The present disclosure, related to the technical field of fingerprint identification, discloses a ramp wave generation circuit, a digital-to-analog conversion circuit, and a fingerprint identification system. The ramp wave generation circuit comprises: an integrating circuit, configured to output a ramp wave signal; a signal regulation circuit, comprising a feedback control loop and a transconductance amplifier connected in series, wherein the feedback control loop monitors the ramp wave signal output by the integrating circuit, and outputs a regulation control signal to the transconductance amplifier, the transconductance amplifier corrects, according to the regulation control signal, a ramp wave signal output by the integrating circuit within a next period; and a voltage generation circuit, configured to respectively output a reference voltage signal to the integrating circuit and the signal regulation circuit.

Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to fingerprint identification, and in particular, to a ramp wave generation circuit, a digital-to-analog conversion circuit, and a fingerprint identification system.
Description of the Related Art
With the advancement of the security technologies, fingerprint identification gains more and more attractions among people, which is being more and more widely used in various fields. A capacitive fingerprint sensing system is typically formed by fingerprint sensing pixel circuits, which act as basic units of the fingerprint sensing system. The pixel circuit extracts a capacitance coupling signal of each pixel point, and then inputs the signal to another part of the fingerprint sensing system for amplification, analog-to-digital conversion, image splicing and operations alike, to finally extract valid fingerprint information. In related arts, the pixel array data is read generally in the following three manners: global analog-to-digital conversion, local analog-to-digital conversion or row-column analog-to-digital conversion. In the above three manners, a digital-to-analog conversion circuit always is used. However, in the digital-to-analog conversion circuit, a ramp wave generation circuit and a clock generator are simply subjected to the influence of process/voltage/temperature (PVT), and thus the performance of the fingerprint identification system deteriorates.

Slope wave generation circuit and digital-to-analog conversion circuit thereof, fingerprint identification system


A method of object recognition trains a convolutional neural network (CNN) with a set of training images, then classifies an image of an object using the trained CNN. A first layer of the CNN is trained by generating a set of first convolutional filters from eigenvectors produced from linear principal component analysis of patches of the training images. The training of each of multiple hidden layers CNN includes generating a set of convolutional filters from a selected subset of eigenvectors produced from linear principal component analysis of patches of an affinity matrix constructed using a set of prior convolutional filters from a prior layer of the CNN, where the affinity matrix represents correlations of feature vectors associated with the prior layer. The last layer of the CNN is trained with a regular classifier by error back-propagation using the training images and labels associated with the training images.

Image classification for object recognition is among the most important and well-known applications of convolutional neural networks. In such applications, a neural network is trained with a set of images that have been classified with labels. Once the network has learned this training data, it can then quickly analyze and classify arbitrary images. Training a network, however, can be time consuming and computationally complex.
A computational neural network contains a set of connected nodes organized in layers, where each layer provides output to a next layer based on input from a prior layer. The first layer is the input layer. The last layer is the output layer. Intermediate layers are called hidden layers. A neural network with more than one hidden layer is called a deep neural network. Typically, deep neural networks today have 5-150 hidden layers. Deep neural networks are able to learn more complex and abstract features of data (e.g., not only low level features such as edges and lines, but also higher level features such as shapes and arrangements of shapes). A common type of deep neural network is a convolutional neural network (CNN), where each layer generates a feature map. This feature map is convolved with filters to produce an output feature map. Conventionally, pooling is used to reduce the dimensionality of the feature maps.
Training of neural networks can use supervised learning or unsupervised learning. In unsupervised learning, the training data is not classified. The training clusters data, which corresponds to discovered features and classes. These classes, however, do not necessarily correspond to desired classifications. In supervised learning, the network is provided with classified training data. During training, the classified images are used to determine the weights in the network, e.g., using back propagation to adjust the weights to reduce the output error. Using back propagation to adjust weights through all levels of a network, however, can be computationally expensive, especially in the case of large training sets and convolutional networks having many layers. To make the training more manageable, the explosion of data to the next layer can be reduced with a 'max pooling' or 'mean pooling' technique. Even with these existing pooling techniques, however, back-propagation training of a CNN is still extremely complex and time-consuming.

Object recognition using a convolutional neural network trained by principal component analysis and repeated spectral clustering


A file management apparatus displays an icon of a file where a shortcut on a cloud storage refers to the file within the cloud storage. A file management apparatus which is connected to a cloud storage on a cloud network via a network and which displays content of a folder within the cloud storage, displays an icon for directly opening a second file or a second folder in a first display region of the file management apparatus for showing content of a first folder in a case where a shortcut file stored in the first folder within the cloud storage is a shortcut file which refers to the second file or the second folder existing outside the first folder, and in which a link to the second file or the second folder is set as a link to a website.

Conventionally, there has existed a cloud computing system in which a user can store data and read out and utilize data by accessing a cloud storage on a cloud network from a terminal such as a smartphone and a personal computer apparatus (for example, Japanese Publication No. 2014-508970).
By the way, in a case where a shortcut file is created on a cloud storage, even in a case where the shortcut file refers to a file or a folder within the cloud storage, a link of the shortcut file is expressed as URL. That is, regardless of whether a shortcut file on a cloud storage refers to a file, or the like, outside the cloud storage, or refers to a file, or the like, inside the cloud storage, the shortcut file is created as a shortcut file in which a link to another website is set (hereinafter, referred to as a "WEB shortcut (file)").
Further, in a case where content of the cloud storage as described above is displayed at a file manager (such as, for example, file explorer in Windows (registered trademark) of Microsoft (registered trademark) Corporation) on a local user terminal, a WEB shortcut file existing on the cloud storage is expressed as a file in which a link to a website is set (hereinafter, referred to as a "URL shortcut (file)"),

File management apparatus, file management method, and file management program


An electronic device is provided having a bimetallic fluid circulator for circulating fluid coolant in relation to electrical circuitry to provide enhanced heat exchange. The fluid circulator includes a first thin sheet exhibiting a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second thin sheet dissimilar from the first thin sheet and exhibiting a second CTE that is substantially different than the first CTE. The first and second thin sheets are bonded together. The first and second thin sheets expand and contract at different rates based on changes in temperature such that the first and second thin sheets change shape to create a fanning motion to circulate the fluid and thus cool the electrical device.

Electronic devices typically employ electronics and generally contain electrical circuitry for conducting electrical current which, in turn, generates thermal energy (i.e., heat). Many electronic devices often employ electrical circuitry in the form of integrated circuitry provided on a printed circuit board and packaged within a housing for protecting the electrical circuitry from exposure to moisture and physical contact. The generated thermal energy within the housing generally results in increased temperature. Excessive heat build-up may cause reduced performance including electrical circuit failure. Thus, it is desired to dissipate thermal energy away from the electronic device to ensure proper operation of the device.
Conventional techniques for dissipating thermal energy away from an electronic device include the use of a thermally conductive heat sink supported in contact with a packaged integrated circuit component. Typically, this technique includes mounting the heat sink onto a printed circuit board which contains surface mount electronic packages in thermal communication with the heat sink. Other conventional approaches for cooling electrical devices employ a fluid cooling medium such as air or liquid passed in thermal communication with the heat generating circuitry. The cooling fluid is typically circulated with a fan or pump.
One proposed electronic assembly employs a piezo fan for circulating a cooling fluid. One example of such use of a piezo fan is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/191,822, filed on Jul. 28, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,307,841, assigned to the assignee of the present application, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The aforementioned piezo fan is a fluid circulator located within a heat sink housing for circulating cooling fluid in close relation to electrical components to enhance the heat transfer cooling of the electronic device. The piezo fan includes a piezoceramic with an overlying electrode and an underlying electrode and a fan blade adhered to one side. The electrodes are electrically energized to create a polarization field through the piezoceramic with causes the piezoceramic to expand or contract which induces the fan blade to stretch or bend. By reversing the electric field, a fanning oscillation effect is produced to circulate the cooling fluid. One example of a commercially available piezo fan is Model No. RFN1-005, commercially available from Piezo Systems, Inc.
While conventional piezo fans and other fluid circulators produce fluid circulation to enhance the thermal energy transfer, such devices often require additional drive circuitry. For example, the piezo fan typically requires a suitable voltage supply and a sinusoidal oscillator to power the electrodes. This may result in added cost and size constraints. The resulting fluid flow achieved with such prior known circulators may be insufficient to achieve optimal cooling for some applications.
It is therefore desirable to provide for a fluid circulator that enables the realization of enhanced cooling of heat generating electronic devices. In particular, it is desirable to provide a fluid circulator that sufficiently circulates fluid coolant with a device that minimizes the cost and complexity of the fluid circulator.

Fluid circulator for fluid cooled electronic device


A dual-duct HVAC system for providing a desired comfort level in a room, includes a controller that carries out a simple operation that determines the total open damper positions for dual dampers in a dual duct system to effect a desired air flow. Using the total open damper position information as damper control information, the controller also determines a relative damper position difference required between the two dampers to effect a desired temperature level while also meeting the air flow requirement as determined from the total open damper position information. The combination of the total open damper position information and the relative damper position difference is used as control information to control both dampers. Preferably, the controller gives priority of air flow control over temperature control by determining a valid damper position difference range for use in conjunction with the total open damper position information.

The invention relates generally to HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) systems and more particularly to systems and methods for controlling temperature and/or air flow in a dual duct system.
The temperature and ventilation of an area within a building may be controlled through the use of a dual duct terminal box. The terminal box typically includes a hot air inlet duct, a cold air inlet duct, a mixing area where mixing of the hot and cold air occurs, and an outlet duct for passing the mixed air to the area. The temperature and ventilation for the room may be controlled by modulating the air flow rate of warm or cool air supplied to the mixing area. This is typically accomplished by the use of a damper or valves in each of the hot air inlet duct and the cold air inlet duct which are typically controlled by a control system. The dampers are used to regulate the rate of air flow exiting the mixing box and the air temperature exiting the mixing box. Each damper may be positioned in a separate air duct.
Several systems are known for controlling the dampers to obtain a desired comfort level within the room. One known system involves treating the HVAC system as two separate single-input single-output (SISO) systems wherein one control loop operates one damper, usually the cold air damper, to regulate the total air flow while another control loop operates the other damper, such as the hot air damper, to control the temperature in the room. However, a problem arises with such a system since increasing the air flow using the cold air damper will also reduce the temperature of the air. The control system for the temperature then determines that the air temperature is too low and, consequently, opens the hot air damper which increases the total flow and leads to the cold air damper closing again. As a result, the control performance of the system tends to be poor since the system does not hold temperature and flow set points very well.
Another problem arises when one damper reaches an end of its stroke (i.e., in a fully open or fully closed position). At such a point, the HVAC system loses control of the variable associated with the damper. For example, if the damper is the air flow control damper, the control loop for operating that damper reaches a maximum condition so that the damper position can not be changed to properly effectuate the necessary air flow requirement.
Another known approach for controlling dual duct systems is to mechanically link the hot and cold dampers to control air temperature and to add a separate flow control damper in the outlet duct to control air flow to the area. However, the added complexity of the mechanical linkage between the hot and cold dampers typically reduces system reliability by increasing the number of moving parts. Also, the additional flow control damper increases the cost and control complexity of the control system.

Air flow control system and method for a dual duct system


An access floor assembly is provided that comprises a plurality of abutting access floor panels that are attached to a plurality of pedestals. A resilient and flexible gasket is provided between the abutting floor panels to provide an effective seal between the panels. The effective seal allows a pre-determined pressure to be maintained in a plenum located between the access floor panels and a sub-floor. Air under pressure in the plenum may be delivered in a controlled and consistent manner from the plenum to a space above the access floor assembly.

Access floor systems are widely used in modem office buildings. These floors are also referred to as elevated floors or computer floors. Access floor systems were initially used in computer rooms for cooling applications because computers generate a great deal of heat and to accommodate the extensive electrical wiring requirements. Today, access floors are also widely used in commercial office construction. Access floor systems provide a space between the access floor and a base floor to accommodate the electrical and mechanical systems, building controls, communication wiring and other components required for operating the building. Access floor panels are removable which allows easy access to the wiring, components and electrical outlets.
The flooring of access floor systems is provided by a plurality of square floor panels. Access floor systems include a plurality of pedestals that support the square shaped floor panels. The pedestals of access floor systems in the past supported a plurality of metal stringers that formed a frame for supporting the perimeter of each of the square floor panels. U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,501 provides an example of such a stringer-based system. Stringer based systems are disadvantageous however because they are expensive and the stringer frame imposes a permanently installed structure that makes access to components and services under the floor more difficult. Stringer less systems have been developed wherein the pedestals directly support the corners of the square floor panels. Canadian Patent No. 946,578 provides an example of such a system. This patent describes an access floor system that can be structured as either a stringer type assembly or a stringer less type assembly.
The floor panels of these systems may leave a gap around the perimeter of the floor panels that permits a flow of air through the access floor. In buildings with under floor air this may be disadvantageous as this airflow loss makes it difficult and or inefficient to maintain air pressure under the access floor. This is a significant drawback because a specified air pressure is required beneath the access floor for ventilation purposes in order to deliver air from beneath the access floor to the space above the floor in a consistent and controlled manner. However, air cannot be delivered in an efficient way through diffusers in the floor panels in an access floor if there is a high level of leakage in through the floor panel edges.
There is therefore a need for a modular stringer less access floor system wherein the floor panels are sealed effectively to provide an air pressure beneath the access floor that permits air to be delivered to a space from beneath the floor in a controlled and efficient manner.

Metal framed floor panel having flange outward of rib with u-shaped portion of gasket over top of rib, portion of gasket between rib and flange, and convex sealing portion of gasket below flange and outward of rib


Structures employing siloxane epoxy polymers as diffusion barriers adjacent conductive metal layers are disclosed. The siloxane epoxy polymers exhibit excellent adhesion to conductive metals, such as copper, and provide an increase in the electromigration lifetime of metal lines. In addition, the siloxane epoxy polymers have dielectric constants less then 3, and thus, provide improved performance over conventional diffusion barriers.

Conventional semiconductor devices typically comprise a semiconductor substrate, normally of doped monocrystalline silicon, and a plurality of sequentially formed dielectric layers and conductive patterns. An integrated circuit is formed containing a plurality of conductive patterns comprising conductive lines separated by inter-wiring spacings. Typically, the conductive patterns on different layers, i.e., upper and lower layers, are electrically connected by a conductive plug filling a via hole, while a conductive plug filling a contact hole establishes electrical contact with an active region on a semiconductor substrate, such as a source/drain region or a gate/metal region. Conductive lines are formed in trenches, which typically extend substantially horizontal with respect to the semiconductor substrate. Semiconductor chips comprising eight or more levels of metallization are becoming more prevalent as device geometries have shrunk to half-micron levels and to a tenth of a micron levels.
A conductive plug filling a via hole is typically formed by depositing an interlayer dielectric on a conductive layer comprising at least one conductive pattern. Generally, a dielectric barrier or capping layer (also referred to herein as a "diffusion barrier") is deposited onto the conductive layer prior to deposition of the dielectric. Next, an opening in the dielectric layer is formed by conventional photolithographic and etching techniques, and the opening is filled with a conductive metal, such as tungsten, aluminum, copper, or a copper alloy. Excess conductive material on the surface of the dielectric layer is typically removed by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). After depositing a diffusion barrier on the metal and exposed surface of the dielectric layer, a second interlayer dielectric is typically deposited onto the barrier.
One such fabrication method is known as damascene and basically involves forming an opening in the interlayer dielectric and filling the opening with a conductive metal. Dual damascene techniques involve forming an opening comprising a lower contact or via hole section in communication with an upper trench section, which opening is filled with a conductive metal, to simultaneously form a conductive plug and electrical contact with a conductive line.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion 10 of a prior art, conventional semiconductor metal interconnect structure fabricated using damascene processing, wherein trenches (lines) (not shown) and a via (hole) 20 are etched into interlayer dielectric 30, which is disposed atop a semiconductor substrate 15. Conductive metal 50 is deposited into via 20 and planarized. In this embodiment, Ta-based liner 40, made of tantalum, TaN, or TaSiN, is conformally deposited onto sidewalls 21a and 21b and bottom 22 of via 20 (and any trenches, not shown), prior to deposition of metal 50 and planarization. Dielectric barrier 60, traditionally made of SiN, SiC, SiCH, or SiCN, atop metal 50 acts as a diffusion barrier, as well as an etch stop layer. A second dielectric or metal 70 is then deposited atop dielectric barrier 60.
Disadvantageously, however, the atomic transport at the metal/diffusion barrier interface 61 is the most important contributor to electromigration of the metal. Since conductive metals, such as Cu, do not adhere well to the traditional dielectric barrier materials, the interface provides the fastest interfacial diffusion path. Prior solutions to reducing electromigration include using a metallic-based cap (Ta, Pd, or CoWP) for the metal lines, but the increase in the fabrication complexity and in the effective resistivity are undesirable.
Thus, it is known that a diffusion barrier or capping material is needed between the metal and dielectric to reduce the amount of metal diffusion into the neighboring dielectric material. However, because interfacial diffusion at the metal/diffusion barrier interface is the major contributor to reduction in the life-time associated with the electromigration failure in integrated circuits (IC), it is desirable to improve the interfacial bonding at such interfaces to reduce and eliminate the interfacial diffusion. The use of traditional diffusion barriers such as SiN, SiC, SiCH, and SiCN only provide marginal success.
Furthermore, the aforementioned traditional diffusion barriers have dielectric constants larger than 6. It is known, however, that lowering the overall dielectric constants (κ values) of the dielectric layers employed in metal interconnects lowers the resistance capacitance (RC) product of the chip and improves its performance. The high κ values of traditional diffusion barriers increase the overall κ value of the structure and are therefore not acceptable for future high speed ICs.
Thus, a need exists in the semiconductor industry for a diffusion barrier material having improved adhesion to the conductive metal, thereby reducing interfacial metal diffusion. It would also be particularly advantageous if such a material could have a dielectric constant of 3.9 or lower, thereby reducing the overall κ value of the final structure.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Siloxane epoxy polymers as metal diffusion barriers to reduce electromigration


Provided are compositions comprising partially crystalline polycarbonate particulate having an average cross-sectional dimension of from about 1 μιη to about 200 μιτι, having from about 10% crystallinity to about 50% crystallinity, and having a weight-average molecular weight, per polystyrene standards, of from about 17,000 to about 40,000 Daltons. The composition exhibits a zero-shear viscosity of less than about 104 Pa s at the melting temperature of the partially crystalline polycarbonate. Related systems and methods for utilizing these compositions in additive manufacturing applications, including selective laser sintering (SLS) applications, are also disclosed. Also provided are additively-manufactured articles made with the disclosed compositions and according to the disclosed methods.

Although some have sought to use amorphous polycarbonate (PC) in additive manufacturing processes, these attempts to obtain high-density additive-manufactured parts with amorphous PC have been unsuccessful. Melting the amorphous PC to give rise to high-density parts requires relatively high temperatures, and these high temperatures frequently result in the loss of dimensional stability in the final parts. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for additive manufacturing processes capable of making high-density PC parts, which parts at the same time also retain relatively high levels of dimensional stability.

Crystalline polycarbonate powders for powder bed fusion in additive manufacturing


Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for input control display based on eye gaze. An apparatus includes an eye-tracking device, an input device, a processor, and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The code is executable to track an eye gaze of a user in relation to a display using the eye-tracking device, determine one or more interface controls presented on the display that are within an area of the user's eye gaze, and dynamically map the determined one or more interface controls to one or more corresponding input controls on the input device such that actuation of an input control on the input device activates the corresponding interface control presented on the display.

Applications may present on-screen controls for controlling the application, selecting different features of the application, or the like. It can be frustrating and time consuming to navigate through multiple on-screen controls one at a time using a physical input device such as a remote control, a controller, or the like.


To substantially prevent vibrations from arising due to a torque fluctuation of an internal combustion engine, a torque fluctuation of the internal combustion engine is detected, and a torque to be absorbed or generated by a motor generator is controlled so as to decrease the fluctuation torque according to a fluctuation torque information of at least one previous engine cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a torque controller for internal combustion engines for preferably decreasing a torque fluctuation arising from combustion pressure variations and a cylinder block vibration induced by the torque fluctuation.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In internal combustion engines, it has been known that "gas torque" fluctuates according to the varying cylinder internal pressures due to suction and compression of intake mixture gas, expansion of combustion gas and the varying connecting rod angle with the crankshaft, and that "inertia torque" fluctuates according to the rotational inertia force variation. If such torque fluctuation is transferred to various components of accessory driven by the internal combustion engine, torsional vibration may arise in those components and deteriorate engine performance or damage the components; therefore, the torque fluctuation of the internal combustion engine must be reduced sufficiently. Then, a reaction of the torque fluctuation is transferred from a cylinder block to an engine support member, vibrates the member and noise increases, therefore such vibration must likewise be reduced.
To solve the problems, it has been proposed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Number 185938/1983, to suppress a rotational torque fluctuation by generating a counter load torque on a crank shaft synchronously with the time when the rotational torque fluctuation generated by an internal combustion engine increases.
However, it is difficult to generate a counter load torque close synchronously with a torque fluctuation generated by the internal combustion engine. Namely, to cope with the requirement for detecting a torque fluctuation at high speed, it is necessary to calculate the value of the counter load torque necessary for canceling the torque fluctuation, and change the load torque by some available control means, and a series of processes detection, computation and control must be accelerated accordingly as an engine rotational speed increases; however this is rather unmanageable for the existing control techniques to implement.

Internal combustion engine equipped with a torque controller


A disk drive having a base and a cover, enclosing the memory disks and the magnetic head actuator. The spindle journaling the memory disks and the support for the actuator are secured to the base and to the cover and relatively position the base and the cover with respective peripheral extremities in closely spaced, but not touching relationship, to provide a gap therebetween. A pressure sensitive adhesive tape of a material having a high shear strength is applied to the base and the cover bridging the gap without applying stresses to the cover or the base through the tape and providing a seal for the disk drive between the cover and the base. The materials of the base, the cover, the spindle and the support, have thermal coefficients of expansion which are at least substantially the same. Preferably the materials are the same. Steel is a preferred material. The design also provides rigidity between the ends of the rotary mounting of the memory disks and the support for the magnetic head actuator while providing flexibility in the connections between the base and cover, and thereby eliminating thermally induced slip at these connections. Slip between structural parts of a disk drive can prevent reliable writing and reading of data.

Disk drives are employed as large volume data storage devices in applications with respect to computers and data processors. The data is stored on the surfaces of the memory disks in such drives. The memory disks are journalled for rotation on a disk spindle mounted on a supporting structure such as a base or a main frame of the disk drive. Data heads are used to write narrow tracks of data on the surface of data disks, that can be repeatedly read back at a later time by positioning the data heads, in what is called a track following mode, over these narrow data tracks as the disks are rotated. Data tracks on the disk surfaces are currently on the order of about 10 microns wide. To reliably read data from such a narrow pre-recorded data track, the data head must be positioned over the data track to within about a half micron of the center of the track.
A data head is flexibly secured to the end of each arm of an arm stack comprising part of a movable positioner or actuator that is mounted on the same supporting structure as the spindle which rotatably mounts the memory disks. This may be a rotary or a linear actuator. In most high performance disk drives, one head, called a dedicated head, and an adjacent disk surface, dedicated to servo code, are used to provide input to a head positioning servo for track seeking and track following purposes. The positioning servo, using signals from the dedicated head, positions the dedicated head accurately over a selected servo code track on the surface of the dedicated memory disk in a track following mode of operation, when a data track is being written in a corresponding track on a data disk surface. After data is written in the data tracks on the data disk surfaces, any mechanical displacements, that is, changes in relative position, that develop between the servo head and the data heads, results in data head offset from track center and reduces the integrity of the data which is being read. If the positioning errors are unpredictable in the presence of temperature variations for example, then there is little that can be done towards preserving the integrity of the data which is being read. If, on the other hand, positioning errors develop that are predictable, then it is possible to characterize and integrate correctional feedback information to the servo system, as will be explained at a later point.
Typically, disk drive supporting structures are made as rigid and stiff as possible for the purpose of minimizing head offset from the track center of a pre-written data track on a disk in a subsequent read operation. The particular material used for each of the various parts within the drive is chosen for optimum functionality and cost. But because of this, some significant: drive performance problems often arise.
First, when stiff, rigid parts are fastened to each other, they are no longer free to change dimension independently of one another. In the fabrication of a disk drive, parts are assembled at very nearly the same temperature. But when the drive is operated, heat is developed and temperature gradients occur. These temperature gradients cause the different parts of the drive to change in dimension, which may create enough stress at the fastened locations to force minute unpredictable slip in the relative position of the parts.
Second, when structural parts of the disk drive are made from different materials, the thermal coefficients of expansion also tend to be different. When these rigid parts are fastened together, as in a disk drive supporting structure and exposed to temperature extremes, as often encountered in shipment, the stresses that develop at the connection areas can easily cause the connection to permanently slip. Once again, this slip is unpredictable as to exactly when and how much will occur.
In practice, disk drives have been thermally cycled prior to writing data tracks on the disk surfaces in an effort to somewhat relieve connection area stresses and thereby minimize thermally induced positioning errors. While this process improves the probability of long term positioning accuracy of the drives, it does not solve the problem and some unacceptable percentage of the drives that are thermally cycled will still be prone to positioning problems. The time and the cost of thermally cycling production quantities of disk drives is also undesirable.

Thermally predictable disk drive mechanism


An improved controlled-motion instrument is provided for grasping, holding or otherwise manipulating an object in operations such as endoscopic procedures. The instrument opens and closes jaws or other manipulation members by way of a longitudinally movable cam member, but maintains the longitudinal position of the manipulation members constant relative to the instrument's body regardless of opening and closing motion. The manipulation members thus have increased length-to-diameter ratio and column strength, and the cam provides positive lateral jaw support and stability during opening and closing. The movable cam member can also include other manipulation members thereon that work in conjunction with the longitudinally fixed manipulation members.

The present invention relates generally to instruments for grasping, gripping or manipulating distant objects and more particularly to endoscopic instruments for performing such operations as part of a medical procedure.
Flexible forceps or other grasping instruments are frequently used in conjunction with flexible endoscopes or other visualization devices for retrieving or otherwise manipulating objects within a patient's body without the need for conventional surgical intervention and the attendant risk and resultant patient recovery. Conventional forceps or graspers of this type frequently include an elongated, tightly-wound spring-coil sheath or body having a "handle" or other such control assembly at a proximal end and a jaw assembly at a distal end, with the distal end being inserted through a body opening either separately or through an endoscope. The control assembly is typically a hand-operated push-pull mechanism that extends and retracts a control wire or thin cable through a longitudinally-extending lumen in the sheath or body. The control wire in such instruments is attached to pivoting thin wire jaws that are spring-biased laterally outwardly to open when they are extended longitudinally outwardly beyond the end of the sheath or body and to close when retracted longitudinally back within the sheath.
As a result, these prior art jaws move longitudinally relative to the instrument's sheath or body and move relative to the object to be grasped or manipulated, during opening and closing. This makes it difficult for the operator to accurately position and open and close the moving jaw assembly around the stationary object, especially in the very close quarters typically encountered in medical endoscopic procedures. These jaws can also thus move into and out of the focal range of the endoscope, thus further complicating the operator's ability to see and accurately maneuver them relative to the object. Furthermore, in order to be able to open wide enough to surround or enclose the object to be manipulated, the jaws in such prior art designs are necessarily inordinately long. Because these long jaws must also be very thin in order to allow the instrument to be inserted through small body openings, their length-to-diameter (L/D) ratio is high, often 100/1 or even higher. Thus the typically resilient jaws, which are laterally unrestrained and unsupported when extended to their open positions, often lack sufficient column strength or stiffness to prevent significant jaw deflection or displacement relative to the object, to prevent undesirable changes in jaw shape or geometry, or to avoid loss of accurate jaw positioning relative to the object. This often results in undue repeated maneuvering of the instrument to get it into proper position, repeated attempts to grasp and hold or otherwise manipulate an object, and the resultant trauma and damage to the surrounding tissue in medical endoscopic procedures.
The present invention seeks to overcome these and other disadvantages by providing an improved controlled-motion instrument for grasping, holding or otherwise manipulating an object in operations such as those performed in the course of endoscopic procedures. The present invention's instrument maintains the longitudinal position of its jaws or other manipulation members relative to the body of the instrument regardless of their opening and closing, has greatly improved jaw L/D ratio and column strength, provides greatly improved lateral jaw support and stability during opening and closing, and can include other instrument features in conjunction with a grasping function in order to eliminate or at least minimize the need for multiple or repeated instrument insertions in many procedures.
According to the present invention, an instrument for manipulating an object preferably includes a generally hollow elongated sheath or body, with a selectively operable "handle" or operating assembly generally adjacent one end and one or more jaws or other manipulation members generally adjacent an opposite end. It is important to note that the manipulation member or members are generally fixed, longitudinally, relative to the sheath and is preferably interconnected, directly or indirectly, with the sheath or body. The manipulation member or members are preferably resilient and at least partially deflectable in at least one non-longitudinal direction.
An elongated activation member extends generally longitudinally within the sheath or body for longitudinally movement therein. The activation member, which is preferably a wire or thin cable, can have a round, oval, rectangular, or other cross-sectional shapes that will occur to those skilled in the art. The activation member is interconnected adjacent one of its ends with the handle or operating assembly so as to be selectively moved longitudinally between a retracted position relative to the sheath and an extended position relative to the sheath when the manually operable handle or other operating assembly or mechanism is activated.
A cam member is fixed relative to the activation member, preferably adjacent its opposite end, for corresponding longitudinal movement therewith between retracted and extended positions. The longitudinally moveable cam member engages and forcibly deflects the longitudinally fixed manipulation members or jaws in at least one non-longitudinal direction in response to selective operation of the operating assembly. Thus the cam member forces the jaws or other manipulation members into engagement with the object even though they remain generally fixed relative to the sheath during such deflection, grasping, gripping or holding.
The longitudinally fixed manipulation member assembly can also include two or more thin wire jaws, each optionally having an inwardly or outwardly facing barb or other object-gripping discontinuity, and the jaws can be arranged to be opened or closed upon either extension or retraction of the activation and cam members. The longitudinally fixed manipulation member can alternately be in the form of a snare-type loop, of either a one-piece or multi-piece construction, and can be spread or contracted upon either extension or retraction of the activation and cam members. As a further alternate or optional embodiment, the manipulation member or assembly can have a "basket" type construction or configuration, with two or more arcuate or spiraling members, preferably laterally restrained relative to each other at their proximate or distal ends. When the cam member is extended or retracted, the basket-type members constrict or expand in order to be maneuvered to enclose and grip or grasp the object to be manipulated.
In any of the invention's arrangements, the individual single or multiple jaw or manipulation members can have virtually any cross-sectional shape, such as round or other arcuate shapes, or even rectangular or other polygonal shapes, in order to suit a particular application or to obtain certain desired directional deflection characteristics.
The cam member can be of a disk shape, a rectangular or other polygonal shape, a bead or sphere shape, or even a partially open cup-like shape, with or without recesses therein for receiving barbs or other discontinuities on retracted jaws. Preferably, the cam member has one or more openings extending generally longitudinally through it for slidably receiving a corresponding portion or portions of the manipulation member or members extending therethrough as the extending or retracting cam member forcibly engages the manipulation member or members. The preferred cam members also include outer sleeves that move with them and are long enough to slidably overlap the sheath during extension and retraction in order to minimize the potential for body tissue or other materials being introduced into the hollow sheath.
Optionally, the cam member can also include one or more secondary manipulation members or assemblies interconnected and moveable with the cam member separately and independently of the longitudinally fixed manipulation members. Such "cam-mounted" manipulation members can include a sharpened needle or probe, a knife blade, or a gripping discontinuity for example. Such secondary or supplemental manipulation members can be used in conjunction with the fixed manipulation members to grasp, grip, hold or even cut or sever the object to be manipulated or retrieved.
Also, in an alternate construction, more than one additional wire, cable or other member can be interconnected with the cam member to allow unequal forces to be exerted on different parts of the cam member and cause the cam member to turn or "steer" the sheath or body member along "non-straight-line "paths, such as those typically encountered in medical endoscopic procedures. This arrangement can be used even in instruments not having manipulation jaws, such as when an endoscope is inserted solely for visual observation purposes, for example.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention, in addition to those examples mentioned above, will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Controlled - motion endoscopic grasping instrument


A switch includes a switch body, for containing switch components, at least two terminal contacts, protruding from the switch body, at least one movable contact, which is movable from an operative position, wherein the movable contact is electrically coupled between the at least two terminal contacts, and a disconnecting position, wherein the movable contact is electrically uncoupled between the at least two terminal contacts. The switch also includes a moving mechanism including an electric motor and a support sliding element for the movable contact, driven by the moving mechanism and the electric motor, to move the movable contact between the operative condition and the disconnecting position.

As it is well known in this specific technical field, a switch is an electrical component that can "make" or "break" an electrical circuit, interrupting the current or diverting it from one conductor to another. The mechanism of a switch removes or restores the conducting path in a circuit when it is operated.
A particular type of switch is a disconnector. A disconnector is used to ensure that an electrical circuit is completely de-energized for service or maintenance. Such switches are often found in electrical distribution and industrial applications, where machinery must have its source of driving power removed for adjustment or repair. High-voltage isolation switches are used in electrical substations to allow isolation of apparatus such as circuit breakers, transformers, and transmission lines, for maintenance. The disconnector is usually not intended for normal control of the circuit, but only for safety isolation. Disconnectors can be operated either manually or automatically.
Unlike load switches and circuit breakers, disconnectors lack a mechanism for suppression of electric arcs, which occurs when conductors carrying high currents are electrically interrupted. Thus, they are off-load devices, intended to be opened only after current has been interrupted by some other control device.

Switch and changeover switch with compact structure


This invention discloses a data inquiry system for three-dimensional location-based image, video, and information, which comprises a client device and a remote server. The client device provides space parameters and lens parameters to the remote server through a transmission module. The remote server determines a space inquiry range by the space parameter and lens parameter, inquires an object data of an object space position parameter at the space inquiry range, shows the object data in an image data displayed by the client device to facilitate users to identify the desired viewing object, and further inquires the object data and related image and/or video data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data inquiry system for three-dimensional (3D) location-based image, video, and information, and the inquiry method thereof, and more particularly to a data inquiry system, a data inquiry method for 3D location-based image, video, and information using space parameters and lens parameters to determine space coordinates of objects.
2. Description of the Related Art
At present, people can use a mobile phone with a global positioning system (GPS) sensor to locate themselves and further retrieve the knowledge and information of a geographic site in which they are visiting. In the existing prior art, a user can use a handheld device with a camera to take a picture on a object they feel interested and then the handheld device can utilize the image recognition technologies for detecting the object in the photo. For example, if tourists want to learn more about Eiffel Tower in France during their visits, the tourists simply need to use a mobile phone to take the picture of the Eiffel Tower, and an image recognition program installed in the mobile phone detects the tower and retrieves related information of the Eiffel Tower from a database via the Internet and shows related information to users. However, it is a challenging job to detect various different kinds of objects on earth with 100% accuracy. In addition to the image recognition, other known prior art uses latitude and longitude data of a GPS sensor installed on a mobile device to show the geographic location of the device as the location of the user, and roughly describes the information about the neighborhood of a scenic spot. However, the location of such mobile device cannot describe the user's interested object or photo taken for the object precisely, and thus cannot obtain the actual information related to the object. For example, a tourist visiting a park sees mountains around the park and wants to learn about a particular mountain, while taking a photo of or searching the mountain by a mobile phone, the GPS installed in the mobile phone cannot locate the position of the mountain accurately, and thus cannot provide the related knowledge and information of the mountain.
In view of the aforementioned issue of an image data inquiry system, some patented technologies are used in a mobile device such as a digital camera and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,146,179 entitled "Portable imaging device employing geographic information to facilitate image access and viewing". This method can obtain related information of the location of a photographer or an object, but cannot confirm the related information about the direction or the position of the photographed object.
In another solution to the aforementioned problem, a plurality of more complicated and larger stacked camera modules are used, such that the exposure value of each different camera can be used for obtaining the direction and the height of an image of a photo taken. With the data of the direction and the height of the image, the relation of the spatial image of the object can be computed in a way as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,126,630 entitled "Method and apparatus for omni-directional image and 3-dimensional data acquisition with data annotation and dynamic range extension method". However, this method incurs higher cost with complexity for a client device and such device cannot be carried easily.
Since the photo or video information recorded by the traditional methods actually shows the location of the photographer (or the camera equipment), but not the location of the photo itself, therefore users cannot obtain the desired information about the observed object through the GPS recording and service of a traditional way of taking a photo, or further obtain other photos and video related to the photographed object or information and knowledge about the object from such system. Obviously, such application is inconvenient.
In view of the foregoing shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience to conduct extensive researches and experiments, and finally developed a data inquiry system, a data inquiry method and a data creating method for location-based image, video, and information in accordance with the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art.

Data inquiry system and method for three-dimensional location-based image, video, and information


An object of the present invention is to effectively reduce vibration or noise caused by a motor. An inverter circuit 300 generates an alternating current from a direct current supplied from a direct current power supply 10 by using a plurality of IGBTs 311 which are switching elements, supplies the generated alternating current to a motor 100, and drives the motor 100. This alternating current includes a fundamental harmonic current corresponding to a rotational speed of the motor 100, and a harmonic current of a switching operation of the IGBTs 311. A controller 200 controls a second phase such that a first phase and the second phase are not superimposed on each other at a predetermined motor rotational speed, the first phase being a phase of an excitation force cyclically produced in the motor 100 by the fundamental harmonic current, and the second phase being a phase of an excitation force cyclically produced in the motor 100 by the harmonic current.

Conventionally, there is a known current control method for reducing vibration or noise caused by an electromagnetic excitation force deriving from a magnetic circuit structure of a motor in an alternating current motor which is driven by using an alternating current generated by PWM modulation of an inverter. PTL 1 discloses a method for attenuating a harmonic component of a radial magnetic excitation force by superimposing a magnetic sound reduction harmonic current including an n−1th order frequency in a reverse phase order and an m+1th order frequency in the same reverse phase order based on a fundamental frequency component of an alternating current distributed to the motor.


A technique for joining parts of incompatible metals involves cold spraying a 150-900 micron thick layer of a metal compatible with the second part onto the first part, and friction stir joining the parts by lap welding while keeping a tool of the FSJ tool at least 300 microns away from the first part (less layer) throughout the joining, to avoid damaging the cold spray to first part interface, and formation of intermetallics. Fatigue resistance was tested, with and without a sealant.

Cold plastic deformation of metals is a wonderful thing. It allows for processing of metal below its melting point, avoiding a host of problems with the formation of intermetallics, and oxides, and has been developed in different processes including cold spray, and friction stir joining (FSJ), including friction stir welding (FSW), and friction stir diffusion bonding (FSDB). The useful deployment of cold plastic deformation to join dissimilar metals needs to be improved, and a technique for FSJ incompatible metallic parts, especially if the metals of the two parts are prone to forming intermetallics, is needed because such intermetallics generally reduce a fatigue life of the join.
Unfortunately intermetallics are produced by joining most metals. Dissimilar material combinations shown or believed to form intermetallic compounds during FSW include: Al base alloys FSW to Fe base alloys (hereinafter two metals separated by a hyphen denote an alloy of the first FSW bonded to an alloy of the second, thus the first example is Al—Fe), Al—Mg, Al—Cu, Al—Ti, Mg—Fe, Mg—Cu, and Mg—Ti.
Al—Fe: Friction stir welding in lap joint or spot configuration has been shown to form intermetallics (Bozzi S., 2010, Intermetallic compounds in Al 6016/IF-steel friction stir spot welds; Justman R., 2013, Friction stir lap welding aluminum to steel using scribe technology). According to Bozzi, FeAl3, Fe7Al5 & FeAl2 are generated during FSW.
Al—Mg: Friction stir welding in lap joint configuration has been shown to form intermetallics (Chen Y. C., 2007, Friction stir lap joining aluminum & magnesium alloys; Liu L, 2014, A review of dissimilar welding techniques for magnesium alloys to aluminum alloys). According to Chen, brittle Mg17Al12 & gamma phase Mg2Al3 intermetallics are mostly generated during the FSW process.
Al—Cu: Friction stir welding in butt joint configuration has been shown to form intermetallics (Xue P., 2010, Enhanced mechanical properties of friction stir welded dissimilar Al—Cu joint by intermetallic compounds; Mubiayi M. P., 2013, Friction stir welding of dissimilar materials between aluminum alloys & copper—An overview). According to Xue, some intermetallics are generated during the FSW process such as Al2Cu & Al4Cu9. However, according to Mubiayi's paper, most of the structure of the weld nugget zone is largely a plastic diffusion combination of copper & aluminum.
Al—Ti: Friction stir welding in lap joint configuration has been shown to form intermetallics (Chen Y. C., 2009, Microstructural characterization & mechanical properties in friction stir welding of aluminum & titanium dissimilar alloys; Aonuma M., 2011, Dissimilar metal joining of 2024 & 7075 aluminium alloys to titanium alloys by friction stir welding). According to both papers, intermetallics (TiAl3) are generated during FSW.
Mg—Fe: Friction stir welding in lap joint configuration has been shown to form intermetallics (Chen Y. C., 2009, Friction stir lap welding of magnesium alloy & zinc-coated steel; Jana S., 2010, Friction stir lap welding of magnesium alloy to steel: A preliminary investigation). According to Chen, intermetallics are generated during the FSW process (Fe4Al13). As most Mg alloys contain appreciable amounts of aluminum as a main alloying element, these intermetallics are considered problematic for Mg—Fe.
Mg—Cu: No literature work has been found on friction stir welding of magnesium to copper due to a lack of industrial relevance. However, the phase diagram indicates that intermetallic compounds should be produced between these materials, such as CuMg2.
Mg—Ti: Friction stir welding in butt joint configuration has been shown to form intermetallics (Aonuma M., 2007, Weldability of pure titanium & AZ31 magnesium alloy by friction stir welding). According to Aonuma's paper, Al-rich titanium layer with under 2 μm in thickness was formed at joint interface. Although this paper did not use the word 'intermetallic' to describe the Al-rich titanium layer, it is obvious that TiAl3 intermetallic compound was generated during the FSW process. Here again the aluminum is present due to the content of the Mg alloy.
In a learned paper by Champagne III et al. entitled Joining of Dissimilar Materials by the Cold Spray Process (Proc. ITSC 2015 May 11-14, 2015, pp. 559-565), it is noted that cold spray and friction stir welding can be used for joining dissimilar metals. Specifically they report cold spraying Al onto a Mg plate, to a thickness of ˜8.5 mm (Cold Spray Processing (CSP) p. 560), and FSW joining the MG plate to an Al plate with a butt weld (FIG. 1). "Without the cold spray layer this would not be achievable without the formation of an intermetallic layer at the dissimilar metal interface."
Unfortunately, this technique is applicable only to applications that can afford the time to deposit an 8.5 mm coating by cold spray (or at least a 5-25 mm as per FIG. 1).
Applicant has attempted to FSW join a steel part with a thinner cold spray Al coating of approximately 1 mm thickness, in butt configuration. The Al debonded during the FSW. This may be the reason why Champagne III el al. limited the coating to at least 5 mm. If a cold spray layer of at least 5 mm is required for FSW bonding, there may be no high-production-rate application for this joining, because the time required to develop a 5 mm cold spray layer is incompatible with low cost production.
A learned paper to Haghshenas et al. entitled Friction Stir Weld Assisted Diffusion Bonding of 5754 Aluminum Alloy to Coated High Strength Steels (Materials and Design (2013), doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2013.10.013) teaches FSDB of a high strength steel (specifically 22MnB5) that is coated with a 9 μm thick Al alloy (Al-12Si alloy). The FSDB process used brought the FSW tool "close to or nearly in contact (without penetrating) the lower steel plate". Haghshenas et al. note:                However, the transformation of intermetallic compounds (i.e. Al5Fe2 to AlFe), is caused by change in the travel speed, and occurs in the "Al/St interface". It should be noted that the 22MnB5 alloy could only be joined in the as-received condition, where no austenitization heat treatment was conducted. Normally this alloy is utilized as hot-stamped martensitic steel, and the Al-12Si alloy coating on the sheet material undergoes some diffusion during heat treatment prior to hotstamping. When the 22MnB5 sheets were heat treated, the appearance of the coating had changed and it would not facilitate joining when using the friction stir welding parameters studied here. Modification of this Al-12Si coating after heat treatment by light abrasion or chemical pickling with HCl solution also failed to promote adhesion during friction stir welding.An Al alloy coating, 9 μm thick, was shown by Haghshenas et al. to not shield an interface from the production of intermetallics when the pin comes close to the Al/St interface, and no value for joining can be attributed to the Al-12Si coating, however it was produced.
One of the requirements for low cost FSW joining of dissimilar metallic parts is that the FSW tool does not enter the part having a higher resistance to plasticization. In the case of joining steel and aluminum parts, if the FSW tool enters the steel, it can improve an initial bond strength of the join, but it severely decreases a longevity and expense of the FSW tools used, as suggested by Haghshenas et al. Furthermore, the mixing of steel with aluminum leads to poor fatigue resistance for the join. There is a long-felt want for a capability to reliably join two parts of incompatible metals (especially respective ones of: steel, aluminum, and magnesium) to produce fatigue resistant joins.
Thus joins of a variety of metals that would desirably accomplished by FSW are prevented because of the formation of brittle intermetallics leads to joints that have poor longevity.

Joined incompatible metallic parts and method of joining


A high capacity handgun/pistol is disclosed with a horizontally oriented magazine that is aligned with and disposed beneath the gun barrel. The magazine defines a plurality of hollow tubes arranged radially around a central axis about which the magazine can rotate automatically during operation of the handgun/pistol. The hollow tubes each contain a plurality of ammunition rounds, and can each be aligned with a loading tray one at a time, wherein a coil spring will push out a single round at a time onto the loading tray. The handgun uses a gun slide to load a new round into the chamber via the loading tray, and further enabling the loading tray to automatically rotate the magazine as each hollow tube becomes empty. Moreover, the slide will re-set a hammer to re-engage with a sear, after a pulled trigger releases the hammer to strike a firing pin. The handgun is further equipped with a selector switch enabling automatic and semi-automatic firing modes, wherein the semi-automatic firing mode can be further specified to select a three round burst fire mode. The handgun can also be configured with a simpler firing mode cam and fewer parts that limits it to semi-automatic firing mode. Additionally, the handgun barrel is separable and replaceable if the barrel becomes too hot after rapid fire.

The relatively compact design and configuration of handguns and pistols facilitates ease in portability and usage. The typical design includes, among other components, a grip to hold the firearm, and a barrel and gun slide located perpendicular to the grip. The location of the ammunition rounds will depend on the type of gun, but often time ammunition rounds are stored in a magazine located within the grip. This location optimizes the use of the handgun dimensions, considering the standard magazine does not require any other separate compartments that would bulk up the handgun. This is particularly important for those that are required to carry a firearm while being mobile or in constricted settings, such as police officers and many military personnel.
Most types of civilian handguns are semi-automatic, in that only one round will be fired with a single trigger pull. A subset of semi-automatic handguns are "autoloaders", in that the firearm will automatically load a new round to be fired after each successive firing. The typical re-loading mechanism after a round is fired involves the gun slide moving backwards to re-load a new round, and reset the handgun such that it will not fire until the trigger is released and pulled again. A fully automatic weapon differs in this respect in that a pulled and held down trigger results in consecutive rounds being fired.
Fully automatic handguns can be transferred or sold in the U.S. only to federal agencies under Public Law 99-308 (1986). More specifically, fully automatic pistols are typically issued in the modern military as personal side arms to commanding officers and senior NCOs, special forces operatives, and to combat personnel who operate in cramped spaces where an assault rifle or carbine is impractical, such as vehicle drivers, artillery and tank crews, pilots, aircraft and helicopter crews, and marine and naval personnel. However, considering the compact design of a side arm is what offers the user ease in portability, the same compact design limits the number of rounds it is capable of holding without adding more to its size, thereby frustrating the use of such a weapon in automatic firing mode since frequent re-loading of ammunition magazines will be required.
The grip of a gun is primarily designed for the user to hold and safely fire the weapon. Adding a larger magazine generally requires the grip to be larger and can increase the overall dimensions of the pistol and therefore make it incompatible with its intended purpose, unable to be concealed, unwieldy, and even unsafe for a user. Although there are handguns that have magazines oriented below and parallel with the gun barrel, the rounds are oriented perpendicular to the barrel, such that an internal mechanism is required to re-orient the round for firing. Overall, large capacity handguns, particularly those that contain complex mechanisms that increase their size and weight, are much bulkier and more massive than the average small capacity handgun of the same caliber, which make it difficult for them to be used as a sidearm. Moreover, limited capacity handguns not only impact automatic firing but those handguns configured for semi-automatic firing as well, such as for personnel in government agencies that include undercover police officers, which contain a limited round capacity held by current concealable side arm designs.
It should, therefore, be appreciated that there exists a need for a high capacity handgun side arm configured for automatic, semi-automatic, and/or three-burst firing, with minimal to no increase in the overall dimensions and mass of a standard capacity gun, other than the weight of the additional ammunition rounds, and without the need for mechanisms to re-orient the stored ammunition rounds. The present invention fulfils this need and others.

Automatic and semi-automatic handgun with magazine aligned and disposed beneath the barrel


A log management system is devised to easily discover improper handling log information by managers. Virtual operation systems (OS) are respectively installed for respective users in a file server constructed as an NAS device. These virtual OS function as virtual NAS. The virtual OS and manager OS exchange information relating to log information via an information exchange part constructed as a kernel. The log information produced in the virtual OS is transmitted to a first log management device via a first communications network, and is also transmitted to a second log management device via a second communications network separated from the first communications network. As a result of the same log information being managed by multiplex management using separate management devices, the system detects whether or not there has been any improper handling of the log information.

The present invention relates to a file server, a file server log management program and a file server log management method.
In order to achieve the efficient management of large quantities of data, which are increasing day by day, file servers which manage numerous files, previously dispersed and managed by means of a plurality of computers, by gathering these files together in a single place have become popular. In particular, file servers of the type known as "NAS" (network attached storage) differ from file servers of the all-purpose type in which an all-purpose file server function is installed in an all-purpose computer in that NAS are designed especially as file servers. Accordingly, NAS show a high processing performance and reliability as file servers, and can be used comparatively easily immediately following introduction. Consequently, such systems are widely used.
In order to allow the accurate management of setting alterations in respective devices, and time when evens such as unauthorized intrusions and the like occur, NAS and network managers to which NAS are connected manage all of the log information in these respective devices in a concentrated manner in special servers called log management devices (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-263330).
However, if the authority of the manager of a log management device is used, log information stored in the log management device can be deleted, and the content can be rewritten. Accordingly, the log information stored in a log management device cannot be relied upon "as is".
Consequently, for example, a system has also been proposed in which the log information recorded by devices installed on a network is respectively transmitted to a plurality of log management devices by using a syslog protocol (See "RFC3164—The BSD Syslog Protocol", Requests for Comments (3164), by C. Lonvick, August 2001). As a result, the same log information can be redundantly managed in a plurality of log management devices having respectively different managers.
Generally, with the ease of management work and the like being taken into account, servers and log management devices, and the networks in which these servers and log management devices are installed, are comprehensively managed by the same manager. In this case, however, the manager himself can rewrite or delete log information. Accordingly, it is difficult to discover unauthorized behavior (behavior such as the modification of log information or the like) on the part of the manager himself, or unauthorized behavior on the part of a third party usurping the authority of the manager.
On the other hand, in cases where the same log information is respectively transmitted to a plurality of log management devices, and the respective log management devices are managed by different managers, the reliability is improved compared to cases in which the log information is managed in a single place.
Even in such cases, however, since the respective log management devices are installed on the same network, there is a danger that one of the respective managers, or a third party, may modify log information managed by some log management devices or the like using the fragility of other log management devices in terms of security.

File server, file server log management system and file server log management method


A rotary pelletizing machine includes a housing and a pelletizing assembly removably secured in the housing and including a rotatable matrix disc, upper and lower punches supported in the matrix disc for joint rotation therewith and axial displacement relative thereto, upper and lower cams for controlling positions of the upper and lower discs, and elements that enable rotation of the matrix disc relative to the cams. Upon releasing elements that secure the assembly in the housing, the pelletizing assembly can be lifted from a drive shaft that extends in the housing for imparting rotation to the matrix disc, as a unit.

The present invention relates to a rotary pelletizing machine. More particularly, it relates to a rotary pelletizing machine which has a matrix disc driven by a drive shaft and rotatably supported in a housing, with upper and lower punches which are guided in the matrix disc and controlled during rotation of the matrix disc by stationary cams provided with holders.
Rotary pelletizing machines of the above-mentioned general type are known in the art. For an effective utilization of pelletizing presses, it is necessary to design them so that the time which is required both for a re-equipping of a machine for subsequent production of pellets of a different type, as well as for cleaning of individual machine parts for conversion to a different pelletizing material be maintained as short as possible in relationship to the time of the operation of the pelletizing press or the production time. It has been considered as advantageous to produce pellets of a predetermined type over a long time for example 5 days and then to clean the machine over several hours without performing any production, for a subsequent processing of the different pelletizing material or to re-equip the machine for a subsequent production of bigger or smaller pellets with a different pressure.
Increasing output capacity of pelletizing presses, the requirement of short storage of press material, as well as increased requirement as to the cleanness of pellets by medical legislative authorities lead generally to constantly reducing batch sizes, or in other words, time within which pellets of one type are produced.
For reducing the time which is required for re-equipping of the machine, for example with another punch spacing or another punch print, and for cleaning of individual parts for an exchange of pelletizing material to be pressed, many considerations must be taken care of for a partial exchange of the machine. A known solution in this aspect is that the rotor or the matrix disc is exchangeable in a relatively simple manner. An exchange of the matrix disc is, however, possible in accordance with this solution only after a preceding dismounting of individual punches and their cam guides. A significant time saving which is required for effective production time is not obtained with this solution.


A device for supplying pressure to an actuation unit of a vehicle brake system, in particular to a vehicle brake system of the ‘brake-by-wire’ type, including a pneumatic motor-and-pump assembly with a pump and a motor driving the pump, wherein the motor-and-pump assembly is controlled by an electronic control unit depending on a pressure level or pressure difference in a pneumatic brake booster of the actuation unit, with the pressure level in a chamber or a difference in pressure between two chambers of the brake booster being detected by a sensor. In order to maintain the availability of the service brake function as high as possible and to obtain a maximum possible redundancy, the control unit, used to control the motor-and-pump assembly includes a logic module and a power module, which are arranged separately of each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a device for supplying pressure to an actuation unit of a vehicle brake system, in particular to a vehicle brake system of the 'brake-by-wire' type, comprising a pneumatic motor-and-pump assembly with a pump and a motor driving the pump, wherein the motor-and-pump assembly is driven by an electronic control unit depending on a pressure level or pressure difference in a pneumatic brake booster of the actuation unit, with the pressure level in a chamber or a difference in pressure between two chambers of the brake booster being detected by a sensor.
2. Description of the Related Art
A device of this type and a method for supplying vacuum in a vehicle is, e.g., disclosed in DE 199 29 880 A1, which is incorporated by reference, wherein the motor-and-pump assembly comprises a vacuum pump, which is additionally activated depending on operating conditions of the driving unit.
Vehicle brake systems of the 'brake-by-wire' type are operable in response to the driver's request by means of an electronic control unit (ECU), i.e. irrespective of the driver, as well as partly by means of a brake pedal (mechanical fallback mode). It is disadvantageous in systems without a boosted mechanical fallback mode that the service brake function, i.e. boosted braking, is given only when the electric energy supply exists. Failure of the electric energy supply or a defect in the electric control unit will cause that e.g. in a hydraulic brake-by-wire bake-brake system, that means an electro-hydraulic brake (EHB), only non-boosted braking is possible in conformity with legal conditions (0.3 g with 500 N pedal force). In general, the failure probability of the electronic components, in particular the electric energy supply, is greater than that of the conventional, mechanical brake components so that enhanced technical measures must be taken, in order to maintain the availability of a brake-by-wire vehicle brake system in terms of the service brake function to a similarly high degree as in a conventional vehicle brake system.
Among others, this objective, i.e. enhancing the availability of the service brake function compared to an EHB, is also aimed at by the use of a regenerative brake based on a brake booster that is actuatable irrespective of the driver. The regenerative brake is mainly used in hybrid and electric vehicles. When this brake is envisaged for use in hydraulic vehicles equipped with an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, operating conditions are encountered in which the internal combustion engine does not supply pressure to the actuation unit, and therefore an electrically driven pump becomes necessary.
In particular in purely electrical vehicles, the pressure required must be generated by way of such a pump alone. Thus, the service brake function again depends on the availability of the electrical wiring system. Frequent attempts have been made for cost reasons to execute the control of the vacuum pump by way of the ECU of the brake system, whereby the service brake function also depends on the availability of the brake control unit.

Device for supplying pressure to an actuation unit of a motor vehicle brake system and method for controlling said device


A method, computer program product and computer system to extend Quantized Congestion Notification protocol to receive a signal to activate Quantized Congestion Notification with a hybrid congestion notification control choice, the signal additionally including an alternate priority value. The per-port per-priority protocol variables and per-device per-Congestion-Notification-Priority-Value protocol variables are set to automatically assign a defense mode. The per-port per-priority protocol variables and a per-device per-Congestion-Notification-Priority-Value protocol variables are set to manually assign an alternate priority value.

The present invention relates generally to networks and more specifically to a method, computer program and computer system extending Quantized Congestion Notification (QCN) defense mode choice protocols.
Quantized Congestion Notification protocols define a congestion management mechanism of long lived data flows. Quantized Congestion Notification includes capabilities for detecting and mitigating queue congestion for selected classes of network traffic in a Virtual Bridged Local Area Network (VLAN). Quantized Congestion Notification depends on the formation of a cooperating set of devices including congestion-aware bridge components and congestion-aware end stations to achieve a reduction in frame loss. By partitioning the bridge component and end station resources, frames sourced or sunk by non-cooperating end stations or non-cooperating bridge components may be carried with minimal contention for those resources. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has produced a quantized congestion notification standard establishing protocols for tagging frames, protocols for the operation of cooperating bridges and end stations, protocols for the administration of topologies and protocols for QCN defense mode choice.
Protocols for QCN defense mode choice may be found in, for example, IEEE Standard 802.1Q™-2011, entitled IEEE Standard for Local and metropolitan area networks—Media Access Control (MAC) Bridges and Virtual Bridge Local Area Networks, published by the IEEE Computer Society, Aug. 31, 2011, hereby incorporated by reference.

Quantized Congestion Notification—defense mode choice extension for the alternate priority of congestion points

International Business Machines Corporation


An electrical device includes first and second terminals and a terminal holder holding the first and second terminals. A first insulation layer is provided between the first and second terminals and a second insulation layer is provided between the first and second terminals. The first and second insulation layers are different materials. The first insulation layer is a base layer and the second insulation layer is a high arc tracking resistance rated layer on the base layer to discourage arc tracking on the first insulation layer.

The subject matter herein relates generally to electrical devices having reduced arc tracking.
Electrical devices are used in many applications, including power applications. In some applications, the electrical devices are subjected to environmental hazards. For example, in aeronautic, industrial or automotive applications, the electrical devices may be subjected to high temperatures. The housing or substrate of the electrical device, which holds the terminals, such as the power terminals, are manufactured from a high temperature rated material, such as a thermoplastic material. The housing is manufactured from a high relative thermal index (RTI) material. The housing needs to have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the environmental conditions in which the electrical device is used.
The high temperature rated housings are not without disadvantages. For instance, in high voltage operating conditions, particularly under wet conditions, the electrical devices are susceptible to arc tracking. For example, carbonization occurs in an arc gap between high voltage terminals, leading to arcing between the terminals and failure of the housings.
A need remains for an electrical device having reduced arc tracking.

Electrical device having reduced arc tracking


A method and apparatus for different-frequency measurement and evaluation by a cluster answering user are provided, which relate to the technical field of communications. The method includes acquiring a public network signal evaluation threshold value and a signal threshold adjustment value, the signal threshold adjustment value being for adjusting an evaluation threshold; saving a result of different-frequency measurement by performing the different-frequency measurement on cells; and evaluating the saved result of different-frequency measurement using the acquired public network signal evaluation threshold value and the acquired signal threshold adjustment value. The method and apparatus enable a cluster terminal to timely measure a better adjacent cell and to switch to the cell, thereby making the cluster terminal always reside in a better cell to use voice and data services, ensuring the quality of the services and bringing user experience.

A cluster communication system is a dedicated wireless communication system which is developed to meet command and dispatch requirements of industry users and is applied to a specific industry. A great number of wireless users in the system share a small number of wireless channels. The cluster communication system is a multipurpose and highly-efficient wireless communication system which is mainly applied to command and dispatch. The cluster communication system has the special characteristics of dispatch, group calling, quick calling and the like, and has become a development direction of a next generation cluster system.
A Long Term Evolution (LTE) cluster communication system realizes various requirements and functions of a cluster by extension on the basis of an LTE system. In terms of a networking architecture, an Electronic Product Code (EPC) of an LTE core network and a Decision Support System (DSS) of a cluster core network achieve complete isolation of services and networking of cluster applications, do not depend on a conventional LTE EPC device, do not affect normal running of a conventional LTE EPC core network device, and can isolate a private network and share a public network.
A user is attracted by a cluster service due to a rapid contact way, and therefore the performance of the cluster service is a key factor which decides whether the cluster service can operate successfully. A first index in the performance of the cluster service is voice intelligibility and a data receiving rate. In order to ensure the voice intelligibility and the data receiving rate, a cluster terminal is needed to reside in a better cell. In order to achieve this, the cluster terminal is enabled to timely measure a better adjacent cell and to switch to the cell, thereby making the cluster terminal always reside in a better cell to use voice and data services, and ensuring the quality of the services. However, a problem urgently needed to be solved is how to enable the cluster terminal to timely measure the better adjacent cell and to switch to the cell so as to make the cluster terminal always reside in the better cell to use the voice and data services.

Different frequency measurement and evaluation method and apparatus of cluster answering user


A convertible vehicle has a movable top with a sunroof part that is movable with respect to the surrounding top region. The sunroof part has a closed position and an open position, as well as an interference-preventing position and an intermediate position. The top is movable from the top closed position with the sunroof part in the closed position and the top is movable from the top closed position with the sunroof part in the open position.

Convertible vehicles are known in which the top has a sunroof part in its front region. The sunroof part is displaceable to the rear with respect to the surrounding top regions. To open the entire top, the sunroof part is initially opened while the rest of the top remains closed. After the sunroof reaches its completely open position, the top is then moved to an open convertible position. As such, opening the top from the closed position, when the sunroof is also closed, is very time consuming.

Convertible vehicle with a displaceable roof part


A system and method for regasifying LNG using ambient air vaporizers without ambient air fog formation. The warm moist ambient air is cooled and dried using cold recovery from the cryogenic LNG stream by means of an intermediate heat transfer fluid circulated in a closed loop followed by the addition of a warm diluent air stream such that the final temperature of the exit stream of mixed air is at or above the ambient air dew point. Adjustable diluent air dampers permit an induced draft ambient vaporizer assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the prevention of atmospheric fog formation which is a common problem when vaporizing cryogenic fluids and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) using ambient air by using the cold energy of the cryogenic fluid to cool and dry the ambient air flowing to the vaporizer and using induced draft fans which reheat the cold air leaving the vaporizers with a side stream of warm ambient air. In the process, the LNG is preheated before entering the ambient air vaporizer.
2. Description of Related Art
Eyerman in U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,041 B1 shows a process for vaporizing liquefied gas (LNG) using heat from the ambient air by using an air evaporative heating tower to warm water which then transfers this heat to an intermediate fluid within a closed loop which in turn transfers its heat to the LNG which is vaporized. The heating tower is similar to the more common cooling tower art for waste heat dissipation. Such towers have the problem of recycling discharge air back into the air intake.
Iwasaki in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,247 shows an intermediate fluid type vaporizer wherein the intermediate fluid temperature is maintained by passing sea water through the vaporizer-heat exchanger, the sea water thus supplies the heat required for the vaporization process. In many locations adequate temperature sea water is not available and environmental and corrosion issues are a concern.
Mandrin in U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,663 uses the cold energy from a vaporizing LNG stream for vaporizing the LNG which vaporized gas is fed to a turbine. The LNG is vaporized using ambient air as the heating means and subsequently the cooled air is fed to the turbine air intake, thus increasing thermodynamic efficiency. A similar process is described in Yamani U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,588
A sea water heat source is used in an LNG vaporizer described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,769 to Ueno. Ueno in FIG. 13 shows the relative temperature profiles of the sea water and the LNG in the counter-current flow stream in these falling (water) film type heat exchangers.
Solar energy has also been proposed as a heat source for LNG vaporizers in U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,129 by Hong. Hong discloses a solar pond which collects local solar radiation to maintain the water or other heat transfer fluid temperature to provide the required energy for vaporization.
Heating Towers using ambient air as a heat source to warm a circulating water loop in direct contact with the air are described by Mockrey in U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,623B2 and further in U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,270B2. Mockrey discusses the problem of cold dense air sinking to ground level where it can be drawn back into the cooling tower thereby reducing tower efficiency, such recycling being a common concern of ambient air heat exchangers.
Fog dissipation is widely discussed in prior art particularly concerned with naturally occurring fog banks and ground fog. For example Vielberth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,248 illustrates a water spray method to prevent or eliminate fog over an area of land such as an airport, roadway or large building complex. Likewise in U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,313, Plattner uses a cold air stream, which is more dense than the ground fog layer, the cold stream dispersed above the area that is to be cleared of fog, thereby clearing the fog from the area. Additionally, mixing between the top fog layer and the bottom cool-dry layer causes some of the visible fog (water) to be converted into invisible water vapor. Brown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,870,747 B1 discloses an ambient air vaporizer for liquefied gas. In the disclosure, the cold, dense, air from the vaporizer is fed via a duct into an air re-heater prior to discharge of the warmed air to the atmosphere. The purpose of the air re-heating is to obviate objectionable fog production and an (air) psychometric chart shown by Brown in FIG. 1 outlines the range of air temperatures, enthalpy range, water content of the air, etc. Such charts are in common use in the air conditioning art. Brown discloses that ambient air as the re-heat source is theoretically possible, but does not further pursue the method.
An ambient air vaporizer, fitted with a restrictive air flow apparatus to increase the effluent air temperature from the vaporizer to reduce potential fogging is disclosed in Brown U.S. Pat. No. 7,493,772 B1. Other than fog potential reduction, the disclosure is silent on the performance of the vaporizer as the flow of the natural draft stream of heating air is reduced. One skilled in the art would expect a lower vaporizer performance to be consistent with restricted an flow. In White U.S. Pat. No. 5,390,500 a typical ambient air vaporizer is disclosed. White discloses such concerns as ice formation, performance, and potential fog generation and discloses internal cryogenic flow passage elements for ice management and possible fog reduction.

Elimination of fog formation during ambient air regasification of liquefied natural gas


The subject invention discloses methods of inhibiting growth of tumor cells which comprise contacting the cells with a growth inhibiting amount of a compound having one of following structures: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydroxyl or acetyl group; R.sup.2 is hydrogen, --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 or a method group; R.sup.3 is a hydroxyl, methoxy or acetyl group; R.sup.4 is hydrogen, --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 or a methoxy group; R.sup.5 is a hydroxyl, methoxy or acetyl group; is hydrogen or a hydroxyl, methoxy or acetyl group; and R.sup.10 is a methyl group, ##STR2## wherein R.sup.5 is hydrogen or --CH.sub.2 --CH.dbd.C(CH.sub.3).sub.2 ; R.sup.6 is a hydroxyl group; R.sup.10 is hydrogen or a hydroxyl group; R.sup.11 is a hydroxyl or methoxy group; and R.sup.12 is hydrogen or a methyl group. ##STR3##

A number of naturally occurring acridone alkaloids have been isolated from the family Rutaceae, but only acronycine (1) has been noted for its antitumor activity. (Throughout the specification, compounds will be cross-referenced with underlined numbers to facilitate reading and to avoid repetition of long chemical names). ##STR4##
Acronycine was isolated from the bark of the Australian scrub, Acronychi baueri Schott (Rutaceae) (Hughes, G. K., et al., Nature, 162:223-224 (1948); McDonald, P. L. and A. V. Robertson, Aust. J. Chem., 19: 275-281 (1966); Svoboda, G. H., Lloydia, 29:206-224 (1966)). Experimental studies on acronycine in animals (Finkelstein, T. Z., et al. Cancer Chemother. Reports, 59:975-983 (1975); Schneider, J., et al., J. Med. Chem., 15:266-270 (1972); Svoboda (1966); Svoboda, G. H., et al., J. Pharm. Sci., 55:758-768 (1966); Svoboda, G. H., U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,899, issued Oct. 12, 1976; Svoboda, G. H., U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,431, issued Jan.5, 1982) showed it to be effective against a wide range of neoplasms. Because of its antitumor activity, it has undergone clinical trials (Division of Cancer Treatment. Program Statistics, Mar. 30, 1970, Department HEW, Public Health Service, NIH, IND status filed for acronycine).
Acronycine was found to inhibit the incorporation of extracellular nuclosides into the DNA and RNA of cultured L5178Y cells, but did not interact with DNA (Dunn, B. P., et al. Cancer Res., 33:2310-2319 (1973)). The inhibitory effect of the alkaloid may be the result of an alteration in the transport of uridine through the plasma membrane instead of impaired nucleoside or nucleotide phosphorylation (Dunn, B. P., et al. Cancer Res., 33:2310-2319 (1973)). Similar mechanisms of action were also observed in other studies which indicated that the alkaloid acts primarily on membranous organelles, and its delayed effects may be in part due to interference with the structure, function, and/or turnover of cell-surface components (Tan, P., and N. Auersperg, Cancer Res., 33:2320-2329 (1973)).
Several derivatives of acridinone have been synthesized and tested for their antitumor activity (Liska, K. J., J. Med. Chem., 15:1177-1179 (1972); Radzikowski, C., et al. Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp., 19:219-228 (1971); Reisch, J. and S. M. E. Aly, Arch. Pharm., 319:25-28 (1986); Schneider, J., et al. J. Med. Chem. 15:266-270 (1972); Svoboda, G. H. Lloydia 29:206-224 (1966)). Of those derivatives synthesized, only O-(dimethylaminoethyl)noracronycine (2) (Reisch, J. and S. M. E. Aly, Arch. Pharm. 319:25-28 (1986)) and 1-nitro-N.sup.10 -substituted acridine-9-ones (3) (Radzikowski, C., et al., Arch. Immunol. Ther. Exp. 19:219-228 (1971)), showed biological activity. Compound 2, bearing a charged dimethyl-aminoethyl side-chain, was reported to exhibit significant antitumor activity (Reisch, J. and S. M. E. Aly, Arch. Pharm. 319:25-28 (1986)). It is possible, therefore, that change of the overall molecular lipophilic-hydrophilic balance and electronic distribution caused by addition of a charged side-chain or nitro function on the molecule of acridine-9-one alter biological activity. ##STR5## Svoboda, G. H., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,309,431 and 3,985,899, filed Jan. 5, 1982 and Oct. 12, 1976, respectively, teach a method of inhibiting growth of tumor cells using acronycine. However, they do not teach or suggest that other acridone alkaloids may be used to inhibit tumor growth.
To determine structure-activity relationships, the effects of 50 acridone alkaloids on the incorporation of the labeled precursors, [.sup.3 H-methyl]dThd, [5-.sup.3 H]Cyd and [2,3,4,5-.sup.3 H)L-Leu, into DNA, RNA and protein, respectively, were studied. The inhibition by these acridone alkaloids against human leukemic HL-60 cell growth was also studied.

Methods and compositions for inhibiting tumor cell growth

Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research