In one scenario, a computer system receives from a user an indicator of a home décor item. The computer system identifies a color associated with the presented home décor item, and further determines other home décor items that have colors that coordinate with the color of the presented home décor item. The computer system also displays to the user images of the determined other home décor items, receives user input selecting some of the displayed home décor items and informs the user which of the selected home décor items are available at the retail establishment.

Many homeowners upgrade the look of their homes by doing home projects. In a majority of these projects the homeowner paints one or more rooms. The homeowner may have a general idea of which paint colors to use, but often goes to a hardware or paint store to obtain paint swatches to identify colors they may be interested in using. These paint swatches may provide an indication of what various paint colors look like when dry. The homeowner then takes the paint swatches home to hold up on the wall and determine which color(s) look best.
In conjunction with the paint, the homeowner may also want to purchase new home décor items such as rugs, drapes, paintings, picture frames or furniture. These home décor items, when used with the selected paint colors, combine to form a cohesive room. In order to make the room look properly finished, the home décor items will need to match or complement the paint color. Indeed, if the home décor items do not match the color of the paint, the room may appear incoherent and off-putting.
Accordingly, homeowners want to match the colors of the home décor items with the colors of the paint they have chosen. Properly matching these items to a given color of paint is an arduous process. The user must take a sample or swatch of the paint around with them in the store and look for items that would match the paint. This process is time and labor intensive and, if the homeowner does not have a keen eye for color matching, may prove fraught with error. Moreover, typical home goods stores and home repair stores have many thousands of items located on many different aisles throughout the store. Each of these items has its own packaging which may further impede the homeowner in determining which products match their chosen color(s). As such, the homeowner has no easy and efficient way of determining which products offered for sale in the store color coordinate with their chosen paint color.


Systems and methods for cache-based compressed display data storage are provided. One system includes memory operable to store compressed display data, a processor comprising a processing core and a cache, a cache storage module operably coupled to the memory and the processor, wherein the cache storage module is to initiate a storage of at least a portion of the compressed display data in the cache in response to an indication that the processing core is in an inactive mode. One method comprises, in response to an indication that a processor is in an inactive mode, transferring compressed display data from a frame buffer in memory to a cache associated with the processor, obtaining a first compressed display data from the cache, and decompressing the first compressed display data to generate a first uncompressed display data.

In many display systems, display data is stored in a frame buffer implemented in system memory (such as, for example, dynamic random access memory or DRAM) prior to being accessed by a display controller. The display controller, in turn, formats and otherwise processes the display data for output so as to refresh the displayed image at a display device. Typically, the display data is transferred in units corresponding to one or more display lines (or raster lines) of the display device. This transfer of display data between the frame buffer in memory and the display controller consumes a considerable portion of the bandwidth of the bus between the memory and the display controller. To illustrate, for a display having a resolution of 1600×1200 pixels at 16 bits per pixel and a refresh rate of 70 Hertz, the corresponding necessary bandwidth of the memory-to-display controller bus, disregarding any overhead, is approximately 270 megabytes (MB) per second. Such a bandwidth requirement can tax many such memory buses. It will be appreciated that this bandwidth requirement is further exacerbated at higher resolutions, higher refresh rates, and higher bit-per-pixel representations.
In view of the problems associated with excessive bandwidth consumption during the transfer of display data to a display controller, a technique has been developed to reduce the amount of data transferred. This technique employs a data compression scheme whereby display data may be compressed on a display line-by-display line basis. The first time the display data for a display line is obtained from the frame buffer, the display controller compresses the display data in addition to providing the display data to the display device. The display data then is stored in a second frame buffer for compressed display data. Thus, the next time the same display line is to be displayed at the display device (i.e., when there is no change to the corresponding line of the displayed image), the compressed display data corresponding to the display line may be transferred to the display controller from the second frame buffer, whereupon the display controller may decompress the display data and otherwise process it for output to a display device. As a result, the overall data transferred to the display controller, and therefore the overall bandwidth consumed, may be reduced as some or all of the display data may be compressed as it is transferred. Exemplary techniques for compressing the display data are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,834,082 and 6,359,625, the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein.
While the above-described conventional technique provides a reduction in the overall bandwidth required to transfer display data from memory to the display controller, this technique fails to address the power consumption resulting from the operation of the memory implementing the frame buffer and its display data, as well as the power consumption resulting from the transfer of the display data, even in its compressed form, over the bus or buses connecting the memory to the display controller. Accordingly, an improved technique for storing display data prior to the processing of the display data for output to a display device would be advantageous.

System and method for cache-based compressed display data storage


A variable-lift device using a helium to fly. The device comprises a balloon (1) composed of an outer flexible envelope (3) supported by a rigid structure. The rigid structure comprises a plurality of hollow toruses (4) of inside volume that acts as a tank for storing helium under pressure.

The present invention relates to the field of variable-lift devices using a gas that is lighter than air for rising in the atmosphere. More precisely, the invention relates to variable-lift devices provided with a tank for storing the lighter-than-air gas under pressure, such as helium, neon, methane, ethane, or hydrogen.
A variable-lift device can be used for moving or lifting heavy objects or objects of sizes that are too bulky for them to be transported by truck, train, or airplane.
In general, variable-lift devices are constituted by a balloon containing helium and a gondola attached to the balloon. The gondola contains various accessories needed for navigation. The balloon is constituted by a flexible envelope supported by a rigid structure. The rigid structure consists of an assembly of beams, a beam being an element that is long in one dimension relative to the other two dimensions. The shape the rigid structure gives to the flexible envelope is selected so as to be aerodynamic.
In the prior art, the gondola attached to the balloon contains the helium tanks, together with other accessories. The shape of the helium tank is selected so as to store a large quantity of helium while reducing the size and the weight of the tanks.
The present invention proposes making use of hollow beams to constitute at least a portion of the rigid structure which supports the flexible envelope constituting the balloon, and to store helium under pressure inside the hollow beams.
The present invention provides a variable-lift device using a gas that is lighter than air, the device comprising an outer envelope supported by a more rigid structure, the device being characterized in that said structure comprises a hollow beam having internal volume that is used as a tank for storing said gas. The hollow beam may be covered in a cloth that is leakproof relative to said gas and that thermally insulates the internal volume of the hollow beam. The hollow beam may be a hollow torus. The hollow torus may comprise at least two torus portions assembled together.
In a first variant of the invention, the structure of the device comprises at least two hollow toruses whose internal volumes are in communication. In a second variant of the invention, the structure of the device comprise at least two hollow toruses whose inside volumes are not in communication.
The present invention provides a saving in weight and reduces the space occupied in the gondola since the helium tank and the rigid structure are one and the same element.

Dirigible balloon rigidified by helium tanks


Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to temperature control of a reactor using probability distribution of temperature measurements. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a temperature of a chemical reaction includes injecting a reactant stream into a reactor and through a catalyst bed of the reactor. The reactant stream includes a hydrocarbon and oxygen. Injection of the reactant stream into the catalyst bed causes an exothermic chemical reaction. The method further includes circulating a coolant through the reactor, thereby removing heat from the catalyst bed. The method further includes measuring temperature at a plurality of locations in the catalyst bed. The method further includes calculating a fraction of the catalyst bed greater than a predetermined maximum temperature limit using a probability distribution generated using the temperature measurements.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to temperature control of a reactor using probability distribution of temperature measurements.
2. Description of the Related Art
Maleic anhydride is of significant commercial interest throughout the world. It is used alone or in combination with other acids in the manufacture of alkyd and polyester resins. It is also a versatile intermediate for chemical synthesis.
Maleic anhydride is conventionally manufactured by passing a gas comprising a hydrocarbon having at least four carbon atoms in a straight chain and oxygen through a catalyst bed, typically a fixed catalyst bed tubular plug flow reactor, containing a catalyst including mixed oxides of vanadium and phosphorus. The catalyst employed may further comprise promoters, activators or modifiers such as iron, lithium, zinc, molybdenum, chromium, uranium, tungsten, and other metals, boron and/or silicon. The product gas exiting the reactor typically contains maleic anhydride together with oxidation by-products such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water vapor, acrylic and acetic acids and other by-products, along with inert gases present in air when air is used as the source of molecular oxygen.
Because the reaction is highly exothermic, the reactor must be cooled during operation. Typically, a shell and tube heat exchanger is used as a reactor with the catalyst packed in the tubes through which the hydrocarbon and oxygen gases are passed. A cooling fluid, often a molten salt, flows over and cools the outside of the tubes. Because the length of the tubes is generally much greater than the diameter of the tubes, the reaction system approaches plug flow.
While the cooling capacity is substantially uniform throughout the reactor, the rate of reaction varies widely with the concentration of the hydrocarbon reactant and the temperature of the reaction zone. Because the reactant gases are generally at a relatively low temperature when they are introduced into the catalyst bed, the reaction rate is low in the region immediately adjacent the inlet of the reactor. Once the reaction begins, however, it proceeds rapidly with the rate of reaction further increasing as the reaction zone temperature increases from the heat released by the reaction. The reaction zone temperature continues to increase with distance along the length of the reactor tube until the depletion of the hydrocarbon causes the rate of reaction to decrease thereby decreasing the temperature of the reaction zone through transfer of heat to the cooling fluid, and allowing the remaining portion of the reactor tube to operate at a lower temperature differential. In practice, commercial reactors are configured so that a number of tubes, typically 50-100+, are equipped with a longitudinal thermocouple in the center of the tube, inserted to a tube depth (distance from the top or bottom tubesheet) where maximum temperatures are expected. Of these multiple measurement locations, the location with the highest temperature is generally referred to as the "hot spot".
If the temperature distribution in the reactor increases, reactor performance, catalyst activity, and the integrity of the reactor vessel may deteriorate. Generally, the selectivity of the catalyst varies inversely with the reaction temperature while the rate of reaction varies directly with the reaction temperature. Higher reaction zone temperatures result in lower catalyst selectivity and favor the complete oxidation of the hydrocarbon feedstock to carbon dioxide and water instead of maleic anhydride. As the temperature distribution in the reactor increases, the amount of the hydrocarbon feedstock consumed by the reaction increases but the decreased selectivity of the catalyst can result in a decreased yield of maleic anhydride. In addition, exposure of the catalyst bed to excessive temperatures may degrade the catalyst activity and cause and excessive rate of corrosion of the reactor tubes. Such degradation of the catalyst activity generally reduces the productivity of the operation and may also reduce the selectivity of the catalyst at a given temperature. The higher heat of reaction released by the conversion of the hydrocarbon feedstock to carbon dioxide and water further compounds this problem. An excessive rate of corrosion of the reactor tubes will lead to premature failure of individual tubes or of the entire reactor.
Typically, the catalyst bed temperature is continuously monitored at 50-100+ tubes via a single thermocouple at each location. The bulk of the catalyst bed is maintained below an upper temperature limit by reducing the feed rate of the limiting reactant (i.e., air or butane) if the "hot spot" is above the specified upper temperature limit.

Reactor temperature control using probability distribution


A two-stroke engine with a supercharger is provided that can prevent occurrence of abnormal combustion under high load and can improve fuel efficiency when compression self-ignition combustion is carried out under low load, and spark ignition combustion is carried out under high load. When an operation state of an engine body is in a high-load side operation range, an intake variable valve mechanism and an exhaust variable valve mechanism are actuated to retard at least closing timing of an intake valve and at least opening timing of an exhaust valve from those in the case where the operation state of the engine body is in a low-load side operation range at the same engine speed as the engine speed detected by engine speed detection means while particular conditions are satisfied.

Conventionally, a two-stroke engine with a supercharger has been known (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication JP-A-2009-036144), and the supercharger is provided in an intake passage.
In JP-A-2009-036144, a two-stroke engine that has a supercharger (a two-stroke engine with a supercharger) is disclosed. In the two-stroke engine, the inside of a cylinder is scavenged when both an intake valve, which opens/closes an intake passage, and an exhaust valve, which opens/closes an exhaust passage, are opened in a scavenging period near piston bottom dead center, and a valve lifting characteristic of the exhaust valve is fixed. The supercharger is provided in the intake passage, is rotationally driven by rotation of a crankshaft, and is constructed of a Roots blower.
In JP-A-2009-036144, it is also disclosed that the two-stroke engine with the supercharger can be provided with a variable valve system for variable control of opening/closing timing of the intake valve.


A binding line having selectable pin spacing on a gathering chain includes a gathering section including the gathering chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins for transporting gathered signatures seriatim therealong to a signature exit end. A stitcher section includes a stitcher chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins for transporting signatures seriatim therealong from a signature entry end. A drive system provides for driving the gathering chain synchronously with the stitcher chain so that both the gathering section and stitcher section operate at a constant signature feed rate. The gathering chain pins are spaced apart a first select distance and the stitcher chain pins are spaced apart a second select distance, different from the first select distance. The drive system drives the gathering chain at a different velocity from the stitcher chain to provide the constant signature feed rate. A transfer section includes a fixed saddle plate extending between the gathering section exit end and the stitcher section entry end and an endless overhead chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins. A belt drive system includes a timing belt extending between a drive pulley and a driven pulley. The drive pulley is operatively coupled to the first drive system and the driven pulley is operatively coupled to the overhead chain. An idler pulley and cam mechanism are each operatively associated with the timing belt. The cam mechanism cyclically, reciprocally moves the idler pulley generally toward and away from a center line of the driven pulley to pulse velocity of the driven pulley, and thus the overhead chain, approximately between the velocities of the gathering section and the stitcher section so that when a signature is delivered to the saddle plate from the gathering chain, one of the pusher pins begins pushing a signature at a velocity similar to velocity of the gathering chain and then rapidly varies velocity of the overhead chain, so that when a signature is delivered to the stitcher section from the saddle plate, the pusher pin is pushing the signature at a velocity similar to velocity of the stitcher chain.

In a conventional binding line signatures to be included in a book are selected and gathered. In a binding line of one known form, a gathering section includes a gathering chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins. One or more signature feeder stations are positioned above the gathering chain. The signature feeding stations are operated to feed a signature to the chain as it passes thereby. The timing of the signature feed coincides with each pusher pin approaching the feeder station. The signature comprises one or more sheets cut from a web and folded. The signatures straddle the chain at the fold line with the pusher pins bearing against a tail end of the signatures and forming the book as by a plurality of signatures being selectively deposited in sequence as the gathering chain moves beneath the feeding stations.
Once the signatures have been gathered, the book is transferred to a stitcher section. The stitcher section in one known form also includes a stitcher chain having a plurality of spaced pins for transporting signatures seriatim. Such a stitcher uses a two strand stitcher chain to allow stitcher clinchers to pass between the strands. The stitcher includes a flying stitcher head oscillating above the stitcher chain to drive staples through the gathered signatures at the fold line to secure the same.
In a binding line of the type described, the gathering chain and stitcher chain are synchronously operated. Both are driven in unison so that when a set of gathered signatures is delivered to an exit end of the gathering chain it can be suitably picked up at an entry end of the stitcher chain. An overhead transfer station transfers signatures from the gathering chain to the stitcher chain. The transfer station includes a fixed saddle plate extending between the gathering section exit end and the stitcher section entry end and an endless overhead chain having a plurality of spaced pusher pins. The overhead chain is also driven synchronously with the gathering chain and stitcher chain to provide continuous uninterrupted operation.
In design of a binding line, various parameters must be considered. These parameters include the ability to assemble books of different sizes and the ability to assemble the books without damaging the books.
A binding line as previously described usually includes pin spacing on the order of twenty-one inches on both the gathering chain and stitcher chain. Both the gathering chain and stitcher chain are driven by a common drive system. Indeed, a main drive shaft is used for driving all related equipment to provide synchronization, including operation of the signature feeders and the stitcher. With any given system the main drive will operate to provide a select cycle time. As is apparent, with twenty-one inch spacing the chain moves at twenty-one inches per cycle. With shorter pin spacing, for example fifteen inch pin spacing, the chain moves at a rate of fifteen inches per cycle. One advantage to using twenty-one inch spacing is that it allows for the line to be used with virtually any sized book. However, the higher rate of speed can damage the signatures as the pusher pins are moving at a higher rate of speed when they impact the tail end of the book as the signatures are gathered. The closer spacing, on the order of fifteen inches, provides a slower operating speed to lessen damage. However, such a system cannot handle all size books.
In view of the above, it is apparent that a need exists to obtain the benefits of longer and shorter pin spacing, i.e., have the ability to operate a relatively long pin spacing, on the order of twenty-one inches, while using a shorter pin spacing, on the order of fifteen inches, when possible to improve efficiency on a single binding line. Heretofore, all known binding lines of the type discussed above have operated both the gathering chain and stitcher chain to have the same pin spacing and operate at the same velocity.
The present invention is directed to solving one or more of the problems discussed above in a novel and simple manner.

Selectable pin spacing on gathering chain


A pair of phase shift photolithography masks and a process for deriving them is described. In one embodiment, the invention includes deriving a complex electric field estimate for an intended pattern to be produced by phase shift photolithography masks, optimizing the complex electric field estimates, generating a first phase shift mask using the real part of the complex electric field estimates, and generating a second phase shift mask using the imaginary part of the complex electric field estimates.

1. Field
The present description relates to semiconductor photolithography and, in particular, to generating alternating phase shift photolithography masks.
2. Background
In the production of semiconductors, such as memory, processors, and controllers, among others, a mask is used. The mask pattern is projected onto a semiconductor wafer to expose or shield different portions of the wafer from light, or some other element. The exposed wafer is then processed with etching, deposition and other processes to produce the features of the various semiconductors in the wafer that make up the finished product.
The masks are designed using computer design programs that derive an aerial view or image of the wafer based on the electronic circuitry that is to be built on the wafer. The mask is designed to produce this aerial image on the wafer in the particular photolithography equipment that is to be used. In other words the mask must be designed so that when illuminated with a particular wavelength of light at a particular distance is directed to a wafer through a particular set of optics and the mask, the desired pattern will be formed with the desired intensity on the wafer.
By making the features on a semiconductor smaller, more and faster processing power can be provided in a smaller space. At the same time the energy consumed and the heat produced by the chip is reduced. Smaller features require higher resolution from the mask and optical system that creates the pattern on the wafer. Resolution enhancement techniques (RET) are used to create smaller patterns.
Alternating phase shift masks (APSM) is one type of RET. It uses two independent exposures. For APSM, the design layout pattern is broken up into two independent layers. The first layer is converted to an APSM by an algorithm which assigns phases to create the desired pattern. In general, a complex pattern cannot be assigned phases without conflicts. A phase conflict can result in error in the printing of the features. These phase conflicts are corrected by a second exposure using a trim mask that removes most of the phase conflict errors but limits the resolution.
Optical proximity correction (OPC) is also used to enhance resolution and accuracy for small features. In OPC, the mask pattern is supplemented with very small subresolution features that are used to improve the accuracy with which the pattern is actually produced by the photoresist. These features may include pattern decorations and scatter bars. While the quality of the pattern and the performance of the resulting circuit is improved, the resolution is not significantly increased.

Dual phase shift photolithography masks for logic patterning


A solution is proposed for resource management of a software application including a plurality of software components interacting with each other. A corresponding method includes monitoring present conditions of the software components and estimating a future consumption of one or more computing resources by each software component from the present conditions of the software components; an allocation of the computing resources to the software components is then controlled accordingly. A computer program and a computer program product for performing the method are also proposed. Moreover, a system for implementing the method is proposed.

The present disclosure relates to the information technology field. More specifically, this disclosure relates to resource management of software applications.
Software applications require several computing resources for their running (such as processing, memory and network resources). The (resource) management of these computing resources plays a key role with respect to operation of the software applications; indeed, the resource management deeply impact performance, availability and cost of the software applications.

Resource management of a software application with multiple software components

International Business Machines Corporation


Disclosed is a configuration method and device for a two-dimensional expandable crossbar matrix switch for application to tera-level high-speed and large-capacity switches. The present invention includes N input ports, N output ports, and an N×N matrix switch for transmitting cells between the input and output ports. Each input port includes N VOQs which are sequentially combined by n VOQs to configure respective L VOQ groups. The L VOQ groups are connected to L XSUs through independent interface ports. Therefore, each input port can transmit a maximum of L cells to the matrix switch during one cell time slot.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high-speed and large volume crossbar switch and an arbitration method for sending cells through the switch. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for connecting L2-numbered n×n crossbar switches to configure an N×N switch when n is a divisor of N and L=N/n, a device for transmitting cells to an output port from an input port, and an arbitration method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Since it is required to send a maximum of N cells through a predetermined output port at a single time slot in the case of an N×N output-queued switch, the operation rate of the switch and a memory must be N times faster than an input line rate. The reason that the output-queued switch is not applied to high-speed switches even though it has 100% throughput for uniform traffic and excellent features in terms of QoS support, is mainly due to the above-noted speedup problem.
Since the operation rate of the switch and the memory is the same as the input line rate in the case of an input-queued switch, the input-queued switches are applied to most of the high-speed switches. However, the structure of the high-speed input-queued switch has a VOQ (virtual output queue) form for solving the head-of-line blocking problem in the case of an input port, and it generally has a crossbar form that is a non-blocking high-speed switch in the case of a switch. Various arbitration methods for solving the contention problem between the input and output ports in the input-queued switch, and providing 100% throughput, have recently been proposed.
Among the-above described algorithms are the PIM (parallel iterative matching) method (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,235), the 2DRR (Two-dimensional round robin matching) method (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,190), the iSLIP method (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,858), and the dual round robin matching method (refer to "Centralized contention resolution schemes for a large-capacity optical ATM switch" by H. J. Chao and J-S Park, Proc. IEEE ATM Workshop97, Fairfax, Va., pp.10-11, May 1998). The algorithms allow 100% throughput, but they are limited by arbitration time as the number of the input/output ports increases, and hence, it is not advantageous to apply them to the large-volume and high-speed switches.
For example, the most commercialized iSLIP method has been mainly applied to switches with less than 32 ports. Since a tera-level switch with a 2.5 Gbps port rate needs a 512×512 crossbar switch, it causes a fundamental problem in use of a single crossbar switch and the conventional arbitration method to thus configure the switch.
Expandable switching solutions proposed as huge switching solutions include a channel group switching solution on the distribution network basis (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,724,351), and a crossbar switching solution in the Clos network format (refer to "Low-cost scalable switching solutions for broadband networking: The Atlanta architecture and chipset" by F. M. Chiussi, J. G. Kneuer, and V. P. Kumar, IEEE Commun. Mag., pp.44-53, December 1997). The channel group switching method advantageously uses small-capacity group switches to configure a large-capacity switch, but if the number of input/output ports increase, it becomes very complicated to design a distribution network, and accordingly, it is difficult to configure a large-capacity switch.
In the case of the crossbar switch of the Clos network type, since a plurality of paths are provided between the input/output ports, a complex scheduling method for distributing the loads of traffic per path is required, and when the number of high-speed input/output ports increases, high-speed crossbar switches are proportionally needed, therefore, causing difficulties in configuring a large-capacity switch.

Scalable crossbar matrix switch and arbitration method thereof

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A thyristor regulation circuit for a high-voltage light-emitting diode (LED) strip light includes: a live wire input terminal, a neutral wire input terminal, a full-bridge rectifier module, a first group of LED circuit modules, a second group of LED circuit modules, a third group of LED circuit modules, a first thyristor chip, a second thyristor chip and a third thyristor chip. The LED strip light includes a plurality of minimum LED strip light units, the minimum LED strip light units are arranged in parallel, and each of the minimum LED strip light units includes the thyristor regulation circuit for a high-voltage LED strip light. In the thyristor regulation circuit, an external bulky power supply is omitted, and an LED strip light is directly connected to the mains electricity for use, thereby reducing the installation difficulty; and the present disclosure is compatible with existing thyristor dimming circuits.

At present, an existing high-voltage LED strip light generally can support thyristor dimming, and thyristors are generally connected in series in a circuit in a front tangent or rear tangent mode and can be connected to an LED strip light with two color loops. However, there is an extremely narrow dimming range, and it is impossible to achieve dimming and color temperature adjustment at the same time. An LED strip light capable of adjusting a color temperature generally needs two color loops, and colors are mixed to achieve color temperature adjustment. In this case, the two loops are generally connected in a common positive or negative mode, and at least three lines are required to achieve the connection. If three lines are applied to the LED strip light, the cost is increased, the width of the LED strip light is increased, and the brightness and color temperature cannot be controlled by the thyristors.

Thyristor regulation circuit for high-voltage LED strip light


An apparatus to control an internal combustion engine in vehicles, containing a set point value transducer which is adjustable by means of a drive lever, a control motor driving a throttle valve, and control electronics which use the output signals from the set point value transducer to generate a control signal for the control motor. In order to maintain emergency operation in the event of a failure of the electric controls, an emergency operation system directly transmits the drive lever or gas pedal position to the throttle valve. To insure the engagement of the emergency operation system in the event of problem on the one hand, and to prevent additional friction being exerted on the control motor during normal operation on the other, the emergency operation system contains a coupling whose one coupling element is firmly fixed to the throttle valve and whose other coupling element is permanently attached to the drive lever. The coupling is comprised such that the two coupling elements do not mesh during normal operation, and automatically mesh if a problem arises.

The invention concerns improvements in an apparatus to control an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle.
Such an apparatus electronically controls the power of the internal combustion engine by changing the throttle valve setting. The control electronics are envisioned in such a fashion that, should major problems arise, they can be switched off and the internal combustion engine can be brought to a standstill by the pressure from a restoring spring which closes the throttle valve. The maneuverability of the vehicle under these circumstances is guaranteed by the presence of an additional emergency operation system.
In known apparatus of this type, (DE-PS 36 09 849) the drive lever or drive pedal is connected by a Bowden cable to a set point value transducer which it adjusts depending on the drive lever position. The position of the set point value transducer is transmitted in the form of an electric signal to control electronics, which use it along with other control parameters such as the drive wheel slippage to generate a set point signal for the control motor that pivots the throttle valve.
The emergency operation system comprises a mechanical transmission element in the form of a rod, whose length can be changed, and which can be connected to the set point value transducer by means of a connecting lever. By means of a drag lever, the connecting lever can be pulled in the direction of full load. The drag lever connects the drive lever to the set point value transducer. The change in the length of the rod is performed by means of two compression springs of different initial tension. In case of a breakdown where the electric power control fails, engaging the drive lever with a powerless control motor will result in the connecting lever being pulled along by the drag lever to such an extent that the transmission rod is compressed to a point where the throttle valve is closed by the strength of the stronger compression spring. When this occurs, the vehicle can be driven with the internal combustion engine operating at half load.
The disadvantage here lies in the fact that, during normal operation, for instance while regulating slippage, the control motor must work against the pressure applied by the weaker compression spring on the transmission rod, thus producing an additional resistance due to friction. Generally available control motors, with their great sensitivity to torque changes, cannot therefore be used.

Apparatus to control an internal combustion engine in vehicles


A diagnosing apparatus for a passenger protective system has transistors connected in series to both ends of a squib. Each of the transistors is made up of a plurality of transistor cells connected in parallel. A part of the transistor cells is utilized as a check transistor, which allows a small current incapable of igniting the squib to flow into the squib. The diagnosing apparatus turns on only the check transistor and detects a potential of the squib. Check transistor malfunction can be diagnosed on the basis of the detected potential. Because the check transistor is formed by a part of the transistor cells, if any trouble occurs therein, it can be considered that the power transistor formed by the remainder of the transistor cells also has any trouble. Therefore, the power transistor can be diagnosed from the detected potential of the squib.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a trouble diagnosing apparatus for passenger protective systems which are deployed at the time of a vehicle collision to protect passengers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a circuit, as shown in FIG. 7, for activating a passenger protective system such as an airbag system or a seatbelt retractor is well known. In this circuit, transistors 31, 34 are connected in series to the both ends of a squib 33. When the two transistors 31, 34 simultaneously turn on, a large current flows through the squib 33 so that the squib 33 is ignited.
To ensure the reliability of the passenger protective system, it is diagnosed, either periodically or at the time of an engine start, whether the transistors 31, 34 normally turn on in response to respective turn-on signals. In this diagnosis, the transistor 31 is determined to be normal if the potential of the squib 33 (the potential of the intermediate point M, hereinafter referred to as an intermediate point potential) becomes equal to a power source potential when only the transistor 31 is turned on. If not, the transistor 31 is determined to be abnormal. Also, the transistor 34 is determined to be normal if the intermediate point potential becomes equal to a ground potential when only the transistor 34 is turned on. If not, the transistor 34 is determined to be abnormal.
During this diagnosis, if a line L2 is being short-circuited to ground, or if a line L1 is being short-circuited to a power supply line, a large current is supplied to the squib 33, and thereby the squib 33 is erroneously ignited. To solve this problem, as shown in FIG. 7, resistors 32 and 35 are respectively connected in parallel to the transistors 31, 34. The intermediate point potential is detected while the transistors 31, 34 are being turned off to determine in advance the occurrence of short-circuits of the lines L1 and L2. If no short-circuits have occurred, the diagnosis is then carried out. That is, unless short-circuits occur in the lines, the intermediate point potential is an approximate V/2 (V: power source potential) since the power source potential V is divided by the resistors 32, 35.
To the contrary, if the line L2 is short-circuited to ground, the intermediate point potential is an approximate ground potential. Also, if the line L1 is short-circuited to the power supply line, the intermediate point potential is an approximate power source potential. Therefore, the short-circuits of the lines L1, L2 can be detected based on the intermediate point potential.
The intermediate point potential is, however, detected on the basis of either instantaneously sampled voltages or an average voltage at the intermediate point M. Therefore, in a case where the line L1 or the line L2 instantaneously and repeatedly makes contact with the power supply line or ground, such a short-circuit of the line L1 or the line L2 cannot be detected. For this reason, while the diagnosis is carried out and the transistors 31, 34 are alternately turned on, if the line L1 makes contact with the power supply line, or if the line L2 makes contact with ground, the large current instantaneously flows through the squib 33, thereby causing the squib 33 to ignite erroneously.

Diagnosing apparatus for passenger protective systems


A method for preparing a poled structure forms a ferroelectric substrate with a first polarization direction, wherein the ferroelectric substrate has a first surface and a second surface. An electrode-patterning process is then performed to form a first electrode structure on the first surface, and the first electrode structure includes a plurality of active blocks and a plurality of passive blocks, wherein at least one passive block is sandwiched between two active blocks. Subsequently, a poling process is performed including applying a predetermined voltage to the active blocks and floating the passive blocks such that a current such as a leakage current or a tunnel current is generated from the active blocks to the passive blocks to form a plurality of inverted domains with a second polarization direction in the ferroelectric substrate.

(A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a poled structure, and more particularly, to a method for preparing a poled structure by leakage and tunnel effects.
(B) Description of the Related Art
Poled structures having poled domains in a ferroelectric single crystal such as lithium niobate (LiNbO3), lithium tantalite (LiTaO3) and potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4) is widely used in optical fields such as optical communications, optical storage and optical measurement. There are several methods for preparing the poled structure such as the proton-exchanging method, the electron beam-scanning method, the electric voltage application method, etc.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,515 discloses a method for manufacturing a polarization inversion part on a ferroelectric crystal substrate. The polarization inversion part is prepared by steps of applying a voltage in the polarization direction of the ferroelectric crystal substrate to form a polarization inversion part, conducting a heat treatment for reducing the internal electric field generated in the substrate by the applied voltage, and then reinverting polarization in a part of the polarization inversion part by applying a reverse direction voltage against the voltage that was previously applied. In other words, the method for preparing a polarization inversion part disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,002,515 requires applying electric voltage twice.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,353,495 discloses a method for forming an optical waveguide element. The disclosed method forms a convex ridge portion having a concave portion on a ferroelectric single crystalline substrate, and a ferroelectric single crystalline film is then formed in the concave portion. A comb-shaped electrode and a uniform electrode are formed on a main surface of the ferroelectric single crystalline substrate, and electric voltage is applied to these two electrodes to form a ferroelectric domain-inverted structure in the film in the concave portion.
However, it becomes very difficult to uniformly control the width of the inverted domain in the ferroelectric substrate as the period of the inverted domain becomes smaller and smaller.

Method for preparing a poled structure by using leakage and tunnel effects


In various implementations, analytics data is received that indicates performance of bid targets for historical bids made in one or more content delivery auctions. Baseline prediction models are maintained for the bid targets. The baseline prediction models use the analytics data to predict performance of the bid targets in one or more future instances of at least one content delivery auction. A presentation context factor model is maintained that provides an adjustment factor that quantifies a contribution of a subset of a plurality of presentation context factors associated with the bid targets to performance of the bid targets based on predicted values from the baseline prediction models. A contextual predicted value is computed using the adjustment factor for the subset of the plurality of presentation context factors. A performance prediction is transmitted to a user device and is based on at least the contextual predicted value.

In the online space, content publishers are often tasked with making decisions for allocating and serving content to clients in connection with presentation opportunities. One approach a content publisher may utilize for these decisions is an auction-based content delivery system where bids are made on bid targets, such as key words, to rank and select content for the presentation opportunities. Content may be displayed in a particular order or pattern or otherwise be selected for placement in a webpage or other presentation medium based on the bids. Higher ranked content is typically more prominently displayed to clients on client devices.
Bidders can use bid management tools, such as Adobe® Media Optimizer to assist in determining how much to bid on bid targets in content delivery auctions. These tools may assist users by predicting the performance of bid targets based on historical observations of their performance in a content delivery auction. Predictions for a bid target may be more accurate when they factor in the time of day or other context of presenting content in the content delivery auction. Typically, a dedicated model is used to predict performance of a bid target with respect to a particular set of context factors. Thus, an entirely new model with associated storage and processing is required to predict performance for the bid target with respect to at least one different context factor, or the same context factors for a different bid target. Additionally, this approach is prone to providing unreliable predictions because the number of historical observations that match both the bid target and each context factor being predicted by a model may be sparse, especially for a large set of context factors.

Prediction of content performance in content delivery based on presentation context


In a wireless network base station design method for selecting an optimal base station in a wireless network design system, a sample point and a candidate base station area are determined according to a predetermined reference; propagation between the sample point and the candidate base station area is analyzed and a path loss is forecast; a base station is selected in consideration of wave propagation caused by the propagation analysis; a cell shrinkage degree is determined in consideration of traffic, and propagation is re-analyzed based on the cell shrinkage degree; and a base station is selected in consideration of the wave propagation and a call volume according to the re-analysis of propagation.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for selecting a base station in a wireless network applied to the PCS system with the frequency of 1,850 MHz and the CDMA cellular system with the frequency of 800 MHz.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A wireless network design system provides a system for selecting an optimal location and a number of base stations for covering a service area through analysis of cell coverage, a call volume, and a cell capacity relation for each base station.
Conventional wireless network design techniques include a method for allowing a user to establish a location of the base station through the user's direct view and determination of the location displayed on a screen of the wireless network design system; and a method for directly establishing a base station appropriate for a target area, briefly designing a cell, analyzing propagation, and checking whether the location of the base station is suitably established.
Also, a Korean published application of No. 2000-7448 (filed on Feb. 7, 2000) discloses a method for using grids with weights and realizing an automatic base station installation program in a wireless network design system, which realizes a propagation analysis task and a base station selection task in common and which selects a base station with high cell coverage by analyzing the propagation on the uniform cell coverage.
The conventional base station selecting method degrades accuracy and efficiency since the method considers no propagation environment or call volume information.

Base station selecting method in wireless network


There is provided a device for generating a heavy-ion beam. The device includes a laser beam generating unit configured to generate a laser beam; a target configured to generate a heavy-ion beam by the laser beam; a laser optical system configured to focus the laser beam on the front of the target; and a plasma treating unit disposed at a rear surface of the target and configured to remove impurities within the target by plasma surface treatment that is performed by radiating cationic plasma onto the rear surface of the target.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for generating a heavy-ion beam and a method thereof, and more specifically, to a device for generating a heavy-ion beam using a laser beam and a method thereof.
2. Discussion of Related Art
There is a growing interest in laser ion acceleration technology due to its high applicability to basic and applied sciences. Research on application fields such as laser-based proton radiography, fast ion ignition, and cancer treatment is being actively performed.
An ion beam generated by a laser may also be used to generate secondary radiation such as X-rays and a neutron beam.
In order to implement fast carbon ion ignition, a carbon (C6+) ion beam of 450 MeV is necessary. In order to treat cancer, a carbon (C6+) ion beam having an energy of 4-5 GeV and a narrow energy distribution is necessary. In the field of fast ignition or cancer treating devices, a heavy-ion beam having properties of high purity, a narrow energy distribution, and a uniform spatial distribution is necessary.
A device for generating carbon ions using a laser may obtain a carbon ion beam by introducing a high power laser beam into a target.
When the high power laser beam is radiated onto a thin film target, ions in the thin film escape to the outside of the thin film with acceleration energy according to a target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) model, a radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) model, or the like.
Hydrogen atoms in water molecules adsorbed on a target surface or present within the target as impurities may be accelerated according to the same principle. Hydrogen ions, that is, protons, are lighter than carbon ions and are highly likely to be accelerated before carbon ions under the same conditions. Once protons are accelerated and form a layer, carbon ions that are accelerated thereafter and advance are blocked by the shade of the proton layer and not accelerated above a certain level.
Therefore, in order for carbon ions to have higher acceleration energy, there is a need for a method of disabling proton acceleration.
In the related art, U.S. Pat. No. 6,906,338 discloses acceleration of ions by applying acceleration energy to a target in this manner.

Device for generating heavy-ion beam and method thereof

ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE


The anvil rotor on a wood chip slicing machine is connected to its drive shaft via shear pins which extend into the hub of the rotor from a coupling which is mounted on the shaft. The coupling provides bearings for rotation of the rotor hub thereon when the shear pins are sheared as a consequence of an overload or load shock condition. The overload protection mechanism is applicable to other machines.

Wood chip slicers commonly are of a design having an outer rotating drum with chip-cutting knives mounted therein adjoining discharge openings and having an inner anvil rotor rotating in the same direction as the drum but at a higher r.p.m. The rotor has several radial arms carrying anvils which push chips held by centrifugal force against the inside face of the drum into contact with the knives so that they are sliced, whereupon the chip slices pass outwardly through the discharge openings in the drum.
Foreign material, such as rocks and pieces of metal, are sometimes present in the wood chip material being processed and become lodged between an anvil and a knife in the slicer. The resulting jamming condition between the anvil rotor and the drum is capable of severely damaging the mechanism unless overload protection is provided. Past attempts have involved use of relatively costly pressurized units mounted on the drive shaft of the anvil rotor and designed to vent, and thereby disconnect the shaft from the anvil rotor, when subjected to a preset overload condition.

Overload protection system for chip slicers and other machines


A central console unit is disposed in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in a motor vehicle as a mobile body and disposes desired devices such as a CD player, a cassette tape player, a DVD player, or the like, is arranged to allow the central console unit to be positioned along a rail to a predetermined position corresponding to each of the seats in the motor vehicle.

The present invention relates to a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body in which disposing means for disposing therein audio devices and video reproducing devices to be mounted on a mobile body such as a motor vehicle is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat.
FIG. 46 is a schematic drawing showing an arrangement inside a vehicle compartment of a conventional motor vehicle.
Referring to FIG. 46, reference numeral 1 denotes an instrument panel provided in a front inside the vehicle compartment, reference numeral 2 audio devices such as a radio receiver, a cassette tape deck, a compact disc (CD) player, or the like, reference numeral 3 a dashboard provided in a central upper part of the instrument panel 1, reference numeral 4 a steering wheel provided on the right side of the instrument panel 1, and reference numeral 5 front seats which are made up of a driver""s seat 5a and a front passenger""s seat 5b arranged in the right and left positional relationship.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a central console box disposed in a position between the driver""s seat 5a and the front passenger""s seat 5b.
Conventionally, the audio devices 2 are arranged, as the dominant influence of the times, to be disposed in the center 1a of the instrument panel 1.
However, with the recent spreading of navigation apparatuses, various devices are gradually emerging, i.e.,: an arrangement in which a navigation apparatus main body (not shown) is disposed under the front-side seat such as the driver""s seat or the front passenger""s seat and a display for displaying thereon the map information outputted from the navigation apparatus is disposed in the neighbourhood of the center of the instrument panel 1; an arrangement in which the space for disposing the audio devices is made smaller and the display is disposed in a central upper part of the instrument panel 1, i.e., is buried inside the dashboard 3; and an arrangement in which the instruments which show the state of a brake system and are conventionally disposed on the side of the driver""s seat of the instrument panel 1 are disposed in the center of the instrument panel 1. This kind of arrangements are going to dominating influence of the times in the future.
In addition, in disposing the display, there is appeared an arrangement in which the display is disposed in the central upper part of the instrument panel 1, i.e., is buried inside the dashboard 3, or an arrangement in which the display is provided on a head rest, which forms an upper part of the driver""s seat 5a or the front-passenger""s seat 5b, through a supporting part.
There is further appeared an arrangement in which a monitor fixed to the intermediate of the ceiling which corresponds to the neighbourhood of an intermediate between the front seats and the rear seats so that the rear-seat passengers can display the images such as a television set, a video, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or the like, by using the monitor.
Under such a background, in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 297391/1998 an arrangement is disclosed in which the switches for the audio devices, an air conditioner, or the like, which used to be disposed in the center of the instrument panel 1 are provided in the central console 6 which is disposed between the driver""s seat and the front-passenger""s seat.
FIG. 47 is a schematic diagram showing a purview thereof.
Referring to FIG. 47, reference numeral 1 denotes an instrument panel provided in a front inside the vehicle compartment, reference numeral 3 a dashboard provided in a central upper part of the instrument panel 1, reference numeral 4 a steering wheel provided on the right side of the instrument panel 1, and reference numeral 5 front seats which are made up of a driver""s seat 5a and a front passenger""s seat 5b arranged in the right and left positional relationship.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a central console box disposed in a position between the driver""s seat 5a and the front-passenger""s seat 5b, reference numeral 7 a gearshift lever provided in the central lower part of the instrument panel 1 and reference numeral 8 a display provided in a central upper part of the instrument panel 1.
As shown in FIG. 48, the central console box 6 is provided with a lid 6a, and a housing to be opened and closed by this lid 6a is formed inside the central console box 6.
In a part of the front of the central console box 6, there is provided a switch disposing part 9 which is formed into a recessed shape. A remote control unit 10 is removably fit into this switch disposing part 9.
the arrangement thus constructed as above described makes it possible for the passenger seated in the driver""s seat or in the front-passenger""s seat to readily operate the switches while keeping an ordinarily seated posture.
Further, in Japanese Utility Model Registration Application No. 86638/1992 (Published Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Registration Application No. 49220/1994), a carriage case for carrying, in the back and forth direction in a bus compartment, facilities for service to the passengers such as a television receiver, a heater/refrigerator, or the like, as well as articles such as foods and drinks for the passengers.
FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of the apparatus and FIG. 50 is a sectional view showing a state where the television receiver is housed inside the carriage case.
Referring to FIGS. 49 and 50, reference numeral 21 denotes a display of the television receiver which is disposed in one surface of the carriage case 25 (to be mentioned in more detail later), reference numeral 22 the bus as a mobile body, reference numerals 23 seats disposed inside the bus 22, reference numeral 24 a rail provided substantially in the center of the ceiling of the bus 22, reference numeral 25 the carriage case which is movably suspended from the rail 24, and reference numeral 26 a roller by which the carriage case 25 is slidably supported by the rail 24.
The arrangement thus constructed as described above easily moves the carriage case containing therein facilities for service to the passengers such as the television receiver, or the like, as well as articles for the passengers such as foods and drinks inside the bus compartment. When the facilities and the foods and drinks are not needed, the carriage case is out of sight of the passengers. The articles such as foods and drinks can, at the same time, be easily distributed to each of the passengers.
Still further, in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 78693/1999, a monitoring apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed in which a monitor is disposed inside a room mirror main body in a motor vehicle.
FIG. 51 is an exploded perspective view showing an arrangement of a purview of the apparatus, FIG. 52 is a sectional view showing a section of a purview thereof, and FIG. 53 is an explanatory drawing showing an example of display on a purview.
In these FIGS. 51, 52 and 53, the room mirror main body 30 is disposed on a ceiling surface inside the vehicle compartment in front of the driver""s seat in the vehicle body. This room mirror main body 30 has a function of a rear-view mirror to reflect the rear of the vehicle body and a capability as a rear monitor of a rear-imaging camera which images the rear of the vehicle body. It is made up of a casing 31, a monitor 32, a half-mirror 33, a frame 34 and an arm 35. Once the power source of the monitor 32 is switched on, when the vehicle is put in reverse gear, an image is displayed on the monitor 32 as shown in FIG. 53. In FIG. 53, the display is divided into two screens of the right and the left. The right screen displays the backward image picked up by the camera and the left screen displays the remarks to be noted.
The arrangement, by looking at the image from the rear-imaging camera, makes it possible to visually check the rear of the vehicle body.
Still further, in the conventional motor vehicle, the rear-view mirror (room mirror) is mounted on the ceiling near the driver""s seat. In checking the rear of the motor vehicle when passing another car ah ad or changing lanes, the driver can check the rearward state by looking at the reflection of the rear view on the rear-view mirror. In case there is an obstacle that comes in the backward view inside the vehicle compartment behind the rear-view mirror, it is sometimes difficult to check the rear with the rear-view mirror. For example, where a lot of luggage is loaded behind the driver""s seat such as in a delivery truck, the rear view is often obstructed by the luggage between the rear-view mirror and a window at the back of the vehicle (rear window).
Under such a background, an apparatus has been proposed in Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 71939/1992 solve the above-described problem.
FIG. 54 is an explanatory drawing showing a purview as disclosed in this application.
In FIG. 54, the apparatus includes an imaging device (not shown) disposed in the rear of the vehicle at a position to secure the wide vehicle""s rear scope of view; the display 41 disposed on a ceiling of the vehicle which displays thereon the image picked up by the imaging device toward a windshield; and a reflecting mirror 42 which reflects the image projected by this display 41 so as to come it to the driver""s scope of view. Having been taken such an arrangement, even if the rear scope of view is obstructed by luggage or the like inside the vehicle compartment, the driver can always see the rear view.
On the other hand, the rear check apparatus with a display which is in the rear-seat passenger""s disposal seated inside the vehicle compartment, is proposed in a Published Unexamined Japanese Patent Application No. 129815/1999. As shown in FIG. 55. In this FIG. 55, the apparatus is made up of a reverse switch 51 which is switched on when a reverse gear of the vehicle is operated; a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera 52 which images the rearward dead spot of the vehicle; an antenna 53 for receiving television broadcasting; a television tuner 54; a television operating switch 55 for the rear-seat passengers; a liquid crystal display 56 disposed in a position near a ceiling in an intermediate between the front seats and the rear seats; a display drive part 57 which supports this liquid crystal display from the ceiling of the vehicle and is made up of an electric motor for rotatably driving the screen of the liquid crystal display to the driver""s seat side and to the rear-seat passengers side; and a control part 58 for controlling the operation of each of these devices.
Having been taken such an arrangement, in a vehicle in which the rear and sides of the vehicle can be checked from inside the vehicle through the window glasses, when the driver moves the vehicle back, while looking backward, he/she may change his/her eyes to the display, whereby he/she can the dead angle behind the vehicle by visually checking the contents of the display. This reduces the driver""s burden imposed on the rearward check at the time of moving the vehicle back.
Further, when going out by a motor vehicle, it is not seldom avail himself of shopping. Receipts to be handed over by shops"" salesclerks in shopping are brought home for use in domestic bookkeeping, and a memo is made of a favorite shop, if any.
In addition, when try to set a favorite place in a navigation apparatus as a destination by consulting sight-seeing guide books, or the like, a user has to successively operate the menu screen formed by several structured screens.
The conventional audio devices and video reproducing devices for a motor vehicle are mounted and fixed inside the motor vehicle as described above. In other words, mostly, they are disposed near the center of the instrument panel so as to be removable. The arrangement thus constructed as above has a limited space for disposition of the center of the instrument panel. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully select the devices to be disposed in this space. In particular, for a user who wishes to use various kinds of audio devices and video reproducing devices inside the motor vehicle, one has to submit to a poor convenience such as a limited freedom in selection.
Still further, since the audio devices are disposed in the center of the instrument panel, the changes of the cassette tapes, digital audio tapes (DATs), CDs, mini discs (MDs), DVDs, or the like, as well as the setting operations of each of the devices, or setting a plurality of devices can be made only by the passengers seated in the front seats, i.e., the driver""s seat and the front-passenger""s seat. The others who a reseated in seats other than the front seats, i.e., the passengers seated in the rear seats cannot perform the above-described operations while seating. Therefore, the rear passengers encounter in convenience.
Still further, in an apparatus in which the display means for displaying thereon the visible information from the video reproducing apparatus, or the like, is disposed in the center of the instrument panel, although the passengers in the front seats have a high visibility, the passengers in the rear seats are far from the display means, resulting in a lower visibility.
In addition, since the operating means for the audio devices and video reproducing devices are ordinarily constituted integral with the devices, when one wishes to operate them, it is obliged to stretch his hand toward the center of the instrument panel. Besides, the rear-seat passengers cannot as much as access to them, and even the front-seat passengers must change their posture from the one deeply reclined on the seats to the one slouching before operating them, disabling an expectation of easy operation.
Exceptionally, there are rarely existed in which the operating means are separated from the devices in the form of remote controllers (hereinafter referred to as a remocon). This kind of arrangement, after having operated the remote controllers, they are often left detached from its housing. Since the remote controllers are ordinarily small in size, the operating means sometimes missing and, when he/she operates the devices, the remote controllers must be looking for.
Still further, since the audio devices and the video reproducing devices are disposed in the center of the instrument panel and are fixed in position where wiring connection is done inside the instrument panel, the instrument panel having the narrow space compels the number of devices to be disposed therein to be limited. In disposing the devices, therefore, they must be carefully selected, providing a little possibility of mounting various devices and undergoing inconvenience.
In addition, in the center of the instrument panel, there are provided, together with the display means, the operating means as a touch-panel or the like for operating the displayed contents on the display means. In operating this operating means, one must change his posture from the one deeply reclined on the seat to the posture slouching before operating, or he/she must stretch his/her hand, disabling an expectation of an easy operation.
Further, among the mobile bodies, in case the space between the seats serves as a passage for the passengers like in a bus, nothing can be disposed on the floor because they obstruct the passage of the passengers.
On the other hand, there are rarely existed in which a television receiver is suspended from a rail provided on the ceiling of a bus so as to be movable back and forth inside the bus. However, no attention has been paid to the relationship between the positions of the seats disposed inside the vehicle compartment and the movement stopping positions of the television receiver. Therefore, the user must switch off the television receiver for adjusting the position thereof so that the position accommodates to the seat in which the user is seated whenever he/she looks at the television receiver. Therefore, the user encounters inconvenience.
Further, even when the rear-seat passengers do not look at the television receiver, it is always independently disposed. Therefore, it obstructs the passengers such as the driver.
In case there is a projected object in the ceiling behind a room mirror, this projected object shuts off the rear view behind the room mirror. The driver has a difficulty in checking the rear, and this kind of situation occurs not only at the time of moving back but also at the time of starting an ordinary running, changing the lanes, or tuning to the right/left while running, i.e., when one should check the back.
However, a conventional arrangement includes a display which projects the image picked up by the imaging device on the ceiling of the driver""s seat of the vehicle toward the windshield; and the reflecting mirror which reflects the image picked up by this imaging device so as to come it to the driver""s scope of view. Therefore, when the rear image is looked at by the reflecting mirror, he/she always looks at the rear image picked up by the imaging device. Even when there is no luggage in the rear seats inside the vehicle compartment, i.e., even in case the rear scope of view is good, the imaging device and the display are in operation. Therefor, the electric power consumes, leading to be the battery""s running down.
Still furthermore, an arrangement is conventionally employed in which, when the driver backs the vehicle, he must change his eyesight, while looking backward of the vehicle, to the display provided near the ceiling in the intermediate between the front seats and the rear seats so that he can confirm by looking at the displayed contents. Therefore, there is required a display drive part to rotatably drive the direction of the screen of the display to the side of the driver""s seat and to the side of the rear-seat passengers, resulting in a problem in that the number of parts becomes large.
In addition, at the time of reversing the vehicle, even when the rear seat passengers are enjoying the contents of the display which is provided near the ceiling in the intermediate between the front seats and the rear seats, the screen of the display must be rotated to the side of the driver""s seat, with the result that the rear seat passengers cannot use the screen of the display during that period of time. There was therefore a problem in that the convenience of the rear seat passengers becomes poor.
Further, there was a problem in that it is complicated and troublesome to keep in good order and to process the information such as the receipts to be received at the time of shopping when going out by a motor vehicle.
Still furthermore, the user must read out the address of a favorite shop from the receipt or from the sightseeing guide book or to make the setting of the address, or the like, by the user""s operation of the navigation apparatus. There was therefore a problem in that the operation is complicated and troublesome.
The present invention has been made to solve the above and other problems and has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body comprising a disposing means which is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in the mobile body and in which desired devices are disposed; a guide means for guiding the disposing means so as to be movable in a back and forth direction of the mobile body; a moving means for moving the disposing means along the guide means based on a command; a memory means having stored therein each of seat positions of a plurality of seats provided in the mobile body and a movement set value for positioning the disposing means to a predetermined position by the moving means, the seat positions and the movement set value being stored with a correlation to each other; an operating means for outputting a command signal so as to move the disposing means; a set value selecting means for selecting a predetermined movement set value from the memory means based on a command from the operating means; and a movement control means for controlling such that the moving means moves the disposing means along the guide means to the predetermined position based on the movement set value selected by the set value selecting means whereby, only by operating, the troublesome setting operation of the disposing means is not required and the user""s convenience is improved.
Further, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body further comprising a display means adapted to be housed inside, or to be projected from, the disposing means, wherein the memory means stores therein, together with the movement set value, a display means projection set value which is set with a correlation to each of the seats as to whether the display means shall be projected or not, wherein the set value selecting means selects the predetermined movement set value and the display means projection set value from the memory means, and wherein the movement control means moves the disposing means by the moving means along the guide means for positioning to the predetermined position based on the movement set value and the display means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means and controls the display means so as to be projected to a predetermined position or to be housed whereby, only by operating, the setting of the display means together with the disposing means is appropriately positioned with a correlation to the seat position, with the result that no troublesome setting operation is required and the user""s convenience is further improved.
Further, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, wherein the display means comprises an angle adjusting means to enable to adjust an angle thereof relative to a supporting means which supports the display means when the display means is projected from the disposing means, whereby the adjustment to suit the physical shape of the user can be freely made and the convenience of the apparatus is improved.
Further, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, wherein the disposing means comprises a device operation control means which operates a predetermined device and which is adapted to be projected from a surface of a casing of the disposing means, wherein the memory means stores therein, together with the movement set value, a device operation control means projection set value which is set with a correlation to each of the seats as to whether the device operation control means shall be projected or not, wherein the set value selecting means selects the predetermined movement set value and the device op ration control means projection set value from the memory means, and wherein the movement control means moves the disposing means by the moving means along the guide means for positioning to the predetermined position based on the movement set value and the device operation control means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means and controls the device operation control means so as to be projected to a predetermined position or to be housed, whereby the convenience of the user is further improved.
Still furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, wherein a housing space is formed under equipment disposed in a front of the mobile body so as to house at least a part of the disposing means, and wherein the guide means is adapted to guide the disposing means into the housing space, whereby the limited space inside the mobile body can be effectively utilized.
Furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile, further including a second operating means for each of the seats provided in the mobile body and wherein, when the moving means moves to position the disposing means along the guide means, a command is given by one of the operating means and the second operating means whereby, even when the operating means is difficult of operation, the operation can be easily performed so that the operability of the apparatus is further improved.
Furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, wherein the disposing means comprises a housing for housing therein a display means, the display means being disposed so as to be projected from the disposing means, wherein the memory means stores therein, together with the movement set value, a display means projection set value which is set with a correlation to each of the seats as to whether the display means shall be projected or not, wherein the set value selecting means selects the predetermined movement set value and the display means projection set value from the memory means, and wherein the movement control means moves the disposing means by the moving means along the guide means for positioning to the predetermined position based on the movement set value and the display means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means and controls the display means so as to be projected to a predetermined position or to be housed and, when the display means is guided into the housing space, the display means is housed inside the disposing means so as to display only by a display disposed in a front of the mobile body, whereby the troublesome operations such as positioning become needless and, when the display means in the disposing means is not used, the display means can be housed so that the limited space is effectively utilised, the operability of the apparatus is further improved, and the convenience of the user is further improved.
Furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body including a disposing means which is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in the mobile body and in which desired devices are disposed, the disposing means including a display means which is housed inside, or to be projected from, the disposing means and a device operation control means which is adapted to be projected from a surface of a casing of said disposing means to thereby operate a predetermined device; a guide means for guiding the disposing means so as to be movable in a back and forth direction of the mobile body; a moving means for moving the disposing means along the guide means based on a command; a memory means having stored therein each of seat positions of a plurality of seats provided in the mobile body, a movement set value of the disposing means for positioning the disposing means to a predetermined position by the moving means, a display means projection set value to set as to whether the display means shall be projected or not, and a device operation control means projection set value to set as to whether the device operation control means shall be projected or not, the seat positions and the set values being stored with a correlation to one another; a set value selecting means for selecting a predetermined movement set value, a predetermined display means projection set value, and a predetermined device operation control means projection set value from the memory means based on the command, and a movement control means which controls such that the moving means moves the display means along the guide means to a predetermined position and that the display means and the device operation control means are projected to a predetermined position or housed inside the disposing means based on the movement set value, the display means projection set value, and the device operation control means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means, whereby the setting operation for positioning becomes needless when it is desired to operate or display the troublesome disposing means, and the operability and the convenience of the apparatus are further improved, and the convenience of the user is also further improved.
Still furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body including a disposing means which is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in the mobile body and in which desired devices are disposed, the disposing means including a display means which is housed inside, or to be projected from, the disposing means and a device operation control means which is adapted to be projected from a surface of a casing of the disposing means to thereby operate a predetermined device; the mobile body having in a front thereof a housing space into which at least a part of the disposing means is capable of being housed; a guide means for guiding the disposing means so as to be movable in a back and forth direction of the mobile body and be capable of guiding the disposing means up to the housing space; a moving means for moving the disposing means along the guide means based on a command; a memory means having stored therein each of seat positions of a plurality of seats provided in the mobile body, a movement set value of the disposing means for positioning the disposing means to a predetermined position by the moving means, a display means projection set value to set as to whether the display means shall be projected or not, and a device operation control means projection set value to set as to whether the device operation control means shall be projected or not, the seat positions and the set values being stored with a correlation to one another; a set value selecting means for selecting a predetermined movement set value, the display means projection set value, and the device operation control means projection set value from the memory means based on the command; a movement control means which controls such that the moving means moves the display means along the guide means to a predetermined position and that the display means and the device operation control means are projected to a predetermined position or housed inside the disposing means based on the movement set value, the display means projection set value, and the device operation control means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means wherein, when the display means is guided by said moving means into the housing space, the display means is housed inside the disposing means so as to display only by a display disposed in a front of the mobile body, whereby the setting operations for positioning can be eliminated when one wishes to perform the operation and display of the troublesome disposing means, with the result that the operability and the convenience of the apparatus are further improved and the convenience of the user is also further improved.
Furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, wherein an output signal of a device disposed in the disposing means is converted to a wireless signal and, based on this converted wireless signal, a predetermined information is displayed, when visible information is contained therein, on the display disposed in a front of the mobile body, whereby the visible information can be shared by all passengers, the range of using the apparatus can be increased, and the convenience of the apparatus can be further improved.
Still furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, wherein, when the disposing means is moved, the information to show the plurality of seat positions is displayed in a list, a desired seat is selected from the display in the list, a movement set value and a display means projection set value as well as a device operation control means projection set value according to this selected seat position are selected from said memory means, and the moving means moves to position the disposing means to the predetermined position of the guide means, whereby the setting operation can be made based on the displayed information so that the operation in an undue posture is avoided and that the operability of the apparatus can be further improved.
Furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, further including a seat occupant presence judging means for judging whether there is an occupant in each of the seats provided inside the mobile body, wherein the seat position is displayed on the display means if a judgement is made that there is an occupant by the judgement of the seat occupant presence judging means, whereby the selection can be made only from the seats in which there are seated passengers and that the time in making the selecting operation is shortened.
Still furthermore, the present invention has an object of obtaining a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body, further including seated passenger protection operation control means for performing a protecting operation control intended for a seat with a seated passenger among all the seats provided inside the mobile body, wherein information of only the seat that is an object of protecting operation by the seated passenger protection operation control means is displayed in the list on the display means, whereby the number of parts of the apparatus can be reduced by sharing the same constituting parts with the existing parts and that the cost can also be reduced.
A device disposing apparatus for a mobile body according to the pr sent invention includes disposing means which is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in the mobile body and disposable desired devices; guide means for movably guiding the disposing means in a back and forth direction relative to the mobile body; moving means for moving the disposing means along the guide means based on a command; memory means having stored therein in correspondence with each of seat positions of a plurality of seats provided in the mobile body and a movement set value for positioning the disposing means to a predetermined position by the moving means; operating means for outputting a command signal so as to move the disposing means; set value selecting means for selecting a predetermined movement set value output from the memory means based on a command from the operating means; and movement control means for movement controlling such that the moving means moves the disposing means along the guide means to the predetermined position based on the movement set value selected by the set value selecting means. This disengages a user from the troublesome setting operation of the disposing means excepting an easy operation and improves the user""s convenience.
Further, a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body according to the present invention includes disposing means which is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in the mobile body and disposes desired devices, the disposing means including display means which is housed inside thereof and projected therefrom, and device operation control means which is projected from a surface of a casing of the disposing means and operates a predetermined device; guide means for movably guiding the disposing means in a back and forth direction relative to the mobile body; moving means for moving the disposing means along the guide means based on a command; memory means having stored therein in correspondence with each of seat positions of a plurality of seats provided in the mobile body, a movement set value of the disposing means for positioning the disposing means to a predetermined position by the moving means, a display means projection set value to set as to whether the display means should be projected or not, and a device operation control means projection set value to set as to whether the device operation control means should be projected or not; set value selecting means for selecting a predetermined movement set value, predetermined display means projection set value, and predetermined device operation control means projection set value from the memory means based on the command, and movement control means which controls such that the moving means moves the disposing means along the guide means to the predetermined position and that the display means and the device operation control means are projected to a predetermined position or housed inside the disposing means based on the movement set value, the display means projection set value, and the device operation control means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means. This disengages a user from the troublesome operation of the disposing means and the setting operation for positioning when the user wishes to display, thereby improving the operability and the convenience of the apparatus and further the convenience of the user.
Still further, a device disposing apparatus for a mobile body according to the present invention includes disposing means which is provided in a position between a driver""s seat and a front-passenger""s seat in the mobile body and disposes desired devices, the disposing means including display means which is housed inside thereof and projected therefrom, and device operation control means which is projected from a surface of casing of the disposing means and operates a predetermined device, the mobile body has in a front thereof a housing space into which at least a part of the disposing means is housed, guide means for movably guiding the disposing means in a back and forth direction relative to the mobile body and guiding the disposing means to the housing space; moving means for moving the disposing means along the guide means based on a command; memory means having stored therein in correspondence with each of seat positions of a plurality of seats provided in the mobile body, a movement set value of the disposing means for positioning the disposing means to a predetermined position by the moving means, a display means projection set value to set as to whether the display means should be projected or not, and device operation control means projection set value to set as to whether the device operation control means should be projected or not; set value selecting means for selecting a predetermined movement set value, the display means projection set value, and the device operation control means projection set value from the memory means based on the command; movement control means which controls such that the moving means moves the disposing means along the guide means to a predetermined position and that the display means and the device operation control means are projected to a predetermined position or housed inside the disposing means based on the movement set value, the display means projection set value, and the device operation control means projection set value selected by the set value selecting means wherein, when the display means is guided by the moving means to the housing space, the display means is housed inside the disposing means so as to display only by a display disposed in a front of the mobile body. This disengages a user from the troublesome operation of the disposing means and the setting operation for positioning when the user wishes to display, thereby improving the operability and the convenience of the apparatus and further the convenience of the user.

Device installation apparatus for moving body


A dual disc spreader attachment utilizing a specific direction of disc rotation, pinpoint control of the impact point of material onto the disc and blade design to provide an optimal scatter pattern.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to a spreader attachment utilized to evenly distribute material, and specifically to a spreader attached to a farm vehicle to distribute granular and/or powdery material.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Farmers, landscapers, and others needing to spread material over large areas need a spreading device that will allow for rapid distribution of the material being spread, covering a large area in an even spread pattern, completed in a reasonably short period of time. The spreading device often determines the success of the operation. While there have been many spreaders brought to the marketplace, the prior art spreaders do not produce a uniform distribution in a cost efficient manner. Those spreaders that do effect a uniform distribution fail to spread over a sufficiently large enough area to keep the operation within reasonable costs.
Dual disc centrifugal spreaders are well known in the art. They generally are comprised of flat discs that cast off particulate material in a horizontal plane. To achieve maximum results, these discs must maintain constant circumferential speed. The power to turn the discs generally comes from either rotating wheels contacting the ground translated through various gearing mechanisms, or power comes via a power take-off drive. While power take-off drives generally produce more constant circumferential speed, both powering methods produce irregularities in the scatter pattern over the entire scatter width, leading to overspreading of material and/or bald spots from underspreading of material, both of which cause irregular plant growth.
While higher circumferential disc speeds provide more uniform scatter patterns, they oftentimes provide too strong of an overlapping pattern in the center (behind the vehicle), laying down excess material. When the circumferential disc speed is reduced, the periphery of the scatter pattern becomes very steep outwardly, resulting in reduced spreading in the center (behind the vehicle).
Typical in the prior art, centrifugal spreaders have scoop members provided on the rotating discs for catching the ejected material and hurling this material centrifugally outward onto the ground. Both straight edge scoop members and curved scoop members having their concave side directed toward the rotating direction of the disc have been utilized to attain as broad a dispersion zone as possible by increasing the hurling distance of the material centrifugally outward of the discs.
To achieve a uniform spreading pattern, it is important for centrifugal spreaders to have the material to be spread fall upon the rotating disc within a definite area. U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,915 to Dreyer, et al. achieves this through the use of a releasable or pivotable shoot or tube underneath the opening in the hopper.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,657 to Dreyer is directed to a centrifugal spreader for particle fertilizer material. Material ejects out the side of a storage bin onto rotating discs having one curved scoop member and one straight scoop member. The curved member is C-shaped in cross section but maintains a constant height along the length of the member. The material feeds directly from the storage bin onto the rotating discs, the left disc, when viewed from behind, rotating clockwise and the right disc rotating counter clockwise.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,202 to van der Lely et al. is directed to a spreader with a hopper having two delivery parts. Distribution members are provided under the delivery parts for broadcasting material fed to them from the hopper. The distribution members are mounted on a carrier rigidly supported by and coupled to the hopper. Because the material is stored directly over the discs, a frame having significant rigidity is required.
The material feeds from the hopper directly to outlet orifices at the bottom of the hopper onto two circular discs. The discs rotate counter to one another. Each disc contains blades having a geometry that flares outward at a 15.degree. angle, including a blade visually flaring, and a blade structure directed away from the rotary axis.
What is needed, therefore, is an improved device that will provide a uniform scatter pattern and throw width, while also providing an optimal overlapping of the scatter pattern produced by multiple discs, both toward the outside or periphery of the pattern, and in the area directly behind the vehicle.