating element, and a pressurized liquid is supplied into said nozzle while an electric signal of a determined frequency is applied to said piezo vibrating element to cause mechanical vibration thereof, thereby causing the orifice to emit a flow of liquid droplets. As the emitted liquid is charged by electrostatic induction by the above-mentioned charging electrode, each droplet is provided with a charge corresponding to the recording signal. The droplets having thus controlled charges are subjected to deflection corresponding to the amount of said charges during the flight in a uniform electric field between the deflecting electrodes in such a manner that only those carrying recording signals are deposited onto the recording member. A third process is disclosed for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,153 (Hertz process) in which an electric field is applied between a nozzle and an annular charging electrode to generate a mist of liquid droplets by continuous vibration. In this process the strength of the electric field applied between the nozzle and the charging electrode is modulated according to the recording signals to control the dispersion of liquid thereby obtaining a graduation in the recorded image. A fourth process, disclosed for example in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,120 (Stemme process), is based on a principle fundamentally different from that used in the foregoing three processes. In contrast to said three processes in which the recording is achieved by electrically controlling the liquid droplets emitted from the nozzle during the flight thereof and thus selectively depositing only those carrying the recording signals onto the recording member, the Stemme process is featured in generating and flying the droplets only when they are required for recording. More specifically, in this process, electric recording signals are applied to a piezo vibrating element provided in a recording head having a liquid-emitting orifice to convert said recording signals into mechanical vibration of said piezo element according to which the liquid droplets are emitted from said orifice and deposited onto a recording member. The foregoing four processes, though being provided with respective advantages, are however associated with drawbacks which are inevitable or have to be prevented. The foregoing first to third process rely on electric energy for generating droplets or droplet flow of liquid recording medium, and also on an electric field for controlling the deflection of said droplets. For this reason the first process, though structurally simple, requires a high voltage for droplet generation and is not suitable for high-speed recording as a multi-orificed recording head is difficult to make. The second process, though being suitable for high speed recording as the use of multi-orificed structure in the recording head is feasible, inevitably results in a structural complexity and is further associated with other drawbacks such as requiring a precise and difficult electric control for governing the flight direction of droplets and tending to result in formation of satellite dots on the recording element. The third process, though advantageous in achieving recording of an improved gradation by dispersing the emitted droplets, is associated with drawbacks of difficulty in controlling the state of dispersion, presence of background fog in the recorded image and being unsuitable for high-speed recording because of difficulty in preparing a multi-orificed recording head. In comparison with the foregoing three processes the fourth process is provided with relatively important advantages such as a simplier structure, absence of a liquid recovery system as the droplets are emitted on demand from the orifice of a nozzle in contrast to the foregoing three processes wherein the droplets which do not contribute to the recording have to be recovered, and a larger freedom in selecting the materials constituting the liquid recording medium not requiring electro-conductivity in contrast to the first and second processes wherein said medium has to be conductive. On the other hand said fourth process is again associated with drawbacks such as difficulty in obtaining a small head or a multi-orificed head because the mechanical working of a head is difficult and also because a small piezo vibrating element of a desired frequency is extremely difficult to obtain, and inadequacy for high-speed recording because the emission and flight of liquid droplets have to be performed by the mechanical vibrating energy of the piezo element. As explained in the foregoing, the conventional processes respectively have advantages and drawbacks in connection with the structure, applicability for high-speed recording, preparation of recording head, particularly of a multi-orificed head, formation of satellite dots and formation of background fog, and their use has therefore been limited to the fields in which such advantages can be exploited.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to an environmental control system. In particular, the invention relates to a diffuser of a ram air fan assembly for an environmental control system for an aircraft. An environmental control system (ECS) aboard an aircraft provides conditioned air to an aircraft cabin. Conditioned air is air at a temperature, pressure, and humidity desirable for aircraft passenger comfort and safety. At or near ground level, the ambient air temperature and/or humidity is often sufficiently high that the air must be cooled as part of the conditioning process before delivered to the aircraft cabin. At flight altitude, ambient air is often far cooler than desired, but at such a low pressure that it must be compressed to an acceptable pressure as part of the conditioning process. Compressing ambient air at flight altitude heats the resulting pressurized air sufficiently that it must be cooled, even if the ambient air temperature is very low. Thus, under most conditions, heat must be removed from air by the ECS before the air is delivered to the aircraft cabin. As heat is removed from the air, it is dissipated by the ECS into a separate stream of air that flows into the ECS, across heat exchangers in the ECS, and out of the aircraft, carrying the excess heat with it. Under conditions where the aircraft is moving fast enough, the pressure of air ramming into the aircraft is sufficient to move enough air through the ECS and over the heat exchangers to remove the excess heat. While ram air works well under normal flight conditions, at lower flight speeds, or when the aircraft is on the ground, ram air pressure is too low to provide enough air flow across the heat exchangers for sufficient heat removal from the ECS. Under these conditions, a fan within the ECS is employed to provide the necessary airflow across the ECS heat exchangers. This fan is called a ram air fan. As with any system aboard an aircraft, there is great value in an improved ram air fan that includes innovative components, such as a diffuser, designed to improve the operational efficiency of the ram air fan, reduce its weight, or reduce noise generated by the aircraft.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
People currently have greater access to information and person-to-person connectivity than ever before. Advances in computing technology and the internet are continually changing the ways that people access and share information. Millions of people have the capability to generate content, such as articles, songs, videos, etc. that can be shared with people across the globe in almost real-time. In addition, the rapid growth of mobile communication devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers, enable people to enjoy these services from anywhere in the world. As the number of countries and people participating in the digital revolution increases, so does the demand for energy to power the devices and technology. Experts predict that in the coming decades global energy consumption may more than double. Cost associated with powering servers and other devices that form the backbone of on-line services represent a major expense for operators. In addition, consumers expect on-line services and products to be continuously available. As a result, it is critical for operators to have access to substantial amounts of reliable and affordable energy. Typically, operators have limited options for powering servers and associated equipment. Power is obtained from a local energy provider, and operators attempt to mitigate energy consumption cost by employing energy efficient equipment. Recently, new developments in fuel cell technology have generated promising developments for reducing energy cost for large scale consumers. However, fuel cells require a well maintained infrastructure. Potential infrastructure failures and associated maintenance requirements can result in undesirable down-time for many operators.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to a modular force application device in the form of linear pneumatic drives which may be secured to a coordinate frame structure for a three-dimensional cutting or shaping operation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,490 discloses linear pneumatic drives in which the expansion of a hose extending through at least one, preferably through a plurality of modular bails, is used for applying a force along a line which may be straight or curved in a plane or in space. This type of drive is well suited for three-dimensional shaping or cutting operations. However, due to the fact that the power output takes place in the direction of the main hose expansion, there is room for improvement in the construction of such linear pneumatic drives. U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,464 discloses a gas operated single stroke servomotor in which the expansion of a hose is employed to drive a knife edge through a restraining belt. Such a single stroke drive is not suitable for repeated cutting operations in a manufacturing process. U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,812 discloses a punch press which is actuated by an expandable hose extending through two cooperating channels of substantially the same length as the hose. These channels do not form modular units which can be assembled along a common length of hose in any desired number and along any type of curve. These channels are effective only along a straight line. In one embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 3,230,812 the hose expansion is transmitted to a plurality of punching tools through a like plurality of levers which are journalled to the frame which also supports the channel through which the hose extends. Such a structure is not compact and not adaptable for placing the individual, modular, linear pneumatic drive devices in a coordinate support frame structure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,277,996 discloses a three-dimensional stamping or cutting apparatus with linear or pneumatic drives in which the cutting force is applied in the direction of expansion of a hose in response to introducing a gas under pressure into the hose. As mentioned above, this type of linear pneumatic drive is quite suitable for the intended purpose, but leaves room for improving the disposition of such linear pneumatic drive devices in a coordinate support frame structure. It is also known to use piston cylinder drives in three-dimensional trimming machines, for example, for trimming preshaped carpets. The use of expandable hose means in a machine for exerting pressure onto a flat surface is also well known.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The field of the invention is methods and apparatus for moving a patient, and in particular, a patient laying in a generally horizontal position. Providing medical care requires patients to be frequently transported. Wheelchairs are used where possible, but when a patient is, for example, postoperative or unconscious, stretchers or gurneys must be used to move the patients while in the horizontal or lying position. Transferring patients from a bed or operating table onto a gurney, or from a gurney onto a bed or operating table, depending on the size and condition of the patient and that of the nurse or other health care professional, can be a difficult task. Frequently, the patient""s medical condition prevents the nurse from directly lifting the patient. Therefore, to transfer the patient onto a gurney, a bed or an operating table, nurses typically grab the draw sheet beneath the patient and lift or slide the patient. However, this may cause the patient discomfort if the draw sheet slips from the nurse""s grasp. Moreover, generally two or more nurses are needed to move a patient in this way. Heavy patients are especially difficult to move by pulling on the draw sheet. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide improved methods and apparatus for moving a patient between a bed, gurney, table or other horizontal surface. In a first aspect of the invention, a patient transfer device includes a flat hollow tube having open ends., The tube can roll or slide on itself. The tube reduces sliding friction when moving a patient. A lubricant is optionally provided on the inside surface of the tube to reduce sliding friction. In a second aspect, a flattened hollow tube having open ends is provided under the patient and the draw sheet. The draw sheet is pulled to move the patient. The tube reduces sliding friction between the draw sheet and the bed sheet. The patient can therefore be more easily pulled from one bed, gurney, or table onto another. In a third aspect, tubes are provided on a roll, similar to the plastic fruit and vegetable bags provided in supermarkets. A seam having perforations connects each tube on the roll with adjacent tubes. The tubes may be quickly and easily pulled off the roll, as needed. The tubes, either on the roll, or packaged individually, may optionally be sterilized. The invention resides as well in subcombinations of the features and steps described.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Not Applicable Not Applicable 1. Field of the Invention A computer system needs memory to store instructions and data that are processed by the central processing unit (CPU). In a typical computer, the CPU communicates with the memory via a bus, that sets a limit on the amount of parallel information (width) that can move in a single time unit. Memory comes in special chips known as DRAM (dynamic random access memory), which are packaged together in industry-standard modules. The chips are arranged in a line on a printed circuit board (PCB), with the memory chips either on a single side (SIMM, or Single In-Line Memory Module) or on both sides (DIMM, or Dual In-Line Memory Module). There are industry-standard machines for connecting memory chips to a board and then soldering the connections between the chips"" input/output (I/O) pins and the metal circuits printed on the board, because the cost and yield respectively increase and decrease when the same work is done by hand, even by skilled (yet thus more expensive) labor. The size of the memory chip on a SIMM or DIMM has become standardized to increase the manufacturability and lower the cost of the completed memory module. A memory module PCB, also known as a xe2x80x98memory bankxe2x80x99, will have a set of connectors between its on-board circuitry and the computer system bus additionally, it often has subordinate governing and special logic circuits to help manage the U/O flow between the memory module and the rest of the computer system. There are two goals that designers, manufacturers, and users of memory modules strive for While the amount of memory that can be stored on a single memory chip has been increasing steadily the amount of memory necessary for smooth and fast operation of a computer system has also been increasing. Individual memory banks have gone through several generations in the past decade alone, moving from 8 megabytes to 16 megabytes to 32 megabytes to 64 megabytes per module, with 128 megabyte modules on the commercial horizon. Over roughly the same time, however, the minimum system RAM for a normal personal computer (PC) has shifted from 640K to 65MB. So one goal is to maximize, for the capacity of a given generation of memory chip, the total amount of memory that can be contained on a memory bank, when the memory bank is a SIMM (or DIMM) incorporating a number of such memory chips, within the same geometric limits for the memory banks. At the same time that the amount of memory desired has increased, the price for memory has decreased (almost exponentially), just as the price paid for a given power computer has also decreased. This has created some unpleasant trade-offs for computer manufacturers, and for memory bank manufacturers. For the same amount of memory each year they will get less money, meaning that they constantly need ways to provide more memory for less cost. For this reason, anything that increases the manufacturing yield of a memory bank with a particular memory capacity, find anything that decreases the cost of manufacturing a memory bank, is a useful and valuable advance. Thus, decreasing the density of on-board circuitry for a memory bank necessary to provide memory capacity is a desirable result, since it decreases the cost and increases the yield of production of such. Two design elements that increase the cost, and decrease the yield, of producing a memory bank are, first, increasing the number of pin connectors needed to attain a given number of I/O connections between the memory bank and the bus; and second, requiring manual assembly and soldering of a given number of pin connections between the memory chips and the PCB the memory bank. The more pins that must be connected, the fewer banks can be manufactured in a given amount of time, and the lower the manufacturing yield will be (since there are that many more chances for a pin connection to be inaccurately made). If the number of connections required can be cut by a significant percentage, then the overall productivity for a given memory bank capacity will be increased. Technological advances are costly to implement, and for certain implementations it is desirable to use less costly technology interchangeably with system configurations which can use higher technology. For example, sometimes it is desirable to use 16-meg chips with systems that support 64-meg technology. In such a configuration, a 64 or 72 bit wide data bus using 64-megabit (8M times 8) chips can be used. If the system is designed for 8M times 8 chips, the JEDEC standard is for a 12 times 11 address scheme (i.e., 12 row address bits and 11 column address bits). In such a scheme, only one bank is required to read all 64 or 72 bits, and thus only a single RAS signal is needed. However, 64 megabit chips all utilize 3.3 volt technology which for several reasons is quite expensive and thus, while fewer chips can be used to store the same information, these fewer chips in the aggregate are more expensive than using 16 megabit chips manufactured in 5-volt technology. For example. 8, 8 times 8 chips can be used to store the same amount of information as is stored in 32, 4 times 4 chips. However, the 32 4 times 4 chips are much cheaper in the aggregate than the 8.8 times 8 chips, and thus for many applications, even though more chips are involved, it is desirable to use the 5-volt technology and 32, 4 times 4 chips. As a result, computer designers have struggled to increase the amount of memory accessible within a given physical format or module even though there has been a more costly alternative of increasing the memory bank""s capacity by buying higher-priced but higher-capacity individual memory chips for that bank. Moreover, bus limitations are now one of the bottleneck points to computer designs. The more that off-bus smarts can be designed into the memory bank, the less the load on the system for overhead, in managing memory addressing, becomes. A number of methods have already been designed to deal with part of this problem. For example, a computer""s memory typically includes one or more memory banks (or memory components) connected in parallel such that each memory component stores one set of data, such as a word or double word, per memory address. The memory controller communicates with, and interprets commands from, the CPU to the memory modules. For example, the CPU issues a command and an address which are received and translated by the memory controller. The memory controller, in turn, applies appropriate command signals and row and column addresses to the memory modules. Examples of such commands include a row address strobe (RAS), column address strobe (CTS), write enable (WEE), and possibly a clock signal (CLK). (The line or bar over the acronym for a symbol generally indicates, that the active state for the particular signal is a logical low value.) In response to the commands and addresses, data is transferred between the CPU and the memory modules. Each time a memory changing update instruction must be issued, however, the computer""s cycle overhead is increased. Techniques that do not require the CPU to manage all details of memory storage decrease this overhead and thus indirectly increase performance; therefore, design elements of a memory bank that decrease the demand on the CPU to issue memory change updates indirectly increase performance. Secondly, because the majority of program execution through the CPU is sequential in nature (operation 1, operation 2, operation 3 . . . , operation 50), program execution very often proceeds along a row of memory. When in page mode, the memory controller compares the row address of the memory location currently being accessed with the row address for the next memory access. If the row addresses are the same (known as a xe2x80x9cpage hitxe2x80x9d), then the memory controller continues asserting the RAS control signal at the end of a current bus cycle. Because the memory already has the correct row address, the new column address can be immediately transferred to the memory without requiring a RAS/CAS delay. Design elements on memory banks that support an approach of automatically flowing along the memory addresses without requiring CPU activity or RAS/CAS delays, again decrease system overhead costs and thereby indirectly increase performance. Thirdly, methods that can use extended data out (EDO) DRAMs (which are faster) improve upon the FPM DRAMs. In FPM DRAMs, the CAS high-to-low transition latches the column address, while the CAS low-to-high transition turns off an output buffer of the RAM. EDO DRAMs instead separate the two functions of the CAS signal. The low-to-high transition of CAS no longer turns off the output buffer. This change provides an extended time during which the output data is valid, hence the xe2x80x9cextended data outxe2x80x9d name. EDO memory allows the CPU to sample the output data even while an address for a subsequent data transfer operation is being set up for the next read cycle. Any design method that supports a memory bank approach that allows further extension of this approach will be valuable. Fourthly, Burst EDO (BEDO) DRAMs improve upon the good idea used in EDO DRAMs (leaving data valid even after CAS goes high). Most current CPUs typically access BEDO DRAMs in four-cycle bursts at four adjacent memory locations to fill a cache memory. Recognizing this typical access operation. BEDO DRAMs quickly provide the following three addresses itself after receiving the first address. BEDO DRAMs; typically include a two-bit counter which provides three column addresses after the first received column address. The memory controller, and CPU, thus avoid the tight timing requirements of providing multiple addresses at appropriate times to the DRAM device. As a result, a xe2x80x9cdeadxe2x80x9d time occurring between the appearance of each bit, byte, word, set or xe2x80x9cgroupxe2x80x9d of valid data at the output pins of the BEDO DRAM device is reduced, as compared with respect to EDO and FPM DRAMs. For example, where an FPM DRAM requires an initial five clock cycles to provide a first data group, and three clock cycles for each of three subsequent data groups (i.e., xe2x80x9c5-3-3-3 burstingxe2x80x9d). BEDO DRAMs can provide bursting at rates of up to 5-1-1-1 or less. The longer that a xe2x80x98burstxe2x80x99 can be extended, the longer, of course, before the memory update instruction overhead is incurred. Memory bank design that supports such approaches will be valued. Finally, an even faster form of DRAM is synchronous DRAM (SDRAM). FPM, EDO, and BEDO DRAM are asynchronous DRAM devices because they do not require a clock input signal. The memory controller for asynchronous devices receives the system clock signal and operates as a synchronous interface with the CPU so that data is exchanged with the CPU at appropriate edges of the clock signal. Memory controllers for SDRAM devices are necessarily simpler because the SDRAM devices and the CPU both operate based on a clock signal. To achieve optimum performance with a CPU, the SDRAM, device must be synchronized with the CPU. But the more memory that can be connected with the same clock device, the higher the SDRAM performance overall can be, again due to the decreased overhead. As the speed of DRAM devices increase, other bottlenecks within computer systems arise. For example, as DRAM devices are operated at faster clock rates, the memory controllers to which they are coupled often cannot exchange data between the CPU and the memory device quickly, enough. Additionally, both BEDO DRAM and SDRAM devices required comparatively strict timing requirements compared to FPM and EDO DRAM devices. The strict timing requirements of BEDO DRAM requires a strict relation between generating an edge of CAS and when data is valid for reading or writing to the memory device. During each read cycle, CAS must fall during the middle of the period when data is to be read from the BEDO DRAM. For example, there is very little room for time delay or skew between the system clock and the CAS control signal supplied to the BEDO DRAM when the BEDO DRAM is operated in the 5-1-1-1 burst mode. As a result, designers must design their computer systems, or other applications, with minimum trace lengths on circuit boards to reduce propagation delays, and employ other methods to minimize skew between the system clock and command signals based on the clock. One memory controller chip set by Intel is believed to accommodate BEDO DRAM; however, such a chip set likely still requires the designer to be subject to the strict timing requirements of BEDO memory. Similarly, SDRAM devices require strict timing of data transfers with the SDRAM device in relation to the system clock signal. As a result of such strict requirements of BEDO DRAM and SDRAM devices, computer system designers and other users of DRAM devices have difficulty implementing such higher speed DRAM devices into their applications, despite the increased performance of such devices. As a result, system designers have accepted and employed lower speed DRAM devices in exchange for looser timing requirements in their designs, despite the speed and other benefits of BEDO and SDRAM devices. Another problem has been fitting the increasing density of memory within given physical constraints. A related problem has been providing memory within close enough physical location that timing difficulties, as detailed above, do not arise from greatly differing circuit lengths between differing memory banks. As the speed of memory access increases, this latter problem has worsened. As a result, designers must designs their computer systems, or other applications, with minimum trace lengths on circuit boards to reduce propagation delays, and employ other methods to minimize skew between the system clock and command signals based on the clock. With the new Burst Extended Data Out chips (BEDO), where memory access can automatically shift along more than one memory chip or module, comparatively strict timing (and thus circuit length) requirements exist. Moreover, the denser the connecting lines between a memory bank and the bus, and between the PCB and the individual memory chips have to be, the greater the heat density, and the more difficult the manufacturability, of a particular memory bank becomes. The more that a design allows the memory banks to share I/O ports, the fewer pin connectors are required, decreasing manufacturing difficulty and cost, and increasing yield, for a given memory density. The invention described below meets both of the goals mentioned above, and thus provides a significant advantage of the current state of the art for memory modules. First, for a given generation of memory chip, it doubles or quadruples the amount of memory that can be addressed in a single memory module using a single edge connector to the computer system bus, by allowing simultaneous access to a stepped fractional portion of the shared memory capacity aboard the module for each I/O operation or cycle, while requiring substantially less pin connectors for a given PCB. Instead of using 168 pins for a standard bank, it need only use 90 pins: and only half (32) the number of control connectors as on the standard approach (64), because the control connectors are shared between memory banks. Secondly, because the control lines are, shared between banks, and thus only half the number are needed, the length of the lines is shortened between the I/O pins connecting to the system bus and the I/O pins connecting to the individual memory chips. Thirdly, and again for a given generation of memory chip, the memory bank can be manufactured using industry-standard PCB assembly machinery rather than manual assembly to connect the memory chips"" pins to the PCB. Because the banks are flexibly connected with supporting elements, the completed memory unit is sturdier and thus easier to use in further assembly onto the computer motherboard. Fourthly, because the memory chips are mounted onto standard PCBs rather than directly on top of each other, the yield is increased. Instead of using 100 memory chips to produce 40 directly-double-stacked memory banks, 100 memory chips are used to produce 50 double-bank memory banks. Furthermore, the number of steps required is a quarter that for other memory-bank production methods using stacking technology. Finally, because the method allows the usage of industry-standard, surface mount machinery for automated assembly onto standard PCBs, rather than requiring dual-pass or manual mount approaches, the manufacturing costs and yields are comparable to those of memory banks with half the given capacity, for a particular generation of memory chip. 2. Description of the Related Art Various means to deal with the memory constraints have been provided. Some memory modules have built in memory delays which copy the CAS signal (as seen by the BEDO) to control memory. Others have built separate memory controllers to control the signals from the motherboard to the memory board. None of these have addressed the need for increased memory density in a given physical locality, i.e. in a particular, single memory card attached to the motherboard and bus of the personal computer. The concept of a stackable memory card, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,464 ignores two significant, and one less, problems which are solved by the subject of this application. First, in that patent the orientation of the initial memory bank must be horizontal, and there must be space above the motherboard sufficient to contain the entire stack of xe2x80x98secondaryxe2x80x99 boards. Secondly, the additional wiring length (and distance) increases linearly with the addition of each memory card, which will create timing and control problems dependent upon the memory addressing used by the CPU. Finally, as the heat of the memory chips rises, there risk of chip failure from overheating increases with the addition of each stacked memory card. The use of a Field Effect Transistor (FET) or other switching device to isolate- individual memory modules, and even memory chips, from each other on multiple-banks of memory in U.S. Pat. No. 5.953,215 addresses solely the desire to reduce the perceived capacitance and resistance from the presence of multiple memory chips. The switching devices in this invention require additional control signals out of the addressing methods to turn the switches on or off, and limit the memory throughput of the entire memory module to the lower limit set by the capacitance limit chosen by the module designer. In the preferred embodiment of this invention at least two chipsets of industry-standard SIMM or DIMM RAM memory chips are first each mounted, using industry-standard surface mount technology, on a PCB with a chip and bank selecting controller chip, wherein the first bank contains an edge connector for linking the combined memory banks to the computer system, and the two banks share the data, address, and control lines from the edge connector to the memory chipsets. Address commands directed from the CPU are decoded to direct the memory I/O flow to the proper bank and row(s) to be addressed, with automatic updating through the capacity of, both banks to accommodate the programmed sequence. Burst lengths may be for 1, 2, 4 or 8, locations, or a full page, with a burst terminate option. Bank (i.e. column) addresses may be changed on each clock cycle to achieve a high-speed, fully random access. Moreover, while one bank is being addressed another, connected bank can be precharged to hide or eliminate the need for address update control information from the CPU. The PCBs are physically linked together by snap connectors which support the combination at four points, providing physical stability and adequate separation for heat dispersion from the memory chips. Because the banks are filled simultaneously (rather than serially), for a given address flow the number of row- or chip-change instructions will be reduced to the extent that multiple operations do not overflow the capacity, which is effectively doubled over that of a single bank. Because the distance between one bank and the next will be less than the distance along the bus between one module and the next, the time delay for addressing memory and the overall capacity within a given motherboard""s layout will be decreased and increased respectively. Finally, because the two banks share addressing, control, and data lines (with the controller circuit coordinating the flow between the banks), the density of leads on each bank is reduced for a given memory capacity, thereby increasing the manufacturabilty, yield, and longevity of a module with a given memory capacity.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to accurately obtaining the Bluetooth Master clock. A Bluetooth piconet is an ad-hoc Bluetooth network featuring a master node and one or more slave nodes. There can be up to seven active slave nodes in a piconet although additional nodes (up to 255) may remain synchronized to the master but ‘parked’ and not active in the piconet. Each Bluetooth device features a clock, that has a tick period of 312.5 μs (this equates to half a Bluetooth slot period). The clock of the master device is used as a ‘Master Clock’ within the piconet and is transmitted to the slave devices. Each slave device maintains a clock offset value which is the offset between the master clock and its own clock. This offset value is updated every time a packet is received from the master clock. For an application running on a slave device, the most accurate available network synchronised clock is the Master Clock. However, the resolution of the Master Clock available to the application is limited by the Host Controller Interface. This limitation, defined by the Bluetooth specification, allows only the most recent clock tick to be visible to the application. Furthermore, the command time, defined as the period of time between when the application requests the Master Clock through the Host Controller interface and when it receives the Master Clock data, is significant, and can add to the inaccuracy of the low resolution representation of the Master Clock time. Therefore, when the application running on a slave device attempts to estimate the Master Clock time, the estimate is approximated by the equation:Master Clock Estimate=Master Clock+Clock Rounding Error+Clock Drift+Command Time Given the resolution of the Bluetooth clock, the clock rounding error is 0-312.5 μs. The clock drift of the Master device internal clock is approximately 20 ppm (parts per million) and so assuming that the Master Clock is transmitted to each slave device at least every 25 ms, this will be +/−1 μs. The command time varies with implementation but is typically in the order of several milliseconds. Therefore, the worst case error is given by:Worst Case Error=312.5 μs+1 μs+2000 μs=2313.5 μs Given the speed of sound, a sound wave will travel approximately 78 cm in 2313.5 μs. In a stereo environment in which the left and right audio channels are controlled by separate Bluetooth devices, this could result in one channel having a delay of 2313.5 μs relative to the other channel. Given the sophisticated auditory and spatial calculations performed by the brain, this would present to the listener the illusion of a speaker 78 cm away from the expected position. Particularly when used in the present context of a pair of headphones, such spatial variation would be disorientating to the listener.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The invention provides in one aspect, an automation/operator control system for generating the required signals required for controlling the system described below: The invention is a system that is comprised of: A 4-6V electronic control/relay board wired to standard Edison style outlets, of which accepts the widest range of connection to external emitting device that are powered by AC. An AC to DC adapter cable allows for DC connection from the same universal outlet (provided that the DC connection is made with RCA (composite) male plugs connectors.) All controller/relay electronics support both AC and DC power. A housing for such electronics that incorporate a standard IED power chord jack for accepting AC input from the widely universal IED female AC power chords. A housing that accepts DC control signal input from the housing top using standard female video jacks. Controller boards not integrated with the relay electronics accomplish the transport of the DC signal through such mentioned method using universal video cables—RCA type for 2 line needs, S-video for 3-4 line needs. A housing that utilizes both of the outlets on a standard duel Edison plug in a manner that each plug is a separate controllable channel. A method in which the controller (integrated or separate from the relay/switching electronics) can be controlled via standard 5V USB signal through a PC. A method, (for when using a relay/switching electronics) in which the controller can be unplugged from a PC and alternately operated manually via 5V signal from battery pack or any 3rd party controller cable of a “universal” 5V signal. A housing that consists of input plugs utilizing the same video cable standard of RCA (composite) or S-video. Inputs can be used to trigger outputs from an external source via the universal 5V DC standard. In this method the input directly correlates to the output signal in such a way that a motion director or pressure mat can trigger or channel or even multiple channels vs. the traditional methods. A method to power such relays/switching electronics without the presence of a 5V signal from PC (generally provided through the USB). Using the universal RCA (composite) connection, such relay/switching electronics can be powered by 4-6V alkaline batteries or an AC to 5V DC wall adapter for continuous power needs. This applies to relays/switching electronics that are not integrated with a built in USB controller. A connector that allows the use of standard speaker wire to make RCA (composite) plug connections. A housing that uses color coding of the video input jacks too simply and eliminate confusion as to proper connection. A permanent connection for USB cables to all relays/switching electronics that do incorporate a built-in controller. This method eliminates lost cables and weakening or internal USB jacks from continuous plugging and unplugging as such USB connections. A system consisting of a plurality of PC software applications that can alternately be used to control the system beyond the limitations of manual triggering. To include but not limited to: 1. Wireless signal triggering 2. Synced triggering from entertain media (or user timed) 3. Manually hardwired triggering from PC input devices (mouse, joystick, motion sensor) A modular system including hardware in which a user can set up a to be configured in a manually controlled environment and later (or in the same session) move to a PC controlled system while still maintaining the same relays/switching electronics. A system that will allow interface with various existing control systems such as DMX and X-10 or any others utilizing a servo or 5V signal. A system that has the ability to connect directly to a battery and run DC devices without the needs of an AC system (mobile, emergency backup, off-the grid etc.) A system that has the ability to connect up to 127 USB controllers per PC. The number of channels would be depending on the configuration, but could yield as many as 1016 channels from a single PC. In prior instances such electronic relay/controller boards and/or relay or switch boxes require the user to assemble, solder and/or create a custom configuration for such a system to be together in one complete unit. Prior art is not considered a “turn-key solution” due to having no set standard as to how connections would be made and/or taken to produce a universal complete system. In any prior custom system, a clip or screw type connections would be used to make connections between components. Such connections generally make it harder to produce such a universal system because bare wire must be used vs. a clean connection using standard type plug connectors mentioned prior in the section above. In addition to claims made in Background of Invention, the following additionally set the invention apart from other systems. Prior art systems are comprised of the following limitations: An electronic control board wired to standard Edison outlets in a “tandem” connection where each duel outlet can handle only one channel. Housing for such electronics that incorporate a standard IED power chord without a separate jack for accepting various brands and lengths or detachable IED AC power chords. A system that only uses proprietary signal cables and connectors directly related to the manufacturer's brand or protocol of per se system. Such systems also employ integrated jacks for mentioned cables into the emitting devices rendering them in-portable (non-universal) with any system not belonging to the same brand, manufacturer or signal transmission protocol. A system with no color coding for connection ports. Software that is proprietary and does not lend itself to integration with entertainment type media. A controller or PC application controller that does not utilize any other PC input devices for controller other than mouse, keyboard or integrated levers from a stand alone controller. A system that generally supports only on/off and variable power (dimming) of AC lights. DC devices, motor position and speed control or motors are not generally available. Manual triggering of signals are also not generally supported.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to a porous composite material having a hydrophilic polymer layer provided over the interior surface of each of the pores of a porous hydrophobic polymer body. It is well known that a foaming treatment of a mixture containing a resin such as polyethylene and a foaming agent may produce a porous material. The heat-insulating and sound-proofing properties of such porous material have led to use of the material as construction materials. However, the conventional porous material has a defect that it is poor in hydrophilic or hygroscopic property.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The polyphenylene ether resins and methods for their preparation are known, and moreover, described in the patent literature, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,306,874 and 3,306,875 (Hay) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,257,357 and 2,257,358 (Stamatoff). The polyphenylene ether resins are also known to be combinable with other polymers to form compositions which are extrudable and moldable into products characterized by outstanding properties. Cizek, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,435 describes blends of polyphenylene ether resin and polystyrene. Lee, Jr. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,166,055 and 4,239,673 discloses blends of polyphenylene ether, polyolefin and styrenebutadiene block copolymer. Haaf and Cooper, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,826, describe flame retardant thermoplastic compositions of a polyphenylene ether resin, a block copolymer and a styrene resin which have been modified by adding an EPDM rubber (that is, a rubbery terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene monomer). As shown in the examples of the patent, the EPDM rubber is present in amounts equivalent to or less than the polyphenylene ether resin, and it functions primarily to confer better impact resistance in the polyphenylene ether resin. The emphasis in many of these patents is on improving the properties of the polyphenylene ether resins and blends by modifying them with other polymers. The polyolefins themselves constitute an important family of industrial materials, however. For instance, olefinic polymers are now employed in formulations for insulation material in electrical wires and cables. Typically, however, they lack good flame resistance in the absence of special additives.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention is in the field of software downloading through a broadcast digital media distribution network, particularly as downloaded to cards and especially option cards. 2. Related Art Distribution networks for digital information such as video, audio, Internet data or voice communications continue to grow increasingly sophisticated. Receivers of such digital information that play or retransmit information must be capable of receiving not only content data, but also functional codes executable for the control and play of an expanding array of user options and interactivity. Executable application programs and operational code are stored not only in receiver hardware, but in cards which may take the form of option cards, audio or video cards, or storage cards. Application programs include those that communicate between a receiver mother board and an option card, between either a receiver or a card and either an audio or video decoder or for either to read or write flash memory. Application programs may include such functions for Internet or voice communications, as well as audio and video distribution. Operational code and functional software in this field, as in other fields, is subject to frequent updates, changes, new versions, patches, debugging, added features and the like. Downloading new software and code by transmission through the distribution system, such as transmission by satellite, is more efficient, economical and convenient than other methods of software downloading. However, transmitted downloading of software to systems such as video and audio receivers may create, in many circumstances, difficulties with continuity of service, play and with convenience of access for users. Particularly, operational software may become non-functional during the execution of a download. A period of non-functionality interrupts service and inconveniences users. Moreover, it risks the loss of both operational code and content data should the downloading process itself be interrupted, as for example by a power failure. There is a need in the art for a system for downloading functional software that does not interrupt the use of that operational software, and does not risk loss of the software or the content upon which it acts. There is a need for a system that allows the new operational code to be verified for accuracy before being loaded for use. There is a need for backing up the operational codes so that a function may continue after an interruption in a download. Finally, there remains a continuing need for economy, especially in respect to minimizing the costs of hardware components. All these needs exist in general for receivers that execute operational code, but also exist, in particular for option cards that supplement the services of the receivers into which they are installed. Most digital content data distribution systems work according to common familiar concepts. Multiple content data streams, video, audio or data, are divided into packets, multiplexed, transmitted and routed for use to various receivers. The MPEG protocols are illustrative of the class, and are referred to herein as characteristic of the embodiments discussed herein. The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) is the expert group of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that has defined the MPEG standard protocols, such as the MPEG-2 standard (ISO/IEC 13818). Other protocols such as MPEG1 or DSS are alike in function although they vary in detail. Each standard is known in the art. At some point, the video and audio content data, and other digital information must be multiplexed together to provide encoded bitstreams for delivery to the target destination. Standards set forth the manner in which video and audio are synchronized and multiplexed together, how frames are defined, how data is compressed, various syntax elements, the decoding process, and other information related to the format of a coded bitstream. Typically, video and audio data are encoded at respective video and audio encoders, and the resulting encoded video and audio data is input to an MPEG Systems encoder/multiplexer. This Systems multiplexer can also receive other inputs, such as control instructions, management information such as authorization identifiers, private data bitstreams, and time stamp information. The resulting coded, multiplexed signal is referred to as the MPEG transport stream. The software downloads discussed herein may be transmitted among the transport stream or transmitted on a separate channel. Control instructions such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,985,895 to Pelkey, may be used to identify receivers to which downloads are directed. The video and audio encoders provide encoded information to the Systems multiplexer in the form of an “elementary stream”. These elementary streams are “packetized” into packetized elementary streams which are comprised of many packets. Each packet includes a packet payload corresponding to the content data to be sent within the packet, and a packet header that includes information relating to the type, size, and other characteristics of the packet payload. Packets are frequently configured to be 256 bytes in size. Elementary stream packets from the video and audio encoders are mapped into transport stream packets at the Systems encoder/multiplexor. Each transport stream packet includes a payload portion which corresponds to a portion of the elementary packet stream, and further includes a transport stream packet header. The transport stream packet header provides information used to transport and deliver the information stream, as compared to the elementary stream packet headers that provides information directly related to the elementary stream. Each transport packet header includes a packet identifier (PID) to identify the digital program or elementary stream to which it corresponds. Within the transport packet header is a packet identifier (PID), which is a 13-bit field used to identify transport packets which carry elementary stream data from the same elementary stream, and to define the type of payload in the transport packet payload.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a semiconductor light-emitting device and a method of manufacturing said semiconductor light-emitting device. The semiconductor light-emitting device can be utilized as, e.g., a light-emitting diode and a laser diode. 2. Description of the Related Art Light-emitting devices using compound semiconductors are known as those covering visible to short wavelength regions. Among others, group III nitride semiconductors have attracted attention in recent years, not only because these semiconductors are of direct transition type, so that they exhibit high light-emitting efficiency, but also because these semiconductors emit blue light, which is one of the three primary colors. One example of such light-emitting device is formed by laminating an AlN buffer layer, a first clad layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second clad layer sequentially on a sapphire substrate. Here, the first and the second clad layers are made of AlXInYGa1xe2x88x92Xxe2x88x92YN (including X=0, X=Y, X=Y=0). The light-emitting layer has a superlattice structure formed by laminating a barrier layer made of InY1Ga1xe2x88x92Y1N (Y1xe2x89xa70) and a quantum well layer made of InY2Ga1xe2x88x92Y2N (Y2xe2x89xa7Y1 and Y2 greater than 0) repetitively. These semiconductor layers are formed in accordance with an ordinary technique based on a metal organic vapor phase epitaxial growth method (hereinafter referred to as the xe2x80x9cMOVPE methodxe2x80x9d). The thus superlattice-structured light-emitting layer, requiring steepness in difference of composition between the barrier layers and the quantum well layers, is formed at relatively low growth temperatures. Further, the respective barrier layers are generally formed to have the same thickness, and similarly the respective quantum well layers are formed to have the same thickness. This is because there is a danger that the wavelengths of light emitted from the respective quantum well layers will be slightly varied by the quantum effect if thicknesses differ between layers. On the other hand, the second clad layer that is formed on the light-emitting layer is formed at higher temperatures than the light-emitting layer in order to meet thickness and composition requirements (the second clad layer is thicker than the barrier layers and the quantum well layers). The inventors have found that the following problems have been addressed in manufacturing the semiconductor light-emitting device. In the superlattice-structured light-emitting layer, if layers adjacent to the respective clad layers are quantum well layers, the following problems are encountered. When a clad layer is of the p-type and a quantum well layer is contiguous to such clad layer, the depth of the well of such quantum well layer differs from those of the other quantum well layers because the clad layer has a different energy level from a barrier layer. Therefore, there is a danger that the wavelengths of light will be shifted. Further, if a clad layer is of the n-type and a quantum well layer is contiguous to such clad layer, the well is hard to form in such quantum well layer because the energy level of the clad layer is lower than that of the quantum well layer. As a result, emission of light cannot be expected. To overcome the aforementioned problems, a first aspect of the invention is applied to a semiconductor light-emitting device that includes: a first semiconductor layer that is made of n-type GaN; a light-emitting layer of superlattice structure that is formed on the first semiconductor layer by laminating a barrier layer being made of InY1Ga1xe2x88x92Y1N (Y1xe2x89xa70) and a quantum well layer being made of InY2Ga1xe2x88x92Y2N (Y2 greater than Y1 and Y2 greater than 0); and a second semiconductor layer that is made of p-type AlXGa1xe2x88x92XN (0.05 less than X less than 0.2), and in such a semiconductor light-emitting device, layers that are adjacent to clad layers are the barrier layers in the light-emitting layer. That is, the light-emitting layer is designed to have a barrier layerxe2x80x94a quantum well layerxe2x80x94 . . . xe2x80x94a quantum well layerxe2x80x94a barrier layer. It may be noted that the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer correspond to clad layers or optical guide layers in the following description. It may further be noted that impurities introduced due to the background at the time of growing the semiconductor layers such as the barrier layers and the quantum well layers are not intentional impurities. However, when the inventors have examined again, the following problems have further been found out. When the second clad layer is formed on the light-emitting layer of superlattice structure, the barrier layer that comes on top of the light-emitting layer (hereinafter referred to as the xe2x80x9cuppermost barrier layerxe2x80x9d) becomes thin. The reason therefor is assumed to be as follows. Since the second clad layer is formed at higher temperatures than the uppermost barrier layer, the material of which the uppermost barrier layer is formed is blown away from the upper surface of the second clad layer at the time of forming the second clad layer. It is not desirable that the uppermost barrier layer become thin, because the wavelengths of light are shifted toward the short wavelength side by the quantum effect. Further, if the barrier layer is designed to be thin (e.g., to a thickness of some nanometers), there is a danger that no uppermost barrier layer substantially exists. To overcome this problem, a second aspect of the invention is applied to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting device that includes the steps of: forming a first semiconductor layer that is made of AlXInYGa1xe2x88x92Xxe2x88x92YN (including X=0, Y=0, X=Y=0); forming a light-emitting layer of superlattice structure that is formed on the first semiconductor layer by laminating a barrier layer being made of InY1Ga1xe2x88x92Y1N (Y1xe2x89xa70) and a quantum well layer being made of InY2Ga1xe2x88x92Y2N (Y2 greater than Y1 and Y2 greater than 0); and forming a second semiconductor layer that is made of AlAInBGa1xe2x88x92Axe2x88x92BN (including A=0, B=0, A=B=0) on the light-emitting layer, wherein an uppermost barrier layer, which is an uppermost layer of the light-emitting layer, is formed thicker than the other barrier layers. Further, a third aspect of the invention is applied to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting device according to the second aspect of the invention, which is characterized in that at the time of forming the second semiconductor layer, an upper surface of the uppermost barrier layer is caused to disappear and the uppermost barrier layer is made to have substantially the same thickness as the other barrier layers. Further, an object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor light-emitting device in which the peak wavelengths of emitted light do not vary even if an applied current is varied. Another object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor light-emitting device having a narrow wavelength distribution, i.e., a semiconductor light-emitting device that emits light that is close to ideal monochromatic light. Still another object of the invention is to provide a semiconductor light-emitting device that has high light-emitting efficiency and an active layer of superlattice structure exhibiting strong emission of light. In the semiconductor light-emitting device according to the first aspect of the invention, layers that are adjacent to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer are barrier layers in the light-emitting layer. Therefore, the shape of a quantum well, i.e., the potential wells in the quantum well layers closest to the respective semiconductor layers are substantially the same as those of the other quantum well layers. As a result, the wavelengths of light emitted from the respective quantum well layers become substantially the same. Further, a crystal of the barrier layer made of InY1Ga1xe2x88x92Y1N in the light-emitting layer is grown on the first semiconductor layer made of n-type GaN. Since the indium mole fraction of the barrier layer is zero or relatively smaller than that of the quantum well layer, the composition of the barrier layer is closer to that of the first semiconductor layer. Therefore, the crystal of the light-emitting layer is hard to distort. In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light-emitting device according to the second aspect of the invention, the uppermost barrier layer is made thicker than the other barrier layers. Therefore, even if the material on the surface of the uppermost barrier layer is caused to disappear at the time of forming the second semiconductor layer, there is no likelihood that the entire part of the uppermost barrier layer will not substantially exist. In order to allow the uppermost barrier layer to exist, the thickness of the uppermost barrier layer must, of course, be designed while taking into consideration a part of thickness to be caused to disappear at the time of forming the second semiconductor layer. According to the third aspect of the invention, the uppermost barrier layer is designed while taking into consideration a part of thickness to be caused to disappear at the time of forming the second semiconductor layer so that the uppermost barrier layer has the same thickness as the other barrier layers after the second semiconductor layer has been formed. As a result, the respective barrier layers have substantially the same thickness in the superlattice-structured light-emitting layer, which in turn contributes to preventing wave wavelength shift caused by the quantum effect. Further, according to a mode of embodiment of the invention, the peak wavelengths of light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device remain substantially unchanged even if an applied current is changed. Still further, according to another mode of embodiment of the invention, a wavelength distribution of light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device becomes narrow. That is, light close to ideal monochromatic light can be emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device. Still further, according to still another mode of embodiment of the invention, light-emitting efficiency is high and light-emitting strength is increased in the superlattice-structured light-emitting layer.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus and method for training a user, such as an athlete or a performer, how to move different parts of its body to prevent or avoid injuries to the body, particularly so that there is no need for rehabilitation of an injury. 2. Discussion of Related Art Many conventional apparatuses and methods use orthopedic devices to rehabilitate an injured limb or other body part. Some injuries require no surgery while other injuries require surgery. Some elective surgeries result in an injured limb or other body part that requires rehabilitation. Known rehabilitation devices are used to strengthen, repair or return to normal a limb or other body part that is already injured. Known rehabilitation apparatuses and methods are not used to train a person how to avoid an injury, because the injury has already occurred. Some conventional rehabilitation devices include restraints or brace structures, such as an orthopedic restraining device, that are secured to one or more limbs of the patient. Conventional rehabilitation devices include programmed rehabilitation protocols that can be used through a display device to instruct the patient how to perform rehabilitating exercises, and also can store data relating to performance information showing how the patient is progressing through the rehabilitation process.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In recent years, the state of the art of electronic organs has developed to provide special effect circuits which enable a player, by the actuation of one or more special purpose switches, or keys, to simulate special musical effects, commonly performed only by experienced, expert players. Examples of this type of special effect circuit are the automatic chord circuits commonly used throughout the art, circuits for rhythmically sounding pedal keys, and circuits for playing "fill" notes in the solo manual. The circuit of the present invention provides an additional special effect in that it allows a player to simulate a glissando effect by simply depressing a key of the solo manual while also actuating a control switch, as by the knee. In general, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus whereby substantially random data can be inserted into a multiplexed system in proper relation to the remainder of the system.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Technical Field The present invention relates in general to a system and method for multi-vendor mediation for subscription services. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for a service provider application to communicate with heterogeneous network access servers using a single interface. 2. Description of the Related Art Traditional dial-in services use a network access server (NAS) in conjunction with a remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) to authenticate and process user requests. RADIUS is a client/server protocol and software that enables remote access servers the ability to communicate with a central server in order to authenticate dial-in users and authorize their access to a requested system or service. A NAS is a computer server that enables an independent service provider (ISP) the ability to provide connected customers with Internet access. A NAS interfaces to both a local telecommunication service provider, such as a phone company, and to the Internet backbone. NAS's are positioned on the edge of service provider networks and provide three main functions. First, they use RADIUS to make authentication, authorization, and accounting requests to the service provider for the subscribers. Second, they aggregate subscriber traffic into larger bandwidth data streams to be forwarded towards the core of the service provider network. And third, they enforce policies that define services that are provisioned for the subscriber. These policies are service-specific attributes, such as allowed network destinations, allocated network bandwidth, and delay tolerance. In many service provider systems, a PPP protocol suite starts and ends a subscriber session. The PPP protocol suite includes specific protocols such as Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) and Password Authentication Procedure (PAP) that are used to authenticate a subscriber. These protocols contain fields for passing subscriber credentials. A service provider using the PPP protocol requires that its subscribers use a PPP client that prompts the subscriber for the credentials, and then sends an authentication request that includes the credentials to the NAS. The NAS acts as a PPP peer and terminates the PPP session. It extracts the subscriber credentials, and inserts them as attributes in a RADIUS access request, which it issues to a RADIUS server on the subscriber's behalf. The RADIUS server checks the subscriber credentials against a user catalog and responds with a reject or accept message. The advent of broadband services has lead to a need for authentication mechanisms other than those that are available in the PPP protocol suite. The majority of broadband solutions today use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for subscriber sessions. DHCP is a communications protocol that allows network administrators to manage centrally, and automates Internet Protocol (IP) address assignments in an organization's network. Using the Internet Protocol, each machine that connects to the Internet requires a unique IP address. DHCP, however, does not include fields for passing user credentials and, therefore, does not include a built-in mechanism for authenticating subscribers. This gives rise to the need for executing authentication transactions from service provider applications using other mechanisms, such as web applications that use HTML login screens. A challenge found is the lack of a vendor neutral mechanism for authenticating DHCP subscribers. Another challenge found is a lack of a dynamic vendor neutral mechanism for activating and deactivating network services for DHCP subscribers. While there are vendor specific solutions to these challenges, there is not a middleware solution that has effectively addressed a solution across multiple vendor hardware platforms. These vendor specific solutions do not interoperate with other vendor equipment for providing subscriber services. What is needed, therefore, is a system and method for providing a vendor neutral interface to support subscriber service requests when communicating with heterogeneous network access servers.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a waste processing machine; more specifically, to a waste processing machine incorporating a combination chipper, swing hammer and hog hammer. 2. Description of the Related Art A variety of devices are provided to comminute and chip discarded waste products. Currently, four types of equipment are generally used for this purpose: chippers (disc and drum types), hammermills, hogs and shredders. Shredders operate much slower than the other three types and are more suited for processing metals and rubber products. Chippers are generally constructed around a rotating disc or drum. The chippers mount a plurality of blades to the rotating disc or drum and shear the wood products into chips. Hammermills are generally constructed around a plurality of rotating discs having a plurality of free-swinging hammers attached at the periphery of each disc, providing for the transferring of a portion of the kinetic energy stored in the rotating discs to the wood products through the rotating hammers. Hogs are similar to hammermills except that the hammers are rigidly secured to the periphery of the rotating discs. Hammermills and hogs may also be constructed with a drum. Of chippers, hammermills and hogs, chippers are generally much more efficient, requiring less horsepower to chip the material while simultaneously being more productive. Chippers can chip logs and trees up to 40 inches in diameter, as well as small brush. They are also used to produce a dimensionally similar chip for the paper industry. A major disadvantage of chippers is that they require reasonably "clean" wood in order for the chipper knives to remain sharp. Any foreign material such as nails, spikes, rocks and sand will quickly dull the knife cutting edge. For this reason, chippers are not suited for reducing wood waste such as pallets, construction refuse or paper products. A hammermill will break up pallets, paper products, construction materials and small tree branches. The kinetic energy stored in the free-swinging hammers is used to break up the material. Because the hammers do not have the same requirement for sharp edges as chipper knives, dirty material is easily processed by a hammermill. A hammermill also has the advantage that the rotatable hammers will recoil backwardly if the hammer cannot break the material on impact. This built-in safety feature permits the hammers to protrude several inches beyond the discs that support them, making it possible for the hammers to make good contact with the material. However, a known disadvantage of the hammermill is that the size of the free-swinging hammers is limited. The hammers rely on centrifugal force to hold them in a radially-outward position ready for impact. Upon impact, they may swing back rapidly which produces an unbalancing force on the mill. If the hammermill turns too fast or the hammers are too heavy, a large vibration will occur. For this reason, the amount of kinetic energy that can be stored in the free-swinging hammers is limited. This, in turn, limits the size of the logs being processed to approximately six inches in diameter. A hog is similar to a hammermill except that the hog hammers are fixed to the discs or drum and do not rotate relative to the disc assembly. The hog has two advantages over the hammermill. First, the disc assembly or drum always remains balanced because the hog hammers do not swing. Second, the hog hammer uses the full kinetic energy that is stored in the rotating disc assembly or drum to do the work on the waste products. Normally, the stored energy in the disc assembly or drum is far greater than the stored energy in the free-swinging hammers. Typically, logs up to eight or nine inches in diameter can be processed with a hog. The upper limit is dictated by the amount of power available and the structural limits of the hog assembly. Because hog hammers are rigidly attached to the disc assembly or drum, there is a greater possibility of damaging the machine when the hog hammers contact material which cannot be readily broken upon impact. Because of possible machine damage, hog hammers do not normally protrude radially outwardly as far as free-swinging hammers. A large protrusion would also require much more power to force the hammer through the material. Typically, a hog hammer would protrude only about half as much as a free-swinging hammer. The resulting reduction in material contact area can push the material away from the hog hammer head rather than draw it into the disc assembly or drum, reducing the productivity and efficiency of the machine. The related art does not disclose a waste processor which combines the attributes of a chipper, hammermill and hog. However, one design has attempted to combine the attributes of a hog hammer with a hammermill. This design provided for a limited swing of the free-swinging hammer. The design provided for the swinging hammer to protrude above the disc assembly the same distance as the typical free-swinging hammers, but the backward swing or recoil is restricted by a dead stop, wherein a portion of the hammer still protrudes radially outwardly from the disc assembly. At this point, further movement of the hammer is stopped and the swinging hammer has the attributes of a hog hammer. This compromise arrangement enables the hammers to initially make good contact with the material being processed while using the large amount of kinetic energy stored in the disc assembly to do the work on the material. One disadvantage of this compromise arrangement is that the hammers receive two blows. The first blow occurs when the hammer impacts the material, but a damaging blow may occur when the hammer makes contact with the dead stop. A second disadvantage is that the hammer tip must be designed so that the hammer presents an impact face to the material in its laid back position that will not push the material away from the hammerhead. The required hammer profile for this arrangement rapidly changes shape as the hammer wears, resulting in a loss of performance.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
German Offenlegungsschrift No. 40 15 124 discloses a linear movement ball bearing that is designed to permit linear movements. The ball bearing includes a cage provided with a plurality of ball tracks. The ball tracks each receive and guide a plurality of balls. The outer surface of the cage houses a plurality of ball track plates that are circumferentially disposed about the circumference of the cage. In this ball bearing, each ball track plate is designed individually according to the outside diameter and width of the ball bearing, according to the ball size that is determined to be useful, and according to the number of ball rows to be accommodated along the circumference. The outside diameter and the ball size substantially determine the cross-sectional profile of the ball track plate which must transmit the occurring forces from the shaft to the load-bearing balls via the ball track plate to the housing, while at the same time ensuring a perfect rolling of the balls. This means that for each size of the ball bearing for effecting linear movements, a separate ball track plate profile is designed, manufactured and integrated. This results in high tool costs for each ball track plate profile, with only a relatively small volume of each ball track plate profile being used. In light of the forgoing, a need exists for a ball bearing of the type designed to permit linear movement, with such ball bearing being capable of being fabricated with relatively low manufacturing and tool costs.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to imaging systems and, more particularly, to optical-coherence imaging systems. A variety of approaches to imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT) are known. Such systems may be characterized as Fourier domain OCT (FD-OCT) and time domain OCT (TD-OCT). FD-OCT generally includes swept source (SS) and spectral domain (SD), where SD systems generally use a broadband source in conjunction with a spectrometer rather than a swept laser source and a photodiode(s). TD systems generally rely on movement of a mirror or reference source over time to control imaging depth by providing coherence depth gating for the photons returning from the sample being imaged. Both systems use broadband optical sources, producing a low aggregate coherence that dictates the achievable resolution in the depth, or axial, direction. These imaging techniques are derived from the general field of Optical Low Coherence Reflectometry (OLCR). The time domain techniques are specifically derived from Optical Coherence Domain Reflectometry. Swept source techniques are specifically derived from Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry. Spectral domain techniques have been referred to as “spectral radar.” In contrast to time domain systems, in FD-OCT the imaging depth may be determined by Fourier transform relationships between the acquired spectrum, rather than by the range of a physically scanned mirror, thereby allowing concurrent acquisition of photons from all imaged depths in the sample. Specifically, in FD-OCT, the optical frequency interval between sampled elements of the spectrum may be used to control the imaging depth, with a narrower sampling interval providing a deeper imaging capability. In addition to total bandwidth, which generally controls the axial resolution, and sampling interval, which generally controls the imaging depth, a third parameter, the effective sampled linewidth, generally controls a quality of the image as function of depth. As used herein, references to “linewidth” refer to the effective sampled linewidth unless indicated otherwise. As the effective sampled linewidth at each sampled interval is increased, the effective sampled coherence length decreases, which may produce a detrimental envelope of decreasing signal-to-noise ratio across the imaged depth. This behavior is commonly known as fall-off and it is generally desirable to minimize this signal quality fall-off.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Applications that process large data sets may face technical challenges and difficulties with respect to processing performance, application stability, and scalability, among other potential problems. For example, data processing applications may be slow to complete and may encounter additional stability problems when applied to very large data sets. Such large-scale data processing applications have become more common as the data volumes collected and analyzed by companies and other organizations has increased. At the same time, such organizations may have decreasing time windows to complete these large-scale processing tasks. Despite advances in hardware, faster processors, virtualization techniques, cloud computing, and the like, organizations still face challenges and difficulties in performing large-scale data processing tasks.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a lifting platform attachment. More particularly, it relates to a lifting platform attachment for a motor vehicle lifting platform or drive-on mechanics pit with driving tracks. The lifting platform attachment consists of a scissors support comprised of two parallel pairs of scissors, and a support plate. 2. Description of the Prior Art A prior art lifting platform attachment for a motor vehicle lifting platform is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,666. This attachment is designed to be placed between the driving tracks in a bridge-like fashion. This known lifting platform attachment consists of four pairs of scissors, which are arranged in the form of a square, whereby an air spring bellows is arranged between the pairs of scissors and supported on a separator or special intermediate plate. With such a lifting platform attachment, a vehicle can be raised only either in the front or in the rear. If the total vehicle is to be lifted, for example, so as to have all four wheels freely suspended, provision has to be made for two such bridge-like lifting platform attachments. If, however, two such bridge-like lifting platform attachments are installed between the driving tracks, the space below the vehicle is inaccessible or accessible only with difficulty. With this being the case, repair work cannot be performed in the area where the bridge-like lifting platform attachment is located. It is therefore an object of this invention to create a lifting platform attachment that is designed in such a way that it can be fitted on the existing, known lifting platforms with driving tracks, or drive-on work pits. It is a further object of this invention to provide a lifting platform attachment which is arranged in such a way that the total vehicle can be raised with its undercarriage or understructure readily accessible from all sides. It is still another object of the invention to provide a lifting platform attachment which assures both good stability and easy driving or moving of the vehicle across the lifting platform attachment.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
In some applications of power amplifiers, it is desired to provide a fixed envelope. For example, some cellular standards, such as GSM/DCS, require a fixed envelope. FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art implementation of a class E power amplifier design, which provides an output having a fixed envelope. FIG. 1 shows a power amplifier 10, which amplifies an RF input signal (RF IN) to provide an output signal to an antenna 16. The power amplifier 10 includes a predriver circuit 12 connected between the input signal RF IN and a switching device Q1, which operates essentially as a switch. The switching device Q1 is connected to inductor L1, capacitor C1, and transformation network 14. A voltage source VBAT is provided by a battery. To achieve high efficiency, the transformation network 14, inductor L1, and capacitor C1 are tuned to provide the waveform (at node VD) shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is plot of the voltage at node VD versus time. In FIG. 2, the peak voltage of the waveform shown will be approximately 3 to 4 times the supply voltage VBAT. Currently, typical cellular phone batteries provide a voltage in the range of 3.0 to 3.5 volts, which is based on the voltage of a Li-Ion cell or 3 Ni-Cad cells. At a supply voltage VBAT of 3.5 volts, the peak voltage in a class E power amplifier (e.g., the voltage at node VD in FIG. 1) will be approximately 10.5 to 14.0 volts. The requirement for a high voltage and a high cut-off frequency fT means that exotic technology devices, such as GaAs bipolars, FETs, LDMOS FETs, or SiGe bipolars could be used to meet these requirements. The requirements mentioned above, pose a large problem when attempting to integrate a power amplifier in CMOS, since CMOS transistors capable of running at GHz frequencies have maximum peak voltages of less than 5 volts.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates to an articulated arm lamp. As is known, current lamps with articulated arms have an electric cable which has the purpose of conducting electric current from the base of said lamps, in which the switch and any transformer are usually accommodated, to the light source, and more precisely to a light bulb, which is usually accommodated in a paraboloid adapted to direct the light rays towards an underlying area. Mostly for aesthetic reasons, the electric cable is usually passed inside the articulated arms, which are hollow, so that the cable is subject, after a more or less long period of use of the lamp, to fraying or indeed to breakage, with consequent danger for the user. Furthermore, known lamps provide various technical solutions in order to allow orientation of the articulated arms with respect to one another and of both arms with respect to their supporting base; the most frequently used solution is to apply friction devices at the articulation regions; however, such device must be frequently adjusted in order to be always efficient, and despite this they do not ensure the stable retention of the arms in a position chosen by the user, especially in particular positions thereof.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Program code (a computer program or application) may be described as a set of instructions executed by a computing device. Breakpoints may be inserted into the program code. When execution of the program code reaches a breakpoint, the execution is paused to allow the state of execution (e.g., memory, registers, etc.) to be saved and/or reviewed for debugging the program code. Stepping through program code and using breakpoints for the purposes of debugging code is common practice. When a user is manually stepping through program code (i.e., manually clicking “step by step” to execute the code step by step), it may be annoying to try to step over a function, only to get caught in a breakpoint nested in that function, or functions nested farther down. Conventional systems have the notion of using predefined ranks to only hit breakpoints over a certain rank threshold. Some conventional systems provide ranked break points for debugging program code by running the program code until a certain instruction and choosing whether to skip breakpoints according to their predefined ranks.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field Of The Invention This invention relates to vehicle wheels and, more particularly, to light-weight non-pneumatic cone wheels. 2. Discussion Of The Prior Art For well over a half a century, automotive vehicles have conventionally run on a two component assembly comprising a pneumatic tire mounted on a spoked or solid wheel. The drawbacks of these two-component assemblies are well-known and include, among other disadvantages, their cost, weight, and the susceptibility of the pneumatic tire component to blow-outs and punctures. In their search for a solution to these problems, the prior art has investigated a number of design approaches. Among the more promising are designs in which the wheel itself is sufficiently resilient to allow the pneumatic tire to be eliminated without sacrifice in acceptable life and riding and handling properties. An example of a resilient non-pneumatic solid one-component wheel in the prior art is the elastic conoidal wheel which is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,461 invented by the inventor of the present invention and assigned to a common assignee. That prior art design had a hub and a resilient conoidally shaped body extending from the hub to a ground-engaging rim which served as the running surface of the wheel. In addition to a wheel of conoidal design, a convoluted cone wheel was also disclosed. A further teaching of a convoluted cone wheel in the prior art is the design disclosed by W. J. Hampshire in U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,196. Hampshire discloses a wheel assembly which has a hub and an integrally formed rim portion having a more-or-less S-shaped radial cross-sectional configuration. These prior art designs provide a practical resilient wheel that allows the pneumatic tire normally required to be eliminated without an appreciable sacrifice in riding comfort or vehicle handling characteristics. However, these prior art resilient wheels have a spring rate when deflected under load influenced by their required overload strength properties and thus advantage cannot be taken of the improvement possible with a resilient wheel which has a rate that can be varied with deflection under load. Non-pneumatic resilient wheels typically suffer from having an inadequate footprint for good highway handling properties if the structure must also endure the expected 3-g dynamic loading with ample fatigue life. In addition, the prior art does not provide means by which the spring rate of a conoidal wheel can be changed such that the operating characteristics of the wheel can be tailored to meet various requirements. The compromise of having adequate strength for dynamic overload conditions and adequate suppleness at 1-g for good handling has not been satisfactorily solved in the prior art. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle non-pneumatic wheel structure having the service, ride, and handling performance characteristics similar to a conventional pneumatic tire and wheel assembly at loads up through the design load of the wheel structure. A further object of the invention is to decouple the loads imposed by impact dynamics from a more supple resilient structure tailored for desirable handling properties at a nominal 1-g loading. It is another object of the invention to provide a non-pneumatic wheel structure having mechanical functions and safety characteristics that are superior to those of a conventional pneumatic tire and wheel assembly at loads above the design load of a pneumatic tire and wheel assembly. A yet further object of the invention is to provide a resilient non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel capable of large deformation whose rate with deflection under load can be tailored to meet specific design objectives. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a variable-rate resilient non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel which is of unitary lightweight high-strength construction which can be designed to simulate the appearance of a conventional wheel and pneumatic tire assembly. A further object of the invention is to provide a variable-rate resilient non-pneumatic convoluted cone wheel which has the mechanical functions and riding characteristics of a conventional wheel and pneumatic tire assembly but which has a lower rolling resistance. Another object of the invention is to provide a resilient nonpneumatic wheel which is simple in design; economical to manufacture, operate, and service; and capable of withstanding static, fatigue, and impact loads compatible with expected service requirements. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description to follow when read in conjunction with the drawings appended hereto.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tire vulcanizing press and a split die device for vulcanizing tires mounted to vehicles. 2. Description of Related Art In vulcanizing a tire, a heating medium of high temperature and high pressure (steam, steam plus inert gas, or warm water) is admitted into the inside of a tire, so that the die tends to be opened by the pressure of the heating medium. Since crude rubber is softened by the increase in temperature, in the event of opening of die, not only does the tire being vulcanized becomes defective, but also the heating medium blows off through the tire. For this reason, the tire vulcanizing machine is so constructed that the die is incorporated in the crank press or liquid pressure press to prevent the die from opening by pressing the die during vulcanization of tire. Therefore, the main frame or other structures must withstand this pressing force, which makes the machine heavy and expensive. An example of a conventional tire vulcanizing machine will be briefly explained with reference to FIGS. 10 through 12. In these figures, right and left of line G--G, H--H, and I--I indicate the cases where the die thickness is different. Reference numeral 101 denotes a main frame, which can vulcanize two tires at the same time. Reference numeral 102 denotes a container incorporating a die split into a plurality of parts, 103 denotes a bolster plate which attaches to the die and raises and lowers it, 104 denotes an upper center mechanism incorporating a tire centering mechanism, 3 denotes a lower center mechanism including a bladder operating mechanism and a passage for admitting a tire inside heating medium into the bladder, 105 denotes a die thickness adjusting cap connected to the upper center mechanism with screws, 106 denotes a pressurizing cylinder, 107 denotes rails for moving the pressurizing cylinder when the die is opened to set or remove a tire, 108 denotes a liquid pressure cylinder for raising and lowering the bolster plate 103, 8 denotes a loader for loading a crude tire, and 9 denotes an unloader for unloading the vulcanized tire. Even for vulcanizing passenger car tires, the pressurizing cylinder must deliver an output of about 130 tons per tire. Therefore, the main frame 101, the upper center mechanism 104, and other members must withstand this output. As another type of machine, the technology in which upper and lower clamp domes 45, 46 are connected and released by a lock ring 48 has been proposed as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.132306/1991. With this technology, the upper and lower clamp domes 45, 46, the lock ring 48, and other members must withstand the above-described pressing force, which requires a high cost. In vulcanizing a tire, a heating medium of high pressure (for example, 25 kg/cm.sup.2) is admitted into the inside of a crude tire (into the molding bladder 2 in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.132306/1991) after the die is closed. Therefore, the upper and lower side dies tend to be opened by the inside pressure reaction. For the tread die, the radial inside pressure reaction changes the direction of force on the slope of an outer ring, so that the outer ring tends to open in the same direction as that of the side dies. Therefore, the die must be closed by overcoming the resultant force of these inside pressure reactions. For this purpose, the presses disclosed in FIG. 10 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.132306/1991 are equipped with a die clamping mechanism having a strength greater than the inside pressure reaction on the press body side. The tire vulcanizing machine shown in FIGS. 10 through 12 has a guide bracket installed at each side of bolster plate for attaching the die and transmitting the die clamping force, a square rail installed inside a portal frame disposed at each side of the bolster plate, and a plurality of rollers installed so as to grip the square rail from three directions (the rollers are incorporated into the guide bracket). The rollers can be adjusted in relation to the square rail by means of an eccentric bushing which can make adjustment so that the gap is zero or a pre-load is given in the entire process in which the bolster plate is raised and lowered. Near the circular peripheral end of the bolster plate, the rod end of the elevating cylinder disposed diagonally is connected, and the cylinder is mounted at an appropriate place at the upper part of the frame. With such a die opening/closing mechanism, the bolster plate can be vertically guided exactly along the square rail by means of the elevating cylinder, and the bolster plate can be raised or lowered while being kept horizontal against the imbalance of the thrust of the elevating cylinder. However, the tire vulcanizing machine shown in FIGS. 10 through 12 has the following problems: (1) The adjustment of rollers using the eccentric bushing requires high technique. PA1 (2) The adjusting work must be done regularly after the initial adjustment. PA1 (3) Even if the elevating cylinders are manufactured with high accuracy, a difference in cylinder output is produced after long-term operation by the internal leakage or the relative difference in piston packing resistance due to aging, producing an inclination or vibration of the bolster plate. PA1 (1) Because the elevating cylinders are located at positions far apart from the center of die. PA1 (2) A vulcanizing press requires an apparatus for loading a crude tire and that for unloading a finished tire. For the arrangement and installation of these apparatuses, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.127409/1990 is not suitable. The reason for this is as follows: Because the frame of the opening/closing guide is positioned outside the press, PA1 (1) Although the tread molding die is changeable, a segment for attaching the die, a guide for opening/closing the segment, and an opening/closing drive mechanism are integral parts of structure of the vulcanizing press. Therefore, the tread molding die can be changed only on the press, so that the operation for production must be stopped during the die change; efficient die change cannot be performed. PA1 (2) The upper and lower side dies must be changed independently. PA1 (3) Since the die is heated usually to a temperature as high as 150.degree. C. or higher in use, the work for changing the die in the press is dangerous. Accordingly, the work efficiency is decreased. PA1 (4) Since the replacement die is cold, it must be heated to the temperature in use after troublesome and inefficient change work. Therefore, the machine cannot be used for several hours after the die change. When a wide variety of tires of different sizes and patterns are produced, the frequency of die change becomes high, which decreases the productivity, whereby the producer suffers a serious disadvantage. PA1 (1) To this end, the tire vulcanizing press of the present invention uses a split die device having an upper disk to which an upper die portion for molding the tire side is attached, a lower disk to which a lower die portion for molding the tire side is attached, divided segments to which a split tread die portion for molding the tire tread is attached, and an outer ring which has an inner inclined surface corresponding to the outer inclined surface of the segment and are slidably engaged with the outer inclined surface. Each of the divided segments has protrusions at the upper part and the lower part, so that the protrusions engage with the outer peripheries of the upper and lower disks to lock the upper and lower disks to prevent the disks from separating when the die is closed. When the die is opened and the segments move outward, the locking condition is released, by which the upper die portion and the lower die portion are separated to receive a crude tire. After the die is closed, the separating action of upper and lower disks generated when a pressurized heating medium is admitted into the inside of the tire is inhibited by the segments, whereby the transmission of internal reaction to the press body is minimized. PA1 (2) The outer ring is fixed to a bolster plate which is in a fixed relation to a center mechanism operating cylinder, the segments are supported by the upper disk which is in a fixed relation to a piston rod of the center mechanism operating cylinder in such a manner as to slide horizontally. PA1 (3) A column for attaching guide rails for opening/closing the die is disposed at the intermediate portion between the right and left dies. This column is also used as a column for the guide rails for the crude tire loading apparatus and the finished tire unloading apparatus. PA1 (4) The column at the intermediate portion is of a T shape when viewed from the front, and elevating cylinders are disposed at positions slightly offset from the die center to the guide bracket side, preferably near the center of gravity of the entirety of the guide bracket and the elevating plate. PA1 (5) When a pressurized heating medium is admitted into the inside of tire after the die is closed, the divided segment is subjected to internal pressure reaction in the radial outward direction. This internal pressure reaction is converted into a vertical reaction by the slope effect of an annular body of the split die device (though the reaction is lessened by friction), which tends to raise the elevating disk and the annular body. To resist this tendency, a downward force is always produced on the elevating cylinder. With the hydraulic upright-type press, the elevating cylinders for opening/closing the die is in a free condition during vulcanization. PA1 (6) In the case of (5), the die opens if the elevating cylinder or the circuit fails, which is undesirable. As an alternative or a second safety measure, a split die opening/closing operation cylinder is used. That is, the cylinder disposed at the die center portion is mounted to the bolster plate, and the rod side is connected to the upper disk of the split die device. This split die opening/closing operation cylinder is operated in the direction in which the rod is pulled up during vulcanization, so that the upper disk and the bolster plate are pulled, by which the die closing condition is kept. PA1 (7) As another alternative of (5) and (6), a mechanism for preventing the die from opening, which engages with the groove on the annular body side of the split die device, is installed at the lower base of the press. PA1 (8) As another method of (7), a mechanism for preventing the die from opening, which engages with the rod of the split die operation cylinder when die is closed, is installed at the bolster plate portion. PA1 (1) The forces which to tend to open the die, which are produced by the action of pressurized heating medium admitted into the inside of tire via a bladder, are balanced in the split die device. PA1 (2) As a result of (1), a pressurizing cylinder of high pressure and high output which was required in the conventional machine can be omitted. PA1 (3) Since the pressure reaction acting on the main frame is eliminated, the weight of the main frame can be significantly reduced, and the construction of the main frame can be simplified. PA1 (4) The die can be changed by the same procedure as that of the conventional multi-split die. PA1 (5) The need for the device for adjusting the die thickness can be eliminated. By using the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.127409/1990, that is, a straight track bearing commercially available as a finished product, the work for adjusting the roller gap may be lessened, and the problem of inclination or vibration of bolster plate due to the difference in output of the elevating cylinder may be solved. However, the device in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.127409/1990 has the following problems: (a) The guide bracket must be rigid since it is subjected to a moment due to a shaping reaction (molding reaction in pre-expansion) acting at the die center as a resultant force in the process in which the die is closed. PA2 (b) A moment due to bonding force between the tire and the die acting at the die center as a resultant force occurs in the direction opposite to the moment of (a) in the process in which the die is opened. This also requires high rigidity of the guide bracket. PA2 (c) The press should be operated as fast as possible from the viewpoint of productivity; while a low speed is required in the process of pre-molding and the process in which the tread die is opened, that is, the process in which the tire tread is separated from the tread die. In this speed change from high to low speed and in a sudden stop for emergency to prevent an accident, a very high inertia force is produced near the die center because a position near the die center is the center of gravity, by which a moment is produced at the guide bracket. PA2 (a) The tire loading apparatus and the tire unloading apparatus must be separated at right and left, that is, they must be near the frame. This runs counter to the aim of providing an economical press which is operated with right and left simultaneous operation cycle. PA2 (b) If the tire loading apparatus and the tire unloading apparatus are positioned at the center of right and left dies to solve the problem of (a), a rigid column is needed for the tire loading apparatus and the tire unloading apparatus in addition to the frame. This also runs counter to the aim of providing an economical machine. PA2 (c) Since the frame is positioned outside, an auxiliary means, for example, to connect both frame columns at the top to increase the rigidity of the guide frame is needed. This is objectionable in pursuing economy. When the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.127409/1990 is used practically, therefore, the guide bracket must be considerably rigid, and a considerably large straight track bearing must be used; an economical opening/closing mechanism cannot be provided. Although the conventional vulcanizing machine described above is so constructed that any of a split die and a vertically two-piece die which are known in the industry can be used, almost all machines have recently used the split die because the demand for higher quality and performance of the radial ply tire has increased. Regarding a vulcanizing press using a split die only, U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,305 has been known. However, this U.S. Patent has the following problems: To solve the above problems, many producers are exerting their ingenuity for fast changing of split die device and quick start-up of production by changing the die including the opening/closing mechanism (every split die device usually called a sectional mold container) which has been preheated, while strongly demanding the automation of die attaching/detaching work to a press. For this reason, the vulcanizing press of U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,305 cannot be said to be suitable for efficient die change.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic driver suitable for a shutter device or aperture device to be incorporated into an image sensing apparatus such as a video camera, a film-based camera, or a digital still camera, or suitable for an optical filter driver. 2. Description of the Related Art A rotary actuator described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-248231 is conventionally known as a cylindrical rotary actuator incorporating a coil in the direction of the rotating shaft of a magnetized rotor magnet. This rotary actuator is characterized by including a rotor made of a permanent magnet, a main body case, which is made of a nonmagnetic material and accommodates the rotor by supporting it such that it can rotate in a predetermined angular range centered around its axis, a coil placed outside one end of the main body case in the axis direction, and formed by winding a wire around a bobbin, and a yoke made of a magnetic material having two ends bent to form an almost U-shaped section, an intermediate portion of the yoke being inserted into the coil, one end of the yoke being placed on one outer side surface of the main body case, and the other end of the yoke being placed on the other outer side surface of the main body case. Also, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-052162, a method has been proposed in which two bearings are used, a yoke is formed into a hook shape, and the two bearings are fixed by the hook of the yoke and a portion to be inserted into a coil bobbin, thereby forming an actuator. In above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-248231, however, the positioning of the rotor magnet and an arcuate magnetic pole portion of the yoke, which exerts a large effect on the driving accuracy, is performed on only a surface facing the rotor magnet on the outer circumferential surface of the main body case. Also, no method of positioning the two bearings of the rotor magnet has been disclosed. Furthermore, the hook of the yoke fixes the bearings and a cap in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-052162. Similar to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-248231, the arcuate magnetic pole portion of the yoke is positioned on only a surface facing the rotor magnet. In addition, the complicated yoke shape may make the position of the arcuate magnetic pole portion unstable with respect to the rotor magnet.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The liquid machining medium supplied to the EDM gap is typically a liquid hydrocarbon such as kerosine or a conductivity-adjusted water liquid. It serves to envelope, compress and cool the discharge column. By causing a discharge column to be squeezed to a greater extent by the liquid environment, it is possible to increase the discharge current density and discharge energy density, and to augment the discharge pressure, thereby increasing the impulsive pulverization and scattering of molten metal at the discharge spot and metal vapors in the discharge column. The EDM liquid machining medium also serves to cool these discharge scattered products and thereby to solidify them into particulate objects which are commonly called EDM chips. The EDM liquid machining medium further serves to carry away the discharge products and EDM chips from the discharge site. Thus, a portion of the liquid medium is decomposed and evaporated to produce a gaseous expansion pressure which facilitates removal of the machining products from the region of the machining gap between the tool electrode and the workpiece. I have discovered that upon extinction of one given electrical discharge, a portion of the discharge-generated gases and vapors should desirably remain in the gap region to facilitate triggering of a next discharge. Thus, a succession of outstandingly effective electrical discharges will be created across the machining gap between the tool electrode and the workpiece if an appropriate amount of these gases and vapors is kept in existence in the gap. An excessive amount of the gases and vapors will be undesirable because the discharges tend to be converted into a continuous arc discharge which brings about damage of the workpiece, the tool electrode or both. At the same time, the cooling action will be substantially deteriorated. On the other hand, instability in discharge production or a reduced rate of repetition of electrical discharges is attributed to an insufficient proportion of the discharge-generated gases and vapors.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Our invention relates to the protection of remote control devices from rain and other conditions where the device would otherwise be exposed to water or other liquids. It is particularly suited to remote control devices with pressure sensitive controls. Although several enclosures, of varying shape, are revealed in the art, none are known to provide protection from actual immersion, heavy rain, and so forth. Furthermore, no such devices appear to be particularly suited to the remote control device which is utilized with respect to car alarm systems and car automatic locking systems. What is needed is a remote control device cover which closely fits the device and protects it from water while allowing the pressure sensitive controls to be viewed and operated while the device remains in the cover.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Native operating system services can prevent security software from installing arbitrary hooking within the kernel of operating systems. Security software is thus prevented from filtering all behaviors of an electronic device, including potentially malicious actions by malware. Malware may include, but is not limited to, spyware, rootkits, password stealers, spam, sources of phishing attacks, sources of denial-of-service-attacks, viruses, loggers, Trojans, adware, or any other digital content that produces malicious activity. The filtering functionality provided by the operating system may be limited, and only available on timelines decided by the operating system vendor. Malware can operate and reside at the same level as security software, particularly in the operating system kernel and thus compromise both the operating system and the integrity of the security software itself. Many forms of aggressive kernel mode malware tamper with user mode memory to accomplish malicious tasks such as injecting malicious code dynamically, modifying user mode code sections to alter execution paths and redirect into malicious code, and modify user mode data structures to defeat security software. Additionally, some malware may attack anti-malware applications and processes from the kernel by tampering with process memory code and data sections to deceive the detection logic. Kernel mode rootkits and other malware employ various methods to hide their presence from user mode applications and kernel mode device drivers. The techniques used may vary depending upon where the infection takes place. For example, malware attacking the kernel active process list of an operating system to delist or unlink a rootkit or other malware process. Other malware may tamper with the code sections of process access and enumeration functions.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
(a) Field of the Invention The present invention is related to a split serial-parallel hybrid dual-power drive system, and more particularly to one used to drive land, maritime, underwater or aerospace transportation means, or industrial machines and equipment or any other load driven by rotational kinetic energy. The split serial-parallel hybrid dual-power drive system is comprised of two or more than two separation drive systems allowing independent operation to respectively drive the load, or all loads driven individually are incorporated in a common frame. In the separation drive system of the dual-power drive system, the first drive system and a second drive system are provided. The first drive system is equipped with an active power source, a first electrical unit essentially functioning as a generator, and an optional second electrical unit essentially functioning as a motor, and a clutch set to control the transmission status of the rotational kinetic energy; and the second drive system is adapted with another second dynamo-electric unit essentially functioning as a motor to serve as the rotational power source for the second drive system. An optional clutch set is provided to control the transmission or cut-off of the rotational kinetic energy between two independent drive systems. By means of the regulation of a control system or by manual operation, the status of transmission between the active rotational power source and the first dynamo-electric unit of the separation serial-parallel hybrid drive system indicates a coupled status; and the active rotational kinetic energy source drives the first dynamo-electric unit to output electric power to further drive the second dynamo-electric unit to operate as a motor to provide functions related to a series hybrid power train; or alternatively, through the control and operation of the clutch, the rotational kinetic energy from the active rotational power source outputs rotational kinetic energy to drive either or both of the loads of the first drive system and the second drive system; or the active rotational power source is incorporated to both of the first and the second dynamo-electric units, and an optional rechargeable device to provide functions related to a parallel hybrid power train. Accordingly, the present invention relates to an innovative dual-power drive system by providing more operation functions. (b) Description of the Prior Art Traditional transportation means on land, maritime or airborne is usually related to a single acting power train. To meet energy saving and pollution control criteria significant efforts have been devoted to the development of dual-power drive system in recent years. Among these efforts, the development of a power train combining the rotational kinetic energy outputted from engine and that from electricity driven motor has made quite an impressive progress. The hybrid dual-power system of the prior art includes: 1. Serial hybrid power drive system: a generator is driven by an engine to further drive a motor to produce rotational kinetic energy to drive a load, this system has reported flaws of wild variation in system efficiency under various loading condition; greater demand on electrical power capacity, requiring larger installation space, heavier and higher cost due to that both of the motor and the generator have to carry all the power consumption. 2. Rechargeable serial drive system: Under normal loading, an engine drives a generator to further drive a motor to output rotational kinetic energy for driving a load. Under light loading condition, electric energy from the generator is partially flow into a rechargeable energy storage device for storage. While the engine stops running, the electrical energy inside storage device will output to the motor for producing the rotational kinetic energy to drive the load, this approach brings higher energy efficiency and less pollution; and under heavy loading, electrical energy from the engine-driven-generator and from the rechargeable energy storage device are transferred to the motor which output rotational kinetic energy for driving the load. 3. Parallel hybrid power train: Under normal loading, rotational kinetic energy outputted from an engine directly drive the load; Under light loading, the motor driven by the engine is switched into the generator mode for charging the rechargeable device or supply power to other load, or if the engine stops running, the rechargeable device drives the motor to output rotational kinetic energy to drive the load for higher energy efficiency and less pollution. Under heavy loading, the rotational kinetic energy outputted from the engine and that from the motor driven by the rechargeable device jointly drive the load. However, the flaw of the system is that it requires the installation of a rechargeable device with sufficient electrical capacity.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image heating apparatus mounted to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile so that an image on a recording material is heated. In particular, the present invention relates to an image heating apparatus including a rubbing rotary member configured to rub a heat rotary member configured to heat an image on a recording material. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been used an image heating apparatus including a heat rotary member and a nip forming member configured to form a nip to heat an image on a recording material. However, some recording materials have projections formed on edges (cut end surfaces) of the recording materials. When such recording materials pass through a nip, the edges of the recording materials may slightly scratch the heat rotary member. In a width direction orthogonal to a direction in which the recording materials are conveyed, portions through which the edges of the recording materials pass converge on a certain point, and hence minute scratches may be locally formed by the cut end surfaces. As a result, glossiness in an image becomes uneven. As a countermeasure against scratches due to the cut end surfaces, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-266785 discloses a method of rubbing the heat rotary member with a rubbing member. By the way, the recording material may wrap around the heat rotary member after passing through the nip, which leads to a risk of a failure of separation. In order to prevent the failure of separation of the recording material, it is effective to use a separation plate configured to separate the recording material. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-037567 discloses a structure including a plurality of contact members which come into contact with a surface of the heat rotary member so that a distance between the separation plate and the heat rotary member is determined. However, when grinding dust of the rubbing member surface comes into contact with the contact members, a position of the separation plate may come unstable.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Methods and systems for remotely controlling heating of at least one room of a building are generally known within the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). Such systems are also known as control systems for HVAC devices or systems. Known control systems for HVAC devices supporting scheduling of a heating procedure are configured to initiate the heating up of a room or building at a particular scheduled point of time at which an increased room air temperature is desired. This is not optimal as it does not take into account the heating inertia which usually causes the desired, higher room air temperature to be reached with a delay compared to the point of time at which the user desires this higher room air temperature. Furthermore, for several decades manufacturers of HVAC devices have been attempting to make the devices more efficient. This is due to rising energy costs, and more recently also due to increased awareness of environmental issues. Even so there is still a desire to make such devices even more efficient. Therefore there is a need for a method and system for controlling a climate parameter, and particularly the temperature, of at least one room of a building, which may increase the efficiency of the HVAC device as a whole such as to save energy, costs and emissions of particularly greenhouse gases.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telemetry system for transmitting data from a downhole drilling assembly to the surface of a well. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for improved acoustic signaling through a drill string. 2. Description of the Related Art Modern petroleum drilling and production operations demand a great quantity of information relating to parameters and conditions downhole. Such information typically includes characteristics of the earth formations traversed by the wellbore, along with data relating to the size and configuration of the borehole itself. The collection of information relating to conditions downhole, which commonly is referred to as "logging", can be performed by several methods. In conventional oil well wireline logging, a probe or "sonde" housing formation sensors is lowered into the borehole after some or all of the well has been drilled, and is used to determine certain characteristics of the formations traversed by the borehole. The tipper end of the sonde is attached to a conductive wireline that suspends the sonde in the borehole. Power is transmitted to the sensors and instrumentation in the sonde through the conductive wireline. Similarly, the instrumentation in the sonde communicates information to the surface by electrical signals transmitted through the wireline. The problem with obtaining downhole measurements via wireline is that the drilling assembly must be removed or "tripped" from the drilled borehole before the desired borehole information can be obtained. This can be both time-consuming and extremely costly, especially in situations where a substantial portion of the well has been drilled. In this situation, thousands of feet of tubing may need to be removed and stacked on the platform (if offshore). Typically, drilling rigs are rented by the day at a substantial cost. Consequently, the cost of drilling a well is directly proportional to the time required to complete the drilling process. Removing thousands of feet of tubing to insert a wireline logging tool can be an expensive proposition. As a result, there has been an increased emphasis on the collection of data during the drilling process. Collecting and processing data during the drilling process eliminates the necessity of removing or tripping the drilling assembly to insert a wireline logging tool. It consequently allows the driller to make accurate modifications or corrections as needed to optimize performance while minimizing down time. Designs for measuring conditions downhole including the movement and location of the drilling assembly contemporaneously with the drilling of the well have come to be known as "measurement-while-drilling" techniques, or "MWD". Similar techniques, concentrating more on the measurement of formation parameters, commonly have been referred to as "logging while drilling" techniques, or "LWD". While distinctions between MWD and LWD may exist, the terms MWD and LWD often are used interchangeably. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term MWD will be used with the understanding that this term encompasses both the collection of formation parameters and the collection of information relating to the movement and position of the drilling assembly. When oil wells or other boreholes are being drilled, it is frequently necessary or desirable to determine the direction and inclination of the drill bit and downhole motor so that the assembly can be steered in the correct direction. Additionally, information may be required concerning the nature of the strata being drilled, such as the formation's resistivity, porosity, density and its measure of gamma radiation. It is also frequently desirable to know other downhole parameters, such as the temperature and the pressure at the base of the borehole, for example. Once this data is gathered at the bottom of the borehole, it is necessary to communicate it to the surface for use and analysis by the driller. Sensors or transducers typically are located at the lower end of the drill string in LWD systems. While drilling is in progress these sensors continuously or intermittently monitor predetermined drilling parameters and formation data and transmit the information to a surface detector by some form of telemetry. Typically, the downhole sensors employed in MWD applications arc positioned in a cylindrical drill collar that is positioned close to the drill bit. The MWD system then employs a system of telemetry in which the data acquired by the sensors is transmitted to a receiver located on the surface. There are a number of telemetry systems in the prior art which seek to transmit information regarding downhole parameters up to the surface without requiring the use of a wireline tool. Of these, the mud pulse system is one of the most widely used telemetry systems for MWD applications. The mud pulse system of telemetry creates "acoustic" pressure signals in the drilling fluid that is circulated under pressure through the drill string during drilling operations. The information that is acquired by the downhole sensors is transmitted by suitably timing the formation of pressure pulses in the mud stream. The information is received and decoded by a pressure transducer and computer at the surface. In a mud pressure pulse system, the drilling mud pressure in the drill string is modulated by means of a valve and control mechanism, generally termed a pulser or mud pulser. The pulser is usually mounted in a specially adapted drill collar positioned above the drill bit. The generated pressure pulse travels up the mud column inside the drill string at the velocity of sound in the mud. Depending on the type of drilling fluid used, the velocity may vary between approximately 3000 and 5000 feet per second. The rate of transmission of data, however, is relatively slow due to pulse spreading, distortion, attenuation, modulation rate limitations, and other disruptive forces, such as the ambient noise in the drill string. A typical pulse rate is on the order of a pulse per second (1 Hz). Given the recent developments in sensing and steering technologies available to the driller, the amount of data that can be conveyed to the surface in a timely manner at 1 bit per second is sorely inadequate. As one method for increasing the rate of transmission of data, it has been proposed to transmit the data using vibrations in the tubing wall rather than depending on pressure pulses in the drilling fluid. However, early systems have proven to be unreliable at data rates greater than about 3 bits/s due to acoustic reflections at tool joints and variations in the geometry of the tubing and borehole.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
A stain-resistant coating material as disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been conventionally known. This stain-resistant coating material is a mixture of a first agent and a second agent. The first agent is an article obtained by preparing a perfluoroalkyl group-containing organosilicon compound and a hydrolysable group-containing methylpolysiloxane compound, and co-hydrolyzing these compounds in a hydrophilic solvent including 0.1 N aqueous hydrochloric acid solution, t-butanol and hexane. The second agent is a mixture of an organopolysiloxane and methanesulfonic acid as a strong acid. This stain-resistant coating material is considered to be composed of an addition compound in which plural molecules are complicatedly intertwined, or a kind of polymer. When this stain-resistant coating material is applied on the surface of the glaze layer of a sanitary ceramic ware or on the surface of a glass product, a stain-resistant layer is formed as the stain-resistant coating material dries. The stain-resistant layer is bonded to the hydroxyl groups present on the surface of the glaze layer or glass, and shields the hydroxyl groups to make them incompetent. For this reason, even when the sanitary ceramic ware or the glass product is brought into contact with water containing soluble silica, attachment of soluble silica to the hydroxyl groups can be prevented, and attachment of water scale caused by soluble silica is prevented, so that the accumulation of contaminant components on the water scale can be effectively prevented.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention Embodiments of the present invention relate to, but are not limited to, electronic devices, and in particular, to the field of cooling systems for electronic devices. 2. Description of Related Art In the current state of integrated circuit technology, cooling systems are often employed to dissipate heat generated by heat-generating devices such as high-speed integrated circuit chips or dice. These cooling systems may be passive, active, or a combination of the two types of cooling systems. A passive type of cooling system is typically comprised of a passive component such as heat spreaders or fins to passively dissipate heat. In contrast, an active cooling system will typically employ some sort of circulation device such as a pump to circulate a medium, such as a liquid coolant, to actively take thermal energy away from the heat-generating device. As heat-generating devices become smaller, various systems for cooling such devices have been proposed. One such system is a system that employs an electroosmotic pump that circulates an electrolyte liquid around and/or through the heat-generating devices. Electroosmotic pumps, in brief, are pumps that may incorporate electrodes to compel the electrolyte liquid to flow around, for example, a cooling loop.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to an excavating device and more particularly to a pole excavating device for removing material from around the periphery of the base of an upright pole partially embedded in such material, to thereby expose the base of the pole for inspection and treatment. It is a common expedient to support electric transmission cables, telephone lines, and the like above the ground on spaced, upright poles embedded in the earth. Such poles are generally wood and, particularly in the area about and just below the ground level, are susceptible to oxidation and decay due to moisture, insects, and various other elements deleterious to the wood. Accordingly, the portions of such poles which are below the ground level are periodically inspected and, if necessary, treated with a suitable wood preservative or, if excessively damaged, removed and replaced. In order to expose the embedded portion of the pole for inspection, treatment or removal, the earth thereabout must be removed; this is frequently done manually with a pick and shovel. Due to the size of these hand tools and the manner in which they are manipulated, excessive material is removed with excessive backfill labor involved, which is a time-consuming, laborious, and cumbersome process, and is particularly difficult when large rocks or tree roots are encountered.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present disclosure relates to a light emitting device, light emitting device package, and an illumination system. Group III-V nitride semiconductors have been widely used as the core materials of light emitting devices such as Light Emitting Diodes (LED) and Laser Diodes (LD), in physical and chemical characteristics. The group III-V nitride semiconductors consist of semiconductor materials having the composition equation of InxAlyGa1-x-yN (where 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, and 0≦x+y≦1). The LED is a sort of semiconductor device that changes electricity into infrared rays or light by using the characteristics of compound semiconductors to input/output a signal, or is used as a light source. The LED or the LD with nitride semiconductor materials is much applied to the light emitting devices for obtaining light. For example, the LED or the LD is applied as the light sources of all sorts of products such as the light emitting portions of the key pads of cellular phones, electronic display boards and lighting devices.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Cleaning dirt, grime, dust, and other types of foreign matter off articles is an age old problem. This problem is more challenging in cases where the foreign matter adheres tightly to the surface of the “dirty” article and is further complicated in cases where the surface of the article can be scratched in the cleaning process. For instance, cleaning scorched food from the surface of pots and pans can be a difficult proposition. Cleaning burnt food from cooking surfaces is also a commonly encountered problem. Cleaning grime and residual soap scum off fiberglass shower stalls is particularly challenging because cleansers that are abrasive enough to remove the grime and scum will typically scratch the fiberglass surface while milder cleaning products typically prove to be ineffective. Another, common problem is to clean bug residue off the front of motor vehicles. Again, cleaning products that are effective at removing the bug residue can damage the surface of the vehicle if extreme care is not implemented. Cleaning a dirty wound on humans and animals can be a difficult problem. This is because it is beneficial to minimize further tissue damage to an open lesion. This is often difficult to accomplish in cases where dirt and other foreign matter is present in the open wound. For example, victims of motorcycle accidents typically have multiple cuts and abrasions that can contain various kinds of debris, dirt, small stones, and the like. It is, of course, important to clean foreign matter out of such lesions. However, injuries of this type are normally difficult to thoroughly clean without causing further tissue damage. Over the years, better cleaning products that are more or less suitable for use in particular situations have been developed. However, cleaning stains, cooked-on grime, and dirt that has a strong affinity for the surface of an article continues to be a problem in the case of surfaces that are susceptible to being scratched or scuffed.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Traditionally, most commercially available inkjet printers have a print engine which forms part of the overall structure and design of the printer. In this regard, the body of the printer unit is typically constructed to accommodate the printhead and associated media delivery mechanisms, and these features are integral with the printer unit. This is especially the case with inkjet printers that employ a printhead that traverses back and forth across the media as the media is progressed through the printer unit in small iterations. In such cases the reciprocating printhead is typically mounted to the body of the printer unit such that it can traverse the width of the printer unit between a media input roller and a media output roller, with the media input and output rollers forming part of the structure of the printer unit. With such a printer unit it may be possible to remove the printhead for replacement, however the other parts of the print engine, such as the media transport rollers, control circuitry and maintenance stations, are typically fixed within the printer unit and replacement of these parts is not possible without replacement of the entire printer unit. As well as being rather fixed in their design construction, printer units employing reciprocating type printheads are considerably slow, particularly when performing print jobs of full colour and/or photo quality. This is due to the fact that the printhead must continually traverse the stationary media to deposit the ink on the surface of the media and it may take a number of swathes of the printhead to deposit one line of the image. Recently, it has been possible to provide a printhead that extends the entire width of the print media so that the printhead can remain stationary as the media is transported past the printhead. Such systems greatly increase the speed at which printing can occur as the printhead no longer needs to perform a number of swathes to deposit a line of an image, but rather the printhead can deposit the ink on the media as it moves past at high speeds. Such printheads have made it possible to perform full colour 1600 dpi printing at speeds in the vicinity of 60 pages per minute, speeds previously unattainable with conventional inkjet printers. Such a pagewidth printhead typically requires high precision and high speed paper movement, and as such, the entire print engine (printhead, paper handling mechanisms and control circuitry etc) must be configured accordingly to ensure high quality output. Accordingly, there is a need to provide a print engine having a pagewidth printhead that can be readily employed within a standard body of a printer unit and is constructed in a manner that ensures that all the necessary parts of the print engine are configured in a manner that enables consistent, high speed printing.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Field of the Invention The invention generally relates to a data access and management system as well as to a method for data access and data management for a computer system. In particular, the present invention relates to a system and a method for optimising the access to data and their processing in distributed and networked computer structures. Description of the Prior Art The ever increasing use of distributed and networked computer structures and arrangements has the consequence that data and functionalities for data management purposes are no longer provided or utilised, respectively, by consistent computer systems, but by various distributes computer systems which are internetworked. In conventional distributed and networked computer structures and arrangements data and functionalities are generally provided by a central computer system, a so-called server, or an accumulation of central computer systems, so-called server clusters. Other computer systems, so-called clients, such as for example, personal computers are connected e.g. via networks or busses with the central computer system in order to access date and functionalities. In this context, various problems occur which limit the supply of clients with data and/or functionalities, in particular, if the access to a central computer system is done by several clients in a short period of time or even simultaneously. An example for this is computer games, which are supplied to several players via the Internet Due to the feet that only one central computer system (server) is used, its failure results in that the clients can no longer access provided data and functionalities. The failure of network areas, too, which connect the server with the clients, also leads to a total failure of the entire computer structure. Moreover, the transmission times from the server to individual clients differ greatly in part because the connection quality to the clients varies e.g. due to various distances between the server and the clients as well as different transmission performances in various areas of the network. In particular, with interactive operations of several clients in connection with the server, such an inadequate transmission characteristic often leads to an unsatisfactory supply of individual clients with data/functionalities. In this context, the so-called “lags” must be mentioned which affect the communication between the server and the clients.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
The present invention relates generally to testing and sampling operations performed in subterranean wells and, in an embodiment described herein, more particularly provides an annulus pressure operated downhole choke and associated methods. In a conventional fluid sampling operation performed for a subterranean well, a sample chamber is attached to a tubing string and positioned within the well in order to take an in situ sample of the fluid flowing through the tubing string. Preferably, the sample is taken in relatively close proximity to a formation from which the fluid originates. Additionally, it is generally desired to take the sample in steady state flow conditions and at a fluid pressure greater than the bubble point of any oil in the sample. To achieve the desired fluid pressure at the downhole sample chamber while the fluid is flowing through the tubing string, a choke is typically installed at the earth's surface and connected to the tubing string to restrict fluid flow through the tubing string at the earth's surface. However, due to the usually great distance between the choke and the formation and resulting wellbore storage effects, the desired steady state flow is not established until a substantial amount of time after flow through the choke is commenced. If a sample is taken during this long period of unsteady flow, the sample may include proportions of oil and gas which are uncharacteristic of the formation fluid and, therefore, impair any analysis of the formation relating, for example, to optimum rates of production from the formation, etc. Furthermore, it is at times helpful to take additional samples at differing downhole fluid pressures, differing flow rates, etc., in order to more accurately analyze the formation, predict the optimum rate of production, etc. In these situations a corresponding additional choke having a different flow restriction is installed at the earth's surface prior to taking each of the additional samples. Unfortunately, each time an additional choke is installed, a substantial period of time must again elapse before steady state flow conditions are established. The expense of performing these operations could be significantly reduced if an apparatus and/or method were developed to minimize or eliminate the time period spent waiting for flow conditions to stabilize at the sample chamber. Thus, from the foregoing, it can be seen that it would be quite desirable to provide a choke which may be installed in the tubing string in close proximity to the sample chamber, thereby substantially eliminating the effect of wellbore storage on fluid flow through the choke. In addition, it would be desirable to control the downhole choke using fluid pressure applied to the annulus at the earth's surface, and to alternately provide substantially unrestricted flow and restricted flow through the choke. It would also be desirable to provide methods whereby a downhole choke may be operated by application of annulus pressure, and methods whereby multiple downhole chokes and multiple sample chambers may be installed in the well to enhance analysis of the formation. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide such a downhole choke and associated methods of using same.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of controlling an operation of a small Base Station (BS) and the small BS in a communication system. 2. Description of the Related Art As terminals such as smart phones have gained popularity, the average amount of data that mobile communication users use is increasing exponentially. In addition, users' demands for higher data rates are also increasing gradually. In general, a data rate is increased by conducting communication in a wider frequency band or by increasing spectral efficiency. However, there are limitations in increasing an average data rate by increasing spectral efficiency because preset communication technologies have already reached almost a theoretical limit of spectral efficiency and therefore it is difficult to increase the spectral efficiency above the theoretical limit by technology development. Accordingly, a method of providing a data service in a wider frequency band may be considered as a promising method for increasing data rate. Herein, an available frequency band should be considered. According to the present frequency distribution policy, a frequency band of 1 GHz or above is limited for broadband communication and an available frequency band is only a millimeter wave band of 30 GHz or above in practice. Compared to the 2-GHz band of general cellular systems (hereinafter, referred to as a ‘cellular frequency band’), a signal is attenuated significantly with respect to a distance in the extremely high frequency band. If a BS uses the same power as in a general cellular system, the BS's coverage is extremely reduced due to the signal attenuation. To avert this problem, beamforming is employed to increase the transmission and reception efficiency of antennas by focusing transmission and reception power toward a narrow space. Because of high linearity and low transmittance unlike waves in a low frequency band, millimeter waves have a very low transmission and reception performance relative to the general cellular frequency band, particularly if an obstacle exists in a communication path between a BS and a Mobile Station (MS) or an MS is located within a closed room. To overcome this problem, small BSs may be installed, which operate within the service areas of macro BSs. A small BS refers to a BS having less transmission power and a smaller service area than a macro BS. Small BSs may include a femto BS, a pico BS, an indoor BS, a relay designed to expand cell coverage, and a Remote Radio Head (RRH). A macro BS and small BSs installed within the macro BS may interfere with one another in a specific situation such as when it is raining or snowing, or before the macro BS discontinues signal transmission. Accordingly, there exists a need for a method of efficiently using small BSs installed within the service area of a macro BS only in a specific situation. The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Technical Field The present invention relates generally to image compression, and more specifically relates to a black white image data scaling system and method having print density control and polarity detection. 2. Related Art Since the advent of the modem information technology age, systems have been developed to store, process, or communicate black white image data retrieved from printed documents. Common examples include, for instance, facsimile machines, copiers, scanners, etc. In many instances, the system is required to archive, store or transmit the black and white image data. To improve performance, the image data is compressed, thereby reducing storage, processing and bandwidth requirements. Black white image data compression techniques are well known in the art. Due to the universal need for encoding and decoding (namely compression and decompression) of image data, the industry has adopted standards, which are widely used today. CCITT-G4, for example, is one of the most popular standards, finding its most extensive use in facsimile machines. Typical compression ratios using CCITT-G4 are on the order of 10-15×. Ultimately, the amount of compression is a function of the black white image information/data content. In the case of most black white compression standards, such as CCITT-G4, the compression process, which is engineered to be an encoding process, is lossless, i.e., following the decompression process, all information present in the original image is fully recovered. Limitations exist with respect to the amount of compression that can be achieved. Numerous present day industries are increasingly required to archive vast amounts of information in electronic form. Examples include the finance industry saving check images, the insurance industry saving documents, the health care industry saving medical records, the legal industry, federal and state governments, etc. Accordingly, in order to reduce storage costs, data compression for black white images remains of vital interest. Often, it is not necessary for the compression to be completely lossless, i.e., some minor compression errors may be acceptable so long as the pertinent information contained on the document is not lost. For instance, imperfections on a compressed bank check image may be acceptable as long as legibility of the important information, e.g., name, amount, account, etc., is not impacted by the compression. An image compression system that could also enhance legibility of important information would be of great use for industries seeking black white image compression.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This invention relates to a method of prestressing at least one of the glass sheets of a sandwich safety glass, said sheets being bent in a bending furnace by the action of gravity, in superimposed relationship on a bending die having a substantially horizontal shaping surface, the die together with the glass sheets in superimposed relationship thereon passing through the furnace and the superimposed glass sheets, after passing through the bending zone in which the sheets are heated to the softening temperature and bent, being taken past a blow system which subjects the bent sheet or sheets to the action of cooling air and which is disposed in the furnace in a temperature zone above the transformation point but below the deformation point of the glass, and apparatus for prestressing at least one of the superimposed sheets of a sandwich safety glass, which are bent simultaneously by the action of gravity in the bending furnace, comprising a substantially horizontal die which travels through the furnace in a direction parallel to the axis of curvature of the sandwich, and which supports the superimposed sheets, a bending furnace zone through which the die travels and in which the superimposed sheets are heated to the softening temperature and bent, and a cooling zone, which follows the bending zone and is disposed in a temperature zone above the transformation point but below the deformation point of the glass, said cooling zone comprising a blow system which subjects the bent sheet or sheets to cooling air, suitable more particularly for performing the above-described process. In a known process and a known apparatus of the type described hereinbefore (DOS No. 26 50 206), the two superimposed sheets are bent at a temperature above the transformation point and then vertically subjected to cooling air so that only the edge of the sheet is covered by the streams of cooling air, so that compression stresses are produced there. The compression stresses produced at the edge of the sheet with the process and apparatus according to DOS No. 26 40 206 are intended to guarantee clear vision in the stress-free central zone in the event of breakage of the sandwich type safety glass, which is of use more particularly as a windscreen for motor vehicles. However, it has been found, particularly with sandwich type safety glass consisting of individual sheets of different thicknesses, such as are frequently used as motor vehicle windscreens, in which the thinner sheet of the sandwich is disposed on the inside of the motor vehicle, that the safety glass does not have the required resistance to breakage if the central zone, particularly of the thin inner sheet, is not prestressed or toughened but is substantially stress-free, and in addition it does not give a breakage pattern in the form of extensive cracking which is desirable as a compromise between the glass strength requirements, on the one hand, and low risk of injury due to cuts, on the other hand. DAS No. 10 35 328 discloses a process in which the entire surface of the individual sheets is subjected to cooling air in the bending furnace, so that they are prestressed. However, this process is not suitable for satisfactorily improving the properties of the individual sheets of a safety glass sandwich bent in superimposed relationship on the bending die to give slight prestressing. German patent specification No. 616 445 also describes the prestressing of bent sheets by cooling air nozzles, although here again there is no guarantee of satisfactory slight prestressing of the individual sheets of the sandwich bent in superimposed relationship on a bending die. Other prestressing systems operating with cooling air are described, for example, in DAS No. 10 80 742, German patent specification No. 11 14 993 and DAS No. 20 00 271, but all the processes and apparatus described therein are not specifically suitable for slightly prestressing or toughening at least one of the individual sheets of a safety glass sandwich are bent in superimposed relationship on a bending die. The object of the present invention is to provide a process and apparatus of the type indicated hereinbefore whereby at least one of the individual sheets of a safety glass sandwich, bent in superimposed relationship on a bending die by gravity, is slightly prestressed. The object of the process and apparatus is to give the slightly prestressed and particularly very thin sheet of the sandwich the properties of high-strength glass.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This disclosure relates to polymer compositions, methods to synthesize the polymer compositions and articles made from the compositions. Many polymer-based articles are manufactured by injection or other molding processes. In order to obtain good mechanical properties such as high modulus, different approaches have been tried, such as use of filler to reinforce the polymers. Different types of fillers such as glass fibers, aramid fibers, carbon fibers, and various particulate fillers have been used. However, addition of these fillers often leads to brittle failure of the polymer and can lower the impact strength of the resin. Where improved ductility has been obtained, such as in the case of aramid fillers, the modulus obtained is very low. In addition, use of fillers can present processing difficulties, due at least in part to lack of compatibility of the filler with the polymer matrix. Such incompatibility can also result in molding and flow-related problems. Despite advances in the art and the success of many filled polymer compositions, there remains a continuing need for improved combinations of properties such as higher modulus, improved ductility, improved impact, and/or improved melt flow characteristics, so that molding operations can be performed more rapidly and with improved economics. Also it is desirable that the article has good impact resistance and ductility without the consequent loss of other desirable characteristics. Typically, it is difficult to obtain high modulus, good flow, and good ductility and impact strength in a particular polymer composition. Therefore, there remains a continuing need in the art for compositions, methods, and articles that can provide a balanced mechanical property profile, particularly tensile modulus and impact properties.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field An embodiment discussed herein relates to correction of a duty ratio of a reference signal used for transmission inside or outside a large-scale integrated (LSI) chip. 2. Description of Related Art Operating frequencies of components of information processing devices have increased, such as operation frequencies of computers, static RAMS (SRAMs), dynamic RAMs (DRAMs), processors, or LSIs for switches. Hence, an increase in signal transmission speed, for example, an increase in transmission capacity measured by bit per second (bps) and a decrease in transmission delay are desired. A communication backbone device etc. may desirably have a high data rate for signal transmission/reception. As the amount of information for transmission/reception increases, the number of I/O channels on systems, substrates or chips increases. A digital circuit performs data transfer in synchronization with a reference signal such as a clock signal. Accordingly, a circuit is designed so that a reference clock satisfies the strictest condition. Related arts are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,015,739, 5,945,857, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-329924, or the document of Digital Systems Engineering, William J. Dally, ISBN 0-521-59292-5, P606-607.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Storage bags are well-known in the art. For example, ZIPLOC® brand bags provide a very good and useful reclosable storage bag for storing food or other material. Most storage bags include a first side panel and a second side panel which side panels are sealed at the edges and bottom forming the bag having an open top. These bags include reclosable closure mechanisms near the top portion or lips of the bag for opening and closing the bag. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,298 (“the '298 patent”) assigned to S. C. Johnson Home Storage Inc., the assignee herein, discloses closure mechanisms for reclosable pouches. The '298 patent discloses a disposable pouch having side walls. The pouch includes first and second closure mechanisms also known as a double zipper. The first closure mechanism on the lip side comprises a first male closure element and a first female closure element, both of which are substantially symmetrical about a transverse centerline. The first male closure element includes an engagement number having two hook portions that extend from a base. The first female closure element includes a base with a first spaced leg and a second spaced leg extending therefrom. The first female closure element is adapted to receive the first male element when pressure is exerted on the closure elements by the user's fingers during closing of the bag. The second closure mechanism on the bag side of the double zipper in the '298 patent includes a second male closure element and a second female closure element. The second female closure element is substantially the same as the first female closure element. However, the second male closure element includes an engagement member comprising a single hook portion that extends from a base. The second male closure element is substantially asymmetrical about a longitudinal centerline. The closure mechanisms are formed by extrusion. The first closure mechanism of the '298 patent exhibits a clicking feel and sound when the bag is opened or closed. Such a clicking feel and sound are created by having intermittent deformations in the first male closure element. These deformed segments are also substantially symmetrical about the transverse centerline thereof. Another example of closure mechanisms with deformed segments is U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,727 issued on Aug. 25, 1992 to Dais et al. (“the '727 patent”). The deformed portions may be formed by opposing toothed gripper wheels. Such deformation provides for the clicking sound and/or feel when opening or closing the bag. However, the deformations may not provide for a substantially leak-proof seal because of the deformations or cuts may remove or damage the sealing surfaces. On the bag side in the '298 patent, the second male element is not deformed and does not provide for a clicking sound and/or feel. The stem of the second male element is smooth and not deformed to provide an excellent seal. In theory, a good seal is formed between second male closure element and the second female closure element by engagement of the ends of legs 260 and 262 with the stem of male member so that potential leaks from poor sealing on the lip side closure mechanism are irrelevant.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
During drilling of an oil well, gas well, or other well, a casing comprising several segments arranged end-to-end is put into place on the walls of the borehole. The various segments are installed as drilling proceeds, the segments at the drilling bottom having to pass through those already installed. To maintain the largest possible passage section, the drilling device can comprise an enlargement tool that is generally positioned above a head tool that is designed to dig the bottom of the slot, such as a drill bit, for example. In a known way, an enlargement tool comprises a body whose cross-section is less than the diameter of the casing and that has a circular shape along a longitudinal axis that is merged with the axis of the drilling device. This body comprises at an upper end a connection to an upper rod of the drilling device and at a lower end a connection to a lower rod of the drilling device. It also comprises a central pipe to allow the passage of a fluid in the direction of the head tool. The enlargement tool also comprises several arms that are mobile relative to the body between a retracted position in which they do not protrude relative to the body and an extended position in which they protrude relative to the body so that the rotation of the enlargement tool along the longitudinal axis causes the enlargement of the borehole. Several kinematic options can be envisioned for changing the positions of the arms. According to a first kinematic option, the arms pivot relative to an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, as illustrated by way of example by the document U.S. Pat. No. 7,401,666. According to a second kinematic option, the arms move translationally relative to the body in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or inclined relative to said axis. The invention relates more specifically to this kinematic option that is described in particular in the documents U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,933 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,817. The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,933 describes a kinematic option with arms that move translationally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, whereas the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,817 describes a kinematic option with arms that move translationally in a direction that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis. As a supplement to the kinematic option, different types of actuators exist to cause the movement of the arms from the retracted position to the extended position. The invention also relates more specifically to tools comprising a piston guided into the body so as to move translationally in a longitudinal direction (parallel to the longitudinal axis) and that comprises at least one bearing surface in contact with the arms.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a high-repetition-rate femtosecond regenerative amplification system, and more particularly, to a femtosecond regenerative amplification system which can amplify pulses at a high repetition rate of about 100 kHz and produce pulses of a high energy of tens of microjoules (μJ) and a gigawatt (GW) peak power. 2. Description of the Related Art Lasers have found innumerable applications using their characteristics such as monochromaticity, directionality, and brightness. From the beginning, researches have sought to increase the peak power of their lasers through Q-switching, mode-locking, or amplification. However, this quest was blocked since high intensities were found to affect the optical properties of lasing materials and optical components. Ultra-short high-intensity lasers eliminating the intensity barrier have recently been developed by combining chirped pulse amplification (CPA) technology with ultra-short (picosecond or femtosecond) pulse technology. Such ultra-short high-intensity lasers are high power laser systems which can amplify ultra short pulses with a femtosecond or picosecond pulse width to provide terawatts or more of power. The femtosecond laser technology based on Ti:sapphire gain medium has make it possible to produce pulses having pulse durations of 5 femtoseconds or peak powers of petawatts (PW=1015 W). In particular, since the femtosecond laser technology can obtain a high peak power with a low energy, thermal damage can be reduced and amplification can be acquired at a high repetition rate of 1 kHz or more. FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating a relationship between peak power and repetition rate in femtosecond lasers using titanium sapphire (Ti:S) amplifiers. When lasers have a repetition rate of about 10 Hz, the lasers generally have peak powers of a few terawatts (TW) to tens of terawatts. If lasers have a repetition rate of 1 Hz or less, they can have peak powers of petawatts (PW). When lasers have a repetition rate of about 1 to 10 kHz, the lasers generally have peak powers of sub-terawatts (sub-TW) corresponding to approximately 0.1 to 0.5 TW, but can have peak powers of terawatts (TW) as well. When lasers have a high repetition rate of 100 to 250 kHz, the lasers generally have peak powers of tens of megawatts (MW), but can have peak powers of sub-gigawatts (sub-GW) less than 0.2 GW as well. When the repetition rate increases to kHz, a necessary pump laser energy decreases, which is advantageous to the manufacturing of compact femtosecond lasers. Since the lasers have a high working rate, they can be used in X-ray generation experiments as well as industrial applications such as micro-machining and glass cutting. However, compared to 1 to 10 kHz femotosecond lasers, 100 kHz lasers have a very low output power. As a result, commercial lasers of ˜100 kHz repetition rate have not been frequently used so far. A pulse switching method, a pump source, and an output energy according to a laser repetition rate are shown in the following table. Here, the output energy is obtained when a single stage amplifier is used. TABLE 1Pulse switchingRepetition ratemethodPump sourceOutput energy10HzElectro-optic10 ns Q-switched~10mJmodulationgreen laser(Nd:YAG)1–20kHzElectro-optic100–300 ns~1mJmodulationQ-switched greenlaser (Nd:YLF)100–250kHzAcousto-opticContinuous wave~1μJmodulation(CW) green laser(Nd:YVO4, Argon) In Table 1, lasers having a 100-250 kHz repetition rate generally deliver an output energy of 1 μJ or so, and the highest output energy to date at a 100 kHz repetition rate is 7 μJ. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional 100 kHz laser system. The conventional 100 kHz laser system includes a Ti:S oscillator 10, a Ti:S regenerative amplifier 20, and a compressor 30. A CW argon laser 13 pumps the oscillator 10 and the regenerative amplifier 20. A part of a beam output from the CW argon laser 13 and separated by a first beam splitter 15 travels toward the regenerative amplifier 20, and the rest of the beam is reflected by a reflective mirror 17 to the oscillator 10. For example, the oscillator 10 outputs 100 pJ, 75 femtosecond laser pulses, the regenerative amplifier 20 amplifies the laser beams and outputs 1.87 μJ, 10 picosecond pulses, and the compressor 30 compresses the pulses and outputs 1 μJ, 130 femtosecond pulses. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the regenerative amplifier 20 used in the conventional 100 kHz laser system of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3A, pulses output from the oscillator 10 pass through a polarizing beam splitter 41, a Faraday rotator 43, a half wave plate 45, and a reflective mirror 47 and then are input to the regenerative amplifier 20. The regenerative amplifier 20 includes a resonator 21 for resonating pulses, an acousto-optic modulator 22 using a Bragg cell called a resonator dumper for switching, a Ti:S gain medium 23, and a Q-switch 24. The Q-switch 24 is separately provided from a laser pulse resonance switch when a CW laser is used as a pump source. The resonator 21 includes a plurality of curvature mirrors CM1, CM2, CM3, and CM4, such that the pulses output from the oscillator 10 are amplified while repeatedly reciprocating between the reflective mirrors. Here, the pulses are naturally stretched due to positive dispersion whenever the pulses pass through the Ti:S gain medium 23 or the acousto-optic modulator 22 using the Bragg cell. The stretched and amplified pulses are compressed by the compressor 30 to reduce a pulse width and increase a peak power. FIG. 3B is a plan view of the compressor 30 used in the conventional 100 kHz laser system of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3B, the compressor 30 includes first and second prism sets 32 and 34 each including a plurality of prisms. A planar mirror 31 extracts a beam by being moved up and down. Since the conventional laser system constructed as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B uses the CW laser as the pump source, the conventional laser system has a weak pump intensity, thereby lowering an amplified energy. Also, the conventional laser system requires the Q-switch 24 in addition to the modulator 22 in the regenerative amplifier 20, thereby increasing the number of components. Further, the compressor 30 includes the plurality of prisms and distances between the prisms are wide, thereby increasing the size of the conventional laser system. Furthermore, remaining high order dispersion degrades a compression ratio, thereby making it difficult to produce short pulses less than 100 femtoseconds. On the other side, the conventional 100 kHz laser can efficiently amplify laser pulses using a CPA scheme that stretches and amplifies pulses and then compresses the amplified pulses. FIG. 4 illustrates pulses stretched, amplified, and compressed by a CPA scheme used in the conventional laser system of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 4(a), pulses are output from the oscillator 10. Referring to FIG. 4(b), the pulses are provided with positive dispersion by a pulse stretcher including a pair of diffraction gratings to be stretched to tens of picoseconds. At this time, the stretched pulses are positively chirped from low to high frequency such that the frequency of a front end of the stretched pulses is less than the frequency of a rear end of the stretched pulses. Referring to FIG. 4(c), the stretched pulses are amplified by the amplifier 20. Referring to FIG. 4(d), the amplified pulses are compressed by the compressor 30. In the typical CPA scheme, the diffraction gratings are used in both pulse stretching and compression modes. In detail, during the pulse stretching mode, the diffraction gratings are arranged to provide positive dispersion, and during the pulse compression mode, the prisms and the diffraction gratings are arranged to provide negative dispersion. The CPA scheme can reduce the pulse width through effective dispersion compensation. However, the CPA scheme has disadvantages in that because the pluses pass four times through the diffraction gratings during the pulse compression mode, compression efficiency is lowered to 60% or less. Since the 100-kHz CPA laser still uses the CW laser as a pump laser, the output energy is still low, too.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Memories in digital computers usually include a plurality of banks of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) chips. For example, a 80386DX system controller can support four banks of DRAMs, each comprising three (3) DRAM sizes. In addition, the foregoing system controller can support twenty-five (25) different memory map options, and many of the memory map options involve mixed DRAM sizes. Furthermore, the foregoing controller can also support both word and block interleaving techniques for pairs of like size banks of DRAMs. In addition, the concept of page mode can be introduced into the foregoing system. Using page mode techniques, at the end of a memory cycle, the address bits which access the row and the bankselect are latched. During the next memory access, the latched address bits are compared to the new address bits and if the addresses match, a "page hit " occurs and the memory cycle is shortened. The concept of combining interleaving and page mode techniques has been attempted, however, variable DRAM sizes were not involved. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 4,924,375 discloses the concept of combining page mode and interleaving techniques, but the DRAM sizes are the same in each pair of banks. This utilization of DRAMs of the same size in each pair of banks presents a limitation in the foregoing system. In view of the foregoing, it has become desirable to develop apparatus for facilitating page mode operations in a wide variety of memory map options, including variable size DRAMs, and different interleaving options.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fringe field switching liquid crystal display (FFS-LCD) and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an FFS-LCD in which a gate bus line is prevented from being damaged upon forming a counter electrode or a pixel electrode, and a method for manufacturing the same. 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, the FFS-LCD is developed so as to increase an aperture ratio and a transmittance of an in-plane switching liquid crystal display (IPS-LCD), as described in Korean Patent Application No. 98-9243. An FFS-LCD includes an upper substrate and a lower substrate which are separated from each other by a selected cell gap, a liquid crystal layer which is intervened between the upper and the lower substrates, and a counter electrode and a pixel electrode which are formed on an inner surface of the lower substrate. Each of the counter electrode and the pixel electrode is made of a transparent conductive material, and a distance between the counter electrode and the pixel electrode is set to be smaller than the selected cell gap. According to this, a fringe field is formed between and over the electrodes. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a cross-sectional view of an FFS-LCD according to the convention art. A first indium tin oxide (ITO) is formed on a lower substrate 11. Then, a selected portion of the first ITO is patterned, thereby a counter electrode 12. After a metal film for a gate bus line is formed on the lower substrate 11 on which the counter electrode 12 is formed, a selected portion of the metal film is patterned thereby to form a gate bus line 13 and a common signal line (not shown). A gate insulating film 15 is deposited, to a predetermined thickness, on the lower substrate 11 on which the counter electrode 12, the gate bus line 13 and the common signal line are formed. An amorphous silicon layer and a doped silicon layer are sequentially deposited on the gate insulating film 15, and then, are patterned to include a selected portion of the gate bus line 13 thereby to form a channel layer 17 and an ohmic layer 18. Thereupon, after a metal film for a data bus line is formed on the gate insulating film 15 on which the channel layer 17 and the ohmic layer 18 are formed, by the fact that a predetermined portion of the metal film is patterned, source and drain electrodes 19a and 19b and a data bus line (not shown) are formed. A passivation film 20 is deposited on the gate insulating film 15 on which the source and drain electrodes 19a and 19b and the data bus line are formed, and then, is etched so that a selected portion of the drain electrode 19b is exposed. Thereafter, a second ITO is deposited on the passivation film 20 in a manner such that the second ITO is brought into contact with the exposed portion of the drain electrode 19b, and is patterned to have a comb teeth-shaped contour in a manner such that the second ITO is overlapped on the counter electrode 12, thereby to form a pixel electrode 21. In the FFS-LCD of the convention art, constructed as mentioned above, the gate bus line 13 and the common signal line are formed on the same plane as the counter electrode 12, and specifically, the common signal line is brought into direct contact with the counter electrode 12. Therefore, aluminum (Al) having an etching speed which is similar to that of ITO used as a material for forming the counter electrode 12, cannot be properly used as a material for forming the gate bus line 13 and the common signal line. In other words, if the gate bus line 13 is formed of an aluminum layer, the counter electrode 12 is attacked by an etching solution for etching the gate bus line 13 when the gate bus line 13 is formed. Also, if an aluminum layer is direct-contacted with an ITO layer, a contact resistance is increased at a contact area. To cope with this problems, in the conventional art, MoW which has a reduced reactivity with an ITO material, is mainly used for forming the gate bus line 13 and the common signal line. However, if a MoW layer is used as a material for forming the gate bus line and the common signal line, a line width should be increased since MoW has a signaling delay greater than that of a metal layer containing Al. Moreover, since the gate insulating film 15 and the passivation film 20 are deposited between the counter electrode 12 and the pixel electrode 21, a distance between the electrodes 12 and 21 is lengthened. Due to this, an auxiliary capacitance is decreased. Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an FFS-LCD which has an increased aperture ratio, and a method for manufacturing the same. Another object of the present invention is to provide an FFS-LCD in which a gate bus line is prevented from being damaged upon forming a counter electrode or a pixel electrode, and a method for manufacturing the same. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an FFS-LCD which has an enhanced auxiliary capacitance, and a method for manufacturing the same. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an FFS-LCD comprising: a lower substrate; a plurality of gate bus lines extending along a selected direction on the lower substrate; a plurality of data bus lines disposed on the lower substrate in a manner such that they are crossed with the plurality of gate bus lines, for defining a unit pixel; a gate insulating film for insulating the gate bus lines and the data bus lines from each other; a thin film transistor located at a place where the gate bus lines and the data bus lines are crossed with each other; a pixel electrode formed on the gate insulating film, brought into contact with the thin film transistor and disposed in a space of the unit pixel; a counter electrode overlapped on the pixel electrode, the counter electrode cooperating with the pixel electrode for forming a fringe field which actuates all liquid crystal molecules existing on the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a passivation layer intervened between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the pixel electrode and the counter electrode are made from a transparent conductive material and the plurality of gate bus lines are made as a metal film including aluminum. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an FFS-LCD comprising: a lower substrate; a plurality of gate bus lines extending along a selected direction on the lower substrate; a plurality of data bus lines disposed on the lower substrate in a manner such that they are crossed with the plurality of gate bus lines, for defining a unit pixel; a gate insulating film for insulating the gate bus lines and the data bus lines from each other; a thin film transistor located at a place where the gate bus lines and the data bus lines are crossed with each other; a pixel electrode formed on the gate insulating film, brought into contact with the thin film transistor and disposed in a space of the unit pixel; a counter electrode overlapped on the pixel electrode, the counter electrode cooperating with the pixel electrode for forming a fringe field which actuates all liquid crystal molecules existing on the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a passivation layer intervened between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the gate bus lines include a pair of shielding sections which are located between the pixel electrode and the data bus lines, in a manner such that the pair of shielding sections extend parallel to the data bus lines, wherein the pixel electrode and the counter electrode are made from a transparent conductive material, and wherein the plurality of gate bus lines are made as a metal film including aluminum. According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an FFS-LCD comprising the steps of: forming a gate bus line and a shielding section on a predetermined region of a lower substrate; depositing a gate insulating film, an amorphous silicon layer and a doped semiconductor layer on the lower substrate; patterning selected portions of the doped semiconductor layer and the amorphous silicon layer and thereby forming an ohmic layer and a channel layer; forming a pixel electrode as a transparent conductive layer on the gate insulating film of one side of the channel layer; forming a source electrode and a drain electrode at both sides of the channel layer and a data bus line which is orthogonal to the gate bus line; forming a passivation film on the gate insulating film at a place where the data bus line and the pixel electrode are formed; etching the passivation film in a manner such that a predetermined portion of the gate bus line is exposed; and forming a counter electrode as a transparent conductive layer, on the passivation film in a manner such that the counter electrode is brought into contact with the exposed portion of the gate bus line, wherein each of the gate bus line and the shielding section are made as a metal film including aluminum.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
This disclosure relates generally to online systems, and more specifically to regulating access to content by users of the online system. An online system allows its users to connect to and to communicate with other users of the online system. Users create profiles on an online system that are tied to their identities and include information about the users, such as interests and demographic information. The users may be individuals or entities such as corporations or charities. Users may share information about themselves via an online system by posting content for presentation to other online system users. Additionally, an online system may maintain groups of users, allowing a user to provide content to a group for presentation to each user included in the group. A group may be associated with a topic, with a location, or with any other suitable characteristic, so a user included in the group may more easily view or share content associated with the characteristic associated with the group. For example, users in a group provide content items to a group to simplify presentation of the content items to other users in the group. However, if an online system maintains users who are members of an organization, such as a business, different users may have different access to content provided to the online system based on the users' roles in the organization. For example, the organization may limit access to certain information to users who are managers in the organization and prevent access to the certain information by users having other roles in the organization. While maintaining groups of users allows an online system to more easily distribute content to multiple users, conventional online systems do not allow group creation to easily account for different levels of access to content provided to the group by users having different characteristics, such as different roles within an organization.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Flowcharts are often used to show a graphical representation of cells. Flowcharts can be prepared by hand using pencil and paper or can be prepared electronically using a computer. Some software applications require a user to build a flowchart by drawing graphical shapes and then typing text into each graphical shape. If there are many branches in the flowchart, it can be difficult for a user to isolate a single path among the various paths. This can happen, for example, if the user is creating a flowchart to structurally represent a multimedia experience since a reasonably sophisticated experience can generate a flowchart that is quite large and unwieldy, with hundreds or thousands of cells and complex branching between the cells. Another difficulty encountered with structurally representing a multimedia experience is that creating a flowchart using existing tools can pull creative focus away from developing the experience. One approach to author-centric multimedia creation is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,881 to Gibbons et al. However, among its deficiencies as a multimedia creation tool, the approach described in Gibbons et al. is not directed to flowcharts. There is a need, therefore, for a method that can be used to overcome the disadvantages discussed above.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }
Healthcare information must be accessed by developers, researchers, health care professionals, vendors, managers, insurers, and regulators, among others. The people accessing the information may have a diverse set of needs and resources and be distributed over a large geographic area. Numerous data systems may be required to interact to maintain all the required information and deliver it to the correct places at the proper times. For managing healthcare information, current approaches include electronic data capture, large-scale databases of records, and automated systems to maintain and report the progress of the study. For compatibility between users and to comply with government requirements, such as for electronic reporting of clinical data to the FDA, extensible standards such as the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) Operational Data Modeling (ODM) standard are used to store and model clinical data. These standards allow vendors to extend the capability of a standard model to include additional information or functionality of value to the vendor's customers. The FDA requires access to such files, and their auditing benefits from the traceability and retrieval that such standards enable. Projects in various healthcare areas have such data tracking & reporting requirements, including clinical studies, complaints about healthcare products, treatments, or drugs, managing patient records, etc. Problems may arise when different aspects of a project use incompatible data systems and information fails to be exchanged in an efficient manner, or at all, for example if a patient sees several specialists who all use different record-keeping systems. Patient records are collected by physicians and experts to keep track of the medical activity and status of a patient, and typically require the tracking of thousands of diverse pieces of information. Clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy of new drugs, treatments or medical devices also typically require the tracking of such information, including not only patient records, but also experimental results, progress reports, and financial information. Complaints concerning healthcare products must be closely monitored and rapidly reported and addressed. Timeliness and completeness of a manufacturer's response to such complaints, and records about that response, is critical. As used in this application, the term “healthcare information” refers to the results or data produced by or associated with any analysis, research, or data collection aimed at evaluating, reporting or claiming information that impacts the health state of a person. “Clinical trial” refers to any study, research, trial, or investigation of the medical efficacy or safety of a medical substance or device. “Patient records” refers to the results or data produced by or associated with any analysis, research, or data collection aimed at the current or past state of a patient in regards to the medical treatments or procedure he has been subject to.	{ "pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds" }

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