A computer system identifies a predicate in a computer language containing constant expressions as vacuous. The system identifies distinct variables contained in the predicate and represents the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles. The bounding rectangles are represented in a space having a number of dimensions equal to the number of variables. There are finite limits on dimensions of a bounding rectangle which represent the relationship between the variables in the predicate and the constant expressions in the predicate. The predicate is identified as vacuously FALSE where the set of bounding rectangles is empty.

The present invention is directed to an improvement in computing systems and in particular to the identification of vacuous predicates in computer programs.
In computer systems it is often advantageous to recognize predicates which are always true or always false (vacuous predicates). Predicates that are always TRUE are known as xe2x80x9ctautologiesxe2x80x9d, and the problem of identifying such predicates, which is known as xe2x80x9ctautology checkingxe2x80x9d, is a familiar problem in computer science. The problem of identifying predicates that are always FALSE is essentially the same problem, since such predicates become tautologies when negated. Examples of where identification of vacuous predicates is of value include computer program optimization and error-checking. An example of where the identification of vacuous predicates assists in optimization involves the compilation of an IF statement. If the expression on which the IF statement depends is identified as a vacuous predicate, the code for the IF statement may be optimized as the expression on which the IF statement depends will always be either TRUE or always FALSE.
Specialized computer systems exist which are able to determine whether a predicate is vacuous. For example, special programming languages such as Prolog are designed to permit theorem proving tools to be constructed which will identify vacuous predicates. Prior art approaches include the use of common techniques such as simplifying predicate manipulations by converting the predicates to conjunctive normal form (CNF) or to disjunctive normal form (DNF). Such prior art approaches to the problem, however, are potentially complex and slow and therefore have restricted applicability. For example, the problem of determining whether two predicates p and q are mutually exclusive (restated, whether the predicate p AND q is vacuously FALSE), can be solved using prior art techniques. However, the problem of identifying vacuous predicates is NP-hard and as a result, test cases can be constructed which will result in such powerful theorem-proving techniques running for an unacceptably long time, or requiring an unacceptable amount of computer memory.
A construct which is not atypical in the computer programming language SQL, such as
NOT (product_code IN (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, . . . 149, 151))
can give rise to a predicate in the form
(p1 OR q1) AND (p2 OR q2) AND (p3 OR q3) AND . . . AND (p40 OR q40).
Such a predicate will give rise to an unacceptably large memory requirement, if converted to DNF. It is therefore desirable to have a system and method which will identify vacuous predicates in computer programs, in many practical cases, using less time and memory resources than the prior-art theorem-proving approaches. A system using such an approach will be advantageous in a practical sense even where it is not able to correctly identify all vacuous predicates, if it can quickly and simply identify many vacuous predicates.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an improved system and method for the identification of vacuous predicates in computer programs.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system for identifying a predicate in a computer language as vacuous, the predicate containing one or more constant expressions, comprising means for identifying distinct variables contained in the predicate and for defining a predicate dimension number equal to the number of variables identified in the predicate, means for representing the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles, wherein a bounding rectangle is represented in a space having a number of dimensions equal to the predicate dimension number, wherein a finite limit on a dimension of a bounding rectangle represents the relationship between a one of the identified variables contained in the predicate and a one of the constant expressions in the predicate, and means for signalling that the predicate is vacuously FALSE where the set of bounding rectangles is empty.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided, for the above computer system, a means for representing the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles which comprises means for deriving the set of bounding rectangles whereby a first selected one of the bounding rectangles is discarded from the set of bounding rectangles when the first selected one of the input rectangles is empty, discarded from the set of bounding rectangles when the selected one of the bounding rectangles is contained within any other rectangle in the set of bounding rectangles, merged with a second selected one of the bounding rectangles when the two rectangles exactly agree in all dimensions but one.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided for the computer system above, a means for representing the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles which comprises a means for deriving the set of bounding rectangles by replacing a selected pair of rectangle sets in the set of bounding rectangles with a replacement rectangle set where the selected pair of rectangle sets correspond to expressions in the predicate subject to the operator AND, and where the replacement rectangle sets represent the intersection of the selected pair of rectangle sets.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided for the computer system of above, a the means for representing the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles which comprises transforming means for transforming the predicate into an intermediate expression logically equivalent to the predicate, the intermediate expression containing only subexpressions which may be directly represented as rectangles, and means for representing the intermediate expression as a set of bounding rectangles.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the above computer system in which the intermediate expression consists of SQL expressions containing AND, OR, =,  less than ,  greater than ,  less than =,  greater than =, IS_NULL and IS_NOT_NULL.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the above computer system in which the transforming means comprises means for replacing expressions containing NOT and expressions containing  less than  greater than  with logically equivalent expressions containing only one or more of AND, OR, =,  less than ,  greater than ,  less than =, and  greater than =.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the above computer system in which the means for identifying variables uses syntactic matching to recognize distinct variables.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the above computer system in which the means for identifying variables uses semantic rules to recognize distinct variables.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for identifying a predicate in a computer language as vacuous, the predicate containing one or more constant expressions, comprising the steps of identifying distinct variables contained in the predicate, defining a predicate dimension number equal to the number of variables identified in the predicate, representing the predicate by a set of bounding rectangles, wherein a bounding rectangle is represented in a space having a number of dimensions equal to the predicate dimension number, wherein a finite limit on a dimension of a bounding rectangle represents the relationship between a one of the identified variables contained in the predicate and a one of the constant expressions in the predicate, and signalling that the predicate is vacuously FALSE where the set of bounding rectangles is empty.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer system for identifying a predicate in a computer language as vacuous, the predicate containing one or more constant expressions, comprising means for identifying distinct variables contained in the predicate and for defining a predicate dimension number equal to the number of variables identified in the predicate, means for reducing the predicate to a logically equivalent intermediate predicate which includes no operators other than those in the set of AND, OR, =,  less than ,  less than =,  greater than ,  greater than =, IS NULL and IS NOT NULL, means for representing the set of base predicates in the intermediate predicate by a set of rectangles wherein the set of rectangles are represented in a space having a number of dimensions equal to the predicate dimension number and each rectangle has limits on each of its dimensions, the limits being finite or infinite, a finite limit on a dimension of a rectangle representing the relationship between a one of the identified variables and a one of the constant expressions in the set of base predicates, an infinite limit on a dimension of a rectangle representing the absence of a relationship between a one of the identified variables and any of the constant expressions in the set of base predicates, means for manipulating the set of rectangles whereby an AND operator in the intermediate predicate is implemented by performing an intersection on the subsets of rectangles corresponding to the portions of the intermediate predicate to which the AND operator is applied, the OR operator is implemented by performing a union on the subsets of rectangles corresponding to the portions of the intermediate predicate to which the OR operator is applied, and whereby a first selected one of the set of rectangles is discarded from the set of rectangles when the first selected one of the rectangles is empty, discarded from the set of rectangles when the selected one of the rectangles is contained within any other rectangle in the set of rectangles, merged with a second selected one of the rectangles when the two rectangles exactly agree in all dimensions but one, and means for signalling that the predicate is vacuously FALSE where the set of rectangles is empty after manipulation by the means for manipulating the set of rectangles.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the above computer system in which the predicate represents two or more object view definitions in SQL and the identification of the predicate as vacuously FALSE represents an error check to determine that the two or more object view definitions are mutually exclusive.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for error checking the mutual exclusivity of SQL object view definitions, comprising the steps of constructing a predicate representing two or more object view definitions in SQL, identifying distinct variables contained in the predicate and defining a predicate dimension number equal to the number of variables identified in the predicate, reducing the predicate to a logically equivalent intermediate predicate which includes no operators other than those in the set of AND, OR, =,  less than ,  less than =,  greater than ,  greater than =, IS NULL and IS NOT NULL, representing the set of base predicates in the intermediate predicate by a set of rectangles wherein the set of rectangles are represented in a space having a number of dimensions equal to the predicate dimension number and each rectangle has limits on each of its dimensions, the limits being finite or infinite, a finite limit on a dimension of a rectangle representing the relationship between a one of the identified variables and a one of the constant expressions in the set of base predicates, an infinite limit on a dimension of a rectangle representing the absence of a relationship between a one of the identified variables and any of the constant expressions in the set of base predicates, manipulating the set of rectangles whereby an AND operator in the intermediate predicate is implemented by performing an intersection on the subsets of rectangles corresponding to the portions of the intermediate predicate to which the AND operator is applied, the OR operator is implemented by performing a union on the subsets of rectangles corresponding to the portions of the intermediate predicate to which the OR operator is applied, and whereby a first selected one of the set of rectangles is discarded from the set of rectangles when the first selected one of the rectangles is empty, discarded from the set of rectangles when the selected one of the rectangles is contained within any other rectangle in the set of rectangles, merged with a second selected one of the rectangles when the two rectangles exactly agree in all dimensions but one, and signalling that the object views definitions are mutually exclusive where the set of rectangles is empty after manipulation by the means for manipulating the set of rectangles.
Media encoded with program code to effect the above-described system or method is also provided in the invention.
Advantages of the present invention include a method which is able, in many practical cases, to efficiently identify vacuous predicates.

Identification of vacuous predicates in computer programs

International Business Machines Corporation


A new and distinct form of Begonia plant characterized by broad leaves colored silver with a dark star-shape at the leaf base that is surrounded by a purple blush, maroon leaf backs, a bushy habit, tolerant of cool temperatures to 33° F., and excellent vigor.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia, of the family Begoniaceae, and given the cultivar name 'Aurora'. The new cultivar originated from a cross between Begonia 'Shaun Henthorne', an unpatented Rex type as the seed parent and an unnamed, unpatented Angelwing type, as the pollen parent. This selection is uniquely characterized by:                1. iridescent blue silver angelwing-shaped leaves that display rose purple in the leaf center and as a border on the margin,        2. maroon and green leaf backs,        3. a bushy habit,        4. tolerant of cool temperatures to 33° F., and        5. excellent vigor.
Compared to Begonia 'Shaun Henthorne', an unpatented plant and the seed parent, the new cultivar has leaves that ovate with oblique and cordate base rather than broadly ovate with an oblique swirling base. In addition the foliage color of the new cultivar is much more muted and silver and the plant survives better in the cold.
Compared to the unnamed Begonia Angelwing pollen parent, the new cultivar has leaves that are colored silver with rose purple markings rather than green with a few silver spots. The Angelwing was an upright, cane-type while the new cultivar has a bushy habit with fibrous roots.
Compared to Begonia 'Roseburg', an unpatented plant, the new cultivar has smaller leaves, more overlapping leaf bases, more silver leaf color, and a more basal crown habit.
The new variety has been reproduced only by asexual propagation (cuttings and tissue culture). Each of the progeny exhibits identical characteristics to the original plant. Asexual propagation by micropropagation using the meristem as done in Canby, Oreg., shows that the foregoing characteristics and distinctions come true to form and are established and transmitted through succeeding propagations. The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.


A method of forming a templated casting involves incorporating a liquid feedstock into the channels of a honeycomb substrate to form a feedstock-laden substrate, solidifying the liquid feedstock within the channels, and then locally melting and directionally re-solidifying the feedstock.

The present invention relates generally to the templated growth of porous or non-porous castings, and more specifically to the formation of porous or non-porous castings via localized melting and directional re-solidification within a honeycomb substrate.
Porous substrates can be used in a wide variety of applications including catalysis, filtration, membranes, etc. And while numerous processing techniques such as extrusion and foaming have been developed to produce porous and other cellular materials, it remains difficult during processing to precisely and efficiently control the size, shape, directionality, isotropy (or anisotropy), connectivity and tortuosity of the porosity and/or the cellular structure. An additional challenge in forming cellular materials relates to the ubiquitous use of pore forming agents and the difficulties associated with removing them from the final product.
Non-porous substrates comprising crystalline metals (e.g., Cu) and semiconductors (e.g., Si, GaAs, etc.) can be used in both semiconductor and non-semiconductor applications. For example, ingots of polycrystalline silicon can be prepared for photovoltaic applications via directional solidification in quartz crucibles as an alternative to Czochralski (CZ) growth. In addition to semiconductor materials, directional solidification can also be used to form metallic and ceramic substrates. As used herein, a substrate is a material upon which a process is conducted, or upon which a device or structure is constructed.
Localized melting and directional re-solidification relate generally to a series of measures applied to control a solid-to-liquid and subsequent liquid-to-solid phase transformation and the attendant formation of a solidified or cast body. The cast body or cast structure described herein is a solid shape. Localized melting involves passing a solidified feedstock through a temperature gradient in order to melt a portion of the feedstock. Directional solidification involves passing the liquid or molten portion of the feedstock through a temperature gradient in order to cause re-solidification.
The solid feedstock can be derived from an initially liquid feedstock, which can comprise a single-component liquid such as molten silicon or a multi-component liquid such as molten alloys (e.g., silicon-germanium alloys). In turn, multi-component liquid feedstocks can comprise either a single phase (e.g., molten Si—Ge alloys or water-PVA solutions) or multiple phases. An example of a multi-phase liquid feedstock is a dispersion of gas bubbles, immiscible liquid and/or solid particles in one or more liquids. A dispersion can be an emulsion or a colloid.
Localized melting and directional re-solidification can be used to form porous or non-porous materials, including metals, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers or composites thereof. Microstructured, cellular materials, for example, can be cast from a multi-component feedstock that comprises a dispersion (i.e., slurry) of particles in a liquid. The process involves solidifying a liquid feedstock within a matrix, locally melting and directionally re-solidifying the feedstock within the matrix, removing the solidified (previously liquid) phase, and optionally densifying the resulting structure. In the case of unidirectional solidification, a porous body can be formed having unidirectional channels (i.e., linear porosity) where the channels are formed from the volume previously occupied by the solidified phase. On the other hand, non-porous castings can be derived from single component or multi-component liquid feedstocks such as, for example, molten silicon or molten metal alloys. Localized, directional re-solidification can be used as a near net shape forming route. The matrix, which is used as a template, can be a honeycomb substrate.
In both single- and multi-component feedstock systems, in order to control the microstructure and hence the resulting properties of the re-solidified material, it is important during re-solidification to maintain a spatially-uniform solidification front (liquid-solid interface). In addition, in multi-component systems it is important to maintain a laterally uniform distribution of particles and/or solute along the liquid-solid interface. These conditions are difficult to achieve in practice due to the presence of density gradient-driven convection in the liquid phase.
Convection in directional solidification results from inevitable thermal gradients within the system. Even in the example of vertically stable density stratification, the radial temperature gradients that are present in the liquid can produce convention currents. The convection currents can generate severe solute segregation as well as non-uniform (i.e., macroscopically-curved) solidification fronts. The solute segregation, in turn, can lead to concentration gradient-driven convection that may assist or oppose thermally driven convection. In the example of particulate-laden feedstocks, the convection currents can sweep the particles along the liquid-solid interface, which can lead to a highly non-uniform particle distribution. This problem will generally become more pronounced as the effective dimension of the liquid increases.
When producing porous castings via directional solidification, other issues that can be encountered, particularly with larger volume castings, are the loss of pore continuity or connectivity during solidification due to nucleation and growth of non-parallel grains and the inadequacy of green body strength in pre-densified samples.
In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to develop a method for preparing porous or non-porous castings via directional solidification that reduces thermal and/or solutal convection induced non-homogeneity along the liquid-solid interface, reduces the lack of green body strength in scaled-up samples, and reduces the loss of axial connectivity and the increase in tortuosity in porous castings due to the nucleation, growth and impingement of non-parallel grains.
According to one embodiment, a method of forming a templated casting comprises incorporating a liquid feedstock into the channels of a honeycomb substrate to form a feedstock-laden substrate, solidifying the liquid feedstock within the channels, locally melting the solidified feedstock and then directionally re-solidifying the melted material. The casting can comprise a porous or a non-porous structure.
A porous casting can be formed by solidifying a multi-component feedstock. According to one non-limiting example, the formation of a porous casting comprises incorporating a liquid dispersion into channels of a honeycomb substrate to form a dispersion-laden substrate, the dispersion comprising particles dispersed in a liquid, solidifying the liquid within the channels, moving the solid-laden substrate relative to a localized heat source in order to locally melt and directionally re-solidify the liquid within the channels, and removing the re-solidified material from within the channels to form a structure that comprises a porous body of the particles within the channels. Optionally, the particles, which can comprise one or more of metallic, semiconducting, ceramic and polymeric particles, can be sintered or impregnated to densify the cast structure. A non-porous casting can be formed by solidifying a single-component or a multi-component feedstock by omitting the act of removing the solidified phase.
In a further embodiment, a templated casting includes a honeycomb substrate having a plurality of channels, and a directionally-ordered cast structure incorporated within the channels. The honeycomb substrate itself can comprise a metallic, semiconducting, ceramic or polymeric material, or mixtures or composites thereof. By way of example, a honeycomb substrate can be formed from compounds such as plaster of Paris (e.g., CaSO4.0.5H2O) or elements such as sulfur. Optionally, the honeycomb substrate can be removed to yield a plurality of directionally-ordered castings of metallic, semiconducting, ceramic or polymeric material, or mixtures or composites thereof.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the various embodiments described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments and examples, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention.

Aligned porous substrates by directional melting and resolidification


An ultrasonic stand-off gauge for use in measuring the instantaneous stand-off distance between the drill stem and the borehole wall while drilling. A primary transducer mounted on the drill collar sends and receives ultrasonic pulses between the drill collar and the borehole wall. A second, reference transducer mounted on the pressure barrel within the drill collar measures the sound speed of the drilling fluid. The drilling fluid flows through a conduit within the drill collar, where the reference transducer transmits a pulse through the drilling fluid in the conduit. The pulse from the reference transducer is reflected off an internal reflector mounted on the internal surface of the drill collar. Since the distance between the reference transducer and the reflector is known and constant, the sound speed of the drilling fluid is determined accurately. Electronic circuitry uses the sound speed measurement of the drilling fluid as determined by the reference transducer to calculate accurate values of stand-off distance. The electronic circuitry also compensates for the variations of pressure, temperature and other characteristics of the drilling fluid, as well as for variances in the stand-off distance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ultrasonic stand-off gauge for use in measuring the instantaneous stand-off between the drill stem and the borehole wall while drilling subterranean oil and gas wells.
2. Description of the Related Art
Apparatus for measuring the inner diameter of a borehole is known in the art, where a borehole is a well bore drilled in the ground. One such apparatus is a mechanical caliper, which measures the diameter of the borehole by extending a plurality of mechanical arms or members until the members contact the inner surface of the borehole. The mechanical caliper traverses the borehole to provide the desired information regarding borehole diameter with respect to depth. An example of a mechanical caliper is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,672 to Petermann, et al.
Mechanical borehole calipers have several well known disadvantages and deficiencies. One such disadvantage relates to the steel casing utilized in a borehole to support the upper levels of the borehole. Actuation of the caliper arms against the side of the steel casing will often result in scratching and other damage to the casing. Still another disadvantage of such mechanical calipers are their relatively complex construction and the fact that they are not part of the drilling apparatus. Because the caliper is a separate probe, the drilling operations must cease when measurements are taken. In addition, mechanical calipers require a large number of measurements in order to sufficiently define or map the borehole diameter.
Acoustic type caliper devices are also well known and overcome many of the problems and disadvantages of mechanical calipers. An example of an acoustic type caliper device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,827,457 to Seeman et al. The Seeman apparatus comprises a plurality of piezoelectric type transducers mounted on a sonde. A sonde is a wireline device lowered into the borehole after drilling operations have ceased. Each transducer transmits a pulse through borehole fluid in the borehole towards the borehole wall. The borehole fluid may also be referenced to as drilling fluid or mud, which is the medium through which the acoustic waves travel. The acoustic pulses are then reflected by the borehole wall and return through the drilling fluid back to the sonde, where they are detected by the transducer from which they were generated, or by another transducer dedicated to the receiving of such pulses. The elapsed time between the transmission and reception of each pulse, otherwise referred to as the round-trip transit time (RTT), can be employed to provide a measurement of the distance from the transducer to the inner surface or wall of the borehole. The RTT divided by the speed of the pulse through the drilling fluid provides the distance traveled by the pulse. This distance is twice the distance from the transducer to the borehole wall.
In the Seeman '457patent, the propagating velocity of the acoustic waves through the drilling fluid may be measured by use of a reference transducer. Nonetheless, the apparatus of Seeman employs nine transducers disposed in such a manner as to provide measurement over the entire inner circumference of the borehole. This is required because the sonde does not rotate. The processing of information from nine discrete transducers, as required by Seeman, necessitates complex multiplexer and demultiplexer circuitry. Further, the rate at which the sonde traverses the borehole determines the amount of information obtained. The slower the sonde traverses the well, the greater the amount of information obtained.
Other examples of wireline type acoustic calipers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,835,953 and 4,867,264 to Siegfried as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,151 to Ekstrom, et al. All of these wireline acoustic caliper devices suffer from the distinct disadvantage of the necessity for pulling the drill stem from the borehole for utilization of the wireline tool. This operation is both time consuming and expensive from the standpoint of the drilling operation.
There have been attempts to take these measurements of the borehole during drilling operations. Devices to achieve this purpose are typically referred to as measurement-while-drilling (MWD) devices, which have the distinct advantage of allowing drilling operations to continue without interruption. Nevertheless, the sound speed of the drilling fluid must still be accurately determined.
The drilling fluid is preferably a special mixture of clay, water and chemical additives pumped downhole through a drill stem during drilling operations and upwardly through the annulus to return to surface drilling equipment. The drill stem typically includes a drill string connected to a series of drill collars, where the drill collars are connected to a drill bit at the end of the drill stem used to drill the borehole. The primary function of the drill collars is to provide a downward thrust or weight on the drill bit. The drilling fluid is pumped downwardly through a control bore extending through the string drill pipe and drill collars, and out of the drill bit. The drilling fluid cools the rapidly rotating bit, lubricates the drill stem as it turns in the well bore, carries rock cuttings to the surface and serves as a plaster to prevent the borehole wall of the borehole from crumbling or collapsing. The drilling fluid also provides the weight or hydrostatic head to prevent extraneous fluids from entering the borehole and to control downhole pressures that may be encountered.
An example of an MWD configuration is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,511 to Rodney, et al. This apparatus comprises at least one acoustic transceiver disposed within a section of a drill stem. The acoustic transceiver is adapted for generating an acoustic pulse and directing that pulse towards the borehole wall. The pulse is then reflected from the borehole wall and returns to the acoustic transceiver where the RTT is determined. A second acoustic receiver is disposed longitudinally with respect to the first transceiver at a selected distance for receiving a portion of the acoustic pulse generated by the transceiver. The difference in travel time between the pulse sensed by the second receiver and the pulse sensed by the transceiver is intended to be determinative of the acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid through which the pulses' have propagated, since the difference in distances of the travel paths of the respective pulses is considered known. The measured acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid is then combined with the RTT measured by the transceiver to compute stand-off. It should be noted that an erroneous measurement of the acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid will result in an erroneous stand-off determination.
The apparatus described in Rodney '511 can yield erroneous indications of the acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid because of the physical constraints present in the borehole and because of the directional nature of ultrasonic sensors. It is first noted that the directional path of the transmitted pulse as reflected off the borehole wall depends upon many factors, such as the strength of the signal and the condition of the borehole wall at the point of reflection. A longitudinally displaced receiver might not receive a reflected signal at all if the borehole wall is shaped so as to reflect the pulse in another direction, or if the tool is off-centered in the borehole and the pulse is not reflected in the direction of the receiver. More importantly, a longitudinally placed receiver is more likely to receive multiple reflections, where it is difficult to determine which path each reflection had traveled. Thus, the distance traveled by each reflected wave which is assumed in the teachings of Rodney to be known is, in fact, unknown in many conditions encountered in the actual MWD operation. An erroneous reflected wave path results in an erroneous acoustic velocity determination for the drilling fluid which, in turn, yields an erroneous stand-off measurement. Stated another way, the method of Rodney are subject to major error unless the borehole wall is very smooth, the MWD device is well centered within the borehole and acoustic impedances of the borehole environs are not conducive to multiple reflections. Such conditions in actual drilling practice is rather rare.
Furthermore, using devices according to Rodney, if the distance between the borehole wall and the transmitting device is relatively short compared to the distance between the transmitter and the longitudinally placed receiver, the wave will be "refracted" through the second medium of contrasting acoustic impedance. That is, refraction will occur at the interface of the drilling fluid and the borehole wall. In this manner, the wave essentially travels up the borehole wall before reaching the receiver, thus deviating from the simple ray path shown in Rodney. In any of these cases, erroneous or indeterminate results significantly reduce the effectiveness of the apparatus shown in Rodney. Since Rodney's device is only accurate in ideal conditions and does not provide accurate measurements of the acoustic velocity through the particular drilling fluid at a given time, it has been found that the Rodney device is ineffective for accurate stand-off measurements while drilling.
The acoustic stand-off measurement is complicated by several factors. One factor is the variation in the acoustic wave velocities (e.g. pressure wave velocity, shear wave velocity, etc. within the drilling fluid caused by differences in the density, pressure, temperature and composition of the drilling fluid. Other factors include the condition and shape of the borehole wall as well as the stand-off of the drill stem. These factors cause a relatively large dynamic range of received echo amplitudes. If the drilling fluid is water, which is rarely the case in most practical situations, the amplitudes of the reflected waves are relatively large and easy to measure. Heavy water-base muds cause greater attenuation of the propagating pulse, making echo detection more difficult. Oil-base muds of equal density to water-base muds cause a larger attenuation of the pulse, making echo detection even more difficult. The attenuation of these drilling fluids causes the echo to weaken as the path length, or stand-off, becomes larger. In addition, the amplitude of the echo can be smaller if the surface of the borehole wall is distorted or uneven.
There exists a need, therefore, for an accurate and reliable MWD stand-off measuring system for operation in a wide variety of conditions, which includes the capability of accurately measuring the velocity of acoustic waves within the drilling fluid at the same time the stand-off measurement is made. This acoustic velocity measurement is necessary in order to make an accurate stand-off measurement and must be independent of the condition of the borehole wall and impedance contrasts of the drilling fluid and the earth formation. An instantaneous stand-off measurement is desired because it may then be used to sort, in real-time, corresponding spectral data from formation evaluation tools, which is stand-off dependent. The data also provide further information on the effectiveness of the drilling program by indicating the movement of the drill stem in the borehole. To receive an accurate measurement of stand-off, an accurate determination of the acoustic velocity, or more specifically the velocity of pressure waves, within the drilling fluid is also required.


A push-pull signal is detected from light reflected from a disk-shaped storage medium on which wobbling grooves are formed as recording tracks and address information is recorded by forming pre-pits on lands between adjacent grooves. A fundamental amplitude variation signal indicating the fundamental amplitude variation of the push-pull signal is acquired, and a reference voltage is generated by adding an offset voltage to the fundamental amplitude variation signal. Pre-pits are detected by comparing the push-pull signal with the reference voltage. Because the reference voltage is produced on the basis of the fundamental amplitude variation signal indicating the variation components of the push-pull signal due to the wobbling of grooves and noise, the variation components due to the wobbling and noise are reflected in the reference voltage. Furthermore, the variation components of the push-pull signal corresponding to the pre-pits are also reflected to a properly small extent in the reference voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a disk drive for writing/reading data on/from a disk-shaped storage medium such as an optical disk and also to a method of detecting pre-pits.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to write data on a disk, it is required that the disk has guide means for forming data tracks. To meet the above requirement, grooves serving as pre-grooves are formed and resultant grooves or lands (protrusions having the shape of plateau in cross section between adjacent grooves) are used as data tracks.
In order to write data at a desired location on a data track, it is required that an address information be recorded on the disk. The address information is generally recorded by wobbling the grooves or by forming pre-pits on the data tracks.
For example, in the case of DVD-RW that is a rewritable version of DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) based on the phase change recording or DVD-R that is a write-once disk using an organic dye material, wobbling grooves G are formed as pre-format on the disk and land pre-pits LPP are formed on lands L between adjacent grooves G, as shown in FIG. 6.
In this specific case, reflected-light information provided by the wobbling grooves is used to control the rotation of the disk and also used to produce a master clock signal used in writing data. The land pre-pits are used to determine precise write locations of respective bits and also used to acquire various kinds of disk information such as pre-address information. That is, addresses indicating the physical locations on the disk are recorded using land pre-pits LPP.
A disk drive adapted to such a disk reads addresses by detecting land pre-pits formed on the disk and performs various controls in the writing/reading operation on the basis of the detected pre-pit information indicating the location on the disk.
FIG. 7 shows a format of land pre-pits LPP.
Each interval of a track including 8 wobbles forms one frame, and each set of one even-numbered frame and one odd-numbered frame, including a total of 16 wobbles, forms one unit of land pre-pit information.
As shown in FIG. 6, land pre-pits LPP are formed by forming cutouts in the lands in synchronization with wobbles. One bit of address data is expressed by one set of land pre-pits LPP.
FIG. 7A shows an example in which land pre-pit information is formed in even-numbered frames. In this case, first 3 wobbles of each even-numbered frame form one set of land pre-pits LPP.
Let b2, b1, and b0 represent the presence/absence of land pre-pits LPP. If (b2, b1, b0) is (1, 1, 1), that is, when three land pre-pits are formed, a set of those pre-pits LPP serves as a sync signal. A data bit of "1" is expressed by forming two land pre-pits LPP at b2 and b0. That is, when (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 0, 1), the data bit is "1". On the other hand, a data bit of "0" is expressed by forming one pre-pit LPP at b2. That is, when (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 0, 0), the data bit is "0".
FIG. 7B shows an example in which land pre-pit information is formed in odd-numbered frames. In this case, first 3 wobbles of each odd-numbered frame form one set of land pre-pits LPP whose absence/presence are expressed by (b2, b1, b0).
In the case in which land pre-pit information is formed in odd-numbered frames, when (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 1, 0), a set of those land pre-pits represents a sync signal. As in even-numbered frames, a data bit of "1" is represented by (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 0, 1), and a data bit of "0" is represented by (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 0, 0).
In FIG. 7C, sync signals and data bits represented by combinations of b2, b1, and b0 are summarized in the form of a table.
In each 16-wobble interval, land pre-pits LPP are formed only in either an even-numbered frame or an odd-numbered frame. Determination as to in which frame to form land pre-pits LPP is made for each 16-wobble interval such that land pre-pits LPP are not formed on both adjacent groove tracks on a disk.
Information expressed by land pre-pits LPP can be acquired in the form of a push-pull signal by detecting light reflected from a disk. More specifically, the push-pull signal is obtained as a differential signal between signals corresponding to the intensities of light reflected from a left-hand part and a right-hand part of a laser spot scanning on the disk in a track line direction.
FIG. 8 shows a circuit for detecting land pre-pits LPP.
The disk drive has an optical head including a photodetector 51, such as a quadrant photodetector having four photodetector elements A, B, C, and D, for detecting light reflected from a disk.
In this specific case, signals output from the photodetector elements A and C of the photodetector 51 are added together by an adder 56, and signals output from the photodetector elements B and D are added together by an adder 55. The outputs of the adders 55 and 56 are supplied to a push-pull signal generator 52. The push-pull signal generator 52 includes a differential amplifier A1 and resistors R11 to R14.
The push-pull signal generator 52 outputs a push-pull signal P/P proportional to ((A+C)−(B+D)).
In the push-pull signal P/P, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, relatively large amplitudes (SLP1, SLP2, and SLP3) corresponding to land pre-pits LPP are obtained. Thus, information represented by land pre-pits LPP can be detected by detecting the large amplitudes.
To achieve the above, a reference voltage Vth is supplied from a reference voltage source 54 to a comparator 53, and the comparator 53 compares the push-pull signal P/P with the supplied reference voltage Vth. The comparator 53 outputs a two-level signal indicating the comparison result. Thus, a detection signal LPPout corresponding to the land pre-pits LPP is obtained.
High and low levels of this detection signal LPPout corresponding to the land pre-pits LPP correspond to "1" and "0", respectively, of b2, b1, and b0 of the land pre-pits LPP.
Furthermore, a decoder (not shown) extracts address information by detecting sync signals and data bits (with a level of "1" or "0") corresponding to b2, b1, and b0.
FIGS. 9A and 9B show land pre-pit detection signals LPPout obtained by comparing the push-pull signal P/P with the threshold voltage Vth.
A known technique of detecting land pre-pits LPP may be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,838.
However, if information is written on grooves serving as recording tracks, recording marks (phase change bits) formed on the grooves interfere with the land pre-pits LPP. As a result, it becomes difficult to correctly read the land pre-pits LPP. More specifically, the interference of recording marks results in a reduction in reflectance, and thus a reduction occurs in amplitude of the push-pull signal P/P corresponding to the land pre-pits LPP.
The push-pull signal P/P has amplitude variations due to wobbling of tracks, crosstalk from adjacent tracks, and a variation in quality of the disk.
The influence of such variations in amplitude of the push-pull signal P/P on the detection of pre-pits is described below with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B.
By way of example, let assume that three pulses corresponding to three land pre-pits LPP ((b2, b1, b0)=(1, 1, 1)) indicating a sync signal in an even-numbered frame appear in the push-pull signal P/P.
In the example shown in FIG. 9A in which three pulse components SLP1, SLP2, and SLP3 appear in the push-pull signal P/P, the amplitude of the third pulse component SLP3 is smaller than the amplitudes of the first and second pulse components SLP1 and SLP2.
The reduction in the amplitude SLP3 is caused by presence of a recording mark M adjacent to the land pre-pit LPP, as represented by i in FIG. 6.
As can be seen from the envelope of the waveform of the push-pull signal P/P shown in FIG. 9A, the push-pull signal P/P has a periodic variation in level caused by wobbles. The push-pull signal P/P also includes a variation in level due to crosstalk noise.
As described above with reference to FIG. 8, when the land pre-pit detection signal LPPout is produced by comparing the push-pull signal P/P with the threshold voltage Vth, if the threshold voltage Vth is set to a level as shown in FIG. 9A, the third land pre-pit LPP (pulse SLP3) is not detected.
That is, (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 1, 1) is erroneously detected as (b2, b1, b0)=(1, 1, 0).
If the threshold voltage Vth is reduced, correct detection is possible even for pulse components corresponding to land pre-pits LPP whose amplitude is reduced by the presence of recording marks. However, the reduction in the threshold voltage can cause a component of the push-pull signal P/P, which does not correspond to a pre-pit LPP but whose amplitude is increased by wobbling or noise, to be erroneously detected as a pre-pit in the detection signal LPPout, as is the case with incorrect pulses denoted by N in FIG. 9B.
As described above, the amplitude variation of the push-pull signal P/P due to wobbling and/or recording marks can cause the problem that land pre-pits LPP are not correctly detected.
Incorrect detection of land pre-pits LPP results in an increase in address error rate. That is, it becomes impossible to correctly read address information. This results in degradation in performance of operation of writing/reading data on/from a disk and also degradation in seeking operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,838 cited above discloses a technique of reducing the variation in amplitude of the push-pull signal P/P by using a so-called AGC circuit. However, U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,838 does not disclose a technique of properly setting a threshold value used in producing the land pre-pit detection signal LPPout.


The present invention is a liquid cooled electric machine (10) having enhanced cooling of the end turns (22) by providing intimate contact between the end turns and coolant fluid flowing through a first annular flow channel (34) and a second annular flow channel (50). Furthermore, a cylindrical liner (62) which is force fit within the annulus of the stator 12 forms part of the first and second annular flow channels and further provides support against radially inward deflection of the end turns (22). Furthermore, the invention is a cooling system (200) for an exciter generator in a self-excited electric power generator which has a liquid coolant circuit (216) which splits coolant flow between an inside surface (222) of a fullwave rectifier assembly (214) and an outside surface (226) of the fullwave rectifier assembly which absorbs heat from the rotor of the exciter generator.

High performance generator and motor designs reject waste heat into liquid flowing through the stator slots. Contact of the liquid with the magnetically permeable material of the stator slots and the electrical windings produces a modest convection heat transfer coefficient. On the other hand, the end turns which are the projection of the stator pole windings axially outward from the magnetically permeable stator core containing the slots are difficult to cool as a consequence of the difficulty in directing cooling fluid in intimate contact with the irregular geometry of the windings. As a result, the heat transfer coefficient between the cooling liquid and the end turns is less than that between the cooling liquid and the slots. As a result, the end turns operate at a higher temperature than the slot.
As a consequence of vibration, it is necessary to support the end turns mechanically to prevent their radially inward and outward vibration which can result in failure of the insulation of the windings leading to potential shorts or other electrical problems. Typically, the end turns are mechanically supported with a potting compound and cord. These methods require substantial labor and have a cost impact on the cost of fabricating a motor or generator.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,285,960, 2,975,309, 3,075,103, 4,227,108, 4,323,803 and 4,797,588 disclose fluid cooled stators with fluid contacting the end turns. Only U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,309 supports the end turns against deflection radially inward and outward by potting with insulating material. In the '309 patent, fluid is transmitted through a hollow center portion of the conductors and further in passages offset from the slots through the center of the stator. Conduction of the fluid through the center of a hollow conductor provides less surface area for heat transfer than intimate contact with the outside surfaces of the end turns which provides for a more efficient heat transfer.
Containment sleeves have been used in the prior art to prevent cooling fluid from flowing into the air gap between the stator and the rotor. Cooling liquid, such as oil in the air gap, creates windage losses which reduces the overall efficiency of operation of an electric machine. Self-excited electric power generators of the type utilized in airframes use a permanent magnet generator to generate the electric field in the stator of an exciter with the exciter rotor producing three phase alternating current which is rectified by a rotating three phase rectifier assembly rotating with the exciter rotor to produce DC used for creating the electric field in the main generator. For electric machines having high output it is necessary for the exciter rotor to produce high current outputs for generating the necessary current which is rectified by the rectifier assembly to create the electric field for the main generator. In the prior art, one cooling technique is to spray the windings of the rotor with oil to reduce the heat flux produced by the rotor windings. This technique has the disadvantage of creating windage losses in the air gap between the exciter, stator and rotor.
The three phase fullwave rectifier of a self-excited electric power generator is typically mounted inside the annulus of the exciter rotor. Cooling fluid, such as cooling oil, is circulated through the interior of the rotor assembly.
Sleeves mounted between the stator and rotor of an electric machine are known. U.S. Pat. No. 2,698,911 discloses a stator sleeve which is inserted within the sleeve in the air gap between the stator and the rotor. The stator sleeve is made from stainless steel. The purpose of the sleeve is to prevent water from entering the stator. The sleeve is designed to be rigid to prevent bulging due to heat generated in the motor or to pressure of the oil or plastic material utilized to fill interstices in the windings. U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,960 discloses a submersible motor having a stainless steel liner disposed within the annulus of the stator in a manner similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,698,911 discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,085 discloses a stator sleeve which is formed from a high temperature non-conductive and non-magnetic material which may be a wound fiberglass material which is impregnated by a high temperature epoxy resin as a binding agent. U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,889 discloses a submersible motor having a sleeve which lines the interior of the annulus of the stator which is fabricated from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Furthermore, the '889 patent discloses that the stator sleeve may be manufactured from plastic reinforced with glass or metal fibers. The stator sleeve of the '889 patent is not disclosed as having a multiple laminar structure nor is orientation of reinforcing fibers disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,160 discloses a composite sleeve for an electric motor which is bonded to the rotor of a motor.

Electric machine with enhanced liquid cooling


The invention is a process for the preparation of high quality oxynitride glasses without resorting to high pressures. Nitrogen-containing compounds such as Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 are first encapsulated in a low melting temperature glass. Particles of the encapsulated nitrogen-containing compound are mixed with other oxide glass-formers and melted in an atmosphere of flowing nitrogen and in the presence of buffering gas to form the oxynitride glass. Glasses containing up to 15 at % nitrogen have been prepared by this method.

Substituting nitrogen for oxygen in glass structures to form oxynitride glasses has been shown to improve a variety of mechanical and other properties of these glasses. For example, oxynitride glasses exhibit better chemical durability, higher glass transition temperature and lower coefficients of thermal expansion then oxide glasses. Furthermore, oxynitride glasses retain their electrical insulating qualities at temperatures at which ordinary glasses become conductive. Because these glasses are stable at high temperatures and are leach resistant, they may be useful for encapsulating nuclear waste for long-term storage. These glasses are also useful in other high temperature applications, for example the joining of structural ceramics such as silicon nitride.
Oxynitride glasses are more difficult to prepare than conventional glasses for several reasons. For example, temperatures up to 1750.degree. C. to 1800.degree. C. are required for melting and homogenization of the melt. A low oxygen partial pressure is required during melting and homogenization to avoid oxidizing the glass-forming components. The number of nitride compounds which can serve as sources of nitrogen for the glasses is severely limited. Most oxynitride glasses are prepared with Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 as the nitrogen source, although AlN, Mg.sub.3 N.sub.2, YN Si.sub.2 ON.sub.2 or Li.sub.3 N can also be used in some glasses.
As hereinbefore stated, most oxynitride glasses are quite refractory and require high temperatures, ranging from 1500.degree. to 1800.degree.C., for melting and homogenization. The upper temperature limit is determined by the thermal decomposition of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 or other nitrogen source used, while the lower temperature limit is set by the melting temperature of the particular glass-forming batch composition. In one method of preparing oxynitride glasses, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 CaCO.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 are melted together to form a base glass. This glass is ground and mixed with varying amount of Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 ranging up to 4.55 mol %. The mixture is placed in a molybdenum crucible and melted in a furnace, under a flowing atmosphere of high-purity N.sub.2 at 1600.degree. C. for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The amount of retained nitrogen in glasses prepared by this method is up to about 3.23 mol %. Glasses prepared by this or similar methods are predominately a grey mass with overtones of blue and black. The material is usually translucent in one millimeter or thicker sections. In the Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 71 (1985) p.287-294 another method is described for preparing oxynitride glasses in which glass-forming batch compositions, containing Si.sub.3 N.sub.4 as the nitrogen source, are first dry mixed and then cold isostatically pressed at 60,000 psi to reduce powder volume. The pre-compacted batch of material is placed into a boron nitride crucible and heated in a hot isostatic press (HIP) under high-purity nitrogen gas pressurized to 30,000 psi to a temperature of about 1900.degree. C. The HIP is held at temperature and pressure for about 60 minutes. Glasses prepared by this method can contain up to about 15 at. % nitrogen.
While the HIP process for producing oxynitride glasses is effective and produces glasses of consistent quality, the primary disadvantage of HIP glass production is the expense due to the high pressures and high temperatures required. Any large volume commercial use of oxynitride glass will require production methods which are less expensive than methods currently available.

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A mobile hospital system can be moved by tractors, helicopters, railway locomotives and/or sea vessels and provide comprehensive diagnoses and medical treatments to casualties and patients. A plurality of container wagons functionally operate as part of a hospital and are moved appropriately to set up a comprehensive hospital system by connecting the plurality of container wagons on site, some of the container wagons being supplied with water, power and fuel oil from a water supply wagon, a power generation wagon and an oil supply wagon, respectively. With such an arrangement, a comprehensive hospital system can be set up by connecting the plurality of container wagons on site in a region hit by a natural disaster or a harsh military dispute so that it can provide relevant medical services to a large number of patients including causalities.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mobile hospital system adapted to quickly provide comprehensive diagnoses and medical treatments to a relatively large number of patients in an area stricken by a large natural disaster or a harsh military dispute or in an extremely remote area where medical facilities are not available.
2. Prior Art
A large number of casualties can be given rise to in areas hit by devastating natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods caused by a prolonged rain fall or volcanic eruptions and the hospitals in the neighboring areas may normally have only a limited capacity for diagnoses and medical treatments so that many of the patients may be left uncared-for. If large hospitals are found in the neighboring areas. They may find themselves hopeless in providing medical care to the patients when the services of public utilities including the supply of electricity, water and fuel gas are disrupted.
When a large natural disaster occurs, medical tents are normally set up as appropriate locations near the disaster-stricken area and attended by doctors ad nurses, who provide medical care to casualties on a first aid basis, the hardest-hit having the highest priority of treatment. However, the medical staff will then have to take care of a large number of patients with limited staff members and therefore many of the patients will not be adequately treated. Additionally, the patients who need long term medical care will have to be moved to a hospital remote from the disaster-stricken are if no medical facilities are available in nearby areas to accommodate the patients.
In countries at war, medical aid will be provided typically by the international Red Cross so that wounded soldiers may be moved to casualty clearing stations while wounded civilians may be sent to emergency medical facilities for medical treatment. However, as pointed out above, the medical care provided by these facilities are mostly on a first aid basis and they may not be adapted to sophisticated surgical operations because they are not medically equipped in a sufficient and satisfactory fashion.
As described above, in areas stricken by a large natural disaster or a harsh military dispute or in an extremely remote area, many patients who need medical care are left without being sufficiently taken care of because of insufficient medical staff and medical facilities particularly when a large number of patients are produced. Thus, patients who are not seriously wounded can eventually a suffer from chronic diseases and after-effects of diseases because their diseases are not completely cured, although then could be satisfactorily cured if the patients were medically treated in a satisfactory fashion. Therefore, there is a strong need for hospital facilities that can cope with a situation where a large number of patients are produced by a disaster.
Thus, in view of the above identified problem, it is therefore the object of the invention to provide a mobile hospital system that can be moved by means of tractors, helicopters, railway locomotives and/or sea vessels and adapted to provide comprehensive diagnoses and medical treatments to causalities and patients having various symptoms.


An isolated antibody that specifically binds to sFlt-1 or a fragment thereof having (i) a variable heavy domain region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, (ii) a variable light domain region comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), a pharmaceutical composition and a kit comprising such an antibody, a method of making such an antibody, a method of determining the presence, amount or concentration of sFlt-1 or a fragment thereof in a test sample, a method of treating a patient in therapeutic or prophylactic need of an antagonist of sFlt-1, an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the amino acid sequence of (i) SEQ ID NO: 2, (ii) SEQ ID NO: 4, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), optionally as part of a vector, and a host cell comprising and expressing such a nucleic acid.

Preeclampsia is a syndrome of hypertension, edema, and proteinuria. It affects about 5-10% of pregnant women, and results in substantial maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Symptoms of preeclampsia typically appear after the 20th week of pregnancy and are usually detected by routine screening of the pregnant woman's blood pressure and urine. Such routine screening methods, however, are ineffective for early diagnosis.
FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) is a membrane-spanning tyrosine kinase receptor that is differentially expressed in endothelial cells. It is highly expressed by trophoblast cells, which contribute to the formation of the placenta during pregnancy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is an endothelial cell-specific mitogen, an angiogenic inducer, and a mediator of vascular permeability, binds as a homodimer to Flt-1. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is a member of the VEGF family that also is involved in development of the placenta. PlGF is expressed by cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts, can induce proliferation, migration, and activation of endothelial cells, and binds as a homodimer to Flt-1. Thus, VEGF and PlGF both contribute to mitogenic activity and angiogenesis during development of the placenta.
sFlt-1 is a soluble form of the Flt-1 receptor, and, thus, is also referred to as soluble VEGF receptor-1. It is a splice variant of the Flt-1 receptor that lacks the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of the Flt-1 receptor but contains seven IgG-like domains of the external portion of the receptor Like the Flt-1 receptor, sFlt-1 binds to VEGF and PlGF; however, it does not stimulate mitogenesis of endothelial cells. Rather, sFlt-1 prevents proteins from initiating blood vessel growth. It has been identified as a biomarker for the diagnosis of preeclampsia (see, e.g., McKeeman et al., Amer. J. of Obstetrics and Gynecology 191: 1240-1246 (2004)).
Immunoassays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), have been developed to measure free and sFlt-1 complexed with VEGF in fluid samples (see, e.g., Karumanchi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,362, which issued Feb. 26, 2008, and Belgore et al., Clin. Sci. 100: 567-575 (2001)). There remains a need, however, for new materials, methods, and kits for determining the concentration of sFlt-1 in a test sample, such as in the diagnosis of preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease. There also is a need for new compositions and methods for treatment of a patient in therapeutic or prophylactic need of an antagonist of sFlt-1, such as a patient at risk for or having preeclampsia or a cardiovascular disease. The present disclosure seeks to address such needs. These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein.

Soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) antibody and related composition, kit, methods of using, and materials and method for making


There is provided a musical instrument for producing a harmonious scale of musical notes, said instrument having nine separate sound actuators each of which is configured to cause the musical instrument to generate a different musical tone selected from the group of frequencies comprising 174 hz, 285 hz, 396 hz, 417 hz, 528 hz, 639 hz, 741 hz, 852 hz and 963 hz, the musical instrument being configured such that physically manipulating the sound actuators causes the musical instrument to generate the musical tone corresponding to the sound actuator manipulated. The invention is also directed at a system for writing music to be played with a musical instrument incorporating the harmonious scale of musical notes as described above. The notation system consists a staff of five equally spaced parallel and horizontal lines separated by four spaces, the first line indicating a fist note of 174 hz, the space immediately above the first line indicating a second note of 285 hz, the second line indicating a third note of 396 hz, the space immediately above the second line indicating a fourth note of 417 hz, the third line indicating a fifth note of 528 hz, the space immediately above the third line indicating a sixth note of 639 hz, the fourth line indicating a seventh note of 741 hz, the space immediately above the fourth line indicating an eighth of 852 hz and the fifth line, indicating a ninth note of 963 hz.

When we look back to the earliest records of music, and its purpose, it was an inseparable part of religious ceremonies. Plato and Pythagoras taught the world to understand that the whole spiritual and physical universe was the understanding of numbers. So the system of music, sounds, and rhythms, being ordered by numbers, were conceived as exemplifying the harmony of the cosmos and corresponding to it. The most important aspects of Greek thoughts on music is "that there is a power in music akin to the power of words for influencing human thought and action and that therefore an artist, whether in music or words, is under obligation, to exercise use of this power with due respect for its effect on others. Music or vibration could heal sickness, purify the body and mind and work miracles in the realm of nature." {History of Western Music, 3rd ed. Donald Jay Grout, pg 2-11). Similar powers are attributed to music in the Old Testament: David cures Saul's madness by playing the harp (I. Samuel XVI: 14-23) or of the trumpet blasts and shouting that toppled the walls of Jericho (Joshua VI: 12-20).
The great composers of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras tuned their instruments through their own genius ear in what resonated with, nature. In 1919 it was decided to standardize the tuning system of Western music so that all instruments could play together. This 12 tone Equal Temperament System based on man-made standards in which A was equal to 440 Hz has continued to the present time.
The Harmonious System involves creating a new category of musical instruments or devices tuned with the new Harmonious Scale. If our present diatonic scale is not in harmony with mankind or nature, then it is imperative that we create a system that is. Dissonant and unharmonious vibrations or sounds create anxiety, tension, health, problems, mental, disorders, emotional disorders, and a feeling of disconnectedness to the universe. Harmonious vibrations create feelings of peace, love, harmony, health and wellness amongst humans, animals and nature. It is in the world's best interest to have a category of Harmonious Instruments equipped with the Harmonious Scale Tuning System.
The Harmonious Scale is an ATONAL system, consisting of 9 frequencies. Atonal means a manner of organizing tones so that no one of them has greater importance than the others. The present diatonic system of Western music is tonal in which specific notes such as the tonic, dominant and leading notes have more importance than the other notes. However, the dominant-seventh chord is the most "unstable" chord in music writing and demands resolution to the tonic. The Harmonious Scale being atonal removes the tension that is normally built up while we await the return of the tonic which can sometimes feel like safety. The Harmonious Scale has no tonic, and there are no major or minor keys or modulations to other keys, and no key signatures, no sharps, flats or accidentals. It is a simple system of 9 precise frequencies in which you can start or end on any note without adhering to complex composition rules. Only certain intervals or chord combinations within the diatonic system sound pleasing. All intervals and combinations of notes in the Harmonious Scale are pleasing to the ear, or all in harmony with each of the other tones produced. This makes music composition very easy and opens up a whole new field of "creative" and "intuitive" playing for persons who find the Western music study too difficult. A musical performer often "becomes one" or is in the "zone" with their instrument and without worry of adhering to complicated composition rules, improvising, performing and Sound Healing become so much easier. Therefore, music expression and creativity have no boundaries within the scope of people, their age, intellectual ability, race, culture and language, or nations dividing us. People from around the world, young and old, of simple or highly evolved abilities, can understand, perform, compose, improvise together in a universal simple Harmonious System where "all is one" and there is no wrong way to play. Because of its simplicity, it also allows mastery of this Harmonious System very quickly and at a younger age.
The Harmonious Scale System is based on Pythagoras and Plato's ancient Greek "MODAL" system. They taught that all sounds have an "affect" on everything around us, so basically "You are what you listen, to". For example: listening to dance rhythms would have the modal affect of inspiring others to dance. Another example would be to take the time signature out of the creative musical experience. The modal effect here is one of freedom of expansion of intuition, and consciousness, because all structure and sense of time is eliminated.
Modern medicine presently uses frequency devices and technology with many, many frequencies, and complicated procedures for healing and diagnostic purposes. Research into this complete system of 9 healing frequencies could not only simplify, and enhance their technology; the recovery or prevention of disease could change profoundly. For the general populations around the world, to hear more harmonious sounds will be beneficial, on all levels of our being. This harmonious system opens up a new category of study of music for the "seasoned" musicians, and allows people who wouldn't play musical instruments to have this other option, a less complicated study with a focus on creating and healing (and not on performance).
Music has always been a reflection, of the culture that gave rise to it and a reflection of what was going on in the world, politically, socially, and philosophically. Playing atonal, modal music, all tones in harmony with each other and nature would reflect and enhance greatly the move of the world towards unity, less division among races, nations and peace and harmony among all, as well as living intentionally, knowing that we are all affected and affect each other by the sounds around us. Therefore, an improved harmonious musical device would be beneficial.


An electronics package includes an insulating substrate, a first electrical component coupled to a first surface of the insulating substrate, and a first conductor layer formed on the first surface of the insulating substrate. A second conductor layer is formed on a second surface of the insulating substrate, opposite the first surface, the second conductor layer extending through vias in the insulating substrate to contact at least one contact pad of the first electrical component and couple with the first conductor layer. The electronics package also includes a second electrical component having at least one contact pad coupled to the first conductor layer. The first conductor layer has a thickness greater than a thickness of the second conductor layer.

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to semiconductor device packages or electronics packages and, more particularly, to an electronics package that includes a conductor with locally varied thicknesses. This multi-thickness conductor includes a combination of regions having high current carrying capabilities and high density routing capabilities and facilitates the integration of different types of electronics devices in a miniaturized package topology.
As semiconductor device packages have become increasingly smaller and yield better operating performance, packaging technology has correspondingly evolved from leaded packaging, to laminated-based ball grid array (BGA) packaging, to chip scale packaging (CSP), then flipchip packages, and now buried die/embedded chip build-up packaging. Advancements in semiconductor chip packaging technology are driven by ever-increasing needs for achieving better performance, greater miniaturization, and higher reliability.
A challenge to existing manufacturing techniques is the miniaturization of electronics packages that incorporate different types of individually packaged semiconductor dies that have different current carrying and routing density requirements, such as a mixture digital semiconductor devices and power semiconductor devices. The general structure of a prior art electronics package 10 incorporating a number of individually packaged components 12, 14, 16, 18 is shown in FIG. 1. The individually packaged components 12, 14, 16, 18 are mounted on a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) 20 that has a thickness 22 of approximately 31 to 93 mils. The individually packaged components 12, 14, 16, 18 may be power semiconductor packages, packaged controllers, or other discrete electrical components such as inductors or passive components that are coupled to electrical contacts 24 of PCB 20 using metalized connections 26 such as, for example, solder balls in the form of a ball grid array (BGA).
In the illustrated example, individually packaged devices 14, 16 each include a respective semiconductor device or die 28, 30 having contact pads 32 formed on an active surface thereof. Die 28, 30 are provided on a mounting platform 34, 36 and encased within an insulating material 38, 40. Wirebonds 42, 44 form direct metal connections between active surfaces of respective die 28, 30 and a metalized input/output (I/O) provided on or coupled to the lower surface of die 28, 30. In the case of discrete component 14, wirebonds 42 form an electrical connection between contact pads 32 of die 28 to I/O pads 46 provided on a bottom surface of discrete component 14. Wirebond 42 electrically couples contact pads 32 to I/O leads 48. Where die 30 is a diode, for example, wirebond 42 may connect to the anode on a first surface of the die 30 and a second surface of the die 30 may be soldered to the leadframe. I/O pads 46 and I/O leads 48 are coupled to electrical contacts 24 of PCB 20 by way of metalized connections 26. The overall thickness 50 of such prior art IC packages may be in the range of 500 μm-2000 μm or larger.
Alternatively, electrical connections between components may be realized using a combination of thick and thin conductor layers that are electrically connected to the appropriate semiconductor dies or power devices using through hole or via technology. However, inclusion of multiple routing layers adds considerable thickness to the overall electronics package, a factor that in combination with the complex conductor structure, limits product level miniaturization, design flexibility, and cost efficiency. Additionally, both of the aforementioned techniques include multiple routing layers, which results in a long and complex conductor structure between electrical components and weakens the electrical performance of the overall package, which is increasingly unfavorable in high performance packaging (e.g., high frequency, RF, intelligent power, and other advanced electronics packaging).
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a new electronics packaging technology that permits electrical components of different types to be integrated into a highly miniaturized electronics package with locally enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity for certain electronics components and increased routing density in regions proximate other electronics components. It would further be desirable for such a packaging technology to permit a shorter conductor length between electrical components and improve signal fidelity.

Electronics package having a multi-thickness conductor layer and method of manufacturing thereof


A speaker of a hearing instrument generates a sound that includes a range of frequencies. Furthermore, a microphone of the hearing instrument measures an acoustic response to the sound. A processing system classifies, based on the acoustic response to the sound, a depth of insertion of an in-ear assembly of the hearing instrument into an ear canal of a user. Additionally, the processing system generates an indication based on the depth of insertion of the in-ear assembly of the hearing instrument into the ear canal of the user.

Hearing instruments are devices designed to be worn on, in, or near one or more of a user's ears. Common types of hearing instruments include hearing assistance devices (e.g., "hearing aids"), earphones, headphones, hearables, and so on. Some hearing instruments include features in addition to or in the alternative to environmental sound amplification. For example, some modern hearing instruments include advanced audio processing for improved device functionality, controlling and programming the devices, and beamforming, and some can communicate wirelessly with external devices including other hearing instruments (e.g., for streaming media).

Methods and systems for assessing insertion position of hearing instrument


A pumping device including a housing whose front face is at least partly formed by a block of transparent material, this block containing a number of machine-drilled holes including at least one blind hole forming a work chamber, at least one hole forming an admission and/or exhaust channel leading into the blind hole, two through channels whose orifices on the front face of the block are fitted with hydraulic hose connection means, two solenoid valves, a plunger sliding leaktightly in a bearing fitted to the orifice of the blind hole, this plunger defining with the blind hole a volume that varies as a function of the axial position of the plunger, and a module connected to the base of the plunger for moving the plunger translationally. The pumping device can be used for pipetting, dilution, rinsing and/or dispensing of samples, regardless of the envisaged volume ranges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a pumping device for many types of samplings. It is applicable more particularly, but not exclusively, for the pipetting, dilution, rinsing and/or distribution of samples, i.e. regardless of the volume ranges considered.
2. Background
In general, one knows that a number of devices have already been proposed making it possible to carry out pipetting and rinsing cycles, in particular within an automatic analysis device.
Through patent FR 2 815 719, we know a pipetting device using at least two work chambers, one having a small volume to take samples, the other having a large volume to perform rinsing.
Indeed, to perform various samplings with a satisfactory precision, this device requires the use of two work chambers having different volumes.
Moreover, such a device is designed to be integrated into a particular type of analysis machine. It is therefore not designed to equip apparatuses of different types or even to be used in a laboratory assembly.
However, in the latter type of application, it is desirable for the devices used to be relatively independent and to be housed in cases which are preferably shielded so as to free themselves from external influences, for example of an electromagnetic nature, or even ionizing radiation.
These apparatuses must enable the realization of fast connections of admission and/or exhaust hoses as well as a complete visualization of the hydraulic circuit so as to be able to verify the proper operation of the assembly and detect the presence of any gas bubbles or impurities.
Of course, such an apparatus must meet increasingly strict compactness criteria.


A sewn product is protected from being stained by melted leavings of a work material by cooling a needle moving at a high speed, and thus the quality of the product may be enhanced when the work material is sewed by a presser foot of the present invention, and a sewing machine using the same, wherein the presser foot is provided with a fluid line for injecting a fluid toward the needle.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a presser foot and a sewing machine using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a presser foot and a sewing machine using the same for home or industrial use having an advantage of producing an enhanced quality of the final sewed product by preventing damage and/or a defect thereof by rapidly cooling a needle moving at a high speed.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Typically, a sewing machine is an apparatus for sewing materials such as leathers, clothes, papers, etc. Such a sewing machine includes a head installed with a sewing mechanism, a table for sewing a work material (e.g., clothes) thereon, and a driving apparatus (e.g., a motor) that produces power for the sewing machine. The head is installed with, for example, a needle bar holding a needle and moving up and down with the needle, a shuttle race cross-engaging upper and lower threads for each back and forth movement of the needle, a thread take-up device pulling the upper thread up to above the work material in accordance with the lower thread when the cross-engagement with the lower thread is finished, and a feed dog mechanism feeding the work material.
The needle of the sewing machine vertically moves at a very high speed for sewing a work material, and the needle is subjected to a high heat produced by friction with the work material. In more detail, according to a conventional sewing machine, the work material may be locally melted by the needle heated to a high temperature by the friction, especially when the work material being sewn is formed of a thermally weak material. In this case, the melted bit of the work material may stick to the needle and come out of the work material with the movement of the needle, such that the surface of the work material may become dotted with leavings of the melted bits solidified thereon, thereby producing defects of the sewed product.
In a more specific example, when a cap is manufactured with a visor core made of a synthetic resin material, the visor core, which is thermally weak, is locally melted by the needle heated to a high temperature, and melted bits thereof come out of the cap such that the surface of the cap may be stained with the leavings of the melted bits of the synthetic resin. Such leavings may not be easily blown off by highly pressurized air, and thus defective products may finally be produced.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Presser foot and sewing machine using the same


The invention provides a microorganism belonging to Enterobacteriaceae in which a function of CsrC RNA has been decreased or lost, and which has the ability to produce and accumulate an amino acid, and a process in which the microorganism is cultured in a medium to produce and accumulate the amino acid in the culture, and the amino acid is recovered from the culture.

In the fermentative production of an amino acid generally using a microorganism belonging to the genus Escherichia or a microorganism such as a coryneform bacterium, as typified by the genus Corynebacterium, glucose serves as the main raw material to supply carbon for both the growth of the microorganism and the production of the amino acid.
While glucose is metabolized to various compounds mainly via the glycolytic system and the pentose phosphate pathway, the metabolism involving carbon is known to include gluconeogenesis that reverses the glycolytic system; when a microorganism grows using a carbon source like acetic acid, for example, the necessary metabolites for the growth must be biosynthesized via the gluconeogenetic pathway. Hence, the metabolism from glucose is expressed as the sum of both the metabolic pathways of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.
Gluconeogenesis is necessary for microorganisms to survive in various environments, and it is known that the balance between the glycolytic system and gluconeogenesis is regulated according to environmental factors. It has been reported that in microorganisms belonging to Escherichia coli, the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis balance is regulated mainly by the Csr (Carbon Storage Regulator) system (non-patent document 1). It is a regulatory protein known as CsrA protein that plays the central role in the Csr system, having the function of binding to the 5′-noncoding region of target messenger RNA to increase the translation of glycolytic system enzymes and reduce the translation of gluconeogenesis enzymes. Recently, deficiency of the csrA gene was reported to improve L-phenylalanine productivity, and this is attributed to enhancement of the shikimic pathway, which is essential for L-phenylalanine production, as a result of an increased supply of phosphoenolpyruvic acid due to decreased glycolysis and increased gluconeogenesis (non-patent document 2).
Meanwhile, it is known that the Csr system includes, as regulatory factors, CsrB RNA (non-patent document 3) and CsrC RNA (non-patent document 1) which bind to CsrA protein to reduce its function. CsrB RNA and CsrC RNA are both noncoding small RNAs, and are known to have, as CsrA protein binding sites, 18 and 9 conserved nucleotide sequences comprising the nucleotide sequences shown by SEQ ID NO:1, 2 and 3, respectively.
However, to date, it has not been reported that amino acid productivity was improved by modifying, particularly deleting, a function of a small RNA involved in the regulation of the glycolytic system/gluconeogenesis balance, such as CsrB RNA or CsrC RNA.
Non-patent document 1: Journal of Bacteriology, 1993, vol. 175, p. 4744-4755
Non-patent document 2: Current Microbiology, 2001, vol. 43, p. 26-32
Non-patent document 3: The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1997, vol. 272, p. 17502-17510


A low k dielectric stack having an effective dielectric constant k, of about 3.0 or less, in which the mechanical properties of the stack are improved by introducing at least one nanolayer into the dielectric stack. The improvement in mechanical properties is achieved without significantly increasing the dielectric constant of the films within the stack and without the need of subjecting the inventive dielectric stack to any post treatment steps. Specifically, the present invention provides a low k dielectric stack that comprises at least one low k dielectric material and at least one nanolayer present within the at least one low k dielectric material.

In the production of microelectronic devices, integrated circuits utilize multilevel wiring structures for interconnecting regions within devices and for interconnecting one or more devices within integrated circuits. Conventionally, forming interconnect structures begins with forming a lower level of wiring followed by the deposition of an interlevel dielectric layer and then a second level of wiring, where the first and second wiring levels may be connected by one or more metal filled vias.
Interlevel and/or intralevel dielectrics (ILDs), such as silicon dioxide (SiO2), are used to electrically isolate active elements and different interconnect signal paths from each other. The electrical connections between different interconnect levels are made through vias that are formed in the ILD layers. Typically, the vias are filled with a metal, such as copper, aluminum or tungsten.
Recently, there has been great interest to replace SiO2 with low dielectric constant ("low k") materials as the intralevel and/or interlevel dielectrics in interconnect structures. By "low k" it is meant a dielectric material (organic or inorganic) having a dielectric constant that is less than silicon dioxide (e.g., k of less than about 4.0, as measured in a vacuum). Examples of low k materials include: organic dielectrics containing atoms of C, O and H such as thermosetting polyarylene ethers; and inorganic dielectrics containing atoms of Si, O and H, with C being optional. Examples of the latter include carbon doped oxides (also referred to as "SiCOH"), silsesquioxanes, organosilanes and other like Si-containing materials.
It is desirable to employ low k materials as insulators in interconnect structures because low k materials reduce the interconnect capacitance. Accordingly, low k materials increase the signal propagation speed, while reducing cross-talk noise and power dissipation in the interconnect structure.
The main problem with low k materials is that they lack mechanical rigidity and easily crack when subjected to thermal and mechanical stresses. That is, prior art low k dielectrics exhibit high crack velocity (on the order of about 1E-10 m/sec or greater at a film thickness of 1.2 μm) and stress (on the order of about 60 MPa or greater), while exhibiting low modulus (on the order of about 7.5 GPa or less) and hardness (on the order of about 1 GPa or less). These mechanical properties become poorer as the dielectric constant of the material is decreased. For instance, the crack velocity, stress, modulus and hardness of a porous low k material are worse than its corresponding nonporous low k material.
Poor mechanical properties of low k dielectrics may lead to device failure or degradation over extended periods of time. For example, dielectric films that have a high crack velocity have a high tendency to form cracks within said film during further processing and use, which greatly reduces the reliability of the semiconductor device that includes such films.
Improved mechanical properties of low k dielectrics have been achieved in the prior art by treating the films post deposition. For example, curing or treatment using thermal, UV light, electron beam irradiation, chemical energy or a combination of these has been used to stabilize the low k dielectric material and to improve the mechanical properties of the same. While such post deposition treatments are possible, they add extra processing steps and thus cost to the manufacturing of the dielectric film.
The above problem with crack formation is not only limited to low k dielectrics, but instead it applies to other materials which become fragile when they are subjected to thermal and mechanical stresses.
In view of the above, there is a need for providing a dielectric stack wherein the mechanical properties such as crack velocity, stress, modulus and hardness are improved without the need of subjecting the dielectric stack to any post deposition treatments.

Low k dielectric CVD film formation process with in-situ imbedded nanolayers to improve mechanical properties

International Business Machines Corporation


Clutch mechanism includes support plate, input element to which driving force is input, output element configured to rotate upon receiving driving force, first elastic member configured to bias output element toward support plate, first member including sliding arm inserted through through-hole of support plate and first slide surface, and second member configured to accommodate first member and including second slide surface. Insertion of the sliding arm into through-hole prevents rotation of first member with respect to support plate but allows first member to approach and move away from support plate. Output element moves apart from input element to cut off driving force when second member is in first rotational position. When second member rotates to second rotational position, output element outputs driving force transmitted from input element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clutch mechanism for intermittently transmitting a driving force from a drive source, as well as to a processing device and an image forming apparatus with the clutch mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
A clutch mechanism for intermittently transmitting a driving force from a drive source is used in various types of machinery and equipment. An electromagnetic clutch is sometimes used as the clutch mechanism. The electromagnetic clutch configured to electromagnetically control transmission of a driving force is used in various types of machinery and equipment, but is unsuitable for transmitting a larger driving force. A larger size of the electromagnetic clutch is likely to be used to transmit a larger driving force. The electromagnetic clutch is also not appropriate for saving power because an electromagnetic coil in the electromagnetic clutch consumes power while the electromagnetic clutch transmits the driving force. Moreover, it is problematic for the power consumption of the electromagnetic coil to generate heat.
A mechanical clutch mechanism is also sometimes used as the clutch mechanism. For example, a mechanical clutch mechanism is built into an image forming apparatus. The mechanical clutch mechanism may transmit a larger driving force.
A mechanical clutch mechanism is typically assembled with a larger number of components. A miniaturized clutch mechanism is formed from smaller components. The miniaturization of the components of the clutch mechanism leads to vulnerability of the clutch mechanism.

Clutch mechanism and processing device and image forming apparatus comprising the clutch mechanism


Provided is a beam information feedback method performed by a user equipment, comprising: determining a first beam and a plurality of second beams according to a beam selection result; transmitting beam indexes of the plurality of second beams to a base station according to the beam power of the plurality of second beams; transmitting wideband beam information correspondingly to the beam indexes of the plurality of second beams; and transmitting subband beam information correspondingly to the beam indexes of the plurality of second beams.

In order to improve throughput of a communication system, full dimensional multiple input multiple output (Full Dimensional MIMO, FD-MIMO) and massive multiple input multiple output (Massive MIMO) antennas have been proposed. Compared with traditional MIMO systems, a base station can use more beams to perform data transmission with user equipment in FD-MIMO and Massive MIMO systems.
In order to feed back the beam information of the multiple beams, it has been proposed to divide the remaining beams among the multiple beams except the beam with the strongest power into two groups, transmit the grouping information of the remaining beams to the base station, and perform respective beam information feedback for the two groups of beams according to the grouping information. However, such beam feedback method requires the transmission of the grouping information which indicates grouping of the beams, so as to indicate respective beam feedback information.

Beam information feedback method and user apparatus