A heat exchange apparatus has a housing, a first fan cooperative with the housing for drawing air through the housing, an air flow line extending within the housing, a second fan connected to the air flow line for drawing air along the air flow line, and a coolant tube extending in a helical pattern around in the air flow line. A conduit extends over and around the coolant tube and the air flow line. The second fan passes air in heat exchange relationship to the coolant tube interior of the conduit. The housing can be placed forwardly of an engine of a vehicle.

Most vehicles generally in use today, such as passenger cars and motor trucks, are propelled by internal combustion engines and such engines, as is well known, generate heat during the operation thereof. For the most part, the motor vehicle internal combustion engines employed are of the liquid-cooled type which entail the circulation, under pressure, of a coolant through the engine for absorbing heat. The correct operating temperature of the engine is maintained by subsequently and sequentially passing, under pressure, the heated coolant received from the engine through a heat exchange system or apparatus for dissipating heat from the coolant to the atmosphere and returning the coolant to the engine for recirculation therein. Generally, the heat exchange apparatus employed includes a heat exchanger or radiator through which the heated coolant received from the engine is caused to flow. Simultaneously, cooling air is also caused to flow through the radiator which absorbs heat from the heated coolant and carries it out into the atmosphere.
The cooling capacity of a heat exchange apparatus is dependent upon many factors including the velocity and volume of the air caused to flow through radiator core as well as the distribution pattern of the air stream over the available heat exchange surface of the radiator core. Ideally, to achieve the highest heat transfer efficiency of any heat exchange apparatus, it is desirable that the velocity of cooling air flowing through the radiator core be as high as possible and be uniformly distributed over the entire available heat exchange surface of the radiator core. The heat exchange apparatus almost universally found in conventional motor vehicles propelled by liquid-cooled internal combustion engines involves a radiator or heat exchanger assembly which has a flat, generally rectangularly-shaped core structure. The radiator is usually oriented so as to be generally upright and is positioned axially forwardly of the engine. The heat exchange apparatus of conventional motor vehicles also includes, for the most part, a rotary fan of the axial flow, suction type which is positioned intermediate the engine and the flat radiator. The fan is designed to suck or draw air from the atmosphere forwardly of the radiator structure and cause the air stream induced thereby to flow substantially axially through the radiator. Heretofore, in most motor vehicle installations, the air stream after passing through the radiator core was discharged back over the engine which, as pointed out hereinbefore, is usually spaced axially rearwardly of the fan and radiator structure.
The rotary fan used in most motor vehicle engine heat exchange apparatuses for propelling the cooling air through the radiator core includes a multi-bladed rotor. The fan impeller blades extend radially from the fan hub and thus the fan blade tips circumscribe a circle when the fan is being operated.
Automotive cooling system engineers have long been intrigued with the possibility of overcoming the aforementioned operational shortcomings as well as other inherent and well known heat transfer deficiencies of traditional automotive heat exchange systems by using a toroidal type heat exchanger in lieu of the conventional flat radiator. In a toroidal heat exchanger, the radiator core is, in effect, wrapped around the fan and resembles a drum shell with the air stream intake and discharge faces of the radiator core in the form of radially spaced and parallel concentric cylinders. The fan, which is encircled by the radiator core, may be a blower type wherein cooling air is drawn axially from one axial side of the fan impeller blades and discharge radially outwardly through the radiator core or, alternatively, the fan may be a suction type wherein cooling air is drawn radially inwardly through the toroidal radiator core and discharged axially from one axial side of the heat exchange apparatus.
In the past various patents have issued relating to such heat exchange apparatus. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,614, issued on Dec. 22, 1981 to M. A. Maggiorana, describes a heat exchanger for marine propulsion engines. The heat exchanger includes a closed spiral passageway for the fresh cooling water drawn from the lake. An outer housing encloses the spiral passageway and includes baffle means for directing of a coolant in a spiral path over the cooling passageway within the housing. The coolant is thereby cooled by the circulating cold fresh water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,203, issued on Jan. 23, 1990 to K. S. McLaren, describes a heat exchanger with a helically coiled conduit. The heat exchanger has a hollow cylinder having a cylindrical wall to define an annular space therebetween. A neatly fitting helical tubular coil with spaced helixes define a helical pathway between adjacent coil helixes. Working fluid passes through the tubular coil and process fluid passes through the helical pathway to effect heat exchange between the working and process fluids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,210, issued on Sep. 1, 1987 to Niggemann et at., describes a fluid jet impingement heat exchanger. A mixed phase inlet stream is partially separated by centrifugal forces imparted to the stream by swirl inducers as the stream enters the inlet of the heat exchanger. Heat transfer efficiency is maximized by making the tube of rectangular cross section and providing liquid impingement jets active on three sides of the tube and by providing a baffle which forces the heat transfer fluid to further cool the tube by convection on the remaining side thereof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,287,917, issued on Feb. 22, 1994 to A. Cannata, describes a heat exchanger having a core comprising a conduit, a plurality of heat conducting elements extending transversely through the conduit and having portions projecting outwardly on each side of the conduit, a plurality of fins spaced along the length of these portions, and a housing enclosing the conduits and heat conducting elements. A means is provided for directing a medium to be heated or cooled through the conduit. A means is also provided for inducing a flow of heat exchanging medium through the housing and over the heat conducting elements and fins.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,936, issued on Sep. 6, 1994 to Beatenbough et al., describes a spiral ripple circumferential flow heat exchanger that includes generally parallel plates connected to define a hollow passageway so that a generally circumferential flow of fluid between an inlet and an outlet is achieved. The plates are undulating in cross-section to define obliquely disposed crossing opposing valleys arranged in a spiral disposition.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,218, issued on Aug. 29, 1995 to S. Nieh, shows a compact heat exchanger having an annular body with a central cylindrical volume and having an inlet for one fluid at opposite ends. A plurality of peripherally-located first fluid inlets communicate with first fluid passages in the body. These passages curve arcuately outwardly to respective separate outlets on the exterior wall of the body. Another set of passages for another fluid extend axially from one end of the body to the opposite end between oppositely located plenum chambers.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,910, issued on Dec. 18, 2001 to E. Bennett, describes a heat exchanger for a motor vehicle exhaust. This heat exchanger has a tubular body with at least two flow passages that extend between the ends of the tubular body. The passages include at least one heat exchange fluid flow passage and at least one bypass fluid flow passage. A heat exchange coil is positioned in the at least one flow passage. The heat exchange coil has an inlet and an outlet that extend through the sidewalls of the tubular body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,062,401, issued on Dec. 13, 1977 to Rudny et al., provides a toroidal multifluid segmented heat exchanger in which a plurality of segmented components are arranged to form a fixed radial heat exchanger. Each segment is an independent heat exchanger having a core of fluid tubes and air flow corridors between the tubes. Air flow is maintained through the heat exchanger by means of a propeller-type fan mounted coaxially with the heat exchanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,047, issued on Jan. 3, 19178 to Vidakovic et al., shows another type of toroidal heat exchanger that incorporates an air flow directing support cone housing a hydraulic motor used for driving an air propelling means at variable speeds depending on the cooling requirements of the host vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,735, issued on Jan. 30, 1979 to Beck et al., teaches a heat exchange apparatus including a toroidal-type radiator having radially extending cooling air passage-ways formed through the core thereof, a rotary fan positioned radially inwardly of the radiator core, and fan shroud means shaped and positioned with respect to the radiator core and the blades of the fan whereby the air stream induced by the fan during operation has a major component in a radial direction.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger which efficiently exchanges heat with air passing therethrough.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat exchange whereby a toroidal flow of a coolant will extend around an air flow conduit.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide heat exchanger whereby separate flows of air are provided through the heat exchanger for the purposes of cooling the coolant and for drawing air to the engine of a vehicle.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached specification and appended claims.


There is provided a power supply apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and a power supply system including a power supply unit configured to wirelessly supply power to an external device, a received power information reception unit configured to receive received power information representing the power received by the external device, and a power supply control unit configured to control the power supply unit to turn ON/OFF the power supply based on a set power set on the power supply unit and the received power represented by the received power information.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power supply apparatus, an image forming apparatus, a power supply system, a power supply method, and a storage medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, portable terminals such as mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs, note PCs and the like are equipped with a battery to thereby eliminate their power cable to enhance the portability and user-friendliness. Also, there is known a technology relevant to a battery charger which charges a battery in a non-contact (wireless) manner without using any connecting means such as a connector.
Further, multifunction peripherals (MFPs) are linked with the above portable terminals and are getting able to perform desired print output and scanner input via a wireless network. As a technology for linking an MFP to portable terminals, there is known a technology which supplies the power to portable terminals through a wireless power supply using an MFP as a power supply point. With this technology, the portable terminals are able to perform processing free from anxiety of battery run-out while being linked with the MFP.
Furthermore, there is known a technology which controls the power supply amount in such a power supply system. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-83085 discusses a technique in which the power amount at the power supply side and the power amount at the power consuming side are compared, and an electric apparatus consuming the power is selected according to the power generation source at the supply side.
In a wireless power supply system, since a receiving device is configured as wireless, it is conceivable that the receiving device moves while receiving the power from an MFP and the location thereof may change. Thus, there is a possibility of occurrence of a problem due to the change of the location of the receiving device while receiving the power. For example, there is a possibility that an obstacle is positioned between an MFP as a power supply unit and a receiving device, and the power supply may be blocked by the obstacle. Also, there is a possibility that a power receivable foreign matter is positioned between an MFP and a receiving device, and the power may be supplied to the foreign matter from the MFP. In the wireless power supply system, it is desired to eliminate problems caused by a power supply target being a wireless device to achieve efficient power supply processing.

Power supply apparatus, image forming apparatus, power supply system, power supply method, and storage medium


Visual artifacts in a display are reduced by moving, to the extent possible, display driver components to the display surface itself, thereby shortening conductor distances and reducing the parasitic effects caused by parasitic resistance of the conductors between the display power supply and the display, and between the stabilizing capacitors and the display. To avoid interference with the device housing, low-profile driver components, including either or both of stabilizing capacitors and power supply terminals, can be provided and bonded to the surface of the display side of the outer layer of the display. Alternatively, the stabilizing capacitors can be formed on the display side in the same way that, e.g., in an LCD display, the transparent electrodes for controlling the liquid crystals are formed.

This relates to the reduction of parasitic effects in a display by moving driver circuitry as close as possible to the display.
In small-form-factor devices such as portable electronic devices, the size of the device makes it difficult to keep the display driver circuitry near the display itself. However, the small size of such devices magnifies the effect of non-zero resistance and capacitance in wires or circuit board traces connecting the driver circuitry to the display, resulting in visual artifacts.


A memory controller system optimally controls access to a memory device having a plurality of integrated circuit (IC) chips disposed in a non-uniform stack configuration within a three-dimensional stacked (3DS) structure. A memory profiling portion executes to determine the non-uniform stack configuration. A virtual rank mapping portion configured to assign virtual ranks to chip locations actually defined by the non-uniform stack configuration. An address conversion portion executes to convert an unoptimized address definable with reference to a uniform stack configuration to an optimized address defined with reference to the non-uniform stack configuration. The addressing overhead during monitoring of data access operations to the memory device is optimized.

The subject system and method are generally directed to a memory controller for controlling access to a memory device having a three-dimensional stacked (3DS) structure of integrated circuit (IC) chips. The system and method generally provide for assignment of virtual ranks to the chip locations in the memory device, and for conversion of an address defined with reference to a uniform stack configuration to an optimized address defined with reference to a non-uniform stack configuration of the memory device. This results in reduced addressing overhead, among other things.
Memory controllers are well known in the art. They are implemented as digital circuits dedicated to controlling/managing the flow of data written to and read from one or more memory devices. They may be suitably formed as separate devices or integrated with a central processing unit or other main controller, and serve the memory storage and access needs of various control or user application 'master' operations processed thereby. Memory controllers implement the logic necessary to read from and write to various types of memory devices, examples of which include dynamic random access memory (DRAM), as well as electrically programmable types of non-volatile memory such as flash memory, and the like.
Memory controllers actuate read and write data operations on the chips within a memory. Recent developments in memory design include the use of three-dimensional stacking (3DS), in which multiple memory chips or devices may be arranged in a "stack" that may be accessed through a point of interface previously configured for accessing a single chip. The resulting 3DS structures provide more data storage and are more flexible in how that storage is arranged.
However, to manage stacked memory, a memory controller must include additional circuitry, not only to select individual chips in a stack, but also to allow for longer memory addresses, and to track a larger number of data storage banks in the coupled memory or memories. That is, the circuitry of a given memory controller may, in practice, place an upper limit on the memory stack size that the memory controller is capable of managing; the size, complexity, and power consumption of a memory controller design may grow exponentially as this limit increases. Such an upper limit in turn places a ceiling on the storage size of 3DS memory.
There is therefore a need to optimize the management of 3DS memory so as to reduce the complexity of a memory controller relative to a maximum stack size of the corresponding memory.

System and method for controlling optimized access to memory device having three-dimensional stacked structure


An improved open pin field connector is provided for enhanced performance when carrying high speed signals by selective application of one or more techniques for controlling electrical performance parameters. Lossy material may be positioned adjacent to conductive elements of the connector so as to reduce resonance in pairs of conductive elements and/or to provide a desired characteristic impedance for pairs of differential signal conductors. The lossy material may be shaped and positioned to avoid capacitive coupling that might otherwise increase cross talk. In a right angle connector, the lossy material may have a step-wise increase in thickness to provide comparable loss along longer and shorter conductive elements. Conductive elements may be shaped to balance performance characteristics of pairs selected to carry differential signals regardless of orientation along a row or column. Alternatively, conductive elements may have narrowed regions, covered with lossy portions, for reducing resonance while supporting DC signal propagation.

1. Field
Aspects described relate generally to electrical interconnection systems and more specifically to improved signal integrity in interconnection systems.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In various electrical interconnection systems, separable multi-pin connectors are commonly used. Single-ended and differential pair electrical paths that carry signals in the 1 to 20 Gigabit per second range are provided by signal carrying structures such as cables or integrated circuit packages. Such electrical paths are often present between circuit boards, such as a daughter card and a backplane. Accordingly, separable connectors that carry signals at frequencies in this range are known. Though, it can frequently be a challenge in designing an electrical connector to provide a suitable number of signal paths in a relatively confined area in which all of the signal paths have electrical properties that support a desired level of performance for an overall electronic system.
In situations where a connector does not have pre-designated signal or ground conductors, the connector may be referred to as an "open pin field connector." For open pin field connectors, electrical characteristics of the connectors, such as insertion loss, signal reflections due to impedance mismatch, crosstalk between different signal conductors, or the like, may be controlled by appropriately choosing how connector pins are assigned. For example, some connector pins may be assigned to carry signals or may be paired to carry differential signals. Some connector pins may be assigned to serve as high frequency digital ground connections. These grounds may be connected to earth ground or may carry a fixed voltage power supply or power return. In some cases, digital ground connections are used simultaneously with power return connections. Also, some signals are assigned to carry relatively low speed signals.
In an open pin field connector, pin assignments may be made to separate high speed signal conductors or to surround high speed signal conductors with grounds. For example, if a connector includes conductive pins that are arranged in a two dimensional rectangular array of rows and columns, it is possible to assign pairs of horizontally adjacent conductors to serve as the plus and minus signal pins for a differential signal in an alternating pattern with pairs of horizontally adjacent ground return pins. The pattern of signal pins may be staggered by two positions from row to row. Such an arrangement provides a differential pair and ground pair checkerboard pattern. Similar configurations may arise for vertically paired signal conductors and paired grounds.
An alternative approach to achieving desired electrical properties for signal paths through an electrical connector is to designate certain conductors within the connector to carry signals and others to be connected to ground. When it is known a priori which conductors are to carry signals and which are to be connected to ground, the shape and position of the conductors can be tailored to their function. For example, signal conductors designated to be a pair to carry a differential signal may be routed close to each other. Conductors designated to be connected to ground may be made wider than those carrying high speed signals and may be positioned to shield high speed signals.
Also, when the intended functions of conductors in a connector are pre-assigned, lossy material may be incorporated into the connector to increase performance of the connector. The lossy material, for example, may contact the ground conductors as a way to reduce resonances in the connector.
Though connectors with conductors having pre-assigned functions may provide better performance, historically, many connectors have been open pin field connectors. Open pin field connectors provide greater flexibility to designers of electronic systems. Moreover, once a system has been designed with a connector, it is desirable if upgrades to that system use the same connector or compatible connector to allow older and newer components to be interconnected. For these and other reasons, open pin field connectors are still widely used.


A method and apparatus estimate hydrogen concentration in a reformate stream produced by a fuel processor of a fuel cell. A sensor measures carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water in the reformate stream. A fuel meter controls fuel input to the fuel processor. An air meter controls air input to the fuel processor. A water meter controls water input to the fuel processor. A transport delay estimator recursively estimates transport delay of the fuel processor. A hydrogen estimator associated with the transport delay estimator, the air, water and fuel meters, and the sensor estimates hydrogen concentration in the reformate stream. The hydrogen estimator includes a fuel processor model that is adjusted using the estimated transport delay. The carbon monoxide, the carbon dioxide and the water are measured using a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor.

The present invention relates to fuel cells, and more particularly to a hydrogen sensor for a fuel processor of a fuel cell.
Fuel cells are increasingly being used as a power source in a wide variety of different applications. Fuel cells have also been proposed for use in electrical vehicle power plants to replace internal combustion engines. A solid-polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell includes a membrane that is sandwiched between an anode and a cathode. To produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction, hydrogen (H2) is supplied to the anode and air or oxygen (O2) is supplied to the cathode.
In a first half-cell reaction, dissociation of the hydrogen (H2) at the anode generates hydrogen protons (H+) and electrons (exe2x88x92). The membrane is proton conductive and dielectric. As a result, the protons are transported through the membrane while the electrons flow through an electrical load that is connected across the electrodes. In a second half-cell reaction, oxygen (O2) at the cathode reacts with protons (H+), and electrons (exe2x88x92) are taken up to form water (H2O).
The main function of a fuel processor in the fuel cell system is to provide a continuous stream of hydrogen to the fuel cell stack that converts the chemical energy in the hydrogen fuel to electrical power. The fuel processor produces a reformate stream that is composed primarily of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water, methane and trace amounts of carbon monoxide. During operation, the fuel cell stack demands a certain flow rate of hydrogen from the fuel processor to meet the vehicle""s demand for power. The performance of the fuel processor is characterized by the flow rate of hydrogen in the reformate stream. The control of the fuel processor to maintain or track a desired flow rate of hydrogen by the fuel cell stack requires a feedback signal that measures the hydrogen flow rate. The feedback signal is used in a control algorithm to take corrective action.
Currently, there is no hydrogen sensor technology that can measure the hydrogen concentration in the reformate stream that is suitable for use in fuel cell applications. For example, existing hydrogen sensors, such as those formed from a thin film of palladium, cannot be used in the presence of water droplets that are present in the reformate stream. Therefore, the thin film palladium sensors require a water filter that slows the response time. Furthermore, oxide-based sensors such as ZrO2 and SnO2 need to operate in an oxidizing environment. The reformate, on the other hand, is a reducing environment that lacks oxygen. Thermal conductance sensors have also been proposed. However, these sensors cannot withstand the flowrates that are encountered in a fuel cell (typically 20 g/s of flow). Proton exchange membrane (PEM) and metal hydride sensors have also been proposed but none are currently commercially available.
A hydrogen sensor according to the present invention estimates the hydrogen concentration in a reformate stream produced by a fuel processor of a fuel cell. A sensor measures the concentration of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor in the reformate stream. A fuel meter measures and controls fuel input to the fuel processor. An air meter measures and controls air input to the fuel processor. A water meter measures and controls water input to the fuel processor. A transport delay estimator connected to the sensor recursively estimates transport delay of the fuel processor. A hydrogen estimator connected to the transport delay estimator, the air, water and fuel meters, and the sensor estimates the hydrogen concentration in the reformate stream.
In other features of the invention, the hydrogen estimator includes a fuel processor model that is adjusted using the estimated transport delay. The concentration of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water in the reformate stream are preferably sensed using a nondispersive infrared (NDIR) sensor.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Hydrogen sensor for fuel processors of a fuel cell


A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving a write request which includes data, and allocating an inode entry in a central inode list, such that the inode entry corresponds to the data received. The data is allocated to a block of storage space in memory. Moreover, one or more instructions to write the data to the block of storage space are sent. A determination is also made as to whether the data fills a threshold amount of a last block of storage space. In response to determining that the data does not fill the threshold amount of the last block of storage space, one or more instructions to create an identifier at an end of the data are sent. Furthermore, one or more instructions to store a copy of the inode entry after the identifier in the last block of storage space are sent.

The present invention relates to data retention, and more specifically, this invention relates to increasing data recoverability in situations involving loss of a central inode list.
The continued increase of resilience for filesystems is an issue which is addressed on ongoing basis. Most filesystems initially start as a superblock which is located at an arbitrary address in a logical unit number (LUN), volume, logical disk, etc. From the superblock, a structure is built which ultimately becomes the filesystem. Files (e.g., unique groupings of data) stored on the filesystem are typically separated into a number of blocks which are spread across the persistent storage space of memory in order to achieve even distribution, e.g., for performance reasons. Thus, in order to describe each of these blocks and keep track of where they are located in the persistent storage space, a structure called a central inode list is used. This inode list identifies where the logical block addresses (LBAs) that constitute the various portions (e.g., blocks) of a given file are located in the memory space, and how these correlate to the corresponding locations in the persistent storage space. Accordingly, each file has an inode which is stored in one or more arrays depending on the architecture.
Losing the central inode list undesirably causes the entire filesystem to essentially become useless, as there is no way of identifying where each file begins, much less where each of the various blocks that belong to that file reside throughout the memory. In other words, without the central inode list, the information stored in memory essentially becomes an indecipherable string of logical "1s" and "0s".
Accordingly, conventional implementations have attempted to maintain a redundant copy of the central inode list, e.g., such that it may be used in situations where the central inode list is lost. However, this conventional replication strategy has proven to be an impractical option, as the redundant copy of the central inode list consumes an undesirably large amount of storage space. Thus, conventional technology has been forced to choose between poor data retention rates and significant reductions to storage capacity.
It follows that a data storage scheme which is able to maintain data retention in the face of inode list failure without sacrificing storage capacity in doing so is desirable.

Increasing data recoverability during central inode list loss

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention provides a lighting unit comprising a substantially continuous, pliable surface (10) and a plurality of light sources. The light sources (20) are arranged to generate light beams (24) with respective optical axes (O). Each of the light sources (20) is connected to the pliable surface (10) at respective surface areas (30) of the pliable surface (10), whereby orientations of the respective surface areas (20) and orientations of the respective optical axes (O) are linked. The pliable surface (10) has a profile (Z) that is pliable into different profiles with corresponding different orientations of at least part of the plurality of surface areas (30). The lighting unit can thus easily provide different illumination profiles. In this way, a flexible lighting unit is provided, as the profile of the pliable surface can be defined and, after having been initially defined, also changed in dependence on e.g. user needs.

Lighting in offices is usually provided as a combination of different types of lighting systems. For example, fluorescent lighting is installed in a ceiling as general illumination of the office, desktop lamps are used for providing individual task lighting for individuals working on a desk, and halogen spots are positioned on the ceiling or on the wall for providing spot lighting for pictures hanging on the wall. In this way, light is provided with both functional and decorative purposes. Most types of lighting systems are one-time installed, fixed installations. Some individual, standalone lamps may be adjustable, such as the desktop lamp.
An example of such a standalone adjustable lamp is described in US patent application US 2003/0193802 A1. US 2003/0193802 A1 describes a diode light source system for stage, theatre and architectural lighting including a plurality of separate flat panels for mounting a plurality of light emitting diodes emitting a plurality of diode light beams to a common focus area. A housing containing the panels has a center base portion and a circular rim defining a housing aperture aligned with a circular rim plane having a rim plane center arranged transverse to an axis aligned with the center base portion. A screw arrangement positions the panels at a plurality of selected positions where each panel is oriented at a selected angle relative to the axis and the grouped diodes emit diode light beams transverse to each separate panel.


An image forming apparatus includes a toner cartridge, a developer, and a processor. The toner cartridge includes an accommodation container accommodating toner and a memory storing a first toner residual amount display threshold value. The developer performs development by the toner supplied from the toner cartridge. The processor calculates a second toner residual amount display threshold value based on a toner supply index, indicating an amount of the toner supplied to the developer from at least one toner cartridge used before a toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the first toner residual amount display threshold value. The processor outputs notification relating to a toner residual amount when a toner supply index indicating an amount of toner supplied to the developer from the toner cartridge mounted on the image forming apparatus exceeds the second toner residual amount display threshold value.

In an image forming apparatus, a photosensitive drum is charged, the photosensitive drum is irradiated with light corresponding to printing image data (print data), and thus, a latent image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photosensitive drum. In the image forming apparatus, toner (developing agent) is attached from a developer to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum, the toner attached to the latent image is transferred to a printing medium, and thus, a toner image is formed on the printing medium. In the image forming apparatus, the printing medium on which the toner image is formed is interposed between fixing rollers heated by a heater, and the toner image formed on the printing medium is fixed. There is an image forming apparatus in which toner is supplied from a toner cartridge to a developer.
There is an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge does not include a residual amount measurement sensor for measuring a residual amount of toner inside the toner cartridge. In this case, in the image forming apparatus, based on a driving time of a motor which drives a screw for supplying the toner from the toner cartridge to the developer, the number of pixels counted by a pixel counter, or the like, the residual amount of the toner inside the toner cartridge is estimated. In the image forming apparatus, based on the estimated toner residual amount, the toner cartridge being nearly empty is displayed on a display unit of the image forming apparatus.
However, an inertia rotation of the screw occurs even after the motor stops, and thus, a large deviation between an actual toner supply amount and the estimated toner residual amount may occur.

Image forming apparatus and control method of image forming apparatus


Langmuir-Blodgett films are provided in which a molecule is chemically bonded with a bottom electrode substrate as part of a crossed wire device comprising two electrodes and a molecular layer therebetween. The molecule, which comprises a switchable moiety and a connecting moiety, is provided with a photolabile capping group attached to the connecting moiety. The photolabile capping group temporarily caps the reactive connecting group of the molecule. The capped molecules are processed to form a LB film on the water-air interface of water. The films are then exposed to UV light. The photolabile capping group decomposes to give back the connecting group, which remains in the water. As the uncapped LB films are transferred to a bottom electrode substrate, the surface of the electrode reacts with the reactive connecting group of the molecule to form a chemically bonded LB layer on the substrate, thereby providing improved LB films.

Molecular devices comprising two electrodes (a bottom electrode and a top electrode) and a molecular switching layer at the junction of the two electrodes are well known. Such devices are useful, for example, in the fabrication of devices based on electrical switching, such as molecular wire crossbar interconnects for signal routing and communications, molecular wire crossbar memory, molecular wire crossbar logic employing programmable logic arrays, multiplexers/demultiplexers for molecular wire crossbar networks, molecular wire transistors, etc., and in the fabrication of devices based on optical switching, such as displays, electronic books, rewritable media, electrically tunable optical lenses, electrically controlled tinting for windows and mirrors, optical crossbar switches, for example, for routing signals from one of many incoming channels to one of many outgoing channels, etc. Typically, the molecular switching film comprises an organic molecule that, in the presence of an electrical (E) field, switches between two or more energetic states, such as by an electro-chemical oxidation/reduction (redox) reaction or by a change in the band gap of the molecule induced by the applied E-field.
It is important to form a good electric contact to the organic molecular layer in order to fabricate molecular devices. Molecules with special chemical end groups can form direct chemical bonding with metal/semiconductor electrodes to form a self-assembled layer (SAM), which can have a good electric contact with electrodes. However, the molecular layer formed on the top surface of the electrode usually has a high density of defects. If a second electrode is formed on top of the molecular layer via metal deposition methods, then an electric short can form between the first and second electrode through the defects in the molecular layer.
The formation of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) layers employing such molecules would be preferable, because such films are known to have quite a higher density, as compared with SAM films. However, such LB films do not bond well to the electrode substrate.
Thus, there is a need for providing a high density molecular layer on a bottom electrode that also bonds well with the electrode.

Bottom electrode chemically-bonded Langmuir-Blodgett films via photolabile groups

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Disclosed are structures and methods of assembling and positioning an improved tent assembly where members of the assembly use flexible hollow sleeve structures with integral fabric hub intersections that are held in tension in combination with compression members that can be used for a variety of applications. Disclosed techniques make assembling tent assemblies significantly easier than known prior art since the intersecting flexible hollow sleeve structures can be made continuous. In addition, the improved tent assembly is significantly stronger when deployed with compression members because the hollow sleeve structures, with integral fabric hub intersections, can be tensioned, thus significantly increasing the strength of the overall structure.

Tents of conventional construction are typically time-consuming to erect. For example, tents with conventional internal frames require substantial effort by more than one person to place all the poles in position and then build a tent body around the pole structures. Some prior art tent assemblies allow for tent bodies to have provisions for pole structures to enable ease of construction. However, even in such tent assemblies, it is difficult to enable the tent body to form a certain structure without provisioning additional poles within the tent assembly. Moreover, given the number of poles that need to be erected to provide frame support on each side of the tent assembly, users have to hassle with dealing with a large number of poles during the assembly of the tent. Also, when erecting prior art tent assemblies, a fly sheet and/or tent body has to be added to the tent assembly to provide adequate structural integrity to the tent assembly. Attaching fly sheets or tent bodies is particularly challenging in high wind conditions. Several other such disadvantages exist in prior art necessitating a need for an improved tent assembly. Overall, the examples herein of some prior or related systems and their associated limitations are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of existing or prior systems will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the following Detailed Description.


A digital image processing system for convening continuous-tone images into halftone images to be output by a receiver with limited storage capacity. The continuous-tone image is converted into a first halftone image by threshold screening. Threshold screening involves comparing the pixel values of blocks of the continuous-tone image with cell values of a threshold array and turning on pixels of a first halftone image according to whether the pixel values of the continuous-tone block are greater than or equal to the cell values of the threshold array. The threshold array is associated with a plurality of gray patterns. A block count is determined which equals the number of pixels of each block of the first halftone image that are tuned on. A second halftone image is produced by combining gray patterns corresponding to the block counts. An error image is produced by determining differences between the first halftone image and the second halftone image. Scattered pixels in the error image are removed. The error image is compressed and sent to the receiver along with the block counts. The receiver produces a final output halftone image by reversing the process that was used to create the error image.

A problem in digital image processing is the vast amount of data, expressed in binary digits or "bits," which are used to describe a digital image. Digital images are defined in terms of picture elements, or "pixels," with each pixel being the smallest unit of an image which the data processing system can process and display. Depending on the size of the image and the resolution, a low-resolution, two-dimensional, rectangular image may have as few as several tens or a hundred pixels on a side, and some high-resolution images have as many as a thousand or more pixels on a side.
Depending on a number of factors, each pixel may also have as many as eight, sixteen or more bits of data in a "continuous-tone" image. In a monochrome image, the data associated with each pixel typically identifies a "luminance" level, which is a measure of the brightness of the pixel. In a color image, the data may also identify various color components and their relative brightness in the pixel. For example, in some monochrome displays, each pixel may be black (a low luminance level) or white (a high luminance level), or it may have these plus a number of intermediate, or "gray," brightness levels. The luminance of a pixel is typically expressed as a binary encoded value, such that if, for example, eight bits are used to encode each pixel, the luminance of the pixel may have up to two hundred fifty-six (that is, 2.sup.8) different gray levels, including the black and white extremes. If the image has several colors, bits must also be used to identify the color, and, perhaps, the relative brightness level of each color in the pixel.
While an image may be defined in terms of its "continuous-tone" image values, in which each pixel is defined by eight or more bits of data, display devices such as video display terminals and printers normally can only accommodate one or at most a few bits of data for each pixel to define the luminance of the displayed pixel. Images in which a pixel's luminance is defined by one bit per pixel are termed "halftone" images, while, more generally, images in which the pixel luminance is defined by one or only a few bits of data (but fewer bits than are required for the continuous tone image) are termed "dithered" images. The continuous tone image data is processed to generate the output luminance values of the pixels ("pixel values") to define the halftone or dithered image for the display device.

Block-halftoning method and system with compressed error image


An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus including: a cleaning tank for storing a cleaning liquid; an object-to-be-processed holder for insertion into the cleaning tank, the holder holding an object to be processed and immersing the object into the cleaning liquid; a vibrator disposed on a bottom part of the cleaning tank; and an ultrasonic oscillator configured to make the vibrator ultrasonically vibrate. In the cleaning tank, a lateral holding member configured to hold the object is disposed. The holder is configured to be laterally moved by a driving apparatus. The control device is configured to control the driving apparatus such that the holder is laterally moved after the object has been held by the lateral holding member, and the control device is configured to control the ultrasonic oscillator such that the vibrator is made to ultrasonically vibrate so that the ultrasonic vibration from the vibrator is propagated to the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to: an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus configured to clean an object to be processed, which is immersed in a cleaning liquid, with the use of ultrasonic waves; an ultrasonic cleaning method; and a storage medium storing a computer program for executing the ultrasonic cleaning method.
2. Description of Related Art
There has been conventionally known an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus configured to perform an ultrasonic cleaning (including a megasonic cleaning) of an object to be processed, such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate for LCD, by using ultrasonic waves, with the object to be processed being immersed in a cleaning liquid such as a deionized water or a chemical liquid stored in a cleaning tank (see, JP2003-209086A, for example). In the ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, a vibrator capable of generating ultrasonic vibration is attached to a bottom part of the cleaning tank, and an ultrasonic oscillator that makes the vibrator ultrasonically vibrate is connected to the vibrator.
When an object to be processed is cleaned in such an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, the vibrator is made to ultrasonically vibrate by the ultrasonic oscillator, with the object to be processed being immersed in the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank. Thus, the ultrasonic vibration is propagated to the cleaning liquid, so that ultrasonic waves are radiated from below to the object to be processed. Therefore, particles adhering to the object to be processed are removed. In this manner, the object to be processed is ultrasonically cleaned.

Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, ultrasonic cleaning method, and storage medium storing computer program for executing ultrasonic cleaning method


An anti-skid control apparatus for a vehicle includes fluid pressure control valve devices arranged between a tandem master cylinder and the front wheels of the vehicle, and a control unit receiving outputs of wheel speed sensors to assess skid conditions of the wheels and to control the valve devices. The apparatus discriminates between "low side" and "high side" of the road by assessing skid conditions of either the rear wheels or the front wheels. The braking pressure of the rear or front wheel that is on the low side and that of the wheel connected diagonally to it are controlled in either a "select-high" or a "select-low" manner, and the pressures of the other diagonally opposite wheels are controlled in the opposite manner. In the alternative, the apparatus may assess the skid condition of the one rear wheel based on the larger of the braking frictional coefficients of the sides of the road, on the basis of the acceleration and slip conditions of the one rear wheel, while it judges the skid condition of the other rear wheel on the smaller one of the braking frictional coefficients of the sides of the road only on the basis of the acceleration condition of the other rear wheel, and the braking pressures of the respective conduit systems are controlled in the select-low manner.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an anti-skid control apparatus for a vehicle braking system which can prevent locking of the wheels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An anti-skid control apparatus for a vehicle braking system is known that includes fluid pressure control valve devices arranged between fluid pressure generating chambers of a tandem master cylinder and the wheel cylinders of the front wheels, respectively, and a control unit receiving outputs of wheel speed sensors for measuring or judging the skid conditions of the front and rear wheels and for generating instructions for controlling the fluid pressure control valve devices.
When the fluid pressure control valve device is provided for each of four wheels (four channels), and their fluid pressures are independently controlled, there is no problem of controlling operation. Or when the fluid pressure control valve device is provided for each of the front wheels, and for both of the rear wheels in common (three channels), there is no problem of controlling operation. In the latter case, the one common fluid pressure control valve device is controlled on the basis of the lower one of the speeds of the rear wheels.
However, in the above cases, three or four fluid pressure control valve devices are used. Accordingly, the whole anti-skid control apparatus is large-sized, and very heavy. Since the fluid pressure control valve device is expensive, the system is expensive.
Accordingly, such apparatus have been proposed that the brake fluid pressures of the front wheels are controlled by the two fluid pressure control valve devices, respectively, and those of the rear wheels diagonally connected to the front wheels are controlled by the same fluid pressure control valve devices, respectively in common with those of the front wheels. The diagonal conduit system or X-type conduit system has been widely used as the counter-measure against the failure of the brake fluid conduits. However, when the brake pressures of the front and rear wheels diagonally connected to each other are controlled in the "select high" manner that the brake pressures are controlled on the basis of the rotational behavior of the one of the front and rear wheels whose frictional coefficient .mu. is higher between its tire and the road, than the other the one wheel on the higher coefficient .mu. road side is controlled so as not to be locked, on the road (split-road) whose frictional coefficients are different between the right and left sides, but the other road on the lower coefficient .mu. road side might be locked. At that time, the running or directional stability of the vehicle is lost.
When the brake pressures of the front and rear wheels diagonally connected to each other are controlled in the "select low" manner that the brake pressures are controlled on the basis of the rotational behaviour of the one of the front and rear wheels whose frictional coefficient .mu. is lower between its tire and the road, than the other of them, both of the one and other wheels on the lower and higher coefficients road sides are controlled so as not to be locked, on the split-road.
However, the brake pressure of the other wheel on the higher .mu. side is unnecessarily decreased. Accordingly the braking distance is unreasonably lengthened.

Anti-skid control apparatus for a vehicle braking system


A distance measuring camera 1 includes a first optical system for collecting light from a subject to form a first subject image, a second optical system for collecting the light from the subject to form a second subject image, an imaging part for imaging the first subject image formed by the first optical system and the second subject image formed by the second optical system, and a distance calculating part 4 for calculating a distance to the subject based on the first subject image and the second subject image imaged by the imaging part S. The first optical system and the second optical system are configured so that a change of a magnification of the first subject image according to the distance to the subject is different from a change of a magnification of the second subject image according to the distance to the subject.

In recent years, there is proposed a distance measuring camera for measuring a distance to a subject by imaging the subject. As such a distance measuring camera, a stereo camera type distance measuring camera including two or more pairs of an optical system for forming an image of light from a subject and an image sensor for converting a subject image formed by the optical system to an image signal and a pattern projection type distance measuring camera including a projector for projecting constant pattern light (such as grid pattern light) onto a subject and an imaging system for imaging the subject onto which the constant pattern light is being projected are known (for example, see patent literature 1).
In the stereo camera type distance measuring camera, the two or more pairs of the optical system and the image sensor are used to obtain a plurality of images having different parallel disparities (horizontal disparities) and the distance to the subject is calculated based on the parallel disparities among the plurality of obtained images. In order to accurately calculate the distance to the subject based on the parallel disparities among the plurality of images, it is necessary to configure a large parallel disparity. Thus, it is required to arrange the two or more optical systems with being far apart from each other in one distance measuring camera. This results in increase in a size of the distance measuring camera.
In the pattern projection type distance measuring camera, the constant pattern light is projected onto the subject and distortions of the constant pattern light projected onto the subject is analyzed to measure the distance to the subject. Thus, the pattern projection type distance measuring camera needs the projector for projecting the constant pattern light onto the subject. This results in increase in a configuration of the distance measuring camera.


Various embodiments relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software and systems, and wired and wireless network communications to provide an interface between an organism and other computing machine-based entities, and, more specifically, to sensors that facilitate determination of a state of neural activity with which to associate data representing, for example, an intent and/or a command; to implementations of sensors under control to, for example, modify sensing characteristics to interpolate response signals spatially or temporally, or both, to facilitate determination of a state of neural activity; to the formation or implementation of a data model that includes, for example, data arrangements representative of at least neuronal activity to facilitate determination of a state of neural activity; and to mobile human-machine interface to facilitate control based on neuronal activity of an organism.

Computing hardware is able to perform greater numbers of computational tasks at faster rates of speed. But the improvements in computer machines and components, such as the implementation of multiple processing units (e.g., central processing units ("CPUs"), graphics processing units, ("GPUs"), etc.), advanced memory devices, and peripheral devices, increasingly are hindered by a human user in the computational loop. In particular, conventional interfaces between human users and computational machines, while functional, are suboptimal for human users to effectively guide the rapid execution of instructions and to consume the information derived therefrom. Therefore, the bandwidth of human user interactions with conventional interfaces, such as keyboards, mice, and other known data-entry devices, are "bottlenecks" that impede the capabilities of known computational machines.
A variety of approaches to provide interfaces to computing machines, while functional, suffer a number of drawbacks. For example, speech recognition applications have been developed with an aim to improve the rate of inputting data over the use of standard keyboards. But typical speech recognition applications are limited by the inaccuracies of interpreting the spoken word and the rate at which human users are able to speak and correct errors, as well as other inefficiencies.
In one approach, conventional diagnostic machines and techniques have been used to derive information from a brain of human to infer a thought so as to, for example, provide an input or request. In some traditional implementations, known sensing techniques are used to coarsely sense a brain activity with limited accuracy. Examples of known sensing techniques relate to magnetoencephalography ("MEG"), magnetic resonance imaging ("MRI"), electroencephalography ("EEG"), electrical impedance tomography ("EIT"), etc. Generally, these techniques are designed to generate imagery (e.g., 3-D images) of a brain or other portions of a human body.
Magnetoencephalography techniques rely on detecting naturally-occurring, intrinsic magnetic fields produced by a brain and its neural currents. Magnetoencephalography, however, requires the use of immobile superconducting quantum interference devices ("SQUID"), which is a drawback in connection with conventional equipment, to detect the relatively very small magnitudes of magnetic fields. The SQUID sensors require cryogenics (e.g., liquid helium at −270° C. or colder), which limits the usage to certain cases due to, for example, the size of magnetoencephalography equipment, and has relatively coarse resolution. A further drawback is that magnetoencephalography equipment, including SQUID sensors, requires relatively large amounts of capital expenditures. A predominant drawback of measuring the naturally-occurring, intrinsic magnetic fields produced by a brain requires the complexities of measuring very, very small magnetic fields, which presents challenges of working with such magnetic fields. In some cases, naturally-occurring, intrinsic magnetic fields produced by a brain may be millions times weaker than the earth's magnetic field.
Magnetic resonance imaging techniques typically employ relatively large magnetic fields and are used principally to generate medically diagnostic imagery of the brain, and, thus suffer some drawbacks when used to detect physiological activity. For example, magnetic resonance imaging machinery generally is limited to tracking indirect effects (e.g., non-neural activity) of a brain, such as blood flow and glucose uptake. As such, the temporal resolution of magnetic resonance imaging techniques is typically low. Another drawback is that magnetic resonance imaging requires relatively large amounts of capital expenditures and immobile equipment that limits usage to predetermined locations, such as medical offices. Electroencephalography techniques typically monitor the naturally-occurring, intrinsic electrical activity as "brain wave." Common approaches typically use small number of electrodes that are sampled relatively slowly. Further, the signal-to-noise ratios of the sensed signals are generally insufficient. For example, an electroencephalography technique may use 256 electrodes that requires contact with the scalp, whereby the signals are sampled at 100 Hz. Thus, the spatial and/or temporal resolution may be less optimal in various implementations. Electrical impedance tomography is a medical imaging technique that employs electrodes with which to determine an impedance of various biological tissues. Principally, electrical impedance tomography requires injecting a current into tissue and sensing a current or voltage from the tissue, whereby the received current or voltage includes impedance information. There are a number of drawbacks with this approach. For example, electrical impedance tomography techniques rely on using electrodes that require contact with the scalp (e.g., the electrodes receiving the electric current impedance data typically are required to be in contact with skin), and the relatively low magnitudes of current that provides for suboptimal temporal resolution, among other things. Further, spatial resolution associated with this approach is limited by the number of electrodes commonly used.
Furthermore, conventional approaches provide data at relatively coarse granularity using relatively high levels of features and low levels of resolution and, thus, are not well-suited to spatially and temporally characterize and correlate neuronal activity, as well as other physiological activity, to identify an intent, thought, or command associated with an organism. Existing man-machine interfaces based on conventional approaches generally are slower, more complex, and typically are associated with latency amounts which render such interfaces impractical for many tasks or uses. For example, some conventional sensing techniques require a determination of a 3-D model of a brain with which to spatialize. These sensing techniques typically have relatively low bandwidths, such as those of EEGs, which relay on high-level features such as alpha and gamma waves and extract coarse levels of data that have limited usage. Existing techniques often require a user to learn to produce a number of easily detectable brain activity patterns, as for example in "biofeedback" techniques, and this limits the range of possible applications.
Thus, what is needed is a solution for facilitating an interface for human users and computational machines, without the limitations of conventional techniques.

Sensors to determine neuronal activity of an organism to facilitate a human-machine interface


Methods and systems for selecting a set of fast computable functions to assess core properties of entities are disclosed. A method includes: receiving a request to select a set of fast computable functions to determine core properties of an entity; determining, for each of a plurality of fast computable function nodes in a directed graph, a set of core property nodes in the directed graph that are connected to the fast computable function node; adding, to a solution set, a fast computable function node that is connected to a highest number of core property nodes that are currently unconnected to nodes in the solution set; repeating the adding until each of the core property nodes is connected to at least one of the nodes in the solution set; and outputting the fast computable function nodes in the solution set in response to the request.

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to computing devices and, more particularly, to methods and systems for selecting a set of fast computable functions to assess core properties of entities.
An assay is an analytic (investigative) procedure that determines qualitative and/or quantitative properties of an entity/target (e.g., crude oil). For example, various crude oils have unique molecular characteristics. A crude oil assay is a physical and chemical evaluation of crude oil feedstock. Crude oil assay data is used to measure physical and chemical properties of crude oil. Various properties of crude oil are frequently dependent.

Selecting a set of fast computable functions to assess core properties of entities

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A discriminating light-emitting apparatus comprises a transmitting unit capable of optionally setting a coded optical signal or a signal having a specific wavelength, and a receiving unit responsive only to the optionally coded optical signal or the signal having the specific wavelength issued from the transmitting unit, to execute display. Display on the receiving unit is executed in such a manner that one or a plurality of light emitting section or sections is or are turned on and off.

The present invention relates to a discriminating light-emitting apparatus in which, when a coded signal or a signal having a specific wavelength is issued or generated from a transmitting device, a light emitting section of a receiving device receiving the aforesaid signal is turned on or off, to remark or make conspicuous a specific article on which the receiving device is mounted or rested, whereby the article can be found out simply and quickly.
Conventionally, there exists no discriminating light-emitting apparatus in which, when a coded signal or a signal having a specific wavelength is issued, a light emitting section of a receiving device which receives the signal is turned on or off, to remark or make conspicuous a specific article on which the receiving device is mounted or rested.
Generally, in case where a vehicle is put or placed within, for example, dead darkness, or in case where a vehicle is placed within a location such as a wide parking zone, a sports ground or the like where plenty of vehicles are parked, the site of the vehicle is remembered for a time. But, after time has elapsed, or after other vehicles are moved so that parking circumstances change, it becomes much harder to locate one's own vehicle. The more the number of vehicles increases, the more this is true. In a further example where plenty of persons utilize a clog (shoe) cabinet having no door, or in case where plenty of persons take off their shoes at a location where there is no clog cabinet, it is extremely difficult to look for one's own shoes among plenty of shoes.

Discriminating light-emitting optical apparatus


An insulating support includes a pillar-shaped portion made of resin, a metal insert buried in one end surface of the pillar-shaped portion in an axial direction, a metal insert buried in the other end surface of the pillar-shaped portion in the axial direction, and one protrusion made of the resin and provided in a ring shape and integrally with the pillar-shaped portion on an outer circumferential surface of the pillar-shaped portion on a side of the metal insert. The metal insert includes a first cylindrical base portion and a first distal end portion. The metal insert includes a second cylindrical base portion and a second distal end portion. A whole of the first distal end portion is disposed within an extended range of the protrusion in the axial direction.

An electric power switch device is a main circuit switchgear disposed between a generator and a main transformer in a power plant and the like. A live part, which is a main body of the electric power switch device, is insulated and supported by an insulating support disposed on a mounting surface in the atmosphere.
The insulating support needs to be able to withstand a weight of the live part and an operation load associated with a switching operation, and thus requires a certain mechanical strength.
In addition, a fold may be provided in the insulating support. An object of the fold is to ensure a dielectric strength by lengthening a creeping distance in advance to lengthen a leakage length since insulation performance is degraded when a surface of the insulating support is stained.
Further, in a general configuration, metal inserts are provided on both end surfaces of the insulating support to fix the insulating support to each of the live part and the mounting surface.
Furthermore, Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration in which metal fittings are buries in both end surfaces of a pillar-shaped portion made of resin included in a resin insulator, and a fold for ensuring a surface dielectric strength is provided on an external surface of the pillar-shaped portion.


A system, method, and software are disclosed that determine a proportion of a majority component of a fluid that is flowing through a Coriolis flowmeter. Circuitry receives pickoff signals and a temperature signal from the Coriolis flowmeter responsive to the fluid being flowed through the Coriolis flowmeter. The circuitry processes the pickoff signals and the temperature signal to determine a proportion of the majority component relative to the fluid. To determine the proportion of the majority component in one example, the circuitry determines a first volumetric flow rate based on a measured mass flow rate of the fluid and a reference density of the majority component. The circuitry then determines a second volumetric flow rate based on a measured volumetric flow rate, a temperature-varying density, and the reference density. The circuitry determines the proportion of the majority component based on the first volumetric flow rate and the second volumetric flow rate. The circuitry can advantageously determine the purity of the fluid to more accurately measure volumetric flow rates.

The invention relates to flowmeters, and in particular, to methods and systems for determining a proportion of a majority component relative to a fluid flowing through a Coriolis flowmeter.
When a fluid that is being delivered through a pipline is measured, the amount of the fluid delivered is measured in terms of volumetric flow. The term xe2x80x9cfluidxe2x80x9d refers to any material in a liquid or solid state that flows. The volumetric flow rate is used to bill a customer for the amount of fluid delivered. A turbine, a positive displacement meter, or some other measurement system, measures the volume of the fluid as the fluid is delivered to the customer. The measurement system also measures the temperature of the fluid. The measurement system adjusts the volumetric measurement to a reference temperature. The customer is then billed based on the adjusted volumetric measurement.
Many fluids are sold based on standard conditions, which means that the measurement system assumes that the fluid being sold is pure. However, the fluid may be comprised of more than one component. A majority component represents a pure fluid that is being measured, such as the fluid being sold. The minority components represent impurities mixed in with the majority component.
For example, propane that is delivered to customers can be mixed with other components such as ethane, methane, etc. The ethane and methane are impurities that negatively affect the purity of the propane. A mixture of propane, ethane, and methane includes a discrete propane component, a discrete ethane component, and a discrete methane component. Unfortunately, turbines and positive displacement meters cannot effectively determine the proportion of the majority component relative to the fluid being delivered to a customer. Consequently, the customers are billed as if the fluid is pure.
One way to measure a mass flow of a fluid is with a Coriolis-effect mass flowmeter. Coriolis flowmeters measure mass flow and other information for fluids flowing through a flow tube in the flowmeter. Exemplary Coriolis flowmeters are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,109,524 of Aug. 29, 1978, U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,025 of Jan. 1, 1985, and Re. 31,450 of Feb. 11, 1982, all to J. E. Smith et al. Flowmeters are comprised of one or more flow tubes of a straight or curved configuration. Each flow tube configuration in a Coriolis flowmeter has a set of natural modes of vibration, which may be of a simple bending, twisting, torsional or coupled type. Each flow tube is driven to oscillate at a resonance in one of these natural modes of vibration. Fluid flows into the flowmeter from a connected pipeline on the inlet side of the flowmeter. The fluid is directed through the flow tube(s), and exits the flowmeter through the outlet side of the flowmeter. The natural vibration modes of the vibrating, fluid-filled system are defined in part by the combined mass of the flow tubes and the mass of the fluid flowing through the flow tubes.
As fluid begins to flow, Coriolis forces cause points along the flow tubes to have a different phase. The phase on the inlet side of the flow tube commonly lags the driver while the phase on the outlet side of the flow tube leads the driver. Pickoffs are affixed to the flow tube(s) to measure the motion of the flow tube(s) and generate pickoff signals that are representative of the motion of the flow tube(s).
Meter electronics or any other ancillary electronics or circuitry connected to the flowmeter receive the pickoff signals. The meter electronics processes the pickoff signals to determine the phase difference between the pickoff signals. The phase difference between two pickoff signals is proportional to the mass flow rate of fluid through the flow tube(s). Therefore, the meter electronics can determine the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing through the flowmeter based on the pickoff signals.
An important component of Coriolis flowmeters and of vibrating tube densitometers is the drive or excitation system. The drive system operates to apply a periodic physical force to the flow tube, which causes the flow tube to oscillate. The drive system includes a driver mechanism mounted to the flow tube(s) of the flowmeter. The drive system also includes a drive circuit that generates a drive signal to operate the driver mechanism. The driver mechanism typically contains one of many well known arrangements, such as a magnet mounted to one flow tube and a wire coil mounted to the other flow tube in an opposing relationship to the magnet.
A drive circuit continuously applies a periodic driver voltage to the driver mechanism. The drive voltage is typically sinusoidally or square shaped. In a typical magnetic-coil drive mechanism, the periodic drive voltage causes the coil to produce a continuous alternating magnetic field. The alternating magnetic field of the coil and the constant magnetic field produced by the magnet force the flow tube(s) to vibrate in a sinusoidal pattern. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any device capable of converting an electrical signal to mechanical force is suitable for application as a driver mechanism (See, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,833 issued to Carpenter and assigned on its face to Micro Motion, Inc.). Also, the driver signal is not limited to a sinusoidal signal, but may be any periodic signal (See, U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,109 issued to Kalotay et. al. and assigned on its face to Micro Motion, Inc.).
As stated above, the meter electronics determines the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing through the flowmeter. The meter electronics also infers the density of the fluid based on the pickoff signals. Any density variations that are different than the known, reference densities are assumed to be due to temperature and not due to the purity of the fluid. Based on the measured mass flow rate and the inferred density of the fluid, the meter electronics determines the volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the flowmeter. Unfortunately, current Coriolis flowmeters have not been effectively adapted to measure the proportion of a majority component relative to the fluid. Customers may therefore be billed for less than pure fluids.
The invention helps to solve the above problems, and an advance in the art is made, by systems, methods, and software configured to determine a proportion of a majority component relative to a fluid flowing through a Coriolis flowmeter. The invention advantageously provides a more accurate measurement of the amount, purity, and quality of a fluid being delivered. The invention also allows customers to be more accurately billed for fluids being purchased.
In one example of the invention, circuitry is configured to communicate with a Coriolis flowmeter to implement the invention. The circuitry comprises an interface means configured to receive pickoff signals and a temperature signal from the Coriolis flowmeter responsive to a fluid flowing through the Coriolis flowmeter. The fluid comprises a majority component. The interface means is also configured to transfer the pickoff signals and temperature signal to the processing means. The processing means is configured to process the pickoff signals and the temperature signal to determine a proportion of the majority component relative to the fluid.
In another example of the invention, the circuitry executes the following process to determine the proportion of the majority component. To start, the circuitry processes the pickoff signals to determine a mass flow rate of the fluid. The circuitry then divides the mass flow rate by a reference density of the majority component to yield a first volumetric flow rate. The reference density represents the density of the majority component at a reference temperature. The circuitry then processes the pickoff signals to determine a measured volumetric flow rate of the fluid flowing through the Coriolis flowmeter. The circuitry then determines a temperature-varying density. The circuitry multiplies the measured volumetric flow rate by the temperature-varying density to yield a product. The circuitry then divides the product by the reference density to yield a second volumetric flow rate. If the first volumetric flow rate equals the second volumetric flow rate, then the fluid is substantially pure. If the first volumetric flow rate does not equal the second volumetric flow rate, then the fluid is comprised of one or more minority components in addition to the majority component.
In another example of the invention, the circuitry executes the following process to determine the proportion of the majority component. To start, the circuitry processes the pickoff signals to determine a measured density of the fluid. The circuitry then processes the temperature signal to determine a temperature of the fluid. The circuitry determines a temperature-varying density based on the temperature. If the measured density equals the temperature-varying density, then the fluid is substantially pure. If the measured density does not equal the temperature-varying density, then the fluid is comprised of one or more minority components in addition to the majority component.

Majority component proportion determination of a fluid using a coriolis flowmeter


Disclosed is a method of preparing and launching a test application on a first machine that is automatically executed on a second machine. A developer can prepare a test application on the first machine, and instead of the developer performing multiple steps to copy the test program to a second machine and set up the test environment, the method can automatically detect test environment data, and transmit the test application and the test environment data. Test environment data can include the directory of where the test program should be installed and executed. The test application can be run on the second machine and the results can be returned to the first machine where they can be displayed to the developer.

Application testing can be a tedious process that often necessitates executing a test on a remote device. For example, a test can be composed on a source device that is executing a first operating system, but it may be necessary to perform the test on a number of different operating systems or different configurations. One option could be reconfigure the source device and/or install the different operating systems, but an easier approach may be to have remote systems already configured. To run the test on the remote devices, the test must be manually copied to the remote devices. In another example, it may be undesirable to execute the test on the source device because it could result in changing the configuration of the source device, e.g. installing new files, deleting files, changing settings, etc. In this case, a remote device can be used for the testing and can be reset without disrupting a developer's device.
Often the testing process can require multiple iterations of changing an application and running a test, which can lead to repeatedly manually copying one or more files to the remote device. The repeated manual copying not only involves overhead for the developer, but can also result in costly testing errors. For example, during the testing process a developer may forget to copy a file or update a copy of a file on the remote device. In another example, a developer may manually copy a file to a wrong location. In both of these cases, a developer may waste time trying to identify the source of an unexpected test result.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Automatic remote execution of an application


An arrow extraction device includes a clamp and a lever-actuated push rod. An arrow shaft is held by the clamp while removal force is applied through the lever-actuated push rod, thereby facilitating easy recovery of a whole arrow embedded in a target.

This invention relates generally to auxiliary tools or devices for archery. In particular it relates to tools or devices for extraction of arrows from foam targets.
There has always been a need in archery for tools to extract arrows from targets without breaking the shaft. The development of more powerful bows and deeply penetrating arrowheads has merely increased this need. When the arrowhead is fully embedded in a target, manual removal of the arrow is difficult. In such instances, arrow extraction risks breaking the shaft, is time-consuming and requires substantial force.
Arrow and arrowhead extractors are known in the art. Orton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,471, disclose a gripping tool for extraction of exposed arrowheads. Roberts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,541, disclose a device for extracting arrowheads embedded in the target. Roberts"" extractor engages threaded arrowheads manufactured for engagement of threaded, receiving shafts. Accordingly, Roberts"" extractor device is used after first unscrewing the arrow shaft from the embedded arrowhead and then inserting the extractor into the target and screwing the device onto the embedded arrowhead. Bulot, U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,621, discloses a manual device that grips the arrow shaft and manually removes the arrow from foam targets.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a device that will amplify the removal force to extract a deeply embedded arrow, one without the arrowhead exposed, from a foam target or other object.
The invention relates in general to an arrow extraction device that includes a clamping means and a lever-actuated push rod. An arrow shaft is held by the clamping means while removal force is applied through the lever-actuated push rod, thereby facilitating easy recovery of a whole arrow embedded in a target.
Thus, the arrow extractor according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art by providing an apparatus that rapidly and with little effort extracts a whole arrow from the target object, i.e. without unscrewing or detaching the shaft from the embedded arrowhead. Hence, the risk of breaking the shaft during removal is minimized.
A principal objective of this invention is to provide a reliable, simple and inexpensive device that easily and quickly removes embedded arrows from foam targets and other objects without causing damage either to the arrowhead or shaft.
Another objective of the invention is to provide an arrow extractor that utilizes a clamp and lever action requiring less force than that required to remove the embedded arrow by grasping and pulling it out manually.
Another goal is a new and improved device for withdrawing arrows which possess completely embedded arrowheads from foam targets and the like.
Yet another objective is an arrow extractor that provides an easy means of gripping the arrow shaft for removal of the embedded arrow from a target object.
Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention consists of the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose but one of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced. All publications cited are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.


With respect to a substrate conveyor apparatus that, being a substrate conveyor apparatus that carries substrate on which patterns are formed, carries the substrate in a state protected by a protective cover when the substrate is not used, a substrate conveyor apparatus having a cover protection means that covers the inner surface of the protective cover when the substrate is used.

The present invention pertains to a substrate conveyor apparatus that carries a substrate on which patterns are formed to a substrate exposure apparatus equipped with a substrate conveyance method and a substrate conveyor apparatus.
With a reticle (also known as a mask) used in next-generation lithography such as EPL and EUVL, a common problem is the weakness that a pellicle that prevent the adhering of defect-causing particles onto the reticle pattern face cannot be used.
As a means to resolve this problem, there is a proposal to attach a protective cover when a reticle is not used and only remove it during exposure. For example, refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,863.

Substrate conveyor apparatus, substrate conveyance method and exposure apparatus


Implementations disclosed describe a system comprising a first optical device to receive an input beam of light, the input beam having a plurality of spectral components of light, and cause the input beam to disperse into a plurality of spectral beams, wherein each of the plurality of spectral beams corresponds to one of the plurality of spectral components and propagates along a spatial path that is different from spatial paths of other spectral beams, and a second optical device to collect a portion of each of the spectral beams, wherein the collected portion depends on the spatial path of the respective spectral beam, and form an output beam of light from the collected portion of each of the spectral beams, wherein a spectral profile of the output beam is different from a spectral profile of the input beam of light.

Manufacturing of microelectronics and integrated circuit devices often involves performing numerous operations on semiconductor, dielectric and conductive substrates. Examples of these operations include oxidation, diffusion, ion implantation, thin film deposition, cleaning, etching, lithography, and so on. Materials manufactured in this manner may include monocrystals, semiconductor films, fine coatings, and numerous other substances used in electronic device manufacturing and other practical applications. As atoms of selected types are added (e.g., via deposition) to substrates or removed (e.g., via etching) from the substrates, efficient and precise quality control monitoring techniques (and systems) become critical. Under-developed or over-developed (e.g., under-etched or over-etched) substrates as well as substrates that fail to adhere to required specifications may result in substandard and even malfunctioning devices. Optical control systems, which allow for real-time monitoring of various stages of device manufacturing, significantly improve quality of the products. This is especially important given that the demands to the quality of semiconductor devices are constantly increasing.

Spectrum shaping devices and techniques for optical characterization applications


In the case that a developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion for feeding a developer by receiving a rotational force and a pump portion for discharging the developer by reciprocation, and the rotational force and a reciprocating force are received from a main assembly side of an image forming apparatus, there is a liability that a driving connection is not properly established between a portion of the developer supply container for receiving the reciprocating force and a portion of the main assembly side for applying the reciprocating force. The developer supply container is provided with a drive converting mechanism for converting the rotational force received from the main assembly side to a force for operating a volume changing type pump.

Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine uses a developer of fine particles. In such an image forming apparatus, the developer is supplied from the developer supply container in response to consumption thereof resulting from image forming operation.
As for the conventional developer supply container, an example is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application Sho 63-6464.
In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application Sho 63-6464, the developer is let fall all together into the image forming apparatus from the developer supply container. In addition, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application Sho 63-6464, a part of the developer supply container is formed into a bellow-like portion so as to permit all of the developer can be supplied into the image forming apparatus from the developer supply container even when the developer in the developer supply container is caked. More particularly, in order to discharge the developer caked in the developer supply container into the image forming apparatus side, the user pushes the developer supply container several times to expand and contract (reciprocation) the bellow-like portion.
Thus, with the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application Sho 63-6464, the user has to manually operate the bellow-like portion of the developer supply container.
In the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2006-047811, a developer supply container provided with a helical projection is rotated by a rotational force inputted from an image forming apparatus, by which the developer in the developer supply container is fed. Furthermore, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2006-047811, the developer having been fed by the helical projection with the rotation of the developer supply container is sucked into the image forming apparatus side by a suction pump provided in the image forming apparatus through a nozzle inserted into the developer supply container.
Thus, the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application 2006-047811 requires a driving source for rotating the developer supply container and a driving source for driving the suction pump.
Under the circumstances, the inventors have investigated the following developer supply container.
A developer supply container is provided with a feeding portion receiving a rotational force to feed the developer, and is provided with a reciprocation type pump portion for discharging the developer having been fed by the feeding portion through a discharge opening. However, when such a structure is employed, a problem may arise.
That is, the problem arises in the case that the developer supply container is provided with a drive inputting portion for rotating the feeding portion and is also provided with a drive inputting portion for reciprocating the pump portion. In such a case, it is required that the two drive inputting portions of the developer supply container are properly brought into driving connection with two drive outputting portions of the image forming apparatus side, respectively.
However, the pump portion may not be properly reciprocated in such a case that the developer supply container is taken out of the image forming apparatus and then is remounted.
More particularly, depending on expansion and contraction state of the pump portion, that is, the stop position of the drive inputting portion for the pump with respect to a reciprocating direction, the drive inputting portion for the pump may not be engaged with the drive outputting portion for the pump.
For example, when the drive input to the pump portion stops in a state that the pump portion is compressed from the normal length, the pump portion restores spontaneously to the normal length when the developer supply container is taken out. In this case, the position of the drive inputting portion for the pump portion changes while the developer supply container is being taken out, despite the fact that the stop position of the drive outputting portion of the image forming apparatus side remains unchanged.
As a result, the driving connection is not properly established between the drive outputting portion of the image forming apparatus side and the drive inputting portion of the developer supply container side, and therefore, the reciprocation of the pump portion will be disabled. Then, the developer supply into the image forming apparatus is not carried out, and the image formation will become impossible sooner or later.
Such a problem may similarly arise when the expansion and contraction state of the pump portion is changed by the user while the developer supply container is outside the apparatus.
As will be understood from the foregoing, an improvement is desired to avoid the problem when the developer supply container is provided with the drive inputting portion for rotating the feeding portion and also with the drive inputting portion for reciprocating the pump portion.

Developer supply container and developer supplying system


A RF front end circuit includes a processor, a main receiving (Rx) path and an adjustment path connected between the processor and an external antenna array in parallel, and a coupling module coupled with the main Rx path. The adjustment path includes an adjustment transmitting (Tx) path, an adjustment Rx path, and a DSP. The adjustment Tx path includes a coupling switch. When the circuit operates in an adjustment mode, the switch is connected to the coupling module, the adjustment Rx path receives and demodulates a first analog signal, the DSP converts the first analog signal to a digital signal, clipping a peak of the digital signal, and converts the digital signal to a second analog signal, the adjustment Tx path modulates and reverses the phase of the second analog signal, and the coupling module couples the second analog signal to the main Rx path to counteract noise received thereby.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to Multi-Input, Multi-Output systems (MIMOs), and, particularly, to a radio frequency front end circuit used in a MIMO.
2. Description of Related Art
MIMOs are widely used in wireless communication systems. An MIMO usually includes a radio frequency (RF) front end circuit and an antenna array connected to the radio frequency front end circuit. Signals received by the MIMO usually include communication signals and noise in the environment, such as narrow band interference and jamming noise. The noise must be suppressed or communication quality can be affected.
One noise suppression solution adds an extra noise suppression circuit to each receiving (Rx) path of the RF front end circuit. The noise suppression circuit at least includes a detector and a filter. However, the cost of the MIMO is increased.
Thus, what is needed is a RF front end circuit that can overcome the described limitations.


Described herein are IC devices that include TFT based memory arrays on both sides of a layer of logic devices. An example IC device includes a support structure (e.g., a substrate) on which one or more logic devices may be implemented. The IC device further includes a first memory cell on one side of the support structure, and a second memory cell on the other side of the support structure, where each of the first memory cell and the second memory cell includes a TFT as an access transistor. Providing TFT based memory cells on both sides of a layer of logic devices allows significantly increasing density of memory cells in a memory array having a given footprint area, or, conversely, significantly reducing the footprint area of the memory array with a given memory cell density.

Embedded memory is important to the performance of modern system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology. Static random-access memory (SRAM) is one example of embedded memory, particularly suitable for modern SoC due to its compatibility with fabrication processes used to manufacture computing logic, e.g., front end of line (FEOL) processes. However, for some applications demanding large on-die cache, such as tens of megabytes (MBs) for handling memory bandwidth, the area and standby power of a SRAM-based cache may pose significant challenges to SoC design.

Thin film transistor based memory cells on both sides of a layer of logic devices