A method is provided for operating an internal combustion piston engine, including    introducing air into a cylinder of the engine,    compressing the air in a first compression stroke of the cylinder,    providing fuel into the cylinder for a first combustion, with a portion of the oxygen in the compressed air as oxidant, in a first power stroke succeeding the first compression stroke, to produce residues including oxygen,    compressing the residues in a second compression stroke succeeding the first power stroke, and    providing, after the first combustion, fuel into the cylinder for a second combustion, with at least a portion of the oxygen of the residues as oxidant, in a second power stroke succeeding the second compression stroke,    wherein the first compression stroke is repealed immediately after the second power stroke, and the introduction of air into the cylinder is done at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the first compression stroke.

The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion piston engine, a computer program, a computer readable medium, a control unit, an internal combustion engine system, an internal combustion engine, and a vehicle with such a system.
The invention can be applied in heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses and construction equipment. Although the invention will be described with respect to a truck, the invention is not restricted to this particular vehicle, but may also be used in other vehicles such as cars.
The attraction of diesel engines for heavy vehicles, due to the high efficiency and higher torque at low speeds presented by diesel engines, is well known. As emission control requirements on heavy vehicle diesel engines get stricter with time, many technical solutions have been suggested to reduce emissions.
An example can be found in the article "A Six-Stroke DI Diesel Engine Under Dual Fuel Operation", Hayasaki et al; SAE Technical Paper Series 1999-01-1500; International Spring Fuels & Lubricants Meeting & Exposition, Dearborn, Mich. May 3-6, 1999. It discloses a six-stroke diesel engine with first and second power strokes before the exhaust stroke. Diesel fuel is supplied for the first combustion process, and for the second combustion process, methanol is supplied. It is suggested that since methanol will form an oxidizing radical (OH) during combustion, it can reduce the soot produced in the first combustion process.
There is however, a desire to improve systems involving diesel engines, e.g. to reduce their size, weight and/or complexity.
It is desirable to allow for internal combustion engine systems to be simplified to reduce their size, weight and/or complexity, to allow for a reduction of the cost and complexity of internal combustion engine emission control systems, to reduce the size and/or the complexity of internal combustion engine systems, while retaining or improving the efficiency of the combustions therein and/or to provide an internal combustion engine running smoothly with cycles with two power strokes.
An aspect of the invention provides a method for operating an internal combustion piston engine, comprising
introducing air into a cylinder of the engine,
compressing the air in a first compression stroke of the cylinder,
providing fuel into the cylinder for a first combustion, with a portion of the oxygen in the compressed air as oxidant, in a first power stroke succeeding the first compression stroke, to produce residues including oxygen,
compressing the residues in a second compression stroke succeeding the first power stroke, and
providing, after the first combust on, fuel into the cylinder for a second combustion, with at least a portion of the oxygen of the residues as oxidant, in a second power stroke succeeding the second compression stroke,
wherein the first compression stroke is repeated immediately after the second power stroke, and the introduction of air into the cylinder is done at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the first compression stroke.
It is understood that the first combustion will produce power to a crankshaft of the engine in the first power stroke, and that the second combustion will produce power to the crankshaft in the second power stroke.
Although particular advantages are provided where the first combustion is a diesel type combustion, as discussed below, the fuel provided for the first combustion may in some embodiments be provided for a premixed combustion, where the fuel may be injected directly into the cylinder or into air upstream of the cylinder, e.g. by port injection. Moreover, while the fuel provided for the second combustion, is, as described below, advantageously provided for a premixed combustion, in some embodiments it may be provided for a diesel type combustion. Where the fuel provided for the second combustion is provided for a premixed combustion, it may be injected directly into the cylinder or into air upstream of the cylinder, e.g. by port injection.
It is understood that the sequence of the first compression stroke, the first power stroke, the second combustion stroke and the second power strokes is continuously repeated during an operation of the engine. Preferably the first power stroke succeeds the first compression stroke immediately. Preferably the second compression stroke succeeds the first power stroke immediately. Preferably the second power stroke succeeds the second compression stroke immediately.
Since the first compression stroke is repeated immediately after the second power stroke, and the introduction of air into the cylinder is done at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the first compression stroke, the engine may be similar to a 2-stroke engine. A scavenging process may be provided in the cylinder at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the repeated first compression stroke. Thus, a cycle with four strokes in total, two of which are power strokes, may be provided. Such a four-stroke cycle with two combustions will provide an engine that runs more smoothly than an engine with a six-stroke cycle with two combustions. Also, an engine with a high power-to-weight ratio, having a greatly reduced number of moving parts compared to four-stroke engines, may be provided, so that the size of the engine may be decreased. Providing fuel into the cylinder for a first combustion, with a portion of the oxygen in the compressed air as oxidant, in a first power stroke succeeding the first compression stroke, to produce residues including oxygen, means that the first combustion is lean. The second combustion involving at least a portion of the oxygen of the residues as oxidant, may allow for a particularly advantageous cycles providing a greatly simplified exhaust after treatment system, as exemplified below.
Preferably, the method comprises preventing the introduction of air into the cylinder between the first and second combustions. Thereby, it may be secured that the second combustion involves as oxidant only what is provided by the residues. Thereby, an advantageous consumption of oxidant in the residues, as exemplified below, may be controlled in a secure manner. The engine may be a crankcase-scavenged engine wherein an intake guide is arranged to guide air to the cylinder from a crankcase of the engine, wherein an air conduit is arranged to guide air to the crankcase, wherein preventing the introduction of air into the cylinder between the first and second combustions comprises controlling flow control means for the air conduit to allow air to escape the crankcase during the first power stroke. The flow control means may comprise one or more control valves. Thereby, air introduced to the crankcase during the first compression may be pushed back through the air conduit during the first power stroke. Thereby, there will be no pressure build-up in the crankcase for air to be transported from the crankcase to the cylinder, via the intake guide, between the first and second combustions.
It should be noted that in some embodiments, the intake pressure could be produced by a blower or a compressor instead of crankcase pressure. In some embodiments, exemplified below, crankcase scavenging could be provided in combination with an air intake compressor.
Preferably, the fuel provided for the first combustion is injected into the air when at least a major portion of the first compression stroke has been completed. In such embodiments, the fuel provided for the first combustion is injected into the cylinder. The air may have been essentially maximally compressed in the first compression stroke when the fuel provided for the first combustion is injected, e.g. close to a top dead center (TDC) position of a piston in the cylinder. Thus, the first combustion may be provided by a compression ignition of a diesel cycle, i.e. the first combustion may be a diesel type combustion. Thereby, the fuel injection provides the first combustion in the form of a diffusion combustion.
Advantageously, the fuel provided for the first combustion is a first fuel and the fuel provided for the second combustion is a second fuel of a type which is different from that of the first fuel. The first fuel is advantageously diesel fuel or any other fuel suitable for the first combustion, as injected into the air when at least a major portion of the first compression stroke has been completed. The second fuel may be a fuel suitable for a premixed combustion, i.e. an Otto type combustion. Thereby, a particularly advantageous process of the engine may be provided, as exemplified below.
Modern diesel engine systems for heavy vehicles are typically equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) based emission control systems. However, such systems are complex and include several catalyst components, such as an oxidation catalyst (DOC), a diesel particulate filter (DPF), a urea dosing system, a selective reduction catalyst as well as a clean-up oxidation catalyst. Such emission control systems are very bulky; the selective reduction catalyst alone requires a volume that is about three times the displacement volume of the engine. Also, the complexity of such a system is high. Its cost it typically constitutes about 30-40% of the total engine cost. There is therefore a desire to decrease the size of heavy vehicle diesel engine emission control systems. There is further a desire to reduce the cost and complexity of heavy vehicle diesel engine emission control systems. Another desire is to reduce the size and/or the complexity of heavy vehicle diesel engine emission control systems, while retaining or improving the efficiency of the diesel type combustion.
These desires may be met where the method comprises controlling the amount of fuel provided for the second combustion so as for the second combustion to be a stoichiometric combustion.
As mentioned, the first combustion is lean. Where the first combustion is a diesel type combustion, the first combustion may be a lean diesel type combustion with less concern for the exhaust after treatment process, compared to traditional diesel processes, and may be controlled for an optimized efficiency. The reason is that the amount of fuel injected for the second combustion may be the amount required for the second combustion to be a stoichiometric combustion. Thereby, the second combustion may consume substantially all remaining oxygen to provide a lambda value of 1 for the total cycle involving said strokes. In doing so the second combustion will consume soot as well as nitrogen oxides in the residues from the first combustion. This makes it possible to use a relatively simple and small three-way catalyst, as opposed to a complex, costly and large exhaust treatment unit, such as a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit, normally used for diesel engines.
Where the first combustion is a diesel type combustion, embodiments of the invention makes it possible to retard the timing of the ignition of the fuel for the first combustion to further improve the efficiency of a diesel type combustion. The reason is that the increased nitrogen oxides (NOx) formation and eventually soot formation provided by said retarded timing may be accepted, since a large fraction of this NOx and/or soot formation will be combusted as a result of the second combustion. Thereby, the emission out of the engine will not be affected negatively.
In summary, embodiments of the invention make it possible to considerably reduce the complexity of exhaust after treatment systems for diesel engines, while retaining or even improving the efficiency of the diesel combustion in the engines. As suggested, instead of diesel fuel, the first fuel could be provided as some other suitable diffusion combustion fuel, e.g. dimethyl ether (DME) or naphtha.
In addition, the second combustion will increase the engine out exhaust temperature, thereby reducing the risk of the exhaust temperature falling below a temperature interval for an efficient function of the exhaust after treatment system. Low exhaust temperatures may in known modern diesel engines be common due to a high level of refinement of the combustion process, and thereby cause problems with providing an efficient exhaust after treatment. The high exhaust temperature provided by embodiments of the invention is also beneficial for turbo compound and waste heat recovery solutions.
A method for operating an internal combustion piston engine according to an aspect of the invention is provided, comprising
introducing air into a cylinder of the engine,
compressing the air in a first compression stroke of the cylinder,
injecting a first fuel into the cylinder,
allowing a first combustion of the injected first fuel with a portion of the oxygen in the compressed air as oxidant, to produce power to a crankshaft of the engine in a first power stroke succeeding the first compression stroke, and to produce residues including oxygen, and
compressing the residues in a second compression stroke succeeding the first power stroke,
the method further comprising injecting into the cylinder a second fuel of a type which is different from that of the first fuel, and allowing a second combustion of the second fuel with the oxygen of the residues as oxidant to produce power to the crankshaft of the engine in a second power stroke succeeding the second compression stroke, and
by controlling the amount of second fuel injected in the step of injecting the second fuel so as for the second combustion to be a stoichiometric combustion.
It is understood that in most embodiments, the first power stroke immediately succeeds the first compression stroke, the second compression stroke immediately succeeds the first power stroke, and the second power stroke immediately succeeds the second compression stroke. Some embodiments of the method may involve operating the engine in a six-stroke mode with a sequence of an intake stroke, the first compression stroke, the first power stroke, the second compression stroke, the second power stroke, and an exhaust stroke.
Similarly to what has been suggested above, injecting into the cylinder a second fuel of a type which is different from that of the first fuel, and allowing a second combustion, provided by a, of the second fuel with the oxygen of the residues from the first combustion as oxidant provides the following important advantages:
A lean ratio of the amount of air compressed in the first compression stroke and the amount of first fuel injected may be provided. More specifically, it is possible to provide the first fuel as diesel fuel or some other suitable fuel for an injection forming a diffusion combustion, whereby an effective lean diesel type combustion is provided. As suggested above, the lean diesel type combustion may be used with less concern for the exhaust after treatment process, compared to traditional diesel, and may be controlled for an optimized efficiency, and it is possible to use a relatively simple and small three-way catalyst.
Again, it should be noted that instead of diesel fuel, the first fuel could be provided as some other suitable diffusion combustion fuel, e.g. dimethyl ether (DME) or naphtha. Again, the second combustion will advantageously increase the engine out exhaust temperature.
As mentioned, the fuel provided for the first combustion, i.e. the first fuel, is injected into the air when at least a major portion of the first compression stroke has been completed. Thereby, the first combustion is provided by a compression ignition. As also suggested, the injection of the first fuel may provide the first combustion in the form of a diffusion combustion. The injection of the first fuel may be provided at the end of the first compression stroke or at the beginning of the first power stroke, preferably shortly before the top dead center (TDC) position. Thereby, providing the first combustion in the form of a diffusion combustion may be secured.
It should be noted that embodiments of the invention may be applied to engines with any number of cylinders, e.g. one, two, three, four, five, six, eight or twelve cylinders, in any configuration, e.g. an inline configuration or a V-configuration.
Preferably, where the first fuel is diesel fuel, the method comprises by supplying the diesel fuel for the injection thereof from a container, and reforming diesel fuel from the container to produce the second fuel in the form of a high octane fuel, e.g. in the form of a gas with a mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The reforming may be a catalytic decomposition process converting the diesel fuel to the high octane gaseous fuel. Thereby, in a vehicle application, the reforming provides an onboard fuel conversion function whereby the vehicle may be refueled with a single fuel type during operations.
Preferably, the method comprises controlling the temperature of the residues by controlling the timing of the injection of the first fuel, and/or by controlling the amount of the first fuel injected at the injection of the first fuel. Thereby, the temperature of the residues from the first combustion can be controlled, e.g. to avoid pre-ignition of a mix of the residues and the second fuel in the second combustion stroke.
Similarly to what has been suggested above, the second combustion may be provided on a premix of the second fuel with the oxygen of the residues as oxidant. Thereby, the second combustion is an Otto type combustion. I.e. the second combustion preferably provides a premixed flame, i.e. a flame in which the oxidant, (which may also be referred to as an oxidizer), has been mixed with the fuel before it reaches the flame front. The second combustion may advantageously be provided by a Homogenous Charge Ignition. The second combustion may be provided by a Homogenous Charge Compression ignition (HCCI), or a partially Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (pHCCI). Thereby the engine does not need to be provided with spark-plugs. However, it is also possible for the Homogenous Charge Ignition to be a Homogenous Charge Spark Ignition.
The second fuel is suitably a high octane fuel. The second fuel preferably has a Research Octane Number (RON) of at least 80, preferably at least 92, and more preferably at least 95. Thereby, the second combustion on a premix of the second fuel with the oxygen of the residues as oxidant may be secured with a reduced risk of premature ignition.
Preferably, the injection of the second fuel is provided at the end of the first power stroke or in the second compression stroke. Advantageously, the injection of the second fuel is provided at the end of the first power stroke or at the beginning of the second compression stroke. The injection of the second fuel may be provided before 90 crankshaft degrees before the top dead center (TDC) position at the end of the second compression stroke. The injection of the second fuel may even be injected before the bottom dead center position at the end of the first power stroke. However, preferably, the second fuel is injected after the bottom dead center (BDC) position at the beginning of the second compression stroke. Thereby a homogenous mix of the second fuel with the residues from the first combustion may be secured.
Preferably, the method comprises determining an amount of oxygen in exhaust gases produced by the second combustion, and determining, based on the determined amount of oxygen an amount of second fuel, whereby the amount of second fuel injected is said determined amount. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the amount of second fuel to secure that it is the amount required for the second combustion to be a stoichiometric combustion. The determination of the amount of oxygen may be done by determining any quality of the exhaust gases indicative of the oxygen content therein or the lambda value of the second combustion. The determination of the amount of oxygen may be done by means of a suitable sensor, such as a lambda sensor, e.g. an oxygen sensor, or some other kind of sensor providing signals based on which the lambda value of the second combustion may be determined. Such a sensor may be located in an exhaust guide arranged to guide gases from the cylinder. The sensor may be adapted to measure the proportion of oxygen in exhaust gases in the exhaust guide, in the form of dioxygen or as part of a compound, e.g. a nitrogen oxide. The sensor may in some embodiments be arranged to use Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and/or it may be arranged to detect the concentration of carbon dioxide in the exhaust gases, from which the lambda value of the second combustion may be determined. The result of such a control of the amount of second fuel for the injections may be lambda values at the second combustions that oscillate somewhat around 1. However, the mean value of the lambda values is preferably 1.
In alternative embodiments, a control of the amount of second fuel injected so as for the second combustion to be a stoichiometric combustion, may be done based on stored data regarding the engine. Thereby, determining the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases, i.e. determining the lambda value of the second combustion, may be done based on other operational parameters and stored data. Such stored data may form a "virtual engine" allowing the fuel amount to be determined based on one or more operational parameter values, without any sensor in the exhaust guide.
The method preferably involves expelling exhaust gases produced by the second combustion from the cylinder, and allowing the exhaust gases to be guided to a three-way catalyst. As stated, the three-way catalyst may replace, and is a considerably less space consuming, complex and costly than a selective catalytic reduction unit. In embodiments with a six-stroke cycle, the exhaust gases produced by the second combustion may be expelled from the cylinder during an exhaust stroke succeeding the second power stroke. In embodiments with a four-stroke cycle, as described above, the exhaust gases produced by the second combustion may be expelled from the cylinder during a scavenging process at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the repeated first compression stroke.
Said oxygen in the residues may be at least partly provided as a part of nitrogen oxide in the residues. As also pointed out above, the second combustion may, in addition to dioxygen, use the oxygen in the nitrogen oxide produced by first combustion, whereby the nitrogen oxide production of the engine is reduced.
Preferably, the method comprises providing a compression ratio of the second compression stroke which is lower than a compression ratio of the first compression stroke. Where the engine comprises an intake guide for guiding air to the cylinder, an exhaust guide for guiding gases from the cylinder, and a valve for controlling a communication between the cylinder and the exhaust guide or the intake guide, the method may comprise providing said compression ratio difference by providing an overlap of an opening sequence of the valve and the second compression stroke. Preferably, the method comprises adjusting the compression ratio of the second compression stroke. Such an adjustment may be provided by adjusting the overlap of the opening sequence of said valve and the second compression stroke. Where the engine comprises a camshaft with a cam lobe for actuating the valve, the method may comprise adjusting the overlap by cam phasing of the camshaft. However, other manners of adjusting the valve timing may be used, such as cam switching or actuation with electrically direct or indirect valve control.
Thereby, the overlap of the opening sequence of the valve and the second compression stroke provides an adjustable bleed function, winch in turn adjusts the compression ratio of the second compression stroke. In embodiments where the ignition of the second fuel is provided by HCCI or a partially Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition (pHCCI), the adjustment of the bleed function, in turn adjusting the compression ratio of the second compression stroke, can be made to provide an optimal timing of the HCCI or pHCCI event. Also, in embodiments with any suitable type of ignition of the second fuel, the adjustment of the compression ratio of the second compression stroke may be used for engine load and speed control. Thus, the method may comprise determining a requested load of the engine, the adjustment of said compression ratio being at least partly based on the requested engine load.
Some embodiments provide an extremely rapid cold start process of an exhaust after treatment unit of the engine system, e.g. a three-way catalyst. Where the engine comprises an exhaust guide arranged to guide gases from the cylinder to an exhaust treatment device, the method may comprise determining a requested load of the engine, determining a temperature of the exhaust treatment device, and determining based on the determined temperature whether to operate the engine at the requested load in a first mode or a second mode, the amount of first fuel provided, e.g. injected, for the first combustion feeing smaller in the second mode than in the first mode, and/or the amount of second fuel provided, e.g. injected, for the second combustion being larger in the second mode than in the first mode. Where the engine is provided with a valve for controlling a communication between the cylinder and the exhaust guide, the method may comprise controlling an overlap of an opening sequence of the valve and the second power stroke to be larger in the second mode than in the first mode. Where the engine comprises a camshaft with a cam lobe for actuating the valve, the method may comprise controlling the overlap by cam phasing of the camshaft. However, other manners of adjusting the valve timing may be used, such as cam switching or actuation with electrically direct or indirect valve control.
By the decreased amount of first fuel in the first combustion, the oxygen in the residues from the first combustion will increase. The increased amount of fuel in the second combustion mixed with said increased amount of oxygen will provide for more energy being released by the second combustion in the second mode compared to the first mode. In addition, the increased overlap of said opening sequence and the second power stroke will allow the combustion process to continue in the exhaust guide and thereby increase the temperature in the three-way catalyst. Thereby, the second fuel is used to provide additional power and torque as well as increasing the exhaust temperature.
According to an aspect of the invention, an internal combustion engine system is provided comprising a cylinder with a piston connected to a crankshaft, an intake guide, e.g. of an intake manifold, arranged to guide air to the cylinder, an exhaust guide arranged to guide gases from the cylinder, a first container, a first injector arranged to inject a first fuel supplied from the first container into the cylinder, a second container, and a second injector arranged to inject a second fuel supplied from the second container into the cylinder, the system being arranged to pro vide a cycle, e.g. a tour-stroke cycle, or a six-stroke cycle, with a sequence of a first compression stroke, a first power stroke, a second compression stroke and a second power stroke, wherein the system comprises a three-way catalyst, the exhaust guide being arranged to guide gases from the cylinder to the three-way catalyst. As suggested above, a spark plug may or may not be arranged to ignite a mix of fuel and oxygen in the cylinder.
Preferably, the system is arranged for the second fuel being of a type that is different from that of the first fuel. Preferably, the cylinder is arranged to compress the air from the intake guide in the first compression stroke of the cylinder, the first injector being adapted for injecting the first fuel into the air at a top dead center (TDC) position of the piston at the end of the first compression stroke. Thus, the first injector is adapted for providing a pressure which is high enough for injecting the first fuel for a compression ignition for a diesel type combustion. There, the engine system allows for a first combustion in the form of a diffusion combustion of injected first fuel with a portion of the oxygen in compressed air in the cylinder, to produce residues including oxygen, and to allow a second combustion on a premix of injected second fuel with the oxygen of the residues as oxidant. Similarly to embodiments of the method described above, the engine system provides, by allowing a diesel type combustion with a the three-way catalyst, a considerably reduced size and complexity of the exhaust after treatment systems for a diesel engine, while retaining or even improving the efficiency of the diesel combustion in the engine.
Preferably, the system comprises means determining an amount of oxygen in exhaust gases produced by the second combustion. Thereby, it is possible to determine based on the determined amount of oxygen an amount of second fuel, whereby the amount of second fuel injected is said determined amount. The means for determining an amount of oxygen may comprise any suitable sensor as exemplified above, e.g. a lambda sensor. The sensor may be located in the exhaust guide. Thereby a control unit may be arranged to receive signals from the lambda sensor as exemplified below. As stated, in alternative embodiments, the control of the amount of second fuel injected so as for the second combustion to be a stoichiometric combustion, may be done based on stored data regarding the engine.
Preferably, the system comprises an intake valve and an exhaust valve arranged to control a communication between the cylinder and the intake guide and a communication between the cylinder and the exhaust guide, respectively, the system further comprising a valve actuation assembly arranged to adjust an overlap of an opening sequence of the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve and the second compression stroke. Preferably, the valve actuation assembly comprises at least one camshaft with an intake cam lobe for actuating the intake valve and an exhaust cam lobe for actuating the exhaust valve, the camshaft being arranged to rotate at a speed being half, e.g. for a four stroke cycle, or a third, e.g. for a six-stroke cycle, of the rotational speed of the crankshaft, the camshaft being arranged for a cam phasing function, the intake cam lobe and/or the exhaust cam lobe being provided with a nose for providing the opening sequence of the intake valve and/or the exhaust valve, respectively, whereby the cam phasing function is arranged to adjust the overlap of the opening sequence and the second compression stroke. However, the valve actuation assembly may comprise some other means for adjusting the valve timing, such as cam switching or actuation with electrically direct or indirect valve control.
Similarly to some embodiments of the method described above, the overlap of the opening sequence of the valve and the second compression stroke provides an adjustable bleed function, which in turn adjusts the compression ratio of the second compression stroke. This may be used to provide an optimal timing of HCCI or pHCCI events providing the second combustion, and/or it may be used for engine load and speed control.
Preferably, the system further comprises an exhaust valve arranged to control a communication between the cylinder and the exhaust guide, and a valve actuation assembly arranged to adjust an overlap of an opening sequence of the exhaust valve, and the second power stroke. Preferably, the valve actuation assembly comprises at least one camshaft with an exhaust cam lobe for actuating the exhaust valve, the camshaft being arranged to rotate at a speed being half, e.g. for a four stroke cycle, or a third, e.g. for a six-stroke cycle, of the rotational speed of the crankshaft, the camshaft being arranged for a cam phasing function, the exhaust cam lobe being provided with a nose for providing the opening sequence of the exhaust valve, whereby the cam phasing function is arranged to adjust the overlap of the opening sequence and the second power stroke. However, the valve actuation assembly may comprise some other means for adjusting the valve timing, such as cam switching or actuation with electrically direct or indirect valve control.
Similarly to embodiments of the method described above, this makes it possible to increase the overlap of the opening sequence and the second power stroke to allow the second combustion process to continue in the exhaust guide and thereby increase the temperature in the three-way catalyst.
In some embodiments, where the first fuel is diesel fuel, the system comprises a fuel reforming assembly arranged to crack the diesel fuel from the first container to produce the second fuel in the form of a high octane fuel, the second container being arranged to receive the high octane fuel from the fuel reforming assembly. As suggested above, thereby, in a vehicle application, the reforming provides an onboard fuel conversion function whereby the vehicle may be refueled with a single fuel type during operations.
According to an aspect of the invention, an internal combustion engine is provided comprising a cylinder with a piston connected to a crankshaft, an intake guide arranged to guide air to the cylinder, an exhaust guide arranged to guide gases from the cylinder, the engine being arranged to repetitively provide a cycle with a sequence of a first compression stroke, a first power stroke with a first combustion, a second compression stroke and a second power stroke with a second combustion, characterized in that the engine is arranged for the first compression stroke to be repeated immediately after the second power stroke, that the engine is arranged for the introduction of air from the intake guide into the cylinder at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the first compression stroke, and that the engine comprises means for preventing the introduction of air into the cylinder between the first and second combustions.
Similarly to what has been discussed above, since the engine is arranged for the first compression stroke to be repeated immediately after the second power stroke, and the engine is arranged for the introduction of air from the intake guide into the cylinder at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the first compression stroke, the engine may be similar to a 2-stroke engine. The engine may be arranged to provide a scavenging process in the cylinder at the end of the second power stroke and/or at the beginning of the repeated first compression stroke. Thereby, a cycle with four strokes in total, two of which are power strokes, may be provided, and the engine may be provided with a high power-to-weight ratio, having a greatly reduced number of moving parts compared to four-stroke engines, so that the size of the engine may be decreased.
Preferably, the engine is a crankcase-scavenged engine wherein the intake guide is arranged to guide air to the cylinder from a crankcase housing the crankshaft, wherein an air conduit is arranged to guide air to the crankcase, wherein the means for preventing the introduction of air into the cylinder between the first and second combustions comprises a control valve in the air conduit. Similarly to what has been discussed above, thereby, it may be secured that the second combustion involves as oxidant only what is provided by the residues.
The engine may comprise a first injector arranged to inject fuel into the cylinder for the first combustion, and a second it arranged to inject fuel into the cylinder for the second combustion.
Further advantages and advantageous features of embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

Method for operating an internal combustion piston engine


A signal conditioning apparatus includes a timing extractor to received one or more stepper motor drive signal and convert each into a corresponding virtual quadrature trigger signal. A resolution scaler is coupled to an output of the timing extractor to scale the virtual quadrature trigger signals to adjust the transition frequency, thereby adjusting the resolution of an image captured by a camera receiving the trigger signals to be different than the print resolution created by the motor drive signals. A quadrature decoder is coupled to the output of the resolution scaler, wherein the quadrature decoder extracts timing and direction information from the virtual quadrature trigger signals received from the resolution scaler.

Printers come in various types and with various print resolutions. Regardless of the resolution, however, some applications require high-quality printing. One such application is printing one-dimensional or two-dimensional bar codes on labels or other media that can then be attached to or associated with another object, so that information about the object can be retrieved simply by scanning the associated bar code. These bar codes, especially if they are small, must be accurately printed to ensure that they can later be read by a bar code reader. Smudges, minor misalignments, discontinuous lines, and other such problems can render a printed bar code unreadable.
To help ensure that a particular printer outputs printed bar codes that meet quality standards, a verifier is sometimes coupled to the printer. A verifier commonly includes a camera that captures images of the printed barcode and then analyzes the captured images to verify that the quality of the printed barcode is acceptable. One type of verifier uses a line-scan camera, which captures images one line of pixels at a time and then assembles all the captured lines into a two-dimensional digital image that can be analyzed to determine whether the print quality of the barcode is acceptable. Other verifier embodiments use a two-dimensional image sensor to capture two-dimensional partial images of the bar code, then stitch the two-dimensional partial images together into a two-dimensional image that can be analyzed.
In either case, whether with a line-scan camera or a 2D camera, the camera captures images in response to trigger signals. To accurately capture a complete image of the bar code, these trigger signals must be correlated to the label position or, more commonly, to the position of some element of the printer that serves as a proxy for the label position. The position of a transport roller within a printer—the element of the printer that drives the print medium, such as a label, through the printer—is one such proxy. But measuring the position of the transport roller comes with some problems.

Apparatus and method to harvest quadrature encoder signals from generic stepper motor input signals


Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for optimizing resource management in a distributed computing environment through the use of a resource conductor. An application managed by an application manager requires resources managed by a resource manager. A resource conductor in communication with both the application manager and the resource manager receives from the application manager a processing specification for the application and workload associated with the application. The processing specification provides the resource conductor with information needed to determine the type and quantity of resources appropriate for processing the workload associated with the application. The resource conductor adjusts the quantity of resources allocated to the application by communicating with the resource manager.

To meet changing customer requirements, businesses today must offer customers more and better services. At the same time, they must continue to operate efficiently to remain viable in increasingly competitive environments. Consequently, businesses are moving toward a service-based paradigm in which monolithic applications requiring dedicated IT resources such as servers, storage, and networking devices are replaced with business processes that share and optimize these and other IT resources.
In an exemplary system facilitating such a paradigm shift, systems infrastructure software delivers a shared, virtualized pool of IT resources to meet the demands of multiple application types based on business policies. These multiple application types, such as batch processes, online processes, transactional processes, parallel processes, data-centric processes, and management applications, generally comprise a set of potentially heterogeneous independent workload components with differing resource requirements. Maximum efficiency is achieved in the distributed computing environment when each application has access to precisely the resources that it needs for precisely the length of time that it needs them. When a resource remains allocated to an application beyond the time required for processing the application's workload, the resource is idle, resulting in the application processing costing more in terms of computing resources than necessary. On the other hand, if an application must wait for a needed resource to be requested and allocated, the application takes longer to run than necessary, increasing response times and reducing throughput. One way to maximize efficiency in the distributed computing environment is to provide for separate application management and resource management. Decoupling application management from resource management also maximizes system scalability as well as system performance capability. To achieve such an efficient, scalable, high performance environment, a component is needed between the various application managers and the various resource managers to ensure that shared resources are allocated among applications as efficiently as possible and to maintain consistency and reliability within the entire system.

Method and system for utilizing a resource conductor to optimize resource management in a distributed computing environment

International Business Machines Corporation


A system for automatically rippling and hackling wig yarns. The system comprises a rippling heater having a pair of wave rollers each having a waveformed surface and a heating coil, a cooler having a cooling belt and a blast unit comprising a blast fan, a blast pipe and a blast diffuser, a hackling device for hackling the wig yarns from the cooler, a pair of tension rollers arranged between the cooler and the hackling device, and a plurality of pulling rollers having different diameters. The hackling device comprises a plurality of hackling units and/or a plurality of hackling conveyors. The hackling unit includes hackle bar driven by a drive unit, the hackle bar having a plate provided with a plurality of erected hackle pins and vertically reciprocating by the rotational force of the drive unit. The hackling conveyor includes a pair of belt pulleys and an endless hackle belt wrapping about the belt pulleys and having a plurality of erected hackle pins, the hackle belt moving in a direction opposite to a feeding direction of the wig yarns.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a wig preparation, and more particularly to rippling and hackling of the wig yarns carried out for raising the yarns and arranging the dishevelled rippled yarns neatly.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As well known to those skilled in the art, the wigs are painstaking handiworks requiring many hands, so that the wig industry has been prevalent generally in less advanced nations because of the lower personnel expenses of those nations. In the conventional wig preparation, a hackling process, in which the dishevelled wig yarns are hackled so as to be arranged neatly and to facilitate the wig preparation, requires many hands. As such, the personnel expenses thereof form the majority of the total personnel expenses of the wig preparation. In this regard, it has been desired an automatic machine for hackling the wig yarns, so to speak an auto-hackle machine.
However, the conventional wig yarns are limited in the tensile strength as well as the bending strength and this may cause yarn break, so that there is a difficulty in automation of the hackling process using a power machine. In addition, the wig industry has been regarded as a backward industry as described above and, in this regard, it lost favor with advanced nations, thus having an organic problem in its automation.
In the conventional hackling of the wig yarns, a small quantity of wig yarns are placed on conventional hackling means, such as a comb or a hackle bar provided with a great number of pins driven in a plate, and manually repeatedly pulled until the entangled yarns are raised and arranged neatly. Thus, such a conventional hackling manually requires manpower consumption, thereby deteriorating the productivity.
There has been proposed, as disclosed in Korean Utility Model Application Nos. 75-561 and 76-1411, a process for rippling synthetic hairs which is suitable for raising a small quantity of hairs as if the resultant wig was fabricated of a large quantity of hairs, thereby preparing a light wig which completely covers the baldheaded skin and hairs of the wearer. In this rippling process, the synthetic hairs pass through a set of heating compression rollers, engaging with each other and each having thereon a waveform tooth, so as to be rippled.
However, this process contributes to the automation of the rippling but has no concern with the hackling of the wig yarns, thereby contributing in no way to the automation of the hackling of the wig yarns.

System for automatically rippling and hackling wig yarns


Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method for determining a weight of a load associated with an excavating machine, the method comprising: determining a load torque of an excavating machine, the excavating machine comprising a bucket and a hoist motor adapted to vertically move the bucket; and calculating a load weight from the load torque.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,579 (Radomilovich), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly cites a "power shovel for surface mining operations is equipped with a Suspended Load Measuring (SLM) system. The SLM system determines the net weight of the material in the shovel bucket by sensing the electrical parameters of the drive motors. A microprocessor inputs the drive motor electrical parameters and processes them according to the known geometry of the power shovel. To meet the requisite accuracy of .+−0.2% for a load measuring system to be effective, the SLM system utilizes a dynamic model which accounts for both conservative and nonconservative dynamic effects prevalent in power shovel operation. Correction are included for the conservative effects of the rotational inertia of the drive motors and reduction gear train, the stretch of the cables, and the inertia of the bucket. Non-conservative losses due to friction, gear loss and motor inefficiency are also compensated for. During truck loading operations, the SLM system maintains a cumulative total of the net weight of material in the truck based on the individual weights of each shovel bucket load. The total weight in the truck is then displayed to the power shovel operator so that the truck can be accurately loaded to full capacity." See Abstract.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,072,127 (Oslakovic), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, allegedly cites an "indirect suspended load weight measuring system that is suitable for use with an excavator that has a moving load bucket rotating about a swing axis. The load bucket has a load therein, and the excavator has a swing drive motor for rotating the bucket, and a hoist rope for supporting the load bucket. The system comprises a torque determination circuit for determining a torque of the swing drive motor and for outputing a motor torque signal having a parameter representative of an instantaneous motor torque. A radius sensing circuit senses a radius of the load bucket with respect to the swing axis and provides a radius signal. A speed sensing circuit determines an angular speed of the load bucket with respect to the swing axis and provides an angular speed signal. A computation circuit responsive to the instantaneous torque signal, the radius signal and the angular speed signal, computes a weight of the moving load." See Abstract.

System and method for load measuring by motor torque


A judgment apparatus 2 for judging the possibility of image processing in an image processing apparatus 1 transmits setting item information indicating setting items to be used for judging the possibility of image processing to the image processing apparatus 1. The image processing apparatus 1 transmits setting information indicating settings corresponding to the setting items indicated by the setting item information to the judgment apparatus 2 at the time of image processing, and the judgment apparatus 2 judges the possibility of image processing on the basis of the setting information. The setting information transmitted by the image processing apparatus 1 does not indicate all the settings required for image processing but indicates settings corresponding to the setting items specified by the setting item information, whereby the amount of the data of the setting information is reduced.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing apparatus and a judgment apparatus, wherein the judgment apparatus judges whether image processing in the image processing apparatus can be executed.
2. Description of Related Art
Some of image processing apparatuses developed in recent years are equipped with many functions, such as color printing, both side printing and page allocation, without being restricted to monochrome printing. Furthermore, an image processing apparatus connected to a communication network is configured so as to be able to receive job data transmitted from a plurality of transmission apparatuses, such as PCs (personal computers), via a communication network and to perform image processing on the basis of the received job data. The image processing apparatus connected to the communication network as described above can be used by unspecific numerous users via the communication network by using the transmission apparatuses, a system for controlling the functions of the image processing apparatus being usable by respective users has been developed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2006-172094 discloses a technology in which while a server apparatus totally controls function restriction for respective users, the server apparatus receives function information indicating a function to be used at the time of image processing and judges whether the use of the function is restricted on the basis of the function information, and in the case that the use of the function is restricted, the server apparatus causes an image processing apparatus to use an alternative function. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2007-12236 discloses a technology in which a server apparatus transmits information on function usage restriction to respective apparatuses connected to a communication network. Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2009-199253 discloses a technology in which an image processing apparatus stores information on function restriction for respective users, and the information on function restriction is transmitted from the image processing apparatus to client apparatuses, whereby functions being usable by the users are controlled.

Image processing system, image processing apparatus and judgment apparatus


A method of producing a powder suitable for additive manufacturing and/or powder metallurgy applications from a precursor particulate material comprising: subjecting the precursor particulate material to at least one high shear milling process, thereby producing a powder product having a reduced average particle size and a selected particle morphology.

The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.
Metal powders having a specific particle size and morphology are required for direct (additive) manufacturing processes such as cold spray, electron (laser) beam melting or continuous direct powder rolling processes. For example, titanium/titanium alloy powder used in electron (laser) beam melting preferably has a particle size of less than 250 μm with a narrow particle size distribution range. The particles are also required to have a regular morphology, such as spherically or cylindrically shaped powder particles, in order to provide high flowability.
Existing commercial titanium/titanium alloy powder production processes include hydride-de-hydride (HDH), gas atomization (GA), plasma-rotating electrode and plasma atomization (PREP) processes. Each of these processes requires the production of a solid Ti or Ti alloy feedstock product, such as a wire, bar, rod or billet, which is subsequently processed using brittle fracture, atomization, arcing or the like to produce the powder.
In the hydride-de-hydride process, solid Ti or Ti alloy feedstock are processed to remove contaminants, hydrogenated to produce brittle material and then ground under argon in a vibratory ball mill. The resulting particles are angular and measure between 50 and 300 μm. This process is time consuming, can introduce contamination, and produces particles having a sharp angular shaped morphology which are not favourable for additive manufacturing processes. In contrast, fine powders produced by plasma-rotating electrode and plasma atomization or gas atomisation methods are spherically shaped, but are extremely expensive to produce compared to hydride-de-hydride processed metal or metal alloy powders due to the high temperatures used to atomize the metal in these processes. Significant metal loss can also result from such process conditions.
It would therefore be desirable to provide an alternate method of producing a powder, preferably a powder having a desired morphology and size, suitable for additive manufacturing applications.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION


A racket includes a main body, a replaceable grip sleeve, a nut and a bolt. The main body has a frame, a handle having at least one hole, and a bridge connected between the frame and the handle. The replaceable grip sleeve is sleeved onto the handle and provided with at least one through hole aimed at the hole of the handle. The bolt is inserted through the through hole of the replaceable grip sleeve and screwingly engaged with the nut disposed in the hole of the handle. The user can replace the replaceable grip sleeve of a predetermined size to meet his/her need.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to sports equipments and more particularly, to a racket having a replaceable grip sleeve.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a general racket, such as tennis racket or badminton racket, has, after it is made, fixed characteristics including, but not limited to, the size of the grip and the overall weight, such that a user can always choose a racket having specific characteristics that meet his/her need. However, if a user buys a racket with a big grip or a small grip and the undesired racket can not be returned or exchanged because it has been used for a certain period of time, the user may have to buy a new racket, causing increase of the user's economic burden. For a kid with a palm becoming larger and larger from time to time in a growth and development phrase, if it is needed to annually change a new racket having a grip of different size, the expense spent on the new rackets would be high.
In recent years, global warning has become worse gradually and natural resources have been increasingly consumed; therefore, resource separation, recycling and reuse and choosing a product having a low environmental impact are worldwide trend. For a conventional racket, if the frame of the racket becomes worn or broken or the grip is not fit for the user's palm, the usual way that the user may take is to discard the old racket and buy a new one. For kids in the growth and development phrase, this problem can be extensively seen. As a result, a considerable amount of rackets are discarded annually, causing the resource wasting problem and garbage handling problem. Therefore, how to enhance the reusability of racket so as to minimize the environmental impact due to the discarded rackets is always the topic of continued research and development in racket manufacturing industry.
Further, a conventional racket, e.g. a tennis racket, generally comprises a frame, a bridge extending from the frame, and a grip provided at the distal end of the bridge. When the ball-hitting surface of the racket hits a ball, the shock wave caused by hitting balls will be directly transmitted to the user's arm through, in succession the frame, the bridge and the grip sequent, such that the more the time that the user uses the racket to hit balls the higher the possibility that the user's arm gets a sports injury. Therefore, how to increase the shock-absorbing effect of the racket is also an issue to be worked out in the field of racket industry.


A charge pump that employs a differential amplifier that provides a differential output to control a charge up current source and a charge down current source. The differential amplifier is configured so that the current sources can maintain substantially equal charge up current and charge down current irrespective of the voltage at its output terminal.

The present invention is directed to communications systems, and more particularly to a system and method for controlling the difference between charge-up and charge-down currents in a charge pump circuit.
In modem communications systems, bidirectional data is transmitted in digital format. Transmission of data in digital, as opposed to analog, form has numerous advantages, mainly the ability to recreate the data at the receiver. Analog transmissions are affected by various problems, as is well documented in the art. However, digital transmissions are easily reconstituted at the receiver, provided the receiver is able to regenerate the transmission with the fewest number of bit errors. This requires the receiver to sample the transmission at an optimal rate and at an optimum time. To conserve bandwidth, digital data transmissions typically combine the data itself with a clock signal. In order to retrieve the clock signal from the transmission, a phase locked loop is used for clock signal recovery.
A phase locked loop is an electronic circuit with a voltage or current controlled oscillator that is constantly adjusted to match, in phase, the frequency of an input signal. In addition to stabilizing a particular communications channel, a phase locked loop may be used to generate a signal, modulate or demodulate a signal, reconstitute a signal with less noise, or multiply or divide a frequency. In other words, phase locked loops compare the frequency and/or phase of an incoming datastream to a periodic reference clock signal generated by an oscillator circuit, and to adjust the oscillator circuit until its output matches, in both frequency and phase, the data signal. This generates a reference clock which controls operation of the remainder of the circuit, thereby allowing for the regeneration of the incoming data signal. Typical phase locked loop circuits are manufactured as integrated circuits.
The phase locked loop normally consists of a phase detector, a charge pump circuit, a loop filter and a voltage controlled oscillator. The phase detector is a device that compares two input frequencies, generating an output that is a measure of their phase difference. For example, if the two input signals differ in frequency, the phase detector gives a periodic output at the difference frequency. Thus, upon receiving a data signal at a data input of the phase detector, the detector compares, in time, the data signal's rising edge with the rising edge of an output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator.
For example, if the phase detector determines that the input signal leads the voltage controlled oscillator signal, it will direct the charge pump to increase the current into the voltage controlled oscillator, thereby increasing the voltage controlled oscillator signal. In the event that the datastream lags the voltage controlled oscillator signal, the phase detector will direct the charge pump to decrease the amount of current flowing into the voltage controlled oscillator. In essence, the charge pump sources or sinks a particular amount of current to or from the loop filter. The voltage is thus used to control the operational frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator. The operational frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator is thus increased or decreased to reduce phase lead or phase lag of the inputs to the phase detector.
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a simplified illustration of a phase locked loop circuit 100 comprising a charge pump 140. Charge pump 140 comprises transistors 102, 104, 106 and 108. Transistors 102 and 108 are used to generate a constant current. A first voltage 132 is applied to the gate of transistor 102 and a second voltage 134 is applied to gate of transistor 108 which control the amount of current supplied by transistors 102 and 108 respectively. Transistors 104 and 106 operate as switches, acting as switches for connecting transistors 102 and 108 respectively to the output terminal 130 of the charge pump which is connected to the input terminal VCNT 112 of voltage controlled oscillator VCO 110. As shown in FIG. 1, the voltage at output terminal 130 will take various voltages, depending upon the operating frequency of VCO 110. UP switches transistor 104 on when the voltage at output terminal 130 needs to be increased, while DOWN switches transistor 106 on to decrease the voltage at output terminal 130. A phase locked loop filter 114 is operatively coupled between output terminal 130 of to the VCNT terminal 112 is a phase locked loop filter 114. The phase locked loop filter 114 comprises capacitance 116, resistance 118 and capacitance 120. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the corresponding values of the resistance and capacitance will be readily ascertainable during the building of the circuit.
The voltage at VCNT 112 of VCO 110 depends on the frequency generated by VCO 110. This can cause a variance in the current generated by either transistor 102 and transistor 108. This is because a real transistor's characteristic curve is not perfect. A real transistor's current has some dependency on the voltage between its drain and source. The absolute value of the current source affects the filter characteristic of the phased locked loop and the difference between the pull-up current and the pull-down current result in a phase offset of the phase locked loop. For example, if VCNT is decreasing, as it approaches ground voltage, the current from transistor 108 becomes weak, which creates a corresponding phase offset in phase locked loop 100. Similarly, if VCNT increased and approaches VDD, the current from transistor 102 becomes weak and will create a phase offset in phase locked loop 100.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.


Systems and methods are provided for updating product information on a webpage. One method comprises receiving, from a first seller, a first request to list at least one first product for sale on the webpage and receiving, from the first seller, product information associated with the at least one first product for sale. The method further comprises receiving, from the first seller, at least one image associated with the at least one first product for sale and providing the received product information associated with the at least one first product for sale to a workflow system, wherein the workflow system is configured to begin a first workflow to enter the product information into a database and configured to process multiple workflows substantially simultaneously. The first workflow may include listing the at least one first product for sale on the webpage.

Many sellers (hereinafter interchangeable with "vendors") list their products for sale online for consumers to purchase. In order to list new products and update product information (e.g., product identifier, seller/vendor identifier, pricing information, shipping information, quantity/inventory information, or product image) for products that are already listed, sellers may use a system that connects to the webpage on which their products may be listed for sale.
The existing systems and methods for listing new products and updating existing product information, however, are insufficient. They require a synching process to list new products and update existing product information. Because the existing methods require sellers to wait for the completion of a synching process before their updates are implemented, the existing methods are difficult to scale up for an increasing number of sellers and products. Furthermore, the existing methods cannot handle a large number of sellers simultaneously attempting to list or update more than one product.
Therefore, there is a need for improved methods and systems for reducing the time needed for updating product information of a large amount of sellers or products on a webpage in real-time.

Computerized systems and methods for large-scale product listing


A flying paster is disclosed that achieves straight across splicing by utilizing web roll core drive technology. Splice calculations are based on input data sensed during preliminary acceleration of the new roll, which is disposed in a splicing position in the flying paster. Acceleration of the new roll is achieved by engagement between the center core shaft of a new roll and a movable brake and roll accelerator assembly. Then, calculations facilitate speed matching between the web running from a second, running roll mounted in the flying paster and the new roll. Splicing is facilitated by the utilization of two, two-sided adhesive strips. One adhesive strip is used to adhere the leading end of the new roll to the rest of the body of the new roll during the pre-splice speed matching, and the second adhesive strip is used for adhering the leading end of the new roll with the newly cut, trailing end of the running web. After splicing, the new, now-running web roll and the movable brake and roll accelerator assembly are moved from the splicing position to an operating position in the flying paster. In the latter position, control over the new, now-running roll is transferred from the movable brake and roll accelerator assembly to a fixed brake and brake accelerator assembly disposed in the flying paster adjacent to the operating position. The movable brake and roll accelerator assembly are then returned to a position adjacent the splicing position so as to be ready for the next, new roll.

This invention relates to a flying paster, and more particularly, to a flying paster used to splice the leading end of a web from a new roll to the trailing end of a web running from a second roll. The splice is made while both rolls are being rotated at running web speed and while the running web is maintained under full brake/tension control.
Various types of flying pasters have been available and used for years in the web handling industry usually as an option or alternative to zero-speed web splicers. Flying pasters have found particular utility in newspaper printing press applications, that is, for splicing rolls of news print stock being fed to newspaper printing presses. In such applications, especially when the printing presses are housed in older buildings where useable floor space is at a premium, the ability to arrange flying pasters in vertical stacks has proved to be a marketable advantage.
In the past, flying pasters have had recognized practical problems which have limited their application and utility. These problems include the need to apply surface belts to the surfaces of the new rolls in order to drive the new rolls up to a speed matching the speed of the running web, and in some instances, to maintain web tension control after a splice. These surface belts have a disadvantage in that they tend to disturb the surface fibers of the web and prevent the use of simple splice preparations, as compared with zero-speed-splicer splice preparations. Indeed, most flying paster splice preparations are relatively complex, requiring the use of tabs, and precluding the use of continuous, straight-across splices achieved by a single strip of transfer adhesive. Additionally, prior commercially available flying pasters have required relatively expensive DC drives or mechanical press connections.
In sum, the concept of a flying paster, that is, splicing webs without stopping the running of the webs, is excellent in theory. Nonetheless, prior attempts to commercially employ this concept have encountered serious practical drawbacks that have generally relegated the flying paster to a second choice status as compared to zero-speed splicers. The need for an improved flying paster, which would realize the theoretical potential in a practical, work-a-day embodiment, has long been recognized by those working in the web handling industry.


A method for winding a soft-magnetic ribbon to form a self-contained magnetic core using a winding arbor includes the step of, after the ribbon has been wound on the arbor, holding the free end of the ribbon to the preceding turn by spot welds, disposed in general alignment along a center of the ribbon. The free end of the ribbon may be tapered, so that projecting corners are avoided. By making the spot welds substantially in the center of the ribbon, the formation of eddy currents, which may occur if the spot weld accidentally connected two adjacent turns of the ribbon, are avoided. A similar method may be used to releasably attach the beginning of the ribbon to the arbor, with the spot welds then being broken when the core is removed from the arbor. The method is particularly suited for winding a ribbon consisting of amorphous soft-magnetic material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for winding a soft-magnetic ribbon to form a self-contained magnetic core, and in particular to such a method wherein the ribbon is wrapped around a rotating winding arbor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A winding apparatus for ribbons used to form a magnetic core is described, for example, in German Patent 31 34 326. A method is disclosed therein which defines in detail the manner of controlling the tensile stress on the ribbon specifically for winding a rectangular magnetic core.

Method for winding a soft-magnetic ribbon to form a self-contained magnetic core


An expansion apparatus includes a shell defining an opening, a baseboard mounted in the shell, and a serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) device. A memory slot, a power converter, a hard disk drive (HDD) signal expander, and a connector exposed through the opening are all arranged on the baseboard. The memory slot includes a protrusion, first power pins connected to the power converter, first ground pins, and first signal pins connected to the HDD signal expander. A control chip and storage chips are all arranged on the SATA DIMM device. An edge connector and a notch are arranged along a bottom edge of the SATA DIMM device to be detachably engaged in the memory slot. The edge connector includes second power pins connected to the control chip and the storage chips, second ground pins, and second signal pins connected to the control chip.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an expansion apparatus for a serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module (SATA DIMM) device.
2. Description of Related Art
Solid state drives (SSD) store data on chips instead of on magnetic or optical discs and are used for adding storage capacity. One type of SSD has the form factor of a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) device and is called a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) DIMM device. The SATA DIMM device can be inserted into a memory slot of a motherboard, for receiving voltages from the motherboard through the memory slot and receiving hard disk drive (HDD) signals through SATA connectors arranged on the SATA DIMM module and connected to a SATA connector on the motherboard. However, the number of the memory slots is limited, thus the memory slots of the motherboard can only receive a limited quantity of SATA DIMM devices. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

Expansion apparatus for serial advanced technology attachment dual in-line memory module device

HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


Examples of a user interface are described that may include a master risk landscape map that includes nodes representing risks and links representing correlations between the risks. The visual appearance of the nodes and links may provide information about their characteristics, such as risk likelihood, risks severity, risk detectability, and/or strength of interconnectivity. The user may be able to interact with the master risk landscape map to drill down to further detail while simultaneously removing less relevant information as desired, thereby potentially allowing the user to focus on the most relevant information.

The art of risk management typically involves making sense of a large amount of information about risks, as well as their causes, relationships, and relative importance. While computers can often calculate inputted information with ease, it has become increasingly challenging to present increasingly complex and large amounts of risk-related information to human users without overwhelming them.
A traditional way to measure and document risk may be through the use of a spreadsheet with multiple tables, columns, and rows, similar to a FEMA template. However, once documentation is complete, users interpreting the information may feel that the focus of the information may have been buried among large quantities of data. Accordingly, user may not have a clear picture of various risks, their importance, and their correlation.

Presentation of an interactive user interface


A regulating valve of the type preferably used for dynamic regulation of fluid-borne systems, such as central heating systems in housing and industrial buildings or cooling facilities, where the control valve is provided with a valve housing with an inlet and an outlet, where a valve insert with an orifice is provided in the valve housing by which the flow in the regulating valve can be regulated, and where additionally there are detectors for detecting either supply pressure or discharge pressure and another pressure, respectively. The regulating valve is provided with a modular valve insert which at least includes a differential pressure regulator, a venturi, a throttle device and a coupling member for an actuator, where the various modules have interacting joining means. A valve insert may thus be built up of respective modules, where the modules are selected individually with the most suitable specifications for the individual task. It is thus not required to make as many different combinations of valve inserts since they are combined modularly according to need.

It is commonly known to use regulating valves of the type mentioned in the introduction. These are used for regulating many different conditions, including those in central heating systems.
The prior art types of regulating valves which e.g. are known from WO 2006/031161 are provided with a difference pressure regulator and with detection means for detecting pressure at each side of the differential pressure regulator. By measuring the differential pressure across the valve, it is determined whether the differential pressure required for operating is available to the valve or not. The desired flow may be set based on a scale on the valve, but no flow measurement verifies the actual flow, which is then to provided by an extra valve, a measuring orifice or by ultrasonic measuring equipment.
Another inexpediency of the prior art types of regulating valves is that they are difficult to identify, particularly after being mounted. It is common that the valves are fitted with a small data plate which, however, tends to disappear or become unreadable over time. Thus it becomes particularly difficult during fault localisation to find the specifications of the different valves such that the proper valve may be replaced by a corresponding valve or regulation may be performed on the right valve.


A method for denoising images by block-matching three-dimensional (BM3D) method is disclosed in the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are used to improve the quality of captured images. Instead of using the same noise variance to denoise all patches of an image, each patch is processed based on a particular assessed noise variance. The assessed noise variance of one reference patch is determined based on noise variance associated with the patch set or based on content characteristics associated with the patch set. The patch set is obtained by block-matching to find similar patches of the reference patch. Noise reduction in frequency domain is applied to the patch set according to the assessed noise variance of the reference patch. The determining of the assessed noise variance can be performed in spatial domain or in frequency domain.

Images captured by camera or other video and image systems usually contain noise introduced by analog devices or during conversion from analog signal to digital signal. Noise can be a particularly significant problem in low light conditions. Thus image denoising technologies have been developed to improve signal quality of captured images. Depending on the data being used, image denoising methods can be divided into spatial denoising methods which use intra-frame information only, temporal denoising methods that employ inter-frame information and motion compensation, and methods that combine both intra-frame and inter-frame information for denoising.
BM3D (block-matching three-dimensional) method is developed to perform image denoising. By block-matching (BM), similar 2D (two-dimensional) patches of each 2D reference patch are identified for denoising purpose. The similar 2D patches are selected from the still image or the video frame containing the reference patch by spatial denoising methods. For temporal denoising methods, the similar patches can also be found from a sequence of digital video frames. The reference patch and the matched patches can be grouped as a patch set according to the similarity of the grouped patches. The patch set is then transformed and denoised. The weighted average of the reference patch and its similar patches (which are also called matched patches) can be used to reduce noise of the all pixels of the reference patch.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of image analysis by BM to identify similar patches and group the patches into patch sets, each of which can be represented as a 3D data array. As shown by FIG. 1, one noisy image is processed by BM and each processed patch and the similar patches are grouped into 3D arrays. Each processed patch by BM is also treated as a reference patch. Reference patch R10 and the matched patches M11 and M12 can be grouped to form 3D data array 110. Reference patch R20 has four matched patches M21, M22, M23 and M24 with similar image content. These five patches are stacked into 3D data array 120. Patch R30 and the matched patches M31, M32 and M33 are grouped into 3D data array 130. Patch R40 together with its matched patch M41, M42 and M43 are grouped into 3D data array 140. In each 3D data array, the correlation between the patches of each 3D array can be employed to improve performance of image processing.
Based on the denoised result using block-matching, the noise of an image is attenuated in transform domain. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary flow chart of image denoising by a BM3D method. The denoising on noisy image 210 is performed by two denoising processes. The first is denoising process 220 which performs image denoising by hard-thresholding and the second is process 230 which performs image denoising by empirical Wiener filtering. In process 220, grouping by block-matching is performed on noisy image 210 to search for similar patches of the current patch by process 221. The current patch of original noisy image is used as a reference patch referred to as R1. Reference patch R1 together with its similar patches is grouped into one 3D data array by process 222. Then the 3D data array is processed by transform-domain shrinkage which starts from 3D transform 223. The 3D transform corresponds to a unitary transform which can be implemented as 2D discrete cosine transform (DCT) followed by 1D Hadamard transform. The similarity or correlation between the patches in the 3D array is exploited by applying the 3D unitary transform to produce a sparse representation of the true signal in 3D transform domain. Then the noise is attenuated by hard-thresholding 224 on the transform coefficients in 3D domain and the corresponding weight is obtained. Inverse 3D transform 225 following hard-thresholding 224 is performed to produce estimates of all the patches. All patches of the noisy image are processed in a sliding manner to yield block-wise estimates of all the patches. The overlapping block-wise estimates for each reference block forms a redundant estimate of the true signal. In order to get a non-redundant estimate of the noisy image, aggregation 226 is performed on the block-wise estimates and the weight produced by hard-thresholding 224. The basic estimate of the noisy image is obtained by aggregation 226 in denoising step 220.
The basic estimate (i.e. weighted average of all patches) of the noisy image is used by the second denoising process. Instead of using hard-thresholding, Wiener filtering is used to reduce noise in denoising process 230. The basic estimate of R1 is identified as reference patch R2. Grouping by block-matching 231 is performed within the basic estimate rather than within noisy image 210 to find similar patches of reference patch R2. R2 and the similar patches are stacked together to form one 3D data array by processing 232. The 3D data is processed by 3D transform 233 including 2D DCT and 1D Hadamard transform. The transform coefficients are processed by Wiener filtering 234 to attenuate the noise in transform domain and produce weight of each patch. Then 3D inverse transform 235 is performed to yield estimates for all patches. All the patches of the image are processed in a sliding manner to generate block-wise estimates. The final Wiener estimate is computed by aggregation 236 which is based on the weight obtained from Wiener filtering 234 and the block-wise estimates output by inverse 3D transform 235.
During image denoising in BM3D processing by hard-thresholding such as process 220 shown in FIG. 2, noise variance is utilized on the shrinkage of transform coefficients to realize denoising.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow of denoising by hard-thresholding in 3D transform domain with block-matching. Noise variance is estimated based on input noisy image. As shown by FIG. 3, noisy image 310 is processed first to estimate variance σ2 by variance estimation 311. Based on the estimation result, the standard deviation σ is computed in process 312. The standard deviation σ can be output to block-matching process 320 and denoising process 330 which shrinks transform coefficients by hard-thresholding. Block-matching is performed on noisy image 310 to yield the block-matching result SχR. The block-matching result SχR contains the coordinates of the matched patches that are similar to the reference patch referred as R. The block-matching result and the standard deviation σ are used by denoising process 330 to perform denoising by hard-thresholding in 3D transform domain.
Based on the result of block-matching, each reference patch and the matched patches are grouped to form 3D data array ZSχR. The denoising process by hard-thresholding in 3D transform domain is performed on 3D array ZSχR. The denoising process in 3D transform domain comprises three steps which are 3D transform, hard-thresholding and inverse 3D transform. The 3D transform produces a spares representation of the true signal in transform domain based on the similarity among the grouped patches. By hard-thresholding the transform coefficients, corresponding weight of each grouped patches is produced and the noise of grouped patches is attenuated according to the value of standard deviation σ. Inverse 3D transform follows hard-thresholding to reconstruct estimate of each patch. Denoising in 3D transform domain 332 outputs weight ψSχR and 3D array ŶSχR of reconstructed patch estimates. Kaiser window Wwin2D is multiplied to weight ωSχR to yield one patch of weights W (χR) by multiplying process 341. The summations in the denominator, which are represented by wbuff; are accumulated to the weights buffer by process 343. By using Kaiser Window Wwin2D, the impact of artifacts on the borders of patches (border effects) can be reduced. Another multiplying process 342 is used to multiply the patch of weights W (χR) to the estimate of each reconstructed patch. The results of multiplying process 342 are accumulated to estimate buffer by process 344. The summations in the numerator are represented by "ebuff". Process 345 is used to compute the intermediate estimate or basic estimate of the noisy image by dividing ebuff by wbuff. The intermediate estimate is used as basic estimate for denoising process by Wiener filtering.
In hard-thresholding of traditional BM3D methods, several related arts estimate the image noise variance of the input noisy image for denoising and other related arts assume the noise variance of input image is known. The noise variance may be defined on the input image or on a transform domain. However, all these denoising methods in traditional methods share the same shortcoming that the same noise variance is applied to the whole image regardless of how the noise variance is determined. For example, the same noise variance is used to reduce noise on all patches of the input image. Another example is to transfer the input image into a new image domain such as frequency domain. Then, the BM3D method is performed to the new image domain and utilizes the same noise variance to process all the patches of the input image. The same variance is used in the denoising process for the whole image in either temporal domain or a transform domain.
In reality, noise level varies even in the same input image due to the fluctuation of signal strength. Using the same noise variance level for denoising the whole image will apparently have problems when the actual noise variance in a patch deviates from the given noise variance. The result of denoising based on same noise variance that is far off the actual value will cause the denoised area to become more blurred. This problem motivates the current invention.

Method and apparatus for image denoising with three-dimensional block-matching


An improved jack with overload prevention including a lead screw having a driven end and an upstanding integral boss proximate the driven end, the driven end comprising a body abutting the upstanding boss and including an opening therethrough for receiving the end of the lead screw, the body carrying slots, grooves or recesses radiating from the opening and being in communication with the opening and carrying material from the lead screw displaced into the grooves thereby securing the body to the lead screw.

Scissors jacks are known in the art. In these jacks, ends of scissors arms are joined by a continuous lead screw. The lead screw is secured in a non-rotatable threaded sleeve secured to one scissors arm and passes freely through a non-rotatable body secured to the other scissors arm. At its other end (drive end), the lead screw is enlarged for example by a hex-nut united to its end, for being driven.
The scissors arms are jacked up and down (for elevating and lowering the body of the vehicle) by rotating the lead screw by driving the hex-nut.
For safety purposes, the jack must stay in its elevated position even if the enlarged end shears off or breaks off. Preferably that end shears off at predetermined input torque to ensure the safety of the jack.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved jack and constituents and components therefor.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a jack comprising a lead screw carrying an improved structure which may be caused to shear at a predetermined torque.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved components which are easier to assemble and use to assemble the jack.
Further and other objects of the invention will be realized by those skilled in the art from the following summary of the invention and detailed description of embodiments thereof.


A satellite command system and method that provides satellite commanding using remotely-controlled modulation of telemetry parameters on-board a satellite. Software is provided on each of the redundant processor units that creates separate DMA command input pathways to the redundant processor units. A command translator is used at a ground station to translate a command that is to be implemented on the satellite into a form ready for modulation. The command information is uplinked to the satellite by remotely manipulating (modulating) a quantity that can be measured by the on-board computer using its telemetry collection functions. The software implemented in processor units recognizes the modulation and processes it to reconstruct the command. The reconstructed command is passed to the processor unit, which then executes the command.

The present invention relates generally to satellite command systems and methods, and more particularly, to a satellite command system and method that provides satellite commanding using remotely-controlled modulation of satellite on-board telemetry parameters.
The assignee of the present invention manufactures and deploys communication satellites that orbit the Earth. Typically, the satellites contains a plurality of central processing units (CPUs). It is possible that a failure may occur while a satellite is in orbit that renders one of the CPU""s normal command pathways unusable. In the past, in the event of such a normal command pathway failure, the affected CPU could not be used. There is a need for a solution to this possible problem.
The present invention provides for a satellite command system and method that provides satellite commanding using remotely-controlled modulation of satellite on-board telemetry parameters. The present invention is useful after a failure of the normal on-board command pathway, wherein command information flows from command receivers to bit detectors, to command decoders, and finally to a computer (CPU). The present invention creates alternate command pathways through novel use of the basic spacecraft control electronics (SCE) architecture already on board the satellite. The present invention does not require any equipment specifically dedicated to this task.
The basic spacecraft control electronics already performs the task of gathering data from equipment distributed over the spacecraft for telemetry. The crux of the present invention is to cause the CPU to interpret certain patterns of variation of telemetry quantities over time as command information. To link ground controllers with the satellite, the particular telemetry item used must be manipulatable from the ground. Equipment that is sensitive to RF waves is most convenient for this purpose.
In an exemplary command system and method, the particular on-board telemetry parameters used happened to be associated with command input equipment but the traditional command input capability of that equipment was not operative. The satellite has a plurality of redundant processor units that are coupled to the command input equipment by way of a respective plurality of buses and command input buses that provide redundant command pathways to each of the redundant processor units. The redundant processor units respectively process the received commands transferred to them by way of the respective bus controllers and buses to control the satellite. The redundant processor units are also coupled to a plurality of distributed data collection units. The distributed data collection units perform command distribution and telemetry data collection.
The system and method of the present invention bypass the presence of a hardware failure that affects the command pathway of the processor units. Software is provided on each of the redundant processor units that creates separate DMA command pathways between each of the redundant processor units and the distributed data collection units.
To use the novel command pathway, a command translator is used at a ground station to translate a command that is to be implemented on the satellite into a form ready for modulation. The translated command is then superimposed on a signal that will be measured as telemetry data on-board the satellite. Thus, the command is generated and modulated on the ground to produce data that is available to the CPU through its telemetry collection functions.
Software implemented in processor units recognizes the modulation, and processes it to reconstruct the command. The processor unit then executes the command. Each of the redundant processor units can thus process the commands received to control the satellite.
The satellite command links, primary or redundant, are replicated without requiring additional, or any, dedicated satellite on-board RF command link receiving hardware. The present invention thus increases satellite command pathway redundancy and thereby improves satellite reliability, without any added costs in mass, power, or on-board hardware.
The present invention was developed, and a specific satellite design change was implemented, in response to an in-orbit failure involving one of an orbiting satellite""s two main on-board MIL-STD-1750 central processing units (CPUs). The failure rendered the affected CPU""s normal command input programmed input/output (PIO) bus unusable, while that CPU""s direct memory access (DMA) input/output capabilities, including its MIL-STD-1553 data bus, were still fully functional.
The in-orbit failure was corrected using the present invention. In particular, using the present invention, virtually all command link capability was restored to the in-orbit failed main central processing unit, including command link pathway redundancy.

Satellite commanding using remotely controlled modulation of satellite on-board telemetry parameters


An active two-terminal capacitor device with a controllable capacitance based on a capacitance value input C_I. A processor system PRS executes an algorithm which controls a power converter PCV with controllable electric switches connected to the two external terminals A, B along with a fixed value capacitor component CI. Based on sampling of at least the voltage across the capacitor component CI, the algorithm controls the power converter PCV to provide a resulting capacitance across the external terminals A, B which serves to match the capacitance value in ut C_I.

Capacitors are in general key components in power electric systems in terms of cost, volume, and long term reliability. Capacitors are used in switching circuits such as DC-DC, AC-DC, DC-AC converters, DC-link applications, online damping for stability, adaptive energy buffering etc.
Especially, high capacitance electrolytic capacitors often used in power (e.g. 10 W to several MW) electric systems are expensive, bulky, and they are known to change their capacitance over time (years).
Furthermore, in the manufacturing process, each fixed capacitance value needs its own manufacturing process line. Adjustable capacitors are known, but such components are rare in case of high capacitance values.


A pneumatic assembly for a projectile launching system including a body defining a continuous bore. A nozzle is positioned within the bore adjacent the forward end of the body and is moveable between a rearward position wherein the nozzle facilitates passage of a projectile through a projectile port and a forward position wherein the nozzle blocks the projectile port to prevent passage of a projectile therethrough.

Current airsoft projectile launching systems (as well as non-airsoft systems) include pneumatic and spring power sources. Existing designs suffer from deficiencies that affect accuracy, usability and/or durability.
For example, current spring-powered launching systems use a compressed spring to drive a piston longitudinally within a cylinder, compressing air in front of the piston. As the air is compressed it is directed behind the projectile to launch the projectile from a barrel. The spring may be compressed by human power or by an electric motor. Due to the stresses applied by the compressed spring these types of systems are prone to mechanical failure. Pneumatic launching systems exist but still suffer from shortcomings in performance and usability as well as limitations in compatibility with equipment that is common in the sport of airsoft.
There is therefore a need for improved projectile launching systems.