A virtualization apparatus and a method for controlling the same. In a method for controlling a virtualization apparatus including a plurality of domains, a sub domain transmits an input/output (IO) request for a hardware device to a main domain, and the main domain controls whether or not the IO request accesses the hardware device according to a resource needed to perform the IO request.

1. Field
One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a virtualization apparatus and a method for controlling the same, and more particularly, to a virtualization apparatus that controls access of input/output (IO) requests, taking into consideration available resources for each device, and a method for controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In computing, virtualization enables a plurality of operating systems to operate in a single computing environment. If it is assumed that an environment in which each operating system operates is a domain, each domain shares devices installed in the computing apparatus. However, when using the virtualization technology, a main domain among a plurality of domains has a native driver which can access the devices. Accordingly, sub domains may actually access the devices via the native driver of the main domain.
In order to implement such virtualization, a virtual machine monitor (VMM) initially allocates a central processing unit (CPU) time for each domain. Accordingly, if there is a request from a sub domain, the main domain uses a CPU time allocated to the main domain in order to process the request so that a CPU is occupied longer than the time initially allocated to the main domain.
In addition, if malware is installed in a sub domain, the malware sends excessive input/output (IO) requests and thereby the main domain consumes CPU resources while performing the job for the sub domain. That is, the main domain occupies the CPU due to a denial-of-service (DoS) attack from the malware on the sub domain, so performance of principal services or applications of the main domain deteriorates. Furthermore, excessive requests from the malware increase battery or power consumption.

Virtualization apparatus and method for controlling access to hardware device by I/O request


The invention provides a process for growing UV region  less than 200 nm transmitting calcium fluoride monocrystals, which includes crystallization from the melt, the annealing of the crystals and subsequent cooling, in a vacuum furnace, and which is effected by the continuous transfer of the crucible containing the melt from the crystallization zone into the annealing zone, each of these two zones having its own independent control system for the process parameters, characterized in that there is a temperature drop of 250-450xc2x0 C. from the crystallization zone to the annealing zone, with a gradient of 8-12xc2x0 C./cm, the crucible containing the material to be crystallized is moved from the crystallization zone to the annealing zone at a speed of 1-3 mm/hour, it is first kept in the annealing zone at a holding temperature of 1100-1300xc2x0 C. for 20-40 hours and is then cooled first to 950-900xc2x0 C. at a rate of 2-40xc2x0 C./hour and then to 300xc2x0 C. at a rage of 5-8xc2x0 C./hour, after which the material is allowed to cool down naturally.

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. xc2xa7119 of Russian Federation Patent application Serial No. 2001111056.
This application is related to co-filed application, Ser. No. 10/124,546, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates generally to optical fluoride crystals for transmitting below 200 nm UV region light, and particularly to UV region  less than 200 nm transmitting calcium fluoride crystals for excimer laser lithography optics.
The present invention belongs to the technical field of preparing artificial crystals of optical-grade fluorite by growing its monocrystals from a melt, cooling them in a temperature gradient, and using a crystal nucleus for the growth.
Optical-grade fluorite crystals are grown industrially by Stockbarger""s method, in which a crucible containing the melt is basically moved through a temperature domain with a gradient, under a high vacuum.
Two isothermal regions, with a temperature drop in between, are generally used when growing crystals in a downward moving crucible. This makes it possible to anneal the crystals straight after growing them, without subjecting them to the high thermal stresses that occur when there is an extremely great temperature drop. The furnace used here should have two temperature zones, with a minimal heat exchange between them. For this purpose, these zones are separated by a thermal insulator and a shielding screen, and the temperature in the two zones can be regulated independently from each other (see R. Lodiz* and R. Parker: xe2x80x9cRost kristallovxe2x80x9d [Growth of Crystals], translated from English into Russian, edited by A. A. Chemov and published by Mir in Moscow in 1974, p. 181).
A process for growing calcium fluoride crystals has been described in the book entitled xe2x80x9cOpticheskiy flyuoritxe2x80x9d [Optical-Grade Fluorite] by N. P. Yushkin et al., published by Nauka in Moscow in 1983 (see pp. 83 and 84). This process includes the prior preparation, in which the apparatus and the crucible are first cleaned with compressed air, the crucible is filled with fluorite fragments, and the apparatus containing the crucible is put under a vacuum of 1xc3x9710xe2x88x924 mm Hg. The crucible is then heated to 1500xc2x0 C. at a rate of 5xc2x0 C./minute in the course of 4-5 hours. The material is kept at this holding temperature until it is completely melted and the melt is fully homogeneous, the time of which depends on the size of the crucible and can be up to 20 hours. The crucible containing the melt is then automatically lowered at a speed of 2-20 mm/hour.
The crystals are grown here in the crystallization zone at a constant crystallization temperature of 1450xc2x0 C. for 10-15 hours, and the temperature of the furnace is then reduced to room temperature according tot a fixed temperature program. The total crystal-growing time is 30-50 hours. A single-stage annealing, carried out in the same crystal-growing apparatus, is recommended for optimal results. For the annealing of the crystals, the temperature in the upper zone of the furnace is reduced to a value of between 80 and 1150xc2x0 C., depending on the size of the crystals. The crucible containing the crystals is then raised again to its initial position in the upper zone and kept there for 5-10 hours. The temperature is then reduced to 250-150xc2x0 C. at a rate of 3-25xc2x0 C./hour. The heating is finally stopped, and the crystals are allowed to cool down naturally over the rest of the temperature range.
However, the disadvantage of this process is that the crystal preparation is discontinuous, and the crystals have to be heated twice in the upper zone. This can lead to stresses in the resulting monocrystals and to the formation of blocks in them.
The process that is known from the prior art and which can be regarded as the one that is the most like the process according to the present invention is the crystal-growing method for calcium fluoride described in the first reference mentioned above, i.e. the book by R. Lodiz* and R. Parker: xe2x80x9cRost kristallovxe2x80x9d [Growth of Crystals], translated from English into Russian, edited by A. A. Chemov and published by Mir in Moscow in 1974 (see p. 181 and p. 188 there).
In the process described in this book, the melt is cooled at a rate of at least 7xc2x0 C./cm, and the crucible is made to descend at a speed of 1-5 mm/hour.
However, the details for the concrete realization of the crystal-growing procedure are not given in the description of any of the above processes.
Yet the process parameters must be carefully and specially chosen for all stages of the crystallization and the annealing if one is to obtain high-quality fluorite crystals that are suitable for the preparation of optical components with the required characteristics.
An aspect of the present invention is to prepare calcium fluoride monocrystals with a high optical uniformity (having a xcex94n value of 1xc3x9710xe2x88x926) and a low birefringence (having a xcex4 value of 1-3 nm/cm).
An aspect of the invention is achieved by optimizing the conditions of the technological process involved in the entire cycle of growing monocrystals. The process involves crystallization from the melt and the annealing and cooling of the crystals, in a vacuum furnace. The crucible containing the melt is continuously moved from the crystallization zone into the annealing zone, and each of the two zones is fitted with its own independent means for controlling the process parameters. Unlike in the process according to the prior art, there is here a 250-450xc2x0 C. temperature drop from the crystallization zone to the annealing zone, with a gradient of 8-12xc2x0 C./cm. The crucible containing the material to be crystallized is moved from the crystallization zone to the annealing zone at a speed of 1-3 mm/hr. The material is first kept in the annealing zone at a holding temperature of 1100-1300xc2x0 C. for 20-40 hours, and then it is cooled first to 950-900xc2x0 C. at a rate of 2-4xc2x0 C./hour, and then further to 300xc2x0 C. at a rate of 5-8xc2x0 C./hour, the rest of the cooling being allowed to occur naturally.

Process for growing calcium fluoride monocrystals


The figures illustrate an apparatus (10-1, 10-2, 10-3) for a vehicle (100) comprising: first energy storage means (12) for storing electrical energy; second energy storage means (14) for storing electrical energy; and control means (16) arranged to transfer electrical energy from the second energy storage means (14) to the first energy storage means (12) when the level of electrical energy stored in the first energy storage means (12) is below a first electrical energy threshold level and the level of electrical energy stored in the second energy storage means (14) is above a second electrical energy threshold level.

Modern vehicles comprise electrical systems provided for the operation of the vehicle and comfort of a user or operator of the vehicle, such as the driver of the vehicle. Vehicles, such as automobiles, may have a significant number of electrical components which may include one or more of electrically powered access control sensors and systems, electrically powered steering, windows, heating and cooling systems, anti-theft systems, engine management systems, smart device interfaces, and other electrical components. Many of these electrical components have a minimum current which they draw even when the vehicle is not in use. For example, access control sensors must continually or periodically monitor for unlock signals from a remote key. As such, the electrical system's draw upon a vehicle's store of electrical energy is never zero. The current drawn by such electrical components or loads while the vehicle is not in use is referred to as the quiescent current.
Although the quiescent current may be minimal, over time it can still significantly drain a vehicle's store of electrical energy. If the vehicle is left unattended for a long period of time, the store of electrical energy may be significantly drained such that the vehicle may be unable to start up or even unlock. This is particularly significant with a battery electric vehicle as battery electric vehicles are unable to be driven without a store of electrical energy.
It is an aim of the present invention to address disadvantages of the prior art.


The invention regards a hinge interconnecting a first member and a second member for pivotal movement about an axis of rotation. The hinge comprises:. (a) a first member having a first pivot retaining portion and a second pivot retaining portion, each of the pivot retaining portions being fixed to the first rotatable member along the axis of rotation; and PA0 (b) a second member having a first post member matable with and axially insertable into the first retaining portion, and further having a second post member matable with and laterally insertable into the second retaining portion.

In the design of a multiple component assembly, a primary concern of the designer is the fastening of the piece parts or components that comprise an overall assembly. The ease with which plastic parts can be molded into a wide variety of configurations and the relative elasticity of thermoplastics allow the designer to incorporate structural elements used in the attachment of the parts integrally into the piece part itself. Examples include the use of snap-fit type latches, the inclusion of a receiving boss for accepting a threaded screw, and structures comprising a hinge. Many different design configurations for plastic hinges incorporated into plastic piece parts are known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,430, issued Aug. 9, 1960 to W. D. Teague, Jr. et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,670, issued Oct. 29, 1985 to Trendler, U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,726, issued Aug. 1, 1967 to P. J. Belanger, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,581 issued Jan. 31, 1956 to E. R. Heck.
A plastic molding technique that has become quite popular recently is blow molding. In blow molding, melted plastic is extruded through a dye to form a hollow shell (or "parison") with a specific wall thickness distribution. The parison is lowered between the core and the cavity halves of a mold. The mold halves close upon the parison; simultaneously, air or another suitable gas is injected into the interior of the parison to force the parison to stretch and conform to the mold surface. The result is a plastic part that has an external skin in the desired shape and a virtually empty internal core consisting of air pockets created by the injected gas. Blow molding can be advantageously used for large parts, which would require extremely high injection pressures if injection molded, and for thick parts, since the air pockets, or "voids", present in the core of the part affect the strength and rigidity of the part very little but reduce the amount of material required to make the part considerably.
For all of its advantages, blow molding is beset by some practical operational limitations. One of those limitations is the difficulty and expense of using "side-action" mechanisms within the mold. Side-action mechanisms create apertures and other structures oriented perpendicularly to the direction of mold travel by moving perpendicularly in response to the opening and closing of the mold. Side action mechanisms are particularly useful for molding integral fastening structures, such as receiving sockets for hinges, that are not oriented in the direction of mold travel. Exemplary is a hinged "clam shell" type enclosure: the mold core and cavity close and separate in the direction parallel to the sidewalls of the enclosure, so an integral hinge socket for fastening one half of the clam shell to its mating half is typically oriented perpendicular to the direction of mold travel. As such, the hinge socket must be formed with a retracting side action mechanism. In blow-molding, the use of side-action mechanisms is particularly undesirable, as the operation of a side action mechanism in a blow-molding mold requires that the portion of plastic the side action is to act upon must be stretched not only in the direction of mold travel, but also in the direction of the side action perpendicular to the direction of mold travel. This stretching thins that portion of plastic considerably, often so much that it completely loses its physical integrity and fractures. In addition, the inclusion of a side action mechanism in a mold increases the complexity of that mold; with increasing complexity comes increased cost for fabrication and maintenance. Because integral hinge structures typically require side-action mechanisms, blow-molded hinge structures are virtually unknown.
As a consequence, hinge structures included as part of an integral plastic design that do not require a mold with a side-action mechanisms are desirable, as such a design would facilitate the use of blow molding to make hinging parts. In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge design that can be molded integrally with the hinging parts without the use of side actions in the mold. It is a further object that such a design be easily assembled and have sufficient integrity as to be essentially permanent.


A high voltage amplifier and a method of assembling and of operating a high voltage amplifier are described. The device includes a first metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) driven by a first gate drive circuit. The device also includes a second MOSFET driven by a second gate drive circuit and a first optocoupler coupled to the second gate drive circuit. The first MOSFET and the second MOSFET of the high voltage amplifier drive a first output voltage.

The present disclosure relates generally to electronic amplifiers and, more particularly, to a high voltage, wide bandwidth amplifier.
Currently, available amplifiers are typically limited in output voltage amplitude range, bandwidth, or both. Many of these amplifiers use tubes or several transistors in series but are still limited in output voltage, bandwidth, or both. For example, the output may be limited to the order of 4 kilo Volts (kV) or 1 kV peak with a bandwidth of 200 kilo Hertz (kHz). In addition, for high voltage output requirements, conventional audio amplifier complementary symmetry and quasi-complementary symmetry may not be possible.


The inventor, Cleo McCoy Jr. provides a unique, sleeper unit giving commercial tractor day cab truck operators an option to upgrade their day cab from a sleeping birth to a roomy sleeper unit that retracts and expands. The Retractable Day Cab Sleeper is designed for truck operators who find sleeping births and birth modifications inadequate but don't want to upgrade to a permanent sleeper modification. The Retractable Day Cab Sleeper can also be installed and uninstalled using common tools with no modifications to the existing truck.

The Retractable Day Cab Sleeper was invented to provide Day Cab Truck Drivers with an option for a sleeper that can provide greater sleeping area and potential comfort, while minimizing the overall weight penalty and loss of space that a sleeper of equal proportions would demand. The Retractable Day Cab Sleeper will provide the same service as existing sleepers such as, providing on demand rest without the need to use traditional lodging.


Embossed microstructures within a substrate are used to create narrow and deep holes within that substrate. A carbon nanotube solution or mixture is then deposited over this substrate with the embossed holes. Shaking or vibrating the substrate will then cause the carbon nanotubes to fall into each of the holes in such a way that all of the nanotubes within a hole will be substantially parallel to the long axis of the hole. This structure can then be combined with a gate electrode and an anode to create a field emission display device.

The present invention relates in general to field emission display devices, and in particular, to the use of carbon nanotubes as field emitters in display applications.
Carbon nanotubes can be manufactured in volume having different dimensions (length and diameter), including single shell (single wall) or multiple shells (multiple walls). In order to make a display utilizing carbon nanotubes, one needs to possess a low cost process inducible to high volume manufacturing. To date, a typical method mixes carbon nanotubes with an adhesive and then screen prints the mixture. This method has a lot of problems with the directionality of the nanotubes, their density in the adhesive material, and the resultant resolution of the display. Furthermore, in order to make a display, a triode structure must be built that is not obvious to be realized using such a screen printing method.

Field emission display using carbon nanotubes and methods of making the same


In one aspect, a telesuite is provided and includes a camera rotatable about at least one axis, the camera being rotatably mounted to a base, and a radiograph viewing device. The radiograph viewing device includes a light source and a translucent substrate defining at least one radiograph viewing area. Each radiograph viewing area of the translucent substrate is disposed substantially equidistant from the camera.

Transparency illuminators, view boxes, light boxes, and the likes are used to permit viewing of negative images. Medical applications utilize such light boxes to permit radiologists and other qualified health care practitioners to view radiographic images (e.g., radiographs) and other film-based or transparency-based medical diagnostic images (e.g., CT or MRI images). These light boxes contain one or more light sources and a flat front panel comprising a light diffuser, such as a translucent white Plexiglass, and are dimensioned to handle a predetermined number of conventionally sized radiographs (e.g., about 14″ by 17″) to permit simultaneous viewing of one or more radiographs.
Proper radiograph interpretation, and the identification of any underlying ailment, disease, or malady, requires sufficient lighting, contrast, and resolution. If any one of the lighting, contrast, and resolution is less than optimal, radiographic interpretation is complicated and the ability of the radiologist to properly diagnose an underlying ailment, disease, or malady is reduced. Further, the added interpretive difficulty lengthens the amount of time devoted to radiographic analysis and increases, over time, the viewers fatigue, eye strain, and muscle stiffness.
Recent improvements to the conventional light boxes include, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,940,998 and 5,992,066 to Brauer. Although these and other conventional transparency illuminators or "light boxes" used in medical applications for reviewing radiographs (e.g., x-rays) or negative images may be effective for the local applications for which they were designed, a need exists for a light box or radiographic viewing device optimized for remote applications, such as telemedicine.

Apparatus and method for viewing radiographs


This brake control device includes: an operation amount sensor which detects the brake operating member operation amount; front-wheel and rear-wheel actuators which generate braking force in front/rear wheels; front-wheel and rear-wheel sensors which detect the outputs of the front-wheel and rear-wheel actuators; and a controller which controls the front-wheel and rear-wheel actuators based on the operation amount and the outputs of the front and rear wheels. On the basis of the operation amount and/or the output of the rear wheels, the controller determines whether or not a long-term low-load state in which the friction member is continuously pressed against the rotary members of the rear wheels within a predetermined range over a long period of time is established. If so, the distribution ratio of the rear-wheel braking force to the total applied braking force is decreased compared to when a long-term low-load state is not determined to be established.

In Patent Literature 1, "braking force distribution control in which distribution of a braking force is changed in response to a request for braking performance under a high braking load without enlarging a braking device of a vehicle" is described. More specifically, it is described that "determination means for determining whether a high braking load state is established on the basis of intervals and the number of executions of braking execution processing and distribution control means for changing front and rear wheel braking force distribution of the vehicle when it is determined that the high braking load state is established are provided, the high braking load state is detected in the cases where the braking execution processing of requesting the braking force that exceeds a specified braking force and driving execution processing of requesting a driving force that exceeds a specified driving force are alternately executed and where the braking execution processing is executed for the number of times that exceeds the specified number of times at a shorter braking execution interval than a specified period of time, and the front and rear wheel braking force distribution is changed by decreasing the braking force on front wheels and increasing the braking force on rear wheels".
The brake control device described in the Patent Literature 1 is based on the following idea; "it is considered that the braking device on the rear wheel side has room for heat capacity when compared to that on the front wheel side. Accordingly, in the case where the braking load is higher than that in normal use environment, the braking force distribution control is temporarily executed such that the rear-wheel braking device compensates for shortage of braking capacity or the braking performance of the front-wheel braking device. In this way, the braking performance or the braking capacity that is requested under the high braking load can be realized without enlarging the braking devices". Accordingly, the brake control device in the Patent Literature 1 specifically controls such that "when it is determined that the braking load is increased due to a travel pattern in which rapid acceleration and rapid deceleration are repeated, the front and rear wheel braking force distribution is initially changed to be biased toward the rear-wheel side in order to decrease the braking load of the front-wheel braking device that is actuated to generate the relatively large braking force and to prevent the front-wheel braking device from being brought into an overheated state, and, when a decrease of the braking load by such a change in the distribution is insufficient, a gear stage of a transmission is thereafter lowered, so as to suppress an increase of the load of the braking device".
In regard to the brake control device, from a perspective of heating, it is necessary to consider not only the travel pattern in which the rapid acceleration and the rapid deceleration are repeated but also situations where various braking operations are performed. That is, of the various braking operation situations, there is a situation where requested performance for the front-wheel and rear-wheel braking devices contradict each other. More specifically, there is a case where the large braking force is generated in a short period of time by rapid braking from high-speed travel, and there is a case where the relatively small braking force is generated over a long period of time on a downhill road or the like. In the short intense braking operation, the relatively high heat capacity is requested for the front-wheel braking device. Meanwhile, in the long mild braking operation, the relatively high heat capacity is requested for the rear-wheel braking device. The heat capacity of the braking device can be increased by thickening a brake disc, enlarging a brake caliper, and the like. However, any of such changes is not preferred from a perspective of reductions in size and weight of the device.


A communication system for implementing IP cross-domain interconnecting via Border media Gateway (BG) includes: different IP domains, each of which includes: a Media Gateway Controller (MGC) for call control and a Media Gateway (MG) for media bearing; the communication system includes a BG for implementing interconnecting of the IP domains as well. A communication method based on the communication system, includes: a calling MG and a called MG located in different IP domains implements call switching and media stream creating with a BG under the control of MGCs in the different IP domains; and the calling MG communicates with the called MG based on the media streams created. Thus the cross-domain interconnecting between different IP domains via BGs is realize.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the networking of a single network of Next Generation Network (NGN). As shown in FIG. 1, the Media Gateway Controller (MGC) and Media Gateway (MG) are two key components of NGN. The MGC is in charge of the call control function while the MG is in charge of the service bearer function, which separates the call control plane from the service bearer plane, so as to share network resources sufficiently and simplify the device upgrading and the service extension, thereby lower the development and maintenance cost greatly.
In order to make an MG cooperate with an MGC, a media gateway control protocol is needed between the MGC and the MG. The media gateway control protocol is a major protocol used in communication between an MG and an MGC, and two of such protocols widely used are H.248/MeGaCo and MGCP.
MGs usually establish a Real-time Transmission Protocol (RTP) media streams between each other to communicate under the control of an MGC.
According to different network positions where MGs are located, an MG may have two functions. The first function is to bear media streams in a single IP domain as User Network Interface (UNI), for example, the interconnecting in a same IP domain of a single operator, such an MG is also called a common MG; the second function is to bear cross-domain media streams in multiple IP domains as Network Node Interface (NNI), for example, the interconnecting among the IP domains of different operators or among the different IP domains of a same operator, typically, between an enterprise network and a core network, such an MG is also called a BG or an IP-IP MG. So far, a BG has been suggested to be needed in the implementation of interconnecting between different IP domains but no specific implementing method is given.
At present, there are various IP domains in which constitution mechanisms of the media streams may be different, such as different IP subnet addresses of an IP network, interconnecting IPv4 and IPv6 networks, and different media coding/decoding algorithms. Along with the development of services, it has become a pressing need to make these media streams of different IP networks interconnect.

Communication system and method for implementing IP cross-domain interconnecting via border media gateway


A suitable power amplification path is selected from at least one amplification path in a power amplifier, according to at least a signal modulated in one modulation mode, to reduce the size and the efficiency of the power amplifier. The power amplifier in accordance with the present invention comprises a bias voltage control terminal, an output change-over switch, a non-linear amplification path, and a linear amplification path. The non-linear amplification path includes a variable gain amplifier whose gain is set at predetermined gain, and a linear amplifier and a non-linear amplifier which amplify the output of the variable gain amplifier by controlling the bias voltage thereof with the output of a bias voltage control circuit. In the linear amplification path, the bias voltage of the linear amplifier is set constant and the gain of the variable gain amplifier before the linear amplifier is adjusted by controlling the bias voltage thereof, whereby the output level of the power amplifier is controlled. One of both the amplification paths is selected by the output change-over switch according to the required system, and the variable gain amplifier and linear amplifiers are shared for both amplifier paths and the output of the bias voltage control circuit is switched to apply for the corresponding amplifier path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power amplifier, and in particular, to a power amplifier whose structure is reduced in size.
2. Description of Related Arts
Two kinds of output control systems have been employed for the conventional power amplifiers. In an output control system, as shown in FIG. 1, bias voltages of linear amplifiers 3, 4 and 5 are kept constant to keep their gains constant, and programmably variable gain amplifier 2 is arranged before input terminal 6 of power amplifier 1, and the magnitude of an input signal applied to power amplifier 1 is changed by variable gain amplifier 2. In the other system, as shown in FIG. 2, the gain of power amplifier 1 is changed by controlling the bias voltage of linear amplifiers 3, 4, and 5.
In the amplification mode of the conventional power amplifier described above, in particular, in an amplitude modulation mode and a phase modulation mode, since the data are transmitted by changing of amplitude component, a distortion produced during the compression of the data by the power amplifier, deteriorates the quality of the data. Therefore, the power amplifier needs to be used in a linear amplification range, which reduces the efficiency of the power amplifier. This is a serious matter to induces a problem that the power amplifier itself or the control system therefor needs to be selected according to the modulation mode of signal.

Power amplifier and control circuit thereof


A main body to be moved and operated along a workpiece includes a joining roller which elastically presses the supplied adhesive tape against a tape joining face of the workpiece, guide members which determine the position of the main body and maintain the posture of the main body with respect to the workpiece being engaged with the outer face of the workpiece at the opposite side of the tape joining face, a separator guide which is arranged to be opposed to a tape supply roller, and a tape guide which is arranged in the vicinity of the side where the adhesive tape is reeled out toward the separator guide. On the separator guide, a separator guide face is formed, which guides a separator st separated from the adhesive tape into a direction different from an adhesive tape joining direction.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adhesive tape joining apparatus used when an adhesive tape is joined to a curved workpiece such as a door sash of an automobile.
(2) Description of the Related Art
In recent years, in a manufacturing process of an automobile, in place of black coating processing on a door sash, a technology to join a black adhesive tape has been developed. As this joining technology, an adhesive tape joining apparatus (an adhesive tape joining jig) has been suggested. Herein, an adhesive tape from which a separator is separated is elastically pressed against a tape joining face with a joining roller to be joined thereto while guiding and moving this adhesive tape joining apparatus on hand along a workpiece (refer to JP-A 2001-115117).
This adhesive tape joining apparatus (adhesive tape joining jig) is provided with four bottom guide rollers to be engaged on back and forth and right and left of a bottom face that is a tape joining face of the workpiece and four side guide rollers to be engaged on back and forth two places of the right and left side faces of the workpiece at its base. In addition, a single pressing roller to be elastically pressed against the upper face of the workpiece is mounted on a pressing lever that is pivotally connected to the base. Then, a bottom guide roller group and the pressing roller sandwich the workpiece vertically so as to hold the posture of the adhesive tape joining apparatus with respect to the workpiece. At the same time, by engaging the side guide rollers from right and left of the workpiece, positioning in a right and left direction of the adhesive tape joining apparatus with respect to the workpiece has been made.
Thus, moving the adhesive tape joining apparatus of which position and posture are determined along the workpiece due to the guidance of engagement by the roller group, the adhesive tape is elastically pressed against the bottom of the workpiece by an elastic roller arranged at the rear end of the base to be joined thereto. In addition, the adhesive tape to be supplied is curved and guided ahead of the elastic roller. In this case, the separator is separated to be fed forward in a joining moving direction through a gap formed between the base and a sliding plate.
However, the conventional apparatus has the following problems.
In other words, the suggested adhesive tape joining apparatus employs guiding means using four bottom guide rollers to be engaged with the bottom face of the workpiece and two pairs of side guide rollers that are engaged with the right and left side faces of the workpiece, respectively, so that there are many engagement guide operational places. Therefore, a function to hold the posture of the adhesive tape joining apparatus and a function to determine the position thereof with respect to the workpiece are sophisticated. These functions can be sufficiently practiced for a linear workpiece. However, the elastic roller to press the adhesive tape against the tape joining face is arranged at a rear part of the guide roller group, so that this involves a problem such that the appropriate joining is not performed to the workpiece having a curved part.
In other words, in the case that this adhesive tape joining apparatus is moved forward along a workpiece having a curved portion, when the guide roller group passes through, for example, the curved portion shaped in a mountain, the posture of the apparatus will be determined depending on the direction of the workpiece that is located over the curved portion. Therefore, since the elastic roller behind the guide roller group is located in front of the curved portion yet, the elastic roller will come close to the workpiece. Accordingly, in front of the curved portion, the elastic roller will be elastically transformed more than the normal case to be pressed against the tape joining face. As a result, the adhesive tape will be locally pressed by a large pressure and a stretch and a crease are generated on the adhesive tape.
In addition, there is a limit in the elastic transformation of the elastic roller, so that the apparatus cannot follow the sharp curve of the workpiece. In other words, the suggested adhesive tape joining apparatus can be effectively used for the workpiece having a linear or a gentle curved portion. However, this involves a problem such that the apparatus cannot continuously join the tape on the workpiece having a relatively sharp curved portion.
In addition, in the suggested adhesive tape joining apparatus, the separated separator is discharged forward in a joining moving direction of the adhesive tape joining apparatus. Therefore, in the case of carrying out the joining processing on the horizontally long bottom face of the workpiece, even if the separated separator moves forward in a moving direction of the adhesive tape joining apparatus, it is not obstructive to the forward moving because it hangs down downward by its own weight. However, in the case of performing the joining processing on the longitudinal directed place in the workpiece, the separator moved forward in the moving direction of the adhesive tape joining apparatus is obstructive to the forward moving. Accordingly, this involves a disadvantage such that the attention to the adhesive tape joining operation gets distracted due to the operation to wave aside the separator or the joining moving speed is lowered so as to deteriorate finish of joining.


Portable cameras are known, and used to gather news, to cover sport events etc. The cameraman/woman who is recording the scene to be recorded frequently has to walk around during recording. By walking in a forward direction he normally does not encounters problems, but by walking in a backward and/or sideward direction accidents frequently occur. The invention provides a solution for this, by adding an auxiliary camera to the portable camera with a viewing angle in the backward and/or sideward direction.

The invention relates to a portable television camera as described in the preamble of claim 1.
Portable television cameras are known in the art and are for example used for gathering news, different sport events, and other things.
The cameraman or woman normally carries the portable television camera on his/her shoulder. When recording scenes he normally looks with one eye in the ocular of a viewfinder and with his other eye he sees a part of the surroundings in front of him/her.
During making the recordings he often has to walk in a forward or backward direction. As the cameraman sees part of the surroundings in front of him he normally does not encounters problems in walking in a forward direction. But walking in a backward direction he has to do xe2x80x9cblindxe2x80x9d.
In the past it has frequently happened that a cameraman walked against obstacles or for example fell down from a podium etc.
It is inter alia an object of the invention to provide a portable television camera, which overcomes the objections of the prior art. To this end a first aspect of the invention provides a portable television camera as claimed in claim 1.
By adding an auxiliary camera to the portable television camera the cameraman is able to view a scene behind and or next to him. That is to say to view the surroundings and can use this information for example when he wants to walk around during recording.
It is to be noticed here that the use of a camera as a rear view mirror to view behind the person is known per se and for example used with trucks.
Further it is to be noticed here that an auxiliary camera also is already used in a studio environment to keep an overview of the surroundings during zooming in very detail.
An embodiment of the invention comprises the features as claimed in claim 2. A further embodiment of the invention comprised features of claim 3.
By displaying the second view (behind and/or next to the camera man) on the view finder of the portable television camera the camera man can, during recording a scene in front of him, xe2x80x9cseexe2x80x9d what obstacles are behind him and so is able to walk backwards in safety.
An embodiment of the invention comprises the features of claim 4. By mechanically coupling the auxiliary camera flexible to the housing of the portable television camera the cameraman is able to direct the auxiliary camera as he prefers.


The present invention provides a mounting unit for solar panels that simplifies the complexity of storage, transit and in-field installation of solar electric generation systems. According to one embodiment, the mounting unit comprises a top panel, a bottom panel and a pair of panel guides, each formed integral with and adjacent to an opposing side of the top panel. Each panel guide includes a horizontal portion for supporting a solar panel and a vertical portion for providing an air channel between a bottom surface of the solar panel and an upper surface of the top panel. The air channel enables natural convection to cool the solar panel and optionally a power conversion device used within the system, thereby improving the solar conversion efficiency of the system. An improved method for installing a solar electric generation system is also provided herein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the technical field of solar electricity generation systems. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of solar panel mounting and installation assemblies within solar electric generation systems.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
The following descriptions and examples are provided as background only and are intended to reveal information that is believed to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, or should be construed, that any of the following information constitutes prior art impacting the patentable character of the subject matter claimed herein.
Within a solar electric generation system that utilizes solar panels, conventional systems for mounting and installing the solar panels rely on the delivery and in-field assembly of a large number of individual metal components at the site of the generation system to create a mounting assembly. The design of the mounting assembly may vary depending on whether the solar electric generation system is ground mounted, or mounted onto a roof, over-hang or other building structure.
In most cases, the mounting assembly usually comprises a number of metal components (such as rails, frames, clamps and vertical supports), which must be assembled on-site by an experienced field technician to form an open frame or rack structure for supporting a plurality of solar panels. The solar panels do not come preassembled onto the mounting assembly and must be installed (typically using a plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as clamps and screws) on-site. Once the solar panels are in place, the electrical components of the system must be properly wired in order to produce electricity that can be utilized by entities such as homes, businesses, utilities, and electric equipment.
These conventional systems require substantial site preparation activities and in-field labor by skilled technicians that are expensive and provide limited opportunity to control or inspect the work product during construction. In addition, the implementation resulting from this conventional approach can vary greatly from site to site. Thus, the conventional approach significantly hampers the ability for solar panel mounting and installation to become more standardized, and hence more cost effective. Further, conventional systems do not seek to optimize natural convection forces for purposes of cooling the solar panel and associated power conversion devices, and thus, fail to optimize the solar conversion efficiency of the system electric generation system.

Mounting unit for solar electricity generation systems and improved installation method


There includes: an optical splitter splitting modulated light into local oscillator light and signal light beams; a phase adjustment unit adjusting phases of signal light beams; an optical amplification unit amplifying signal light beams phase-adjusted; an optical phased array antenna outputting signal light beams amplified to space; a phase control unit synchronizing with a reference signal light beams, output from the optical phased array antenna and multiplexed with the local oscillator light; an acquisition and tracking mechanism adjusting output angles of signal light beams; an angle detection unit detecting arrival angles of received light; and a control unit setting the reference signal to first reference signals having different frequencies, supplementing the received light based on a detection result, setting the reference signal to second reference signals having equal frequencies, and tracking the received light based on the detection result.

A free-space optical communication apparatus has advantages over a typical microwave communication apparatus, which performs communication using microwaves, that the free-space optical communication apparatus is small and excellent in portability, has confidentiality due to a small beam spread, is not regulated by the Radio Law, and can use a wide frequency band to be able to perform high-speed communication.
Meanwhile, the free-space optical communication apparatus has a small beam spread and thus needs to acquire received light arriving from the party at the other end of communication and control the output angle of transmitted light, in order to establish and maintain the communication.
On the other hand, there is known a free-space optical communication apparatus that performs initial acquisition of the received light by outputting beacon light having high output and wide angle in addition to communication light (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Free-space optical communication apparatus


The present invention is a computer-implemented method for optimizing the detecting and scoring of similarities between documents in a source database and search criteria. It uses a set of hierarchical documents having root, interior and leaf nodes where the leaf nodes contain data items. Unique identifiers are assigned to each unique data item contained within each leaf node within the set of documents. Unique identifiers may be assigned to the data items depending upon a selected context in the hierarchy of nodes within the documents. For each data item in each leaf node, a data item score is computed that represents a similarity between the data item in the leaf node and the search criteria. A parent nodes score is then computed by combining the data item scores for all its child nodes. A data and indexing structures provides for efficient similarity searching and the quick reporting of results because the data is organized by the categories a user wants to search. Assigning a pointer or unique identifier only to unique data items causes the memory requirements to be reduced and optimizes the search time. Depending upon the particular set of documents being searched and the search criteria, significant improvements in speed and memory requirements may be achieved.

The present invention relates generally to similarity search engines. More particularly, the invention is a computer-implemented similarity search system and method that allows for efficiently searching very large source databases for similarity search criteria specified in a query. A database, a document or set of documents comprising the data to be searched are translated into a hierarchical database, document or set of documents of root, interior and leaf nodes that correspond to the categories that a user wants to search. The leaf nodes contain the data items to be searched. A unique identifier, called a pointer, is assigned to each unique data item within a specified context. An index associates each child node with its parent. During the similarity search, data items within the leaf nodes are assigned a score that is a quantitative measurement of the similarity between the object and the search criteria. A scoring algorithm, which may be selected by the user, assigns the similarity score. The data and indexing structures provide for efficient similarity searching and the quick reporting of results because the data is organized by the categories a user wants to search. Assigning a pointer or unique identifier only to unique data items causes the memory requirements to be reduced and optimizes the search time. Depending upon the particular set of documents being searched and the search criteria, significant improvements in speed and memory requirements are achieved. Leaf node scores are combined into its parent scores according to an algorithm, which may be specified by the user. Leaf node or child scores within a parent may be weighted so that certain child categories may be given more importance when leaf nodes (child) scores are combined into parent scores. The invention can be utilized for searching most types of large-scale databases.
Modern information resources, including data found on global information networks, form huge databases that need to be searched to extract useful information. Existing database searching technology provides the capability to search through these databases. However, traditional database search methods usually provide precise results, that is, either an object in the database meets the search criteria and belongs to the results set or it does not. However, in many cases it is desirable to know how similar an object is to the search criteria, not just whether the object matches the search criteria. This is especially important if the data in the database to be searched is incomplete, inaccurate or contains errors such as data entry errors or if confidence in the search criteria is not great. It is also important to be able to search for a value or item in a database within its particular data context to reduce the number of irrelevant xe2x80x9cmatchesxe2x80x9d reported by a database searching program. Traditional search methods of exact, partial and range retrieval paradigms fail to satisfy the content-based retrieval needs of many emerging data processing applications.
Existing database searching technology is also constrained by another factor: the problem of multiple data sources. Data relevant to investigations is often stored in multiple databases or supplied by third party companies. Combining the data by incorporating data from separate sources is usually an expensive and time consuming systems integration task. However, if a consistent ranking or scoring scheme is used for identifying how similar an object is to the search criteria, then that same search criteria can be used to rank other objects in the same search categories in multiple databases. By using a consistent ranking or scoring scheme, it is possible not only to know how similar the object is to the search criteria, but also how similar objects are to each other and then be able to choose the best match or matches for the search criteria from multiple database sources.
Existing database searching, including similarity searching technologies for searching databases, particularly-very large databases, may also take an unacceptably long period of time to complete any search due to the large quantity of data and the particular search techniques used. The amount and quantity of data being searched today, both in traditional database searching and when searching for information located throughout or accessed through a global communications network such as the Internet requires optimized search techniques to provide users with fast as well as accurate search results.
The present invention, which is a system and method for performing similarity searching, solves the aforementioned needs.
The present invention is a computer implemented method for optimizing similarity searching while detecting and scoring similarities between documents and a search criteria using a set of hierarchical documents having root, interior and leaf nodes where the leaf nodes contain data items. Using assigned unique identifiers assigned to each unique data item contained within each leaf node in the set of documents, a data item score is computed for each data item in each leaf node that represents a similarity between the data item in the leaf node and the search criteria.
A root node is a node that has no parent node and is a parent of at least one child node selected from the group consisting of interior nodes and leaf nodes. An interior node has a parent node and the interior node is itself a parent node having at least one child node selected from the group consisting of interior nodes and leaf nodes. A leaf node is a child node that has no children and the leaf node has a parent node selected from the group consisting of root nodes and interior nodes.
A parent node score is computed by combining the data item scores for all its child nodes. The data item score is a number that represents how similar and dissimilar the data item is to the search criteria. The method further comprises computing an interior node score for all interior nodes by combining the scores for all the child nodes of the interior nodes. The method further comprises computing a root node score by combining the interior node scores for the children of the root node.
The method further comprises a schema having a hierarchy, wherein the schema describes an organization of the set of hierarchical documents. The schema defines a hierarchy of parent and child nodes within the set of hierarchical documents. A node label is assigned to each node in the schema.
The method further comprises converting at least one document into at least one hierarchical document having root, interior and leaf nodes, wherein said root, interior and leaf nodes correspond to the nodes of the schema. The method further comprises converting at least one document into at least one hierarchical document having at least one root node and at least one leaf node, wherein said root and leaf nodes correspond to the nodes of the schema. Converting the documents comprises allowing a user to map between the schema and documents in a preexisting database to form the set of hierarchical documents. The preexisting database may be a relational database. The hierarchical documents are stored in Extensible Markup Language (XML).
The assigned unique identifiers for each unique data item contained within each leaf node are unique within a selected context in the set of hierarchical documents. The context for a node may be its position in the schema or the set of node labels that comprise its position in the schema.
The method further comprises reserving space in a score buffer for each assigned unique identifier and associating the score for the data item for each assigned unique identifier with its reserved space in the score buffer. The score buffer may be indexed by the data item""s assigned unique identifier. The assigned unique identifier may be the same for all identical data items for a selected context within the hierarchical database. The context may be selected from the group consisting of its position in the schema and the set of node labels.
The method comprises assigning an identifier to each parent node and identifying the child nodes belonging to each parent node. Identifying comprises associating the data item""s assigned unique identifier for each leaf node with its parent""s assigned identifier and saving the resulting association. The resulting association may be stored in a relation band.
The score may be assigned based on a method selected from the group consisting of an algorithmic scoring method and a non-algorithmic scoring method. The scoring method may be a non-algorithmic scoring method and if the data item does not match the search criteria, the score assigned is a value that represents a neutral score. The method further comprises if a non-algorithmic scoring method is chosen a set of data values along with data item scores is generated. If a data item occurs within this set, the data item""s unique identifier is associated with its corresponding score. If the data items are not in this set, the data items are assigned a neutral score. The non-algorithmic scoring method uses a user-defined table of data items, their corresponding synonyms and their scores.
The method further comprises for all the data items in the set of hierarchical documents, organizing each data item in a data band according to its position in the schema and associating each data item""s assigned unique identifier with the data item and storing the association in the data band and for each child node in the set of hierarchical documents, linking each node with its parent node using a relation band according to its position in the schema, where the parent node is selected from the group consisting of interior nodes and root nodes.
Computing a data item score comprises calculating a leaf node score for each data item within each leaf node, combining all the data item scores within the leaf node into an overall leaf node score and saving the overall node score as the leaf node score which may be stored in a score buffer. The method further comprises indexing the leaf score buffer by the data item""s assigned unique identifier.
The method further comprises using the saved leaf node scores, selecting a parent node as the current parent node and calculating a current parent node score for all leaf nodes that have the same parent using a parent score computing algorithm and saving the current parent node score. If the current parent node is a root node, the parent node score is saved as a final similarity search score and processing ends. If the current parent node is an interior node, the processing comprises saving the current parent node score as an interior node score, setting the current parent node to the parent of the interior node, using the saved interior node scores, calculating the parent node score for all interior nodes that have the same parent using a parent score computing algorithm and repeating the process until the current parent node is a root node.
The method further comprises calculating a root node score for each root node within the set of hierarchical documents comprising using the relation bands, for 1 to N parent nodes, identifying the data item scores for their child nodes of the 1 to N parent nodes; selecting a current parent node from the 1 to N parent nodes; computing a parent score for the current parent node using the data item scores of its children and a parent score computing algorithm and saving the parent node score. If the current parent node is a root node, saving the parent node score as the similarity search score and processing ends. If the current parent node is not a root node, selecting another current parent node from the 1 to N parent nodes that has not had its score calculated and repeating the process until the current parent node is a root node.
The method further comprises for all data items in the set of hierarchical documents, organizing each data item within each leaf node in a data band according to its position in the schema and associating each data item""s assigned unique identifier with the data band. Computing a data item score comprises calculating a leaf node score for each data item, combining all the data item scores within the leaf node into an overall leaf node score and saving the overall node score as the leaf node score.
The method further comprises selecting a leaf node data item score for a leaf node that has not had its parent node score computed and calculating a current parent node score for the selected leaf node""s parent using leaf node scores for all children of the parent. A parent score computing algorithm is used to calculate the score and the current parent node score is saved. If the current parent node is a root node, the parent node score is saved as a final similarity score and processing ends. Otherwise, beginning with a lowest level of interior nodes in a schema, processing comprises for each interior node: saving the current parent node score as an interior node score, setting the current parent node to the parent of the interior node, using the saved interior node scores, calculating the parent node score for all interior nodes that have the same parent and repeating the process until the current parent node is a root node.
The parent score computing algorithm comprises determining the weight to be given to each leaf node score in calculating the current parent node score. The parent score computing algorithm may be selected from the group consisting of single best, greedy sum, overall sum, greedy minimum, overall minimum and overall maximum.
Computing a data item score comprises using a search criteria, comparing each data item to the search criteria and assigning a data item score that represents a degree of similarity between the search criteria and the data item.
The schema may be defined by a user or retrieved from a database containing stored schemas. The schema further comprises a scoring method for calculating a leaf node score for each leaf node, a weighting algorithm for calculating a parent node score for each leaf node when the parent node contains more than one leaf node and a parent score computing algorithm for computing the similarity score of the parent node using the leaf node scores and the weighting algorithm. The search criteria may be dynamically defined by a user or retrieved from a database of stored queries.
The method further comprises using the same search criteria and repeating the process for each of N number of hierarchical documents or sets of hierarchical documents.
The present invention comprises computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing the methods as above.

System and method for performing similarity searching using pointer optimization


A valve assembly comprising: a valve seat having a first end, a second end, and a valve seat passageway extending therethrough from said first end to said second end; a valve ball assembly rotatably positionable adjacent the second end of the valve seat passageway for selectively sealing the valve seat passageway; a first control arm connectable between the valve seat and the valve ball assembly, the connection between the first control arm and the valve ball assembly defining an axis of rotation for the valve ball assembly; a sealing member, reciprocatably positionable in the valve seat passageway adjacent the second end of the valve seat, for preventing fluid flow between the second end of the valve seat and the exterior of the valve ball assembly; and an urging member, positionable in the passageway, for urging the sealing member against the valve ball assembly.

Examples of safety valves useful for downhole operations are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839 issued to Dickson et al. The entire disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839 is incorporated herein by reference. The assignee of U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839 is also the assignee of the present application.
Each of the safety valves disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839 utilizes a valve assembly comprising: a valve housing; a ball assembly which is reciprocatably positionable in the valve housing; and a pair of ball assembly control arms which are held in fixed position in the valve housing. The ball assembly includes: a valve seat having a passageway extending therethrough from the top of the valve seat to the bottom of the valve seat; a ball valve rotatably positioned adjacent the bottom of the valve seat for selectively sealing the valve seat passageway; a pair of control arms connected between the valve seat and the ball valve such that (a) the control arms hold the ball valve adjacent the bottom of the valve seat and (b) the connections between the control arms and the ball valve define an axis of rotation for the ball valve; a first coupling disc connected to the ball valve and positioned between the ball valve and one of the control arms; and a second coupling disc connected to the ball valve and positioned between the ball valve and the other control arm. Each of the control frames used in the Dickson et al. valve assembly provides a single stationary lug member. The stationary lug member of one control frame projects into an aperture formed in one of the coupling discs while the stationary lug member of the other control frame projects into an aperture formed in the other coupling disc. The two stationary lug members are directly opposed to each other and lie outside of the axis of rotation of the ball valve. Consequently, when the ball assembly is reciprocated in the valve housing with respect to the stationary lug members, the stationary lug members cause the ball valve to rotate. Thus, by causing the ball assembly to reciprocate in the valve housing, the Dickson et al. safety valve can be opened and closed.
In FIGS. 1 and 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839, Dickson et al. disclose a subsurface safety valve having a design directed toward preventing the occurrence of galling between the valve seat and the ball valve when the ball valve is rotated from its closed position to its open position. As explained by Dickson et al., valve galling tends to occur when a ball valve is rotated from closed position to open position due to the fact that, when the ball valve is in closed position, the high relative formation pressure acting on the bottom of the ball valve urges the ball valve strongly against the valve seat. In the subsurface safety valve depicted by Dickson et al. in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coupling discs used in the Dickson et al. valve assembly are designed such that, as the ball valve is rotated from its closed position to its open position, the control discs tend to urge the ball valve away from the valve seat.
In FIGS. 10 and 11 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839, Dickson et al. disclose a safety valve design which is particularly well suited for use in a subsurface test tree. In this embodiment, the coupling discs used in the valve assembly are designed such that, as the ball valve is rotated about its axis of rotation toward its closed position, the coupling discs of the Dickson et al. valve assembly tend to urge the ball valve toward the valve seat. Consequently, as the ball valve is rotated to its closed position, the ball valve can readily cut a wire or reeled tubing which has been extended through the safety valve.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, subsurface safety valves of type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839 have a significant shortcoming. This shortcoming is substantially alleviated by the present invention. In a safety valve of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,839, the control arms linking the valve seat and the ball valve must provide sufficient play between the ball valve and the valve seat to allow the ball valve to be rotated. As indicated above, when the ball valve is closed, the formation pressure acting on the bottom of the ball valve will normally be substantially greater than the tubing pressure acting on the top of the ball valve. The resulting pressure differential urges the ball valve tightly against the bottom of the valve seat such that the safety valve is prevented from leaking. However, if the tubing pressure acting on the top of the closed ball valve is caused to exceed the formation pressure, the resulting pressure differential urges the ball valve away from the bottom of the valve seat such that the high pressure fluid in the tubing above the ball valve is allowed to flow past the ball valve and into the formation.
If the tubing pressure acting on the top of the ball valve is substantially greater than the formation pressure, the resulting amount and rate of fluid leakage into the formation can be sufficient to damage the formation. For example, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, when a subsea test tree containing a safety valve of the type in question is "unlatched," the ocean water above the safety valve may suddenly exert a tremendous amount of hydrostatic pressure on the top of the ball valve. The hydrostatic pressure exerted on the top of the ball valve urges the ball valve away from the valve seat such that a large amount of ocean water can be allowed to flow into the formation.


Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program for collecting and analyzing network traffic flow records. The method includes, in one example, receiving a plurality of flow records which include data about traffic in a network. The method may further include caching the plurality of flow records in temporary storage, analyzing the plurality of flow records to determine a number of bytes of traffic that each of the plurality of flow records represents, and selecting a subset of the plurality of flow records to forward to permanent storage based on the determined number of bytes of each of the flow records.

1. Field
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to network traffic analysis. More particularly, examples of the invention are directed to methods, systems, and/or computer programs for capturing and analyzing network flow data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Network traffic usage data is of interest to network administrators for a number of reasons, including analyzing the impact of a new application on the network, troubleshooting network pain points, detecting heavy users of bandwidth, and securing networks. Network usage data does not include the actual information exchanged in a communications session between parties, but rather includes numerous usage detail records, known as "flow records" containing one or more types of metadata. The primary protocol associated with traffic flow data is NetFlow which was developed by Cisco Systems®. There are also several other varieties of flow protocols, such as sFlow, IPFIX, Jflow, NetStream, and Cflowd. All of these protocols support flows that are similar to NetFlow and contain similar types of information, such as source internet protocol (IP) address, destination IP address, source port, destination port, IP protocol, ingress interface, IP Type of Service, start and finish times, number of bytes, and next hop.
In general, a flow record provides detailed usage information about a particular event or communications connection between parties, such as the connection start time and stop time, source (or originator) of the data being transported, the destination or receiver of the data, and the amount of data transferred. A flow record can summarize usage information for very short periods of time (from milliseconds to seconds, occasionally minutes). Depending on the type of service and network involved, a flow record may also include information about the transfer protocol, the type of data transferred, the type of service (ToS) provided, etc.
As networks become larger and more complex, systems that analyze and report on traffic flow data must become more efficient at handling the increasing amount of information generated about network traffic. Aggregating data from many network devices can result in datasets that contain billions of entries or flows. Such a large number of entries can create a bottleneck in the system because writing to storage can be time consuming. Additionally, running reporting queries on a dataset of large size can be taxing on the storage system or database. Traditional methods for solving this data overflow problem have been to improve the quantity or quality of the hardware that hosts the storage system or to randomly drop whatever information cannot be handled.


Locking device having first and second combined connection carriers for establishing a detachable connection. A rotation element is rotatably attached at the first connection carrier and is provided in an inner region thereof. The inner region is centered with respect to a center axis and has a full radius. Elastic blocking heads are attached at the first connection carrier at the inner region, and are movable from a blocking to a release position. The rotation element includes segments extending up to the full radius and segments extending at a maximum up to a smaller inner radius. The segments extending up to the full radius move blocking heads into the release position and the segments extending up to the inner radius leave blocking heads in the blocking position. Key tongues move bordering ones of the blocking heads into the release position and allow rotation of the rotation element.

Flat connection carriers, which are characterized in that combining and locking complementary parts creates a permanent, but releasable connection between the complementary parts are widely used, for example as push buckle locks on a backpack. It is customary to connect such connection carriers to the item to be secured with flexible holding connectors made of flexible synthetic fabric.
DE 38 17 494 A1 describes a locking device having a locking cylinder and a flat key, the locking function of which is achieved by holding pins laterally disposed in a frame, which can depending on their position lock or release a rotation body.


A three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet made by injection molding or plastic-molding and method for manufacturing the same is disclosed. The decorating sheet is a semi-transparent thin plastic plate and has non-flat embossment figures on surfaces thereof. Therefore, as a backside of the decorating sheet faces to a light source, a three-dimensional image will present to the viewer. The method for manufacturing a three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet is disclosed so that a thin plate has embossment figures at one surface or two surface. The method comprises the steps of: inputting figures to a computer for performing predetermined processing; performing chromatography to the input figures; converting the result of the chromatography into control codes; inputting the control codes to a CNC machine for machining an mold; and injecting plastics or rubbers to the mold to form a plastic decorating sheet.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to decorating sheet, and particularly to a three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet and the method for manufacturing the same. The three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet is suitable for flyable rotary disks, plastic toys, stationeries, name card boxes, household utensils, etc.
2. Description of Related Art
The conventional three dimensional (3D) decorating sheets have 3D figures on the decorating sheets despite of making by injection molding or embossing so that a 3D images can be presented as viewed by people. The embossment figures are similar to current relief printing or photogravure. However, the decorating sheets can not present a transparent image with bright and dark effects. The reason is that the conventional two-dimensional decorating sheet has poor effect in perspective view. The prior decorating sheets are too thick and thus have poor transparency. Moreover, the prior art decorating sheet cannot present different layers of light effect. As a result they cannot present a vivid perspective view.
Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet made by injection molding or plastic-molding and method for manufacturing the same. The decorating sheet is a semi-transparent thin plastic plate and has embossment figures on surfaces thereof which are not flat. Therefore, as a backside of the decorating sheet faces to a light source, a three-dimensional image will present to the viewer.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet so that a thin plate has embossment figures at one surface or two surface. The method comprises the steps of: inputting figures to a computer for performing predetermined processing; performing chromatography to the input figures; converting the result of the chromatography into control codes; inputting a control program to a CNC machine for machining an mold; and injecting or plastic-molding an integral-formed plastic decorating sheet by the mold.
The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.

Three-dimensional imaging decorating sheet and the method for manufacturing the same


A method and systems for reminding a user about personal objects that should be carried or should not be carried, depending upon the user, the date and the time and other parameters. In the system, a radio frequency identifiers tag identifying each personal object is directly attached to the object. All the objects are listed in an object table storing the identifiers and their main characteristics. A rule table is provided having entries setting forth the relations between the objects according to four basis rules of the types “X requires Y”, “X excludes Y”, “X required” and “X excluded”. When activated, the reminder device checks the present objects and analyzes the rules to determine which objects are missing and which objects should be absent. The user is forewarn if objects are missing or should be absent.

Situations where personal objects should be carried or not, depending in particular upon the day of the week, the time, and the person, arise very often. Typical example situations are:                a person arrives in the office in the morning, and realizes that he/she forgot to take his/her company badge;        a person arrives in the office in the morning, and realizes that he/she missed to take his/her office room key ring;        a person leaves his home to pick up his car in the garage and realizes that he forgot to take the car keys;        a person leaves his home to drive to the office and realizes in the office that he holds the key of the car his wife drives; and,        a person arrives at the tennis court and realizes that he forgot to take his racket.
Plenty of similar example situations exist where required personal objects are not carried or where undesired personal objects are carried.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,660 discloses a system and method of reminding a user of any missing portable electronic devices when leaving a location. A reminder device transmits a signal to each of the reminder enabled devices. The reminder device then alerts the user of any reminder enabled devices that did not transmit acknowledgment signals.
If the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,462,660 is efficient for alerting a user of missing devices, it is not adapted to handle complex situations, in particular situations where a plurality of users handle different objects.
Thus, there is a need for a method and systems for checking the presence and absence of personal objects in a complex environment with multiple users.

Adaptive rule based electronic reminder for personal objects

International Business Machines Corporation


A brake pad for a heavy vehicle disc brake and a disc brake. The brake pad defines a first and second circumferential surfaces. A first spring forms at least part of the first circumferential surface and is arranged to contact the first circumferential pad abutment surface and urge the brake pad, in use, towards the second circumferential pad abutment surface.

In known heavy vehicle disc brakes (see FIG. 10) it is usual for the brake pads 111 to be fitted and removed from the disc brake 102 in a radial inward/outward direction with respect to the wheel center via a radial opening in the brake caliper. This arrangement allows brake pad 111 replacement to occur without removal of the brake caliper. This is beneficial as calipers of heavy vehicle brakes are generally too heavy for them to be safely lifted and manipulated by one person, in contrast to disc brakes of light vehicles. The brake pads 111 are held within the disc brake 102 by a pad retainer 192 that extends over the opening across the center of the brake pad 111 and a leaf spring 193 that urges the pad in a radially inward direction.
The leaf springs locate in use between formations that project radially outwardly from the backplate of the brake pads, and the pad retainer 192. The leaf springs 193 are resilient and act to urge the pads radially inwardly, into contact with their corresponding radial abutments, to minimize rattling whilst allowing the inboard pad to slide. A clearance remains however between the brake pad and corresponding circumferential abutments, and rattling may still occur in this circumferential direction. Further, the formations to locate the leaf springs require the backplate of the brake pads to be enlarged, thus increasing the mass of the brake pads, which is undesirable.
The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

Meritor Heavy Vehicle Braking Systems (UK) Limited


A method and system for an integrated ejector valve assembly is provided. The integrated ejector valve assembly includes a first valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively lower pressure fluid from a first inlet port, a second valve assembly configured to control a flow of relatively higher pressure fluid from a second inlet port, a first actuation chamber configured to close the first valve assembly, a second actuation chamber configured to close the second valve assembly, and a third actuation chamber configured to open the second valve assembly.

The field of the invention relates generally to bleed air systems, and more specifically, to a method and systems for an integrated ejector valve assembly for supplying bleed air to an aircraft.
At least some known aircraft use engine bleed air for cabin pressurization, anti-ice and other functions on the aircraft. The bleed air pressure must be reduced under most operating conditions to provide a regulated air supply. Engine bleed air pressures vary greatly with engine speed and operating altitude. Engines typically have two bleed extraction ports, a low pressure (LP) port which is used whenever possible and a high pressure (HP) port which is used only at conditions of high altitude and/or low engine speed when LP bleed pressure is insufficient to supply the needs of the aircraft.
An ejector can often be beneficial using some regulated HP bleed air to boost LP flow and extracting LP flow when the LP pressure is lower than required. A pressure regulating and shut-off valve controls the bleed air system pressure. An LP non-return valve (NRV) is usually provided to assure that there is no back flow from the HP bleed port to the LP bleed port. An HP pressure regulating and shut-off valve controls the flow of air from the HP bleed port when LP air pressure is insufficient.
A typical jet engine has two bleed air extraction ports, a low pressure (LP) bleed port and a high pressure (HP) bleed port. Engine efficiency is maximized by using LP air whenever the LP bleed port pressure is adequate. The HP bleed port is used to supply bleed air only when necessary. It is often advantageous to extract equal bleed air flows from each engine in both the LP and HP modes while controlling the bleed air system pressure.
Known bleed air systems include a pressure regulator downstream of the bleed ports that may also provide a shut-off function so they are known as pressure regulating shut-off valves (PRSOV). The LP NRV prevents backflow into the engine LP bleed port when the LP pressure is larger than required bleed system pressure. A high pressure shut-off valve (SOV) is opened when LP air pressure is insufficient. In some cases, this valve is also a pressure regulating valve (HPPRSOV).
The transition from LP to HP is typically abrupt. When the LP pressure is inadequate, the HP shut-off valve (SOV), or HPPRSOV in some cases, is opened. The higher pressure from the HP part closes an LP check valve to prevent backflow. The entire flow is then supplied by the HP bleed port. In some configurations, the LP NRV and LP check valve functions are performed by the same component.
However such systems include many components that each includes numerous parts. The individual parts must be stocked for maintenance and repair operations and the number of components adds to the weight of the aircraft, causing a loss of efficiency.


A transmission-guard is disclosed for preventing an inductive power outlet from transmitting power in the absence of an inductive power receiver. A transmission lock is associated with an inductive power outlet and a transmission key is associated with an inductive power receiver. The transmission lock is configured to prevent a primary inductor from connecting to the power supply unless triggered by a release signal via the transmission key.

Inductive power coupling, as known in the art, allows energy to be transferred from a power supply to an electric load without connecting wires. A power supply is wired to a primary coil and an oscillating electric potential is applied across the primary coil, thereby inducing an oscillating magnetic field. The oscillating magnetic field may induce an oscillating electrical current in a secondary coil placed close to the primary coil. In this way, electrical energy may be transmitted from the primary coil to the secondary coil by electromagnetic induction without the two coils being conductively connected. When electrical energy is transferred from a primary coil to a secondary coil the coil pair are said to be inductively coupled. An electric load wired in series with such a secondary coil may draw energy from the power source wired to the primary coil when the secondary coil is inductively coupled thereto.
Induction type power outlets may be preferred to the more common conductive power sockets because they provide seamless power transmission and minimize the need for trailing wires.
Low power inductive electrical power transmission systems have been proposed. One such example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,164,255 to Hui. In Hui's system a planar inductive battery charging arrangement enables electronic devices to be charged. The system includes a planar charging module having a charging surface on which a device to be charged is placed. Within the charging module, and parallel to the charging surface, at least one, and preferably an array of primary windings are provided. The primary windings inductively couple with secondary windings within the device to be charged.
Such systems provide inductive coupling at relatively low power adequate for charging batteries. It will be appreciated however, that base units such as Hui's charging surface which transmit energy continuously, in a largely uniform manner over an extended area, are not suitable for use with high energy systems, such as those required to power computers, light bulbs, televisions and the like.
Energy losses associated with high power inductive transfer systems are typically larger than those in low power systems such as Hui's charging surface. In addition whereas in low power systems excess heat may be readily dissipated, an uncoupled high power primary coil or its surroundings may become dangerously hot.
Moreover, the oscillating voltage in a high power primary coil produces a oscillating magnetic field. Where a secondary coil is inductively coupled to the primary coil, the resulting flux linkage causes power to be drawn by the secondary coil. Where there is no secondary coil to draw the power, the oscillating magnetic field causes high energy electromagnetic waves to be radiated in all directions which may have undesired side affects, such as erasing data from credit cards and may be harmful to bystanders particularly to those with pacemakers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,744, to Sabo, titled "Alignment independent and self aligning inductive power transfer system" describes an inductive power transfer device for recharging cordless appliances. Sabo's device includes a plurality of inductors which serve as the primary coil of a transformer. The secondary coil of the transformer is arranged within the appliance. When the appliance is positioned proximate to the power transfer device with the respective coils in alignment, power is inductively transferred from the device to the appliance via the transformer.
The inductors of Sabo's system are arranged in an array and connected to a power supply via switches which are selectively operable to activate the respective inductors. These selectively operable switches are provided to conserve power and to eliminate objectionable electromagnetic fields. '744 thus indicates the problem of electromagnetic leakage as well as the need for each primary coil to be energized from the power supply only when a secondary coil is within effective range. Furthermore the power receiving units described in '744 are bulky and impractical for use with small electrical devices.
The need remains therefore for a practical inductive power transfer system for safely and conveniently delivering power wirelessly from inductive power outlets to inductive power receivers in an energy efficient manner. The present invention addresses this need.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Transmission-guard system and method for an inductive power supply


The closure device includes interlocking fastening strips and a slider slidably disposed on the fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips. The external surface of the slider is designed to alter the way in which the slider will be grasped by the user. By providing outwardly protruding surfaces on the side portions of the slider, the slider will be grasped near the front or back of the slider. Thus, the user experiences a feeling that the slider is easier to move along the fastening strips. In another embodiment, by providing a gripping surface near the top portion of the slider, the slider will be grasped near the top portion of the slider. Thus, the slider will be easier to move and the slider reduces the tearing that may result when too much pressure is applied to the bottom portion of the slider during movement of the slider.

The present invention relates generally to closure devices and, more particularly, to a slider having a shape which causes the user to grip the slider in a predetermined manner. The invention is particularly well suited for flexible storage containers, including plastic bags.
The use of closure devices for fastening storage containers, including plastic bags, is generally known. Furthermore, the manufacture of closure devices made of plastic materials is generally known to those skilled in the art, as demonstrated by the numerous patents in this area.
A particularly well known use for closure devices is in connection with flexible storage containers, such as plastic bags. In some instances, the closure device and the associated container are formed from thermoplastic materials, and the closure device and the sidewalls of the container are integrally formed by extrusion as a single piece. Alternatively, the closure device and sidewalls of the container may be formed as separate pieces and then connected by heat sealing or any other suitable connecting process. In either event, such closure devices are particularly useful in providing a closure means for retaining matter within the bag.
Conventional closure devices typically utilize mating fastening strips or closure elements, which are used to selectively seal the bag. A slider may be provided for use in opening and closing the fastening strips. Some of these sliders may include a separator which extends at least partially between the fastening strips. When the slider is moved in the appropriate direction, the separator divides the fastening strips and opens the bag.
One of the difficulties involved with using a slider is the manner in which the user grips the slider. Generally, the slider is gripped in the center. This situation requires that the slider be pulled which requires more force than if the slider were pushed. Additionally, if the slider is gripped towards the bottom, the shoulders of the slider may tear into the sidewalls of the plastic container or the fastening strips.
The present invention provides a closure device with a slider having a specific shape that results in the slider being gripped in a certain fashion. The closure device comprises first and second interlocking fastening strips arranged to be interlocked over a predetermined length. The slider is slidably disposed on the interlocking fastening strips for facilitating the occlusion and deocclusion of the fastening strips when moved towards first and second ends of the fastening strips. The external surface of the slider is designed to alter the way in which the slider will be grasped by the user. By providing outwardly protruding portions on the side portions of the slider, the slider will be grasped near the front or back of the slider. Thus, the slider will be easier to move along the fastening strips because the gripping forces by the user will be reduced. In another embodiment, by providing a gripping surface near the top portion of the slider, the slider will be grasped near the top portion of the slider. Thus, the slider will be easier to move and the slider reduces the tearing that may result when too much pressure is applied to the bottom portion of the slider during movement of the slider.


A two-stage mixer may include a guiding element and a mixing element. The guiding element may be configured to be fixedly mounted to an interior of an exhaust conduit. The mixing element may be configured to be fixedly mounted to the interior of the exhaust conduit in a position downstream from the guiding element. The mixing element may include a central disk, a plurality of mounting arms extending radially from the central disk, and a plurality of blades extending radially from the central disk. At least one mounting arm of the plurality of mounting arms may include a fin extending therefrom, and at least one blade of the plurality of blades may include a fin extending therefrom.

In an exhaust aftertreatment system, a reductant injector introduces a reductant (e.g. a urea solution, an anhydrous ammonia, an aqueous ammonia, and/or the like) into an exhaust conduit, which guides an exhaust stream from an engine to a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) module. Once the exhaust stream enters the SCR module, the reductant selectively reacts with nitrous oxides (NOx) within the exhaust stream to convert the NOx into other compounds that satisfy emissions standards, such as Dinitrogen (N2), water (H2O), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and/or the like.
However, once the reductant is introduced into the exhaust stream, the reductant tends to settle onto surfaces of the exhaust conduit and, over time, may form crystallized deposits that obstruct flow of the exhaust stream. Furthermore, the reductant, as introduced by the reduction injector, tends to non-uniformly mix with the exhaust stream, which may result in undesirable compounds passing through the SCR module. For example, due to the exhaust stream having too little reductant in some portions thereof, the exhaust aftertreatment system may discharge an excess of nitrous oxides and thus fail to satisfy emission standards. As a further example, due to the exhaust stream having an excess of reductant in other portions thereof, the exhaust aftertreatment system may discharge unreacted ammonia (NH3), often referred in as ammonia slip.
One attempt to improve performance of an exhaust aftertreatment system is disclosed in Korean Patent, KR 101717603 B1 ("the '603 patent"), which issued to Song Il Hwan on Apr. 5, 2017. In particular, the '603 patent discloses a mixer apparatus for distributing a reducing agent before an exhaust gas enters an SCR device. The mixer apparatus includes a casing part and a mixing unit arranged inside the casing part. The mixing unit has an inner tube, an outer tube, a first blade part disposed between the outer tube and the casing part, and a second blade part disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube. One or more support parts may be further disposed to connect the inner tube and the outer tube to each other and be supported on an inner circumferential side of the casing part. For example, the support part may be divided into a vertical support part supported in the longitudinal direction and a horizontal support part supported in the transverse direction.
The two-stage mixer of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.