An aromatic polycarbonate resin composition for molding, comprising (a) an aromatic polycarbonate resin, (a) carbon fibers sized with an aromatic polycarbonate resin, and (c) an organic compound having at least two oxazoline rings per molecule is dislosed. The composition has excellent extrusion workability, mold deposit-preventing property and mechanical strength, and can be used as a molding material in the field of precision machines such as cameras, VTR's and facsimiles.

Conventionally, polycarbonate resins reinforced with carbon fibers have various excellent performances, but have a disadvantage that deposits tend to adhere to a mold at molding thereof. In particular, in the case that the mold structure is complicated, e.g., in the production of precision machinery parts, this tendency is strong Therefore, disassembly and cleaning of the mold are required, and continuous molding operation over a long period of time is impossible.
As a result of investigating the cause of such mold deposit, it was found that an epoxy resin, a urethane resin or other resin used as a sizing agent for carbon fibers decomposes or volatilizes during molding to adhere to the mold, causing the mold deposit.
In general, several thousand carbon fiber monofilaments are bundled, and a sizing agent for carbon fibers is applied thereto in an amount of 2.5 to 7.0% by weight, followed by drying to fix the agent. If the amount of the sizing agent applied is below 2.5% by weight, the carbon fibers desize to form pills at the time of mixing thereof with a polycarbonate resin, so that the extrusion workability of the resulting composition becomes extremely poor. On the other hand, if the amount of the sizing agent exceeds 7.0% by weight, the dispersibility of the carbon fibers into a polycarbonate resin becomes so poor that the resulting composition gives extrudates having poor appearance, although the mixing and extruding operations per se can be satisfactorily conducted. The amount of the sizing agent applied is determined from the balance between workability and dispersibility, but this sizing agent is the cause of the mold deposit.
Therefore, a carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate resin composition which satisfies both the workability and appearance requirements and causes no mold deposit has been strongly demanded.

Aromatic polycarbonate resin composition for molding


A semipolar plane III-nitride semiconductor-based laser diode or light emitting diode, comprising a semipolar Indium containing multiple quantum wells for emitting light, having Aluminum containing quantum well barriers, wherein the Indium containing multiple quantum well and Aluminum containing barriers are grown in a semipolar orientation on a semipolar plane.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to semipolar plane III-nitride semiconductor-based laser diodes (LDs) with AlGaN barriers and a superlattice separate confinement heterostructure (SCH), and methods of fabrication thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
(Note: This application references a number of different publications as indicated throughout the specification by one or more reference numbers within brackets, e.g., Ref. [x]. A list of these different publications ordered according to these reference numbers can be found below in the section entitled "References." Each of these publications is incorporated by reference herein.)
Wurtzite (Al, Ga, In)N laser diodes (LDs) are one of the promising candidates for green laser applications. Since the first c-plane GaN-based Laser Diode (LD) was demonstrated by Nakamura et al. [1], there have been significant developments towards long wavelength LDs. Recently, the longest lasing wavelength of c-plane LDs reached 532 nm under pulsed operation [2]. Despite successful demonstration of the green LDs, the devices grown on the c-plane suffer from the Quantum Confined Stark Effect (QCSE) due to the large polarization-related electric fields, which cause lower internal quantum efficiencies due to the spatial separation of the electron and hole wave functions in the quantum wells [3]. This may also cause higher operation voltage, which results in the small wall plug efficiency [2]. Nonpolar and semipolar GaN-based devices are also promising for longer wavelength LDs because they exhibit no or very little QCSE [4-7]. Higher gain for LDs grown on nonpolar and semipolar orientations due to anisotropic band structures has been theoretically predicted and experimentally demonstrated [8-9]. Also, nonpolar m-plane LDs have a higher slope efficiency than c-plane LDs under actual LD operation [10-12]. However, the longest lasing wavelengths for m-plane LDs obtained by the present invention's research group is 492 nm [13], by using miscut m-plane GaN substrates [14], and the longest published lasing wavelength on a nominally on-axis m-plane was 499.8 nm [15]. The difficulty of achieving indium incorporation in the multiple quantum wells (MQWs), and the possibility of basal plane stacking fault (BPSF) formation in the wells [16], have so far limited the lasing wavelength to less than 500 nm for m-plane LDs.
Semipolar planes of GaN offer an approach that reduces polarization-related electric fields and possibly increases gain in comparison to c-plane GaN. The semipolar plane (20-21) has demonstrated lasing wavelengths of 531 nm under pulsed operation [17], and lasing wavelengths of 523 nm under CW operation [18]. To achieve high internal quantum efficiency from the high In content quantum well (QW) emitting green light, indium segregation and defects generated due to large strains must be eliminated in the high indium content QW. Enya et al. utilized lattice-matched quaternary AlInGaN cladding to reduce strain in the epitaxial structure and realize sufficient optical confinement [17]. Tyagi et al. reported high indium content InGaN guiding layers with GaN cladding layers as another method to avoid the difficulty of quaternary AlInGaN growth [19]. Although long wavelength LDs grown on (20-21) bulk GaN substrates have been demonstrated, a detailed growth study for high quality active region growths has not been reported.
In addition, conventional (20-21)-plane LD structures include the following characteristics:
1. Conventional state-of-the-art (20-21)-plane LDs are grown with InGaN or GaN barriers in the active region, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a LD device 100 structure comprising a (20-21) GaN substrate 102, n-type GaN (n-GaN) layer 104 on or above the GaN substrate 102, n-GaN cladding layer 106 on or above the n-GaN layer 104, n-InGaN bulk Separate Confinement Heterostructure (SCH) layer 108 (with 5-10% In composition, e.g., 6%) on or above the n-GaN cladding layer 106, a light emitting active layer 110, comprising one or more InGaN quantum wells with GaN or InGaN barriers, on or above the n-InGaN bulk SCH 108, a p-type AlGaN (p-AlGaN) electron blocking layer (EBL) 112 on or above the active layer 110, a p-InGaN bulk SCH layer 114 (with 5-10% In composition, e.g., 6%) on or above the p-AlGaN EBL 112, a p-type GaN (p-GaN) cladding layer 116 on or above the p-InGaN bulk SCH layer 114, and a p++-type GaN contact layer 118 on or above the p-GaN cladding layer 116.
2. Conventional state-of-the-art (20-21)-plane LDs do not use high In content InGaN superlattice SCH layers.
3. Conventional state-of-the-art (20-21)-plane LDs do not use asymmetric InGaN/GaN short period superlattice (SPSLS) for the InGaN SCH layers.
Consequently, there is a need in the art for improved LD structures. The present invention satisfies that need. The present invention discloses a high quality active region growth with AlGaN barrier (e.g., AlGaN/InGaN MQWs) and demonstrates 516 nm lasing emission under room temperature for semipolar (20-21) nitride.

Aluminum gallium nitride barriers and separate confinement heterostructure (SCH) layers for semipolar plane III-nitride semiconductor-based light emitting diodes and laser diodes

The Regents of the University of California


A lubrication system for a heavy duty gas turbine includes a bearing lubrication assembly coupled to the bearing and an oil and vapor extraction assembly disposed in a cavity defined by a bell mouth hood in an air inlet duct. A high volume vacuum blower is coupled to the oil and vapor extraction assembly to provide a relative negative pressure. An oil and vapor separator is disposed downstream from the high volume vacuum blower. The lubrication system also includes a control subsystem that maintains a cavity pressure lower than an air inlet pressure.

Gas turbine engines include a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor. The combustor can include a plurality of combustor cans. Compressed air and fuel are delivered to the combustor cans to produce high-velocity and high-pressure combustion gases. These combustion gases are discharged to the turbine. The turbine extracts energy from the combustion gases for producing power that can be used in several ways such as, for example, to power the compressor, to power an electrical generator, or to power an aircraft. Stationary gas turbines can be divided into two categories; heavy duty industrial and aeroderivative.
Heavy duty gas turbines are designed specifically for ground based operation, where size and weight are not a constraint. Heavy duty gas turbines are designed for reliable operation and minimal maintenance at a competitively low installed cost. They accommodate a wide range of fuels including natural gas, light and heavy distillate oil, naphtha, crude, residual oil, among others.
An aeroderivative gas turbine is essentially an aircraft engine adapted for use in marine and industrial applications. The power generation capacity of these machines is typically in the 10 to 50 MW range. Aeroderivative gas turbines are relatively light construction, operate at high speeds, and generally use rolling element bearings. They have a narrower range of gaseous fuels that can be used.
There are significant variations between the aero-derivative and heavy industrial gas turbines. Among the variations are weight, combustor design, turbine design, and bearing design (including the lube-oil system). The primary distinction is in the bearing selection where the heavy duty gas turbines use hydrodynamic (journal) bearings and the aero-derivatives use anti-friction (ball or roller) bearings.
Hydrodynamic bearings and anti-friction bearings require lubrication to reduce friction and wear. In some cases, bearing assemblies include a supply pump that supplies lubricating oil under pressure to the bearing assemblies, and a scavenge pump that removes lubricating oil from the sump. In some cases lubrication of the bearings leads to leakage of the lubricant in the form of oil mist and vapor into the compressor. Any wetting of the blades or vanes by oil vapor will promote the accumulation of dust and dirt. A dirty blade or vane represents high friction-to-airflow that decreases engine efficiency, and results in a noticeable decrease in thrust or increase in fuel consumption.
To prevent oil leakage in some aeroderivative gas turbines the bearing may be disposed in a bearing housing within a pressurized assembly. The bearing housing and the pressurized assembly are isolated from the surrounding environment by labyrinth seals that extend around the rotor shaft. During operation, compressed air is supplied to the pressurized assembly to maintain a positive pressure around the bearing housing. This reduces oil leakage. In one example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,666, an evacuation system that reduces the pressure within the bearing housing is provided. The evacuation system includes an air pump disposed downstream from an air/oil separator. During low power or idle operations, when there is insufficient air supply pressure from the bearing housing or cavity pressurization air supply, the air pump draws air from the bearing housing through the air/oil separator, such that an operating pressure within the bearing housing is reduced below the pressure within the pressurized assembly. For the system to operate successfully, the seals between the bearing housing and the pressurized assembly, and the seals between the pressurized assembly and the surrounding environment must be maintained. This configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,666 will function in a compromised manner in a heavy duty gas turbine application since the lube oil reservoir in a heavy duty gas turbine is vented and maintained at atmospheric pressure. Having the oil/vapor separator on the vacuum side of the evacuation pump will prevent the separated oil from flowing back to the lube oil reservoir due to the negative pressure differential. In a heavy duty gas turbine the negative pressure assembly must be capable of continuous duty, as compared to the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,666, which operates during engine low-power and idle operations. Additionally, heavy-duty gas turbines are not equipped with a bearing housing pressurization air supply as that supply air flow constitutes a parasitic loss on the overall output and efficiency of the gas turbine.

Apparatus and method for reducing oil mist ingestion in a heavy duty gas turbine engine


Allocating resources in a wireless network utilizing SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO modes of operation includes determining an increase in a resource usage of MU-MIMO wireless devices and responsive to the determining, reducing an allocation of resources for one or more SU-MIMO wireless devices. These operations may be performed based on determining that a load level associated with a serving access node rises to meet a threshold.

As wireless networks evolve and grow, there are ongoing challenges in communicating data across different types of networks. For example, a wireless network may include one or more access nodes, such as base stations, for providing wireless voice and data service to wireless devices in various coverage areas of the one or more access nodes. Wireless networks may be configured to utilize a single-user multiple-in multiple-out (SU-MIMO) operating mode and/or a multi-user (MU-MIMO) mode. In the SU-MIMO operating mode, multiple data streams are directed towards individual wireless devices. In the MU-MIMO operating mode, the multiple data streams can be directed towards plural wireless devices that are selected to participate in the MU-MIMO operating mode based on the orthogonality of transmission, thereby maximizing resources. MIMO has been identified as one of the promising air interface technologies to address the capacity requirement required demanded by 5G networks. However, when wireless devices do not qualify for MU-MIMO operation (based on, for example, their orthogonality, etc.), usage of SU-MIMO by these wireless devices may limit the resource available for the wireless devices participating in MU-MIMO groups or pairings. In other words, there is a need for balancing available resources between SU-MIMO wireless devices and MU-MIMO wireless devices within one or more sectors of a wireless network, such that the gains from the MU-MIMO mode of operation can be realized.

Allocating resources towards SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO wireless devices


The invention refers to an exchangeable power-supplying unit (200, 300) arranged to supply electric power to a device (100, 400). The power-supplying unit (200, 300) is arranged so as to provide the device (100, 400) with one or several additional functionalities and it can preferably be attached so as to form an integral part of the device (100, 400). The additional functionality is accomplished by one or several processing units (220, 312, 319) contained in the power-supplying unit (200, 300) for pre-processing information, which is subsequently communicated from the power-supplying unit (200, 300) to the device (100, 400).

In recent years, there has been a rapid and extensive development of intelligent devices. A non exhaustive list of such devices are laptops, personal digital assistants (PDA:s), digital notebooks, play-gadgets, mobile phones, land-radios (e.g. walkie-talkies) etc.
Requirements have been placed on such intelligent devices, especially handheld devices, to have a compact, highly integrated and small sized design. At the same time it is frequently required that these devices support the addition of new functionality. However, it is usually difficult to accomplish addition of new functions, especially if a function requires additional hardware, since the compact design leaves little or no space for addition of new extra hardware. If the extra hardware can be added at all it is usually associated with costly design changes.
In this connection it is well known to attach exterior accessory modules to a device for providing the device with an additional functionality. Such accessory modules are usually attached to the device through a connector, e.g. a connector arranged at the lower end of a mobile phone. Typically, these accessory modules operate essentially independently from the device attached upon. For example, an accessory module may only require electrical power from the device, whereas the function provided by the module is essentially executed within the module it self and then subsequently delivered to the device. Conversely, the device is typically designed to operate independently from any accessory module, i.e. the device can operate with or without any accessory module.
A few examples may be clarifying. A module comprising an MP3-player may be attached to a PDA for supplying recorded music to the PDA, without the need for any processing assistance from the PDA. Likewise, a module comprising a radio may be attached to a mobile phone for supplying radio broadcasts to the mobile phone without the need for any processing assistance from the phone. Similarly, a module comprising a hands-free function may be attached to a mobile phone, where the module may transmit and receive signals to and from a wireless headset without any processing assistance from the phone. Consequently, the new functionality is provided by the attached module and subsequently delivered to the device, whereas the device itself can remain unchanged regardless of any attached module, which is an important advantage in many applications.
However, exterior accessory modules show considerably drawbacks, especially in connection with compact, highly integrated and small sized devices. A compact design makes it difficult to accomplish a firm and strong mechanical connection between the device and an exteriorly attached accessory module. An attached module may therefore fit rather loosely to the device. This increases the risk for an intermittent electrical contact between a module and the device, especially in harsh environments. A weak mechanical connection between device and module may even enable forces in a harsh environment to rip the module off the device, especially when the module is attached to the exterior of the device. The requirements for a compact mechanical construction may also diminish the possibility to accomplish a environment proof connection between an exterior module and the device, which means that dust and humidity may affect the electrical connectors of the device and the module. Another problem with known exterior accessory on modules is that a detached module usually leaves the mechanical and electrical connectors of the device openly exposed to the environment. The connectors may then be scraped, deformed, fractured, corroded, or otherwise damaged so that the device becomes unable to function with a module.
In addition to the exterior accessory modules as mentioned above there are other more or less interior accessory modules for providing a device with a range of new functionalities. One example is the so-called PCMCIA-card (Personal Computer Memory Card International Association) and other similar small circuit boards. Such small circuit boards are normally inserted into the device through a slot arranged on the device, e.g. at the side of a laptop, or even to a PDA or mobile phone. An interior PCMCIA-card or similar does not show the same exposure to the environment as previously described exterior modules. Mechanical forces may in particular have less impact on such cards, since they are mechanically protected by the device to which they are inserted. However, the slot through which such a card is inserted is often left open when the card is taken out. The recess in which the card is received will then be exposed to the environment and particles, fluid (e.g. water), humidity or similar can then easily assemble in the recess to affect electrical and mechanical connectors. Particles may for example block mechanical and electrical connectors and water or humidity may cause corrosion on the electrical connectors, etc.
Moreover, the general idea to attach an exterior or interior module to a device inevitably makes the device bulkier, which is totally opposite to the requirements for a compact, highly integrated and small sized design.
There is consequently a need for an exchangeable module that provides an additional functionality to a device, which module is large enough to comprise additional hardware needed for the additional functionality, and where the module can be connected to the device to form a compact, highly integrated and small sized apparatus possessing a good protection from the environment. It is also preferred that the module supports a proper modular design so that the device can remain essentially unchanged regardless of the module currently used.

Exchangeable module for additional functionality


Provided is a pharmaceutical composition involving a concentrated mixture of a precipitated protein and a liquid medium and a method for manufacturing the concentrated mixture. The concentrated mixture is manufacturable by precipitation of a protein with a biocompatible polymer precipitating agent, followed by removal of sufficient liquid to concentrate the resulting mixture to the desired degree. The precipitated protein can be stored for a significant time in the concentrated mixture, such as intermediate between processing stages during manufacture operations.

Therapeutic treatment with some proteins, and particularly immunoglobulins, requires administration of a large dose. Due to their unique ability to recognize and bind to specific targets, immunoglobulins in particular hold great promise for therapeutic treatments in the fights against diseases such as cancer and arthritis. Some drawbacks to treatment with immunoglobulins, however, include low potency on a mass basis due to a typically large molecular weight, a relatively low solubility in water and requirements for effective long-term storage. For example, typical monoclonal IgG antibodies have molecular weights of approximately 150 kDa, have an aqueous solubility limit of less than 50 mg/mL and must be lyophilized for long-term storage.
Also, due to the noted low potency on a mass basis, commercially available therapeutic antibodies have dosing regiments that usually require administration of between 100 mg and 1000 mg per dose. Low solubility in water means that several milliliters of antibody solution must be administered for administration of a single dose. Even assuming solubility as high as 50 mg/mL for the antibody, a 100 mg dose would require administration of 2 mL of solution, while a 1000 mg dose would require administration of 20 mL of solution. These volumes are too large for administration applications such as subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), intratumoral (IT) and intraarticular (IA) injections, which are generally limited to a 1 mL volume. It has, therefore, been necessary to administer these therapeutic agents as IV infusions. Such IV infusions are time consuming and inconvenient for medical staff and patients.
An additional limitation imposed by the relatively low solubility of antibody proteins is related to their production. After large-scale fermentation it is often desirable to hold material at an intermediate stage in order to combine several batches to create a large lot of product. The volume of the intermediate material must be sufficiently small to be conveniently stored at the manufacturing facility. Diafiltration of dilute solutions can lead to precipitation and membrane fouling. Large-scale freeze-drying requires significant investments in space, capital equipment and operating costs.
Attempts have been made to prepare highly concentrated antibody solutions by careful control of pH, ionic strength and buffer type, but many antibodies and other proteins cannot be dissolved at high concentrations even under the best of conditions. Also, even when it is possible to dissolve the antibody to a high concentration, it is still very difficult to maintain adequate protein stability in such high concentration solutions during long-term storage. In particular, the risk of formation of highly undesirable non-native aggregates increases as the concentration of the protein in the solution increases. Furthermore, the high viscosity exhibited by some high-concentration antibody solutions often complicates, and in some cases precludes, practical processing of the materials during manufacturing operations.
For reasons of product stability, therapeutic antibodies are currently supplied to clinical practices in lyophilized form. Freeze-dried vials are stored under refrigerated conditions and must be reconstituted prior to use. The reconstitution procedure is time consuming because lyophilized cake does not quickly reconstitute. Also, the reconstitution can result in degradation of the therapeutic protein through foaming and denaturation. The reconstitution process can therefore, lead to variability in both the administration dose and relative activity/immunogenicity of the therapeutic agent.
There is a significant need for improved high-concentration protein formulations, and there is especially a need for antibody formulations suitable for administration by applications such as SC, IM, IT and IA injection. There is also a significant need for improved techniques for processing and storing intermediate products during manufacture of antibody and other protein products. There is a further need for techniques for long-term storage of antibodies and other proteins that reduce or eliminate problems with reconstitution of lyophilized products.

High-concentration protein formulations and method of manufacture


An adaptive urea mixer comprises a housing (1) and a first movable plate (2), a second movable plate (3), and a first fixed ring (4) sequentially provided in a direction from an air inlet to an air outlet in the housing. The first fixed ring (4) is fixedly connected to an inner side wall of the housing (1). A plurality of guide columns (9) are provided on the first fixed ring (4). A first position-limiting portion and a second position-limiting portion are provided on the guide column (9). The first movable plate and the second movable plate are sleeved on the guide column (9). A first elastic support element (12) is sleeved on the guide column (9) between the second position-limiting portion (11) and the first movable plate (2), and a second elastic support element (13) is sleeved on the guide column (9) between the first fixed ring (4) and the second movable plate (3). Both a first flow guide plate and a second flow guide plate are fixedly connected to the first fixed ring (4). The first movable plate (2), the second movable plate (3), the first flow guide plate (5), and the second flow guide plate (6) define a mixing space (14). A urea nozzle (7) is provided on a side wall of the housing corresponding to the mixing space (14). The adaptive urea mixer adapts to a change in a flow rate of exhaust gas so as to automatically remove internal crystals, thereby preventing the crystals from blocking the urea mixer.

The SCR system refers to the selective catalytic reduction system, which is a treatment process for the NOx in the exhaust emissions of diesel vehicles. That is to say, under the action of a catalyst, the reducing agent ammonia or urea is injected to reduce the NOx in the exhaust gas to N2 and H2O. There are two types of catalysts: precious metals and non-precious metals. The SCR system was initially applied to the denitration of flue gas in power plants. As the motor vehicle emission regulations become more and more stringent, the SCR system is gradually used for control of motor vehicle exhaust emission. At present, the urea SCR technology in which NH3 produced by urea decomposition is used as a reducing agent is mostly used in the motor vehicle exhaust. In the urea SCR system, the urea aqueous solution is sprayed into the exhaust pipe through a urea nozzle, and needs to undergo physical and chemical processes such as evaporation, pyrolysis, and hydrolysis to form reducing agents (NH3, HNCO) so as to undergo oxidation-reduction reaction with the pollutant NOx emitted by the engine, ultimately achieving the goal of reducing NOx emissions. The urea mixer is generally used in the urea SCR system to organize the movement of the airflow, and the urea mixer is generally provided between the urea nozzle and the catalyst carrier.
The urea mixer can promote the mixing of urea and exhaust gas, optimize the distribution of urea, and reduce ammonia leakage. However, in the operation condition that the exhaust temperature is low, the urea aqueous solution may not be completely decomposed due to contact, with the low temperature wall surface and poor atomization quality. Complexes with complicated components such as cyanurodiamide and melamine are formed in the reaction process, these complexes will form crystals when accumulating to a certain extent, and the exhaust in the existing urea mixer flows very slow, which intensifies the formation of crystals. Most of these crystals appear on the surface of the urea mixer, which are white blocks and hard in texture, and can increase with the continuous injection of the urea aqueous solution. The increase of crystals to a certain extent will block the urea mixer and greatly increase the exhaust back pressure so that the performance of the whole machine deteriorates.


An apparatus to tilt, flip, or rotate a round cotton module on a conveying system employs actuated arms includes that support a bar which fits in place of a roller on a provided conveyor system having multiple rollers. A cotton module can be easily rotated or flipped to a vertical position when the bar rotates between initial reclined and final elevated positions. The wrapping can be removed once the cotton module reaches the final elevated position.

1. Field of the Invention
The apparatus of the present invention relates to an apparatus for conveying cotton bales or cotton modules wherein a lever or flipper rotates each bale or module from a first prone position to a second, elevated upright position while traveling along a conveyor (of rollers, for example). More particularly, this invention relates to a device that is used to tilt or flip cotton modules on for example a roller equipped conveying system wherein each module travels in a first prone position along a first conveyor or section and then is flipped upright.
2. General Background of the Invention
There are prior art bale/module flipping devices that have been patented. Examples of possibly related patents directed to such devices are listed below and each patent is hereby incorporated herein by reference:
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,939,569; 3,286,854; 3,322,256; 3,344,902; 3,612,309; 3,923,176; 4,050,598; 4,103,794; 4,179,017; 5,540,534; 6,811,367; and US Publication Nos. 2004/0005208; 2009/0202327; 2010/0024617. A competing cotton module handling product can be seen at: http://www.stoverequipment.com/unwrapper%20GIS.html.

Cotton module flipper method and apparatus


Methods and apparatuses for operating a wireless mobile station configured to communicate with a wireless access point are described. A first awake timer may be started in response to receiving a beacon signal from the wireless access point. The beacon signal may indicate that data is available or pending for the wireless mobile station. A second awake timer may be started in response to data received from the wireless access point. When the second awake timer expires, the wireless mobile station may return to the sleep state. In one embodiment, the first awake timer counts for a first period of time and the second awake timer counts for a second period of time which is shorter than the first period of time. The RF radio may be in a higher power state when the first and/or the second awake timers are counting. In one embodiment, the wireless mobile station and the wireless access points may be synchronized using target beacon transmission times of the beacon signal.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to wireless communications and in one embodiment power management of a radio transceiver in a wireless device such as a smart phone or a media player which includes a radio transceiver.
Data processing systems, such as general purpose computers or smart phones or media players often include a radio transceiver in order to allow wireless connectivity to a network or to other devices. An example of a wireless network is a network which complies with the WiFi standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards or other known standards, such as the WiMax standard, etc. The radio transceivers in the data processing systems can consume considerable power and hence quickly run down a battery in a mobile device to the point that the device can no longer be used. Efforts in the past to reduce battery consumption by a radio transceiver have involved placing the radio transceiver in a sleep state in which it consumes lower power. For example, the radio transceiver can be turned off or otherwise placed in a low power state in which many of the components of the radio transceiver consume little or no power. FIG. 1A shows an example of a prior device which includes a radio transceiver which can communicate to a wireless network, such as a WiFi network. The radio transceiver can be placed in a sleep state 12 in which it has a reduced power consumption. There is a sleep timer which periodically causes the system to turn on the radio to check to see if there are any messages or data pending to be received by the device. This periodic checking for data is shown as event 20. If no data is available to be received by the device, it goes back to sleep as shown by event 20 which loops back to the sleep state 12. At any point in time the device can decide to transmit data in which case it will exit the sleep state as is known in the art and enter the awake state 14. In typical implementations according to the WiFi standards, a device will awake from sleep to check availability of data at either every beacon (referred to in the WiFi standards as a Target Beacon Transmit Time (TBTT) or at every multiple of beacons which is referred to as a DTIM period (Delivery Traffic Indication Message). As shown by the state diagram 10 in FIG. 1A, an event which awakes the device from sleep is the event 16; this event occurs when the sleep timer expires and the radio transceiver determines from the beacon signal from a wireless access point that there is data pending or available at an access point to be received by the device. This causes the device to transition from sleep state 12 to awake state 14. At this transition, an awake timer is started and this timer, when it expires, causes the device to transition from the awake state 14 back to the sleep state 12. The device can receive data or transmit data while it is in the awake state. An optional transition (not shown) from the awake state 14 back to the awake state 14 can be used to reset the awake timer when data is received or transmitted. As is known in the art, the sleep timer in the sleep state causes the system to periodically wake up to determine whether data is available for it, and the awake timer will force the system, when there is no network activity, to go back to sleep.
FIG. 1B shows an example in the prior art of how a radio transceiver can be controlled in order to regulate power consumption while still allowing the system to communicate wirelessly to a wireless network or other device. A plurality of TBTTs are shown in time. These TBTTs include TBTT 27 and TBTT 29, each of which correspond to a particular DTIM. It can be seen that the radio was turned on during the period 32 and also during the period 34, each of which span slightly more than one interval between successive TBTTs. The device operating as shown in FIG. 1B will turn its radio on during period 32 to listen for activity and then turn it off after realizing there is no activity for it; in other words, the device turns on the radio just before a TBTT and turns off the radio just after the next successive TBTT as shown in FIG. 1B. In the case where a device is in sleep state 12, it can re-enter the sleep state immediately from event 20 if the device determines that there is no data pending at the access point and if the device has no data to send to the access point.
While these techniques to control power consumption do produce some savings in power consumed, there is often a need for further reduction in power consumption.

Power management of a radio data transceiver


There is provided a toilet seat hinge which allows different seats to be quickly replaced or substituted and which will adapt to different manufacturers"" bowls. This is accomplished by providing removable hinge pins to secure the seat to the hinge, and adjustable connections from the hinge base to the toilet bowl. The base of the hinge may also be integral with the toilet bowl.

The invention relates to the field of toilet seats, and more particularly to a hinge for securing the toilet seat and cover which is adaptable to different seats and different toilets.
Currently toilet seats and seat covers are connected to two hinges which are each secured to the toilet bowl by a threaded bolt which extends through a hole provided in the bowl and is secured by a nut. The bolts may either be integral with the seat hinge or may be separate and extend through holes in the seat hinge. It is therefore difficult to replace or substitute a seat or cover with a different seat or cover since the entire hinge assembly must generally be replaced. Further, different manufacturers may use different spacing for the hinges and bolt holes, so seats are not interchangeable among manufacturers. A specialized toilet seat, such as the Combination Toilet Seat disclosed in the present inventor""s U.S. Pat. No. 5,448,781 may be suitable for one manufacturer""s toilet bowl but may not fit another""s. There is therefore a need for a toilet seat hinge which allows different seats to be quickly replaced or substituted and which will adapt to different manufacturers"" bowls.
The present invention provides a toilet seat hinge which allows different seats to be quickly replaced or substituted and which will adapt to different manufacturers"" bowls. This is accomplished by providing removable hinge pins to secure the seat to the hinge, and adjustable connections from the hinge base to the toilet bowl. The base of the hinge may also be integral with the toilet bowl.


An apparatus and method for indirectly mounting and adjusting at least one motorcycle cladding element around a motorcycle light located on a motorcycle frame element includes comprising a tolerance compensation frame which is fastened by a first set of fastening elements in a partly assembled state such that it can move in a tolerance-compensation direction in relation to the motorcycle frame element, and is fixed by the first set of fastening elements in a final assembly state such that the tolerance compensation frame cannot move in relation to the motorcycle frame element. The at least one motorcycle cladding element is fastened by a second set of fastening elements to the tolerance compensation frame, and a covering unit that covers the first and second sets of fastening elements is fastened to the tolerance compensation frame by a third set of fastening elements.

The invention relates to a tolerance compensation frame for the indirect mounting and adjustment of motorcycle trim elements around a motorcycle light.
A very wide variety of methods and embodiments of means for mounting motorcycle trim elements in the front region on the headlight section are already known from the prior art. Here, it is important for the visual appearance that the trim elements have homogeneous gap sizes with respect to the headlight or with respect to the motorcycle light. Here, in particular, the gap sizes on the left and right of the light are significant for a visually appealing and symmetrical appearance. Setting said gap sizes proves laborious, time-consuming and difficult, however, in the case of most of the known methods and means. The individual spacings of each trim element usually have to be adapted individually and by hand with respect to one another and with respect to the headlight. Since, however, lean process steps are preferred in production, and said process steps have to be inexpensive, rapid and with a satisfactory result, many of the methods and means from the prior art are not suitable. Methods which provide a tolerance compensation directly on the trim means are likewise usually unsuitable, since the means for tolerance compensation often remain visible subsequently. For example, slots as means for the tolerance compensation on the trim parts provide a visually less appealing appearance. Furthermore, reworking is often necessary in the case of conventional methods and means, which increases invested time and therefore costs.
The invention is therefore based on the object of overcoming the above-described disadvantages and providing a simple, inexpensive solution which facilitates and accelerates the mounting and the setting of the joint sizes in comparison with conventional solutions.
To this end, according to the invention, a tolerance compensation apparatus for the indirect mounting and adjustment of at least one motorcycle trim element around a motorcycle light on a motorcycle frame element is proposed. Here, the motorcycle frame element is configured integrally by a motorcycle frame which serves as a carrier for further assemblies, or the motorcycle frame element is arranged on and/or fastened to the motorcycle frame. The motorcycle trim element forms at least two faces; a connecting face which serves for connection to the tolerance compensation frame, and a deflecting face which serves to deflect air and to protect a rider. The motorcycle light can comprise, for example, both headlights and an integral arrangement of a plurality of elements. Here, the tolerance compensation apparatus comprises a tolerance compensation frame which is fastened by way of a first set of fastening elements such that it can be displaced with respect to the motorcycle frame element in a tolerance compensation direction in a partially mounted state. This takes place by way of a first predefined position of the fastening elements of the first set of fastening elements. A gap size between the motorcycle light and the tolerance compensation frame is then set in a homogeneous manner in the partially mounted state. A gage is used to this end. The tolerance compensation frame is fastened by way of the first set of fastening elements such that it cannot be displaced with respect to the motorcycle frame element in a final mounted state. In the final mounted state, the fastening elements of the first set of fastening elements are situated in a second predefined position. The at least one motorcycle trim element is capable of being fastened or is fastened to the tolerance compensation frame by way of a second set of fastening elements.
One advantageous development provides that a covering unit can be fastened, and is fastened in the final mounted state, to the tolerance compensation frame by way of a third set of fastening elements. The covering unit covers the first and second sets of fastening elements, at least one part of the at least one motorcycle trim element and at least one part of the tolerance compensation frame in the final mounted state. Here, the covering unit has the task of covering fastening elements and locations which should not lie in a visible region, and of providing a visually appealing surface. At the same time, the covering element represents a protection against detaching of the covered elements and against weather influences.
A further advantageous development provides that in each case one fastening elements of the third set of fastening elements comprises a latching hook which is configured by the covering unit and a latching lug which is configured by the tolerance compensation frame. Here, the latching hook is configured to latch into the latching lug. As a result, the fastening elements are configured in such a way that they are not visible from one side and do not disrupt the visual appearance in the final mounted state, since the covering unit is not interrupted, for example, by a hole.
It is likewise advantageous for one embodiment if the motorcycle frame element configures at least one lug. Each lug configures in each case one displacement elements. In addition, the lug provides a stop face, against which the tolerance compensation frame is pressed by way of the first set of fastening elements in the final mounted state, all the stop faces lying in one plane and defining a common stop face. In the partially mounted state, the tolerance compensation frame can be displaced parallel to the stop face.
One development variant is advantageous, in the case of which the respective displacement elements is a slot. The slot is oriented along the tolerance compensation direction. By virtue of the fact that the slot of each lug is oriented in the tolerance compensation direction, a displacement is possible only in the tolerance compensation direction. As an alternative, instead of a slot, a hole with an enlarged diameter in comparison with a fastening element of the first set of fastening elements would also be possible, as a result of which a displacement is made possible in each direction parallel to a common stop face of the lugs.
Furthermore, it is advantageous for one design variant if the tolerance compensation frame is of substantially annular configuration. Furthermore, the tolerance compensation frame configures, over at least one section of its circumference, a fastening face which is oriented orthogonally with respect to a rotational axis of the tolerance compensation frame and/or parallel to the common stop face of the lugs and configures at least one hole. The hole serves to provide a leadthrough for the fastening elements of the first set of fastening elements. Here, a part of a fastening elements of the first set of fastening elements bears in a flush manner on the fastening face.
Furthermore, it is advantageous for one design variant if a fastening elements of the first and second set of fastening elements comprises in each case a bolt and a nut. In each case one bolt of the first set of fastening elements reaches, in the partially mounted state and in the final mounted state, through the displacement elements, for example the slot, of a lug and through the hole of a fastening face. In the partially mounted state, the nut is screwed on in such a way that a pressing force is not yet exerted between the lug and the fastening face or tolerance compensation frame. In the final mounted state, the nut is screwed onto the bolt with a predefined force, with the result that a pressing force is exerted between the lug and the fastening face or tolerance compensation frame, as a result of which the tolerance compensation frame cannot be displaced with respect to the motorcycle frame element. Furthermore, the first and second set of fastening elements can comprise further elements such as washers, spacer elements or bolt locks.
Furthermore, one development variant is advantageous, in the case of which the tolerance compensation frame at least partially surrounds the motorcycle light. An outer face of the motorcycle light, which outer face lies closest to the tolerance compensation frame, is at a spacing from an inner face of the tolerance compensation frame, which inner face lies closest to the motorcycle light, a first dimension of the spacing along the tolerance compensation direction, on one side of the motorcycle light, being a first gap size, and a second dimension of the spacing along the tolerance compensation direction, on an opposite side of the motorcycle light, being a second gap size, and the first and second gap sizes preferably being identical.
One development form, in the case of which the tolerance compensation frame configures at least one fastening lug for fastening the at least one motorcycle trim element, is likewise advantageous. The at least one motorcycle trim element can then be fastened to the tolerance compensation frame by way of the second set of fastening elements.
Furthermore, according to the invention, a method for mounting trim elements on a motorcycle in order to realize intended and identical gap sizes with the use of a tolerance compensation apparatus is proposed, the method for mounting comprising the following steps:
a) mounting of the tolerance compensation frame on the motorcycle frame element, on which the motorcycle light is mounted, as a result of which the partially mounted state is established,
b) orienting or adjusting of the tolerance compensation frame on the motorcycle frame element into a predefined position, preferably in such a way that the gap sizes are substantially identical and/or the motorcycle light provides a symmetrical appearance with respect to the tolerance compensation frame,c) fixing of the position of the tolerance compensation frame on the motorcycle frame element by way of fixing of the fastening elements of the first set of fastening elements, with the result that the tolerance compensation frame is fixed non-displaceably on the motorcycle frame element. In the case of a screw connection as a respective fastening element of the first set of fastening elements, the bolt is braced against the nut with a predefined force which, as a result, presses the fastening surfaces on the tolerance compensation frame and the lugs of the motorcycle frame element against one another,d) mounting of the at least one motorcycle trim element on the tolerance compensation frame by way of the second set of fastening elements,e) final mounting of the covering unit by way of fixing of the covering unit on the tolerance compensation frame by way of the third set of fastening elements.
Said steps can optionally also be carried out in another sequence.
The features which are disclosed in the above text can be combined in any desired manner, insofar as this is technically possible and they do not contradict one another.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The figures are diagrammatic by way of example. Identical designations in the figures indicate identical functional and/or structural features.

Tolerance-compensation frame for joining around headlamps

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


Methods and systems are provided for reducing emissions during an engine cold start. In one example, a method may include, during emission control device heating, initiating combustion in a cylinder via a spark plug directly coupled to the cylinder and providing secondary air via a turbulent jet ignition system. In this way, an amount of hydrocarbons in feedgas provided to the emission control device prior to the emission control device reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced.

Exhaust emission control devices, such as catalytic converters (also referred to herein as "catalysts"), are included in an exhaust system of a vehicle to treat exhaust gas components, such as hydrocarbons from unburnt fuel, prior to emission from the vehicle via a tail pipe. However, the exhaust emission control devices achieve higher emission reduction after reaching a predetermined operating temperature (e.g., a light-off temperature). Thus, undesirable vehicle emissions may be the greatest prior to the emission control devices reaching the predetermined operating temperature. To lower such vehicle emissions, various methods attempt to raise a temperature of the emission control device as fast as possible. For example, catalysts may be placed in a close-coupled position to the engine to minimize heat losses and catalyst warm-up time after an engine cold start. Other solutions aim to reduce an amount of hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas provided to the emission control device during the cold start.
One such method for reducing hydrocarbon emissions during warm-up includes introducing secondary air into the exhaust gas upstream of the emission control device. One example approach is shown by Zhang et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 8,955,473 B2. Therein, a port electric thermactor air (PETA) system is used to provide oxygen-rich air from an intake passage of an engine to an exhaust passage upstream of an emission control device. A vane pump or other air induction device may be used to draw the air from the intake passage and deliver it to the exhaust passage. The oxygen-rich air may react with unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust passage prior to reaching the emission control device.
However, the inventors herein have recognized potential issues with such systems. As one example, PETA systems are typically expensive and add to a cost and complexity of the vehicle system. Further, the inventors herein have advantageously recognized that some vehicle systems already include components that may be used to generate and supply air to the exhaust system. In particular, an engine may be equipped with a turbulent jet ignition (TJI) system that ignites an air-fuel mixture within a cylinder via combustion in a pre-combustion chamber, referred to herein as a "pre-chamber." The pre-chamber may be a walled chamber located in a clearance volume of the cylinder (also referred to herein as a "main chamber" or "main combustion chamber") and may include a spark plug. High pressure air and fuel are introduced into the pre-chamber via the TJI system, and when ignition is requested, the spark plug in the pre-chamber is actuated, igniting the air and fuel in the pre-chamber. Jets of flame and hot gas exit the pre-chamber and enter the cylinder via one or more small orifices in the pre-chamber walls. These jets ignite the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder to produce torque. As such, the inventors herein have identified that the TJI system may be used as either a thermactor or for ignition by adjusting operation of the TJI system, including fuel and spark delivery, based on a temperature of a catalyst, without using an external thermactor system.
In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a method, comprising: during heating of a catalyst of an exhaust system coupled to an engine, initiating combustion in a cylinder via a spark plug directly coupled to the cylinder and providing secondary air via a turbulent jet system having an igniter. In this way, the air provided by the turbulent jet system may react with unburnt hydrocarbons following combustion, thereby reducing an amount of unburnt hydrocarbons that are delivered to the catalyst during warm-up.
As one example, the turbulent jet system may include a compressor positioned in an air delivery passage, a pre-chamber coupled to the cylinder, and a pre-chamber injector coupled to the pre-chamber and to the air delivery passage, downstream of the compressor, via a first port. As such, providing the secondary air via the turbulent jet system may include pressurizing the secondary air via the compressor. Further, in some examples, the secondary air, pressurized by the compressor, may be delivered to the pre-chamber via the injector. The secondary air may flow out of the pre-chamber to the cylinder, for example. In order to oxidize hydrocarbons after combustion in the cylinder, the secondary air may be injected near an end of an expansion stroke of the cylinder, such as close to bottom dead center (BDC) of the expansion stroke, and/or during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder. In some examples, the air delivery passage of the turbulent jet system may be coupled to an exhaust runner of the cylinder via a second port, and a valve may be disposed in the air delivery passage downstream of the first port and upstream of a second port. In such examples, providing the secondary air via the turbulent jet system may include adjusting a position of the valve. For example, the valve may be adjusted to a partially open position during a first operating condition, the valve may be adjusted to a fully open position during a second operating condition, and the valve may be adjusted to a fully closed position during a third operating condition. Further, the secondary air may be injected into the pre-chamber via the pre-chamber injector during each of the first operating condition and the third operating condition and not during the second operating condition. In this way, the secondary air may be provided to the exhaust runner and provided to the cylinder via the pre-chamber during the first operating condition, the secondary air may be provided to only the exhaust runner during the second operating condition, and the secondary air may be provided only to the cylinder via the pre-chamber during the third operating condition. The first operating condition may include a hydrocarbon output of the engine being greater than an upper threshold, the second operating condition may include the hydrocarbon output of the engine being less than the upper threshold and greater than a lower threshold, and the third operating condition may include the hydrocarbon output of the engine being less than the lower threshold. However, a hydrocarbon output of the vehicle may remain less than a threshold vehicle hydrocarbon output during each of the first, second, and third operating conditions. Additionally or alternatively, the first operating condition may include a duration since engine start being less than a first threshold duration, the second operating condition may include the duration since the engine start being greater than the first threshold duration and less than a second threshold duration, and the third operating condition may include the duration since the engine start being greater than the second threshold duration.
As another example, the heating of the catalyst may be responsive to a temperature of the catalyst being less than a threshold temperature, and the method may further comprise initiating combustion in the cylinder via the turbulent jet system after the temperature of the catalyst reaches or exceeds the threshold temperature. For example, initiating combustion in the cylinder via the turbulent jet system may include injecting fuel into the air delivery passage upstream of the first port to generate an air-fuel mixture, injecting the air-fuel mixture into the pre-chamber during a compression stroke of the cylinder via the pre-chamber injector, and actuating the igniter of the turbulent jet system at a desired ignition timing. For example, the igniter may be coupled to the pre-chamber. Further, initiating combustion in the cylinder via the turbulent jet system may include not actuating the spark plug directly coupled to the cylinder. Thus, the spark plug directly coupled to the cylinder may be used to provide ignition when the turbulent jet system is operated to provide secondary air while heating the catalyst, and the pre-chamber of the turbulent jet system may be used to provide ignition by actuating the igniter while heating the catalyst is not requested.
In an alternative configuration, the pre-chamber may include separate fuel and air injectors (instead of a common injector for both). For example, during a compression stroke, air may be injected via a pre-chamber air injector, and fuel may be injected via a pre-chamber fuel injector. The injected air and fuel may be ignited via the igniter of the turbulent jet system after the injections. Then, late in an expansion stroke or during an exhaust stroke of the same engine cycle, only air may be injected via the pre-chamber air injector (e.g., fuel is not injected via the pre-chamber fuel injector) to provide secondary air to the cylinder via the pre-chamber. In this way, the pre-chamber may be used during cold start to both provide ignition and secondary air into the cylinder.
By introducing secondary air at one or more locations coupled to the cylinder (e.g., the pre-chamber and the exhaust runner), late cycle hydrocarbons that were not burned during combustion in the cylinder may react with oxygen in the secondary air. As a result, the amount of hydrocarbons provided to the catalyst prior to the catalyst reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced. Further, the hydrocarbon oxidation may be enhanced due to the higher in-cylinder temperatures relative to providing secondary air to an exhaust manifold, for example. Vehicle costs and complexity may be reduced by providing the secondary air via the turbulent jet system compared with including an external thermactor pump and delivery lines. Overall, vehicle emissions prior to the catalyst reaching its light-off temperature may be reduced while the engine may operate with increased efficiency and reduced fuel consumption after the catalyst reaches its light-off temperature due to the turbulent jet system providing ignition.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.

Systems and methods for a combined pre-chamber and thermactor air system


Memory cell can stores a multi-valued value more than a binary value in a single storage cell by changing the amount of electric charge to be stored. Data logic stores storage data, each digit of which is binary as a binary value in each memory cell for each digit. Furthermore, the data logic determines whether a read request for storage data is legal. If the read request is legal, the data logic relates the amount of electric charge stored in the memory cell to a binary value. If it is illegal, the data logic relates the amount of electric charge stored in the memory cell to the above-mentioned multi-valued value. Then, the data logic outputs data obtained by arraying the related values in each digit as the requested storage data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to information storage, and more particularly relates to a technology preventing the steal of information.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a technology for preventing data stored in a semiconductor device, such as memory or the like, from being illegally read by a third party, a variety of technologies have been traditionally proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent Application No. H5-88986 discloses a technology for destroying information stored in information storage means of a capsule when the electric field of a piezoelectric material forming the capsule changes.
Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2001-195307 and H11-328036 discloses a technology for erasing information stored in non-volatile memory when voltage drop due to removing a thin film battery in order to observe an IC chip is detected.
Japanese Patent Application No. H10-320293 discloses a technology for providing a sensor for detecting the opening of an IC card and erasing the data of non-volatile memory in an IC card when the opening is detected.
Japanese Patent Application No. H9-16477 discloses a technology for removing the backup of the secondary storage device storing a decoding key to erase the decoding key when the primary storage device storing secrete data is disconnected from a bus line.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-73422 discloses a technology for breaking down data to be stored into a plurality of data pieces, any one of which has no meaning, storing each of them in different memory and erasing data stored in memory other than the removed one when the illegal removal of data in any of them is detected.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-202167 discloses a technology for encoding memory contents in a computer when there is an instruction to switch its computer power off or an instruction to enter a power-saving operation state, and for decoding the memory contents in the computer when there is an instruction to switch the computer power on or to return to a normal operation state.
Since some of the above-described technologies erase data against an illegal reading operation, even a regular user cannot regain the lost data after the illegal reading.
Since some of the above-described technologies use an encryption technology, the encoding/decoding gives a heavy process load to a system. Therefore, it is not easy for a system without any allowance in a processing capacity to adopt them.


A method and a system are described for context based clustering of one or more objects. The method comprises receiving, by the object clustering system, receiving, by an object clustering system, an object clustering request for one or more objects associated with a plurality of contextual parameters, where the plurality of contextual parameters comprises one or more physical attributes and one or more non-physical attributes. It further includes tagging the one or more non-physical attributes respectively to the one or more physical attributes. It further includes identifying a common context from the one or more physical attributes associated with the one or more objects based on the tagging. It further includes mapping the one or more physical attributes to the one or more objects based on the common context. It then includes clustering the one or more objects based on the mapping.

Clustering of objects from a document or image is challenging as it involves finding similar characteristics among the objects from the documents. Existing technologies only suggest clustering based on keywords and similarity patterns. Furthermore, there may be situations where the dynamics and attributes of objects may change even after the clustering, owing to false positives. The existing technologies only disclose document clustering of common types, regardless of content in the documents. And clustering of the objects is normally restricted to finding tangible content from the documents.
The information disclosed in this background of the disclosure section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Method and a system for context based clustering of object


An illustrative network management system obtains sensor data from one or more sensors at a network facility at which network equipment of a communication network is deployed. The sensor data includes image data representing imagery of the network facility. The system determines a utilization of a utility at the network facility based on the sensor data and performs, based on the utilization, a management operation for the communication network. Corresponding methods and systems are also described.

Network equipment of a modern communication network is typically deployed at distributed geographic locations called network sites. At a network site, a network facility (e.g., a structure such as a building) houses network equipment (e.g., computing devices implementing network servers, routers, gateways, etc.) and provides utilities such as physical space, electrical power, and cooling that support deployment and operation of the network equipment at the network site. The finite nature of the utilities available at network facilities may limit the deployment and operation of network equipment, particularly for network equipment that consumes large amounts of power, generates significant heat, and/or requires a large physical space.

Systems and methods for utilities-based network management


A prefabricated composite wall panel has a desired exterior finish defined by thin finish elements of brick, stone or any other suitable material and is adapted for mounting to the wall structure of a building framework by screws or other suitable fasteners. During panel manufacture thin wall finish elements are positioned at predetermined sites within the mold and aligned by alignment members in a pattern defining grout spaces. A grout placement screed having multiple holes arranged in a desired mortar pattern is positioned on the thin finish elements and pulverulent grout is deposited through the holes of the screed and into spaces between the finish elements. After removal of the screed the pulverulent grout is compacted and a liquid uncured polymeric mixture is applied as a contiguous substrate to the back surface of the panel and serves to retain the masonry elements and grout in place and to provide a moisture and air barrier that minimizes the potential for leakage or wicking of water or air infiltration through assembled panels of a wall structure. Finished panels having empty filler element spaces at side edges thereof are fixed to a wall or wall framework of a building with straight edges in abutment and filler elements are positioned to cover joints between the panels.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to interior and exterior finish wall veneer applications for use in the construction of buildings and building components, i.e., pre-fabricated wall systems. More particularly, the present invention concerns manufactured panels comprised of determined dimensions composed of a wide range of materials, including real brick veneer, rocks or stones, shale, limestone or composites of these materials, all being referred to as masonry materials. Typically the pre-manufactured wall panels are composed of materials having similar size and texture so that the finished wall panels will have the appearance of a conventional masonry wall when the installation is complete. These veneer or composite materials are embedded in or bonded with a moisture impervious substrate composed of a suitable polymer foam material such as poly-urethane mixture, for example, together with a premixed mortar that has the ornamental appearance of having been applied in the conventional manner. When the pre-manufactured wall panels employ thin brick members the bricks and mortar are arranged to replicate a finished brick or composite brick veneer wall structure. The pre-manufactured wall panels are designed to be applied to a building framework to collectively serve as a thermal insulating and moisture-proof wall structure and serve efficiently for the development of a finished wall structure for a building. The present invention also concerns a novel automated manufacturing process for the manufacture of the composite masonry wall panels of this panels of this invention.

Prefabricated composite wall panel and method and apparatus for manufacture and installation thereof


A process cartridge includes a toner reservoir. A first controller calculates a consumed amount of toner based on image data. A toner bottle is attached to the process cartridge. The toner bottle includes a toner chamber that holds the toner therein and supplies the toner into the reservoir. The toner bottle includes a first memory holding first information on a first amount of toner in the toner chamber and first identification information on the toner bottle. A second memory holds second information on a second amount of toner in the reservoir and second identification information on the toner bottle. If the first and second identification information do not coincide, it is determined that the toner bottle has been replaced and then the first information and the second information are updated based on the first information, the second information, and a capacity of the toner chamber.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a toner container into which a toner is replenished after the toner has been exhausted.
2. Description of the Related Art
An image forming apparatus forms a visible image developed with a toner in accordance with image information. Then, the visible image is transferred onto recording paper. A process cartridge includes a toner holding portion that holds the toner therein. As the images are formed more and more, the toner is consumed more and more.
Some image forming apparatuses are provided with a detecting means for detecting that an amount of toner remaining in the image forming apparatus is more than a reference value. The detecting means may be incorporated in a toner bottle to detect the amount of toner in the toner bottle. Alternatively, the detecting means may be incorporated in a process cartridge to detect the amount of toner in the process cartridge or a toner bottle (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. H09-236982 and 2003-50505).
Also, there has been proposed a technology that employs a restricting means for restricting the supply of toner from a toner bottle to a process cartridge, a memory for recording the usage of the toner in terms of the number of printed dots, and a detecting means provided in the process cartridge for detecting the remaining amount of toner. The combination of the detection output of the detecting means and the recorded usage of the toner informs a user of the time for the toner bottle to be replaced (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-267528).
However, the image forming apparatus including the detecting means disclosed by Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-236981 suffers from a problem in that the remaining amount of the toner in the toner bottle may not be accurately detected. The image forming apparatus disclosed by Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-50505 suffers from a problem that incorporating the detecting means leads to increased cost of the toner bottle.
The apparatus disclosed by Patent Application Laid-Open No. H09-236982 requires a toner supply restricting means such as a shutter for restricting the supply of toner from the toner bottle into the process cartridge. The provision of a shutter involves a mechanism for opening and closing the shutter, leading to increased cost of the apparatus.

Image forming apparatus with replaceable developer holder


A holder of a fuel injection valve is press-inserted to a housing of the fuel injection valve so as to be fixed to the housing, a cap of the fuel injection valve includes a notch portion for notching an annular portion, and is arranged in such a way that an inner circumference surface of the cap is faced to an outer circumference surface of a core of the fuel injection valve via a gap, and an electrode terminal of the fuel injection valve is connected to a terminal of a solenoid of the fuel injection valve via the notch portion of the cap.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a fuel injection valve which is mainly used for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, and relates to a manufacturing method for the fuel injection valve.
Background Art
In a conventional fuel injection valve, a movable valve component, which forms a valve mechanism, is composed of an armature and a valve portion, and the valve component is pressed to a valve washer by a spring when the valve is opened, and when an electrode terminal is energized, a magnetic field, which is generated by a solenoid device, generates a magnetic attractive force by which the armature is aspirated to a core side, whereby the valve component is shifted to the core side, and the valve is opened by producing a gap between the valve portion and the valve washer, and fuel is flowed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Moreover, in a conventional fuel injection valve, a magnetic passage is composed of a core, an armature, a holder, an unequal-diameter-cylindrical-shaped housing, and a cap. A solenoid device is installed in the housing, and the cap is welded and fixed to the housing in such a way that the cap covers the solenoid device in a cap shape. In this case, the housing and the cap are manufactured by a press processing or a squeeze processing, of which cost capability is excellent, so that a notch, which is used as an exit of an electrode terminal, is generally provided at the cap which is easily processed. Moreover, the cap is press-inserted to the holder, so that a gap is formed between the housing and the holder in order to absorb an axis deviation.
In the conventional fuel injection valve, the housing is not a component which contributes to a bending strength of the fuel injection valve, and the bending strength is maintained by the holder and the core. Therefore, a thin portion or the like, by which magnetic saturation is caused, for example, as described in Patent Document 2, is not formed in the holder.

Fuel injection valve and manufacturing method for fuel injection valve


A component mounter has two or more feeder carriages and two or more mounting heads corresponding to the feeder carriages. The mounting heads pick up components from each feeder carriage. A transfer device is able to pass components requiring transfer between the mounting heads. The transfer of components enables the mounter to be used efficiently by transferring components to a different mounting head when the operation of one of the mounting heads stops.

The present invention relates to component mounters and mounting methods such as for mounting electronic components onto substrates.
Component mounters for mounting electronic components such as semiconductors on substrates are equipped with a feeder carriage provided with multiple parts feeders for supplying components. A mounting head picks up components from the feeder carriage for mounting them on a substrate. If many types or numbers of components are to be mounted in the same mounting stage, two or more pairs of feeder carriages and mounting heads, without being limited to a single pair of the feeder carriage and mounting head, are disposed on the same mounting stage. These several pairs operate independently to mount components.
A recognizer captures an image of a component picked up by the mounting head while being held with a nozzle of the mounting head before mounting the component on the substrate to identify each component and detect positional deviation. In many cases, one recognizer is provided per mounting head when several mounting heads are disposed on the same mounting stage. Accordingly, if any problem occurs with one of these recognizers, the component held by the mounting head corresponding to this problematic recognizer is not recognized, and thus the mounting operation of the mounter stops.
In addition, some components require high precision recognition. Such components need to be set on a feeder carriage that will cause them to be examined by the high precision recognizer. Although several recognizers may be placed on the same mounting stage that on the same mounting stage are different types, only some of the recognizers may be high precision type. Accordingly, if the number of components requiring high precision recognition exceeds the capacity of the high precision recognizer, the components cannot be placed in regular feeder carriages even though the regular feeder carriages have space. They cannot be placed in regular feeder carriages due to the need for precision recognition.
As described above, the use of this type of conventional mounter may result in stopping the mounting operation being implemented by a combination of a feeder carriage and mounting head using a recognizer which has been stopped, even if there are several alternative feeder carriages and mounting heads. Alternatively, the capacity of the feeder carriage may not be effectively utilized due to mismatching between types of components and recognizers, causing undesired discrepancies. Consequently, the conventional mounter may not be efficiently utilized.
The present invention aims to offer a mounter and a mounting method for improving the efficiency of use of component mounters.
The component mounter of the present invention comprises the following:
(a) more than one feeder carriage;
(b) more than one mounting head provided corresponding to the feeder carriages for picking up components from each feeder carriage; and
(c) transfer means for passing a component requiring transfer between the mounting heads.
The above configuration enables the improvement of the efficiency of use of the mounter by passing the component to another mounting head even when the operation of one of the mounting heads has been stopped.
The mounting method of the present invention comprises the following steps of:
(a) picking up a component from a first mounting head;
(b) passing the component from the first mounting head to a second mounting head; and
(c) placing the component on the substrate using the second mounting head.
The above method enables the more efficient use of the mounter as a result of passing the component to another mounting head when the operation of one of the mounting heads has been stopped.
Another mounting method of the present invention comprises the following steps of:
(a) picking up a component from a first feeder carriage using a first mounting head;
(b) passing the component from the first mounting head to a second mounting head;
(c) recognizing the component using a recognizer installed on a second feeder carriage for supplying components to the second mounting head; and
d) placing the component on the substrate using the second mounting head after recognition.
The above method enables the use of the second recognizer to recognize the component even if the operation of the first mounting head stops or a discrepancy occurs between the type of component and the first recognizer installed on the first feeder carriage for supplying components to the first mounting head. Accordingly, the efficiency of use of the mounter may be improved.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An approach for recommending one or more content items for consumption during travel based on one or more travel times associated with one or more travel routes is described. A content item recommendation platform determines one or more travel routes associated with at least one device, at least one user of the at least one device, or a combination thereof. The content item recommendation platform further causes, at least in part, a recommendation of one or more content items based, at least in part, on one or more travel times associated with the one or more travel routes.

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular, etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience to consumers by, for example, providing compelling route planning applications and services. For example, device users often consume content items such as movies, music, multimedia and books as they travel along a given route. Typically, the content items are manually selected by the user and depending on their size and/or duration, may or may not be enjoyed in full within the time required to reach a destination along the travel route. Unfortunately, there is currently no convenient means for enabling a user to dynamically identify and select content items best suited for consumption along a travel route based on the approximate time required to reach a travel destination.

Method and apparatus for recommending content based on a travel route


The present invention provides a memory architecture and associated serial direct access (SDA) circuit. The memory architecture includes a memory of a parallel interface and a serial direct access (SDA) circuit. The SDA circuit includes an enable pin, a serial pin and an auto-test module. The enable pin receives an enable bit, wherein the SDA circuit is selectively enabled and disabled in response to the enable bit. When the SDA circuit is enabled, the serial pin sequentially relaying a plurality of serial bits, such that each of the serial bits is associated with one of parallel pins of the parallel interface; in addition, the auto-test module can perform a built-in test of the memory associated with the serial bits.

Integrated circuits formed on silicon dice have become one of the most import hardware foundations of modern technologies. In general, a die includes a plurality of circuit blocks, which are also known as silicon intellectual properties (IP's). For example, central processing units and micro control units are commonly adopted logic circuit blocks. Also, non-volatile and/or volatile embedded memories which can be integrated into a die have become essential circuit blocks in modern dice.
The circuit blocks of a die need to communicate with each other; for optimal efficiency of communication, each of the circuit blocks is equipped with a parallel interface of multiple pins coupled to other circuit block(s). For example, a parallel interface of a memory includes multiple address pins and multiple data pins; each of the address pins can simultaneously receive a portion (such as a binary bit) of an address, so a complete address for accessing the memory is obtained by collecting the portions respectively received by the address pins. For programming (writing) a data to the address of the memory, each data pin of the parallel interface simultaneously receives a portion (such as a binary bit) of the data, thus the complete data is gathered and programmed (written) into a memory location assigned by the address. To read a data from the address of the memory, each of the data pin simultaneously outputs a portion of the data, thus the complete data stored in the address is obtained and outputted through the parallel interface of the memory.
While a parallel interface of a circuit block enhances communication efficiency, it is difficult to perform function test for the circuit block through its parallel interface. Testers equipped with probing cards are used to test dice on silicon wafers; each probing card has multiple probes, each probe can contact to a pad of a die, such that signal and/or power can be fed into the die and/or received from the die. A probe can not contact to a pin unless the pin is connected to a pad, since a pin is merely an internal conduction path within a die for relaying and routing signal. That is, if a circuit block in a die is tested through parallel pins of the parallel interface, each of the parallel pins needs to be connected to an individual pad of the die. Arranging pads for pins of a parallel interface is very expensive, since each pad, e.g., a pad with electro-static discharge (ESD) protection, occupies a considerable layout area of a die. Furthermore, testing through parallel interface constrains efficiency of testing. Because a probing card only has a finite number of probes, more pads a die need to be probed, less dice can be simultaneously tested by a probing card.

Memory architecture and associated serial direct access circuit


A transmission system that is used in conjunction with a microturbine engine for propelling an aircraft body, such as a propeller-based fixed-wing aircraft or a rotor-based vertical lift aircraft, or for a wide variety of other applications. The output shaft of the microturbine engine preferably operates at a rotational speed in a range between 72,000 RPM and 150,000 RPM with an output power between 150 HP and 5 HP (and most preferably operates in an extended range between 50,000 RPM and 200,000 RPM with an output power between 200 HP and 5 HP). The two reduction stages provide a reduction ratio preferably having a value of at least 19, and most preferably greater than 24. The transmission system is of small-size preferably having a maximum diameter less than twelve inches. The two stages of the transmission system may comprise any one (or parts of) of a number of configurations, including an in-line lay shaft configuration, an in-line star-star configuration, an offset star-spur configuration, an offset compound idler configuration, an inline traction-internal gear configuration, and an inline traction-planetary gear configuration. Preferably, the input stage of the transmission system is self-equilibrating such that first shaft can be supported without bearings and is operably coupled to the output shaft of the microturbine engine by an outside diameter piloted spline coupling mechanism. For vertical lift applications, a single traction stage along with a bevel gear assembly or other shaft transmission mechanism can be used to provide the necessary RPM reduction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates broadly to the speed reduction systems for transmission of power from a gas turbine engine to a rotating drive element of an aircraft. More particularly, this invention relates to speed reduction systems for transmission of power from a small-size high-speed gas turbine engine to a slower-speed rotating drive element of an aircraft.
2. State of the Art
Small low-cost unmanned air vehicles (UAV's) have been developed and deployed to carry out a variety of military roles such as reconnaissance and attack missions. Currently, intermittent combustion piston engines of 100 HP (or less) power all of the low speed UAV aircraft. Most of these engines drive propellers without the need for a gearbox. However, these engines burn gasoline, which is highly flammable and thus undesirable for field service operations. Piston engines also have undesirable vibration characteristics and are difficult to start in cold weather operations.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Small-size high-speed transmission system for use in microturbine-powered aircraft


A surgical energy system includes a first and second surgical instruments and a generator including a universal interface. The first surgical instrument includes a first instrument connector having one or more instrument couplers disposed in a first instrument coupler configuration. The second surgical instrument includes a second instrument connector having one or more instrument couplers disposed in a second instrument coupler configuration. The first and second instrument coupler configurations are different. The generator includes a universal interface including generator couplers arranged to provide generator coupler configurations at the universal interface. Each generator coupler configuration accommodates one of the first and second instrument coupler configurations in order to electronically couple the generator to a respective one of the first and second surgical instruments.

Energy-based tissue treatment is well known in the art. Various types of energy (e.g., electrical, ultrasonic, microwave, cryogenic, heat, laser, etc.) are applied to tissue to achieve a desired result. For example, electrosurgery involves application of high radio frequency electrical current, microwave energy or resistive heating to a surgical site to cut, ablate, coagulate or seal tissue.
In bipolar electrosurgery, one of the electrodes of the hand-held instrument functions as the active electrode and the other as the return electrode. The return electrode is placed in close proximity to the active electrode such that an electrical circuit is formed between the two electrodes (e.g., electrosurgical forceps). In this manner, the applied electrical current is limited to the body tissue positioned between the electrodes.
Bipolar electrosurgical techniques and instruments can be used to coagulate blood vessels or tissue, e.g., soft tissue structures, such as lung, brain and intestine. A surgeon can either cauterize, coagulate/desiccate and/or simply reduce or slow bleeding, by controlling the intensity, frequency and duration of the electrosurgical energy applied between the electrodes and through the tissue. In order to achieve one of these desired surgical effects without causing unwanted charring of tissue at the surgical site or causing collateral damage to adjacent tissue, e.g., thermal spread, it is necessary to control the output from the electrosurgical generator, e.g., power, waveform, voltage, current, pulse rate, etc.
In monopolar electrosurgery, the active electrode is typically a part of the surgical instrument held by the surgeon that is applied to the tissue to be treated. A patient return electrode is placed remotely from the active electrode to carry the current back to the generator and safely disperse current applied by the active electrode. The return electrodes usually have a large patient contact surface area to minimize heating at that site. Heating is caused by high current densities which directly depend on the surface area. A larger surface contact area results in lower localized heat intensity. Return electrodes are typically sized based on assumptions of the maximum current utilized during a particular surgical procedure and the duty cycle (i.e., the percentage of time the generator is on).
Still, given that energy-based treatment may involve many different apparatuses and/or systems, irrespective of the type of energy modality utilized; such treatment often requires multiple connectors, plugs, and/or the like for coupling and/or interchanging these apparatuses, systems, and/or components thereof in order to effectuate desired energy-based treatments.

Surgical energy system with universal connection features