Flexible assembly designed for coupling flexible tubes comprising a sleeve (1) designed to receive the ends of two tubes to be coupled and provided with assembly means designed to cooperate with complementary assembly means carried by the ends of said tubes, characterized in that the assembly means of sleeve (1) have an annular chamber arranged in the inner wall of the sleeve, and whose edges form shoulders with reflex angles (3, 3') giving to it, in axial section, a dovetailed profile, and in that the complementary assembly means carried by tubes (7, 8) to be coupled are made up of tubular stops (5) permanently attached onto the ends of tubes (7, 8), the stops having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the annular chamber arranged in sleeve (1) and at least their edge designed to cooperate with the corresponding shoulder with reflex angle of the chamber having a complementary inclined profile (6) of that of shoulder (3) with reflex angle, and in that the length of the annular chamber is greater than the sum of the lengths of stops (5) attached onto the tubes to be coupled.

The invention has for a subject a flexible device for coupling flexible tubes, to be rolled up on themselves. Traditional couplings have solid parts, and in view of their somewhat large diameter, considerably hinder the regularity of rolling them up, being given that the tubes are placed flat.
The flexible device, according to the invention, permits remedying this disadvantage and introduces the following advantages: flexibility, correct rolling up, increased space, improved efficacy, no joint to change, and the assembly does not undergo the classical shocks from handling. Made of sheet rubber, it is light, and does not damage the tubes when they are rolled up.
The invention therefore has for a subject a flexible assembly designed for coupling flexible tubes comprising a sleeve designed to receive the ends of two tubes to be coupled and provided with assembly means designed to cooperate with complementary assembly means carried by the ends of said tubes, characterized in that the assembly means of the sleeve have an annular chamber arranged in the internal wall of the sleeve, and the edges of which form shoulders with reflex angles giving to it, in axial section, a dovetailed profile, and in that the complementary assembly means carried by the tubes to be coupled are made up of tubular stops permanently attached onto the ends of the tubes, the stops having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the annular chamber arranged in the sleeve and at least their edge designed to cooperate with the shoulder with the corresponding reflex angle of the chamber having a complementary inclined profile of that of the shoulder with the reflex angle, and in that the length of the annular chamber is greater than the sum of the lengths of the fixed stops on the tubes to be coupled.
According to one particular characteristic of the invention, the two edges of each of the stops have identical profiles in the form of inner chamfered edges, and the chamfered edges opposite to chamfered edges engaged in the shoulders with reflex angles of the annular chamber define a cavity with the portion of the corresponding inner wall of the annular chamber, permitting, under the effect of pressure, exerting on the lips formed by the chamfered edges an axial thrust on the stops and the tubes to which they are coupled and favoring the encasing of the edge of the stops in the shoulders with reflex angles of the annular chamber, and a radial thrust improving the tight seal.
A guiding line is drawn on the tubes downstream of the stops so as to proceed without hesitation in coupling manipulations.
The coupling process consists of the following steps in chronological order:
the end of each tube furnished with a stop is placed flat, folded in half in the longitudinal direction, then introduced into the sleeve held cylindrical, up to the guiding line for positioning the sleeve, PA1 the assembly is placed flat to better match the contours of the stop with those of the cavity of the sleeve, then is pulled back and forth to clamp the dovetail encasing.

Flexible couplings for flexible tubes designed to be rolled up flat on themselves


The invention provides epoxy resin compounds for manufacturing prepregs and composite materials, which can be obtained inexpensively and have good processibility, and provide--without having to add flameproofing agents--virtually inflammable molded materials with a high glass transition temperature. The epoxy resin compounds contain the following constituents:. (A) an aromatic and/or heterocyclic polyepoxide resin that is free of phosphorous, optionally in a mixture with an aliphatic epoxy resin; PA1 (B) an epoxy-group-containing phosphorous compound and PA1 (C) an aromatic polyamine as a curing agent.

Composite materials based on epoxy resins and inorganic or organic reinforcing agents have attained considerable importance in many areas of technology and daily life. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the epoxy resins can be processed relatively simply and safely and, on the other hand, to the good mechanical and chemical property level of the cured epoxy resin molded materials. This property level permits the epoxy resin materials to be adapted to diverse application purposes and allows the properties of the materials sharing in the composite to be used advantageously.
Epoxy resins are advantageously processed into composite materials via the manufacturing of prepregs. For this purpose, inorganic or organic reinforcing agents, respectively insertion components, in the form of fibers, fleece and fabric or textile materials are impregnated with the resin. In most cases, this is accomplished with a solution of the resin in an easily vaporizable or volatilizable solvent. The prepregs obtained after this process must not adhere anymore, but they also should not be cured yet; on the contrary the resin matrix should be merely in a prepolymerized state. In addition, the prepregs must be sufficiently stable in storage. Thus, for example, a storage stability of at least three months is required for manufacturing printed-circuit boards. In the subsequent processing into composite materials, the prepregs must furthermore fuse when there is a rise in temperature and must bind together under pressure with the reinforcing agents or insertion components as well as with the materials provided for the composite as compactly and permanently as possible; that is the cross-linked epoxy resin matrix must form a high degree of interfacial adherence with the reinforcing agents, as well as with the materials to be bonded together, such as metallic, ceramic, mineral and organic materials.
In the cured state, high mechanical and thermal stability as well as chemical resistance and heat deformation resistance or age resistance are generally required of the composite materials. For electrotechnical and electronic applications there is additionally the requirement for long-lasting, high electrical insulating properties. There are also a multitude of additional requirements for special application purposes. Required for the application as printed-circuit board material are, for example, a high-degree of dimensional stability over a broad temperature range, good adherence to glass and copper, high surface resistance, a low dielectric loss factor, good machining quality (punching capability, boring capability), minimal water absorption and high corrosion resistance.
With increasing stress and intensive use of the composite materials, the requirement for heat deformation resistance is given special importance. This means that during processing and use, the materials must withstand high temperatures without the composite becoming deformed or damaged, for example as the result of delamination. Printed-circuit boards, for example, are exposed to a temperature of 270.degree. C. during flow soldering. In the same way, during cutting and boring operations, temperatures of over 200.degree. C. can occur locally for brief periods. Materials with a high glass transition temperature T.sub.G exhibit favorable characteristics. If this glass transition temperature lies above the mentioned values, then inherent stability is guaranteed and damages such as warping and delamination are largely ruled out over the entire temperature range covered during processing. The epoxy resin currently used world-wide on a large scale for FR4 laminates has a glass transition temperature after curing of only 130.degree. C. This leads however to damages and breakdowns in manufacturing as described. Therefore, for quite some time there has been a need for cost-effective materials with comparatively good processibility and a glass transition temperature of over 200.degree. C.
A further requirement that has recently gained in importance is the requirement for flame resistance. In many areas, this requirement is given first priority--due to the danger to human beings and material assets--, for example in structural materials for airplane and motor vehicle construction and for public transportation vehicles. In electrotechnical and particularly electronic applications, it is absolutely necessary for the printed-circuit board materials to be flame resistant--due to the substantial worth of the electronic components assembled on them.
To assess burning behavior, one of the most demanding material testing standards must be withstood, namely the V-O rating according to UL 94V. In this test, a defined flame is applied vertically to the lower edge of a test piece. The sum of the combustion periods for ten tests must not exceed 50 s. This requirement is difficult to fulfill, especially when the wall thicknesses are thin, as is usually the case in electronics. The epoxy resin used in technical applications world-wide for FR4 laminates fulfills these requirements only because, as far as the resin is concerned, it contains approximately 30 to 40% core-brominated, aromatic epoxy components, that is approximately 17 to 21% bromine. For other application purposes, comparatively high concentrations of halogen compounds are used and are even often combined with antimony trioxide as a synergist. The difficulty associated with these compounds is that, on the one hand, they may be very effective as flameproofing agents, but, on the other hand, they possess very dangerous properties. Thus, antimony trioxide is on the list of carcinogenic chemicals. Also, in thermal decomposition, aromatic bromine compounds not only split off bromide radicals and hydrogen bromide, which lead to pronounced corrosion, but also when decomposing in the presence of oxygen, the highly brominated aromatic hydrocarbons in particular can also form highly toxic polybromodibenzofurans and polybromodibenzodioxins. Furthermore, there are considerable difficulties involved in the disposal of bromine-containing waste materials and toxic waste.
Materials, which comply with the requirement for increased resistance to heat deformation or even fulfill this requirement are for example molded materials based on bismaleinimid/triazine (BT) with a T.sub.G of approximately 200.degree. C. or polyimide (PI) with a T.sub.G of 260.degree. to 270.degree. C. Recently, BT epoxy blends with a T.sub.G of 180.degree. C. are also being offered. Laminates manufactured with these resin systems, however, exhibit worse processing and machining qualities than laminates based on epoxy resin. Thus, for example, manufacturing laminates on a polyimide base necessitates molding temperatures of about 230.degree. C. and considerably longer after-curing times (about eight hours) at temperatures of 230.degree. C. Other serious disadvantages of the polyimides are the low [level of] interlaminar adhesion, which causes delamination in die cutting operations and requires considerably more expensive and time-consuming machining processes, such as sawing or milling, as well as the high level of moisture absorption, which necessitates a costly drying operation (two hours at 120.degree. to 140.degree. C.) for the laminates and prepregs before the molding operation. In addition to this is the fact that in the machining of molded materials based on PI and BT, the borer is subject to greater wear resulting from the preparation of the fitting holes. Another serious disadvantage of these resin systems is that their material cost is six to ten times higher.
A comparatively cost-effective resin system is obtained when aromatic and/or heterocyclic polyepoxide resins, that is when polyglycidyl compounds are combined with aromatic polyamines as curing agents. These types of polyamines, known for example from the German Patent 27 43 680, result in network polymers that are particularly stable to heat-deformation and age resistant. From the European Published Patent Application 0 274 646, one can see that when 1.3.5-tris(3-amino-4alkylphenyl- 2.4.6-trioxo-hexahydrotriazines are used as curing agents, laminates are obtained, which exhibit glass transition temperatures of up to 245.degree. C. and are distinguished by a good processing and machining quality.
Even when the mentioned resin systems exhibit widely differing burning behaviors, the disadvantage of being inherently not flame retardant enough applies to all of them. Therefore, to fulfill the requirement indispensable for many application purposes, namely withstanding the fire test according to UL 94V with the rating V-O, one cannot do without the application of highly effective, bromine-containing flameproofing agents. The result is that one must put up with the potential danger associated with bromine compounds, on the one hand, and with a deterioration of the thermomechanical property level caused by the bromine compounds, on the other hand. It is known namely that adding core-brominated aromatic hydrocarbons brings about a reduction of the glass transition temperature. It was found, for example, that the glass transition temperature of polyimides is reduced by 40.degree. to 70.degree. C. when bromine compounds are added (c.f.:"Polymer Journal", vol. 20 (1988), pp 125 fol). In the epoxy and polyamine systems described in the European Published Patent Application 0 274 646, a reduction of the T.sub.G by approximately 50.degree. C. to values of below 200.degree. C. is found when the epoxy component is partially replaced by the corresponding brominated compound, meaning a total bromine concentration of 4%.
For these reasons, there have been many attempts to replace the bromine-containing flameproofing agent with less problematical substances. For example, fillers with a quenching gas effect were suggested, such as hydrated aluminum oxides (c.f.: "J. Fire and Flammability", vol. 3 (1972) , pp 51 fol) , alkaline aluminum carbonates (c.f.: "Plast. Engng.", vol. 32 (1976) , pp 41 fol) and magnesium hydroxides (European Published Patent Application 0 243 201), as well as vitrifying fillers, such as borates (c.f.: "Modern Plastics", vol. 47 (1970), No. 6 pp 140 fol) and phosphates (U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,139 and 3,398,019). Associated with all of these fillers is the disadvantage however, that in part they cause the mechanical, chemical and electrical properties of the composite materials to deteriorate considerably. Moreover, they require special, for the most part more expensive processing techniques, since they tend to sediment and because they increase the viscosity of the filled resin system.
The flame-retarding effectiveness of red phosphorus has also been previously described (British Patent 1,112,139), possibly combined with finely dispersed silicon dioxide or hydrated aluminum oxide (U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,135). Materials are thereby obtained which--due to the phosphoric acid that forms in the presence of moisture and the associated corrosion--limit the use for electrotechnical and electronic purposes. Furthermore, organic phosphorous compounds, such as phosphoric acid esters, phosphonic acid esters and phosphines, have been suggested as flame-retarding additives (c.f.: W.C. Kuryla and A.J. Papa "Flame Retardancy of Polymeric Materials", vol. 1, pp 24 to 38 and 52 to 61, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1973). Since these compounds are known for their "plasticizing" properties and are used all over the world on a large scale as plasticizers (British Patent 10,794), this alternative is not very promising either.
It is also possible to use phosphorous compounds, such as epoxy-group-containing phosphorous compounds which are anchorable in the epoxy resin network, to regulate the flame-retardancy of epoxy resins. However, a great many of these compounds are liquid or crystalline, so that using them to regulate the flame-retardancy of epoxy resins is out of the question. This is because they either distinctly lower the softening point of the solid resins, cause stickiness, or--in the case of crystalline compounds--recrystallize (c.f.: German Published Patent Application 25 38 675). Therefore, in all known publications, epoxy-group-containing phosphorus compounds are first converted in a prereaction with bisphenols or phenolic resins (German Published Patent Application 25 38 675 and Japanese Published Patent Application 58-185631), with dicarboxylic acids (c.f.: "Vysokomol. Soedin.", Ser. B. 29 (1), pp 45 to 47 (1987)), or with polyester resins from dihydroxy compounds and dicarboxylic acids (Japanese Published Patent Application 50-043221). Only then are they cured--primarily ionically--in a mixture with the epoxy resins. However, the flame resistance that is attained is negligible. Thus, for example, for resins obtained through a prereaction with bisphenols, LOI values (Limiting Oxygen Index) of 23.5 to 24 are attained (c.f. German Published Patent Application 25 38 675). These are values that one would find combustible materials, such as wool (LOI=25), while the LOI values for known flame retardant materials, such as polysulphone (LOI=30), polyvinyl chloride (LOI=42), polyvinylidene chloride (LOI=60) and polytetrafluoroethylene (LOI=95), lie considerably higher (c.f.: D.W. v. Krevelen "Properties of Polymers", Elsevier Scientific Publishing Comp., Amsterdam, Oxford, New York, 1976, pp 525 fol). In the case of the conversion products of polyester resins with triglycidyl phosphates (c.f.: Japanese Published Patent Application 50-043221), even halogen compounds and antimony trioxide must be added to regulate the flame retardancy of polyester fibers.
The thermomechanical properties of the molded materials obtained during hardening, however, are likewise insufficient. Thus, for example, a T.sub.G of 45.degree. to 80.degree. C. is obtained during the aminic hardening of epoxy resins resulting from methyl diglycidyl phosphonate and dicarboxylic acids (c.f. "Vysokomol. Soedin.", Set. B. 29 (1), pp 45 to 47 (1987)). This conforms with the experience that phosphoric acid ester groupings, both in the main polymer chain as well as in the side chain, basically cause a plasticization and thus a lowering of the glass transition temperature (c.f. "Journal of Macromolecular Science", Vol. C1, No. 1 (1967), pp 1 fol.).
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide epoxy resin compounds for manufacturing prepregs and composite materials which can be obtained inexpensively and are comparable in processibility to epoxy resins found in technical applications.
It is a further object of the invention to provide epoxy resin compounds which yield inflammable molded materials or composite materials having a highest possible glass transition temperature (of >>200.degree. C.), and which can be rated at V-O according to UL 94V without having to add halogen compounds or antimony trioxide.

Epoxy resin compounds in admixture with glycidyl phosphorus compounds and heterocyclic polyamines


An internal combustion engine includes an advanced vehicle system controller (VSC) that calculates a total power demand to meet a driver wheel power demand plus any accessory loads and independently schedules an engine speed and load operating point to meet the total power demand. A reduction in available engine brake power that is not associated with a driver input, and would ordinarily cause the VSC to respond by raising engine speed, is detected. The driver wheel power demand is reduced to compensate for the reduction in available engine brake power such that the VSC does not need to raise engine speed to meet the driver wheel power demand. A magnitude of the reduction may be determined according to a calibration map to allow a trade off to be made between driveability and noise, vibration, and harshness.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine which includes an advanced vehicle system controller (VSC) that calculates the total engine power needed to meet the driver demand plus all accessory loads and independently schedules the engine speed and load operating point, with or without feedback of actual engine performance, to meet the total power demand.
2. Background Art
In an existing internal combustion engine including an advanced vehicle system controller (VSC), the VSC calculates the total engine power needed to meet the driver wheel power demand plus all accessory loads, and independently schedules the engine speed and load operating point, with or without feedback of actual engine performance, to meet the total power demand. By scheduling the most efficient engine speed and load operating point, the VSC may attempt to maximize fuel economy. Examples of powertrain systems which may involve VSCs include continuously variable transmission (CVT) and power split hybrid applications.
In an existing hybrid electric vehicle including such a VSC, the engine speed can flare up by 1,000 rpm when the air conditioner (A/C) compressor clutch engages. When the A/C compressor clutch disengages, the engine speed falls by 1,000 rpm. This engine speed cycling would typically occur at higher altitudes where the engine is running at wide open throttle (WOT). If the hybrid electric vehicle runs the engine at WOT at lower altitudes, then engine speed cycling at lower altitudes can also occur. The compressor clutch engaging and disengaging is driven by low and high pressure cut-out switches in the A/C system. Accordingly, the A/C compressor clutch cycles independently of the climate control panel's mode selector switch and the driver's accelerator pedal position. As such, the changes in engine speed are not associated with a driver input. Therefore, this engine speed behavior may be intrusive and disturbing to the operator of the vehicle.
In the existing hybrid electric vehicle, the engine speed flare up is a result of the VSC's response to a reduction in available engine brake power caused by the A/C compressor clutch engagement. Put another way, the VSC calculates the total engine power needed to meet the driver demand plus all accessory loads and independently schedules the engine speed and load operating point to meet the total power demand. The engaging of the A/C compressor clutch increases the accessory load, thus increasing the total power demand. When the engine is operating at WOT, in order to maintain the driver's requested wheel power output and the high voltage battery charge balance, the VSC must compensate for the power lost to the A/C system by raising the engine speed.
When the engine is not running at WOT, the VSC may respond to A/C cycling by adjusting the throttle position to increase or decrease the brake engine power as necessary. These throttle position adjustments are sufficient to make up the power consumed by the A/C system and the VSC does not need to increase the engine speed. However, at higher elevations, the VSC runs the engine at wide open throttle (WOT) frequently so that the VSC responds to A/C compressor clutch engagements by increasing the engine speed.
In general, any change to engine brake power not associated with a driver input can cause the VSC to respond with an intrusive engine speed change.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a method for controlling an internal combustion engine including an advanced vehicle system controller that addresses these engine speed flare ups.

Method for compensating for accessory loading


An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for correlating a cost of receiving media to a user's exposure to advertising. A media display system including a media recorder detects and reports that a media display system user has skipped over an advertising program without watching or listening to the advertising program. A fee is calculated and charged to the user in lieu of the user's watching or listening to the advertising program. Alternatively, a user may subscribe to a service that allows the user to skip over some or all advertising programs displayed on the media display system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to media display systems and more particularly relates to a system and method for correlating a cost of receiving media to a user's exposure to advertising.
2. Description of the Related Art
Media display systems often utilize media content providers which broadcast content to multiple users. For example, a television station may propagate a radio-frequency ("RF") signal that includes video and audio content of a television program. A radio station may propagate a similar RF signal that includes only audio content. Alternatively, a media content provider may simultaneously transmit a plurality of audio or television programs, usually utilizing a broadband delivery system such as a cable-television distribution network, a satellite-television distribution network, or a satellite-radio distribution network. Using a media reception device, such as a television or radio, a media display system user may select one of these plurality of transmitted programs to either listen to or watch.
Media recorders have become increasingly popular with media display system users. For example, many television viewers now utilize digital video recorders to store one or more television programs until a later and more convenient time to watch these programs. Similar devices for RF and Satellite radio programs are also available. With these media recorders, a media display system user may select, record, play, rewind, advance, or delete any of a multitude of programs broadcast by a media content provider. The advance function allows the user to skip over or fast-forward through segments of recorded programming; in particular many users utilize the advance function to skip over advertisements. Some media recorders include intelligent "commercial advance" features that attempt to differentiate advertisement content from program content and allow the user to manually or automatically skip advertising content. Media recorders also have the capacity to capture, store, and report information on the user's actions (such as which portions of a recorded program are skipped).
The schematic block diagram of FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional media display system 10 including a content provider 12, a media recorder 14, and a media display device 16. The content provider 12 may include a broadcaster, a cable-television provider, a satellite-television provider, a satellite-radio provider, or the like. The media recorder 14 may include a digital video recorder ("DVR"), a general purpose computing system, a digital audio recorder/playback device, or similar recording device. The media content provider 12 provides a multitude of media programs collectively indicated as media content 18. The media display device 16 may include a television, a radio, a computer monitor, or other device capable of displaying this media content 18 as displayed media 26. A user input device 28, such as an infra-red remote control or a general purpose computer pointing device, allows the media display system user to select a program from the media content 18 for display or storage.
A media transmission communication path 20 carries media content from the media content provider 12 to the media recorder 14. This media transmission communication path 20 may include an RF transmission/reception system, a cable-distribution system, a satellite-distribution system, or the like.
Some media display systems 10 include a data transmission communication path 30 from the media recorder 14 to the media content provider 12. The media content provider 12 may utilize this data transmission communication path 30 to collect information from the media recorder 14 such as the media recorder's identification, the location of the media recorder 14, or similar information. Alternatively, some media display systems 10 may utilize a bi-directional media transmission communication path 20 capable of carrying information from the media recorder 14 to the media content provider 12.
The media recorder 14 typically includes a media storage device 22 such as a hard disk drive, a tape cartridge, an optical-disk, a flash memory device, a non-volatile random access memory device, or the like. Media content 18 is stored on the media storage device 22 until requested by the media display system user. Once selected, the media content 18 is transmitted to the media display device 16 via a display transmission communication path 24.
The media content 18 provided by the media content provider 12 typically includes a large percentage of advertising programs. Advertisers pay media content providers 12 large amounts of money to broadcast these advertising programs to media display system users with the expectation that these users will watch or listen to the advertising programs. However, using media recorders 14, media display system users can advance the media recorder 14 through an advertising program, effectively skipping over the advertising program. This situation creates a problem in that advertisers will reduce the amount of money they are willing to pay to media content providers if the media content providers cannot ensure that the advertising programs will be watched or listened to by a sufficient number of media display system users. The media content providers, therefore, may wish to encourage media display system users to watch or listen to more advertising programs or the media content providers may be forced to seek other forms of revenue.
From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an apparatus, system, and method for correlating a cost of receiving media to a user's exposure to advertising. Beneficially, such an apparatus, system, and method would perform this task while utilizing a reporting function from the media recorder to the media content provider.

Apparatus, system, and method for correlating a cost of media service to advertising exposure

International Business Machines Corporation


Balancing devices or systems have been used to compensate for the periodic unbalanced forces generated by the reciprocating movement of the piston and connecting rod assemblies of an engine. These devices in the past have reduced serviceability, increased engine component complexity, increased cost and have reduced reliability. The subject device provides a simple, inexpensive, more serviceable and reliable balancing system. A plurality of individual bearing supports are removably attached to the engine, a pair of balancing shafts are rotatably positioned in the supports and a thrust pin is isolatingly mounted between the support and the shaft. A pair of o-rings are mounted about each end of the pin and is positioned in the support at least partially isolating the pin from the engine. The center of the pin has a plurality of seating surfaces thereon which have an oil film between the seating surfaces and a groove in the shaft. The balancing system is separate from the engine and can be easily added or removed. Thus, the system isolates the axial loads from the engine to the balancing system and is simple, inexpensive and reliable.

In a conventional four cylinder internal combustion engine, balancing of the secondary inertia forces is of a main concern. In many applications, a pair of axially positioned counter-rotating balancing shafts are used to cancel the secondary forces. The secondary forces are produced by the piston and the connecting rod connected to the crankarms of the crankshaft. These forces are basically reciprocation forces and are essentially directed in a vertical plane. They are brought into existence by the angularity of the connecting rod and the varying ratio of the rod to the crankarm length and these forces are produced at a rate of twice the frequency of the engine speed. Accordingly, these forces are considered forces of secondary order since their frequency is twice that of the engine speed with the secondary forces being twice the frequency of the primary forces. The secondary forces operate in the same direction and each crankarm and connection rod produces forces of the same magnitude and in the same direction. The result of the secondary forces in a four cylinder engine of this design is four times the forces of any one cylinder in the engine. Accordingly, the unbalanced secondary forces, gas loads and minor manufacturing imperfections can develop a considerably resultant of force which cause the entire engine to vibrate, roll, pitch and yaw and a balancing system is normally incorporated in the engine.
In addition to the internal engine generated forces, external forces are applied to the engine. For example, when the engine is used to power a piece of earthmoving equipment impact forces from the working of the equipment are transmitted to the engine. These forces may be transferred in a direction axial to the balancer shaft whereas internal forces are normally transferred perpendicular to the rotational direction of the shaft. The shafts of such balancers are normally constrained in an axial direction by a rigid member which transfers these impact loads from the machine to the balancing system. One such positioning member is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,821 issued to Floyd G. West on Jan. 17, 1984. The shaft is rigidly positioned in a housing by a washer and snap ring combination at one end and a gear and screw combination at the other end.
Another example of a rigid positioning system is disclosed in Caterpillar Parts Book for a 3304 Industrial Engine published in July of 1978 and shown on pages 23 and 25. The balancing shafts are positioned in the block by a pair of plates secured to the block and positioned in grooves in the shafts.
Thus, what is needed is a positioning system or an isolating device that can isolate both internally and externally induced forces from the balancer system or a rotating shaft. Furthermore, the device must be able to resist wear and provide adequate service life.

Isolated thrust pin for use with a rotating shaft


The present invention relates to a space-based instrument which provides continuous coronal electron temperature and velocity images, for a predetermined period of time, thereby improving the understanding of coronal evolution and how the solar wind and Coronal Mass Ejection transients evolve from the low solar atmosphere through the heliosphere for an entire solar rotation. Specifically, the present invention relates to using a 6U spherical occulter coronagraph CubeSat, and a relative navigational system (RNS) that controls the position of the spacecraft relative to the occulting sphere. The present invention innovatively deploys a free-flying spherical occulter, and after deployment, the actively controlled CubeSat will provide an inertial formation flying with the spherical occulter and Sun.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a space-based instrument which can provide continuous coronal electron temperature and velocity images, for a predetermined period of time, thereby improving the understanding of coronal evolution and how the solar wind and coronal mass ejection (CME) transients evolve from the low solar atmosphere through the heliosphere for an entire solar rotation. Specifically, the present invention relates to using a spherical occulter coronagraph CubeSat, and a relative navigational system that controls the position of the spacecraft relative to the occulting sphere.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional solar coronagraphs measure visible photospheric light Thomson-scattered by coronal electrons, imaging the seemingly static solar corona including transients, such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), as they disrupt the overlying magnetic field.
However, the resolution of the images in the low corona is related to the distance that the external occulter is from the imaging optics; the farther the occulter the better the image. This is why a total solar eclipse is the ideal coronagraph, as the moon is over 200,000 miles from the observers. Traditional imagers use mechanical structures, such as tubes, to mount and align the occulter to the optics, and these structures limit this distance to ˜1 meter due to volume/mass limitations to get these instruments into space.
Thus, a coronagraph that is capable of eliminating any mechanical structure and utilize inertial formation flying of two separate spacecraft, one containing the occulter and the other the spacecraft, is desired.

The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration


In one example, a method can be performed that involves receiving a backup request specifying: one or more files to be backed up; a group of one or more categories, each of which corresponds to a respective range of file sizes; and, one or more storage destinations, categorizing each of the files by assigning a respective category to each file, initiating a respective backup datastream corresponding to each category that has been assigned, and requesting that each backup datastream be backed up at the respective storage destination that corresponds to the assigned category associated with that backup datastream.

Entities typically generate and use data that is important in some way to their operations. This data can include, for example, business data, financial data, and personnel data. Accordingly, entities create and store backups of their important data that can later be used in a data restore process if necessary.
Generally, entities have found it convenient, when storing a backup, to store the entire backup in a single location. This approach can enable a relatively simple and uncomplicated backup process. Moreover, access to the stored backup is relatively straightforward, as least insofar as a user has assurance that all the data of a particular backup of interest is stored in a single location.
Despite these advantages however, conventional approaches to the storage and use of backups such as those just described have proven problematic in some regards. For example, the backup is largely stored without regard to subsequent ease of access should a user need to access particular elements of the backup. That is, the backup is stored in a way that may be relatively efficient in terms of execution of the backup process, but which may not be well suited to support subsequent user access.
As another example of technological problems with conventional backup processes, a user desiring to access a particular file may be compelled to restore the entire backup in order to gain access to that file since there is no mechanism available to the user to identify and select that particular file from the stored backup. This is both inconvenient and time consuming, particularly if the backup is relatively large and/or if the backup includes one or more relatively large files.

Method of categorizing data and its backup destination


Solar cells are provided which comprise an electron transporting layer and a light sensitizing layer of perovskite disposed over the surface of the electron transporting layer. The perovskite may have a formula selected from the group consisting of A2MX6, Z2MX6 or YMX6, wherein A is an alkali metal, M is a metal or a metalloid, X is a halide, Z is selected from the group consisting of a primary ammonium, an iminium, a secondary ammonium, a tertiary ammonium, and a quaternary ammonium, and Y has formula Mb(L)3, wherein Mb is a transition metal in the 2+ oxidation state L is an N—N neutral chelating ligand. Methods of making the solar cells are also provided, including methods based on electrospray deposition.

Intense research has been dedicated in recent years to replace fossil fuel and meet the increasing energy needs of modern society. One of the most prominent sources of renewable energy is solar energy which makes use of the virtually inexhaustible energy source, the sun. Photovoltaic research has been growing rapidly in search of inexpensive and environmentally friendly energy conversion and storage systems. Historically, conventional photovoltaics have been expensive due to the complex fabrication procedures and/or high price of raw materials some of which consist of toxic elements. These obstacles have motivated a burgeoning field of research in solar technologies fabricated from fundamentally low-cost materials employing inexpensive fabrication methods.
There has been a recent surge of interest in the solar cell community on the use of perovskites compounds for solar cell device fabrication. In particular, the AMX3 lead based compounds, such as CH3NH3PbI3, have demonstrated cell efficiencies new 20%. This is a major breakthrough in terms of the so-called 3rd generation cell development.

Solar cells with perovskite-based light sensitization layers


A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine of either a two-cycle operation or a four-cycle operation is disclosed. The cylinder head includes an intake port, an exhaust port, a dual-function chamber, a poppet valve positioned within the dual-function chamber, and a flapper valve also positioned within the dual-function chamber, capable of sealing the intake port from the dual-function chamber, capable of sealing the exhaust port from the dual-function chamber. If the cylinder head is for a two-cycle engine, an injector may be positioned within the cylinder head so that fuel is injected either within the dual-function chamber, or directly injected within the combustion chamber. A process of operating the cylinder head in conjunction with an internal combustion engine is also disclosed.

1. Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates to a cylinder head for an internal combustion engine. In particular, the cylinder head of the present invention has one valve per cylinder for both the intake and exhaust functions of either a two-cycle or a four-cycle engine. More particularly, the cylinder head of the present invention employs a poppet valve in communication with the combustion chamber and is designed to exceed the air flow capability (outflow) of conventional two, three, and four valve per cylinder. Because the power of an engine is proportional to the air flow capacity, the cylinder head of the present invention yields an increase in power over conventional cylinder heads.
The present invention also discloses a process of operating the cylinder head in conjunction with an internal engine.
2. Prior Art
Fuel efficiency requirements by the United States and other governments throughout the world become increasingly more difficult to attain. Fuel efficiency dictates lighter weight cars and smaller engines compared with engines produced as little as ten years ago. To obtain increased power from the smaller engines, manufacturers are abandoning typical two-valve per cylinder engines (an exhaust valve and an intake valve) and instead manufacturing engines having multivalves, such as two intake valves and one exhaust valve, or two intake valves and two exhaust valves. Such multivalve engines are designed to increase the flow of the fuel air mixture into the combustion chamber to achieve the increased power from each cylinder of the engine.
Various problems arise, however, in the use of multivalve engines. First, design considerations become much harder to achieve because two intake valves and two exhaust valves must now be designed and operated in a space (the top of the combustion chamber) which traditionally only held one intake valve and one exhaust valve. Moreover, controlling each of these valves in synchronization, or independently, requires several times more moveable components, thereby increasing manufacturing cost and potential maintenance and repair costs.
Second, cramming multivalves into a combustion chamber decreases the efficiency of each valve because the size of each valve is reduced and the effective curtain area (the area of air flow around each valve) is reduced because flow from one valve interferes with the flow from another valve, and because space limitations require that the valves be positioned close to the combustion chamber side walls, thus further reducing the effective curtain area of the valves.
Third, multivalve engines are not clean, compared with two-valves r cylinder engines, and therefore carry an emissions debit such as higher hydrocarbons, carbon monoxides, and oxides of nitrogen. It has been reported that the emissions debit of multivalve engines, depending on the size of the engines, is anywhere from 25 to 40 percent higher in hydrocarbons. Thus, increasing the flow to achieve more power by employing multivalve engines provides a whole host of other problems which must be overcome while simultaneously meeting increased fuel efficiency requirements.
One potential solution to this problem is to employ a rotary valve positioned atop the combustion chamber, which at one point of the rotation of the valve, the intake of a fuel air mixture into the combustion chamber occurs, while at another location of the rotary valve, the exhaust gases are permitted to exit the combustion chamber. A single rotary valve per cylinder design has been known for many years and suffers many problems which to this day have not been overcome. Chiefly among those problems is the inability to adequately seal around the rotary valve to prevent oil leakage, fuel air mixture leakage, and exhaust gases leakage.
Another solution is proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,097,633 to Klein. This patent employs a single poppet valve in the cylinder chamber and a curved deflector gate to oscillate between an intake conduit and an exhaust conduit. It is believed that this combustion head design suffers several defects making the design impractical for today's internal combustion engine requirements. First, there is an increase in emissions due to fuel trapped under the curved deflector gate as it oscillates between the open and closed positions where unburned hydrocarbons are exhausted from the combustion chamber. Secondly, it is believed that a pulsating motion which negatively affects flow efficiency is set up in the intake conduit, particularly at high speeds, because the curved deflector gate opens into, and therefore counter-directional to, the flow of the fuel air mixture. Thirdly, during the exhaust cycle, the rush of exhaust gases tends to deflect the curved deflector toward the intake position, thereby tending to force exhaust gases into the intake passage. Fourthly, the bight side of the curved deflector is exposed to both the fuel mixture and the exhaust gases. Any carbon deposits on the bight side could cause undesirable pre-ignition and/or dieseling by virtue of the fuel/air mixture contacting the hot carbon deposits. Fifthly, as the engine heats up, the deflector gate, which is in contact with the exhaust gases, also heats up. The expansion of the deflector gate enlarges the slot, and sealing becomes difficult to achieve which may permit the escape of unburned hydrocarbons.
There continues to be a need for an improved cylinder head design to possess flow characteristics equal to or exceeding that of multivalve engines, while simultaneously improving the emissions debit. The present invention, it is believed, meets not only these criteria, but also possesses other characteristics manufacturers of internal combustion engines desire.

Cylinder head for internal combustion engine and a process of operating same


Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for utilizing breakpoint value-based fingerprints of failing regression test cases to determine specific components of a System Under Test (SUT) that are causing a fault such as specific lines of source code. A failing test case from a regression run is selected and fault localization and inverse combinatorics techniques are employed to generate a set of failing test cases around the selected failing test case. A set of test fingerprints corresponding to the set of failing test cases is compared to a set of test fingerprints corresponding to a set of passing test cases to determine breakpoints that are indicated as being encountered during execution of at least one failing test case and that are not encountered during execution of any of the passing test cases. Specific lines of source code that correspond to these breakpoints are then identified as causing the fault.

The present invention relates generally to regression testing, and more particularly, to fault detection that utilizes breakpoint value-based fingerprints of failing regression test cases to pinpoint specific components of a System Under Test (SUT) that are causing a fault such as specific lines of source code.
Breakpoints are intentional stopping or pausing points in a program, typically inserted for the purposes of debugging. More generally, a breakpoint is a means of acquiring knowledge about a program's execution. When a breakpoint is reached during execution, a test environment (e.g., general purpose registers, memory, logs, files, etc.) to attempt to determine whether the program is functioning as expected. Breakpoints are commonly used to interrupt a running program immediately before execution of particular program instructions, in which case, they may be referred to as instruction breakpoints.
Combinatorial Test Design (CTD) is a testing methodology that seeks to increase test space coverage for a System Under Test (SUT) through the use of automated algorithms. These algorithms identify input patterns that are most likely to locate problems in the SUT, thereby reducing the amount of time required for a tester to build test cases and an automation framework. CTD is well-adapted for projects that require numerous variations on static input vectors to properly test various system states and logic pathways, which would otherwise be extremely cumbersome for a human tester.
CTD provides enhanced testing efficiency over manual testing through the use of automated algorithms. CTD methodologies, however, still suffer from a number of technical drawbacks, technical solutions to which are described herein.

Fault detection using breakpoint value-based fingerprints of failing regression test cases

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Systems for detecting one or more central auditory potentials include an implantable cochlear stimulator configured to be implanted within a patient and to generate a stimulation current in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, a signal processing unit configured to be located external to the patient and to be communicatively coupled to the implantable cochlear stimulator, and one or more electrodes configured to be removably coupled to the signal processing unit. The electrodes are configured to detect the one or more central auditory potentials and the signal processing unit is configured to process the detected central auditory potentials.

The sense of hearing in human beings involves the use of hair cells in the cochlea that convert or transduce acoustic signals into auditory nerve impulses. Hearing loss, which may be due to many different causes, is generally of two types: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss occurs when the normal mechanical pathways for sound to reach the hair cells in the cochlea are impeded. These sound pathways may be impeded, for example, by damage to the auditory ossicles. Conductive hearing loss may often be helped by the use of conventional hearing aids that amplify sound so that acoustic signals reach the cochlea and the hair cells. Some types of conductive hearing loss may also be treated by surgical procedures.
Sensorineural hearing loss, on the other hand, is due to the absence or the destruction of the hair cells in the cochlea which are needed to transduce acoustic signals into auditory nerve impulses. Thus, people who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss are unable to derive any benefit from conventional hearing aid systems.
To overcome sensorineural hearing loss, numerous cochlear implant systems—or cochlear prosthesis—have been developed. Cochlear implant systems seek to bypass the hair cells in the cochlea by presenting electrical stimulation directly to the auditory nerve fibers. Direct stimulation of the auditory nerve fibers leads to the perception of sound in the brain and at least partial restoration of hearing function. To facilitate direct stimulation of the auditory nerve fibers, an array of electrodes may be implanted in the cochlea. A sound processor processes and translates an incoming sound into electrical stimulation pulses applied by these electrodes which directly stimulate the auditory nerve.
When a cochlear implant system is initially implanted in a patient, and during follow-up tests and checkups thereafter, it is usually necessary to fit the cochlear implant system to the patient. Such "fitting" includes adjustment of the base amplitude or intensity of the various stimuli generated by the cochlear implant system from the factory settings (or default values) to values that are most effective and comfortable for the patient. For example, the intensity or amplitude and/or duration of the individual stimulation pulses provided by the cochlear implant system may be mapped to an appropriate dynamic audio range so that the appropriate "loudness" of sensed audio signals is perceived. That is, loud sounds should be sensed by the patient at a level that is perceived as loud, but not painfully loud. Soft sounds should similarly be sensed by the patient at a level that is soft, but not so soft that the sounds are not perceived at all.
Hence, fitting and adjusting the intensity of the stimuli and other parameters of a cochlear implant system to meet a particular patient's needs requires the determination of a most comfortable current level (M). The most comfortable current level refers to a stimulation current level applied by a cochlear implant system at which the patient is most comfortable. The most comfortable current level (M) typically varies from patient to patient and from channel to channel in a multichannel cochlear implant.
Heretofore, the most comfortable current level (M) has been determined by an expert clinician presenting various stimuli to the patient and relying on subjective feedback from the patient as to how such stimuli are perceived. Such subjective feedback typically takes the form of either verbal (adult) or non-verbal (child) feedback. Unfortunately, relying on subjective feedback in this manner is difficult, particularly for those patients who may have never heard sound before and/or who have never heard electrically-generated "sound". For young children, the problem is exacerbated by a short attention span, as well as difficulty in understanding instructions and concepts, such as high and low pitch, softer and louder, same and different. Moreover, many patients, such as infants and those with multiple disabilities, are completely unable to provide subjective feedback.
In addition, the optimal fitting parameters of a cochlear implant system may vary during a patient's lifetime. For example, in the developing nervous system of young children, frequent changes in the intensity of the stimuli may be required in order to optimize the cochlear implant system. The optimal fitting parameters may vary during hormonal changes (e.g., a woman's menstrual cycle), or may vary with medication or illness. These changes may require frequent refitting sessions.

Systems and methods for detecting one or more central auditory potentials


A mixed injection port capable of suppressing the continuous accumulation of medical fluid or blood therein and allowing efficient internal cleaning, wherein a recirculation part (140) is formed at a step between an inner cavity (114) and a thin tube part (117). Even if the fluid is accumulated in a clearance area (1141) produced in the inner cavity (114) when a lure is inserted into a slit (131), the fluid can be securely replaced with the fluid newly flowing therein through a septum (130) and the continuous accumulation of the fluid can be suppressed. A more efficient internal cleaning can be realized by installing a fluid accumulation prevention part such as an annular rib between the septum (130) and the inside wall of the inner cavity (114) and burying the clearance area (1141).

A mixture injection port may be provided as a medical connector between an intracatheter inserted to a blood vessel of a patient and an infusion solution bag, a syringe or the like in which a fluid such as blood or an infusion solution is stored for intravenous nutrition, blood transfusion, blood collection or the like. This mixture injection port is provided with a channel tube through which a fluid such as high calorie infusion solution or blood flows in its inside, and is provided between a tube member such as a luer or a cannula connected to a storing portion in which a medical liquid is stored, such as an infusion solution bag and a syringe, and an extension tube connected to, for example, an intracatheter. One end of the channel tube is covered with a septum having a slit into which the tube member is inserted so that a medical liquid in the storing portion is infused to the body of a patient while the member such as a luer is inserted and fixed in the slit.
JP2002-191583A discloses an example of a connector (injection site) that is provided between a puncture needle and a cannula, a luer or the like at the time of collecting blood of a patient as an example of a medical connector used in the above-described cases and a cannula device. Hereinafter, such a conventional technique will be described.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector of a conventional technique.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a connector 900, one end of a channel tube 910 is covered by a septum 920 made of an elastic material such as rubber and provided with a slit 921, and the other end (second end) of the channel tube 910 is attached to an intracatheter pieced to, for example, a blood vessel of a patient via an extension tube (both not shown). A medical liquid is poured into the channel tube 910 from a cannula 990 inserted into the slit 921 of the septum 920, and infused to a patient through the second end of the channel tube 910.
When the cannula 990 is removed from the septum 920 at the end of the infusion, the slit 921 portion is automatically closed by the elasticity of the septum 920 to prevent microorganisms such as bacteria from entering the inner cavity 930 of the channel tube 910 from the outside and from being grown (see JP2002-191583A).
Thus, even if the cannula 990 is removed, the inner cavity 930 of the connector is not exposed to external air, so that penetration of microorganisms can be suppressed and their growth can be suppressed.


An anchor includes a rotatable anchor rod an anchor plate and an anchor nut. The screw thread in the anchor nut matches the screw thread of the anchor rod only over part of the screw thread hole. Thus the anchor nut can only be screwed some way further onto the anchor rod, and up to a predetermined torque can be used for rotating the anchor rod during placement of the anchor. As soon as the anchor rod is firmly seated in the drill hole, as a result of the action of adhesive, mortar or expansion or spreading, the anchor rod forms a through-thread in the screw thread hole when the anchor nut is rotated relative to the anchor rod, and consequently the anchor nut can finally be screwed onto the anchor rod until it affixes the anchor plate in its final position to the ground.

(1) Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an anchor. In particular, the invention relates to an anchor whose anchor rod during installation (placement) of the anchor needs to be rotated, as is, for example, the case with anchors embedded in adhesive, with anchors affixed by mortar, or with expansion bolt anchors.
(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
The procedure for placing anchors embedded in adhesive is such that a hole is drilled into the ground in which the anchor is to be placed. Thereafter one or several cartridges containing adhesive are inserted in the drill hole in that they are either pushed into the drill hole by means of a ramrod or in that they are shot in by means of compressed air. As a rule, these cartridges comprise two-component adhesives whose components are stored in the cartridges so as to be spatially separate from each other, for example in concentric plastic capsules. After the at least one cartridge has been inserted into the drill hole, the anchor is pushed into said drill hole and is rotated. Rotation of the anchor, i.e. of the metal rod, preferably a steel rod with a rough surface or with a profiled surface (TOR-steels, screw-threaded rods), can be carried out by means of a drilling machine (support drilling machine or drilling device). In this arrangement the front end of the anchor is designed to destroy the cartridge containing the components of the adhesive, and to mix the two components of the adhesive so that curing of the adhesive commences.
The reaction time, in other words the time it takes for the adhesive to harden or cure, can be set as desired, from a few seconds to several minutes, by the selection of the components and their mixing ratio.
Instead of adhesive material, the cartridges can also comprise mortar, which, after it has hardened, affixes the anchor in the drill hole. Such mortar cartridges are porous (plastic) hoses that are placed in water and are then inserted into the drill hole like the adhesive cartridges.
Furthermore, anchors are known that are affixed in the drill hole in that part of the anchor rod or a part connected to the anchor rod are flared or spread open. For example, this includes slotted-wedge anchors, sliding-wedge anchors or expansion bolt anchors. For spreading open, an expansion body is moved by rotating the anchor rod.
These known anchors are associated with a problem in that in order to rotate the anchor rod (this can be a solid rod or a tube) by the end of said anchor rod, which end projects from the drill hole, activation means need to be applied which subsequently need to be removed as soon as the anchor is firmly seated in the drill hole as a result of the adhesive effect, the mortar or the expansion.
It is the object of the invention to make the aforesaid easier.


A steam turbine gland seal arrangement for use in a steam turbine which has at least one casing and a shaft extending through the casing so that steam may be admitted into the casing for operating on blades attached to the shaft for effecting rotation thereof. An inner gland and an outer gland are provided at one end of the shaft where the shaft exits the casing. Each of these glands support seals in close proximity with the shaft for preventing steam from escaping the casing. The inner gland is supported within an aperture in the casing where the shaft exits, and the outer gland is attached to an outer surface of the casing surrounding the aperture. The arrangement further includes an annular seal plate which circumscribes the turbine shaft and has an inner radial portion attached to an outer surface of the inner gland. An outer radial portion of the annular seal plate is cantilevered from the inner attached portion. The outer radial portion contacts an axially inner surface of the outer gland when this gland is attached to the casing. The outer gland exerts a deflecting pressure on the annular seal plate to provide a positive seal between the inner gland and the outer gland.

The present invention relates to steam turbines and, more particularly, to a sealing arrangement for preventing steam leakage into an area between inner and outer glands coupled to a steam turbine shaft.
Steam turbines generally includes a shaft to which is attached a plurality of stages of blading which react against steam introduced into the turbine to cause the shaft to rotate. The shaft and blading are located within a casing or cylinder which confines the steam. At each end of the casing where the shaft exits, there are provided seals in close proximity to the shaft for preventing steam leakage from the casing. The and for preventing air inleakage into the casing. The seals in proximity to the shaft are sometimes referred to as labyrinth seals and are supported in structural elements referred to as glands. An inner gland provides the first transition between the casing and the shaft and also between the steam environment inside the casing and the outside atmosphere. An outer gland supports a second labyrinth seal and provides a final transistion to atmosphere.
The inner gland is usually spaced radially from adjacent edges of the casing around the primary extent of the turbine shaft. However, both the inner and outer glands are normally formed in two circumferential arcs of approximately 180 degrees in extent and bolted together when installed on the turbine shaft. At the bolting points, the glands are attached to the casing so that they are not free to rotate. Over the remaining extent of the inner gland, there is provided an annular seal ring which isolates the space between the inner gland and casing from the interior of the turbine. In some high pressure (HP) steam turbines, superheated steam is introduced through an aperture in the casing into the space between the inner gland and casing and then through apertures in the inner gland into the area of the gland adjacent the turbine shaft. This cylinder end wall steam is used to minimize horizontal joint distortion by heating the casing or cylinder end wall and the inner gland. It is desirable to confine this superheated steam to the cylinder end wall and the inner gland area and not allow it to leak into the outer gland area.
In order to confine the cylinder end wall steam to the cylinder or casing end wall and the inner gland, there is provided an annular finger seal between the inner gland and the casing along the outside direction of the spacing therebetween. Thus annular finger seal lies in a pair of opposed grooves formed in the casing end wall and the inner gland. This finger seal has been found to be subject to erosion from condensation of the superheated steam resulting in undesirable leakage of the steam into the area between the inner and outer glands. Thus, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus for preventing superheated steam leaking past the finger seal from getting into the area between the inner and outer glands.


A rollover shutoff valve assembly used with a carburetor inhibits leaking of fuel from the carburetor in circumstances where the vehicle has rolled over so that the carburetor is inverted from the normal operating position. The rollover shutoff valve assembly includes a fluid passage, a race and a plug received in the race. The plug is movable in the race to inhibit liquid flow through the passage when the shutoff valve assembly rotates from an upright position to an inverted position. The races are closed except at the passage.

Carburetors are used to deliver a fuel-air mixture to an engine for combustion. Carburetors typically include a main body through which a stream of air from the air intake passes to the manifold, and in which gasoline is fed into the air stream. A fuel bowl holding a reservoir of gasoline is mounted on the main body by a meter block through which a measured flow of gasoline is aspirated from the fuel bowl to the air stream in the main body. One face of the meter block forms a wall of the fuel bowl which is usually about halfway immersed in the gasoline in the fuel bowl. The opposite face of the meter block engages the main body at an interface. A typical meter block includes a plurality of passages that extend from the fuel bowl face through the main body face to fluidly connect the interior of the fuel bowl to the interior of the main body. These passages can include fuel delivery passages, venting passages, air bleed passages and the like. The fuel bowl and the passages through the meter block are arranged so that liquid fuel cannot escape the carburetor when it is in an upright orientation. But when a vehicle is involved in a rollover collision that inverts the carburetor, fuel from the fuel bowl can flow through the passages in the meter block, into the carburetor main body and outside of the carburetor, where it can create a serious combustion hazard.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

Rollover shutoff valve assembly for carburetor


The most hardware efficient way to implement an N-stage pipeline ADC is to use (G+1)-level ADC-DAC for its first (N−1) stages and use (2·G−1)-level ADC for the last stage, where G is the inter-stage gain. For the fist (N−1) stages using (G+1)-level ADC-DAC, the (G+1) levels are uniformly distributed between −(G−1)/G and (G−1)/G; inclusively. The spacing between two adjacent levels is 2(G−1)/G2. For the last stage using (2·G−1)-level ADC, the (2·G−1)-levels are uniformly distributed between −(G−1)/G and (G−1)/G, inclusively. The spacing between two adjacent levels is 1/G.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pipeline ADC (analog-digital converter), in particular to pipeline ADC that uses minimum overhead in digitally correcting the errors in its internal comparators.
2. Description of Related Art
Pipeline ADCs are well known in prior. FIG. 1 depicts a typical N-stage pipeline ADC 1000 comprising a sample-and-hold amplifier SHA 100, N pipeline stages 200_1, 200_2, 200_3, and so on, and an output encoder 300. SHA 100 converts the continuous-time input voltage x(t) into discrete-time analog sample x0[n], which is the value of the input voltage x(t) at the time instant of nT, where T is the period of the sampling clock and n is a time index. The first stage 200_1 receives the analog sample x0[n] and generates two outputs: a digital output y1[n] that is a coarse digital representation of x0[n−1] (which is the analog sample of previous time step), and an analog output x1[n] that represents the residual error of the coarse quantization. The residual error is passed to its next stage (2nd stage 200_2) for further processing. In this manner, each pipeline stage, said stage k, receives an analog sample from its preceding stage, said stage (k−1), (except for the first stage, which does not have a preceding stage but receives the analog sample from SHA 100), generates a digital output which represents a coarse quantization of its input of the previous time step, and passes an analog output, which represented the residual error of the quantization, to its subsequent stage, said stage (k+1). For the last stage (Nth stage 200_N), there is no subsequent stage and therefore it does not need to generate the residual error. The digital outputs of all these pipeline stages are passed to an output encoder 300, which encodes them into a single output sequence y[n], which is the end result of the analog-to-digital conversion for the analog input voltage x(t).
FIG. 2 depicts a typical pipeline stage 200_k (k=1, 2, and so on). In accordance with the clock CLK, the analog input sample xk−1[n] is sampled and held by S/H 230. Also, the analog input sample xk−1[n] is converted into a digital output yk[n+1] by a Gk-level ADC (analog-digital converter) 210_k. (The time index n is increased by 1 to reflect one-clock latency between input and output.) Let the full-scale range of the input voltage be from −VREF to VREF. Without loss of generality, we may normalize the ADC levels so that a digital output "1" would correspond to the full-scale voltage VREF. At the clock edge when S/H 230 latches the input, ADC 210_k determines which one of its Gk levels is closest to the input. The ADC level that is closest to the input xk−1[n], denoted as yk[n+1], is the digital output of this stage of the next time index. The digital output is passed to a Gk-level DAC (digital-analog-converter) 220_k, which converts the digital output into analog voltage, resulting in a coarse representation of the analog input xk−1[n]. The coarse representation from DAC 220_k is subtracted from the analog input sample xk−1[n] via a summer 240. The output of summer 240 represents the quantization error due to the analog to digital conversion. The Gk levels of ADC 210_k (and also of DAC 220_k) are uniformly distributed between −VREF·(Gk−1)/Gk to VREF·(Gk−1)/Gk, inclusively, therefore the spacing between two adjacent levels is always 2·VREF/Gk. As a result, the quantization error is always between −VREF/Gk and VREF/Gk. A gain block 250_k is used to amplify the quantization error by a factor of Gk to boost it into the full-scale range of from −VREF to VREF. The resultant voltage, referred to as the "residual error" of this stage, is passed to the next stage for further processing. The gain block 250_k provides the so-called "inter-stage gain" so that full-scale range of each stage remains the same. For the last stage (Nth stage 200_N), there is an ADC 210_N for generating a digital output; there is no need to have S/H 230, DAC 220_N, summer 240, and gain block 250_N because there is no subsequent stage.
FIG. 3 depicts a typical output encoder 300. It receives digital outputs from all N pipeline stages, i.e. yk[n] for k=1 to N. The end result y[n] is obtained by summing up the digital outputs from all N pipeline stages. However, to account for the inherent pipeline delays associated with the pipeline stages, a series of unit-cycle delays 320_2, 320_3, and so on are needed when summing up the digital outputs from all N stages. Also, to account for the "inter-stage gain" we uses, a series of gain blocks 310_2, 310_3, and so on are needed to adjust the digital outputs from stages 2, 3, and so on. For stage 2, the output needs to be scaled by a factor of 1/G1 to offset the inter-stage gain provided by stage 1. For stage 3, the output needs to be scaled by a factor of 1/(G1 G2) to offset the inter-stage gains provided by stage 1 and stage 2. For stage k, the output needs to be scaled by a factor of 1/(G1 G2 . . . Gk−1) to offset the inter-stage gains provided by all its (k−1) preceding stages. Mathematically, the encoder output can be written as:y[n]=y1[n−(N−1)]+1/G1·y2[n−(N−2)]+1/(G1G2)·y3[n−(N−3)]+ . . . +1/(G1G2 . . . GN−2)·yN−1[n−1]+1/(G1G2 . . . GN−1)·yN[n]
Aforementioned prior art pipeline ADC is vulnerable to the error from Gk-level ADC 210_k of FIG. 2 due to the offsets in its internal comparators. To illustrate this problem, we may look at 2-level (1-bit) ADC for example. A 1-bit ADC has two levels: ½ and −½ (again, we normalize the full-voltage VREF to 1). It uses a comparator to compare the input with zero. If the input is greater than or equal to zero, the ADC determines that the level "½" best represents the input. Else, it determines that the level "−½" best represents the input.
Mathematically, the behavior of a 1-bit pipeline stage 200_k can be described as follows:
            y      k                  [              n        +        1            ]        =      {                                                                      1                /                2                                                                                x                                          k                      -                      1                                                                                [                    n                    ]                                                  ≥                0                                                                                -                  1                                /                2                                                                                x                                      k                    -                    1                                                  <                0                                                                                x            k                                          [                          n              +              1                        ]                              =              2        ·                  (                                                    x                                  k                  -                  1                                                                          [                n                ]                                      -                          VREF              ·                                                y                  k                                                                  [                                      n                    +                    1                                    ]                                                              )                    FIG. 4 depicts the ideal input-output transfer characteristics of pipeline stage 200_k of FIG. 2 using 2-level ADC-DAC with inter-stage gain of two (i.e. Gk=2). When the input xk−1[n] is positive or zero, the digital output is ½ and the analog output is 2·xk−1[n]−VREF; when the input xk−1[n] is negative, the digital output is −½ and the analog output is 2·xk−1[n]+VREF. However, the comparator within a practical ADC 210_k in the pipeline stage 200_k of FIG. 2 may likely have an offset so that it may make a wrong detection. For example, if there is an offset of VREF/8 in the comparator, the digital output will be ½ only when the input is greater than or equal to VREF/8. The input-output transfer characteristics for this particular instance is depicted in FIG. 5. For an input between 0 and VREF/8, the output will exceed the full scale of its next stage, resulting in significant error. Therefore, the comparator needs to be very accurate. Usually, the offset of the comparator needs to be smaller than the LSB (least significant bit) of the overall ADC. This requirement is usually very hard to fulfill.
To resolve this problem, prior art pipeline ADC usually employs a 3-level (1.5-bit) pipeline stage. A 1.5-bit stage is different from a 1-bit stage in using an additional level that best represents a small input. For example, besides the two decisions, "½" and "−½," a 1.5-bit stage adds a 3rd level "0" when the input is between −VREF/4 and VREF/4. Mathematically, we have
            y      k                  [              n        +        1            ]        =      {                                                                      1                /                2                                                                                x                                          k                      -                      1                                                                                [                    n                    ]                                                  ≥                                  VREF                  /                  4                                                                                0                                                                        x                                      k                    -                    1                                                  ≤                                                      x                                          k                      -                      1                                                                                [                    n                    ]                                                  <                                  VREF                  /                  4                                                                                -                  1                                /                2                                                                                x                                          k                      -                      1                                                                                [                    n                    ]                                                  <                                                      -                    VREF                                    /                  4                                                                                x            k                                          [                          n              +              1                        ]                              =              2        ·                  (                                                    x                                  k                  -                  1                                                                          [                n                ]                                      -                          VREF              ·                                                y                  k                                                                  [                                      n                    +                    1                                    ]                                                              )
The ideal transfer function of a 1.5-bit pipeline stage is depicted in FIG. 6. Unlike 1-bit pipeline stage, 1.5-bit pipeline stage can tolerate a large offset in its internal comparators. The input-output transfer characteristics of a 1.5-bit pipeline stage with a comparator offset of VREF/8 is depicted in FIG. 7. Due to the extra "0" decision, the output will not exceed the full scale of its next stage even when the ADC makes a wrong decision. Although ADC makes wrong decisions due to comparator offset, the error due to the wrong decision is absorbed as part of the residual error of this pipeline stage. When the next stage takes the residual error for further processing, the error due to wrong decision in the preceding stage will be corrected because the error has been absorbed as part of its input. For example, consider the first two stages. Let the analog input be 5/16·VREF. If there is no comparator offset, the 1st stage generates a digital output ½ and a residual error −⅜·VREF. The 2nd stage takes the residual error from the 1st stage and generates a digital output −½ and a residual error ¼·VREF. The output encoder will then have the following representation for the input 5/16·VREF:(½)+2−1·(−½)=½−¼=¼
On the other hand, if the 1st stage has a comparator offset of VREF/8 while the 2nd stage does not, the 1st stage generates a wrong digital output 0 and a residual error ⅝·VREF. The 2nd stage takes the residual error from the 1st stage and generates a digital output ½ and a residual error ¼·VREF. The output encoder will then have the following representation for the input 5/16·VREF:0+2−1·(½)=0+¼=¼
It is clear that the error in the 1st stage (a wrong decision of "0) is corrected by the 2nd stage (an extra residual voltage of ⅝·VREF−(−⅜·VREF)=VREF). This is because the error due to the wrong decision from the 1st stage has been absorbed as part of the residual error and passed to the 2nd stage. Likewise if there is comparator error in the 2nd stage, it can be corrected by the 3rd stage. In this manner, the comparator error of any stage of interest can be corrected by its subsequent stage. This technique is commonly referred to as "digital error correction" for comparator error.
A 1.5-bit pipeline architecture greatly relaxes the requirement on the accuracy of the internal ADC of a pipeline stage, and therefore is a very popular architecture. Note that the maximum comparator offset that a 1.5-bit stage can tolerate is VREF/4. If the comparator offset is over VREF/4, the residual error can still exceed the full-scale range (from −VREF to VREF) and thus go beyond what can be corrected by the next stage. However, the overhead in allowing such a relaxation is quite high. A 1-bit pipeline stage only needs one comparator, while a 1.5-bit pipeline stage needs two comparators: one compares the input with VREF/4, the other with −VREF/4. The overhead in the number of comparators is 100%. Also, a 1-bit pipeline stage only needs a two-level DAC, while a 1.5-bits pipeline stage needs a three-level DAC. The overhead in DAC levels is 50%. As will become obvious later in this disclosure, this is nonetheless the best one can do for a pipeline stage with inter-stage gain of 2 (i.e. Gk=2). However, for inter-stage that is higher than 2, one can certainly do better than that.
Although in theory the inter-stage gain Gk can be any integer that is greater than 1, in practice people use exclusively powers of two (i.e. 2, 4, 8, 16, and so on) for easier signal processing in the output encoder. The top-level architecture of the prior art N-stage pipeline ADC with digital error correction is the same as that without digital error correction as depicted in FIG. 1 except for the following. Without digital error correction, the pipeline stages 200_1, 200_2, and so on, of FIG. 1 are implemented using the architecture 200_k depicted in FIG. 2; with digital error correction, these pipeline stages need to be replaced by pipeline stages 200A_1, 200A_2, and so on, respectively, which are implemented using the architecture 200A_k as depicted in FIG. 8. The architecture 200A_k depicted in FIG. 8 uses (2·Gk−1)-level ADC 210A_k and DAC 220A_k, while the architecture 200_k depicted in FIG. 2 uses Gk-level ADC 210_k and DAC 220_k. Digital error correction is implemented by simply changing Gk-level ADC-DAC to (2·Gk−1)-level ADC-DAC.
In prior art digital error correction scheme, the (2·Gk−1) levels (normalized with the full scale voltage VREF) for ADC-DAC are:
−(Gk−1)/Gk, −(Gk−2)/Gk, −(Gk−3)/Gk, . . . , −2/Gk, −1/Gk, 0, 1/Gk, 1/Gk, . . . , (Gk−3)/Gk, (Gk−2)/Gk, (Gk−1)/Gk
For example, for inter-stage gain of 4, Paul C. Yu used 7-level stages with inter-stage gain of 4 in his article "A 14b 40 Msamples/s Pipelined ADC with DFCA" and the 7 levels are:
−¾, −½, −¼, 0, ¼, ½, ¾
Therefore, the overhead in ADC-DAC levels are (7−4)/4=75%.
For inter-stage gain of 8, Sang-Min Yoo et al. used 15-level stages with inter-stage gain of 8 in his article "A 2.5-V 10-b 120-MSamples/s CMOS Pipelined ADC Based on Merged-Capacitor Switching" and the 15 levels are:
−⅞, −¾, −⅝, −½, −⅜, −¼, −⅛, 0, ⅛, ¼, ⅜, ½, ⅝, ¾, ⅞
Therefore, the overhead in ADC-DAC levels are (15−8)/8=87.5%.
As will be shown later in this disclosure, one can certainly have much lower overhead in implementing digital error correction for these two cases.
What is needed is pipeline ADC that employs a digital error correction with minimum overhead in extra hardware.

Pipeline ADC with minimum overhead digital error correction


Disclosed is a device and method intended to measure the properties of a complex medium (2) by analyzing the variation in light backscattered by this complex medium (2) after a prior stirring step. The device and the method include movement element (14) capable of subjecting the receiving element (6) to a stirring movement including at least a back-and-forth movement along a directional vector extending by a not insignificant amount along the longitudinal direction, so as to generate shear stresses in the complex medium (2), thereby destroying aggregates in the complex medium (2) when a container (4) is received and supported by the receiving element (6).

The invention relates to the field of measuring the properties of a complex medium.
The invention relates to a device and a process designed to measure the properties of a complex medium by an analysis of the variation in light that is backscattered and/or transmitted by this complex medium after a preliminary stirring stage.

Device and method intended to measure the properties of a complex medium by analysis of the variation in backscattered and/or transmitted light

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE-CNRS


A method of preparing a amorphous metal sulfonate detergent for lubricants. The sulfonate detergent is prepared by:. (a) mixing, stirring and heating a diluted metal sulfonate with Ca(OH).sub.2 ; PA1 (b) adding to the stirred, heated sulfonate mixture a sufficient amount of CO.sub.2 to heat with all the Ca(OH).sub.2 added; PA1 (c) adding a zeolite to the mixture partway through the addition of CO.sub.2 to remove a certain percentage of the total water in said mixture; PA1 (d) filtering the water-removed mixture to separate an amorphous metal sulfonate product; and PA1 (e) recovering the amorphous overbased metal sulfonate product.

This invention relates to overbased metal sulfonates, and more particularly, to an improved process for preparing overbased alkaline earth metal sulfonates in which the formation of crystalline metal carbonates is eliminated.
Calcium sulfonate additives are generally produced by carbonating a hydrocarbon solution of a "neutral" calcium sulfonate, a calcium base (usually calcium hydroxide and/or calcium oxide), and various reaction promoters which include low molecular weight alcohols (usually methanol), water, ammonium carboxylates (usually ammonium formate), and calcium chloride. During the reaction the calcium base reacts with gaseous carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate is incorporated into small inverted micellar structures during this process; these basic calcium sulfonate micelles effectively render the calcium base oil soluble, a necessary step for this product to be useful in a lubricating oil. The final product must be filtered or centrifuged to remove unreacted solids, particularly since an excess of the calcium base is used in the production of highly basic sulfonates [in the 300-500 Total Base Number (TBN) range]. In this process, the amount of gaseous carbon dioxide charged to the system is critical in order to prevent a phenomenon termed "overcarbonation". If the CO.sub.2 charge exceeds 80-95% of that theoretically required to react with the calcium base, the calcium carbonate incorporated into the product begins to crystallize, resulting in unacceptable products. Generally an "overcarbonated" product will filter extremely slowly and will have a low TBN value. In addition, "overcarbonated" products are often unacceptably hazy, due to the presence of large micellar structures containing crystalline calcium carbonate. Although the onset of complete crystallization is usually very rapid, small amounts of crystalline carbonate may form earlier in the reaction, presumable due to small inhomogeneities in large scale reactor mixing. Partially crystalline products are also undesirable, even if they are not hazy, since they are known to have poor stability characteristics in blends with other common lubricant additives.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved process to prepare overbased alkaline earth and other metal detergents having superior stability and resistance to the formation of crystalline calcium carbonate; this process also results in a reduction in solids waste and improved feedstock utilization.

Process for preparing overbased metal sulfonates


A fuel assembly (1) for a boiling water nuclear reactor comprising a plurality of vertical fuel rods (3) which are arranged in spaced relationship between a bottom tie plate (6) and a top tie plate (5). The bottom tie plate (6) is provided with through-holes (6a) for the passage of a coolant (F). Further, the fuel assembly (1) comprises a bottom support (10) which is formed substantially from a downstream and an upstream flat surface (12, 13) and four side surfaces (14). The flat surfaces (12, 13) and the side surfaces (14) form a parallelepiped which surrounds a cavity. A filtering member is arranged in the upstream flat surface (13) and comprises a plurality of through-holes (11).

A fuel assembly in a boiling water nuclear reactor comprises a long tubular container. The container is often made with a rectangular or square cross section and is open at both ends to make possible a continuous flow of coolant through the fuel assembly. The fuel assembly comprises a large number of equally long tubular fuel rods, arranged in parallel in a certain definite, normally symmetrical pattern. The fuel rods are retained at the top by a top tie plate and at the bottom by a bottom tie plate. To allow coolant to flow along the fuel rods in the desired way, it is important that these be spaced from each other and prevented from bending or vibrating when the reactor is in operation. For this purpose, a plurality of spacers are used, distributed along the fuel assembly in the longitudinal direction.
Experience has shown that in connection with repair and service of nuclear reactors, foreign matter may enter the coolant of the nuclear reactor. The foreign matter then moves with the coolant which circulates through the reactor core. The foreign matter may, among other things, consist of metal chips formed in connection with repair of, for example, a steam separator, pieces of metal wire or oxide flakes which have been torn loose from, for example, the fuel rods where they have been formed. The foreign matter may give rise to wear damage which may result in serious consequences if the damage arises on parts which are particularly fragile, such as on the fuel rods.
To avoid damage of the above kind, it is known to design various kinds of filters close to the lower part of the fuel assembly. The filter prevents the foreign matter from reaching the fuel rods. It is known, for example, to design the bottom tie plate, to which the fuel rods are attached, with a large number of through-holes. In this way, a strainer is provided, which prevents foreign matter from reaching the fuel rod bundle with control-rod guide tubes and spacers. It is also known to arrange various types of helical springs in a so-called bottom support in which the fuel bundle is arranged to rest. The helical springs are adapted to prevent debris from passing with the coolant flow through the bottom support and up through the bottom tie plate.
By arranging additional structural parts in the flow path of the coolant through the fuel assembly, the pressure drop across the fuel assembly increases. The pressure drop may be increased within certain limits. Too high a pressure drop may, in the worst case, lead to so-called dryout. To minimize the risk of dryout, the fuel assembly is formed with a flow of coolant which with a fixed margin, the so-called dryout margin, exceeds the coolant flow where dryout occurs under the present conditions.
A disadvantage of arranging loose parts in the bottom tie plate or in the bottom support for capturing any foreign matter is that these may be set into vibration because of the high pressure of the coolant. During the vibration, wear arises, whereby the loose parts may become detached. It may also result in flakes of the material, against which the wear occurs, loosening and accompanying the coolant.


A communication device obtains identification information and a public key of a first other communication device by a particular obtaining method that does not use a wireless LAN and notifies the first other communication device of a role of the first other communication device in a communication based on Wi-Fi Direct. In addition, the communication device obtains identification information and a public key of a second other communication device by the particular obtaining method and notifies the second other communication device of a role of the second other communication device in the communication based on Wi-Fi Direct. One of the notified roles is a P2P Group Owner and the other one is a P2P Client, and the communication based on Wi-Fi Direct can be performed between the first other communication device and the second other communication device based on the notifications.

Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark, which will be hereinafter referred to as WFD) corresponding to a technology for directly performing a communication based on a wireless LAN between communication devices without intermediation of an access point (hereinafter referred to as AP) is standardized in Wi-Fi Alliance serving as a wireless LAN industry group.
According to the WFD, the communication is performed when one of the communication devices that directly perform the wireless LAN communication operates as the AP. According to the WFD, a role of the device that operates as the AP will be referred to as P2P Group Owner (hereinafter, referred to as GO). On the other hand, a role of the device that participates in a network generated by the GO will be referred to as P2P Client (hereinafter, referred to as CL). According to the WFD, a communication parameter necessary for participating in the network generated by the GO is shared between the devices by transmitting the communication parameter from the GO to the CL, and thereafter, the wireless communication according to the WFD is executed on the basis of the shared communication parameter.
To prevent leakage of the shared communication parameter to the other devices that do not perform the communication of the WFD, it is considered to more safely share the communication parameter by using a public key encryption method. Here, a public key necessary for using the public key encryption method needs to be more safely shared between the devices.
PTL 1 discloses a technology for a mobile terminal to simply and also safely obtain information of an access point by using a function for reading a QR code (registered trademark).

Communication device, communication method, and storage medium