All The Claims

1. A circuit to calibrate a scalar in an adaptive equalizer during a training sequence, the circuit comprising:
a discrete-time FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filter comprising n multiplier units to implement a filter response h(t)i, i=0,1, . . . , n\u22121, where t is a time index;
a data generator to provide a discrete-time sequence of desired voltages d(t), t=1,2, . . . , T,
a multiplier to provide a sequence of voltages Kd(t), t=1,2, . . . , T, where K is the scalar;
a filter increment generator to provide, for t=1,2, . . . , T, n voltages indicative of n filter increments \u03b4 h(t)i, i=0,1, . . . , n\u22121;
at least one summer to perform the sum h(t)i,+\u03b4 h(t)i, i=0,1, . . . , n\u22121, to update the filter response;
an overflow counter to provide an overflow count indicative of the number of numerical overflows in the at least one summer during the time period t=1,2, . . . , T;
wherein the scalar K is increased by a first increment if after completion of the time period t=1,2, . . . , T the overflow count and a threshold satisfy a first relationship, and
wherein the scalar K is used during the training sequence to update the adaptive equalizer.
2. The circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the scalar K is decreased by a second increment if after completion of the time period t=1,2, . . . , T the overflow count and the threshold satisfy a second relationship.
3. The circuit as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first increment is equal to the second increment.
4. The circuit as set forth in claim 3, wherein
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the first relationship if and only if the overflow count is greater than the threshold;
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the second relationship if and only if the overflow count is less than or equal to the threshold; and
the first increment is positive.
5. The circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the first relationship if and only if the overflow count is greater than the threshold; and
the first increment is positive.
6. The circuit as set forth in claim 5, the multiplier comprising:
a voltage-to-current converter to provide as output a current IvC, indicative of the voltage d(t); and
a current steering digital-to-analog converter to shunt a portion of IvC, to provide as output at time t a current indicative of Kd(t).
7. The circuit as set forth in claim 2, wherein
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the first relationship if and only if the overflow count is greater than the threshold;
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the second relationship if and only if the overflow count is less than or equal to the threshold; and
the first increment and the second increment are positive.
8. The circuit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the voltage d(t) is a differential voltage.
9. A computer system for use in calibrating a scalar in an adaptive equalizer during a training sequence comprising:
a board comprising a first transmission line and a second transmission line; and
a receiver coupled to the first and second transmission lines, the receiver comprising:
a discrete-time FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filter comprising n multiplier units to implement a filter response h(t)i, i=0,1, . . . , n\u22121, where t is a time index;
a data generator to provide a discrete-time sequence of desired voltages d(t), t=1,2, . . . , T,
a multiplier to provide a sequence of voltages Kd(t), t=1,2, . . . , T, where K is the scalar;
a filter increment generator to provide, for t=1,2, . . . , T, n voltages indicative of n filter increments \u03b4 h(t)i, i=0,1, . . . , n\u22121;
at least one summer to perform the sum h(t)i, +\u03b4 h(t)i, i=0,1, . . . , n\u22121 to update the filter response;
an overflow counter to provide an overflow count indicative of the number of numerical overflows in the at least one summer during the time period t=1,2, . . . , T;
wherein the scalar K is increased by a first increment if after completion of the time period t=1,2, . . . , T the overflow count and a threshold satisfy a first relationship, and
wherein the scalar K is used during the training sequence to update the adaptive equalizer.
10. The computer system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the scalar K is decreased by a second increment if after completion of the time period t=1,2, . . . , T the overflow count and the threshold satisfy a second relationship.
11. The computer system as set forth in claim 9, wherein the voltage d(t) is a differential voltage.
12. A method to calibrate a scale factor in an adaptive equalizer, the scale factor being used to multiply a sequence of desired voltages used in updating the equalizer during a training sequence, the method comprising:
updating the adaptive equalizer over the training sequence;
counting the number of numerical overflows occurring while updating the adaptive equalizer over the training sequence; and
increasing the scale factor by a first increment if the number of numerical overflows and a threshold satisfy a first relationship,
wherein the scale factor is calibrated once for a communication channel.
13. A method to calibrate a scale factor in an adaptive equalizer, the scale factor being used to multiply a sequence of desired voltages used in updating the equalizer during a training sequence, the method comprising:
updating the adaptive equalizer over the training sequence;
counting the number of numerical overflows occurring while updating the adaptive equalizer over the training sequence; and
increasing the scale factor by a first increment if the number of numerical overflows and a threshold satisfy a first relationship,
wherein the scale factor is decreased by a second increment if the number of numerical overflows and the threshold satisfy a second relationship.
14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the first increment is equal to the second increment.
15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the first relationship if and only if the overflow count is greater than the threshold;
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the second relationship if and only if the overflow count is less than or equal to the threshold; and
the first increment is positive.
16. A method to calibrate a scale factor in an adaptive egualizer, the scale factor being used to multiply a sequence of desired voltages used in updating the equalizer during a training sequence, the method comprising:
updating the adaptive equalizer over the training sequence;
counting the number of numerical overflows occurring while updating the adaptive equalizer over the training sequence; and
increasing the scale factor by a first increment if the number of numerical overflows and a threshold satisfy a first relationship,
wherein
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the first relationship if and only if the overflow count is greater than the threshold; and
the first increment is positive.
17. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the first relationship if and only if the overflow count is greater than the threshold;
the overflow count and the threshold satisfy the second relationship if and only if the overflow count is less than or equal to the threshold; and
the first increment and the second increment are positive.
18. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the sequence of desired voltages are differential voltages.

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 shifter for operating a bicycle gear change device, the shifter mountable to a handlebar of the bicycle inboard of a handgrip element, the shifter comprising:
a shifter housing mountable to the handlebar;
a cable spool for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to the gear change device;
a cable pull lever mechanism for rotating the cable spool in the cable-pull direction; and
a cable release lever mechanism for rotating the cable spool in the cable-release direction,
the cable pull lever mechanism configured to be adjustable relative to the cable release lever mechanism and to the handgrip element on the handlebar of the bicycle.
2. The shifter according to claim 1 wherein the cable pull lever mechanism comprises a cable pull lever and a driver element operatively connected to the cable spool, the cable pull lever disposed on the driver element such that a swept motion of the cable pull lever defines a plane of motion substantially perpendicular to a rotational axis of the cable spool.
3. The shifter according to claim 2 wherein the cable pull lever is frictionally engaged with an outer surface of the driver element.
4. The shifter according to claim 2 wherein the cable pull lever includes first and second clamping arms and a tension screw nonrotatably connecting the first and second arms to an outer surface of the driver element.
5. The shifter according to claim 4 wherein the driver element includes a groove, the tension screw having a shaft arranged between two walls of the groove.
6. The shifter according to claim 2 wherein the cable pull lever is adjustably attachable to the driving element within an angular range of at least 120 degrees.
7. The shifter according to claim 1 wherein the cable pull lever includes a first contact surface displaceable through a first plane of motion, and the cable release lever includes a second contact surface displaceable through a second plane of motion, the first and second planes of motion forming an angle of approximately 60 degrees therebetween.
8. The shifter according to claim 7 wherein the first contact surface of the cable pull lever and the second contact surface of the cable release lever are disposed relative to each other to be alternatively operable by a thumb of a hand located on the handgrip element on the handlebar.
9. A shifter for operating a bicycle gear change device, the shifter mountable to a handlebar inboard of a handgrip element, the shifter comprising:
a shifter housing;
a cable spool for pulling and releasing a control cable connected to the gear change device;
a cable pull lever mechanism for rotating the cable spool in a cable-pull direction;
a cable release lever mechanism for rotating the cable spool in a cable-release direction; and
a clamp for mounting the shifter housing to the handlebar, the clamp adjustably attachable to the shifter housing.
10. The shifter according to claim 9 wherein the shifter housing includes a base having at least two bores, the bores spaced from each other.
11. The shifter according to claim 10 wherein the base of the shifter housing has a longitudinal guide parallel to the handgrip element on the handlebar, the longitudinal guide including the bores, the clamp mounted to the longitudinal guide by a fastener received in one of the bores.
12. The shifter according to claim 9 wherein the pull and cable release levers include contact surfaces, the contact surface of the cable release lever having a plane of motion inclined at an angle approximately 60 degrees relative to a plane of motion of the contact surface of the cable pull lever.
13. The shifter according to claim 12 wherein the contact surface of the cable pull lever and the contact surface of the cable release lever are configured relative to each other such that the pull and cable release levers are alternatively operated by a thumb of a hand located on the handgrip element on the handlebar.
14. A method for adjusting a shifter mountable to a bicycle handlebar inboard of a handgrip element, the shifter including a shifter housing having at least two bores, a clamp mounted to the shifter housing, a cable pull lever mechanism including a driver element and a cable pull lever having a contact surface and first and second clamping arms, a cable release lever mechanism having a cable release lever having a contact surface, the method comprising the following steps:
determining where to position the clamp on the handlebar;
fastening the clamp onto the shifter housing by screwing a clamp screw into the bore closest to the handgrip element when mounting the shifter housing between the handgrip element and a brake lever mechanism;
fastening the clamp onto the shifter housing by screwing the clamp screw into the bore farthest from the handgrip element when mounting the shifter housing inboard of the handgrip element and the brake lever mechanism;
sliding the clamp and the shifter housing onto the handlebar;
sliding the brake lever mechanism onto the handlebar;
sliding the handgrip element onto the handlebar;
attaching the cable pull lever on the driver element and loosely fastening together the first and second clamping arms with a tension screw;
tightening the clamp screw in one of the bores of the shifter housing after the position of the housing and clamp has been selected by the rider while sitting on the bicycle;
tightening the tension screw after the position of the contact surface of the cable pull lever relative to the contact surface of the cable release lever has been selected by the rider while sitting on the bicycle;
riding the bicycle to determine whether the position of the shifter needs to be adjusted; and
correcting the position of the clamp and the cable pull lever by loosing and retightening the clamp screw and the tension screw.

1. A non-volatile resistive memory device, comprising:
a first electrode formed on a substrate;
a first buffer layer formed on the first electrode and having a crystalline structure with a first orientation;
a dielectric layer formed on the first buffer and having substantially the same crystalline structure with the first orientation as the first buffer layer, wherein a resistive ratio of the dielectric layer formed on the first buffer layer is greater than a resistive ratio of a device having the dielectric layer formed on the first electrode; and
a second electrode formed over the dielectric layer.
2. A resistive memory device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes comprise platinum.
3. A resistive memory device according to claim 1, wherein the orientation of the first buffer layer is controlled by its formation process.
4. A resistive memory device according to claim 1, wherein the crystalline structure and orientation of the dielectric layer is self-aligned to the crystalline structure and orientation of the first buffer layer during a formation process for the dielectric layer.
5. A resistive memory device according to claim 1, further comprising a second buffer layer formed on the dielectric layer, wherein the second electrode is formed on the second buffer layer.
6. A resistive memory device according to claim 5, wherein the crystalline structure and orientation of the second buffer layer is self-aligned to the crystalline structure and orientation of the dielectric layer during a formation process for the second buffer layer.
7. A resistive memory device according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric layer is comprised of a Colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) material.
8. A resistive memory device according to claim 7, wherein the CMR material comprises Pr1\u2212CaxMnO3 (PCMO).
9. A resistive memory device according to claim 8, wherein the first buffer layer comprises LaNiO3 (LNO).
10. A resistive memory device according to claim 1, wherein the resistive memory device is a resistive random access memory (RRAM) stack.
11. A resistive random access memory stack, comprising:
a first electrode formed on a substrate;
a first buffer layer formed on the first electrode and having a crystalline structure with a first orientation controlled by its formation process;
a dielectric layer comprising a Colossal magnetoresistive (CMR) material and formed on the first buffer, the dielectric layer having a crystalline structure with an orientation self-aligned to the crystalline structure and orientation of the first buffer layer during a formation process for the dielectric layer, wherein a resistive ratio of the dielectric layer formed on the first buffer layer is greater than a resistive ratio of a device having the dielectric layer formed on the first electrode;
a second buffer layer formed on the dielectric layer and having a crystalline structure with an orientation self-aligned to the crystalline structure and orientation of the dielectric layer during a formation process for the second buffer layer; and
a second electrode formed on the second buffer layer.
12. A resistive random access memory stack according to claim 11, wherein the CMR material comprises Pr1\u2212CaxMnO3 (PCMO).
13. A resistive random access memory stack according to claim 12, wherein the first buffer layer comprises LaNiO3 (LNO).
14. A resistive random access memory stack according to claim 11, wherein the first and second electrodes comprise platinum.

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 inflatable pillow for a pool closure system comprising:
a first side surface, forming a substantially vertical plane;
a first riser surface, said first riser surface substantially vertically oriented;
a top surface, said top surface having a first edge and a second edge, wherein said side surface is connected to said top surface at said first edge, wherein said first riser surface is connected to said top surface at said second edge, said second edge extending substantially horizontally, and wherein said top surface is curved such that said first edge resembles an arc extending both vertically and horizontally.
2. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 1, wherein said second edge is semi-circular in shape, said first edge is connected between opposite ends of said second edge, and said inflatable pillow has a substantially semi-circular shape when viewed from above.
3. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 1 further comprising:
a second side surface oppositely disposed from and mirroring said first side surface, wherein a third edge is oppositely disposed from and mirrors said first edge for connecting said second side surface to said top surface; and,
a second riser surface oppositely disposed from and mirroring said first riser surface, wherein a fourth edge is oppositely disposed from and mirrors said second edge for connecting said second riser surface to said top surface;
wherein said first and third edges are connected between said second and fourth edges for forming a substantially rectangular shape of said inflatable pillow when viewed from above.
4. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 1 further comprising a flap of excess material extending substantially horizontally from said first side surface.
5. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 4 further comprising at least one strap for connecting said inflatable pillow to another inflatable pillow, wherein said strap is secured to said flap.
6. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 5, wherein said flap includes an extended portion extending further from said first side surface, wherein said strap is connected to said extended portion.
7. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 6, wherein said extended portion comprises two layers, and said strap is secured between said two layers.
8. A system for closing said pool, said system comprising a plurality of inflatable pillows according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of inflatable pillows is substantially dome-shaped when arranged together on a surface of water in said pool.
9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein adjacent ones of said plurality of inflatable pillows are connected to each other with a releasable securing assembly.
10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein each inflatable pillow in said plurality of inflatable pillows includes at least one strap connected thereto for connecting each inflatable pillow to said releasable securing assembly.
11. The system recited in claim 10, wherein said releasable securing assembly comprises a buckle having a male end insertable into a female end, said male end connected to a first strap connected to a first inflatable pillow of said plurality of inflatable pillows, said female end connected to a second strap connected to a second inflatable pillow of said plurality of inflatable pillows, and wherein said male end is selectively releasable from said female end by squeezing knobs on said male end.
12. The system recited in claim 10, wherein said releasable securing assembly comprises a plurality of loops, wherein at least one of said loops is connected to each of said at least one strap, and wherein at least one of said loops includes a spring-loaded gate for releasably clipping said loops together.
13. The system recited in claim 10, wherein an anchor strap is connected from an anchor to said at least one strap, said securing assembly, or both, wherein said anchor is operatively arranged to secure a position of said system with respect to said pool.
14. The system recited in claim 13, wherein said anchor comprises a substantially L-shaped plate for engaging over a rim of said pool.
15. The system recited in claim 14, wherein said anchor comprises a clamp for releasably securing said anchor to said pool or a rim of said pool.
16. The system recited in claim 8, wherein each inflatable pillow in said plurality of inflatable pillows includes a flap of excess material extending substantially horizontally from said first side surface.
17. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 16 further comprising at least one strap for connecting said inflatable pillow to another inflatable pillow, wherein said strap is secured to said flap.
18. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 17, wherein said flap includes an extended portion extending further from said first side surface, wherein said strap is connected to said extended portion.
19. The inflatable pillow recited in claim 18, wherein said extended portion comprises two layers, and said strap is secured between said two layers.
20. A system for closing a pool comprising:
a plurality of inflatable pillows, wherein said plurality of inflatable pillows includes:
a first end pillow;
a second end pillow substantially identical to said first end pillow; and,
an intermediate pillow;

wherein each of said first end pillow, said second end pillow, and said intermediate pillow includes:
a first side surface, forming a substantially vertical plane;
a first riser surface, said first riser surface substantially vertically oriented;
a top surface, said top surface having a first edge and a second edge, wherein said side surface is connected to said top surface at said first edge, wherein said first riser surface is connected to said top surface at said second edge, said second edge extending substantially horizontally, and wherein said top surface is curved such that said first edge resembles an arc extending both vertically and horizontally;

wherein said intermediate pillow further includes:
a second side surface oppositely disposed from and mirroring said first side surface, wherein a third edge is oppositely disposed from and mirrors said first edge for connecting said second side surface to said top surface; and,
a second riser surface oppositely disposed from and mirroring said first riser surface, wherein a fourth edge is oppositely disposed from and mirrors said second edge for connecting said second riser surface to said top surface;
wherein said first and third edges are connected between said second and fourth edges for forming a substantially rectangular shape of said intermediate pillow when viewed from above;

wherein, with respect to each of said first and second end pillows:
said second edge is semi-circular in shape and said first edge is connected between opposite ends of said second edge for forming a substantially semi-circular shape of each of said first and second end pillows when viewed from above;

wherein said plurality of inflatable pillows is arranged on a surface of water in said pool with said intermediate pillow being located between said first and second end pillows, wherein said first side surface of said intermediate pillow faces said first side surface of said first end pillow, said second side surface of said intermediate pillow faces said first side surface of said second end pillow, and said plurality of inflatable pillows together forms a substantially dome-shaped arrangement operatively arranged for directing debris off of said pool when said pool is closed.