A controllable gas-lift well having controllable gas-lift valves and sensors for detecting flow regime is provided. The well uses production tubing and casing to communicate with and power the controllable valve from the surface. A signal impedance apparatus in the form of induction chokes at the surface and downhole electrically isolate the tubing from the casing. A high band-width, adaptable spread spectrum communication system is used to communicate between the controllable valve and the surface. Sensors, such as pressure, temperature, and acoustic sensors, may be provided downhole to more accurately assess downhole conditions and in particular, the flow regime of the fluid within the tubing. Operating conditions, such as gas injection rate, back pressure on the tubing, and position of downhole controllable valves are varied depending on flow regime, downhole conditions, oil production, gas usage and availability, to optimize production. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is trained to detect a Taylor flow regime using downhole acoustic sensors, plus other sensors as desired. The detection and control system and method thereof is useful in many applications involving multi-phase flow in a conduit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for optimizing fluid flow in a pipe and in particular, fluid flow in a gas-lift well.
2. Description of Related Art
Gas-lift wells have been in use since the 1800""s and have proven particularly useful in increasing efficient rates of oil production where the reservoir natural lift is insufficient (see Brown, Connolizo and Robertson, West Texas Oil Lifting Short Course and H. W. Winkler, Misunderstood or Overlooked Gas-lift Design and Equipment Considerations, SPE, p. 351 (1994)). Typically, in a gas-lift oil well, natural gas produced in the oil field is compressed and injected in an annular space between the casing and tubing and is directed from the casing into the tubing to provide a xe2x80x9cliftxe2x80x9d to the tubing fluid column for production of oil out of the tubing. Although the tubing can be used for the injection of the lift-gas and the annular space used to produce the oil, this is rare in practice. Initially, the gas-lift wells simply I*njected the gas at the bottom of the tubing, but with deep wells this requires excessively high kick-off pressures. Later, methods were devised to inject the gas into the tubing at various depths in the wells to avoid some of the problems associated with high kick-off pressures (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,469).
The most common type of gas-lift well uses mechanical, bellows-type gas-lift valves attached to the tubing to regulate the flow of gas from the annular space into the tubing string (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,782,261 and 5,425,425). In a typical bellows-type gas-lift valve, the bellows is preset or pre-charged to a certain pressure such that the valve permits communication of gas out of the annular space and into the tubing at the pre-charged pressure. The pressure charge of each valve is selected by a well engineer depending upon the position of the valve in the well, the pressure head, the physical conditions of the well downhole, and a variety of other factors, some some of which are assumed or unknown, or will change over the production life of the well.
The typical bellows-type gas-lift valve has a pre-charge cylinder for regulating the gas flow between the annular space and the interior of the tubing string. The pre-charge forces a ball against a valve seat to keep the valve closed at operating pressures below the pre-charge pressure. Several problems are common with bellows-type gas-lift valves. First, the bellows often loses its pre-charge, causing the valve to fail in the closed position or operate at other than the design goal, and exposure to overpressure causes similar problems. Another common failure is erosion around the valve seat and deterioration of the ball stem in the valve. This leads to partial failure of the valve or at least inefficient production. Because the gas flow through a gas-lift valve is often not continuous at a steady state, but rather exhibits a certain amount of hammer and chatter as the ball rapidly opens and closes, ball and valve seat degradation are common, and lead to gas leakage. Failure or inefficient operation of bellows-type valves leads to corresponding inefficiencies in operation of a typical gas-lift well. In fact, it is estimated that well production is at least 5-15% less than optimum because of valve failure or operational inefficiencies. Fundamentally these difficulties are caused by the present inability to monitor, control, or prevent instabilities, since the valve characteristics are set at design time, and even without failure they cannot be easily changed after the valve is installed in the well.
It would, therefore, be a significant advantage if a system and method were devised which overcame the inefficiency of conventional bellows-type gas-lift valves. Several methods have been devised to place controllable valves downhole on the tubing string but all such known devices typically use an electrical cable or hydraulic pipe disposed along the tubing string to power and communicate with the gas-lift valves. It is, of course, highly undesirable and in practice difficult to use a cable along the tubing string either integral with the tubing string or spaced in the annulus between the tubing string and the casing because of the number of failure mechanisms present in such a system. The use of a cable presents difficulties for well operators while assembling and inserting the tubing string into a borehole. Additionally, the cable is subjected to corrosion and heavy wear due to movement of the tubing string within the borehole. An example of a downhole communication system using a cable is shown in PCT/EP97/01621.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,644 describes a method and system for wireless two-way communications in a cased borehole having a tubing string. However, this system describes a communication scheme for coupling electromagnetic energy in a TEM mode using the annulus between the casing and the tubing. This inductive coupling requires a substantially nonconductive fluid such as crude oil or diesel oil in the annulus between the casing and the tubing. The invention described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,644 has not been widely adopted as a practical scheme for downhole two-way communication because it is expensive, has problems with brine leakage into the casing, and is difficult to use. Another system for downhole communication using mud pulse telemetry is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,648,471 and 5,887,657. Although mud pulse telemetry can be successful at low data rates, it is of limited usefulness where high data rates are required or where it is undesirable to have complex, mud pulse telemetry equipment downhole. Other methods of communicating within a borehole are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,468,665; 4,578,675; 4,739,325; 5,130,706; 5,467,083; 5,493,288; 5,574,374; 5,576,703; and 5,883,516. Methods and uses of downhole permanent sensors and control systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,972,704; 5,001,675; 5,134,285; 5,278,758; 5,662,165; 5,730,219; 5,934,371; 5,941,307.
It is generally known that in a gas-lift well, an increase of compressed gas injected downhole (i.e. lift-gas) does not linearly correspond to the amount of oil produced. More specifically, for any particular well under a particular set of operating conditions, the amount of gas injected can be optimized to produce the maximum oil. Unfortunately, using conventional bellows type valves, the opening pressure of the gas-lift bellows type valves is preset and the primary control of the well is through the amount of gas injected at the surface. Feedback to determine optimum production of the well can take many hours and even days.
It is also generally known that in two-phase flow regimes, such as in a gas-lift well, several flow regimes exist with varying efficiencies (see A. van der Spek and A. Thomas, Neural Net Identification of Flow Regime Using Band Spectra of Flow Generated Sound, SPE 50640, October 1998). However, while operating in a particular flow regime is known to be desirable, it has largely been considered impossible to practically implement.
It would, therefore, be a significant advance in the operation of gas-lift wells if an alternative to the conventional bellows-type valve were provided, in particular, if sensors for determining flow characteristics in the well could work with controllable gas-lift valves and surface controls to optimize fluid flow in a gas-lift well. Generally, it would be a significant advance to be able to detect the flow regime in a two-phase flow conduit and to control the operation to remain in a desirable phase.
All references cited herein are incorporated by reference to the maximum extent allowable by law. To the extent a reference may not be fully incorporated herein, it is incorporated by reference for background purposes and indicative of the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art.
The problems outlined above are largely solved by the system and method in accordance with the present invention for determining a flow regime and controlling the flow characteristics to attain a desirable regime. In a preferred embodiment, a controllable gas-lift well includes a cased wellbore having a tubing string positioned within and longitudinally extending within the casing. An annular space is defined between the casing and the tubing string. In the simplest case a controllable gas-lift valve is coupled to the tubing string to control the gas injection between the annular space and an interior of the tubing string, normally the lowest valve in the lift production tubing. In a more complete and desirable case any or all of the intermediate valves used for unloading and kick-off may be controllable. The controllable gas-lift valve and sensors are powered and controlled from the surface to regulate such tasks as the fluid communication between the annular space and the interior of the tubing and the amount of gas injected at the surface. Communication signals and power are sent from the surface using the tubing and casing as conductors. The power is preferably a low voltage AC current around 60 Hz.
In more detail, a surface computer having a modem imparts a communication signal to the tubing, and the signal is received by a modem downhole connected to the controllable gas-lift valve. Similarly, the modem downhole can communicate sensor information to the surface computer. Further, power is input into the tubing string and received downhole to control the operation of the controllable gas-lift valve. Preferably, the casing is used as the ground return conductor. Alternatively, a distant ground may be used as the electrical return. In a preferred embodiment, the controllable gas-lift valve includes a stepper motor which operates to insert and withdraw a cage trim valve from a seat, regulating the gas injection between the annulus and the interior of the tubing. The ground return path is provided from the controllable gas-lift valve via a packer or a conductive centralizer around the tubing which is in electrical contact with the tubing, and is also in electrical contact with the casing.
In enhanced form, the controllable gas-lift well includes one or more sensors downhole which are preferably in contact with the downhole modem and communicate with the surface computer. In addition to acoustic sensors, sensors such as temperature, pressure, hydrophone, geophone, valve position, flow rate, and differential pressure sensors provide important information about conditions downhole. The sensors supply measurements to the modem for transmission to the surface or directly to a programmable interface controller for determining the flow regime at a given location and operating the controllable gas-lift valve and surface gas injection for controlling the fluid flow through the gas-lift valve.
Preferably, ferromagnetic chokes are coupled to the tubing to act as a series impedance to current flow on the tubing. In a preferred form, an upper ferromagnetic choke is placed around the tubing below the tubing hanger, and the current and communication signals are imparted to the tubing below and the upper ferromagnetic choke. A lower ferromagnetic choke is placed downhole around the tubing with the controllable gas-lift valve electrically coupled to the tubing above the lower ferromagnetic choke, although the controllable gas-lift valve may be mechanically coulped to the tubing below the lower ferromagnetic choke. It is desirable to mechanically place the operating controllable gas-lift valve below the lower ferromagnetic choke so that the borehole fluid level is below the choke.
Preferably, a surface controller (computer) is coupled via a surface master modem and the tubing to the downhole slave modem of the controllable gas-lift valve. The surface computer can receive measurements from a variety of sources, such as the downhole sensors, measurements of the oil output, and measurements of the compressed gas input to the well (flow and pressure). Using such measurements, the computer can compute an optimum position of the controllable gas valve, and more particularly, the optimum amount of the gas injected from the annular space through each controllable valve into the tubing. Additional parameters may be controlled by the computer, such as controlling the amount of compressed gas input into the well at the surface, controlling back pressure on the wells, controlling a porous frit or surfactant injection system to foam the oil, and receiving production and operation measurements from a variety of the wells in the same field to optimize the production of the field.
The ability to actively monitor current conditions downhole, coupled with the ability to control surface and downhole conditions, has many advantages in a gas-lift well. Conduits such as gas-lift wells have four broad regimes of fluid flow, namely bubbly, Taylor, slug and annular flow. The most efficient production (oil produced versus gas injected) flow regime is the Taylor flow regime.
The downhole sensors of the present invention enable the detection of Taylor flow. The above referenced control mechanismsxe2x80x94surface computer, controllable valves, gas input, surfactant injection, etc.xe2x80x94provide the ability to attain and maintain Taylor flow. In enhanced forms, the downhole controllable valves may be operated independently to attain localized Taylor flow.
In the preferred embodiments, all of the gas lift valves in the well are of the controllable type and may be independently controlled. It is desirable to lift the oil column from a point on the borehole as close as possible to the production packer. More specifically, the lowest gas-lift valve is the primary valve in production. The upper gas-lift valves are used for unloading and kick-off of the well during production initiation. In conventional gas-lift wells, these upper valves have bellows pre-set with a 200 psi margin of error to ensure the valves close after set off. This means lift pressure is lost downhole to accommodate this 200 psi loss per valve. Further, such conventional valves often leak and fail to fully close. Use of the controllable valves of the present invention overcomes such shortcomings.
Construction of such a controllable gas-lift well is designed to be as similar to conventional construction methodology as possible. That is, after casing the well, a packer is typically set above the production zone. The tubing string is the fed through the casing into communication with the production zone. As the tubing string is made up at the surface, a lower ferromagnetic choke is placed around one of the conventional tubing string sections for positioning above the downhole packer. In the sections of the tubing string where it is desired, a gas-lift valve is coupled to the string. A pre-assembled pipe joint prepared with the choke and its associated electronics module, and a controllable gas lift valve, may be used to improve efficiency of field operations. In a preferred form, a side pocket mandrel for receiving a slickline insertable and retractable gas-lift valve is used. With such configuration, either a controllable gas-lift valve in accordance with the present invention can be inserted in the side pocket mandrel or a conventional bellows-type valve can be used. Alternatively, the controllable gas-lift valve may be tubing conveyed. When make-up of the tubing string nears completion, a ferromagnetic choke is again placed around an upper joint of the tubing string, this time just below the tubing hanger, or a prefabricated joint with choke already installed may be used. Communication and power leads are then connected through the wellhead feed through to the tubing string below the upper ferromagnetic choke.
In an alternative form, a sensor and communication pod is inserted without the necessity of including a controllable gas-lift valve. That is, an electronics module having pressure, temperature or acoustic, or other sensors, a power supply, and a modem is inserted into a side pocket mandrel for communication to the surface computer using the tubing string and casing as conductors. Alternatively, electronics modules may be mounted directly on the tubing (tubing conveyed) and not be configured to be wireline replaceable. If directly mounted to the tubing an electronic module or a controllable gas-lift valve may only be replaced by pulling the entire tubing string. In an alternative form, the controllable valve can have its separate control, power and wireless communication electronics mounted in the side pocket mandrel of the tubing and not in the wireline replaceable valve. In the preferred form, the electronics are integral and replaceable along with the gas-lift valve. In another form, the high permeability magnetic chokes may be replaced by electrically insulated tubing sections. Further, an insulated tubing hanger in the wellhead may replace the upper choke or such upper insulating tubing sections.
Although the downhole sensors, electronics modules, and valves can be configured in many different ways, the primary function of the components is to determine and regulate the existing flow regime of oil and gas in the tubing string. Sensor measurements are communicated to the surface using the tubing string and the casing as conductors. These measurements are then used to calculate and regulate gas injection, both at the surface and downhole, in order to obtain the desired downhole flow regime.

System and method for fluid flow optimization


Differential buffers are described that combine aspects of voltage-mode buffers with current injection to achieve the tunability associated with current-mode buffers as well as the low current and low power associated with voltage-mode buffers.

The DisplayPort standards published by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) describe digital display interfaces used to connect video sources, e.g., graphics processing units (GPUs), to display devices, e.g., computer monitors. DisplayPort interfaces include 1 to 4 lanes over which high-speed, packetized data are transmitted (e.g., 1.62, 2.7, or 5.4 Gigabits per second per lane).
One advantage of DisplayPort over previous display interface standards is that it includes link training that enables the transmitter in the source to adapt to different cable lengths. That is, because of the signal degradation that occurs as the transmitted data propagate over the cable, a training sequence determines an appropriate level of "preemphasis" to apply to the higher frequency components of the data signal at the output buffer(s) of the transmitter to ensure that a sufficient signal level reaches the receiver at the other end of the cable.
Conventional high-speed transmitters in DisplayPort-compliant display interfaces employ either pure current-mode buffers or pure voltage-mode buffers as output buffers to apply the necessary levels of preemphasis. Conventional current-mode buffers are effective in high-speed transmitters but can consume an undesirably high amount of current for some applications. Conventional voltage-mode buffers are also effective and consume significantly less current than their current-mode counterparts. However, there is a design tradeoff with voltage-mode buffers between tunability and complexity. That is, in order to achieve a level of tunability comparable to current-mode buffers (i.e., to achieve the desired levels of preemphasis for different conditions) the complexity of the output buffer design may become unacceptably high.

Differential voltage-mode buffer with current injection


Exemplary turbine blade outer edges, exemplary vane inner edges, exemplary systems and exemplary methods are disclosed that help to reduce noise in variable geometry turbines and optionally other turbines wherein a turbine blade interacts with an object. Other exemplary turbine-related technologies are also disclosed.

A boosted air system (e.g., turbocharger, supercharger, etc.), as applied to an internal combustion engine, typically introduces noise. For example, a turbocharger's compressor and/or turbine blades may generate whining noises. Such disturbances may decrease longevity of a boosted air system or other components. In addition, such disturbances may subjectively annoy people and/or animals in proximity to an operating boosted air system.
In general, noise occurs as a result of component vibrations and/or aerodynamics (e.g., acoustics). Noise associated with component vibrations may originate from various sources such as bearings. For example, bearings can experience instabilities known as "whirl". In contrast, acoustic noise typically originates from pressure fluctuations, which travel as longitudinal waves through air and/or other media.
In particular, substantial noise generation can occur due to interactions between variable geometry vanes and rotating turbine blades. Such interactions generate noise at what is commonly known as the blade pass frequency. The blade pass frequency noise is often high enough to generate customer complaints; thus, a need exists to minimize such noise.


Coating composition comprising an ethylene copolymer containing not more than 5 mole-% comonomer, whereby the fraction of the ethylene copolymer having a molecular weight of 300 000 g/mol-600 000 g/mol has a methyl branching of more than 4.0 Methyl per 1000 C as determined by SEC/FT-IR analysis.

Polyethylene is widely used for industrial applications in which a material having a high mechanical strength and a high resistance to thermooxidative degradation is required in order to ensure a long life even at elevated use temperatures. In addition, polyethylene has the particular advantages that it has good chemical resistance, it has a low intrinsic weight and it is a material which can easily be processed in the melt.
The use of bimodal or multimodal ethylene polymers in coating of steel pipes is known from EP-A-837915, EP 2 072 586, EP 2 072 587, EP 2 072 588 and EP 2 072 589. WO 2006/053741 discloses the use of a trimodal polyethylene composition having a density of 0.94 to 0.95 g/cm3 comprising 45 to 55 wt. % of a low molecular weight ethylene homopolymer A, from 30 to 40 wt.-% of a high molecular weight copolymer B and from 10 to 20 wt.-% of an ultra high molecular weight ethylene copolymer C for the coating of steel pipes. EP 1655334 reports the use of a polyethylene composition made of three fractions having varying molecular weight for the preparation of pipes, whereby the composition has a high eta747 of at least 350 kPas.
Polyethylene compositions having a significant fraction of ultra high molecular weight material have better processability than classic bimodal polyethylene compositions and have several advantages as to the mechanical properties such as environmental stress cracking resistance. However, processability of such polyethylenes still is limited at high throughput and the provision of adhesion to the usually used adhesive layer obtained by grafting with an acid grafting agent such as maleic acid or maleic anhydride is limited. Thus, there is the need for ultra high throughput coating compositions which have better processability and excellent adhesion to standard adhesion layers while retaining excellent levels of mechanical properties. Even further, the need for CO2 reduction asks for materials allowing less energy intensive production.


A simulated keyboard data input device for a user with limited hand function comprises a hand-worn glove having multiple sensors capable of detecting minute motion of the fingers, the minute voluntary motion being significantly less than typically required for keystrokes in a conventional keyboard. A sensor interpreter is individually configured to recognize a user""s finger movements as respective keys of a keyboard. The user xe2x80x9ctypesxe2x80x9d text on the simulated keyboard by repeating those combinations of minute finger motion of which the user is capable to produce keyboard characters from the sensor interpreter. Preferably, the sensor interpreter comprises a virtual keystroke detector and a key decoder, both of which are individually calibrated.

The present invention relates to digital data processing, and in particular to digital data input devices for use by individuals with physical disabilities.
In the latter half of the twentieth century, there began a phenomenon known as the information revolution. While the information revolution is a historical development broader in scope than any one event or machine, no single device has come to represent the information revolution more than the digital electronic computer. The development of computer systems has surely been a revolution. Each year, computer systems grow faster, store more data, and provide more applications to their users.
The reduced cost of computing and the general availability of digital computing devices has brought an explosion in the volume of information available on such devices, and in the variety of applications to which such devices are put. For some years now, inexpensive xe2x80x9cpersonal computersxe2x80x9d have been available for personal use at home or for the use of a single individual at a place of business. Increased miniaturization has made it possible to design portable xe2x80x9claptopxe2x80x9d computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs). These devices, together with the prevalence of the Internet, have brought digital information and computing capabilities to the public on a mass scale.
One consequence of these developments is that individuals who, for whatever reason, lack access to computer technology, are at a disadvantage, and this disadvantage grows in significance with each passing year. For example, it is now common for colleges and universities to communicate with students concerning schedules, assignments, grades and so forth, over the Internet. In some institutions, this reliance on the Internet has reached an extent that it is difficult or impossible to complete required courses without use of the Internet, a trend which is likely to continue. Such a use of digital technology and the Internet shows signs of further expansion into high school and lower level curricula.
Despite these developments, many individuals remain either unable to perform basic tasks involving the use of a computer, or less than proficient in the performance of such tasks. There are many and various reasons for these deficiencies, not all of which are addressed herein. For some individuals, lack of computer capability is due primarily or partially to physical handicaps, which make it difficult or impossible for the individual to use conventional digital input and output devices.
Physical handicaps may assume various forms, not all of which are immediately apparent. One particular form of physical handicap which may affect the individual""s ability to use a computer is limited hand motion. As used herein, limited hand motion means an inability to use the hands and fingers to the full range and extent typical of an unimpaired individual, but does not imply total paralysis of the hand. Such a handicap may be caused by repetitive strain injury, arthritis, or other cause. An individual with limited hand motion may be able to perform many or nearly all everyday tasks using his hands, such as grasping an object, turning a light switch, and so forth. Therefore, the individual may not appear to be handicapped at all. Often, the individual in question can, in fact, move the affected joints of the hand within a range which might be considered normal, but to do so is painful. In some cases, it may only be painful if done on a frequent basis, as might be involved in typing on a conventional computer keyboard. It might even be the case that susceptibility to future injury or aggravation of an underlying condition can be predicted, so that although moving the affected joints of the hand in a normal full range of motion elicits no immediate symptoms such as pain, to do so on a repetitive basis might be expected to cause or aggravate injuries.
Limited hand motion is a very common problem, yet it is often neglected in human factors planning in favor of more severe handicaps. For example, persons with no hand motion (or no hands) at all can use certain alternative special input devices, such as voice recognition or sensors attached to feet or other parts of the body. It follows that individuals with limited hand motion could use such devices as well. But such devices provide a form of input which is either slow, error prone, or in some other respect generally inferior to the conventional keyboard.
It would be desirable to provide individuals with limited hand motion with a more suitable form of input device, which is customized to their particular handicap, and which approaches or equals the conventional keyboard in input efficiency.
A simulated keyboard data input device comprises a hand motion sensing apparatus and a sensor interpreter. The sensing apparatus is preferably in the form of a glove (or pair of gloves) which fits over the hand (or hands) of a user, within which are mounted multiple sensors capable of detecting minute voluntary motion of the fingers, the minute voluntary motion being significantly less than typically required for activation of keys in a conventional computer keyboard. A sensor interpreter in a receiving digital device is configured for an individual user to recognize different finger movements or combinations of finger movements, consistent with the individual user""s capability, as respective characters corresponding to the keys of a keyboard. Once the simulated keyboard input device is configured, the user xe2x80x9ctypesxe2x80x9d text on the simulated keyboard by repeating those combinations of minute finger motion of which the user is capable to produce keyboard characters from the sensor interpreter.
In the preferred embodiment, the sensor interpreter comprises a virtual keystroke detector and a key decoder. The virtual keystroke detector is preferably an algorithmic function which periodically scans the sensors and detects local deflection maxima as virtual keystrokes. The key decoder is preferably a suitably trained artificial neural network, for which the inputs are sensor data for the detected virtual keystrokes and the outputs are keyboard characters. Suitable training data for the neural network may be obtained, e.g., by requesting the user to xe2x80x9ctypexe2x80x9d various sample texts and conforming the sensor results to the desired output. The neural network is preferably emulated by programming code executing in a programmable processor.
Preferably, the sensors in the data glove are coupled via cable to a sensor receiver, which is a small, portable special-purpose electronic device which can conveniently be worn by the user, fit in a pocket or attached to clothing, and which in turn communicates with a digital computer. The virtual keystroke detector is preferably housed in the receiver, while the key decoder neural network is implemented in programming on the digital computer. However, the sensor interpreter functions could alternatively be implemented entirely in the digital computer, on entirely in a special-purpose device such as the sensor receiver.
In one aspect of the preferred embodiment, the user wears a pair of gloves to interpret motion of all ten digits of the hands. However, in an alternative aspect, a user with use of only a single hand might wear a single glove, or gloves might be used for users with fewer than ten operative fingers. Arbitrary xe2x80x9cchordxe2x80x9d combinations of finger movements may be employed to obtain a desired number of keyboard characters for individuals having use of fewer than ten fingers.
A simulated keyboard input device as described herein thus provides the capability for individuals who are physically unable to use a conventional keyboard in the intended manner to nevertheless enter data in a manner similar to that of non-disabled users of a conventional keyboard, and at a level of efficiency which may in some circumstances approximate that of the non-disabled user.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

Data input device for individuals with limited hand function

International Business Machines Corporation


An aircraft engine cooling air system is configured to provide cooling air to turbine components. The system has an airflow path extending from a source of cooling air to the turbine components. A baffle is disposed in the airflow path upstream of the turbine components. The baffle has a filtering surface defining a plurality of filtering holes sized to trap particulate matter suspended in the cooling air. A bypass passage is fluidly connected to the source of cooling air and the turbine components in parallel with the baffle so as to allow airflow to the turbine components when the filtering holes of the baffle are clogged.

Modern gas turbine engines operate at temperatures which are above those which many materials are able to withstand unaided. One of the typical solutions used in the aerospace industry to overcome these limitations is the use of cooling air. This cooling air passes around and through hot components removing heat from them and allowing continued, reliable operation in demanding conditions. Due to the impact of removing cooling air from the engine on overall engine performance, the quantity of this cooling air is kept to a minimum with small orifices and narrow cooling passages being common.
During standard operation, these cooling passages are typically sufficient for the purposes required. However, during operation in high contamination environments where large quantities of fine particulate matter is suspended in the surrounding air, these narrow passages can become clogged reducing or even cutting off cooling flow completely. The impact of this can range from engine removal sooner than originally anticipated with associated costs, additional spare part consumption, and potentially part failure.

Anti-contamination baffle for cooling air systems


An optical fiber connector according to the present disclosure includes a fiber ferrule, a spring, a coil spring seat and a spring push. An opening extends through the front end of the spring. The spring seat includes two first tooth portions and two second tooth portions. The spring seat has opposing front and rear surfaces. The front surface of the spring comes in contact with the fiber ferrule. An opening extends through the rear surface of the spring. The first tooth portions extend from the rear surface and the respective first tooth portion has a first inner surface and a first outer surface. The first outer surface is a curved surface. The second tooth portions extend from the rear surface and the respective second tooth portion has a second inner surface and a second outer surface. The second outer surface is a curved surface. The first and second tooth portions extend into the opening of the spring and the convex surfaces thereof come in contact with the inner sides of the spring. The spring push comes in contact with the rear end of the spring to push the spring toward the spring seat.

1 Technical Field
The disclosure relates to an optical fiber connector, and more particularly, to an optical fiber connector used to connect multiple optical fibers or ribbon fibers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the optical fiber has been widely used as signal transmission media because of its high bandwidth and low loss nature. Optical fiber connectors are an essential part of substantially all optical fiber communication systems. Optical fiber connectors are known in which each half of the connector includes a ferrule in which a plurality of optical fibers are terminated. The ferrule is mounted in a housing with a small amount of free play, and is biased by a spring into a forward position in the housing. The outer end face of the ferrule is exposed for face to face contact with the ferrule end face in the mating opposite half of the connector. Each fiber is terminated at a respective contact face at the outer end of the respective ferrule, and the optical contact faces engage one another to provide optical communication between the connector halves when mated together. The arrangement is such that the ferrules will be moved back slightly when the connection is made, compressing the biasing springs and ensuring a good optical contact between the fiber end faces. This type of optical fiber connector can connect a ribbon fiber containing up to 48 fibers.
One problem with known connectors for connecting a plurality of optical fibers is potential misalignment, side loading and torque in the connection. One reason for this is that the spring end acting on the inner end face of the ferrule does not present a flat surface, and thus may tend to apply some side loading or torque to the ferrule.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a solution to solve the aforesaid problems.


A memory system according to the embodiment comprises a cell array including word lines and plural memory cells operative to store data in accordance with plural different physical levels when selected by the word lines; a register operative to hold first data input from external; and a data converter unit operative to convert the first data held in the register into second data and overwrite the second data in the area of the register for holding the first data, and further operative to convert the second data held in the register into third data to be recorded in the memory cells and overwrite the third data in the area of the register for holding the second data.

In recent years, mass data is held in mobile devices, for example, in handheld smart terminals and electronic books for fast access. Such technologies have become important increasingly. Further, from the viewpoint of weight-reducing and energy-saving of information devices, integrated circuit memories having no moving parts such as a motor has proceeded rapidly. The importance in this case is how to use up memory cells in performance marginal parts on memory production. In accordance with this, lower prices and larger capacities due to improvements in productivity of memories can be realized. In addition, the reliability of data stored in such the mass-capacity memories becomes important.
Even with no large-scale technical innovation, mass-capacity memories can be realized. One such method is a multi-level technology, which can increase the storage capacity per memory cell. In addition, as the technology of insuring data for marginal memory cells, ECC is known. In particular, as for NAND flash memories, multi-levels of memory cells and ECC system technologies have been matured and almost completed.
Such the NAND flash memories have been used increasingly wider, for example, in mobile terminals and SSDs. Accordingly, it is required to achieve additional technical leaps for the NAND flash memories. For that purpose, it is required to add innovative modifications to the conventional multi-leveling technologies and ECC.
The multi-leveled NAND flash memories have been developed originally based on the specifications without consideration of multi-level. In addition, the ECC is applied to the NAND flash memories based on the technologies for the system of the overall memory. Therefore, the multi-leveling technologies and ECC have not been made optimal as the technology kept with multi-levels of memory cells.


A system for collecting and distributing meteorological data is disclosed the system comprising at least two mobile meteorological stations (MMS) and each of the stations comprising at least a controller, a sensors unit that comprises one or more sensors such as temperature sensor, humidity sensor, air pressure sensor, wind speed and/or wind direction sensor, a location sensor unit and a communication unit configured to enable communication with at least one other MMS. The controller may be configured to receive meteorological data from the sensors unit and location data from the location sensor unit and to send a meteorological data and location data to the at least one other MMS.

Meteorological datum is typically collected, in some instances analyzed and transmitted for distribution by stationary meteorological stations, with some partial input collected typically by airplane pilots.
There is a need to for system and method capable of collecting meteorological data by movable collecting systems, thereby providing an updated and continuous meteorological data along the travel line of the movable system with relatively large covered area and/or long covered lines and with relatively frequent update for each such covered area and/or track.

System and method for multiple and dynamic meteorological data sources


An electronic video gaming machine for playing multiple games substantially at the same time is set forth. The gaming machine includes a plurality of game boards arranged in a stack and displayed on a touch screen. The stack includes a top end and a bottom end and each game board has a face on which a single game is displayed. A plurality of game control buttons and game control indicators are provided for operating the game and selecting game elements, such as lucky numbers, random numbers, and bingo patterns, to be applied to each game board in the stack. A number of game boards to be played in the stack is selectable by the player and a winning game board is indicated to the player such that the winning game board appears to pop-up from the stack in cash-register-like fashion such that the face of the winning game board is more visible relative to prior said game board popping up. The face of any game board is viewable by the player by touching the touch screen at a location of the game board to be viewed. After touching the game board, the game board slides out from the stack to expose its face.

Video gaming machines are well known in the art and many types of electronic video gaming machines have been developed. These machines are microprocessor-based and, in the event of a displayed winning combination of game elements, pay out either in the form of credits accumulated in the machine or in negotiable currency. One common type of video gaming machine is a video poker machine designed to replicate the play of a hand of poker. Typically, the player is not playing against any other players or against a dealer's hand, but the player is simply attempting to achieve the highest ranking poker hand possible from the cards displayed to the player. The higher the poker hand achieved by the player, the greater the player's winnings. Some of the card games adapted to electronic video gaming machines display both the player's hand and a dealer's hand. This occurs in those games, including poker, where the player must beat the dealer in order to win.
In some of the electronic video gaming machines, the player receives only a single hand from the electronic deck of cards. If the player receives an initial deal of poor cards, the player feels that his chances of winning are greatly reduced because the possibility of improving his hand by discarding and receiving replacement cards is not good. To increase the opportunity to win, players prefer to play multiple hands at the same time. Playing multiple hands increases the chance of at least one of the hands turning-up a wining combination. As a result, a player will perceive a better chance of winning and continue playing the machine.
The electronic video medium lends itself more readily to providing simultaneous multiple game play for some games more than others. While simultaneous multiple game play may be adopted to all types of poker games and other card games such as Twenty-One or Blackjack, it can be adapted for other games as well. For example, an electronic video gaming machine is particularly suited for the game of Bingo, especially since, in conventional non-electronic Bingo, players prefer to play with several game boards at the same time to increase their chances of winning. Such use by players of more than one game board is also advantageous to the game operator in that a charge is collected for each board used. These advantages are also carried over in video gaming versions.
In addition to the simultaneous play of multiple games, several other advantages that are capable of attracting players are appreciated in video versions. For example, in conventional Bingo, the use of many boards by a single player takes up space which might be used to accommodate another player. Further, the use of many such boards by a single player can slow the overall program to the discontent of other players. In addition, many players would like to play with more boards but are limited by their own dexterity and inability to see and follow more than one or two boards. Also, it is desirable for the player to have the ability to have the shape of a winning array promptly displayed on the board and to be provided with an automatic indication of when that array has been achieved. Not only are all of these problems solved by using electronic video gaming machines, but also, video gaming machines are capable of providing the player with additional features that increase the entertainment value of the machine and attract frequent play.
Electronic video gaming machines provide definite advantages for the player and casino operator over traditional versions. This is especially true for electronic video machines having the capability of playing multiple games at the same time. Because of these advantages in player appeal and excitement relative to traditional non-video versions, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to produce new types of games and attractive enhancements.

Video gaming device having multiple stacking features


Systems, methods, and non-transitory media are provided for smart sports equipment and integrated platforms. An example method can include receiving, by an integrated platform and from a client device, a request for content associated with a smart ball having a communications device configured to communicate an address for the content to one or more client devices, the request being based on the address from the smart ball; in response to the request, retrieving, by the integrated platform, the content associated with the smart ball; and providing, by the integrated platform, the content to the client device.

Sports such as football, soccer, baseball, basketball, boxing, etc., are widely popular throughout the world. Such sports are widely played recreationally and competitively by individuals across different ages and age groups. Moreover, there are a large number of leagues, teams, training programs, tournaments, and facilities where users practice sports and compete with other individuals and teams, including locally, nationally, and globally. Equipment for different sports is also available use by teams and individuals in recreational and competitive settings. In some cases, configurations and/or aspects of available sports equipment for a particular sport can vary and/or can be designed for specific users, ages, leagues, goals, etc. For example, footballs can be sold in different sizes and configurations for different age groups. As another example, boxing gloves can be sold in different sizes and/or designed for different uses, such as larger boxing gloves designed for use in training and smaller boxing gloves designed for use in competition.

Smart sports equipment and integrated platform


A clutch arrangement for rapid disengagement of two elements in a transmission system when a chosen torque is exceeded. The first element is a conical shaft end that carries a corresponding sleeve which, in turn, carries externally at its ends two mutually separated ball bearings with a force transmission ring disposed therebetween. The second element, an annular force transmission body, surrounds and is carried by the ball bearings and includes a pressurisable hydraulic chamber which, when pressurised, causes a reduction in the inner surface diameter of the body so that the body is brought into force transmitting engagement with the outer surface of the ring. The sleeve carries a dogging element which is adapted to act on an element carried by the body for depressurising the hydraulic chamber upon relative rotation between the body and the sleeve such that, when the chosen torque is exceeded resulting in the relative rotation, the chamber is depressurised, and the ring and the body pass free from each other.

This is a nationalization of PCT/SE01/00654, filed Mar. 30, 2001 and published in English.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a clutch arrangement for rapid disengagement of two elements in a transmission system when a chosen torque is exceeded. One element is a conical shaft end that carries a corresponding sleeve which, in turn, carries externally at its axial ends two mutually spaced ball bearings and a force transmission ring disposed therebetween. An annular force transmission body surrounds and is carried by the ball bearings and includes a pressurizable hydraulic chamber which when pressurized through the medium of a valve on the body, causes the diameter of the inner surface of the body to decrease so as to attain force transmitting engagement with the outer surface of the ring. The sleeve carries a dogging element which is adapted to act on an element carried by the body for relieving the hydraulic chamber of pressure upon relative rotation between the body and the sleeve. Such a clutch arrangement functions to mutually disengage two transmission components mutually connected via said clutch arrangement, at a predetermined moment in time.
2. Description of the Related Art
Clutch arrangements of this particular kind are sometimes called safety couplings and are well known from WO 97/21044 for example. Such clutches, or couplings, are often used in transmissions with which heavy loads are transmitted, for the purpose of protecting the equipment on the driving and/or on the driven side of the transmission against damage that can occur if the torque transmitted through the transmission and the clutch exceeds a threshold value. Clutches of this particular kind shall break the load transmission with the minimum of damage to the clutch or coupling itself, so that the clutch can be replaced quickly and easily and/or repaired.
However, the axial length of the space incorporated for accommodating the safety coupling is sometimes restricted. This results in special problems that must be solved, since it may otherwise be necessary to make significant changes in other parts of the transmission in which the clutch shall be fitted.
One example in this respect is that each carriage of existing express trains of a given design has an individual electrically driven motor at one end of the carriage. The output shaft of the motor is short and is coupled to a first universal joint via a long rod and a second universal joint connected thereto, to a distribution gear situated at the other end of the carriage and having two output shafts which are each connected to drive a respective wheel in a wheel pair. The transmission as such has long been tested and it is, of course, suitable to mount a clutch or coupling arrangement at a position in the transmission in which the transmission is influenced to a minimum by the inclusion of the clutch arrangement and so that the clutch arrangement is positioned conveniently with respect to fitting and removing said arrangement to and from the system. This means that in such instances the clutch will preferably be mounted between the output shaft of the motor and the universal joint proximal thereto. The problem that arises in the majority of cases is that the shaft obtains a length which is smaller than its diameter.
A further problem is that the hydraulic pressure of the clutch must be in the order of 1000 bar. The clutch typically includes a ring-shaped body that has a coaxial, cylindrical hydraulic chamber, such that the inner wall of the body will move radially inwards when the chamber is pressurised and thus obtain a reduction in diameter, wherewith the inner wall is brought into engagement with a sleeve that has a conical inner surface and that is driven up onto the conical end of the motor shaft.
When the hydraulic chamber is not pressurised, the body is able to rotate relative to the sleeve on ball bearings disposed between the body and the sleeve as there will then be a radial clearance between the body and the sleeve. The body includes a valve via which the hydraulic chamber is pressurised. The sleeve is a dogging element which upon relative rotation of the body with the sleeve functions to break-off a shear-pipe that communicates with the chamber, so as to depressurise the hydraulic chamber and thereby rapidly break the power transmission between the body and the sleeve so as to ensure minimum damage to the clutch and to the transmission elements connected thereto.
Because of the small axial space in which the clutch arrangement is housed, the hydraulic pressure must be high, e.g. 1100 bar, in order to achieve requisite torque transmission. Pressures of such high magnitudes will, of course, constitute a break-down hazard. Moreover. the difficulty in providing for comfortable fitting and removal of the body and bearings to and from the sleeve presents a problem.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a clutch arrangement with which high torque transmission can be achieved despite a short axial length, and that can be readily fitted and removed to and from the sleeve, and that can also operate at relatively low hydraulic pressures.
This object is achieved by the invention of a clutch arrangement for rapid disengagement of two elements in a transmission system when a chosen torque is exceeded. One element is a conical shaft end that carries a corresponding sleeve which, in turn, carries externally at its axial ends two mutually spaced ball bearings and a force transmission ring disposed therebetween. An annular force transmission body surrounds and is carried by the ball bearings and includes a pressurizable hydraulic chamber which when pressurized through the medium of a valve on the body, causes the diameter of the inner surface of the body to decrease so as to attain force transmitting engagement with the outer surface of the ring. The sleeve carries a dogging element which is adapted to act on an element carried by the body for relieving the hydraulic chamber of pressure upon relative rotation between the body and the sleeve. The ring and the body are adapted to pass free from each other when the hydraulic chamber is depressurized, the ring being connected operatively with the sleeve so that relative rotation between the clutch components takes place between the ring and the body when the clutch is triggered.
Further embodiments of the inventive clutch arrangement will be apparent from the accompanying dependent claims.
The invention resides in positioning the ball bearings beneath the axial ends of the body, and by operatively connecting to the sleeve a ring that extends up to the inner surface of the body. The ring can be connected operatively with the sleeve, by giving the mutual co-acting surfaces of the ring and the sleeve a relatively high coefficient of friction, for example by forming ridges or by applying a hard powder, e.g., tungsten carbide powder, on one of the surfaces, for instance on the inner surface of the ring. The ring will then be essentially free from the sleeve when the hydraulic chamber is depressurised and when the sleeve is withdrawn from the end of the shaft, so that the body, the ball bearings and the ring can be readily withdrawn axially from the sleeve. The sliding surfaces of the clutch arrangement, i.e. the mutually facing surfaces of the body and the ring, may be damaged as a result of frequent activation or engagement of the clutch due to exceeding a set torque, and the heavily loaded ball bearings may also be damaged as a result of unbalanced forces. It is therefore appropriate to replace such components so as to bring the clutch to an operable state.
The ring may be fixedly connected to the sleeve, the construction should then be further developed so as to enable the bearings to be dismantled by moving them towards respective axially adjacent ends of the body, wherewith the dogging element, which is suitably located axially outwards of one of the ball bearings, should be capable of being dismantled.
Alternatively. the ring may be removably connected to the sleeve via a spline connection or some other known type of connection, so as to enable the body with the ball bearings and the ring to be readily withdrawn axially from the sleeve when removed from the shaft, after having loosened the connection.
In a further variant of the invention, the dogging element may include a hub fitted to an end-part of the sleeve so as to lock onto the sleeve when said sleeve widens as it is driven onto the conical shaft end, thereby enabling the dogging element to be readily dismantled or removed when the sleeve has been withdrawn, wherewith the ball bearings can be readily removed axially towards respective adjacent ends of the sleeve, whereby the ring may be fixed to the sleeve, and whereby the sleeve and the ring constitute a replacement for restoring the clutch to an operative state.
In preferred embodiments, the respective axial ends of the hydraulic chamber are situated approximately in a plane that is normal to the clutch axis, containing centres for the balls of respective ball bearings. In this way, the end-part of the annular body will swing out so that the outer rings of the ball bearings are also twisted when the hydraulic chamber is pressurised, whereby the ball bearings are controlled and swing-in between their bearing races with no clearance or play. This avoids so-called xe2x80x9cbrinellingxe2x80x9d otherwise caused by balls that lie in the gap between races bouncing against each other as a result of external vibrations between the bearing rings and causing microscopic damage thereto. Because a clutch. or coupling, according to the invention may be in use for a considerable time (several years) before the clutch is triggered, such vibrational damage can develop over a long period of time and significantly reduce the life-time of the ball bearings, so that they will not be operable during the short period of time that the body and the sleeve rotate relative to each other when the clutch is triggered. Because of the clearance-free clamping of the balls of the bearings, the useful life of the ball bearings is increased without needing to use ring-shaped spring elements that would encroach on the axial space required for accommodating the length of the ring in the space at disposal for the clutch arrangement.

Clutch device for fast declutching of two elements in a transmission


Mold handling apparatus especially adapted for use in a reaction injection molding machine. A pair of platens is supported in a frame, and one of the platens is adaped to be moved toward and away from the other by means of a toggle-type actuation system. The movable platen is slidably carried on a plurality of movable platen guide rods that are contained within longitudinally extending frame members that define the frame for the machine. A stationary platen is pivotally supported by the frame member for pivotal movement about a vertical axis through an angle of approximately 90.degree.. The movable mold platen includes a movable mold carrier plate that is pivotally carried for movement about a second vertical pivot axis through an angle of about 90.degree.. The pivot axis for the movable mold carrier plate is offset from the longitudinal axis of the machine, in a direction toward the operator, so that pivotal movement of the mold mounting plate causes the mold half containing the molded part to be presented directly to the machine operator. The pivotal movement of each of the mold members permits the mold surfaces to be cleaned, if necessary, and also permits the convenient application of mold release agents, or the like.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for handling molds used for molding articles from flowable plastic materials. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for handling large molds such as are used in connection with reaction injection molding machines, the apparatus serving for selectively opening and closing cooperating mold portions that together define a cavity within which the molded article is to be formed. Additionally, the apparatus permits pivotal movement of the respective mold members to facilitate access to the article-defining surfaces of the molds, and also to facilitate removal from the mold of a formed article.
2. Description of the Related Art
The molding of large automobile body parts, such as front or rear bumpers or the like, requires very large and very heavy molds, as compared with the usual molds for the more commonly found, smaller injection molded articles. Moreover, the materials from which such automobile body parts are often made is a polyurethane material that is introduced into the mold cavity as a liquid and is prepared as a mixture of a polyol and an isocyanate. Such materials are introduced into a mold cavity under substantially lower pressures than are conventional thermoplastics, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, that are commonly used in an injection molding machine. For example, molding pressures in a reaction injection molding machine are such that the forces necessary to hold the mold portions together are frequently of the order of about 100 tons or so, whereas injection molding machines in which plasticated material is injected under a very high pressure, sometimes require mold closing forces of the order of about 3000 tons or so.
One form of mold handling apparatus for such reaction injection molding machines is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,671, which issued Sept. 21, 1976, to Bobbie Lee Edwards. That Edwards patent is commonly owned by the assignee of the present application, and it discloses a mold handling system in which a pair of molds are arranged one above the other adjacent the facing ends of a generally C-shaped frame, and wherein each of the molds is pivotable about its own horizontally extending pivot axis.
The Edwards patent also discloses pivoting the entire apparatus about a horizontal axis so that the molds are movable toward and away from each other in a horizontal direction. Although the apparatus disclosed in that patent is eminently suitable for its intended purpose, it results in a rather large and a tall machine, which in its vertical orientation of the molds requires lifting of very heavy mold members. Further, in its horizontal configuration the mold members are at an elevation above the ground that renders it difficult and inconvenient to remove a molded article from the mold.
Another form of mold handling apparatus for a reaction injection molding machine is illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,625, which issued on Nov. 24, 1987, to Donald P. Arend. That patent discloses an arrangement wherein the molds are positioned for horizontal movement relative to each other, and each mold supporting structure is pivotally arranged to pivot about a vertical axis. One of the mold handling portions of the apparatus includes an hydraulic drive arrangement for moving its associated mold portion toward and away from the other mold portion. However, the apparatus disclosed in the Arend patent is also large and cumbersome, and it also requires the movement of large and heavy structural mold support elements of the device, which requires considerable power and high capacity drive motors. As a result, movement of the mold portions in the Arend device is slow because of the high inertia of the parts to be moved.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a mold handing apparatus for a reaction injection molding machine that permits more rapid movement of the mold members to reduce the time for completing a molding cycle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mold handling apparatus for a reaction injection molding machine in which the mold members are each pivotable relative to each other and readily accessible to a machine operator.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a mold handling apparatus for a reaction injection molding machine in which the mold portion that carries the molded article after its formation can be rapidly pivoted toward the machine operator to facilitate rapid removal of the molded part from the mold.


The vehicle includes an operation switch for manually operating the operation state of the accessories. The vehicle control system includes a first controller that performs an evacuation traveling in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level, and a second controller that controls an operation state of the accessories based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the operation switch. The first controller is configured to transmit, to the second controller, a specific operation rejection request for performing a specific operation rejection process of rejecting the control of the accessories based on the specific operation of the operation switch in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level. The second controller is configured to perform the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-151522 discloses a technique related to an emergency evacuation system for evacuating a vehicle to a shoulder of a road when a consciousness level of a driver is lowered. In this technique, when the consciousness level of the driver is lowered during the lane change, if no vehicle is detected rearward, the vehicle is returned to the original traveling lane. As a result, the number of lane changes at the time of evacuating to the evacuation destination is reduced. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2017-146723 discloses a technique for preventing a driver from interference with a steering by a traction operation of a seat belt of a driver seat even when a consciousness disturbance occurs in the driver.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Apparatus, systems, and methods that operate to assist in resolving both expected and unexpected events that occur in the course of business operations are disclosed. Activities may include detecting the occurrence of an alert event, determining whether the alert event is an expected event or an unexpected event, presenting a resolution sequence for the expected event, and soliciting a new event resolution path for the unexpected event. Further activities may include determining an alert event is an unexpected event, displaying an alert message associated with the unexpected event, and soliciting recommendations to form a new event resolution path to be presented upon determining a new event has occurred that is similar to the alert event. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Workers often encounter a bewildering amount of information in the performance of their daily tasks. Business objects on their desktop are rarely organized or correlated in any kind of logical manner. For example, a sales order for an item may be processed using one type of form or software package, while inventory control for the same item may be handled by another. Even if an object can be processed by a variety of applications, the context and rendering are normally inconsistent, without any provision for collaboration. This is the set of circumstances experienced by workers when expected events occur during the normal course of business. Typically, they rely on their own past experience to deal with such events.
These difficulties are magnified when unexpected events occur. Contextual data, pattern detection, and recommendations for dealing with such events are usually absent, such that workers are often left entirely on their own in difficult situations. Thus, workers often have few or no tools available to deal with the occurrence of both expected and unexpected events.


A vehicle includes a processor programmed to process a user's profile by collecting usage pattern of a user; and responsive to a trigger condition, downloading media data from a server to a local storage for the user according to the user profile before the user uses the media data, and load the media data from the local storage to present to the user responsive to user using the vehicle.

Many people consume a lot of data during their daily commute using vehicle networks. For instance, a commuter in his own vehicle may live stream music, map, and podcast using his/her vehicle data package while driving. A shuttle passenger may download media contents such as a movie through the shuttle Wi-Fi. These may cause network congestions and increase operational costs for the vehicles.


Methods, devices, and compositions are described that provide for amplification of nucleic acid sequences without reliance upon temperature cycling, thus freeing the methods from conventional benchtop thermal cycling devices. Denaturation of double stranded nucleic acids, primer annealing, and precision control over primer extension by polymerase can be accomplished by applying stress to a nucleic acid. These methods can provide one ore more benefits over conventional PCR methods including: precision control over the PCR process; generally improved fidelity; improved accuracy over problematic sequences such as GC-rich or tandem repeat regions; greater sequence length; increased reaction yield; reduced experimental time; greater efficiency; lower cost; greater portability; and, robustness to various environmental parameters, such as temperature, pH, and ionic strengths.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become the conventional technique used to amplify specific DNA or RNA sequences. U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202, issued Jul. 28, 1987 to Mullis and U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195, issued Jul. 28, 1987 to Mullis et al. describe the basic PCR technique. Since the first disclosure of the PCR method, it has had a profound effect on the practice of biotechnology and biomedical science. More than a thousand subsequently-issued U.S. patents reference one or both of these disclosures.
Typically, the amplification of a DNA sequence is performed by first selecting and obtaining two oligonucleotide primers complementary ends of a target DNA sequence. The primers, a polymerase enzyme, a mixture of the four common nucleotide triphosphates, various salts and buffers are mixed with the target DNA which is heated above about 90° C. to denature the DNA, separating the target double-stranded DNA into single-stranded DNA templates. Annealing (i.e. sequence-specific hybridization or binding) of the primers to the ends of the DNA templates is promoted by slowly cooling the reaction mixture to less than about 60° C. The temperature is then raised above about 70° C. for a period of replication, a process also known as primer extension. The polymerase reads each DNA template strand in the 3′ to 5′ direction, synthesizing a complementary strand from the ends of the primers in the 5′ to 3′ direction. This completes one cycle of DNA amplification, which creates starting material for a new cycle. With each complete cycle of denaturation, primer annealing, and primer extension, the process generates an exponentially increasing (2n) number of copies of the original, target DNA sequence. To begin a new cycle, the reaction mixture is again heated above 90° C. to denature the double-stranded product into single-stranded DNA templates. The primer annealing and extension steps are then repeated.
This basic PCR amplification scheme, together with various extensions and modifications, enables many different methods for the manipulation and detection of nucleic acids, including for example diagnostic and forensic assays, which require the creation of a threshold amount of DNA from a small initial sample. PCR technology is used, for example, in infectious and genetic disease monitoring, DNA and RNA sequencing, gene expression studies, drug development, and forensic fingerprinting. This has become the standard technology for the detection, identification, and quantification of viral and bacterial pathogens. Several PCR-based diagnostic tests are available for detecting and/or quantifying pathogens, for example, including: HIV-1, which causes AIDS; hepatitis B and C viruses, which can cause liver cancer; human papillomarvirus, which can cause cervical cancer; RSV, which is the leading cause of pneumonia and bronchiolitis in infants; Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women; cytomegalovirus, which can cause life-threatening disease in transplant patients and other immuno-compromised people; and, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes cough and fatigue in its active state and can irreversibly damage infected organs. However, despite addressing needs in numerous areas, current PCR and PCR-based technologies still suffer from several substantial limitations.
Limitations of Conventional PCR and PCR-Based Technologies
Fidelity: Accuracy on normal sequences limits conventional PCR. For example, Taq, a thermostable polymerase commonly used for DNA amplification, exhibits an error rate of approximately 1×10−4 errors/base pair during PCR. This means that the PCR amplification of a 400 base pair DNA sequence will randomly introduce approximately 40,000 errors among all molecules in the PCR product over 20 cycles.
Accuracy on difficult target sequences (e.g. GC rich or repeat sequences) is an even more significant limitation of conventional PCR and PCR-based technologies. The error rate for conventional polymerase enzymes such as Taq, depends strongly on the target nucleotide sequence. For example, when the sequence is G+C rich (as seen for example in the 5′ regulatory region of the chicken avidin gene), PCR with Taq is oftentimes not a viable process. Likewise, simple repeating sequences, such as trinucleotide repeats (AGC)n or other tandem repeats (A)n, can increase Taq's error rate to 1.5×10−2 errors per repeat sequence. See, Shinde et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 31:974. For this reason, several patents have been issued for polymerases that have been genetically engineered to have incrementally higher fidelity (i.e. lower error rates). These include Hi-Fidelity and Phusion Polymerases.
Length Limitations: The length of the target sequence to be amplified also limits current PCR techniques. Although a few reports have claimed amplification of sequences up to 10 to 20 kilobases, this is highly unusual and quite difficult in routine practice. Moreover, PCR amplification of long target templates is only possible on a limited set of well-behaved DNA sequences. The practical upper-limit for fairly routine and cost-effective amplification of DNA on well-behaved sequences is about 300 to 400 bases in length and is generally reduced for sequences having high G-C content.
Limited Amplification: Current PCR techniques are also limited in the number of amplification cycles that can be carried out in a reaction mixture. Repeated heating and cooling cycles result in progressive enzyme degradation, which limits the factor by which starting material can be amplified. Conventional PCR amplification can rarely be extended beyond 30-35 cycles.
Robustness: Conventional PCR typically requires significant volumes of reagents, bulky equipment (e.g., thermal cyclers), substantial human labor (e.g., tedious optimizations), and minimum amounts of starting material, each of which contributes to making conventional PCR a costly and time-consuming process. Current PCR techniques typically take from several hours for normal sequences to several days to weeks for difficult sequences or long template. Conventional PCR requires a significant amount of time to cycle and equilibrate the temperature of the reaction mix. Moreover, time-consuming optimizations can be required in order to reliably amplify targets that are less than ideal.
Tightly controlled conditions (e.g., temperature, pH, and buffer ingredients) are required for performance of conventional PCR techniques. Additionally, various contaminants can interfere with PCR amplification by directly inhibiting or interfering with polymerase enzymes used to copy the target DNA or RNA. This further limits the quality of starting material that can be used for amplification and places additional requirements on the level of purity that must be obtained by DNA or RNA extraction techniques before the amplification steps can be reliably performed. The performance environment of conventional PCR is generally limited to laboratories, and is rarely practicable in remote locations, doctor's offices, at the patient's bedside, or out in the field.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Diagnostics: The sensitivity of PCR-based diagnostic and forensic kits and assays depends on the overall yield, accuracy, robustness, and target length achievable in a PCR reaction. The above-mentioned limitations in performance parameters of current PCR set limits on the minimum amount of starting DNA or RNA necessary in order to reliably carry out PCR amplification. This, in turn, limits the sensitivity of any pathogen detection system, diagnostic, or forensic kits or assays that rely upon conventional PCR or PCR-based technologies. The specificity of a PCR-based diagnostic, forensic, or pathogen detection system depends critically on the accuracy with which DNA can be amplified and read as well as the length of the target DNA or RNA that can be reliably amplified and identified.
For these and other reasons, current generation PCR-based technologies and detection systems are generally limited with respect to overall speed, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scope of use. Incremental improvements to conventional PCR methods and devices have been proposed with respect to some of the isolated performance parameters described above. For example, Tso et al. discloses a PCR microreactor for amplifying DNA using microquantities of sample fluid in U.S. Pat. No. 6,613,560, issued Sep. 2, 2003. Alternatives to high temperature DNA denaturation have also been proposed. For example, Purvis disclosed a method of electrochemical denaturation of double-stranded nucleic acid in U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,185, issued Sep. 18, 2001. Stanley discloses another method of electrochemical denaturation of nucleic acids in U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,508, issued Mar. 6, 2001. Dattagupta et al. have disclosed a method of using primers to displace the DNA strand from the template in U.S. Pat. No. 6,214,587, issued Apr. 10, 2001. Mullis, supra, suggested the use of helicase enzymes for separating DNA strands.
In view of the limitations of conventional PCR, and despite the proposal of various incremental improvements, there remains a need in the art for improved methods, devices, and compositions for the amplification, manipulation, sequencing, and detection of nucleic acids.

Nano-PCR: methods and devices for nucleic acid amplification and detection


A driver capable of suppressing increase in a load torque of a motor when a striking mechanism is moved by the torque of the motor against a force of a first moving mechanism is provided. The driver includes a striking mechanism 12 movable in a first direction B1 and a second direction B2 opposite to the first direction B1 and a first moving mechanism configured to move the striking mechanism 12 in the first direction B1 to strike a fastener, and the driver further includes a motor, a second moving mechanism 45 rotated by the torque of the motor and configured to move the striking mechanism 12 in the second direction against a force of the first moving mechanism, and torque suppression mechanisms 45A to 45H configured to suppress increase in the torque of the motor when the striking mechanism 12 is moved in the second direction B2.

Conventionally, a driver in which a striking mechanism is moved to strike a fastener has been known, and the driver is described in Patent Document 1. The driver described in Patent Document 1 includes a housing, a nose portion, a motor case, a pressure accumulation chamber, a striking mechanism, an electric motor, a power conversion mechanism, a speed reducer, and a magazine. The nose portion is fixed to the housing, the motor case is connected to the housing, and the pressure accumulation chamber is provided in the housing. The striking mechanism is provided in the housing, and the striking mechanism includes a piston and a bit. A first bevel gear is provided to an output shaft of the speed reducer.
The power conversion mechanism is a cam plate provided in the housing, and a second bevel gear is provided to the cam plate. The first bevel gear is meshed with the second bevel gear. The cam plate converts the torque of the electric motor to the moving force of the bit. The cam plate has a plurality of projections. A rack is provided to the bit. The magazine is attached to the housing and contains fasteners. The fastener in the magazine is supplied to the nose portion.
When the electric motor is stopped, the piston is stopped at the bottom dead center by the pressure of the pressure accumulation chamber. When the electric motor is rotated, the torque thereof is transmitted to the cam plate through the speed reducer. When the projections of the cam plate are engaged with the rack, the striking mechanism is moved toward the top dead center against the pressure of the pressure accumulation chamber. When the striking mechanism reaches the top dead center, the projections of the cam plate are released from the rack, the striking mechanism is moved toward the bottom dead center, and the striking mechanism strikes the fastener.

Driver, striking mechanism, and moving mechanism


A toy assembly that has a bubble generating machine which can be coupled to a variety of existing bicycles and tricycles. The bubble machine includes a housing which contains a pair of rings that can move in and out of a reservoir filled with bubble liquid. The rings move adjacent to a fan which blows air through the rings to create a plurality of bubbles. Both the rings and the fan are coupled to an electric motor which can be energized by depressing a button The button is also connected to an electronic assembly which emits sounds when the button is depressed. The button is typically located on the bike, so that the child can generate bubbles and noises while driving the vehicle. The assembly also includes a bracket which can be attached to the frame of a vehicle with either a pair of straps, or a pair of screws. The bracket is constructed to be attached to bikes having either tubular or rectangular frames. Extending from the bracket is an adjustable wire that couples the bubble machine to the bike.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a toy device that generates bubbles and noise, and which can be retrofitted onto existing bicycles and tricycles.
2. Description of Related Art
Some children's bicycles and tricycles contain accessories such as horns or bells, which can be operated by the driver while operating the vehicle. The accessories can increase the pleasure derived from the bike. Mattel Inc., had sold a sound generating device under the trademark V-RROOM which could be attached to existing bicycles. The housing of the Mattel device was constructed to simulate an automobile engine and contained mechanical noise generating means for reproducing a single roaring sound of an engine. The V-RROOM was typically attached to a bicycle by a pair of steel brackets that extended around the frame of the bike. The Mattel brackets could only be attached to tricycles or bicycles with tubular frames, thereby limiting the use of the product.
Fisher-Price Toys produced a tricycle, and a toy lawnmower, which could create bubbles as the vehicle was moved by the child. The tricycle included a bubble blowing mechanism which was integrally molded with the bike. The bubble mechanism could not be retrofitted onto existing bicycles and thus a child who wanted a bubble blowing bike would have to purchase the entire Fisher-Price product. Additionally, the bubble blowing mechanism required airflow to separate the bubble liquid from a ring which created the bubbles. The airflow was typically provided by moving the tricycle. To effectively operate the bubble mechanism, the speed of the tricycle would have to be moved fast enough to create an airflow which would separate the bubble liquid from the ring. The Fisher-Price product therefore required the child to peddle the vehicle at a speed great enough to initiate the formation of bubbles.
It would be desirable to provide a bubble mechanism which can be retrofitted onto a variety of existing bicycles and tricycles. It would also be desirable to provide a bubble mechanism which can be operated without manually inducing airflow through the bubble machine. It would also be desirable to provide an engine style bubble blowing mechanism which allowed a child to select from a number of automobile sounds.


A method of forming a superconductor structure is disclosed. The method comprises forming a superconductor line in a first dielectric layer, forming a resistor with an end coupled to an end of the superconductor line, and forming a second dielectric layer overlying the resistor. The method further comprises etching a tapered opening through the second dielectric layer to the resistor, and performing a contact material fill with a normal metal material to fill the tapered opening and form a normal metal connector coupled to the resistor.

Superconducting circuits are one of the leading technologies proposed for a wide variety of computing and electronics applications, due to their advantages over traditional semiconducting circuits with respect to power consumption and speed. They are operated at temperatures <100 kelvin. Efforts in fabrication of superconducting devices have mostly been confined to university or government research labs, with little published on the mass producing of superconducting devices. Therefore, many of the methods used to fabricate superconducting devices in these laboratories utilize processes or equipment incapable of rapid, consistent fabrication. Recently there has been a movement to mass production of superconducting circuits utilizing similar techniques as those utilized in conventional semiconductor processes.
One well-known semiconductor process is the formation of contacts and conductive lines in a multi-level interconnect stack to couple devices to one another over different layers of an integrated circuit. During the fabrication of superconducting circuits, via/trench structures are patterned, etched, filled with metal (e.g., niobium, tantalum, aluminum), then polished back using a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process. The next level dielectric is then deposited, and the sequence begins again, building up a multi-level interconnect stack.
In a conventional metal interconnect for microelectronic devices, via openings to underlying metals are cleaned, typically with a physical sputtering of the metal surface at the bottom of the via opening. This can result in re-deposition of the sputtered metal along the sidewalls. However, since the goal of conventional interconnects is to provide a continuous, low resistance electrical path, any re-deposited material has little to no impact on the conductivity of the metal filled in the via. Where the goal is to provide resistors in a superconductor structure, re-deposition of superconductor material can compromise the resistance by creating a shorting path.

Superconductor structure with normal metal connection to a resistor and method of making the same


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, device, and system for judging a random contention resolution. The method includes: sending a contention resolution request message to a network side, where the contention resolution request message carries a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or a common control channel serving data unit (CCCH SDU); and when receiving a network side message masked with a temporary C-RNTI (T C-RNTI) allocated by the network side to the UE before a CRT expires, performing backoff if judging, according to the C-RNTI or CCCH SDU and the signaling type of the network side message, that contention resolution fails.

In an LTE (Long Term Evolution, long term evolution) system, a UE (User Equipment, user equipment) obtains uplink synchronization and uplink resources through a random access procedure (Random Access Procedure). In a contention-based random access procedure, the UE randomly selects a RAP from a group of RAPs (Random Access Preambles, random access preambles) and initiates random access. After receiving a RAR (Random Access Response, random access response), the UE sends an Msg3 (the third message of the random access), and carries in the Msg3 a CCCH SDU (Common Control Channel Serving Data Unit, common control channel serving data unit) or a C-RNTI (Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier, cell radio network temporary identifier) of the UE according to the purpose of initiating the random access. After sending the Msg3, the UE starts a CRT (Contention Resolution Timer, contention resolution timer). The UE considers that the contention is successful if receiving a contention resolution message before the CRT expires. The UE performs backoff for a period of time and reinitiates random access if the contention resolution fails after the CRT expires.
In the prior art, if it is a MAC (Media Access Control, media access control) of the UE that initiates the random access procedure, and the Msg3 transmits the C-RNTI, which is used as a control unit of the MAC, the UE considers that the contention resolution is successful after receiving UL Grant (uplink grant) that is sent by an eNB (Evolved NodeB, Evolved NodeB), masked with the C-RNTI and transmitted over new data; the UE considers that the contention resolution fails, performs backoff for a period of time, and reinitiates random access if receiving no UL Grant transmitted over the new data after the CRT expires.
However, in the prior art, during wait time after the UE sends the Msg3, if receiving DL Assignment or UL Grant, where the DL Assignment (downlink assignment) or UL Grant is masked with a T C-RNTI (Temporary C-RNTI) that is allocated by the eNB to the UE, the UE does not process the information, which may cause that the UE cannot timely judge whether the contention resolution is complete, and therefore, may cause that time for reinitiating random access is delayed.

Method, device, and system for judging random access contention resolution


The present invention includes a method for performing a thermal analysis, including the steps of determining size and placement of each of a plurality of drivers on an integrated circuit device. The determined size and placement of each driver is stored as layout data and the layout data is converted into input for a finite element analysis program. The input is applied to the finite element analysis program, and the finite element analysis program is used to construct a finite element mesh of the integrated circuit device from the input. Additionally, material properties are assigned to the finite element mesh, and a thermal analysis is performed of the finite element mesh to generate data in a thermal analysis report.

When designing integrated circuits, electronics engineers typically determine the size and placement of drivers based on design requirements and using various integrated circuit layout tools. When a proposed layout design is complete, a thermal analysis is conducted of the integrated circuit device to ensure that the driver locations have been properly specified. Typically, the thermal analysis is performed by using a finite element analysis program. The finite element analysis indicates whether the amount of power dissipated in the integrated circuitry, or the size or location of the drivers, can potentially lead to thermal overload of the integrated circuitry.
In order to conduct a finite element analysis, the final integrated circuit layout is used to construct a three-dimensional model of the integrated circuit. For this to occur, a data exchange must take place between the integrated circuit design tools and the finite element analysis tools. The data exchange is typically cumbersome and can be very time-consuming. Specifically, an analyst must define the areas on the surface of the die that have individual drivers and input that information into the finite element analysis tool. The analyst may complete this process using one of two conventional methods. The analyst can either manually enter the information or enter the information by reading an intermediate format file such as an Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (IGES) file. When the information is entered manually, a large number of coordinate pairs describing the driver boundaries are typed into the finite element analysis tool. Accordingly, the likelihood of typing an inaccurate number in a coordinate pair is relatively high. The second method, reading an intermediate format file, generally includes spending a considerable amount of time cleaning up the intermediate format file data so that the finite element analysis tools can read the data.
After the layout data has been successfully imported into the finite element analysis tool, a three-dimensional mesh is generated. The three-dimensional mesh is generated before the thermal analysis is performed. Oftentimes, before an integrated circuit is constructed, changes in customer requirements or other fabrication modifications can lead to changes in the integrated circuit layout. Consequently, it is important for this process to be completed in a timely and efficient manner with minimal likelihood of error so that designers, as well as customers, are aware of the effect of modifications requested during fabrication.
Accordingly, a method of conducting a finite element analysis that minimizes the likelihood of human error and can be completed in relatively minimal time would prove useful, and would be an improvement in the art.

Method for automatic generation of finite element mesh from IC layout data