Author: claimsbot

1. A disposable wearing article, comprising:
a front waist region;
a rear waist region;
a crotch region extending in a longitudinal direction of said article between said waist regions;
longitudinally opposite front and rear ends extending in a transverse direction of the article;
a pair of transversely opposite side edges extending in the longitudinal direction;
opposite body-side and garment-side surfaces;
a pair of leak-barrier sheets laid on the body-side surface in at least said crotch region among said front and rear waist regions and said crotch region, said leak-barrier sheets comprising (a) proximal zones lying along said side edges of said article so as to extend in said longitudinal direction of said article, (b) elasticized distal zones extending in the longitudinal direction and normally biased to rise up above said body-side surface, and (c) fixed front and rear ends which lie on longitudinal ends of said distal zones and are directed in said transverse direction of said article;
a first band which has opposite end portions directly attached to said distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets and extends between said distal zones to pull said distal zones toward each other in the transverse direction, said first band being located in said crotch region toward said front waist region; and
a second band rearwardly spaced in the longitudinal direction from the first band and directly attached to the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets so as to extend between said distal zones and to pull said distal zones toward each other in the transverse direction;
wherein
the fixed front ends of said leak-barrier sheets are directed outward in the transverse direction and bonded to the body-side surface in such a directed state, and the fixed rear ends of said leak-barrier sheets are directed inward in the transverse direction and bonded to the body-side surface in such a directed state, so that (i) a first distance, by which first distal edge segments of said distal zones extending forward in the longitudinal direction from said first band are spaced in the transverse direction from each other, gradually increases from said first band toward said front waist region, and (ii) a second distance, by which second distal edge segments of said distal zones extending rearward in the longitudinal direction from said first band are spaced in the transverse direction from each other, gradually decreases from said first band toward said rear waist region;
said first band further has, between said end portions, a middle portion spanning between the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets and free of direct attachment to the body-side surface of said crotch region;
said first band is entirely spaced upward from the body-side surface as said distal zones rise up above said body-side surface;
the spacing between the first band and the body-side surface allows body discharges to move, in use, along the body-side surface and underneath the first band from a rear half of the crotch region to a front half thereof; and
the rear half of said crotch region includes a first rear half positioned toward said front half and a second rear half positioned toward said rear waist region, and a front end of said second band is located in said second rear half of the crotch region.
2. The wearing article as defined by claim 1, wherein the front half of said crotch region includes a first front half positioned toward said front waist region and a second front half positioned toward said rear half, and said first band is located in said second front half of the crotch region.
3. The wearing article as defined by claim 2, wherein said first band extends transversely of the crotch region without obstructing, in use, movement of body discharges along the body-side surface in the longitudinal direction from the rear half of said crotch region to the front waist region.
4. The wearing article as defined by claim 1, further comprising a liquid-absorbent core adapted for absorption and containment of bodily fluids sandwiched between the body-side surface and the garment-side surface at least in said crotch region among said front and rear waist regions and said crotch region,
the maximum dimension of the first distance is in a range of 26 to 120% of a minimum transverse dimension of said core extending in said crotch region, and
the maximum dimension of the second distance is in a range of 1 to 25% of the minimum transverse dimension of said core extending in said crotch region.
5. The wearing article as defined by claim 4, wherein
said second band further comprises:
a rear portion which, in a region rearward of said core and along said rear end of said article, is sandwiched between (i) the fixed rear ends of the leak-barrier sheets and (ii) a liquid-pervious topsheet defining the body-side surface of the article; and
a front portion which includes the front end of said second band, spans the second distance between the second distal edge segments of said distal zones and defines, together with the distal zones of the leak-barrier sheets, a top wall of a pocket opening forwardly for receiving fecal material in use.
6. The wearing article as defined by claim 5, wherein said second band
extends in the transverse direction without obstructing, in use, movement of body discharges along the body-side surface in the longitudinal direction from said crotch region to the front waist region, and
further comprises elastic members contractible in the transverse direction and directly attached along said front end of the second band.
7. The wearing article as defined by claim 6, wherein
the front portion of the second band further defines a rear wall of the pocket, the distal zones of the barrier sheets define side walls of the pocket, and the body-side surface defines a bottom of the pocket; and
the front portion of the second band is adapted to cover, from above, fecal material received in the pocket.
8. The wearing article as defined by claim 6, wherein
said second band extends forwardly in the longitudinal direction from the rear portion located in the rear waist region into the crotch region and terminates at the front end of the second band in the second rear half of the crotch region, without extending into the first rear half of said crotch region.
9. The wearing article as defined by claim 6, wherein said first band is elastically stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction and is attached to the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets when said first band is being stretched in the transverse direction so that said distal zones are pulled towards each other in the transverse direction by the so-bonded first band.
10. The wearing article as defined by claim 9, wherein the front end of said second band is elastically stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction due to the elastic members, and is attached to the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets when the front end of said second band, together with the elastic members attached thereto, is being stretched in the transverse direction so that said distal zones are pulled towards each other in the transverse direction by the so-bonded second band when the elastic members contract.
11. The wearing article as defined by claim 1, wherein said first band is elastically stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction and is attached to the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets when said first band is being stretched in the transverse direction so that said distal zones are pulled towards each other in the transverse direction by the so-bonded first band.
12. The wearing article as defined by claim 11, wherein the front end of said second band is elastically stretchable and contractible in the transverse direction and is attached to the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets when the front end of said second band is being stretched in the transverse direction so that said distal zones are pulled towards each other in the transverse direction by the so-bonded second band.
13. The wearing article as defined by claim 1, wherein said first band is entirely free of direct attachment to said body-side surface.
14. The wearing article as defined by claim 1, wherein said first band is directly attached to a remainder of said article only via the direct attachment of the end portions of said first band to the distal zones of said leak-barrier sheets.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An apparatus for modifying the annulus of a cardiac valve to reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the cardiac valve, said apparatus comprising:
a first annuloplasty ring having a first diameter and being disposed about a first aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve, said first annuloplasty ring including a terminal end and a connecting section spaced apart by a predetermined length, said connecting section including a means for disconnecting from a main body portion and a receptacle portion adapted to receive and interconnect with said terminal end; and
an elongate flexible body comprising proximal and distal end portions and being insertable into said first annuloplasty ring, said elongate flexible body including an adjustable mechanism for selectively adjusting said elongate flexible body from a first relaxed configuration to a second tensioned configuration;
said first annuloplasty ring being adaptable to obtain a second smaller diameter and to cause the annulus of the cardiac valve to be modified and reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the cardiac valve when said elongate flexible body obtains said second tensioned configuration.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adjustment mechanism is manually manipulated so that said elongate flexible body obtains said second tensioned configuration.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said adjustment mechanism is electromagnetically manipulated so that said elongate flexible body obtains said second tensioned configuration.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second annuloplasty ring is disposed about a second aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve, said second annuloplasty ring being magnetically coupled to said first annuloplasty ring to secure said first annuloplasty ring about the first aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a positioning catheter is used to magnetically guide said first andor second annuloplasty rings to the first andor second aspects of the annulus of the cardiac valve, respectively.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said distal end portion of said first annuloplasty ring includes a plurality of deployable hook members.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said terminal end has a threaded portion for mating with said receptacle portion, said receptacle portion including a threaded portion that is complementary in shape to said terminal end.
8. An apparatus for modifying the annulus of a cardiac valve to reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the cardiac valve, said apparatus comprising:
a first annuloplasty ring having a first diameter and being disposed about a first aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve, said first annuloplasty ring including a terminal end and a connecting section spaced apart by a predetermined length, said connecting section including a means for disconnecting from a main body portion and a receptacle portion adapted to receive and interconnect with said terminal end; and
a flexible body comprising first and second oppositely disposed strut members having proximal and distal end portions and a cinching mechanism for adjusting said flexible body from a first relaxed configuration to a second tensioned configuration, said cinching mechanism being operatively connected to said distal end portion of said strut members;
said cinching mechanism comprising a resistance member operatively coupled to said distal end portion of said strut members and a harness member operatively coupled to a pull wire extending between said strut members;
said flexible body being disposed in a delivery catheter being insertable into said first annuloplasty ring, said delivery catheter comprising proximal and distal end portions and an opening at said distal portion for extending said harness member therethrough;
said flexible body being adaptable to obtain said second tensioned configuration and to cause said first annuloplasty ring to obtain a second smaller diameter so that the annulus of the cardiac valve is modified and regurgitation of blood flow through the cardiac valve is reduced.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a second annuloplasty ring is disposed about a second aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve, said second annuloplasty ring being magnetically coupled to said first annuloplasty ring so that said first annuloplasty ring is secured to the first aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a positioning catheter is used to magnetically guide said first andor second annuloplasty rings to the first andor second aspects of the annulus of the cardiac valve, respectively.
11. An apparatus for modifying the annulus of a cardiac valve to reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the cardiac valve, said apparatus comprising:
a first annuloplasty ring having a first diameter and being disposed about a first aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve, said first annuloplasty ring including a terminal end and a connecting section spaced apart by a predetermined length, said connecting section including a means for disconnecting from a main body portion and a receptacle portion adapted to receive and interconnect with said terminal end; and
an electromagnetic wire having proximal and distal end portions, said electromagnetic wire including a plurality of magnetic members operably connected to said electromagnetic wire and an adjustable mechanism for selectively adjusting said electromagnetic wire from a first relaxed configuration to a second tensioned configuration, said electromagnetic wire being insertable into said first annuloplasty ring;
said adjustable mechanism being selectively adjustable so that said first annuloplasty ring is adaptable to obtain a second smaller diameter and modify the annulus of the cardiac valve to reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the cardiac valve.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a second annuloplasty ring is disposed about a second aspect of the annuloplasty ring, said second annuloplasty ring being magnetically coupled to said first annuloplasty ring so that said first annuloplasty ring is secured to the first aspect of the annulus of the cardiac valve.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a positioning catheter is used to magnetically guide said first andor second annuloplasty rings to the first andor second aspects of the annulus of the cardiac valve, respectively.

1. A method for driving an LED lighting device, comprising:
receiving an input voltage from a battery unit;
converting the input voltage into a driving current to drive the LED lighting device;
detecting whether the battery unit is in a low battery state; and
reducing the driving current when the low battery state of the battery unit is detected, wherein the driving current is reduced in a plurality of steps, and the driving current is reduced by a preset value during each of the plurality of steps.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether the battery unit is in a low battery state comprises detecting whether the input voltage reaches a predetermined voltage level.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the driving current is reduced by a next step of the plurality of steps only when the input voltage reaches the predetermined voltage level.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein during each of the plurality of steps, the driving current is reduced by the preset value and is then maintained until the next step of the plurality of steps.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the LED lighting device is a flashlight or a headlamp.
6. A controller coupled to a power converter, wherein the power converter is configured to receive an input voltage from a battery unit and to provide a driving current to an LED lighting device, wherein the controller comprises:
a detecting circuit configured to detect a low battery state of the battery unit and to generate an indication signal based on the detection; and
a controlling circuit configured to receive the indication signal and to provide one or more control signals to the power converter to regulate the driving current based on the indication signal;
wherein the driving current is reduced when the low battery state of the battery unit is detected, wherein the driving current is reduced in a plurality of steps, and the driving current is reduced by a preset value during each of the plurality of steps.
7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the controlling circuit comprises:
a reference generator configured to receive the indication signal and to generate a reference signal based on the indication signal;
an error amplifier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the reference generator to receive the reference signal, the second input terminal is configured to receive a feedback signal indicating the current flowing through the LED lighting device, and wherein the error amplifier amplifies the difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal, and generates an error signal at the output terminal;
a comparator having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the error amplifier to receive the error signal, the second input terminal is configured to receive a current sensing signal, the comparator compares the reference signal with the current sensing signal and generates a comparison signal;
a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal; and
a logic circuit having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the comparator to receive the comparison signal, the second terminal is coupled to the clock generator to receive the clock signal, wherein the logic circuit generates the one or more control signals based on the comparison signal and the clock signal.
8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the detecting circuit comprises a comparator having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, and wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive the input voltage, the second input terminal is configured to receive a predetermined voltage level, the comparator compares the input voltage with the predetermined voltage level and generates the indication signal at the output terminal.
9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the driving current is reduced by a next step of the plurality of steps only when the input voltage reaches the predetermined voltage level.
10. The controller of claim 9, wherein during each of the plurality of steps, the driving current is reduced by the preset value and is then maintained until the next step of the plurality of steps.
11. A circuit for driving an LED lighting device, comprising:
a power converter configured to receive an input voltage from a battery unit and to provide a driving current to the LED lighting device;
a detecting circuit configured to detect a low battery state of the battery unit and to generate an indication signal based on the detection; and
a controlling circuit configured to receive the indication signal and to provide one or more control signals to the power converter to regulate the driving current based on the indication signal;
wherein the driving current is reduced when the low battery state of the battery unit is detected, and wherein the controlling circuit comprises:
a reference generator configured to receive the indication signal and to generate a reference signal based on the indication signal;
an error amplifier having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the reference generator to receive the reference signal, the second input terminal is configured to receive a feedback signal indicating the current flowing through the LED lighting device, and wherein the error amplifier amplifies the difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal, and generates an error signal at the output terminal;
a comparator having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the error amplifier to receive the error signal, the second input terminal is configured to receive a current sensing signal, the comparator compares the reference signal with the current sensing signal and generates a comparison signal;
a clock generator configured to generate a clock signal; and
a logic circuit having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, wherein the first input terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the comparator to receive the comparison signal, the second terminal is coupled to the clock generator to receive the clock signal, wherein the logic circuit generates the one or more control signals based on the comparison signal and the clock signal.
12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the detecting circuit comprises a comparator having a first input terminal, a second input terminal and an output terminal, and wherein the first input terminal is configured to receive the input voltage, the second input terminal is configured to receive a predetermined voltage level, the comparator compares the input voltage with the predetermined voltage level and generates the indication signal at the output terminal.
13. The circuit of claim 12, wherein the driving current is reduced in a plurality of steps, and wherein the driving current is reduced by a preset value during each of the plurality of steps, and the driving current is reduced by a next step of the plurality of steps only when the input voltage reaches the predetermined voltage level.
14. The circuit of claim 13, wherein during each of the plurality of steps, the driving current is reduced by the preset value and is then maintained until the next step of the plurality of steps.
15. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the driving current is reduced to a first current level when the low battery state of the battery unit is detected, and the driving current is maintained at the first current level until the battery unit dies.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method, comprising:
providing a plurality of products that are each associated with a respective radio frequency identification tag;
using radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products within a group of the products collected by a shopper; and
evaluating whether to obtain payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group and then, based on the result of the evaluating, carrying out one of:
obtaining payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group; and
auditing the products in the group, and then obtaining payment from the shopper based on the products identified by the auditing.
2. A method according to claim 1,
including maintaining a business value that is selectively adjustable by the seller; and
carrying out the evaluating as a function of the business value.
3. A method according to claim 2,
including assigning each of the plurality of products a respective difficulty rating representing the level of difficulty involved in identifying that product using radio frequency identification technology;
wherein the evaluating includes selecting one of a plurality of different difficulty thresholds as a function of the business value; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if any of the products identified by radio frequency identification technology has a difficulty rating in excess of the selected difficulty threshold.
4. A method according to claim 2,
wherein the evaluating includes selecting one of a plurality of different tag count thresholds as a function of the business value; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if the number of tags detected with radio frequency identification technology is in excess of the selected tag count threshold.
5. A method according to claim 2,
wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including measuring the weight of the container and the products therein;
wherein the evaluating includes subtracting the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products, and selecting one of a plurality of different weight thresholds as a function of the business value; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if the measured weight of the products is in excess of the selected weight threshold.
6. A method according to claim 2,
wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including measuring the weight of the container and the products therein; wherein the evaluating includes subtracting the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products, and selecting one of a plurality of different ranges as a function of the business value, each range corresponding to a respective different relationship between weight and number of tags; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if the measured weight of the products and the number of tags detected with radio frequency identification technology are not both within the selected range.
7. A method according to claim 2,
wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including measuring the weight of the container and the products therein;
wherein the evaluating includes subtracting the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products, determining a calculated product weight based on the set of products identified with radio frequency identification technology, calculating a weight differential between the measured product weight and the calculated product weight, and selecting one of a plurality of different differential thresholds as a function of the business value; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if the weight differential is greater than the selected differential threshold.
8. A method according to claim 1,
including using a further technology different from radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products within the group of products collected by the shopper;
wherein the evaluating includes comparing the number of products identified with radio frequency identification technology to the number of products identified with the further technology; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if the comparison indicates that the number of products identified with radio frequency identification technology is different from the number of products identified with the further technology.
9. A method according to claim 1,
wherein the evaluating includes: determining a plurality of different confidence levels that are each a function of the group of products collected by the shopper; and
determining the result of the evaluating as a function of each of the different confidence levels.
10. A method according to claim 9,
including maintaining a threshold value that is selectively adjustable by the seller;
including maintaining a plurality of weight values that are each associated with a respective one of the confidence levels, and that are each selectively adjustable by the seller;
wherein the determining of the result of the evaluating includes calculating a sum of the confidence levels each multiplied by the associated weight value, dividing the resulting sum by a sum of the weight values to determine a confidence value, and comparing the confidence value to the threshold value; and
carrying out the auditing and the obtaining of payment based on the auditing if the confidence value is less than the threshold value.
11. A method according to claim 9,
including assigning each of the plurality of products a respective difficulty rating representing the level of difficulty involved in identifying that product using radio frequency identification technology; and
wherein the determining of confidence levels includes determining one of the confidence levels by calculating an average of the difficulty rating of all products within the group detected using radio frequency identification technology.
12. A method according to claim 9,
including maintaining a set of different confidence levels that each correspond to a respective different number of tags; and
wherein the determining of confidence levels includes determining one of the confidence levels by taking the number of tags detected with radio frequency identification technology and identifying a corresponding one of the confidence levels from the set.
13. A method according to claim 9,
including maintaining a set of different confidence levels that each correspond to a respective different weight; wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including measuring the weight of the container and the products therein;
wherein the evaluating includes subtracting the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products; and
wherein the determining of confidence levels includes determining one of the confidence levels by taking the measured weight of the products and identifying the corresponding one of the confidence levels from the set.
14. A method according to claim 9,
including maintaining a set of different confidence levels that each correspond to a respective different relationship between weight and number of tags;
wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including measuring the weight of the container and the products therein;
wherein the evaluating includes subtracting the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products; and
wherein the determining of confidence levels includes determining one of the confidence levels by taking the measured weight of the products and the number of tags detected with radio frequency identification technology, and identifying a corresponding one of the confidence levels from the set.
15. A method according to claim 9,
including maintaining a set of different confidence levels that each correspond to a respective weight differential;
wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including measuring the weight of the container and the products therein;
wherein the evaluating includes subtracting the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products, determining a calculated product weight based on the set of products identified with radio frequency identification technology, and calculating a weight differential between the measured product weight and the calculated product weight; and
wherein the determining of confidence levels includes determining one of the confidence levels by taking the calculated weight differential and identifying a corresponding one of the confidence levels from the set.
16. A method according to claim 9,
including using a further technology different from radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products within the group of the products collected by the shopper; and
wherein the determining of confidence levels includes determining one of the confidence levels by assigning it a high level of confidence if the number of products identified with radio frequency identification technology equals the number of products identified with the further technology, and assigning it a low level of confidence if the number of products identified with radio frequency identification technology is different from the number of products identified with the further technology.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a radio frequency identification section that uses radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products within a group of products collected by a shopper from a plurality of products that are each associated with a respective radio frequency identification tag;
an evaluating section that evaluates whether to obtain payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group and then, based on the result of the evaluation, calls for one of:
obtaining payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group; and
auditing of the products in the group, followed by obtaining payment from the shopper based on the products identified by the auditing.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17,
wherein the group of products collected by the shopper is in a shopping container;
including a weight measuring section that measures the weight of the container and the products therein; and
wherein the evaluating section subtracts the tare weight of the container from the measured weight of the container and products therein in order to obtain the measured weight of the products, and thereafter carries out the evaluation of how to obtain payment from the shopper as a function of the measured weight of the products.
19. An apparatus according to claim 17,
including a further section that uses a further technology different from radio frequency identification technology to automatically identify specific products within the group of products collected by the shopper; and
wherein the evaluating section carries out the evaluation of how to obtain payment from the shopper as a function of the products identified using the further technology.
20. An apparatus according to claim 17, including first and second point-of-sale terminals that are each operatively coupled to the evaluating section, the first point-of-sale terminal being used for the obtaining of payment from the shopper based on the radio frequency identification of products in the group, and the second point-of-sale terminal being used for the auditing of the products in the group, and the obtaining payment from the shopper based on the products identified by the auditing.