A system and method for generating display objects representing areas of radio coverage, available bandwidth and channel selection for wireless devices in a wireless communication network are disclosed. Substantially circular rings are provided defining areas of radio coverage for corresponding wireless network devices. The rings are super-imposed over a representation of the physical environment in which the wireless network is deployed. The thickness of the generated rings is representative of the amount of throughput available within the rings. A relatively thicker ring indicates that throughput within the ring is relatively high, while a relatively thin ring indicates that throughput within the ring is relatively low. The rings are further indicative of the current radio channel selected for operation by the associated device. Different colors may be associated with different channels, so that all devices using the same channel have the same color rings. Other visual indications may alternatively be used to indicate the channels associated with the generated rings. The disclosed system is especially advantageous in managing wireless communication networks in which wireless network devices dynamically adjust operational parameters such as transmission power and channel selection.

Wireless communication networks are becoming increasingly common for interconnecting many types of electronic devices. Computer systems of all sizes, personal digital assistants, input/output devices, entertainment system components and other types of home appliances, are all examples of client station devices that are candidates for interconnection using a wireless communication network. Various specific wireless communication protocols have been developed. Examples of existing wireless communication protocols may be found in the family of standards for wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) known as IEEE 802.11, including the 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g wireless communication standards.
Generally, wireless networks include some number of access devices (referred to herein as "access points") that provide network access to some number of wireless client devices (referred to herein as "stations"). For example, an access point in a wireless network may be connected to a wired communication network, and client stations using the wireless network are provided wireless access to the wired network through the access point.
Existing network management systems provide inadequate user interfaces with regard to showing the range or "coverage" of wireless communication network devices, such as access points. In order to understand the operation of a managed wireless communication network, a network manager needs to know the physical area covered by the access points in the wireless network, as well as the throughput provided within that area. As it is generally known, the throughput of IEEE 802.11 wireless communication systems is distance and environment dependent. The farther away a station is from an access point the lower the throughput provided to the station through the access point. However, existing systems provide no way for a system manager to quickly determine the amount of throughput provided in a covered area of the physical environment for a given device based on a graphical representation of that device in the user interface. Moreover, the channel selection of wireless network devices is another factor a network manager must have convenient access to in order to understand potential interference between devices in the network.
For the above reasons, it would be desirable to have a new system for managing a wireless communication network that provides graphical representations of devices in the network that indicate radio coverage area and available throughput. The system should further provide convenient indication of the channel selection of devices in the network, allowing a network manager to conveniently determine whether devices are interfering with each other.

System and method for generating display objects representing areas of coverage, available bandwidth and channel selection for wireless devices in a wireless communication network


Disclosed is a system and method for controlling braking of a vehicle equipped with an electronic wedge brake on a driving wheel thereof that receives a torque of a driving motor. The method includes obtaining a driver request to decelerate when a driver engages a brake pedal. A regenerative braking torque, a frictional braking torque of the driving wheel, and a friction braking torque of a coupled driving wheel are obtained from the request in a regenerative braking entrance state. An allowable frictional braking torque is obtained from wheel speed data, and is compared with the frictional braking torque. A compensation frictional braking torque is calculated from the friction braking torque and the allowable frictional braking torque when the frictional braking torque is greater than the allowable frictional braking torque. Braking control of the coupled driving wheel is performed using a torque as a final target torque.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling braking of a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for controlling braking of a vehicle, which stores regenerative braking energy in an eco-friendly vehicle equipped with an electric wedge brake on a driving wheel which receives power from a driving motor.
(b) Background Art
Generally, vehicles driven using an electric motor, i.e., eco-friendly vehicles such as pure Electric Vehicles (EV), Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV), perform regenerative braking upon braking of vehicles.
Regenerative braking systems of eco-friendly vehicles improve the fuel efficiency by converting kinetic energy of a vehicle into electric energy during braking of a vehicle, storing the electric energy in a battery, and recycling the electric energy to drive an electric motor when a vehicle drives.
In vehicles in which the regenerative braking is performed, a generative braking cooperative control technology is needed to allow the sum of a regenerative braking torque generated in an electric motor (e.g., driving motor) and a frictional braking torque generated in a brake to comply with a driver request braking torque.
In particular, an electric braking force by generative operation and rotation resistance of a motor, i.e., a regenerative braking force and a frictional braking force by a frictional braking device must be distributed. For this, cooperative control between controllers must be performed.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary view illustrating distribution of a frictional braking torque and a regenerative braking torque to comply with a driver request braking torque. When a driver engages a brake pedal, the driver request deceleration D is determined using information such as a braking input value (e.g., detection value of brake pedal sensor) and a wheel speed based on the driver pedal operation, and the regenerative braking torque and the frictional braking torque are determined from the driver request deceleration D to comply with the driver request braking torque.
In other words, the regenerative braking torque and the frictional braking torque are distributed to comply with the driver request braking torque as shown in FIG. 1 (e.g., a target torque for control is distributed and determined), and regenerative braking control and the brake control are performed to generate distributed torques.
Moreover, to improve the regenerative braking cooperative control performance of a regenerative braking system, an Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) that enables individual control of the frictional braking torques of each wheel and is known to exhibit increased control performance.
The EMB is a brake that generates a braking force using an electric motor as a power source. Since the EMB does not use the hydraulic pressure to generate the braking force, the configuration is less complex than the configuration of a hydraulic brake. In addition, the EMB may improve the response and performance of various electronic control systems such as Anti Brake Systems (ABS) and the Unified Chassis Control (UCC). In the EMB, an operation of pressurizing a frictional pad to cause the frictional pad to rub with the disc is performed. In particular, the EMB receives a driver braking intention through the brake pedal, and controls the braking force of the wheel by controlling the motor driving.
An Electronic Wedge Brake (EWB) as an example of the EMB uses regenerative energy from a wedge assembly that is operated by an actuator upon braking. The EWB may implement a greater braking force than when a motor is used. As the wedge is moved by the driving of the actuator to pressurize the frictional pad, the action of the wedge may operate as an additional input of a frictional force between the frictional pad and the disc, generating a greater braking force.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary view illustrating an electronic wedge brake 5 applied to a front wheel (e.g., driving wheel) to generate a substantially large braking torque and a typical electronic brake (wedge not used) 6 applied to a rear wheel (e.g., coupled driving wheel). Under cooperative control of a brake controller 1 and a motor controller 2, braking is performed on a vehicle by a regenerative braking force of a driving motor 3 and a frictional braking force of electronic brakes 5 and 6 mounted on the front/rear wheels while generated power of the driving motor 3 is stored in a battery 4.
The above regenerative braking system has the following limitations.
When vehicle braking starts based on the driver brake pedal input, the vehicle braking passes through a transition section, as shown in FIG. 1, during a low-speed section before the vehicle stop, and enters a state where the vehicle is stopped only by frictional braking without regenerative braking.
During the transition section in a general regenerative braking logic upon braking, the regenerative braking torque is gradually reduced, and the frictional braking torque increases as much as the regenerative braking torque is reduced. After the transition section, the regenerative braking is stopped, and only the frictional braking force is generated until a vehicle is completely stopped. In particular, the regenerative braking torque starts to decrease in the lowest vehicle speed section to store a maximum amount of regenerative braking energy in the battery.
When the response of the brake is slow, i.e., the frictional braking torque increases at a substantially slow speed and requires a substantially long transition duration, the time point to begin reducing the regenerative braking torque is advanced despite the regenerative braking being possible. Accordingly, the amount of regenerative braking energy that is recovered is reduced (see line A of FIG. 1).
On the other hand, when the response of the brake is increased, i.e., the frictional braking torque can quickly increase during the short transition duration, the time point to being reducing the regenerative braking torque can be delayed, and thus much more regenerative braking energy can be obtained. Accordingly, fuel efficiency may improve (e.g., the recovery amount and storage amount of regenerative braking energy increase) (see line B of FIG. 1).
However, since the EWB uses the regenerative energy phenomenon, a small output of the actuator can generate a large braking force, but in the low-speed section, the regenerative energy is reduced, leading to a limitation in increasing the frictional braking torque.
Accordingly, when the driver request is difficult to comply with, frictional braking torque during the transition section (e.g., fail to satisfy the driver request frictional braking torque) may occur, the frictional braking torque may not be quickly increased due to the reduction of the regenerative energy, causing disadvantages in terms of the storage of the regenerative braking energy and the fuel efficiency.
The above information disclosed in this 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.

Method and system for controlling braking of vehicle


Various embodiments of the present disclosure address problems associated with non-uniform flow of cooling air by providing a turbine engine including a cooling air chamber in fluid communication with a cooling air source, a turbine chamber, and multiple conduits fluidly connecting the cooling air chamber and the turbine chamber. The system is configured such that, when cooling air is flowing from a cooling air source the static pressure within the cooling fluid chamber is substantially uniform and such that the mass flow rates of cooling air through the conduits and into the turbine chamber are substantially uniform.

FIG. 1A is a simplified partial cutaway view of a prior art gas turbofan engine 1000 (sometimes referred to as the "engine" for brevity) having a rotational axis A. The engine 1000 includes an air intake 1100, a propulsive fan 1200, an intermediate-pressure compressor 1300, a high-pressure compressor 1400, a combustor 1500, a high-pressure turbine 1600, an intermediate-pressure turbine 1700, a low-pressure turbine 1800, and an exhaust nozzle 1900. The high-pressure compressor 1400 and the high-pressure turbine 1600 are connected via a shaft 2000 and rotate together about the rotational axis A. The intermediate-pressure compressor 1300 and the intermediate-pressure turbine 1700 are connected via a shaft 2100 and rotate together about the rotational axis A. The fan 1200 and the low-pressure turbine 1800 are connected via a shaft 2200 and rotate together about the rotational axis A. A fan nacelle 2400 generally surrounds the fan 1200 and defines the air intake 1100 and a bypass duct 2300. Fan outlet guide vanes 2500 secure the fan nacelle 2400 to the core engine casing.
In operation, the fan 1200 compresses air entering the air intake 1100 to produce a bypass air flow that passes through the bypass duct 2300 to provide propulsive thrust and a core air flow into the intermediate-pressure compressor 1300. The intermediate-pressure compressor 1300 compresses the air before delivering it to the high-pressure compressor 1400. The high-pressure compressor 1400 further compresses the air and exhausts the compressed air into the combustor 1500. The combustor 1500 mixes the compressed air with fuel and ignites the fuel/compressed air mixture. The resultant hot combustion products then expand through—and thereby drive—the high-, intermediate-, and low-pressure turbines 1600, 1700, and 1800 before being exhausted through the exhaust nozzle 1900 to provide additional propulsive thrust. The high-, intermediate-, and low-pressure turbines 1600, 1700, and 1800 respectively drive the high-pressure compressor 1400, the intermediate-pressure compressor 1300, and the fan 1200 via the respective shafts 2000, 2100, and 2200.
FIG. 1B shows a simplified cross-sectional view of the engine 1000 taken along a plane perpendicular to the axis A through a nozzle guide vane assembly between the high-pressure turbine 1600 and the intermediate-pressure turbine 1700. The engine 1000 includes a turbine section casing 10 including an outer cylindrical wall 11 and an inner cylindrical wall 12 radially inward of the outer wall 11 that together define a cooling air chamber 13 there between. An inner flow path boundary wall 16 and inner cylindrical wall 12 define the inner and outer boundaries of the working fluid flow path, respectively. The inner flow path boundary wall 16 defines a turbine chamber 14. Engine shafts, rotor discs and bearings may be contained within the turbine chamber 14 and require temperature control. Multiple conduits 20a-20i are circumferentially arranged around the turbine chamber 14 and about the axis A and extend radially inwardly from respective conduit inlets on the inner cylindrical wall 12 in fluid communication with the cooling fluid chamber (manifold) 13 to respective conduit outlets on the inner flow path boundary wall 16 in fluid communication with the turbine chamber 14. The conduits 20a-20i are positioned through nozzle guide vanes (not shown) of the nozzle guide vane assembly. The cooling fluid chamber 13 is fluidically connectable to a cooling fluid source (such as the compressor stage of the engine 1000) via inlet tubes 1, 2, and 3. It is conventional in the prior art that the number of conduits is divisible by the number of inlets, or in other words the number of conduits is an integer multiple of the number of inlets. The inlet tubes 1, 2, and 3 are circumferentially spaced about the axis A.
In operation, cooling air flows from the cooling air source through the inlet tubes 1, 2, and 3 and into the cooling air chamber 13. The cooling air then flows from the cooling air chamber 13 through the conduits 20a-20i into the turbine chamber 14. The cooling air may also cool the nozzle guide vanes as it flows through the conduits 20a-20i and then cools the components in the turbine chamber 14.
The circumferential positions of the conduits 20a-20i relative to the inlet tubes 1, 2, and 3 and the fact that the conduits 20a-20i are identical causes non-uniform flow distribution in the cooling air chamber 13 and through the conduits 20a-20i. In other words, the mass flow rates of the cooling air through the respective conduits 20a-20i are not substantially uniform. FIG. 1C is a graph showing the mass flow rate distribution (curve F) and the static pressure distribution (curve P) of the cooling air in the cooling air chamber 13 relative to the circumferential angle about the axis A. Generally, the mass flow rate increases and the static pressure decreases when based on increasing proximity to one of the inlet tubes 1, 2, and 3 is located, and vice-versa.
This non-uniform flow distribution can cause temperature variations within the turbine section casing 10 that can lead to components cracking or overheating. It can also cause non-uniform turbine section casing growth that could affect the spacing between the tips of the turbine blades and the inner wall 12 of the turbine section casing 10. Non-uniform flow distribution can also lead to insufficient cooling of certain nozzle guide vanes due to less cooling air flow through their respective conduits. This can result in nozzle guide vane burn through, i.e., hole formation in the nozzle guide vanes which disrupts flow and introduces cooler air into the working fluid and thus decreasing the efficiency of the engine. Non-uniform flow distribution can also lead to uneven heat pickup from the gas path to the cooling air as it passes through the nozzle guide vane, leading to an uneven temperature distribution within the turbine chamber 14.

Turbine engine cooling with substantially uniform cooling air flow distribution


An ophthalmological device (1) includes an optical transmission system (5) for transmitting femtosecond laser pulses (L) onto a projection lens (3) for projection onto or into the eye tissue (21). The device (1) also includes a lens interchange device (4) designed for interchanging and connecting different projection lenses (3) to the optical transmission system (5). The lens interchange device (4) includes a number of different projection lenses (3) which are connected mechanically to one another and which can be fed to the optical transmission system (5) by a rotational or translational movement in order to connect the former to the optical transmission system (5). The lens interchange device (4) makes it possible for a user to flexibly and efficiently change the projection lens (3) so that the projection lens (3) can be changed or altered without great expenditure of time and without using a varifocal lens, even between different applications and treatment steps.

Presently, sight defects such as myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness or long-sightedness) or astigmatism can be corrected permanently by means of refractive-surgical treatment. Refractive-surgical treatments are surgical procedures on the eye which change the optical refractive power of the eye with the aim of approximating it as closely as possible to a desired value. These days, laser technology is typically used for treating eye tissue, e.g. for tissue cuts and tissue reduction. In particular, highly focused femtosecond laser pulses with pulse widths of typically 100 fs to 1000 fs (1 fs=10−15 s) are used for the tissue treatment. The cornea of the eye is currently treated using commercial femtosecond laser systems. However, since other tissue parts and tissue regions of the eye, such as the sclera, lens and retina, are also treated with the laser pulses, different working distances and hence focal distances are required for the different areas of application; this requires not only mechanical positioning mechanisms but also different light projection optics. Additionally, different applications and treatment regions often also require image fields (i.e. image regions in focus) with differing size and/or curvature, which in turn can be achieved by means of corresponding application-specific projection optics. In order to obtain different, application-specific focal diameters, focal shapes and focal extents in the projection direction and/or beam divergences, different projection optics with respectively different numerical aperture (NA) must likewise be used. Finally, different projection optics, in particular transparent application elements such as contact bodies, e.g. applanation bodies or distance bodies, may be required due to the specific optical properties of patient interfaces to be implemented. Flexible adaptation of the projection optics to the different application-specific demands could in an ideal case be made possible by a suitable varifocal lens.
Generally, a high NA is desirable because high NA allows the generation of small focal points (spot size), and hence a smaller cut-zone per pulse. It is actually very difficult to produce varifocal lenses which cover a large work region as a result of the often desired high NA, short working distances and in general very small focal sizes (spot sizes). If, additionally, a weight which is as low as possible and a small overall size are decisive (this can easily be the case for use on the eye with a small working distance), then the construction of suitable varifocal lenses is made even more difficult. Image fields with different curvature cannot be implemented by varifocal lenses known from the prior art. Since, for example, the retina and the cornea have a different curvature, different image field curvatures are also necessary.


Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating or preventing muscle diseases or the symptoms thereof. The compositions typically include and the methods typically utilize phosphodiesterase type 5A inhibitors.

The present invention relates generally to the field of muscle disease (i.e., myopathy) and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment or prevention of muscle disease or the symptoms thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophies and pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment or prevention of symptoms thereof.
Many neuromuscular conditions are characterized by an exaggerated exercise-induced fatigue response that is disproportionate to activity level. This fatigue does not necessarily correlate with elevated central or peripheral fatigue in patients (Schillings et al. 2007), and some patients experience severe fatigue without any demonstrable somatic disease (Zwarts et al. 2007). Except in myopathies that are due to specific metabolic defects, the mechanism underlying this type of fatigue remains unknown (Zwarts et al. 2007). With no treatment available, this form of inactivity is a major determinant of disability (Kalkman et al. 2007). Here, using mouse models, it is shown that this exaggerated fatigue response is distinct from a loss in specific force production by muscle, and that sarcolemma-localized nNOS signaling in skeletal muscle is required to maintain activity after mild exercise. Of significance, nNOS-null mice have no muscle pathology and no loss of muscle specific-force after exercise, but do display this exaggerated fatigue response to mild exercise. In mouse models of nNOS mislocalization from the sarcolemma, prolonged inactivity was only relieved by pharmacologically enhancing the cGMP signal that results from muscle nNOS activation during the nitric oxide signaling response to mild exercise. These findings suggest that the mechanism underlying the exaggerated fatigue response to mild exercise is a lack of contraction-induced signaling from sarcolemma-localized nNOS, which reduces cGMP-mediated vasomodulation in the vessels that supply active muscle after mild exercise. Notably, sarcolemmal nNOS was reduced in patient biopsies from a large number of distinct myopathies, suggesting a common mechanism of fatigue. These results suggest that patients with an exaggerated fatigue response to mild exercise would show clinical improvement in response to treatment strategies aimed at improving exercise-induced signaling such as strategies that improve cGMP signaling.

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5A for reducing skeletal muscle fatigue, edema, and damage in a patient having muscle fatigue due to increased age or exercise


Methods for forming pierce holes in a metal workpiece are disclosed. According to one implementation, upon a plasma torch be energized, the cutting axis of the torch is rotated repeatedly between first and second angular positions to produce successively deeper pierces in a workpiece until a pierce hole is produced through a thickness of the workpiece. According to other implementations pierce holes are produced by rotating the cutting axis of the plasma torch tip around a designated central axis of the pierce hole in a diametrically reducing manner so that the produced pierce hole has a tapered profile with a cross-sectional area of the pierce hole at a top surface of the workpiece being greater than a cross-sectional area of the pierced hole at a bottom surface of the workpiece.

Generally, a plasma torch can begin the cutting process in two manners. The first is to begin cutting at an edge of a workpiece, where the arc can begin cutting through the entire thickness of a workpiece at once. The second manner is to pierce through a workpiece to begin cutting at a non-edge location. Piercing forces an arc through a workpiece's thickness, displacing material upwards towards the torch tip as the pierce hole deepens. Unfortunately, this displaced material, which is molten metal, can redeposit on the tip causing cut quality issues and/or damage to the tip. Additionally or alternatively, the displaced material (the molten metal) can accumulate in a large puddle around the pierce hole. If the displaced material accumulates, it has to be removed carefully so as not to damage the plasma consumables (e.g., the tip) or negatively impact the cut quality. At least these two issues often limit the thickness of material that can be successfully pierced at a given power output. Thus, users often start cutting at an edge of a workpiece, even if doing so will generate more material waste than starting with a pierce.
Another problem is that a large portion of the displaced molten metal produced during the piercing process accumulates and solidifies to form dross in an area located between the pierce hole and the intended final work product. As a result, the lead-in from the pierce hole to the intended work product is required to be longer as a result of having to maneuver the torch around any accumulated dross.

Methods and apparatus for forming a pierce hole in a workpiece


The invention relates to a machining center provided with a workpiece machining tool. Said machine tool comprises: an essentially horizontal working plate (10) which is supported by a machine tool stand (2); a workpiece support (20) which is accommodates a workpiece (2) and which is placed on the working plate (10); a machining head (30) which accommodates a machining tool (29) and which is mounted on a vertical machining column (32) that can pivot around a vertical axis (37) by means of a rotary plate (36), said rotary plate being arranged underneath the working plate (10) and integrated in the machine stand (2), and; a first carrying arm (34) for the machining column (32). One end of said carrying arm is connected in a fixed manner to the rotary plate (36), and the other end is laterally guided out over the working plate (10) in such a manner that the machining column (32) mounted there can be pivoted around the working plate (10). A holding device is provided that comprises a bearing (33), which is arranged above the machining head (30) in the axial extension of the axis (37) of the rotary plate (36), and on which a second carrying arm (35) for the machining column (32) is mounted that is joined to said machining column (32).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a machining center with a workpiece machining tool.
2. Description of the Related Art
The principle of workpiece machining tools such as, for example, tools for grinding, milling, turning etc. of workpieces has long been known. These serve on the one hand for the repair of work tools, that is, for example, for re-sharpening the cutting edges of cutting tools, wherein the cutting geometry should be re-established to the closest extent possible, and on the other hand for processing a raw form, that is, for example, for producing a turned part or for the milling-in of grooves, etc., and complicated milled parts, such as can only be produced using interpolated NC-axis.
This type of workpiece processing machine is generally constructed upon a machine stand, which includes the various construction components necessary for functioning. This includes, first, the working plate which is seated upon the machine stand and-oriented horizontally, which as a rule is dimensioned with high precision and is adapted to having further construction components secured thereto.
A workpiece carrier is seated upon the working plate, which receives the workpiece to be machined. The workpiece carrier is equipped for example with a longitudinal and a transverse support, which permit a rapid adjustment respectively in the longitudinal as well as in the transverse direction. Further, the workpiece spindle integrated in the workpiece carrier and receiving the workpiece is free or coupled with the longitudinal support and here drivable, such that any combination of rotational and advancing movements is achievable.
The machining of the workpiece occurs by means of a machining tool, for example by means of a grinding disk, a miller, a chisel, a drill, etc., which is provided interchangeably on a machining head. Depending upon need the machining head is adjustable along multiple axis, so that a desired contour can be followed. For this, the machining head is mounted on a vertically oriented and height adjustable machining column, wherein the machining column for its part is pivotable about a vertically oriented axis and is provided upon a rotary plate. The rotary plate as a rule is likewise seated upon a working plate. Therein it is positioned adjacent to the workpiece carrier in such a manner that the machining tool can be directed onto the workpiece.
From EP 0 700 751 B1, representative of the state of the art over which the present invention represents an improvement, it is known to seat the rotary disk with the thereupon secured machining column not upon the working plate, but rather to integrated it therebelow in the machine stand so that, in comparison to the arrangement wherein the rotary plate is seated upon the working plate, an unimpeded access to the working area is always possible.
According to EP 0 700 751 B1 the pivot movement of the machining head is made possible by securing the machining column carrying this onto a carrier arm, which at one end is attached to the rotary plate and at the other end extends sideways out from the machine stand in order to be able to receive the machining column.
In order to attempt to achieve a stability similar to the workpiece machining tools in which the rotary disk is seated upon the working plate, the rotary plate is double-mounted. In practice this is realized thereby, that a mounting bolt is provided, which extends centrally through the rotary plate and projects both above and below the rotary plate. Journals are provided at the respective projecting bolt ends, which are supported within the machine stand and/or below the working plate.
A mounting device for a light drill tool guided along an arc is described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,630,528. In order to make possible a wide accessibility to the work area, a frame holding the drill tool is provided, which tool is guided upon arcuate curved tracks provided above this frame via a wheel with a wheel flange, the wheel mounted rotatably, oriented vertically, and guided on the upper side of the frame. In order to prevent a pivoting of the frame mounted on the curved track in the direction radially or as the case may be tangential to the guide trackl, the lower end of the frame holding the drill tool is guided upon a track which is also arcuate shaped below the workpiece. For this purpose, the frame is shaped with a projection at the workpiece facing end. The projecting end of the frame includes rollers mounted rotatably in a vertically oriented axis, wherein respectively two rollers encompass the arc shaped rails, so that the total frame is guided in an arc.
Since the wheel with wheel flange provided on the upper side of the frame can essentially receive or accept only a (limited) force in the vertical direction and the rollers mounted at the lower end of the frame can tolerate or accept a limited force in the radial direction, the mounting device according to U.S. Pat. No. 1,630,528 is suitable only for a machining process in which the tool transmits only small forces upon the workpiece and/or processes with high dimensional tolerances.
Frequently however the stability of the guide arrangement according to U.S. Pat. No. 1,630,528 or even the doubled mounting according to EP 0 700 751 B1 is still not sufficient, particularly not when the machining column is made more stable and/or supplemental construction components such as motors for raising or tilt adjusting of the machining head are incorporated, or when, for example in a milling process, a greater force must be transmitted to the workpiece being machined.
The invention is thus concerned with the task of developing a workpiece machining tool of the type described in the introduction in such a manner that it is no longer liable to the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, a machining center of this type with a workpiece machine tool is to be provided, with which the mounting for the pivotable machining column is to be made even more stable, without losing the compact construction and the unimpeded access to the work area, so that a universal employment is possible.
This problem is solved for a machining center of this type by means of the features indicated in the characterizing portion of claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be seen from the dependent claims.
The invention is based upon the idea of stably mounting not only the rotating plate, but rather, to provide a further mounting position, which is provided supplementally to the already present journal or bearing, in axial extension on the opposite side of the machining head. In concrete terms, a mounting device is provided which includes a mounting position above the machining head in the axial extended axis of the rotating plate, at which a second carrier arm connected to the machining column is mounted for the machining column. Accordingly, also in this inventive arrangement, the machining column is provided outside of the working plate, whereby the working area is optimally accessible, that is, unimpeded from all sides. Further, by this type of mounting, the ability of the rotary plate to accept loads is substantially increased in comparison to the conventional one-sided double mount.
Thereby the precision of the workpieces being processed can be significantly increased, in particular also in the case that an elevated application pressure is necessary. Further, the machining column can be made more stable and/or serve for mounting supplemental components such as motors for raising and lowering adjustment of the machine head.
In accordance with the present invention, the motor drive of the pivot arm is preferably associated with the first (lower) carrier arm, so that the mounting position of the upper carrier arm is displaceable in the vertical direction. Thereby tolerances which are unavoidable during assembly can be compensated for.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the mounting device is in the form of a machine frame. This machine frame is preferably so designed, that it essentially encompasses the machine stand, the working plate, the workpiece carrier, the machining tool, the machining head, the machining column, and the rotary plate as well as the first and second carrier arms. Besides the simplified integration of the second mounting point above the machining head along the axial extension of the axis of the rotary plate, such a compact form further exhibits the advantage, that the machining center or as the case may be a separate unit can be transported to the set-up location, without having to provide additional protective devices for the individual machine components. Further, no dirtying of the machine occurs from outside by other machines positioned adjacent thereto, or on the other hand, the particles or shavings produced by processing of the workpiece in the machine itself cannot escape to the outside.
It is further envisioned that the machine frame is comprised of mineral cast components. A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention envisions that the mineral cast components of the frame are adhered to each other and/or screwed together. The advantage of this embodiment lies in the attainability of an optimal stiffness.
According to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine framework includes a dismantleable covering with a sliding door. The sliding door makes possible an optimal accessibility to the working area during the working process itself; the easily disassembled covering makes possible the accessibility from the side to the components of the machine for repair and/or service purposes.
An inventive alternative to the above described machine frame is comprised therein, that the framework is in the form of a bridge, which essentially passes over the machine stand, the working plate, the workpiece carrier, the machining tool, the machining head, the machining column, the rotary plate and the first and second carrier arms. Here also it is guaranteed that the second mounting point is integrated in simple mode and manner above the machining head in the axial extension of the axis of the rotary plate. The machining center constructed in this mode and manner further exhibits the advantage that the individual components are on the one hand very simple to produce and on the other hand that the transportation and assembly can be carried out in simple manner.
In accordance with a particularly advantageous variant of this embodiment, a cable channel is provided in the bridge, in which supply lines or the like for this machine, or machines provided in close proximity to this machining center, can be received. Since it is frequently the case that the supply lines for this type of machine or as the case may machining center must be carried by special carrier or retaining devices, it becomes possible in this case to dispense with a separate device.
In accordance with a further modification of this variant, a housing part is rotatably mounted upon the bridge, which at least partially encompasses the working plate, the workpiece carrier, the machining tool, the machining head, the machining column, the rotary plate and the first and second carrier arms. This housing part functionally corresponds essentially to the sliding door of the above-mentioned variant. It makes possible on the one hand an optimal accessibility of the operating area during the working process itself. It is however, beyond this, made possible, that the working plate, the workpiece carrier, the machining tool, the machining head, the machining column, the rotary plate and the first and second carrier arm are protected from unauthorized access.
Preferably, this rotatably mounted housing part is in the form of a segment of a cylindrical casing, wherein the casing surfaces are essentially oriented vertically. A housing part of this kind is easy to manufacture and is particularly suited to being rotated at least partially into a fixed housing part. This fixed housing part can likewise be in the form a section of a cylindrical casing.
For manufacturing reasons, it is advantageous to produce the bridge of steel. Besides this, a steel bridge ensures high stability of the total device, so that a very precise processing of the work is made possible.
In accordance with the invention it is further envisioned, that the fixed housing part is made of sheet metal and the rotatable mounted housing part is made of MAKROLON (polycarbonate, product of Bayer), glass (fiberglass) or the like. A sheet metal cover has in general the advantage of the low cost of manufacturability, the transparent version of the rotatably mounted housing part enables optical monitoring of the parts which are accessible during processing.
For cost and stability reasons the rotatably mounted housing part is preferably provided with a steel lid.


A mounting system for a powertrain of a vehicle may secure a sufficient installation space inside of vehicle body frames and greatly reduce a height difference between the center of gravity of a motor-reducer assembly and insulators, thus greatly improving NVH performance of the vehicle. The mounding system includes: mounting units to mount the powertrain of the vehicle to the vehicle body frames. Each mounting unit includes: a vehicle body-side bracket coupled to the vehicle body frame, a powertrain-side bracket coupled to the powertrain, and an insulator installed between the vehicle body-side bracket and the powertrain-side bracket. The vehicle body-side bracket as coupled to an outer surface of the vehicle body frame extends downwards from the vehicle body frame, and thus, the vehicle body-side bracket and the insulator are located in an outer space of the vehicle body frame.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In a general vehicle, a powertrain including an engine, a transmission, etc. is mounted on a vehicle body frame using a mounting system having a vibration isolation function, and main functions of the mounting system are to support the weight of the powertrain on the vehicle body frame and to prevent transmission of vibration of the engine to the vehicle body frame.
The mounting system for the powertrain having the vibration isolation function is an important factor which has a great effect on marketability of the vehicle including performance, such as vibration, noise, ride comfort, etc.
An engine mounting system, which is generally used in a commercial diesel vehicle, such as a truck, is installed on a vehicle body frame to be inclined at a designated angle, so as to suppress vibration caused by engine behavior.
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a supported state of a powertrain including an engine, a transmission, etc. by a conventional mounting system of a truck.
As shown in FIG. 1, the mounting system is configured to support a powertrain 2 including an engine, a transmission, etc. on vehicle body frames 1, and the vehicle body frame 1 includes vehicle body-side brackets 3 which are fixedly installed at inner surfaces of the vehicle body frames 1, powertrain-side brackets 4 which are fixedly installed at one side of the powertrain 2 (one side of the engine), and insulators 5 which are installed to be interposed between the vehicle body-side brackets 3 and the powertrain-side brackets 4 so as to insulate vibration.
Here, a vehicle body frame 1 extending in forward and backward directions is disposed at each of both sides of a vehicle, (i.e., first and second vehicle body frames 1 are respectively arranged on both sides of the vehicle), and FIG. 1 illustrates the cross-sectional shape of the vehicle body frames 1.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second vehicle body frames 1 have an approximately C-shaped cross-section, and the powertrain 2 including the engine, the transmission, etc. is mounted between the two vehicle body frames 1.
Here, the vehicle body-side bracket 3 and the insulator 5 are located within an inner space of the vehicle body frame 1, and there is a height difference between the positions of the insulators 5 of the mounting system and the center of gravity of the engine (referring to FIG. 2).
The mounting system of FIG. 1 is applied to a truck provided with a diesel engine installed therein, and, if this mounting system is applied to a motor-driven vehicle, such as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle or an electric vehicle, we have discovered the following problems.
In the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle or the electric vehicle, among components of a powertrain, an engine is replaced with a motor, and the powertrain including the motor, a reducer, etc. is mounted on two vehicle body frames disposed in forward and backward directions at both sides of the vehicle using a mounting system, in the same manner as a general truck provided with a diesel engine installed therein.
First, the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle or the electric vehicle has a large number of hoses, pipes and wiring elements which must be installed in inner spaces of vehicle body frames, as compared to the general diesel engine vehicle.
For example, a cooling water hose or pipe, a high voltage cable, etc. are disposed in the inner spaces of the vehicle body frames, and if the same mounting system as in the general diesel truck is provided, the brackets 3 and the insulators 5 are located within the inner spaces of the vehicle body frames 1, and thus, there is no room for the cooling water hose or pipe, the high voltage cable, etc.
Further, we have found that if the conventional mounting system is applied to the motor-driven vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2, there may be a height difference between the positions of the insulators 5 of the mounting system and the center of gravity of the powertrain 2, and vibration insulation performance of the vehicle may be greatly deteriorated due to such a height difference.
In more detail, in the motor-driven vehicle, such as the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle or the electric vehicle, the motor outputs a large torque in a low RPM region, and thus it is desired to effectively control displacements of the motor and the reducer at start.
However, when there is a height difference between the positions of the insulators 5 and the center of gravity of the powertrain 2, it is difficult to control the displacement of the powertrain 2, the displacement of the motor is increased and thus excessive vibration may occur, thereby greatly deteriorating noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance of the vehicle.

Mounting system for powertrain of vehicle


A method and an apparatus for outputting stereoscopic images in a mobile terminal are provided. The method includes entering a play control command for a stereoscopic video, searching for an I-frame (key frame) corresponding to a changed play position; determining, after decoding the found I-frame, whether the decoded I-frame is a left frame (L-frame) or a right frame (R-frame), adjusting, when the decoded I-frame is an R-frame, L-R sequencing, and outputting a stereoscopic image based on the adjusted L-R sequence. Hence, the mobile terminal may output a stereoscopic image in a manner that the stereoscopic effect intended by the content author is fully conveyed by the mobile terminal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for outputting stereoscopic images. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for enabling a mobile terminal to output a stereoscopic image including alternating left frames and right frames.
2. Description of the Related Art
With rapid popularization, mobile terminals have become a necessity of modern life. Mobile terminals have evolved into multimedia communication devices that can provide not only basic voice communication services but also various data transmission and supplementary services. Recent advances in a 3 Dimensional (3D) stereoscopic imaging technology have given rise to development of mobile terminals capable of outputting 3D stereoscopic images.
A 3D stereoscopic image includes a sequence of alternating left frames (L-frames) and right frames (R-frames). An L-frame and R-frame may be one of a key frame (I-frame) and a delta frame (P-frame).
During playback of a stereoscopic image, a mobile terminal outputs a sequence of L-frames and R-frames. When the user changes the playback position of the stereoscopic image, the mobile terminal starts decoding from an I-frame corresponding to the changed playback position. When the I-frame is an L-frame, the mobile terminal may create a desired stereoscopic effect by resuming playback of the stereoscopic image. However, when the I-frame is an R-frame, the mobile terminal may generate a reversed stereoscopic effect.
FIG. 1 illustrates an image with a desired stereoscopic effect and an image with a reversed stereoscopic effect according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a reference symbol [a] indicates an image with a desired stereoscopic effect, and a reference symbol [b] indicates an image with a reversed stereoscopic effect. As indicated by reference symbol [a], a sequence of an L-frame and an R-frame creates a desired stereoscopic effect, in which hearts 10 and 11 are seen as concave and a cross 12 is seen as convex. On the other hand, as indicated by reference symbol [b], a sequence of an R-frame and an L-frame creates a reversed stereoscopic effect, in which the hearts 10 and 11 are seen as convex and the cross 12 is seen as concave. In this case, content-specific stereoscopic effects may not be delivered to the user of a mobile terminal.
Therefore, a need exists for a method and an apparatus to output a stereoscopic image such that the stereoscopic effect intended by the content author is fully conveyed by a mobile terminal.

Method and apparatus for outputting stereoscopic images in mobile terminal


Methods and systems for customer premise equipment (CPE) to reverse the upstream speed and downstream speed of a network connection (e.g., ADSL connection) are described. The CPE is communicating with a network device via the network connection. Originally, the CPE's downstream speed with the network device significantly exceeds the CPE's upstream speed with the network device. A speed reversal signal is forwarded from the CPE to the network device. The signal requests the network device to reverse the CPE's downstream speed and upstream speed with the network device. The network device retrains the CPE. The CPE communicates with the retrained network device with an upstream speed that significantly exceeds the downstream speed.

Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) is a form of DSL, a data communications technology that enables faster data transmission over telephone lines than a conventional modem can provide.
The distinguishing characteristic of ADSL over DSL is that the volume of data flow is greater in one direction than the other. For example, ADSL may allow a user to download at high speeds (e.g., 8 Mbps) information from the Internet. However, the upload speed on the same ADSL may be significantly lower (e.g., 800 kbps). Further, under traditional approaches, the asymmetric data flow direction is fixed, meaning that a user with an ADSL has access to a relatively faster download speed a relatively slower upload speed.
Some ADSL users are more focused on downloading information from the Internet (e.g., web browsing, downloading photos, and/or downloading music) than uploading information to the Internet. As a result, ADSL connections are designed to have a fixed download speed that is significantly faster than its fixed slower upload speed. For example, FIG. 1 (Prior Art) illustrates block diagrams of a conventional ADSL system. FIG. 1 includes an ADSL modem 102, a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) 104, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 106, and Internet 108. The ADSL modem is communicatively coupled with DSLAM 104. The upload speed and download speed for the ADSL modem 102 with respect to the DSLAM is fixed based on bandwidth allocation. In one embodiment, ADSL modem has a fixed download speed (e.g., 8 Mbps) that is significantly faster than its upload speed (e.g., 800 kpbs).
However, although during most times ADSL users may desire a faster download speed over a faster upload speed, in certain instances ADSL users may wish to reverse this asymmetry and have a faster upload speed instead. In particular, in certain situations a user and/or an enterprise may wish to upload significant amounts of data efficiently. In one example, an enterprise may wish to back up important data files onto an online storage service. In another example, an individual user may wish to upload large numbers of photos and/or video clips to share with friends and family.

Methods and systems for a customer premise equipment to reverse the upstream speed and downstream speed of a network connection


Bifurcated leggings such as pants, jeans, trousers, shorts, leggings or pajamas with front flap for providing a convenient access to a front opening of underwear/panties for using a toilet, changing sanitary napkins, performing sexual intercourse, or allow minimally invasive surgical treatment, in the pelvic/vaginal region, without completely removing or pulling down the legged clothing. A front flap extending beyond the crotch area can have fasteners to secure the flap on the sides and plural front buttons to tie the flap on the top. Alternatively, fasteners can be provided to secure the flap from behind, when using the toilet. The flap can be an integral cloth, hinged or attached on the posterior of the pants, and can be Y-shaped or an hourglass shaped and opens in the front. A zipper, zip, fly or zip fastener can bind edges of the fabric opening, based on interlocking teeth.

Bifurcated legged clothing, in one form or another, have been in use for centuries. Typically, bifurcated legged clothing are comprised of pants, trousers, jeans, shorts, leggings and pajamas. These are outer garments worn by men and women that covers the body from the waist (or hip) downwards, covering each leg separately (rather than a cloth across both legs as in skirts and other dresses), usually as far as the ankles. Technically, any bifurcated legged garment or clothing worn on the lower torso will be a prior art.
Other commonly used synonyms for pants include pantaloons, breeches, britches, slacks, baggies, bell-bottoms, blue jeans, cargo pants, cords, corduroys, denims, hose, legging (or leggin), sweatpants, pants suit, pantsuit, bloomers, knee breeches and knickerbockers. Other bifurcated legged clothing can include "Neck to Toe" suits, such as workshop garments, space suits or nightwear garments.
A main problem with conventional bifurcated legged clothing is that one has to pull them down when using a toilet, especially for the women. Most pants have a fly, an opening covering the groin that makes the pants easier to put on or take off. The opening also allows men to urinate without lowering their pants, but not for women.
There have been some modifications in pants (in general) throughout the history, which are not as effective as the current invention. For example, some pajamas feature a drop seat (also known as a trap door or butt flap), a buttoned opening in the back, designed to allow the wearer to conveniently use a toilet.
However, these types of clothing have drawbacks that makes it difficult to wear underwear. Drop seats were very common on pajamas made prior to 1950s, but today they are rather rare.
A brand named "EZ-GO™ PANTS/SHORTS" was launched to serve anyone (typically men) who is infirmed, confined to a bed or in a wheelchair, in elderly care or rehabilitation.
Another problem with conventional bifurcated legged clothing for women is that they are not able to change sanitary napkins (menstrual pad or tampons) without pulling down the pants, in a limited privacy.
Another problem with conventional bifurcated legged clothing for women is that they are not able to be worn when performing sexual intercourse without removing or pulling down the pants completely.
Additionally, typical pants hinders doctors to perform minimally invasive surgical treatment, in the pelvic/vaginal region. The above is also quite inconvenient for people in uniforms such as athletes, pilots, truck drivers, etc., as well as hospital patients, disabled persons, and the elderly.
While these different types of prior art may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing a convenient flap in the front of the pants and similar types such as, but not restricted to jeans, trousers, shorts, leggings or pajamas. This would help the user in conjunction with front opening (or easy access or open crotch) underwear/panties in using a toilet, changing sanitary napkins (menstrual pad or tampons) or performing sexual intercourse, without removing or pulling down the pants completely.
Most pants have a fly, an opening covering the groin that makes the pants easier to put on or take off. The opening also allows men to urinate without lowering their pants, but not for women. There had been some modifications in pants (in general) throughout the history, which are not as effective as the current invention.
In these respects, the pants and similar types with a convenient front flap according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides a contraption primarily developed for the purpose of providing a convenient flap in the front of the pants and similar types such as, but not restricted to jeans, trousers, shorts, leggings or pajamas. This would help the user in conjunction with front opening (or easy access or open crotch) underwear/panties in using a toilet, changing sanitary napkins (menstrual pad or tampons) or performing sexual intercourse, without removing or pulling down the pants completely. Additionally, the invention will allow performing minimally invasive surgical treatment, in the pelvic/vaginal region, without removing or pulling down the pants completely.
Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.

Pants and similar types with a convenient flap


A differential read only memory array includes a differential sense amplifier coupled to first and second bit lines. A first bit cell is coupled to a first word line and to the first and second bit lines. The at least one bit cell includes a first transistor having a gate coupled to the first word line, a drain coupled to the first bit line, and a source coupled to a first power supply line. A second transistor has a gate coupled to the first word line. A source and a drain of the second transistor are either both connected to the second bit line or both unconnected to the second bit line.

Read only memories ("ROMs") include a plurality of cells disposed in rows and columns to form an array. Conventional ROM cells are single-ended and include a plurality of transistors coupled to bit lines and word lines that are used to read and write a bit of data to the memory cell. However, these conventional single-ended ROMs have high area and power penalties and slower speeds due to large loads on bit lines. Additionally, the VCCmin performance of the ROMs are limited by the design and implementation of keeper circuits, which are implemented for assistance during read operations.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


An air conditioning system includes a compressor, and indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. During a heating cycle, when the refrigerant exiting the outdoor heating exchanger comprises a mixture of gaseous and liquid refrigerant, that mixture is passed through an accumulator in which the flow speed of the refrigerant is reduced, and in which the refrigerant is heated to convert the liquid refrigerant to gaseous refrigerant.

This invention relates to a cooling/heating air conditioner, and more particularly, to the auxiliary heating apparatus of an air conditioner provided to more effectively heat a room during the heating cycle.
A cooling/heating air conditioner which, in general, comprises an expansion tube, an outdoor heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a compressor, and an indoor heat exchanger; said air conditioner performs room-cooling in summer and room-heating in winter as determined by the four-way valve.
As shown in FIG. 1, which is a system diagram of a conventional air conditioner, refrigerant is circulated in the direction of the arrow: solid line to indicate a cool room in summer and broken line to indicate a heated room in winter.
This is achieved by means of the four-way valve, that is, if the flow direction of the refrigerant is reversed by the switch-over of the four-way valve during the cooling cycle which circulates in the direction of the solid line, the cooling/heating air conditioner is operated in the heating cycle as the function of the outdoor heat exchanger is changed to that of a condenser from that of an evaporator and the function of the indoor heat exchanger is changed to that of an evaporator from that of a condenser.
The heating cycle may be better understood by referring to FIG. 1. Initially, refrigerant in a gas state compressed to high temperature and high pressure by a compressor 1 is introduced to the indoor heat exchanger 5 through a four-way valve 2 to be heat-exchanged with indoor air and it then flows into expansion tubes 4 and 41 after being changed into a liquid state.
The refrigerant in the liquid state is expanded to a low temperature and low pressure while it passes through the expansion tubes 4 and 41 and then is introduced to the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to be heat-exchanged with the outdoor air.
The refrigerant which is changed into the mixed state of gas and liquid as a result of the heat exchange in the outdoor heat exchanger 3 passes through an accumulator 6 which allows only refrigerant in a gas state to pass so that the compressor 1 receives only refrigerant in a gas state. The air conditioner provides heat to a room by sequentially repeating the above process.
However, the heating capability of the conventional cooling/heating air conditioner is decreased as the outdoor air temperature falls during the heating cycle because the refrigerant directed to the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is not able to absorb sufficient heat from the cold outdoor air, and to make matters worse, if the outdoor air temperature falls below approximately 5 deg. C., the room-heating by the air conditioner becomes greatly impaired.
As a method to solve the above problem, an auxiliary heating apparatus 17 is mounted on the refrigerant pipe 51 between the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the compressor 1 so as to heat the refrigerant when the outdoor temperature falls below a fixed temperature setting.
The auxiliary heating apparatus 17, as shown in FIG. 2, is assembled in the following order: heating coils 171 are wound around the peripheral portion of the refrigerant pipe 51, the heating coils 171 are enclosed within a flexible tube 172, both ends of the flexible tube 172 are sealed with a sealing member 175 such as silicone, and caps 175a are fitted on both of the ends. Power cords 180, 181 are connected to the heating coils.
But, the conventional air conditioner having the auxiliary heating apparatus 17 is not able to offer a desired heating effect because the velocity of the refrigerant passing through the refrigerant pipe 51 is relatively fast so that there is not enough time to achieve a sufficient heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heating coils 171.
Further more, the auxiliary heating apparatus 17 is mechanically unstable and its assembly is somewhat complicated because the auxiliary heating apparatus 17 is constructed in such a way that the caps 175a are forced to fit on the ends of the flexible tube 172 enclosing the heating coils 171.

Air conditioner with heater for heating liquified refrigerant


Data driven device detection is provided, whereby a device is detected by obtaining a plurality of feature values for a given device; obtaining a set of device attributes for a plurality of potential devices; calculating a probability value that the given device is each potential device within the plurality of potential devices; identifying a candidate device associated with a maximum probability value among the calculated probability values; and labeling the given device as the candidate device if the associated maximum probability value satisfies a predefined threshold. The predefined threshold can be a function, for example, of whether the given user has previously used this device. The obtained feature values can be obtained for a selected set of features satisfying one or more predefined characteristic criteria. The device attributes can be obtained, for example, from a profile for each of the plurality of potential devices.

Recognizing the device being used by an employee, consumer or another user is helpful in many applications. For example, recognizing the device can help the server to better present its content (e.g., different presentations suit mobile devices, tablets and desktop devices), provide better statistics on site traffic, and personalize the user-experience without having to identify the user.
In the security domain, such as Information Technology (IT) security systems and financial anti-fraud systems, device detection can serve as a powerful tool that aids in identifying the user and detecting impersonation attacks. In addition, device detection can serve as an additional valuable feature that makes risk assessment more accurate and with a reduced false positive rate. For example, an identity claim that is generated by a device that the user has never used before is more probable to be a fraudulent transaction, or an impersonation attack, especially when there are additional indicators that support this conclusion. On the other hand, reliable device detection can be used to increase usability by not asking the user for his or her credentials if the user is connecting from his or her regular device and several other features also have their expected value, e.g., the user's location, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and transaction time.
Existing adaptive authentication systems typically use device identification as part of a risk assessment process. Device detection is typically applied on the basis of the device features, such as installed applications, hardware characteristics and configuration values. Unfortunately, these features often change over time which makes device detection a challenging task.
A need therefore remains for improved device detection techniques.


A radio frequency antenna array uses lenses and RF elements, to provide ground-based coverage for cellular communication. The antenna array can include a spherical lens, where each spherical lens has at least two associated RF elements. Each of the RF elements associated with a given lens produces an output beam with an output area. The antenna includes a control mechanism configured to enable a user to move the RF elements along their respective tracks, and automatically phase compensate the output beams produced by the RF elements based on the relative distance between the RF elements.

The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
In many cases, capacity in a wireless network can be increased by: 1) adding to the number of nodes in the network, 2) providing increased frequency coverage (e.g. wider bandwidths), or 3) improving the air interface method to increase data throughput. However, the second and third approaches generally rely on advances outside the network operator's control. For example, the acquisition and utilization of wider bandwidths depend on local governments granting new licenses for a given section of the RF spectrum. Further, improved air interface methods are typically developed outside the Research and Development processes of the network operators. As such, network operators can choose to split cells—this cell splitting has been a known step in increasing network capacity since cellular networks were invented in the 1970s. However, new cells historically meant the necessity of a new site along with the associated complexity and costs. Another known alternative process is to increase the number of sectors at a given cell site. This alternative process could be accomplished by adding additional antennas at a given site, or by using common aperture multi-beam antennas.
However, a drawback of multiple beam antennas is poor beam to beam isolation. Beam isolation is calculated by the amount of impinging signals produced by beams adjacent to that beam assigned to a receiver. From a transmit view, beam isolation is a representation of the amount of unwanted signal transmitted into the wrong beam. There are two major contributors to beam to beam isolation: 1) coupling from non-radiating feed network components (e.g. Butler matrix), and 2) coupling from radiating network components (e.g. radiating beams). Also, while a Butler Matrix itself typically has directivity of roughly 20 dB, when added to the azimuth side lobes it results in poor beam to beam isolation of roughly 15 dB for a multiple beam antenna.
In contrast, multi-lens based antenna arrays have superior performance in several key performance metrics compared to aforementioned antenna systems including: 1) the ability to provide large electrical down tilt angles for the main output beam while configured to maintain gain, beam width, cross polarization discrimination (cross-pol), and side lobe levels (SLL), 2) a reduction in the number of radiating elements compared to non-lens based antennas, 3) a higher antenna efficiency, 4) an ability to form multiple beam arrays using a common aperture without utilizing a Butler Matrix.
Multiple beam, multi-lens antenna arrays are very useful in 4G and 5G wireless networks as they increase capacity while maintaining antenna size and volumes similar to single beam antennas and are easily combined in multiple column arrays for 4×4 multiple input/multiple output (MIMO). However, a limitation of all multiple beam antenna arrays are the side lobes (SLL) in the azimuth plane. As the azimuth SLL increases, the network has a more difficult time discriminating between output beams. Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) alarms, coupled to the RF elements, are based on power received due to a transmitter signal, such that when a multiple beam antenna has poor beam to beam isolation, a transmit power imbalance between beams due to higher traffic into a beam can cause VSWR alarms. This is a major drawback to multiple beam antennas.
FIG. 6 of the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,582 to Trigui et. al., depicts a two-beam antenna system with poor azimuth side lobe levels. The antenna described in Trigui uses a Butler Matrix, an RF network device that when applied to multiple beam antennas comprises N inputs and M outputs (i.e. an N×M Butler Matrix). The M outputs each feed one RF element of the array, such that the elements that are arrayed in the azimuth plane. In FIG. 6, M=3. The N inputs each produce a separate beam by creating a distinct phasing between the M outputs for each input. Here, N=2 for the dual beam antenna using a Butler Matrix. FIG. 6 of Trigui is an example of a multiple beam antenna based on a 2×3 Butler Matrix with inherently poor beam to beam isolation (e.g. roughly 15 dB).
Upper side lobes are undesirable in the vertical plane. To reduce side lobes vertically oriented linear arrays taper amplitude and phase across the RF elements, typically with highest amplitude in the center elements. Grating lobes occur whenever the spacing between elements is less than one half wavelength. Grating lobes are reduced by the amplitude taper of the individual elements in the vertical plane. As an example, if a grating lobe occurs at 60 degrees from the beam peak and the element pattern is down 10 dB at 60 degrees the grating lobe will be attenuated by 10 dB. This effect is more pronounced when the array elements are lenses due to the narrower element pattern from a typical RF lens. Lens spacings of over two wavelengths are possible with standard tilt and side lobe levels. These two techniques, amplitude and phase taper between elements and reducing grating lobes by element pattern power roll off, are used extensively in base station antenna design.
The novel technique described here presents a method to further reduce grating lobes. In a preferred embodiment, the vertical pattern for Base Station Antennas consists of reduced side lobes above the beam peak and higher side lobes below the beam peak with negligible reduction in directivity, compared to no side lobe mitigation. Antennas on a typical tower want low upper side lobes to reduce interference to other cells while providing as much pattern as possible near in to the tower. By down tilting the individual elements at a tilt larger than the tilt produced by the relative phase between the elements the element pattern is positioned for greater attenuation above the main beam and less attenuation below the main beam. This "pre-tilt" technique consists of limitless variations of how much pre-tilt for each element in the array, creating different pre-tilt for different elements of the array, and keeping some elements at a fixed tilt over the range of antenna tilts. Advantageously, this technique can be used for any antenna array but when RF lens arrays are used more significant performance improvement is possible due to the narrow element patterns.
RF lens-based antenna sub-systems find wide use outside the area of wireless communication systems for the reasons previously mentioned; low weight, superior beam isolation, consistent performance over scan angle. The use of RF lens-based antenna sub-systems in satellite tracking systems is a recent area of industry focus.
The scalable approach described here extends the teaching of satellite tracking to include a switched beam system that does not require rapid repositioning of beams, but instead relies on the rapid switching between beams located at different positions and with higher resolution. This approach uses low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and transmit amplifiers with RF switching and distribution systems to place the output area of an output beam in a desired location, without the use of phase shifters. In place of phase shifters that provide continuous scanning, a switched beam architecture is presented, providing higher performance by accurately configuring multiple output beams using highly reliable switching techniques. In the receive path, the Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) limit the deterioration in the signal to noise (S/N) ratio which keeps a high signal integrity through the RF switching and distribution matrix.
Phase shifters are used when beam position needs to be finely tuned to a specific location. When multiple emitters are to be tracked a more efficient method of tracking is to provide a cluster of high gain, narrow beam width beams, placing the emitters in a given beams' output area, which can be scaled to even more narrow beams by arraying together lenses with beams pointing in the same area of the sky.
The tracking of RF signal emitters (e.g. satellites, aircraft, missiles, etc.) has evolved over many decades. The goal of these RF signal tracking systems is to acquire the emitters RF signal, pinpoint the look angle (e.g. elevation and azimuth), and maintain tracking as the emitter moves relative to the receiver. Several proven techniques exist. One example technique is the Monopulse technique, where position is determined through a feedback system keeping the object in the center of the difference pattern. Another example are the giant PAVE-PAWS radars, installed strategically around the northern hemisphere, that are capable of tracking numerous high velocity emitters simultaneously. These two examples highlight the tradeoff between nimble tracking of a single emitter (e.g. monopulse) and the ability to track many emitters simultaneously (e.g. PAVE-PAWS). RF emitter tracking systems are often installed on aircraft, ships, and vehicles where size, weight, wind load, and structural considerations are paramount.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

RF lens antenna array with reduced grating lobes


The invention is a two-stroke engine that incorporates advantages of both the two-stroke and four-stroke types of engines. The crankcase is sealed and uses an oil pump to lubricate the piston, connecting rod, and crankshaft. The combustion air does not flow through the crankcase. Instead, the engine uses two camshafts, one for the intake valve located on the cylinder head and the other for the exhaust valve located on the side of the cylinder. The engine has a compressor, powered by the engine battery to compress ambient air before it enters into the combustion chamber. Additionally, the engine has an exhaust powered turbine connected to an alternator, which provides additional power for the engine battery. The engine is equipped with one or plurality of fuel-injection nozzles. The piston is of the two step type, which reduces friction between the piston and the cylinder.

Previous two stroke engines deliver intake air through the crankcase to the combustion chamber by the pumping action of the piston. Generally, lubricating oil is mixed with the intake air so as to lubricate the crankshaft and piston. The result is increased oil consumption and emissions compared to a conventional four stroke engine. There are two stroke engines with sealed crankcases. However, these have both the intake and exhaust valves in the cylinder head with the result of increased problems of scavenging the products of combustion. The present invention solves the scavenging problem by locating the exhaust valve proximate bottom dead center for lengthwise scavenging and solves the oil consumption problem by sealing the crankcase with a step type piston. The step piston having piston rings located only at a bottommost portion and a body portion defining the rest of the piston wherein it is spaced from the cylinder wall.

Two stroke engine with regular lubrication system


A set of rain chaps which includes a belt for attachment around a waist of a wearer, a pair of leg portions affixed to the belt, having a lower substantially rectangular portion with an elongated inside edge of one leg portion extending from an ankle region to an upper thigh region of a wearer. The elongated inside edge overlaps a substantial portion of another of the leg portions, and an arcuate edge joins an upper region of the inside edge to approximately midway of the belt for each of the leg portions. A pair of straps are affixable to the belt at a back of the wearer and attached to corresponding ones of the upper region of each of the leg portions so that each of the upper regions of the leg portions is pulled upwardly and rearwardly so as to prevent rotation of said leg portions proximate the bottom. Strap means are provided for attaching the leg portions around a leg of a wearer.

Protective rain chaps which fit over the regular clothes of a wearer to protect the latter during activities such as loading and unloading trucks, walking through undergrowth, and riding motorcycles or bicycles are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,110,845 issued to Chellis discloses a set of rain chaps supported by means of straps to a belt around the waist and fastened around each leg along a longitudinal seam by snap fasteners. Enclosing the legs entirely necessarily reduces freedom of movement. Chellis provides little protection to the hip area.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,299 issued May 12, 1981 to Beal discloses a protective garment that includes leg coverings that cover the front of the thighs and fasten around the knee. No protection is provided for the legs below the knees.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,353 issued to Harvey on July 10, 1984 discloses a rain garment to protect the front of the legs of a cyclist consisting of two leg coverings with elastic down each longitudinal edge extending from foot inserts to a waist band. A single strap around the back over the upper portion of each thigh serves to hold the leg portions in place. A single interior apron covers an open area between the leggings from the waist to the crotch. Utilizing foot inserts creates the disadvantage of limiting the amount of walking possible without wearing out and unduly soiling the inserts Moreover, a single loose apron flap inadequately protects the crotch area due to the tendency of the apron to move with movement of the wearer. Finally utilizing only a single strap allows the knee portion of the garment to easily become dislodged.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,391 issued on Mar. 26, 1985 to Rodman discloses a set of chaps consisting of two leg enclosing portions and two upper portions or overlapping flaps for protecting the front area below the waist. A longitudinal zipper is used to attach and remove the leg enclosing portions. Each flap is held in place by a respective pocket at a top of an associated leg portion. Overlap of the flaps is accomplished by a sideways projecting section of one flap extending over to the other. Thus, the flap material must be reasonably rigid otherwise the projecting section would simply hang down and not serve its protective function. The preferred material is stated as being heavy leather.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,562 issued on May 19, 1987 to Winer discloses a leg protector consisting of a rectangular main section for enclosing the calf and ankle of a wearer and a pair of spaced apart straps with a hooked material on one set of upper and lower straps and a corresponding napped material on the other set for detachably engaging associated hooked material.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,026 issued on Sept. 21, 1976 to Reverberi discloses a waterproof garment consisting of an assembly of preformed, permanent, parallel folds. When the garment is folded it forms into a belt-like shape that can be worn around the waist of a user. The garment is folded up to a pair of parallel set of snaps and then the snaps on one side are snapped onto the snaps of the other. Otherwise the garments are like regular clothing.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved set of rain chaps. It is a further object of the invention to provide a set of rain chaps which can be readily attached, detached and stored on the wearer. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a set of rain chaps that provide improved protection to the wearer in combination with greater freedom of movement.


A composite shield assembly is for use in deposition apparatus defining a work piece location. The assembly includes a first shield element for position circumjacent the work piece location and a second shield element for extending around and carrying the first element. The thermal conductivity of the first element is greater than that of the second element, and the elements are arranged for intimate thermal contact.

Shielding design is an important factor in the reliable operation of PVD tools. The shielding has to contain deposited material, to avoid deposition on the chamber walls for example, retain this material for as long as possible, ideally a full target life without release of particles, be simple to replace, be low cost and have no adverse effect on the film coating on the wafer.
Typically stainless steel shielding is used in PVD systems as robust, relatively complex assemblies can be constructed which can be simple to install in the process chamber and are relatively cost effective as they can be cleaned and re-used.
When high power deposition processes are carried out, i.e. >30 kW, the heat load on the stainless steel shielding can cause distortion (due to the fact that stainless steel is a relatively poor thermal conductor) which in turn will result in particles being ejected from the shielding. This is not acceptable for standard operating conditions. While shielding could be made from a metal with better thermal properties, e.g. Aluminium this tends to be costly to fabricate and impractical to clean. Cleaning aluminium is difficult and when tight dimensional tolerance is important (to maintain film uniformity on the wafer for example) it is not practical to re-use the material.


A card type input/output interface device includes a first connection part for transferring data between a main body of an electronic device and the card type input/output interface device, a second connection part which is coupled to the first connection part and transfers data between an external device and the card type input/output interface device, and a card supporting the first and second connection part. The first connection part is accommodated in the main body when the card type input/output interface device is inserted into a slot provided in the main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a card type input/output interface device, which couples a main body of an electronic device system and an external or peripheral device with each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is well known, advances in the semiconductor technology bring about down-sizing of various electronic device systems. An IC (Integrated Circuit) memory card was created under the above circumstances. An IC memory card, which functions as an external storage device, is inserted into a slot of the main body of an electronic device system. Normally, a small-scale electronic device system, such as a laptop computer, has a connector for connecting it to external devices such as a printing machine and a modem. There is currently a need for further down-sizing and for cost reducing of such electronic device systems.
An IC memory card comprises integrated volatile memories and/or integrated nonvolatile memories mounted on a card. Examples of the integrated volatile memories are an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access MemOry), and examples of the integrated non-volatile memory are a mask ROM (Read Only Memory) and an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). If 12 IC memories, each having a storage capacity of 64 kbits, are mounted on a card, an IC memory card having a storage capacity of 768 kbits will be formed. Hence, it is easy to form an IC memory card having a storage capacity of a few megabits to tens of megabits by mounting, on the card, a plurality of IC memories, each memory having a storage capacity of few megabits on a chip. An IC card has been practically used in which a processor is formed integrally with IC memories. Such an IC card has the function of processing data. This IC card is also called a smart card or an intelligent card.
The external dimensions of IC memory cards or IC cards are 85.6.times.54.0.times.3.3 [mm], for example. These cards are inserted into slots of electronic device systems, such as word processors and personal computers. In the state where the cards are inserted into the slots, the cards make electric connections with internal buses or registers provided in the electronic device systems. These electric connections can be made by means of direct contact structures or non-contact structures.
Nowadays, small-scale electronic device systems use IC memory cards as replaceable external storage devices. Further, external or peripheral electronic device systems which are not always used together with the main body are electrically connected to the main body via a connector formed on, for example, a sidewall(s) of the main body. The use of the above connector mounted on the sidewall of the main body prevents down-sizing of electronic device systems.

Card type input/output interface device and electronic device system using the same


According to embodiments disclosed herein, there is provided a system for loading, mixing and transporting feed. The system includes a scoop assembly and a mixing tub that are movable overhead a series of storage bays. The scoop assembly may retrieve commodities from the storage bays and load measured quantities of the commodities into the mixing tub.

Feed for livestock typically includes a mixture of several different commodities, such as hay, straw and other types of grain, that when mixed together produce a feed product that is customized to the diet of a group of livestock. The various commodities for a specific feed product are retrieved from bulk commodity locations and then mixed in large, stationary mixers. In practice, commodity transportation vehicles retrieve the required commodities from one or more bulk commodity locations and transport the commodities to the location of the stationary feed mixers. The commodity transportation vehicles, or other commodity loading vehicles such as fork lifts or shovel loaders, then load the commodities into the stationary mixers. When the stationary mixers have fully mixed the commodities, the commodities are loaded, for example, into the feed transportation vehicles, such as feed trailers.
The feed production and transportation process described above requires several manually-operated vehicles, fuel to power the vehicles, and trained workers to operate the vehicles. As such, the process is time consuming and expensive for feed producers. In addition, commodities and/or feed are often lost during loading, transportation and unloading of the commodities and/or feed. The loss of a portion of the commodities and/or feed causes significant losses in profitability for feed producers and is often referred to as "shrinkage." In addition, because livestock producers rely on a steady supply of feed from the feed production process, maintenance of the components of the above-described process, such as the stationary mixers, must be performed quickly to minimize downtime. Oftentimes, maintenance of the stationary mixers must be performed at the location of the stationary mixer, regardless of the weather conditions or time of day. On-site maintenance and repair of the mixers or other feed production equipment can be dangerous for technicians, especially when other feed production processes are in operation while the technicians perform maintenance.

Overhead animal feed loading, transporting and mixing system


An apparatus converts written marks on a writing surface into a digital form. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a writing portion configured to create a physical mark on a surface and a recording portion configured to capture the physical mark. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to process the physical mark and generate a digital mark from the physical mark, a memory for storing the digital mark, and a transmitter to transmit a digital image of the captured mark to an external device.

Conventional writing instruments such as pens, pencils, and crayons are used to write notes on papers. Storing and organizing papers with handwritten notes become time and space consuming. One option to store and retrieve information from a handwritten note is to scan the handwritten note, and convert it into a digital form. To convert a handwritten note into a digital form, individual pages of the handwritten note are digitally scanned and stored on a digital storage medium. However, digital scanning and conversion of a handwritten note still requires separating, scanning, and storing pages for a later search and retrieval of desired pages.

Apparatus for recognizing handwritten notes


Wires (electric wires) 29 and 30 of cars are connected to each other through connecting wires mounted to a truck frame of an articulated truck. The connecting wires are inserted into a flexible protecting pipe member and an intermediate portion thereof is mounted within a concave portion formed on an upper portion of a side frame of the truck frame. And, an upper opening of the concave portion is closed by a cover plate. Connectors 22 and 23 are provided at front and rear end portions of the connecting wire for electric connection with cars. The connectors 22 and 23 are removably connected to connectors 26 and 27 of the wires 29 and 30 of the cars, which are mounted by mounting brackets 24 and 25 under the car bodies 2A and 3A.

In railway vehicles, it is known that a train is equipped with an articulated truck between two cars thereof in view of cost reduction, and improved running stability for comfortable ride-in, etc. As shown in FIG. 8, in a case where the train (train set) is constituted by mounting an articulated truck 101 between a car 102 and a car 103, the articulated truck 101 is positioned in a space under the cars. Wires 104 connecting the cars 102 and 103 cannot sag down under a restriction of a space because of the presence of the articulated truck 101. For this reason, in general, car body ends of the cars are recessed to form spaces (concave portions) 102a and 103a, and the wires 104 are provided between them above the articulated truck 101.
In the case of a train which is not equipped with the above articulated truck, crossovers of railway cars sag down on rail side between connecting portions formed at end portions of car bodies of cars coupled by couplers (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Application Publication Hei. No. 6-37045).
In the former construction, since the car body ends are recessed to form the spaces (concave portions) 102a and 103a, an effective space within a passenger's cabin is reduced and a structure of the car body becomes intricate. In the construction in which the wires are provided above the articulated truck 101, a car body structure becomes intricate with an increase in the number of components, and a center of gravity of the car body is located higher than that of the train which is not equipped with the articulated truck. This is disadvantageous to the running stability and is undesirable to car performance.
In the latter construction, it is necessary to provide a protecting plate for protecting the crossovers connecting the connecting portions of the railway vehicle under the crossovers in order to inhibit damage to the crossovers.
In the case of the train equipped with the articulated truck, the same problem arises, when pipes (e.g., air pipes) for control driving or braking are provided between the cars, in addition to the wires.