A method and system for power node current waveform modeling provides improved accuracy for logic gate and functional block power node current models in computer-based verification and design tools. An output voltage waveform is generated, with each point a linear function of a set of input values corresponding to times at which the output voltage reaches predetermined fractions of the supply voltage. A set of coefficients is used for each point, as each output voltage has a different linear dependency on the input values. The output voltage waveform model is differentiated and multiplied by an effective load capacitance to determine an output current waveform. The method and system retain compatibility with existing software by using input values already present in the digital simulation models (e.g., delay times) that yield a subset of output voltage points. The coefficients of the model are predetermined for a circuit from principle components analysis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems for modeling the behavior of integrated circuits such as verifiers, simulators and design tools, and more particularly to a computer program that includes modeling of digital integrated circuit power supply pin current waveforms.
2. Description of Related Art
Design tools and verification tools are necessary for modeling large-scale digital integrated circuits such as Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits. Millions of transistors and logic gates are often combined on a single die and the performance of the die is modeled using software that models the performance of the overall die based on known (modeled) performance of individual gates, inverter/buffer models of gates, or models of larger functional blocks.
Power supply current for individual gates or blocks combines to generate the power requirements for the overall die, and will typically combine in sub-groups to several power and ground pins that are connected external to the integrated circuit package. The power supply pin connections are typically inductive, while the external power supplies to which the power pins connect are typically capacitive loads. The inductive pin characteristic leads to voltage noise as the changing power supply currents generate voltage drops across the pin inductances. Therefore, knowledge of power supply currents at power nodes of logic gates or larger functional blocks is valuable for knowing overall current consumption and time-dependent behavior and for induced/radiated noise modeling.
Present techniques for power supply node current modeling typically calculate power node current based upon a linear (ramp) model of input and output voltages. Since the predominant (typically  greater than 90%) component of power node current derives from output capacitance charging and discharging, the typical power node current model calculates the power node current as the output load capacitance times the slope of the output voltage waveform, which is further typically simplified as a risetime/load capacitance product. The linear output voltage ramp thus yields a step (pulse) current component in the model, although providing a useful approximation, is inaccurate in modeling power supply behavior and is generally unsuitable for noise analysis. Further, as power supply voltages are decreased (which is the trend for high-density integrated circuits to reduce power dissipation and noise), the linear input voltage risetime model is increasingly inaccurate.
While more accurate models may be produced using more detailed analog circuit analysis or waveshape fitting, the memory requirements and processing time are prohibitive for modeling large-scale circuits. Further, the analog and waveshape models are not directly compatible with existing power pin current models and logic gate models.
Therefore, it is desirable to implement an improved power node current waveform modeling algorithm. It would further be desirable to provide an algorithm that is compatible with existing power supply pin current and logic gate models.
The objective of providing an improved power node current waveform modeling algorithm is achieved in a method for modeling characteristics of a logical circuit block. The method generates an output voltage waveform of the logical circuit block by using a linear model that calculates points of the waveform from known points received as inputs. The inputs to the method are time values at which the output voltage reaches predetermined fractions of an input voltage signal. The time values are multiplied by coefficients from a set of coefficients for each output waveform point that are determined from a statistical model of logical circuit block behavior, yielding an output voltage waveform. The calculated output voltage waveform can then be differentiated and multiplied by a predetermined load capacitance to yield an output current waveform. The method retains compatibility with present timing simulators, as the delay time (taken as the 50% voltage point) and the rise time (which yields a difference of the 70% and 30% voltage points or other pair of voltage points) can be used to provide the input time values.
The invention may further be embodied in a workstation computer executing program instructions for carrying out the steps of the method, and in a computer program product having a storage media for those program instructions.
The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Method and system for power node current waveform modeling

International Business Machines Corporation


The method is applied to a terminal device, the terminal device stores training sample data, and the training sample data includes a correlation spectrum characteristic vector of a reflected signal of a sounding reference signal (SRS) and a corresponding user gesture identifier. The method includes: transmitting, by the terminal device, a first sounding reference signal (SRS); receiving, by the terminal device, a multipath reflected signal that is of the first sounding reference signal (SRS) and that is reflected from a gesture-making object, and performing a related operation on the reflected signal and a signal template corresponding to the first sounding reference signal (SRS), to obtain a correlation spectrum characteristic vector of the reflected signal; and matching, by the terminal device, the correlation spectrum characteristic vector of the reflected signal against the training sample data, to recognize an input gesture.

With an increase in intelligent electronic devices and development of a man-machine interaction technology, a gesture recognition technology is applied to more intelligent electronic devices. A smartphone recognizes a gesture by means of gesture recognition input, to perform an operation such as making a phone call or enabling an application program. This can improve user experience.
In the prior art, relatively mature gesture recognition is using an image recognition technology to recognize an interaction command. In such an image-recognition-based method, a high-performance camera apparatus usually needs to be equipped. For example, a relatively typical application is an Xbox Kinect product of Microsoft. In this method, a still or dynamic image is obtained by using a camera device, then the image is analyzed by using a computer vision algorithm, and pattern matching is performed, so as to understand a meaning of such a gesture, and implement gesture recognition. However, in this technology, the high-performance camera apparatus is required, and a high-performance processor is required to perform a complex image analysis algorithm, resulting in high costs and difficulty in miniaturization. In addition, a to-be-recognized action needs to face the camera apparatus. Consequently, this technology cannot be widely applied due to the foregoing shortcomings.
Recently, Google releases a demonstration system of a smartwatch based on gesture recognition control. Without a need to touch a watch face, a user may control the smartwatch by using a finger movement and a gesture change as input. For example, the user may control a menu switch operation on the smartwatch by simulating a watch header remove action or a winding action near the smartwatch by using a finger. Google calls such a gesture operation interaction technology as "Project Soli" in which radar including radio detection and ranging radar is used to detect a gesture of the user and a slight action of a finger, and the gesture and the action are converted into information for input. The radar transmits a radio wave and collects reflective sensing of a hit target. For example, a user stimulates a winding action by rubbing an index finger with a thumb, and a system recognizes this gesture or action, and redirects the gesture to input the gesture to an application program. However, in this technology, a relatively expensive millimeter-level radar microchip is required to recognize a wireless receive signal change caused by a gesture change, so as to perform gesture recognition control, and therefore, costs are high. Consequently, only a high-end product can support such gesture recognition.
To sum up, in all existing gesture recognition technologies, a new high-cost component is required to be added to a device, resulting in high costs. A new gesture recognition method and technology is urgently required in the field, so as to reduce modification of hardware of user equipment to a minimum, and implement a gesture recognition function with low costs.

Gesture recognition method and apparatus


In an optical disk device in which the focus offset for writing of data can be optimized, a mark is written onto an optical disk at a predetermined focus offset and a change in the signal quality is detected by replaying the mark at various focus offsets. The predetermined focus offset is adjusted based on the change in the signal quality so that the focus offset is set at an optimal value. When an error rate is employed to represent the change in the signal quality, a range of focus offset in which the error rate does not exceed a predetermined value is found. By adjusting the predetermined focus offset for the reference optical disk based on the detected range of focus offset, an optimal focus offset is set.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disk device, and in particular, to optimization of focus offset when data is written onto a recordable optical disk.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recordable or rewritable optical disk devices such as DVD-RAMs and the like have been developed and are being commercialized.
In order to write data accurately onto such recordable or rewritable optical disks, writing power must be optimized and, to optimize power, the focus offset for writing must be optimized. To this end, the optimal focus offset for replaying is used as the focus offset for writing. Alternatively, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-52351, the optimal focus offset for writing may be determined by varying the focus offset while writing data and then evaluating the replay quality.
However, because the optimal focus offset for replaying may not necessarily be identical to the optimal focus offset for writing, there had been a problem in that a high-grade writing may not be possible even when the optimal focus offset for replaying is used when writing.
FIG. 15 shows changes in RF level and jitter for replay signals when data is replayed while the focus offset is varied. As shown, the jitter is minimized and the RF level is maximized at the optimal focus offset For. When the focus offset is varied from the optimal value when the objective lens for optical pickup is moved towards or away from the optical disk, jitter and RF level are degraded.
FIG. 16 shows changes in RF level and jitter when data are written while the focus offset is varied and then replayed at the optimal focus offset For as shown in FIG. 15. At the optimal focus offset Fow, the jitter is minimized and the RF level is maximized. When the focus offset is varied by moving the objective lens towards or away from the optical disk and data is written, jitter and RF level are degraded.
FIG. 17 shows the relationship between the optimal focus offset For for replaying as shown in FIG. 15 and the optimal focus offset Fow for writing as shown in FIG. 16. As is clear from FIG. 17, the optimal focus offset For for replaying does not coincide with the optimal focus offset Fow for writing and there is a difference between the two focus offsets. Thus, even when data is written using the optimal focus offset For for replaying, for example, the jitter may not necessarily be minimized and the error rate or the like may increase.
On the other hand, this problem can be solved by determining the optimal focus offset Fow based on the characteristics shown in FIG. 16 and setting the offset of the optical disk device to Fow. However, the optimal focus offset Fow is determined for a reference optical disk, and is not necessarily an optimal value for each optical disk on which data is to be written. In particular, because a particular individual may select any disk from among the many optical disks are available on the market, writing at a fixed focus offset may sometimes not be appropriate. While it is possible to determine an optimal focus offset for writing every time a new optical disk is loaded, this requires that data be written while the focus offset is varied and that the writing power be optimized through separate optimization processes: this, in turn, requires relatively long processing time.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device in which data can be consistently written onto an optical disk at an optimal focus offset.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical disk device comprising means for writing a mark onto an optical disk at a predetermined focus offset; means for replaying the mark while varying the focus offset; means for detecting a change in the quality of a replay signal with respect to the variation of the focus offset; and means for adjusting the predetermined focus offset based on the change in the quality of the replay signal. The means for writing writes data onto the optical disk at the focus offset adjusted by the means for adjusting. There is a relationship between the optimal focus offset for writing and changes in the quality of replay signals with respect to variations in the focus offset when replaying, and this relationship is approximately a constant and independent of optical disks. More specifically, although the optimal focus offset for writing differs for each optical disk, the relationship between the optimal focus offset for writing and changes in the quality of the replay signal is approximately constant and is independent of the optical disks. According to the present invention, this relationship is employed for obtaining the optimal focus offset for writing for each optical disk.
According to another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that a change in the error rate with respect to the variation of the focus offset is used as the change in the quality of the replay signal with respect to the variation of the focus offset. As the change in the quality of the replay signal with respect to the variation of the focus offset, a change in jitter with respect to the variation of the focus offset or a change in RF level with respect to the variation of the focus offset may also be preferably used.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the optical disk device further comprises means for storing the relationship, for a reference optical disk, between the predetermined focus offset and the change in the error rate. The means for adjusting adjusts the predetermined focus offset based on the relationship, for the reference optical disk, between the predetermined focus offset and the change in the error rate, and a change in the error rate, in the optical disk, with respect to the variation of the focus offset and sets as the optimal focus offset for the optical disk onto which data is to be written. The means for storing may also store the relationship, for a reference optical disk, between the predetermined focus offset and the change in jitter or may store the relationship, for a reference optical disk, between the predetermined focus offset and the change in the RF level.
The present invention can be more readily understood by referring to the following embodiments. The embodiments, however, are presented as examples only, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention.

Optical disk device with means for adjusting writing focus offset


A DC-DC converting apparatus including a step-up and step-down circuit stepping up/down an input voltage to generate an output voltage and a PWM control circuit. The PWM control circuit generates an error signal, first to third voltages, a first triangular wave signal varying between the first and second voltages, and a second triangular wave signal varying between the third voltage and a fourth voltage determined based on the first to third voltages. The PWM control circuit compares the error signal with the first and second triangular wave signals and causes the step-up and step-down circuit to step up/down the input voltage based on the comparison. The first to fourth voltages V1 to V4 satisfy V1<V4<V2<V3 and V4=V3−(V2−V1). At least one of the first to third voltages is variably set to make a time in which voltage ranges of the first and second triangular wave signals overlap longer than a delay time caused by the comparison.

This patent application is based on and claims priority to Japanese patent application No. 2004-178323 filed on Jun. 16, 2004 in the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a DC-DC (direct current to direct current) converting method and apparatus, and more particularly to a DC-DC converting method and apparatus which stably performs step-up and step-down conversions by suitably setting a voltage range where a voltage range of a triangular wave signal used for a step-up control overlaps a voltage range of a triangular wave signal used for a step-down control.


An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow correction system and method are disclosed for an engine air system with air and EGR inputs to a mixer. The system includes three temperature sensors to measure temperatures of the air input, EGR input, and mixer output; and an air system model computing EGR flow corrections using the three temperatures. Air system can include intake manifold, charge air cooler (CAC), air throttle, EGR cooler and EGR valve, with first sensor between CAC and air throttle, second sensor between EGR cooler and EGR valve, third sensor in intake manifold. Air system model can estimate mass flows through air and EGR inputs, estimate intake manifold temperature at third sensor, estimate intake manifold temperature error, and compute EGR corrections based on temperature error. Air system model can estimate CAC and EGR cooler outlet temperatures, and mixer input temperature.

Internal combustion engines use recirculated exhaust gas to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Achieving the optimum combination of air and burnt gasses within the engine cylinder prior to the start of combustion on each engine cycle may not be possible due to the dynamics of the air system. To address this problem, control strategies are used to attempt to regulate the intake manifold pressure and the percentage of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). Traditional engine control strategies use open loop tables and/or proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers. These systems tend to have errors under transient conditions because the open loop tables are calibrated for steady state conditions and the closed loop PID controls depend on sensor feedback, which inherently has lag. A physics-based feed forward calculation can be used instead of the open loop tables and PID controls. The feed forward calculation can provide better response under transient conditions, prioritize control objectives, account for system constraints, and be easier to calibrate.
Some engine control systems use an EGR flow Venturi or other flow sensor to estimate an EGR mass flow rate. These flow sensors can be expensive, can be unreliable and can cause additional warranty cost. If other sensors can be used to provide similar performance it may be possible to reduce cost and improve reliability.
It would be desirable to have engine control systems and methods that can estimate EGR mass flow rates using other sensors instead of an EGR flow Venturi or other types of flow sensors.

System and method for exhaust gas recirculation flow correction using temperature measurements


A vacuum processing apparatus that includes a vacuum vessel; an opening disposed in a wall of the vacuum vessel, through which a sample to be processed is taken in and out; a valve body disposed outside the wall for airtightly sealing the opening; and a drive unit driving the valve body to carry out a sealing or opening operation. The drive unit includes a first member coupled to an actuator that moves along a substantially linear first direction as a result of operation of the actuator, and a second member coupled to the first member that moves along a substantially linear second direction that intersects with the first direction. The valve body, coupled to the second member, seals the opening as a result of movement of the second member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus, and also relates to a vacuum processing apparatus equipped with a gate valve for airtightly sealing or opening a gate for communicating the inside and the outside of a vacuum vessel in which a sample is processed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the field of apparatuses for processing an object in a decompressed chamber, such as the one mentioned above, there is a demand for improving the efficiency for processing the substrate being the object of processing, in addition to enhancing the minuteness and preciseness of the process. Therefore, in recent years, a multi-chamber apparatus has been developed in which a plurality of processing chambers are connected and combined as a single apparatus, enabling various processes to be performed to the substrate in a single apparatus, and improving the process efficiency.
In such an apparatus having plural processing chambers, each of the processing chambers are connected to a transfer chamber capable of having its inner gas or pressure controlled, which is equipped with a robot arm or the like for transferring the substrate inside thereof.
According to such structure, the pre-processed or post-processed substrate is transferred through the transfer chamber having its interior evacuated or supplied with inert gas from one processing chamber to another processing chamber, so that the substrate is subjected to continuous processing without being in contact with atmosphere outside. Thus, the contamination of the substrate is suppressed and the yield or efficiency of the process is improved.
Further, the time for increasing/decreasing the pressure in the processing chambers or the transfer chamber can be omitted or reduced, by which the processing steps are shortened and the work and time required for the overall substrate processing are reduced, and the processing efficiency is thereby improved.
According further to such apparatus, each processing chamber is detachably attached to the apparatus, so that by replacing the processing chambers or by changing the combination thereof, the apparatus can correspond to perform a new process without having to replace the whole apparatus. As a result, the costs for manufacturing products by processing the substrates in the apparatus can be cut down.
A known valve device called a gate valve for airtightly closing and opening an opening (gate) disposed with the chamber through which the sample is taken in and out of the processing chamber or the transfer chamber includes a valve body attached to an end of a beam-shaped member such as a shaft that is connected to a drive device such as an actuator. In such a gate valve, when the gate is to be closed, the actuator drives the valve body toward the opening while maintaining a predetermined distance with the surface of the chamber wall on which the gate is disposed, and when the valve body reaches a position substantially confronting the gate opening, the valve body is Moved toward the opening until one surface of the valve body connects to the chamber wall or the gate opening.
In the above-mentioned arrangement, a seal member is disposed on one surface of the valve body for airtightly sealing the area between the valve body and the chamber wall or the gate opening. In the seal member, a dent or groove is disposed that extends to cover the whole length of the connection surface (seal surface) of the valve body which is to be sealed, and the seal member having elasticity is fit into this groove so that the seal member is positioned correctly and is prevented from being displaced on the valve body. The seal member disposed on the surface of the valve body is pressed against the wall or the opening to seal the space therebetween, and the seal member is also pressed against the surface of the dent or the groove to seal the space therebetween.
When opening the gate, the actuator moves the valve body being connected to the wall or the opening away from the gate. After separating the valve body from the chamber wall or opening, the valve body is moved away from the opening while maintaining a predetermined distance from the chamber wall, similar to when closing the gate.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2002-276825 and H08-060374 disclose prior art gate valves of the type described above. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-81555 discloses a prior art sealing means.
The prior art apparatuses had the following drawbacks. According to the prior art gate valve, when moving the valve body of the gate valve away from the gate opening, since the valve body is connected to the opening with high pressing force, the seal portion of the valve body may not be removed in uniform fashion, or large force must be applied when removing the seal, by which the valve body is vibrated by the shock of removal from the gate. This causes deposits such as reaction products attached to the process chamber wall or the surface of the valve during processing to fall by the vibration onto the sample and causing contamination or corrosion of the sample, or causes contamination of the members inside the processing chamber.
Thus, it is necessary to reduce vibration during movement of the valve body, but the prior art disclosures lack to provide sufficient measures.
According further to the gate valve of the prior art, the valve body is moved toward the opening until the valve body contacts the opening or the wall surface surrounding the opening, or the valve body is moved away therefrom, but if the valve body is designed to move along a guide such as a rail disposed in the direction of movement thereof, the gap disposed between the guide and the member being guided or the friction therebetween causes the valve body to vibrate.
Furthermore, as described above, a seal member having elasticity is disposed on the surface of the valve body of the gate valve coming into contact with the chamber wall or the opening, which covers the whole length surrounding the area to be sealed. However, according to the prior art, the seal member was positioned by fitting the seal member in the groove or dent disposed in the valve body, and the fitting of the seal member required time and work, so the time required for maintenance and testing operations was increased, and the overall operation efficiency of the apparatus was deteriorated.
Even further, the seal member is normally ring-shaped with a round cross-section, but while fitting the seal member into the groove or dent, the seal member may be twisted and rotated, and if the seal is connected in that state to the wall surface or opening, the deformation by the twist may prevent sufficient seal from being created, or cause the seal performance to be varied in various areas of the connecting surface, deteriorating the sealing performance. Especially, when divided molds are used to mold the seal member, a fin may be disposed in the seam portion by the seal member material running out of the mold, and when this fin is brought into contact with the chamber wall or opening by the twisting of the seal member, it may prevent the seal member from being pressed onto the wall or opening with uniform pressure, and may cause partial deterioration of the sealing performance.
Moreover, since the prior art valve body was designed to close and seal the opening of the gate disposed in a flat wall, the seal surface of the valve body was formed flat. However, the processing chamber disposed inside a vacuum vessel has a substantially cylindrical form, so if the valve body of the gate valve for sealing the gate leading to the processing chamber is shaped like a plate or the portion facing the gate is flat, the inner wall surface of the processing chamber becomes uneven, and the process performed within the processing chamber is affected thereby and becomes uneven. On the other hand, if the valve body is shaped to correspond to the inner wall surface shape of the processing chamber, the projection to be inserted into the opening must be disposed at the center of the valve body and the valve body must be moved within the opening for a distance corresponding to the height of the projection. Especially when the projection is disposed to correspond to a cylindrical wall, the valve body must be moved for a long distance, requiring an additional mechanism for moving the valve body for a long distance, which causes the apparatus to become larger, or causes the valve body to vibrate due to the interaction with the guide. Further, if a groove or dent according to the prior art must be disposed in the seal surface, the groove or dent must be disposed in the curved surface, which requires much work and time, increasing the manufacturing costs and deteriorating the efficiency. Furthermore, fitting the seal member into the groove or dent disposed in the curved surface may require long work time, which may also cause the local deterioration of the sealing performance.


A wirelessly enabled mirror includes a mirror, a wireless data system, and a data output interface. The mirror has a front side and a back side. The wireless data system includes a wireless data module. The wireless data system is fixed to the back side of the mirror. The wireless data module is configured to communicate with a user device and to receive wireless data from the user device. The data output interface is configured to receive data from the wireless data module, and the data is derived from a wireless stream of data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to streaming audio and video, and more specifically to combining wireless content delivery with various surfaces such as a conductive surface.
2. Art Background
Physical infrastructures in buildings can make it difficult to run physical wiring in order to connect speakers or a video display device. Thus, the design of a room can lack functionality being void of sound systems such as stereos systems, video systems, etc. This can present a problem.
Various integrations of a mirror surface and electronic devices require controls. Mechanical controls are often associated with moving parts that can fail. This can present a problem.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatuses and methods for streaming audio and video


In a method for controlling a Voltage Source Converter having at least one phase leg comprising a series connection of switching elements, in which each said element has at least two semiconductor devices of turn-off type, at least two free-wheeling diodes connected in parallel therewith and at least one energy storing capacitor, each said switching element is controlled according to a Pulse Width Modulation pattern so that each switching element is switched to change between applying a zero voltage and the voltage across its capacitor across its terminals each time a saw tooth voltage wave for that switching element crosses a reference alternating voltage belonging to that switching element.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a Voltage Source Converter configured to convert direct voltage into alternating voltage and conversely and having at least one phase leg connecting two opposite poles of a direct voltage side of the converter and comprising a series connection of switching elements, each said element having at least two semiconductor devices of turn-off type, at least two free-wheeling diodes connected in parallel therewith and at least one energy storing capacitor, a mid point of said series connection forming a phase output being configured to be connected to an alternating voltage side of the converter and to divide the phase leg into an upper valve branch and a lower valve branch, said semiconductor devices of each switching element being controlled to obtain, for that switching element, one of a) a first switching state and b) a second switching state, in which for a) the voltage across said at least one energy storing capacitor and for b) a zero voltage, is applied across terminals of the switching element, for obtaining a determined said alternating voltage on said phase output, as well as an apparatus for converting alternating voltage into direct voltage and conversely according to the preamble of the appended independent apparatus claim.
The converter to be controlled may have any number of said phase legs, but it has normally three such phase legs for having a three phase alternating voltage on the alternating voltage side thereof.
A voltage source converter of this type may be used in all kinds of situations, in which direct voltage is to be converted into alternating voltage or conversely, in which examples of such uses are in stations of HVDC-plants (High Voltage Direct Current), in which direct voltage normally is converted into a three-phase alternating voltage and conversely or in so-called back-to-back-stations in which alternating voltage is firstly converted into direct voltage and this is then converted into alternating voltage. However, the present invention is not restricted to these applications, but other applications are also conceivable, such as in different types of drive systems for machines, vehicles etc.
A Voltage Source Converter of the type to be controlled through said method is known through for example DE 101 03 031 A1 and WO 2007/023064 A1 and normally called a multi-cell converter or M2LC. Reference is made to these publications for the functioning of a converter of this type. Said switching elements of the converter may have other appearances than those shown in said publications, and it is for instance possible that each switching element has more than one said energy storing capacitor, as long as it is possible to control the switching element to be switched between the two states mentioned in the introduction.
The present invention is primarily, but not exclusively, directed to the control of a voltage source converter configured to transmit high powers, and the case of transmitting high powers will for his reason hereinafter be discussed for illuminating but not in any way restricting the invention thereto. When such a Voltage Source Converter is used to transmit high powers this also means that high voltages are handled, and the voltage of the direct voltage side of the converter is determined by the voltages across said energy storing capacitors of the switching elements and is normally set to be half the sum of these voltages. This means that a comparatively high number of such switching elements are to be connected in series or a high number of semiconductor devices are to be connected in series in each said switching element, and a Voltage Source Converter of this type is particularly interesting when the number of the switching elements is comparatively high, such as at least 8, and it may well be in the order of 20. A high number of such switching elements connected in series in said phase leg means that it will be possible to control these switching elements to change between said first and second switching state and already at said phase output obtain an alternating voltage being very close to a sinusoidal voltage. This may be obtained already by means of substantially lower switching frequencies than typically used in known Voltage Source Converters of the type shown in FIG. 1 in DE 101 03 031 A1 having switching elements with at least one semiconductor device of turn-off type and at least one free wheeling diode connected in antiparallel therewith. This makes it possible to obtain substantially lower switching losses and also considerably reduces problems of filtering of harmonic currents and radio interference, so that equipment therefor may be less costly.
A method of the type defined in the introduction is known through DE 101 03 031 A1 mentioned above and WO 2007/033852 A1. The latter describes a control method which is said to be a further development of the control method according to the former one. This control method starts from a synchronous control of switching the switching elements in the upper and lower valve branch for maintaining the same number of switching elements in each of said switching states in said series connection of switching elements between the direct voltage poles, and deviations therefrom is carried out for controlling valve branch currents with the aim to avoid balancing currents between the phase legs of the converter. These known control methods may in some situations have drawbacks, such as with respect to degree of complication and costs.

Method for controlling a voltage source converter and a voltage converting apparatus


The instant disclosure relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of Gaucher disease, particularly type II and III neuronopathic Gaucher disease (nGD). The methods include the step of administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of a ryanodine receptor inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Treatment of genetic brain disorders including neurodegenerative diseases are an unmet medical need. These include rare, lysosomal storage diseases, and more common diseases such as Parkinson's disease. Neurodegenerative diseases strike about 50 million Americans each year, demanding enormous cost in medical expenses and lost productivity. Currently, there is no effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and there is a need for such in the art. The instant disclosure seeks to address one or more of the aforementioned needs in the art.

Pharmacological therapy for neuronopathic Gaucher disease


A user of a mobile terminal is enabled to call emergency services in a wireless telecommunications network, whether or not the user is in a foreign country. If the user signals for emergency help by sending an emergency call code to the base station, the user is connected to an emergency center corresponding to the user""s base station. The user may also be provided with an emergency services display. Further, the user may be connected to a specific type of emergency center corresponding to the user""s base station, if the user signals for the specific type of emergency center by sending a service category to the base station. These emergency signals sent from the mobile terminal to the base station are location-independent, and therefore work well at an international level.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of accessing emergency services telephonically using a wireless telecommunications network, and more particularly to emergency telephone access at an international level.
2. Description of Related Art
In the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), an emergency call code is defined for making emergency calls. Typically, an emergency number is used to indicate to the mobile terminal that an emergency call must be initiated, and then an emergency call setup is performed, the setup being specialized in order to get priority in the network. The particular emergency number actually dialed by the user is of little importance, as long as the emergency is recognized and indicated in the call setup, and the call is then routed to an emergency center based on the call setup.
It is common for mobile terminals to include removable smart cards (UICC) which contain a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM). The UICC is an IC card, and thus the UICC holds an integrated circuit containing subscriber data, end user data, authentication data, and/or application data for one or more applications. Emergency call codes are stored in the UICC in a data file named xe2x80x9cEmergency Call Codesxe2x80x9d (EFecc). This elementary file can contain one or more emergency call codes. When the user dials a number on the keyboard (e.g. 911) it is compared with the number stored in EFECC. If the number entered from the keyboard matches a number in EFECC, the call is set up as an emergency call, regardless of what that particular number is.
The structure of the data file (EFECC) is exemplified by the following table:
This table can be found in technical specification 3G TS 31.102. This EFECC data file contains a set of emergency numbers, maximum 6 digits. The intention with this data file is that it contains various different national emergency call numbers. Typically, up to five emergency call codes have been contained in an EFECC (i.e. n=5). If the serving network does not recognize any of the xe2x80x9cnxe2x80x9d emergency call codes, then it is usual for the call to be routed to default emergency numbers. In case there is no match with the dialed number and the numbers stored in the EFECC, the mobile device checks the default emergency numbers that are stored internally in the mobile device for a match. If there is a match, then the call is set up as an emergency call. These default numbers are also available when a USIM is not present. This is discussed in technical specification 3G TS 22.101. In this related art system, various emergency signals may be sent from a mobile terminal, but those emergency signals will all have the same purpose: to connect the user to a particular emergency center via a particular phone number.
The user is familiar with the national numbers, like 911 in the U.S. Dialing a national emergency call number, when roaming internationally, automatically sets up an emergency call to an emergency center in the roaming network. The actual number entered is in this case not important as long as it matches an entry in the emergency call code data file. In other words, 911 could be dialed by the user even in a country that does not recognize 911 as an emergency number, because the terminal and network know to dial the correct number.
If there are different particular numbers used for emergency calls to the police, ambulance and fire brigade, that can be indicated by sending the particular dialed number to the network during the emergency call setup. This may work on a national basis, where each emergency number is uniquely defined.
In case of a roaming situation across international borders, however, the country where the user is travelling may have a different emergency call number scenario from the home country. The roaming network cannot, based on the number submitted with the emergency call setup, determine the type of emergency service requested. As a worst case, the same numbers may be used in the roaming network and the home network for emergency calls, but with different meanings. As an example, the ambulance emergency call number in the user""s home network may be the same as the emergency call number for the fire brigade in the roaming network. This makes it impossible to use the dialed emergency number for call routability, because the call may end up at the wrong emergency center.
This problem has not been solved on an international level. On a national level, the problem has been solved by using different emergency numbers. As the same number may be used in different countries for different emergency services, it is currently impossible to guarantee the correct emergency service. When roaming internationally, since the number dialed is based on a national emergency numbering scenario stored in the USIM (which is located in the terminal""s smart card), the dialed number submitted at the emergency call setup may route the emergency call to a totally different emergency service. In other words, the dialed number is interpreted according to the emergency numbering scenario in the roaming network, which may be a different scenario from the scenario stored in the USIM.
International agreement about a coding scenario may be able to indicate which type of emergency service is needed based on the number dialed. Then the emergency number dialed could be converted to the corresponding emergency service in the roaming network. Until such an agreement, an emergency number may indicate a different type of emergency in different countries, and some countries will not have specific numbers for different types of emergencies. Also, some terminal users will not want to memorize more than one number even in their home country.
When roaming internationally, it will be convenient for the user to be able to use the emergency numbers that she is accustomed to using in order to reach emergency services of different types. It will also be convenient for the user to obtain display information about the various emergency services available, prior to actually contacting those emergency services. This invention thus enhances the use of emergency numbers in a mobile telecommunications network, allowing the user to make a variety of emergency calls having a plurality of different functions.
According to this invention, an emergency call is set up in a special way, in the context of the mobile communication network. The emergency call is routed to the closest emergency center(s), depending upon what kind of an emergency is involved.
This invention permits an alpha identifier to be added to the emergency call number. This alpha tag allows the user to access a display in order to identify the type of emergency center to which the emergency call will be connected. The display information is stored in the USIM within the mobile phone. Furthermore, the invention defines a service category that can be used in the network to route the emergency call to the appropriate emergency center (police, ambulance, fire brigade, etc.).
The alpha tagging solves the problem of indicating to the user which emergency service can be called. The service category solves the problem of giving a location-independent indication to the network of what type emergency service is requested.
The invention discloses a new and unique method for providing an emergency call by a user of a mobile phone to a mobile phone network, comprising two unique steps: (1) inputting an emergency call number to a mobile phone; and (2) attaching to the emergency call number a location-independent emergency service category that is identified by each mobile network in the same way regardless of country. The location-independent emergency service category (also known as a call type indicator) identifies emergencies such as general rescue, police ambulance, fire, or a combination thereof. The emergency call number is typically provided by a user in an emergency situation where there is a need for one or more of the aforementioned emergency services. Another step of this method includes attaching to an emergency call code an emergency call code alpha tag identifier so that once a user has dialed an emergency number the user may scroll a display of the mobile phone for available emergency services, for example, in case the emergency number entered did not correspond to a desired emergency service. The entering of the emergency number would act as a trigger to view emergency services numbers to the user. After a predetermined time, an emergency call having a location-independent emergency service category attached thereto would be provided to the mobile network if an alternative emergency call number is not selected by the user.
This method also includes automatically routing the emergency call to a corresponding emergency call center in the mobile network. The method further includes maintaining an emergency call code data file in the mobile phone with the location-independent emergency service categories, the emergency call code, and/or the emergency call code alpha tag identifier.

Alpha tagging and type indication of emergency call number


An electronic equipment has a heat-generating part therein. A housing accommodates component parts including the heat-generating part. A cooling-medium circulation system circulates a liquid internal cooling-medium between a heat-absorbing part and a heat-radiating part, the heat-absorbing part absorbing heat from the heat-generating part, the heat-radiating part radiating the heat absorbed by the heat-absorbing part. The heat-radiating part of the cooling-medium circulation system includes a first heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a liquid external cooling-medium and the internal cooling-medium, the external cooling-medium being supplied from outside the electronic equipment, and a second heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between an air and said internal cooling-medium, the air being exhausted from the housing to outside.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic equipments and, more particularly, to an electronic equipment having a heat exchanger for cooling internal parts and a rack apparatus in which such an electronic equipment is accommodated.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, it is common to arrange many electric equipments in a rack having many stages so as to constitute a server or the like and install the rack in a room having air-conditioner (hereinafter, referred to as an air-conditioned room). A relatively high-temperature air generated when cooling internal parts of electronic equipments is exhausted from the housing of the electronic equipment. Many electronic equipments are accommodated in the rack, and if a plurality of such racks are installed in an air-conditioned room, a large amount of high-temperature air is discharged from the racks into the air-conditioned room. The temperature of the air-conditioned room in which the racks are installed is maintained constant at a normal temperature such as, for example, 20° C.
FIG. 1 is an illustration showing circulation of air around racks by air-conditioners. Normally, an air-conditioned room, in which racks 2 are installed, is provided with openings in a floor 4 and a ceiling so that cool air is supplied from floor openings 4a into the air-conditioned room and warm air is taken from openings of the ceiling (not shown in the figure) and suctioned into air-conditioners 6. The warm air discharged from the racks 3 is cooled by the air-conditioners 6, and, then, supplied into the air-conditioned room through the openings 4a of the floor 4. Normally, many openings 4a are provided around the racks 2 generating a large amount of heat so as to provide a well-balanced air conditioning in the air-conditioned room.
However, if many racks 2 are installed in a limited part of the area of the air-conditioned room, there may be a case where a temperature around the racks 2 becomes higher than a temperature of other areas in the air-conditioned room, which generates a heat spot where a temperature is raised locally. Additionally, if an amount of heat discharged from the racks 2 exceeds a capacity of the air-conditioners 6, it is difficult to maintain the temperature of the entire air-conditioned room constant.
Thus, there is suggested a cooling system in which a liquid-cooling type heat exchanger is provided in a rack and an internal part of each electronic equipment is liquid-cooled so as to achieve heat exchange with a cooling medium from each electronic equipment by a heat exchanger in the rack (for example, refer to Patent Document 1). In this cooling system, although heat generated by each electronic equipment is absorbed temporarily by the cooling medium, the absorbed heat is released to air in the rack and discharged to outside the rack. Thus, finally, the heat from the electronic equipments is discharged from rack to the air-conditioned room.
Moreover, there is suggested a technique to circulate air inside an electronic apparatus while cooling by providing a refrigerating machine and a heat exchanger of a cooling side in the electronic apparatus and arranging a heat exchanger of a radiation side outside the electronic apparatus (for example, refer to Patent Document 2). In this case, if the heat exchanger of the radiation side is in the air-conditioned room, whole heat from the electronic apparatus is discharged into the air-conditioned room.
Moreover, there is suggested an induction equipment in which a nonflammable insulating liquid filled in an insulated container is forcibly circulated through a heat exchanger by providing the heat exchanger in a dead space inside a tank and locating a liquid delivery pump outside the tank, and the heat exchange by the heat exchanger is achieved by causing a cooling medium to flow through an external cooling medium pipe from outside the tank so as to cool an iron core inside (for example, refer to Patent Document 3). In this case, since the cooling medium circulating in the induction equipment as an electronic apparatus is cooled by the cooling medium circulating outside the induction equipment, heat in the induction equipment can be taken out of the induction equipment, but if the radiation of heat from the cooling medium circulating outside the induction equipment is in an air-conditioned room, whole heat from the electronic apparatus is radiated into the air-conditioned room.
Moreover, there is suggested a CPU heat-radiation apparatus for cooling a CUP by providing a liquid-cooling type cooling unit to a CPU inside an electronic apparatus and circulating a cooling medium between the liquid-cooling type cooling unit and an air-cooling type cooling unit (for example, refer to Patent Document 4). In this CPU heat-radiation apparatus, the cooling medium circulates in the electronic apparatus, and the whole heat generated from the CPU is finally radiated into an air-conditioned room.
Thus, in order to cool a comparatively high-temperature air discharged from the rack 2, there is a suggestion to provide a water-cooling type heat exchanger in the rack 2 so as to discharge air of which temperature is decreased to a certain level from the rack 2. FIG. 2 is an illustration of the rack 2 provided with a water-cooling type heat exchanger 8. A plurality of electronic equipments 10 are accommodated in the rack 2. High-temperature air exhausted from the electronic equipments 10 is cooled by the water-cooling type heat exchanger 8 and turned to a low-temperature air and exhausted to outside the rack 2. A cooling-water is supplied to the water-cooling type heat exchanger 8 from outside through a cooling-water pipe 12A. The supplied cooling-water absorbs heat from the high-temperature air from the electronic equipments 10, and is discharged to outside through a cooling-water pipe 12B. Although not shown in the figure, the high-temperature cooling water discharged by the cooling-water pipe 12B is cooled by a cooling machine provided outside the air-conditioned room where the rack 2 is installed, and turned into a low-temperature cooling water and is supplied again to the cooling-water pipe 12A.
As mentioned above, by providing the water-cooling type heat exchanger 8, the temperature of the air exhausted from the rack 2 can be decreased. The heat absorbed from the air exhausted from the rack 2 is transported by the cooling-water, and radiated outside the air-conditioned room. Accordingly, the heat absorbed by the heat exchanger 8 is not radiated into the air-conditioned room, thereby reducing a load of the air-conditioning machine for air-conditioning the air-conditioned room. Additionally, by providing the heat exchanger 8 to the rack generating especially a large amount of heat, a heat spot is prevented from being generated in the air-conditioned room.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-363308
Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 8-63261
Patent Document 3: Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 6-34220
Patent Document 4: Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3068892
As mentioned above, if the water-cooling type heat exchanger 8 is provided to the rack 2, heat exchange from a solid (heat-generating parts) to a gas (air) is performed inside the electronic equipment 10. When the air absorbed heat is exhausted from the electronic equipment 10, heat exchange from a gas (air) to a solid (fins of the heat exchanger) is performed in the water-cooling type heat exchanger 8 in the rack 2 and the air from the electronic equipment 10 is cooled and exhausted to outside the rack 2.
Generally, an efficient of heat transfer between solid and gas is lower than an efficient of heat transfer between solid and liquid. Considering an area needed to transfer the same amount of heat in an example of air and water, air requires an area ten to hundred times an area of water. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the heat generated in the electronic equipment 10 is exhausted to outside the air-conditioned room by performing the low-efficient solid-gas heat transfer two times. Accordingly, it is desirous to develop a technique which can efficiently discharge heat from an electronic equipment to outside an air-conditioned room.


A method is provided to migrate a virtual machine from a source computing machine to a destination computing machine comprising: suspending transmission of requests from a request queue disposed in source computing machine memory associated with the VM from the request queue to a VF; while suspending the transmission of requests, determining when no more outstanding responses to prior requests remain to be received; in response to a determination that no more outstanding responses to prior requests remain to be received, transferring state information that is indicative of locations of requests inserted to the request queue from the VF to a PF and from the PF to a memory region associated with a virtualization intermediary of the source computing machine. After transferring the state information to source computing machine memory associated with a virtualization intermediary, resuming transmission of requests from locations of the request queue indicated by the state information to the PF; and transmitting the requests from the PF to the physical storage.

A host computer system may run multiple virtual machines (VMs) that share common resources, such as physical storage. Physical storage used by the VMs typically is emulated so as to present virtual storage resources to the VMs. A virtualization intermediary manages interaction between VMs and physical storage. Some prior virtualization intermediaries "trap" (intercept) virtual storage requests issued by individual VMs and to thereby intervene in the storage access requests so as to redirect the requests from virtual targets to physical targets. Such earlier virtualization intermediary uses trap handlers during emulation to redirect IO commands to prevent storage access violations. However, this emulation can be expensive in terms of instructions processed. Overall performance may decline when many VMs seek to access physical storage at the same time. The many storage requests can result in data access delays due to the compute cycles required by the virtualization intermediary to trap and translate simultaneous data requests from many VMs.
One solution to this problem has been proposed in the Single Root Virtualization I/O and Sharing Specification, Revision 1.0, Sep. 11, 2007 (PCI-SIG SR-IOV) specification. The PCI-SIG SR-IOV specification proposes providing each of one or more VMs with direct access to physical storage through its own storage adapter instance as a designated virtual function (VF) running on a physical storage adapter. This avoids the need for heavy intervention by the virtualization intermediary to gain access to physical storage.
Live migration typically involves the ability to move a VM from a source physical machine to a destination physical machine, possibly one with different IO adapter hardware, at almost any point in a VM's work flow without affecting correctness of processing by the VM and without significantly affecting the availability of the VM. In general, migration involves a virtualization intermediary intervening to suspend a VM's execution at any instruction boundary and to control the flow of the VM's IO during the migration process. The virtualization intermediary also tracks and quiesces IO initiated by the VM on the source migration host and resumes the IO on the destination migration host. However, direct access by a VM to physical storage that bypasses intervention of the virtualization intermediary complicates live migration of a virtual machine across physical machines, since the virtualization intermediary does not intervene in VM IO operations.

Live migration of virtual machine during direct access to storage over SR IOV adapter


An arrangement comprising at least one liquefaction plant for liquefying a gaseous medium to produce a liquefied medium; and at least one storage tank for storing the liquefied medium. A first transfer line is provided which is connected between the liquefaction plant and the storage tank, for transferring liquefied medium from the liquefaction plant into the storage tank. A second transfer line is connected between the liquefaction plant and the storage tank, for transferring gaseous medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant. The second transfer line, which used for transferring medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant, is arranged so that it is routed at least partially through the area of the storage tank in which the liquefied medium is stored in use.

The term "liquefaction plant" is understood to mean any plant or any process that is used for cooling and liquefying a gaseous medium, for example, hydrogen, a noble gas such as helium, neon, etc., oxygen, nitrogen, or a hydrocarbon mixture, in particular natural gas.
In known arrangements, there is provided at least one liquefaction plant for liquefying a gaseous medium and at least one storage tank which is used to store the liquefied medium. Generally, two transfer lines are provided which connect the liquefaction plant and the storage tank. A first transfer line is used to transfer the liquefied medium from the liquefaction plant to the storage tank, and a second transfer line (a return line) is used to transfer the flash and boil-off gas of the liquefied medium from the storage tank to the liquefaction plant. It is usual to provide a mechanism, such as a shut-off valve, in each transfer line which can be activate to stop the flow in the transfer line.
Usually, the transfer lines are vacuum insulated lines. By providing two, distinct and physically separated transfer lines between liquefaction plant and storage tank, it is possible at the same time to transfer liquefied medium from the liquefaction plant into the storage tank and gaseous medium from the storage tank into the liquefaction plant.
A typical known arrangement is shown in FIG. 1. A liquefaction plant V represented simply as a black box is connected to a represented storage tank S having an outer tank 1 and an inner tank 2. The arrangement includes a first transfer line 3, in which a shut-off valve a is arranged. The medium liquefied in the liquefaction plant V is supplied to the storage tank S through line 3. A second transfer line 4 is provided, in which a shut-off valve b is arranged, is provided. Gaseous medium is transferred from the storage tank S into the liquefaction plant V through second transfer line 4 (which can also be referred to as a return line). The outlet of transfer line 3 and the inlet of the return transfer line 4 are located in an upper portion of the storage tank S. This portion of the storage tank S generally does not contain liquefied medium when the arrangement is in use.
In this known arrangement, the two transfer lines are arranged at the same side of the storage tank as shown in FIG. 1, and this can cause problems in the start-up and normal operation of the apparatus.
In operation, when the flash and boil-off gas, for example, gaseous helium, is withdrawn from the storage tank, changes in the temperature of the gaseous helium in the storage tank are transferred to apparatus downstream of the return line. When the gaseous helium is sent back to a liquefaction plant, changes in the return temperature can have a negative effect on the efficiency of the liquefaction plant. Changes in the return gas temperature occur mainly as a result of temperature stratification in the storage tank, for example, if the gas compartment sees only little flow (for example, in partial load drops, after plant start-up, in very large tanks) or when warm gas is fed into the storage tank from another source.
When the helium is continuously fed into the storage tank in the form of a two-phase mixture consisting of liquid helium and gaseous helium and at the same time continuous removal of gaseous helium from the storage tank is carried out, a bypass flow can occur and cause at least a partial flow of liquid helium back through the return transfer line.
The storage tank may need to be cooled (for example in the start-up phase of operation) by circulating cold, gaseous helium through the storage tank. Since the outlet of first transfer line 3 is in close proximity to the inlet of second transfer or return line 4, the cold gaseous helium passes only through a limited range of the tank volume and passes quickly back into the return line. In other words, the cold gaseous helium does not remain in the storage tank for any significant time, and this means it can take a long time to cool the tank down sufficiently.
Embodiments of the invention seek to provide an apparatus which overcome some or all of these problems.


A run-flat device (13) for fitting on the outer circumference of a wheel (11) inside an inflatable tire (12). The device (13) comprising an annular ring (14) made up of a plurality (preferably three) of arcuate segments (15) interconnected at each end by clamping means (23, 23a, 23b, 28, 29, 35) equally spaced around the ring that imparts to each segment (15) a circumferential clamping force and an axial clamping force to urge the segments circumferentially and axially towards each other.

This invention relates to vehicle wheels that have inflatable tyres and in particular to devices that are fitted on the rim of a wheel inside the tyre to enable the wheel to run with a deflated tyre. Such devices will hereinafter be called "run-flat devices". The present invention is concerned with clamping devices for clamping together segments of a segmented ring run-flat device.
With conventional wheels that are not fitted with run-flat devices, when the tyre becomes deflated the tyre becomes damaged and can become shredded or thrown off the metal wheel rim. This can cause the vehicle to which the wheel is fitted to loose control, thus endangering other road users. At best, the vehicle can be stopped and the wheel replaced with a spare wheel, or the puncture repaired, or a new tyre fitted to the existing wheel. For commercial vehicles, such as lorries, this is very time consuming and costly because of the need to acquire specialist breakdown or repair services to get the vehicle back on the move again.
With lorries, military vehicles, carriers, such as bullion carriers, security vehicles, or other vehicles where a puncture of a tyre effectively halts the vehicle, and exposes the vehicle to danger from an external threat, there is a need to be able to continue with the vehicle journey irrespective of the deflated tyre.
When a tyre deflates partially or completely, the effective diameter of the wheel with the deflated tyre becomes relatively smaller compared with the wheels with inflated tyres. Therefore, the frictional engagement of the deflated tyre on the road causes the peripheral speed of the deflated tyre to increase to match the peripheral speed of the inflated tyres.
Simultaneously, any differential gearbox in the transmission drive path to a wheel with a deflated tyre will divert torque away from the driven wheels that have inflated tyres to the wheel with the deflated tyre. This in turn causes rotation of the deflated tyre relative to the metal wheel, particularly where the metal wheel is a driven wheel.


A motor is generally described. The motor may include an armature and a coil. The coil and armature operatively receive power from a power source. The power induces magnetic fields in the coil and armature to drive the armature. When power is removed, the coils reverse polarity to inductively decelerate the armature.

Many appliances use motors to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. Blenders, for examples, use motors to blend or mix drinks or other food. Blenders are used in homes and businesses. When utilized in businesses, such as restaurants or coffee shops, the blender is often positioned adjacent to a serving or dining area so that the food or drinks may be prepared as ordered. When so placed, the sound emitted by the blender can disturb or distract customers as it processes or mixes a drink.
The motor is a direct source of noise when in operation, and also is an indirect source of noise due to the vibration it creates within the blender base. Blender bases must also be large enough to house the motor. Further, users must wait for the motor to stop before they remove contents from a container.
Other appliances use motors to perform other tasks. In these appliances, motors also contribute to noise, size limitations, and time required to perform their tasks. It, therefore, is desirable to provide a motor that may reduce noise, efficiently operate, and that may be reduced in size.


There is provided a keyboard structure capable of preventing a fingernail of a user from being inserted between key tops and achieving uniform illumination without illumination leakage. A key top body portion (120a) and an upper sheet (120b) are integrally formed to form a key top (120) and a flange portion (120d) is formed by protruding the upper sheet (120b) from the key top body portion (120a) toward an outer circumferential direction. A frame (122) is disposed between the adjacent key tops (120) and a gap is closed by the flange portion (120d) of the upper sheet (120b) and a flange portion (122a) of the frame (122).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2008-293922 (Patent Document 1) discloses a conventional keyboard structure. The keyboard structure disclosed in Document 1 has a water-proof function wherein a movable plate, which is movable together with a key top, is disposed below a key cap and a sheet-shaped elastic member is disposed between the key top and the movable plate. In the keyboard structure, a link mechanism, which includes two link members, a rubber dome, a membrane sheet, and a back plate, is disposed below the movable plate. A water-proof property is realized for the link mechanism by covering the link mechanism with the sheet-shaped elastic member.
As a reference to a keyboard structure having an illumination function, there is JP-A No. 2008-235065 (Patent Document 2) disclosing a structure in which a back plate, which supports a membrane sheet, is imparted with light permeability and light reflectivity to exhibit uniform illumination with a simple structure, so that a back plate functions as a light guiding and a substrate. When light is incident from an LED light source disposed to face the back plate, the back plate directs the incident light toward the key top. This causes a character or a symbol on the key top to be illuminated.


A method and apparatus is described for transmitting and receiving data signals and voice band signals over a single pair of wires, wherein the energy content of the data signals in the voice band is transferred to a higher frequency to avoid interference between the two. This is accomplished by sinusoidally encoding the data pulses in the frequency domain. The encoding is equivalently performed in the time domain by linearly combining weighted delayed and advanced versions of the data pulses, in accordance with a weighting formula. A transversal filter is used to multiple delayed and advanced versions of the data pulses by a scaling factor times the ratio of m!/m-i)!i! factorial wherein i is the ith version being weighted, m is an integer greater than one and ! indicates the factorial function.

Telephone voice communication systems are ubiquitously deployed over most of the United States and a good portion of the world. Telephone voice communication uses the frequency band 300 Hz to 3300 Hz. A copper pair connects the end user's premises to the serving central office. This provides satisfactory voice signal transmission. As the need for data communication increases, transmission of data signals from the end user's premises to the serving central office, becomes a problem. Using voice band modems, the user can establish data communication up to about 4.8 kbps, although 9.6 kbps modems are becoming available. These modems require elaborate circuitry to condense an essentially wide band data spectrum into the 300 Hz to 3300 Hz voice band. Also, when the customer's copper pair is being used for data communication, it is not available for voice communication. Not only does the narrow voice band restrict the rate at which data communication can occur, the use of voice band modems does not allow interactive voice/data transactions to occur. Finally, since voice band data modems use the public switched network; which was designed for voice communications, the degree of performance cannot be guaranteed.
Presently, high speed and high performance data applications require that the customer subscribe to a wide band four wire baseband (digital) data service, such as, Dataphone Digital Service (DDS). In DDS, high performance is obtained by leaving the data un-modulated and transmitting and receiving it through cable equalizers/pre-equalizers. In pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 891,462 filed July 29, 1986, Gupta discloses that by use of a pre- and post-equalizer, the copper cable media can be effectively made wide band. Baseband data in the form of Pulse Amplitude Modulated Nyquist Pulses transmitted through this cable equalizer combination results in good (.gtoreq.70% open) eye performance. Thus, error rate performance better than 10.sup.-8 can be achieved. A thorough treatment of "eye opening" can be found in the book entitled "Data Transmission" by W.R. Bennett and J.R. Davey, page 119, McGraw Hill, 1965.
The problems with this baseband Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) technique are that (1) there is a D.C. component present and (2) there are discrete frequencies present at the baud rate and its multiples. Since telephone copper cable is subject to lightning hits, power crosses, etc., it is highly desirable to interface it through transformers and protection circuitry. The presence of D.C. in the PAM data signal does not allow it to pass through a transformer. Also, energy concentrated at discrete frequency points, can cause cross-talk problems in the other wire pairs in the binder group of which the PAM signal carrying pairs are members. These two problems are solved by use of Alternate Mark Inversion (AMI) pre-coding, wherein the polarity of every alternate "1" is reversed to a "-1". Proof that this eliminates D.C. and discrete frequencies is complex and can be found in "Signal Theory" by L.E. Franks, pages 217-218, Prentice Hall, 1969. Franks demonstrates that the spectra of the AMI/PAM digital signal is of the form (sin Kf)..times.(f) which becomes zero, i.e., D.C. at f=0. In general, the slope at f=0 is not zero and, hence, significant energy is present in the voice band (300 Hz to 3300 Hz). Thus, AMI/PAM and baseband voice transmission are mutually incompatible.
With the explosion of data communication, a need exists for a method and apparatus for transmission and reception of voice and data signals between terminals or nodes over a single pair of standard telephone cable. Present techniques for satisfying this need involve frequency shift keying (FSK) in which two frequencies are required. The error performance of FSK transmission is unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. The high frequency band is highly attenuated by even moderate length cable and so poor Signal to Noise Ratios (SNR) result leading to degraded performance. Furthermore, since the energy is clustered in narrow bands, cross-talk into other cables in the binder group is created. The more power used for transmission, the greater the cross-talk, limiting the use of other cables in the binder group for wideband services. Therefore, the signal cannot be transmitted as far as one would desire and administrative restrictions have to be placed on mixing other services in the same binder group. Expensive modulation and demodulation circuits are also required for FSK and are a further detriment.


Provided is a composition for promoting ketone body production that comprises a water insoluble polymer of a β-hydroxy short-medium chain fatty acid such as homopolymer of β-hydroxybutyric acid or a copolymer of β-hydroxybutyric acid and β-hydroxyvaleric acid. The composition is useful for the treatment or prevention of a disease or condition that can be treated by promoting ketone body production.

"Ketone bodies" represent three compounds, acetone, acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate that are produced in the liver by degrading fatty and released into the blood. Among the ketone bodies, acetone is very volatile and easily excreted in the expired air. Therefore, when measuring the amount of ketone bodies in the blood, total amount of acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate in the blood is measured and represented as "total ketone bodies". Ketone bodies are used as energy source together with glucose, free fatty acids or amino acids, and are utilized in various organs other than liver, such as brain, heart, kidney and skeletal muscle. Ketone bodies are very important energy source especially for brain. In the brain, only glucose and ketone bodies can be utilized as energy sources. The physiological concentration of ketone bodies varies widely dependent on the diet, excise and the like in contrast with the concentrations of other factors that are maintained within relatively narrower ranges.
It has been known that high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet induces ketone bodies and is useful for the treatment of epilepsy. It has also been known that increasing of ketone body level in the blood by means of ketogenesis induction or administration of a ketone body can provide treating and/or preventing effect against various diseases
For example, Non Patent Literature 1 discloses that mild ketosis, i.e. a mild elevation of blood ketone body level may offer therapeutic potential in a variety of conditions and diseases. Non Patent literature 1 reports that the ketogenic diet is effective for the prevention of seizures in patients with refractory epilepsy, weight loss and as adjuncts to cancer chemotherapy; that salts of ketone bodies are useful for the treatment of the decline of the concentrations of glucose, free fatty acids and glycerol in a patient receiving fluid therapy and for the treatment of genetic disease caused by the depression of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase. Further, it also reports that mild increase of the concentration of ketone bodies is effective for the treatment or prevention of: insulin resistance typical in type II diabetic patients, genetic defects of glucose transport and PHD activity; hypoglycemia; hypoxia; cardiomyopathy; hereditary muscular atrophy; diseases or conditions caused by free radicals including Parkinson's disease, and neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease based on results of experiments using animal models.
In view of the above discussed reports, products that control ketone body level in the body have been proposed. One example of the products is a high-fat low-carbohydrate diet, i.e. a ketogenic diet. By receiving the ketogenic diet continuously, the ketogenesis in the liver is stimulated and the concentration of ketone bodies in the blood is increased. However, due to the continuous intake of the high-fat diet, the other diseases such as hyperlipidemia may be induced. In addition, no ketogenic diet product that provides satisfied taste has been provided and therefore, continuous intake of ketogenic diet is not preferable in view of QOL of the patient.
Another approach for controlling ketone body level in the body is to increase concentration of ketone bodies such as acetoacetate and D-β-hydroxybutyric acid in the blood by administering them intravenously (infusion), orally or enterally. However, administering those compounds that are acids directly in the blood is not preferable in view of keeping the blood pH around neutral. In addition, oral administration of an acid per se is difficult and therefore, derivatives of ketone bodies including salts, esters, cyclic oligomers, polymers and metabolic precursors thereof have been proposed (Patent Literatures 1-4 and Non-patent Literature 2).
Patent Literature 1 discloses that a precursor of a ketone body, such as an oligomer, polymer and ester thereof, can enhance the blood level of ketone bodies and is useful for increasing cardiac efficiency, treating diabetics and insulin resistant states and/or reversing, retarding or preventing the effects of neurodegenerative disorders and epilepsy. According to the Patent Literature 1, the number of the repeating units of the polymer may be 2 to 100 and the polymer used in the working example is an oligomer having an average degree of polymerization of 3.75 or a sodium salt of D-β-hydroxybutyric acid. 2M solution of the each was administered to a rat in an amount of 0.1 mL/100 g body weight and the blood β-hydroxybutyric acid level was monitored over 120 minutes from the administration. As a result, the highest blood β-hydroxybutyric acid level in the rat administered with the oligomer was observed at around 60 minutes after the administration, and the time was later than that when the highest β-hydroxybutyric acid level was observed in the rat received sodium salt of D-β-hydroxybutyric acid. At two hours from the administration, the blood hydroxybutyric acid level was increased 5-12 times of the normal level and concluded that those derivatives can significantly increase the blood level of ketone body for several hours from the administration.
Patent Literature 2 discloses that linear or cyclic oligomers or esters of D-β-hydroxybutyric acid can increase the blood level of hydroxybutyric acid and are effective for the reduction of protein catabolism, appetite suppression, the increase of cardiac efficiency, the treatment of diabetes and insulin resistant states, Alzheimer's disease, fronto-temperal degeneration associated with Pick's disease, vascular dementia, senile dementia of Lewy body type, dementia of Parkinsonism with frontal atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration, Down's syndrome associated Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis, and muscular dystrophy. In the working example, blood hydroxybutyric acid level in a dog given a single oral bolus of the cyclic trimer at 5% of the daily caloric requirement (i.e. 10 g of the cyclic trimer) was elevated. The highest level was more than 5 times of the normal level and was observed at 90 minutes from the administration. The blood level of hydroxybutyric acid was then gradually decreased over 6 hours (Example 2). In example 3, a dog was fed with 134.5 g of a mixture of meat (111 g) and the cyclic trimer (23.5 g) four times over 9 hours. The blood hydroxybutyric acid level was increased to about 50 times of the normal level within 30 minutes from the first administration. After the third administration (at 6 hours), the blood ketone body level was still 30 times of the normal level and by the next morning, returned to the normal level. Further, in Example 7, rats were fed with experimental diets containing 25% of the calories from oligomers having average molecular weight of 200 and 1000 respectively, for 5 days. The blood hydroxybutyric acid level was 9 times of the normal level in the rats fed with the oligomer of 200 MW and 2 times of the normal level in the rat fed with the oligomer of 1000 MW. Those results suggest that when the water solubility of the oligomer is decreased, the blood ketone body level will be decreased.
As discussed above, administration of the oligomer once will elevate the blood ketone body level several times within a short term and the elevated level will be kept for several hours.
Patent Literature 3 discloses to improve cerebral function by increasing blood ketone body level by means of administeration of a β-hydroxybutyric acid derivative or dimer to decamer (2-10 mer) of β-hydroxybutyric acid. Although Patent Literature 3 suggests that dimer to decamer (2-10 mer) of β-hydroxybutyric acid and esters or salts of β-hydroxybutyric acid monomer will provide similar effect on the blood ketone body level as well as on the cerebral function, only salt and ester of hydroxybutyric acid monomer were used in the working examples.
Patent Literature 4 discloses that cyclic ester of β-hydroxybutyric acid (3-hydroxybutyric acid) can elevate the blood level of ketone bodies that are β-hydroxybutyric acid and/or acetoacetate. The elevation of blood level of ketone bodies is effective for treating a cell that is subjected to malfunction due to action of free radicals, toxic agents such as peptides and proteins and genetic defects deleterious to cell metabolism, insulin resistance or other glucose metabolism defects or defect inducing states, ischemia, head trauma, and/or for increasing cell efficiency, and accordingly, is effective for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amylotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, free radical disease, heart failure, Type II diabetes, deficiency or blocage of pyruvate dehydrogenase, inability to perform glycolysis in one or more cell types and Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. In Patent Literature 4, a working example in which a cyclic trimer was used as the cyclic oligomer was disclosed. At 80 minutes and 150 minutes after oral administration of the diet containing 11 wt % of the trimer, the blood level of ketone bodies were elevated to 1.8 times and 2.4 times of the normal level, respectively.
Non-patent literature 1 teaches the possibility for treating or preventing various diseases by administering ketone bodies directly into the blood by means of intravenous drip. Non-patent literature 2 teaches the possibility for increasing the blood level of ketone bodies by administering water soluble β-hydroxybutyric acid directly into the blood by means of intravenous drip. In addition it also teaches that the same effect will be obtained by the oral administration of a water soluble oligomer.
As discussed above, in the prior art references, β-hydroxybutyric acid oligomers of low polymerization degree or β-hydroxybutyric acid derivatives such as esters thereof were administered and the elevation of the blood levels of ketone bodies were confirmed. Considering the fact that the blood levels of ketone bodies were elevated soon after the administration, the oligomer of β-hydroxybutyric acid or the like might be hydrolyzed and absorbed in the stomach or small intestine; or the oligomer or the like is absorbed and transported into the blood and hydrolyzed there. That is, the ketone bodies administered in the prior art references must be water soluble. In addition, Non-Patent Literatures 1 and 2 also confirms that the compound to increase the blood levels of ketone bodies must be water soluble.
The applicant had shown in Patent Literature 5 that when a water insoluble polymer of β-hydroxy short-medium chain fatty acid is administered orally, the polymer will be delivered to the large intestine without being degraded in the stomach or short intestine, and degraded by the large intestinal bacterial flora to give the biological effect.    Patent Literature 1: JP 2000-515510A    Patent Literature 2: JP2002-521330A    Patent Literature 3: JP H10-95730A    Patent Literature 4: JP 2002-524506    Patent Literature 5: WO2005/021013    Non-Patent Literature 1: Veech, Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 70 (2004) 309-319    Non-Patent Literature 2: Rich, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society (1990) 49, 361-373
The above documents are herein incorporated by reference.

Composition for promoting ketone body production


A method is provided for producing a wrought aluminum eutectic composite characterized by improved physical properties. The method resides in forming a casting of an aluminum alloy characterized metallographically by the presence of a eutectic structure, and then heat treating the casting at a temperature related to the eutectic-forming temperature of said alloy casting, that is just below its incipient melting point. The heat treatment is continued for a time at least sufficient to convert the morphology of the eutectic to dispersed fine particles of reinforcing phase(s), following which the alloy is physically worked to reduce the cross section thereof and provide a wrought aluminum eutectic composite characterized by improved physical properties.

The term "in situ" metal matrix composites or MMC is used herein to distinguish such aluminum alloys from aluminum alloy composites reinforced by the physical addition of carbide or other hard particles to aluminum, such as silicon carbide, titanium carbide, alumina, TiB.sub.2, and the like. The MMC alloys are generally referred to as dispersion strengthened alloys.
"In situ" or "natural" MMC are produced by taking advantage of the chemical and physical metallurgical characteristics of special alloys. This type of MMC is formed during solidification of an alloy with the proper elemental content, e.g., a eutectic or near-eutectic composition, the subject of this development. At the beginning of processing, the alloy is entirely molten and is prepared using conventional fusion metallurgy. During solidification of the alloy, the reinforcing phase forms naturally in the structure. It is only after the melt solidifies that the discrete phases of the composite can be identified in the microstructure.
A eutectic is an invariant point on the equilibrium phase diagram of an alloy containing two or more components. In a binary componant system, liquid and two solid phases can only coexist at the eutectic temperature and the eutectic composition. Each component can contain more than one element and eutectic mixtures containing more than two phases are possible.
The term eutectic used herein is meant to include near-eutectic compositions as well as all eutectic compositions. Generally speaking, these eutectic compositions will contain some amount of primary phase.
Eutectic alloys generally possess various microstructures and properties depending on how the alloy is solidified and worked. Special solidification processing techniques, such as casting under a unidirectional thermal gradient, can be employed to align a reinforcing phase in a eutectic; these directionally-solidified or aligned eutectics are highly anisotropic and have attractive properties in the as-cast state. In the present invention, no special solidification processing is employed or required; conventionally cast ingots of eutectic alloys are mechanically worked after casting to produce composite properties.
Simple static or direct-chill casting followed by rolling or extrusion of eutectic alloys is a process which is relatively inexpensive and easily adaptable to current aluminum production capability. These alloys are suited for applications where enhanced stiffness, strength, low density, and good ductility are required. The static casting and working produce sheet or bar with moderate levels of anisotropic (directional) behavior which is useful in these applications. In addition, statically-cast and worked eutectics are superplastic, for example, when hot formed at low or medium strain rates, and thus extensive forming deformation of large parts at low loads is possible without premature fracture.
There are several other advantages to producing a composite by the eutectic route which are given as follows:
The eutectic melt contains all the ingredients, e.g., no reinforcing solids must be added to the melt.
Depending on the specific phases, the interface between the matrix and reinforcing phase in an eutectic MMC is entirely coherent, or at least semicoherent and free of environmental contaminants or (interfacial) phases which can have undesirable effects on mechanical properties.
The size and spacing of the reinforcing phase in many eutectic composites is often more refined as compared to that in a conventional MMC which can have a desirable effect on strength, stiffness, and ductility.
Depending on the specific phases, the eutectic MMC can be rolled, forged, or extruded more easily than a conventional MMC containing comparatively brittle reinforcements. Also, depending on the specific phase, the reinforcement itself in the eutectic MMC will have some ductility in combination with a high modulus.
Depending on the specific matrix phase and chemistry, post solidification solution and aging heat treatment can be employed to alter the structure and properties of the eutectic composite.
So long as temperatures are not exceeded that would alter the morphology of the reinforcing phase or the matrix state of precipitation, the eutectic composites can be utilized at elevated temperatures.
One method of producing dispersion strengthened aluminum alloys is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,548 which issued on Nov. 2, 1976. According to the patent, the method disclosed is directed to the production of such alloys by forming a casting of a specified composition in which brittle rod-like intermetallic phases are present, following which the casting is mechanically worked to break up the rod-like phases and form separate particles which are dispersed through the mass. The patent states that when intermetallic particles of a size within the range of about 0.1 to 2 microns form from a 5 to 20% by volume of an aluminum alloy, the worked alloy possesses interesting mechanical properties. When the volume fraction of the phases falls below 5%, the mechanical properties are inferior, and that when they exceed 20 volume %, the ductility and toughness decline.
A similar disclosure appears in a sister application of the above-identified patent which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,486. This patent is directed to a method and product, the composition consisting essentially of 7-10% Si, up to 1% Cu, up to 1% Mg, up to 1% Mn and the balance aluminum, with up to a total of 1% residuals. The method comprises producing an aluminum-silicon alloy by continuous casting in the form of a thin slab at a growth rate of about 25 cm/min. so as to solidify silicon in the form of elongated rods of about 0.05 to 0.5 microns uniformly dispersed throughout the thickness of the slab. The slab is subjected to 60% reduction to fragment the silicon rods into finely divided separate particles and later cold-rolled to at least a final 10% reduction to final sheet form, following which the cold-rolled sheet is annealed at a temperature in the range of 250.degree. C. to 400.degree. C.
A disadvantage of the foregoing methods is the initial requirement of massively mechanically working the alloy to a reduction of at least 60% in order to fragment the hard silicon phase into fine particles.
We have discovered a method for producing wrought aluminum eutectic composites without first massively mechanically working the alloy to break up elongated intermetallic particles or phases to produce a fine dispersion thereof.