An improved manufacturing method produces small orifices in a succession of work pieces according to a desired flow specification. After the work pieces are subjected to one or more preliminary processing steps, an apparatus, preferably an electro discharge machine, is used to produce a small orifice in each work piece. A gas, preferably nitrogen, is flowed through the orifice produced in a work piece, and the pressure drop of the gas flowing through the orifice is measured, preferably by a pressure gauge capable of providing both a visual display for a human operator and an electrical signal for a microprocessor. The pressure drop is compared to a correlation of pressure drop and the desired flow specification. The results of the comparison are used to determine whether an adjustment is needed to the apparatus and/or one of the preliminary processing steps. The comparison can involve the use of a distribution curve, and an adjustment can be made when the comparison result falls within what appears to be a new distribution curve. A statistical process control plan such as the Shainin Precontrol Method or the Shewhart X,R Chart Method can be used to reduce the frequency of performing the step of flowing the gas through the orifice. The adjustments can be made automatically by using a microprocessor to make the comparison and to initiate the adjustments in the apparatus that produces the small orifice.

The present invention relates to a system for manufacturing a very small flow orifice in which the shape, size, and surface finish of the orifice significantly affect the character of the flow through the orifice. In one particular embodiment, the invention permits a very high degree of control over manufacture of an orifice of a fuel injector so that the injector exhibits repeatable flow characteristics.
An electro discharge machine (EDM) can be used to produce very small flow orifices, i.e., on the order of less than one millimeter in diameter. The operating parameters of the EDM affect the character of the orifices so produced. Some of these parameters are controlled by the operator. For example, changes to the feed rate of the spark erosion electrode and the peak current intensity supplied to the electrode, or changes to the size in the electrode diameter, each affect the orifice produced by the EDM. Other factors include on and off times, servo and power settings.
In addition, there are a number of factors which are not controlled by the operator yet nonetheless affect the flow characteristics of the small orifice produced by an electro discharge machine. Some of the more significant factors relate to the EDM. For example, the electrode burns away during use and often begins to taper and/or get out of round as it burns away. Variation also occurs in electrode diameter, both between electrodes of different nominal sizes and between electrodes of the same nominal size. The electrode also can be damaged by contamination. Moreover, the processing of the parts presented to the EDM can vary. For example, parts from different processing batches (such as a turning or a stamping process) can be presented with thickness variations, or the heat treatment layer thicknesses of parts can vary among parts within the same processing batch.
As noted above, fuel injectors have one or more flow orifices, which are examples of a kind of small orifice.
Several methods are known for testing different aspects of fuel injectors. Air or nitrogen has been applied to the fully assembled injector at a known pressure so that a gauge can be used to detect any reduction in that pressure due to leaks. Air has also been used to check the flow characteristics of a fully assembled fuel injector or just an exiting orifice plate of a fuel injector. However, this air flow test method has proven inaccurate due to the low level of repeatability resulting from moisture and contaminants in the air as well as variations experienced due to the temperature of the supplied air. Moreover, moisture in the test air can cause corrosion of a flow orifice, and contaminants in the test air also can damage an orifice and change its flow characteristics.
In addition, the flow characteristics of a fuel injector or just an orifice plate can be tested using the method of flowing a liquid known as Stoddard solvent through a fully assembled injector or an orifice plate assembled in a mock injector assembly and measuring whether the flow rate is acceptable. In a mock assembly, the orifice plate is clamped into the injector. In a true assembly, the orifice plate is welded into the injector.
As known in the art, Stoddard solvent mimics the flow rate characteristics of gasoline. Stoddard solvent is not as flammable as gasoline and thus is more suitable for tests conducted in a manufacturing environment.
Stoddard testing or air testing a completed injector has its drawbacks. In both cases, the injector is in an assembled state before flow testing can be conducted. Time delays resulting from the time needed to complete the testing can result in the fabrication of a large number of failed injectors before the condition of an improper orifice can be detected in a finished product. Stoddard testing an orifice plate in particular requires sophisticated flow equipment, is very time consuming, and the test results correlate poorly to the finished products.
In order to produce a fuel injector orifice plate with an orifice sized according to a desired flow specification, the EDM operator selects set up conditions (i.e., electrode diameter size, guide size, etc.), and an initial operating condition for the EDM based upon prior experience in producing that particular orifice. The orifice is made with the EDM set at the selected operating conditions. To provide information feedback for controlling the orifice manufacturing process, the orifice plate would be subjected to a Stoddard test in a mock injector assembly. This test requires about ten minutes or so to perform. Moreover, a very sophisticated and expensive piece of equipment is required to perform the Stoddard test, and this equipment occupies a significant amount of space on the factory floor. Depending upon the result of this Stoddard test, the operator again adjusts the EDM operating parameters according to the judgment and experience of the operator. A new orifice is fabricated and subjected to the Stoddard test.
This continues until several orifice plates with flow that is deemed acceptable are obtained in succession. Then production begins.
Since it is prohibitively uneconomical to provide a single Stoddard machine for each EDM, the availability of the Stoddard machine determines how many orifice plates are tested. Normally, only about 10% of the orifice plates are tested. Depending upon the number of EDM's being serviced by a particular Stoddard test machine, thirty or forty minutes may elapse between testing of an orifice produced by a particular EDM. If the tested orifice proves faulty, then a substantial number of defective orifice plates would have been produced by that EDM. Moreover, because of the long time needed to perform the present test method, the number of manufactured parts being tested (the test sample) is very small relative to the total number being manufactured. This fact prevents the operator from obtaining an accurate indication of where in the realm of the flow specification, the parts being made are distributed. This results from the lack of statistical confidence in low sample sizes. Thus, correcting for the degree to which the orifice is unacceptable is largely a matter of the individual operator's judgment based on experience. Often, the operator changes the operating parameters of the EDM more than is required.
In FIG. 1, the solid line curve shows a possible distribution of parts relative to the part specification illustrated by the two vertical lines. The value "k" in FIG. 1 represents a specification parameter (e.g., a Stoddard flow value) near the lower limit. Because of the small number of parts that can be tested, the operator is ignorant of the shape or relative location of the distribution curve shown in FIG. 1. Thus, even though the operator knows the coordinates for the part, the operator does not know where the distribution curve falls relative to this part's coordinates. Thus, when the EDM operator tests a part at value "k" of the specification parameter, the operator may decide to adjust the EDM operating conditions to produce parts nearer to the higher specification parameter limit. This adjustment could, depending upon the actual position of the distribution relative to the tested part, produce a frequency distribution of additional parts like the dashed line. As shown in FIG. 2, which combines the curves of FIG. 1, this unneeded adjustment results in a wider overall distribution of orifice flow rates being produced and more parts produced near the opposite limit of the parts specification. Accordingly, more unacceptable orifices are produced.
It also is known to combine several tests, such as Stoddard tests and air tests in sequence in an attempt to cull the unacceptable parts and eliminate testing errors. However, 100% testing to obtain zero defects of parts produced is not economical because of the costs of the increased time devoted to testing and the greater number of test equipment units which must be employed.


A new Calibrachoa plant particularly distinguished by having a blue flower color and a compact, mounding form with a semi-trailing plant habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Calibrachoa, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'KLECA12236'. 'KLECA12236' originated from a controlled-cross between the proprietary female Calibrachoa variety 'CA-2004-X030' (unpatented) and the male Calibrachoa variety 'KLECA08170' (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,061).
In May 2008, two Calibrachoa parental lines, 'CA-2004-X030' and the male Calibrachoa variety 'KLECA08170' were crossed via a controlled-cross in Stuttgart, Germany and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A plant line was selected in May 2009 and subsequently named 'KLECA12236'. In May 2009, 'KLECA12236' was first vegetatively propagated by tip cuttings and in vitro shoot tips in Stuttgart, Germany. 'KLECA12236' was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via tip cuttings.


An apparatus and method for controlling fluid flow is disclosed. An electromagnetic actuator may include a stator having an inner pole member and an outer pole member. The outer pole member may have a fluid passageway therein for transmitting fluid through the outer pole member. The actuator may further include a coil disposed around the inner pole member and arranged between the inner pole member and the outer pole member. The actuator may also include an armature moveable under the influence of a magnetic field generated by the stator and coil and operable to affect transmission of the fluid through the fluid passageway.

Electromagnetic actuators are often used to control the injection of fuel into an internal combustion engine. In one example, fuel is delivered to the pumping chamber of a fuel injector, and a plunger piston (which may be moved in response to rotation of a cam arrangement) forces fuel from the pumping chamber. When an electrical solenoid within the fuel injector is activated, a control valve connecting the pumping chamber to a low-pressure tank is closed and fuel from the pumping chamber is forced toward the tip of the fuel injector, through a fuel nozzle, and subsequently into the combustion chamber of an engine. However, when the electrical solenoid is deactivated, the control valve remains open and fuel from the pumping chamber is forced into the low-pressure tank instead of being transmitted to the fuel nozzle and into the combustion chamber.
As shown in FIG. 1, an electromagnetic actuator as described above may include a stator 5 having an outer pole 5a and an inner pole 5b and may have a coil 7 disposed around the inner pole 5b between the inner pole 5b and the outer pole 5a. The stator 5 and coil 7 may be arranged within the bore of a stator housing 8. A high pressure fluid bore 9 may be formed through the housing 8 for transmission of fluid from the pumping chamber (not shown) toward the nozzle (not shown) of the fuel injector for subsequent injection into the combustion chamber of the engine.
Various improvements to electromagnetic actuators for controlling fluid flow have been made in the past. For example, various geometric configurations for inner and outer poles of a stator have been proposed with the intention of increasing pole area to thereby increase actuation force. However, as inner and outer pole dimensions are increased or modified, complex geometries for the stator and stator housing may be required—for example to (i) maintain desired product envelope dimensions, and/or (ii) insure that the high pressure fluid passageway 9 within the housing 8 is supported by sufficient high strength housing material for transmitting high pressure fluid through the housing 8 without rupture. Moreover, while various geometric configurations for inner and outer poles, coils, and stator housings have been proposed in the past, increased costs associated with producing such geometries may overcome other accomplished objectives.
Prior methods and devices for controlling fluid flow may be improved further by providing advanced actuator configurations that more effectively balance stator-coil force capacity, fluid passageway strength, and production cost and capability.
The present invention is directed at overcoming one or more disadvantages associated with prior devices and methods for controlling fluid flow through an electromagnetic actuator.

Electromagnetic actuator and method for controlling fluid flow


An energy dissipater comprising a plurality of periodic hyperbolic surfaces, forming a continuous surface-structure, and enveloping contiguous tunnels there through.

A breakwater is designed to oppose-alternate (by absorption or reflection or both) the energy of pounding waves, thus generating a protected, calm water activity zone or (in some utilizations) a land front mass protected from the erosive power of the sea, all that with the lowest possible cost and lowest environmental damage.
Conventional Breakwaters
                1. Fill-material based breakwaters are typically constructed from:                    sand and rock rubble mounds (the sizes of the rocks depend on the hydrodynamic conditions on site)            sloped revetment walls, with a concrete block crust, and land-rubble backing (supported by weighty concrete tetrapods or similar constructs)                        2. Caisson (vertical wall) breakwaters with fill material, to provide for mass and resistance against overturning.        3. Complementary caisson-rubble mound-revetment breakwaters in various functionally dictated combinations.
The bathymetric conditions, the impacting wave energy and the availability of fill-materials are the deciding factors of the breakwaters' realization and their costs. Fill-material breakwaters, because of their geometric wide-base configuration, reach their techno economical limit with the water depth of about 20-25 meters, beyond which, with every additional meter of depth, the material quantities become a critical economic constraint.
Caisson (front or rear solution) technology is relatively expensive in shallow waters, but with the growing depth, the cost of the rubble mound or the revetment wall may outpace it considerably.
It should be borne in mind that the fill-material approach for breakwater construction, dredged or mined or excavated from nature and transported and deposited on site, is not just costly but also environmentally questionable-negative-destructive. Thus in many coastal conditions the fill-material approach (when considered on a large scale) is not a viable option.
An object is to provide improved wave-energy dissipating structures adapted for uses such as breakwaters, acoustic walls and heat exchangers.


A fluid meter comprises at least three sensors each having an output dependent on a respective characteristic of the fluid to be monitored, circuitry to combine the outputs of two of the sensors to provide a measurement of mass flowrate of the fluid, and to combine the outputs of the three sensors to provide an error signal which can be used to recalibrate the measurement.

This invention is related to metering of fluids and, in particular, to a meter suitable for use in domestic gas metering.
European patent application No. 86309946.1 (THORN EMI plc) filed Dec. 19, 1986 and published on Oct. 7. 1987 as publication No. 0239,703, describes an example of a flow sensing device comprising a micro-engineered cantilevered beam fabricated on a semiconductor substrate and means sensitive to a characteristic of the beam which is indicative of fluid flow relative to the beam. The sensitive means may be a capacitive displacement sensor including a first electrode at the free end of the beam and a second electrode on the substrate below the first electrode, the sensor responding to a deflection of the beam relative to the substrate due to fluid flowing past the beam.
It is desirable that a micro-engineered cantilevered beam flow sensor (referred to hereinafter as a "microbeam flow sensor") should be positioned in a flowing fluid for a period of about 20 years and, over this period, contamination, both particulate and film, changes in fluid composition, and also drift due to the analogue nature of the device are likely to occur and to affect the performance of the sensor.


An image forming apparatus may include an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an instruction unit. The acquisition unit acquires print data from an information processing apparatus. The setting unit receives a user operation executed via an input device and configured to execute a print setting for the print data. The instruction unit instructs the acquisition unit to acquire the print data based on a print instruction for executing printing and instructs the setting unit to receive an input by the user operation for executing a print setting for the print data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a broadband network environment and a virtualized server have been widely used. In other words, the Internet infrastructure has greatly progressed. Under such circumstance of the greatly progressed Internet infrastructure, use of the following network communication has been widespread. More specifically, more and more users may access an office application, which operates on a server on the Internet, via a web browser.
The office application includes document generation software, spreadsheet software, and presentation software. The application operating on an Internet server and accessed by a user via a web browser is referred to as a Software as a Service (SaaS) application, a cloud application, or a web application.
On the other hand, more and more multifunction peripherals (MFPs) used in an office have been used in a network-connected environment. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-134125 discusses an MFP that enables a user to access resources on the Internet via a web browser (a local user interface (UI)) operating on the MFP.
A recently developed MFP enables a user to access a cloud application via a web browser on a local UI. In addition, the MFP like this can print a document that has been generated or stored by the cloud application. However, it is desired by the market that time required for printing a document generated or stored by a cloud application on an MFP be reduced in addition to enabling printing of the document generated or stored by the cloud application.

Image forming apparatus, print control method, and storage medium for controlling user of executing gray-out print settings


A purchase information collecting method collecting reliable purchase information about any kind of commodity using a network. In the purchase information collecting method, a server apparatus is used, which communicates with a seller computer and a purchaser computer, and which stores received sales information in the first storing part when the sales information identifies a deal about a commodity and is generated and transmitted by the seller computer. The server apparatus, when receiving purchase information, which consists of personal information of a purchaser of a commodity and the sales information that is presented to the purchaser by a seller of the commodity, judges whether the sales information included in the received purchase information is stored in the first storing part. If the sales information is stored, the server apparatus stores the received purchase information as valid purchase information in the second storing part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a purchase information collecting method and purchase information collecting apparatus for collecting information about purchased commodity and its purchaser using a network, and to a purchase information collecting program for making a computer connected with a network to perform the purchase information collecting method. The present disclosure also relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent application No. 2001-103022 (filed on Apr. 2, 2001) and Japanese Patent application No. 2001-273285 (filed on Sep. 10, 2001), which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are some retailers that collect, in order to have a better understanding of customers' needs and behavior, purchase information consisting of information on sold commodity and personal information on customer purchased the commodity in the following way.
The retailers ask their customers to gain a membership which entitles one to buy commodity at reduced price by submitting his or her personal information (name, address, age, occupation, etc.). When a customer submits his or her personal information to such a retailer, the retailer gives a membership card (magnetic card or IC card) recording unique member number, and stores the submitted personal information in a member database as information related to the member number. The retailer, when selling one or more commodities to a member (customer having the membership card), asks the member to show his (or her) membership card. The retailer, when selling commodity to a member, reads the member number from the membership card and then stores information about the purchased commodities as information associated with the read member number, thereby obtaining purchase information.
Purchase information is useful for all sorts of companies, since the better understanding of purchasers' needs and behavior enables company to minimize under- or overstocking, or to conduct to each customer an customized advertising (direct-mail advertising and the likes).
The companies such as manufactures or wholesalers, however, cannot collect purchase information in the method above, because they have no opportunity of contacting the purchasers directly. Therefore, these companies adopt different methods for collecting purchase information.
For example, some manufacturers that make expendables such as foods or office supplies collect purchase information by asking purchasers to send a postal matter (application postcard or letter) containing an evidence that one or more commodities are purchased (for instance, application seal affixed on commodity, portion of wrapping where the bar code is printed) and personal information using a gift or better after-sales service as an incentive to make purchaser to send the postal matter. Furthermore, some manufactures that makes commodities such as electric products, software product, etc. collect purchase information by web page to which purchaser can input the identifier assigned to the purchased commodity (product ID, serial number) and his or her personal information also using a gift or better after-sales service as an incentive.
The former method is inferior to the above-mentioned method adopted by retailers in the point that enough amount of purchase information to perform accurate trend analysis cannot be collected, because purchaser who considers the work required to send the above-mentioned postal matter (for instance, the work to prepare the demanded evidence, stick the evidence on an application form, fill in the application form with personal information, and put the application form in a mailbox) is worth doing for the incentive never sends the postal matter.
On the other hands, use of the latter method allows a company to collect purchase information about most of sold commodities, because filling in data to the web page can be done more easily than sending postal matter. However, to collect accurate purchase information with using this method, companies must assign identifier which is not easily forged to each commodity but not to each kind of commodity, because, if such identifier is not assigned to each commodity, company cannot obtain see trough frauds to get the incentives, and therefore the company cannot collect reliable purchase information.
Accordingly, the objects of the present invention are to provide a collecting purchase information method and a collecting purchase information apparatus capable of collecting reliable purchase information about any kind of commodity using a network, and to provide a purchase information collecting program which is able to make a computer connected with a network to function as the server apparatus for performing the purchase information collecting method.

Method, program and apparatus for collecting purchase information using network


In one embodiment, a semiconductor package is formed to include a leadframe that includes a plurality of die attach areas for attaching a semiconductor die to the leadframe. The leadframe is positioned to overlie another leadframe that forms some of the external terminals or leads of the package.

The present invention relates, in general, to electronics, and more particularly, to methods of forming packaging structures for semiconductor devices.
In the past, the semiconductor industry utilized various methods and structures to form packages that encapsulated a semiconductor die and provided leads for electrically connecting to the semiconductor die. In one type of semiconductor package, the semiconductor die was mounted flip-chip style between two leadframes. The upper leadframe had a continuous flat surface on which the die was mounted and a foot that was mechanically attached to the lower leadframe. This configuration provided an inaccurate positioning of the semiconductor die to the lower leadframe. In addition, the various parts and assembly steps increased the cost of the encapsulated semiconductor device.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a semiconductor package that accurately positions the semiconductor die and that provides a lower cost package.
For simplicity and clarity of the illustration, elements in the figures are not necessarily to scale, and the same reference numbers in different figures denote the same elements. Additionally, descriptions and details of well-known steps and elements are omitted for simplicity of the description. As used herein an electrode of a semiconductor die means an element of a device that is formed as a portion of an active element of the semiconductor die that carries current through the device such as a source or a drain or a gate of an MOS transistor or an emitter or a collector or a base of a bipolar transistor or a cathode or anode of a diode. The use of the word approximately or substantially means that a value of an element has a parameter that is expected to be close to a stated value or position. However, as is well known in the art there are always minor variances that prevent the values or positions from being exactly as stated. It is well established in the art that variances of up to at least ten per cent (10%) are reasonable variances from the ideal goal of exactly as described.

Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC


A computer-implemented method is provided for determining fratricide probability of projectile collision from a projectile launcher on a platform and an interception hazard that can be ejected or launched from a deployment position. The platform can represent a combat vessel, with the projectile launcher being a gun, the interception hazard being a missile, and the deployment position being a vertical launch cell. The projectile launcher operates within an angular area called the firing zone of the platform. The method includes determining the firing zone, calculating an angular firing area, quantifying a frontal area of the interception hazard, translating the resulting frontal area across a flight trajectory, sweeping the projectile launcher to produce a slew angle, combining the slew and trajectory, and dividing the combined interception area by the firing area. The firing and interception areas are calculated using spherical projection.

The invention relates generally to ordnance fratricide probabilities. In particular, techniques are presented to enable systematic and comparative fratricidal interceptions from concurrently conflicting weapons systems.
Weapon fratricide represents a long-standing safety concern for weapon systems. Fratricide is defined as an attack on friendly forces by other friendly forces. Calculating the probability of fratricide has proven to be technically challenging. Manual resources devoted, to these efforts yield limited results due to their time-consuming nature and the simplifying assumptions necessary to render the mathematical calculations tractable on a reasonable scale. U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,456 to Mindel and U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,165 to Bean et al. represent prior art examples of prior art mitigation techniques that provide firing zone lockout mechanisms.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Determination of weapons fratricide probability

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy


The invention provides a rear side shell structure in the form of a back covering that can be attached to a lower structure of a seat without support legs. One representative rear side shell structure and seat unit according to the invention relates to a rear side shell structure for covering a back of a seat, the rear side shell structure including a front surface member and a rear surface member, wherein a reinforcing region in which a space reinforcing member is provided between the front surface member and the rear surface member is provided in a portion of the rear side shell structure, and the front surface member and the rear surface member are directly joined to each other except for in the reinforcement region. Further, the front surface member and the rear surface member are formed of composite members. Also, the space reinforcing member has a honeycomb structure.

In recent aircraft design, there are demands to reduce the weight of aircraft structures and to simplify the installation of aircraft equipment such as seat units. If weight reduction of the aircraft structure can be achieved, the number of passengers that can be carried by the aircraft can be increased accordingly, and the potential profitability of the aircraft can be increased.
In addition, if installation of aircraft equipment can be simplified, the time required for aircraft manufacture can be shortened, and at the same time, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
In Patent Document 1, there is described a seat assembly comprising an integral composite frame and a comfort frame assembly provided for each passenger that is connected to the composite frame.
In the composite structure frame, a support leg connected to an aircraft airframe, a back support element connected to the support leg, as well as an upper back cross beam and a lower back cross beam connected to the back support element are integrally formed.
Between the upper back cross beam and the lower back cross beam, an opening is provided for accommodating a tray table for use by a rear passenger.


Direct driven wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle, a rotor blade, a radial flux generator with a stator and a rotor, wherein the lamination package of the generator is essential for the transfer of the torque in axial direction. By introducing this additional function to the lamination package, the generator can be provided without additional torque transferring housing. Preferably, the lamination package obtains this additional function by pressing together the laminations between the front plate and end plate by tensile bolts. This gives sufficient strength to transport the torque in axial direction through the laminations to the mounting points of the generator. Preferably, the laminations include cooling fins. Due to these measures the cooling of the generator improves and active cooling may become superfluous or the power can be increased. The housing of the laminations is an expensive, heavy and labor intensive part which is no longer required due to the invention.

The direct drive wind turbine concept is commonly known. Several embodiments of this concept can be found in the design study NREL/SR-500-35524. All those direct drive embodiments use a generator with a stator in a stator house which is fixed to the nacelle. In this patent text the term "housing" can refer to the stator house or to the rotor house or to both. The stator comprises inter alia windings and laminations. The rotor of the generator may comprise windings or permanent magnets, both options can be combined with a lamination package. The lamination package of the rotor is fixed to a rotor house which is fixed to the rotor blades via several connection means. For several known types of generators we refer to 'Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor for Industrial Inverter Applications', PhD thesis, Tanja Heikkilä, Lappeenranta Univ. of Techn.


The invention relates to a method for operating an electronically commutated motor (10) that comprises a rotor (12), a stator (14) having a multi-strand winding arrangement (16) for whose energization a power stage (18) is provided, a first lead (30) and a second lead (32) for connecting the power stage (18) to a voltage source (24), and a first controller. A first signal (U—34; U—38) is sensed, which signal characterizes a current (I_IN; I_IN′; I_M; I_M′) flowing through at least one of the leads (30; 32); the first controller generates at least one clocked signal (PWM) and outputs it to the power stage (18) in order to influence the first value, permitted current. The invention also relates to a corresponding motor (10).

In the telecommunications sector in particular, the line-conducted emissions emitted from a fan can result in disruptions that are perceptible, for example, as troublesome noise during telephone calls. The telecommunications sector therefore requires fans having a low level of low-frequency line-conducted emissions. This is advantageous for standard motors as well.


In one aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments of this invention provide a method that includes, prior to confirmation that a network access node has correctly acquired capabilities of a user equipment, operating a user equipment with the network access node in accordance with a first rate matching mode and, only after confirmation to the user equipment that the network access node has correctly acquired capabilities of the user equipment, changing the rate matching mode to a second rate matching mode. In an embodiment the first rate matching mode comprises puncturing a downlink shared channel transmission with a set of resource elements, which may be at least one of reference symbols and muted resource elements, and the second rate matching mode comprises rate matching the downlink shared channel around those resource elements that are members of the set of resource elements. Also described are apparatus and computer readable storage medium storing program code that operate in accordance with the method.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived, implemented or described. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
The following abbreviations that may be found in the specification and/or the drawing figures are defined as follows:
3GPPthird generation partnership projectBSbase stationBWbandwidthCRScommon reference signalCSIchannel state informationCQIchannel quality indicatorDCIdownlink control informationDLdownlink (eNB towards UE)DM-RSdemodulation reference signal (also known as URS)eNBE-UTRAN Node B (evolved Node B)EPCevolved packet coreE-UTRANevolved UTRAN (LTE)FDMAfrequency division multiple accessHSPAhigh speed packet accessIMTAinternational mobile telecommunications associationITU-Rinternational telecommunication union-radiocommunication sectorLTElong term evolution of UTRAN (E-UTRAN)LTE-ALTE advancedMACmedium access control (layer 2, L2)MCSmodulation coding schemeMIBmaster information blockMIMOmultiple input multiple outputMM/MMEmobility management/mobility management entityNodeBbase stationOFDMAorthogonal frequency division multiple accessO&Moperations and maintenancePDCCHphysical downlink control channelPDCPpacket data convergence protocolPDSCHphysical downlink shared channelPHYphysical (layer 1, L1)PMIpre-coding matrix indicatorPRBphysical resource blockRACHrandom access channelREresource elementRelreleaseRIrank indicatorRLCradio link controlRRCradio resource control (layer 3, L3)RRMradio resource managementRSreference signalSGWserving gatewaySIBsystem information blockTMtransmission modeSC-FDMAsingle carrier, frequency division multiple accessUEuser equipment, such as a mobile station, mobile node or mobile terminalULuplink (UE towards eNB)UMTSuniversal mobile telecommunications systemUPEuser plane entityURSUE-specific reference signalUTRANuniversal terrestrial radio access network
One modern communication system is known as evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN, also referred to as UTRAN-LTE or as E-UTRA). In this system the DL access technique is OFDMA, and the UL access technique is SC-FDMA.
One specification of interest is 3GPP TS 36.300, V8.11.0 (2009-12), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Access Network (EUTRAN); Overall description; Stage 2 (Release 8), incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This system may be referred to for convenience as LTE Rel-8. In general, the set of specifications given generally as 3GPP TS 36.xyz (e.g., 36.211, 36.311, 36.312, etc.) may be seen as describing the Release 8 LTE system. More recently, Release 9 versions of at least some of these specifications have been published including 3GPP TS 36.300, V9.3.0 (2010-03).
FIG. 1A reproduces FIG. 4.1 of 3GPP TS 36.300 V8.11.0, and shows the overall architecture of the EUTRAN system (Rel-8). Reference can also be made to FIG. 1B. The E-UTRAN system includes eNBs, providing the E-UTRAN user plane (PDCP/RLC/MAC/PHY) and control plane (RRC) protocol terminations towards the UEs. The eNBs are interconnected with each other by means of an X2 interface. The eNBs are also connected by means of an S1 interface to an EPC, more specifically to a MME by means of a S1 MME interface and to a S-GW by means of a S1 interface (MME/S-GW 4). The S1 interface supports a many-to-many relationship between MMEs/S-GWs/UPEs and eNBs.
The eNB hosts the following functions:    functions for RRM: RRC, Radio Admission Control, Connection Mobility Control, Dynamic allocation of resources to UEs in both UL and DL (scheduling);    IP header compression and encryption of the user data stream;    selection of a MME at UE attachment;    routing of User Plane data towards the EPC (MME/S-GW);    scheduling and transmission of paging messages (originated from the MME);    scheduling and transmission of broadcast information (originated from the MME or O&M); and    a measurement and measurement reporting configuration for mobility and scheduling.
Of particular interest herein are the further releases of 3GPP LTE (e.g., LTE Rel-10) targeted towards future IMTA systems, referred to herein for convenience simply as LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). Reference in this regard may be made to 3GPP TR 36.913, V9.0.0 (2009-12), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Requirements for Further Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced) (Release 9). Reference can also be made to 3GPP TR 36.912 V9.3.0 (2010-06) Technical Report 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Feasibility study for Further Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced) (Release 9).
A goal of LTE-A is to provide significantly enhanced services by means of higher data rates and lower latency with reduced cost. LTE-A is directed toward extending and optimizing the 3GPP LTE Rel-8 radio access technologies to provide higher data rates at lower cost. LTE-A will be a more optimized radio system fulfilling the ITU-R requirements for IMT-Advanced while keeping the backward compatibility with LTE Rel-8.
As is specified in 3GPP TR 36.913, LTE-A should operate in spectrum allocations of different sizes, including wider spectrum allocations than those of LTE Rel-8 (e.g., up to 100 MHz) to achieve the peak data rate of 100 Mbit/s for high mobility and 1 Gbit/s for low mobility. It has been agreed that carrier aggregation is to be considered for LTE-A in order to support bandwidths larger than 20 MHz. Carrier aggregation (CA), where two or more component carriers (CCs) are aggregated, is considered for LTE-A in order to support transmission bandwidths larger than 20 MHz. The carrier aggregation could be contiguous or non-contiguous. This technique, as a bandwidth extension, can provide significant gains in terms of peak data rate and cell throughput as compared to non-aggregated operation as in LTE Rel-8.
A terminal may simultaneously receive one or multiple component carriers depending on its capabilities. A LTE-A terminal with reception capability beyond 20 MHz can simultaneously receive transmissions on multiple component carriers. A LTE Rel-8 terminal can receive transmissions on a single component carrier only, provided that the structure of the component carrier follows the Rel-8 specifications. Moreover, it is required that LTE-A should be backwards compatible with Rel-8 LTE in the sense that a Rel-8 LTE terminal should be operable in the LTE-A system, and that a LTE-A terminal should be operable in a Rel-8 LTE system.
In the context of LTE-A DL MIMO enhancements it has been decided to introduce two types of downlink reference signals. The first is referred to as DM-RS. DM-RS is a precoded UE-specific reference signal used for data detection/demodulation for up to eight spatial layers. The second DL reference signal is referred to as CSI-RS. CSI-RS is a cell-specific reference signal used for CQI/PMI/RI determination and channel sounding. CSI-RS has a lower density in time/frequency as compared to, for example, the CRS that is specified for use in Rel-8.
Reference can be made to 3GPP TSG-RAN Working Group 1 Meeting #57bis, R1-092474, Los Angeles, USA, 29 Jun.-8 May, 2009, Agenda Item: 15.1, Source: ZTE, Title: "Performance Evaluation for the Impact of CSI RS on Rel-8 PDSCH". In this document the impact of CSI-RS insertion on the LTE Rel-8 PDSCH is discussed. It is said that replacement of Rel-8 PDSCH RE for LTE-A CSI-RS transmission may harm the Rel-8 PDSCH performance because the legacy UE would treat the corresponding REs as data and include them into the PDSCH channel decoding. This situation is said to be generally worse than decoding with an erasure. Based on simulation results it was concluded that when the CSI-RS transmission interval is shorter than 5 ms the performance impact to the Rel-8 PDSCH is obvious in the case of a high modulation order or coding rate. To keep good performance for a 2 ms or 5 ms interval the CSI-RS should have low frequency density, e.g., less than 6 RE. Other remedies include MCS adjustment for a Rel-8 PDSCH packet when a RB has CSI-RS inserted. It was also noted that a uniform distribution of CSI-RS causes a smaller Rel-8 PDSCH performance loss than continuous distribution.
It has been agreed in 3GPP RAN1 that the CSI-RS density is one RE per antenna port per PRB per subframe. Two examples of CSI-RS subframe patterns are shown in FIG. 1C. CSI-RS is not necessarily present in each DL subframe, and it can be configured with a duty cycle of, e.g., 2, 5 or 10 ms. Reference in this regard can be made to, for example, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #61, R1-102956, Montreal, Canada, May 10-14, 2010, Agenda item: 220.127.116.11, Source: Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Title: "Intra-cell CSI-RS design".
During RAN1 #60bis it was agreed that rate matching is to be applied to the CSI-RS locations for the Rel-10 UE, and that RE mapping of the PDSCH of the serving cell avoids CSI-RS of the serving cell. Reference in this regard can be made to 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Meeting #61, R1-102601, Montreal, Canada, 10-14 May 2010, Agenda item 3, Title: Final Report of 3GPP TSG RAN WG1 #60bis v1.0.0, (Beijing, China, 12th-16th April, 2010), Source: MCC Support.

Change of rate matching modes in presence of channel state information reference signal transmission


A distributed vehicle safety system (10) and an associated method provide for connection of a plurality of devices (14). Each of the devices (14) performs a function associated with protection of a vehicle occupant. A communication bus (16) conveys communication for the devices (14). The bus includes first and second conductors (18A and 18B). A first portion (subset K) of the devices (14) are daisy-chain connected, with respect to each other, along one (e.g., 18A) of the conductors of the bus (16). A second portion (subset L) of the devices (14) are connected in parallel across the first and second conductors (18A and 18B) of the bus (16). The second portion (subset L) contains at least one and preferably several devices (14).

One type of vehicle safety system is an occupant protection system. The protection system includes one or more sensor devices for sensing vehicle characteristics and/or occupant characteristics. The sensed characteristics are used to determine whether a vehicle occupant needs to be protected (e.g., restrained) and/or determine a deployment profile of a device that accomplishes a protection function. Examples of the sensor devices include a vehicle acceleration sensor, an occupant position sensor, and an occupant weight sensor.
The system includes one or more actuatable protection devices for protecting (e.g., restraining) the occupant. Examples of such protection devices include an air bag module, a knee bolster module, and a seat belt pretensioner module.
As the sophistication of occupant protection systems has increased, the number and complexity of the sensor and protection devices in a single vehicle has increased. In response to the increased number and complexity of devices, there has been a movement toward centralized control of the devices to reduce cost and to increase reliability of the overall protection system. In order to accomplish the centralized control, a bus architecture is used for conveyance of communication signals. A potential exists that bus communication may be interrupted by such occurrences as crushing during a vehicle collision and associated deployment actuation of the protection devices within the system during the collision.
One type of protection system that has been developed utilizing centralized control and communication via a bus is a daisy chain topology system. Within the daisy chain system, at least one conductor of the communication bus extends through each successive device. Daisy chain topology has an advantage in that individual remote devices (e.g., sensor and protection devices) can be installed into the associated vehicle in a non-programmed state (e.g., unaddressed). Once the devices are installed, a central control unit (CCU) programs each device via sequential polling or the like. Thus, it is desirable to maintain an ability to have a CCU program devices.

Mixed parallel and daisy chain bus architecture in a vehicle safety system


A multiple-electrode ion meter (100) is provided. The multiple-electrode ion meter (100) includes meter electronics (102) configured to receive a plurality of ionic concentration voltage measurements and generate an ionic concentration measurement from the plurality of ionic concentration voltage measurements and three or more individual electrode units (108) in communication with the meter electronics (102). The three or more electrode units (108) generate the plurality of ionic concentration voltage measurements to the meter electronics (102).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is related to the field of ionic probes.
2. Statement of the Problem
A measure of the ionic concentration of a fluid is desirable in many situations, including testing of fluids in manufacturing settings, for pharmaceutical production, food processing and/or food quality, water quality testing, etc. Measurement of an ionic concentration or activity can indicate completion of a reaction, indicate fractions of components, etc.
One measure can comprise a measure of a pH concentration, which comprises a measure of acidity of the fluid being tested. The pH measurement can indicate the acidic or basic condition or concentration of the fluid.
A pH measurement comprises a measurement of hydrogen ions in a solution, expressed as a logarithmic number between about zero and fourteen (sometimes extending into negative numbers for exceedingly acidic solutions). On the pH scale, a very acidic solution has a low pH value, such as zero or one, corresponding to a large concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). In contrast, a very basic solution has a high pH value, corresponding to a very small number of hydrogen ions (or to a correspondingly large number of OH− ions). A neutral solution, such as substantially pure water, has a pH value of about seven.
FIG. 1 shows a portion of a prior art pH meter probe including an active electrode and a reference electrode. The active electrode consists of a glass tube with an ion sensitive glass bulb at one end. The tube contains an electrolyte and an electrode. The glass on the exterior of the ion sensitive bulb exchanges ions with the fluid to be tested. This produces a charge in a hydrated layer on the outside of the bulb. The internal electrolyte interacts with the ion sensitive glass and reflects the potential developed by the ions at the outside of the glass.
The reference electrode is often included in a separate chamber and solution, and is also in ionic communication with the fluid being tested. A voltage potential between the two electrodes is thereby formed, similar to a battery. The voltage potential that is developed between the electrodes is directly related to the ion concentration of the solution. The reference electrode provides a stable potential against which the measuring electrode can be compared. The voltage potential can be processed according to a table, formula, or other algorithm to arrive at an ionic concentration measurement, such as a pH value, for example.
An ionic circuit is formed between the active electrode and a ground electrode, creating a measurable voltage potential. The reference potential is a known, substantially constant amount against which the process voltage (i.e., a voltage measurement) can be compared and interpreted by the prior art pH meter. The voltage potential between the active electrode and the reference electrode can be processed to determine an ionic concentration in the external test fluid.
The accuracy of ionic and/or pH measurements can be affected by various factors, including temperature and/or contaminated electrolyte solutions, for example. A common source of inaccuracy can be an improper or inaccurate reference signal generated from a reference electrode. If the reference signal is inaccurate, the resulting pH or ion measurement will be affected. Consequently, it is of great importance that a proper and accurate reference value be obtained.
The reference electrode is contained within a tube or chamber that includes an ionic bridge, such as a salt bridge, that enables ionic communication between the reference electrode and the external test fluid. However, the ionic bridge may allow some fluid exchange, enabling contamination of the internal buffer solution and possible poisoning of the internal reference electrode, and enabling contamination of the fluid to be measured.
A major problem with pH probes is in the junction between the internal fill solution of the reference electrode assembly and the external test fluid. Clogging or failure of the junction usually leads to very slow or erroneous readings. The junction can also allow the contamination of the fill solution with the measurement medium. This can degrade the reference electrode which then renders the pH probe inaccurate and it usually has to be replaced. One prior art solution has been the employment of multiple junctions and chambers between the reference electrode and the exterior medium. Another prior art solution has used flowing junctions in which a continuous supply of fill solution is fed to the reference electrode compartment and exits via a small hole or conduit. This has the advantage of preventing the contamination of the fill solution and the reference electrode but has the disadvantage of cumbersome plumbing to the electrode and the necessity to send the measurement medium to waste as it is contaminated with fill solution.
A newer approach has been to enclose both the active electrode and the reference electrode within an impermeable chamber, such as a glass chamber, for example. This is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,562 to Harman. The reference electrode 12 in Harman interfaces with the external test fluid through a pH sensitive glass bulb, similar to the structure of the active electrode 11. The external test fluid therefore cannot mingle with and contaminate the internal fill solution of the reference electrode.


A document delivery architecture dynamically generates a private Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to distribute information. Each private URL ("PURL") uniquely identifies an intended recipient of a document, the document or set of documents to be delivered, and (optionally) other parameters specific to the delivery process. The intended recipient of a document uses the PURL to retrieve the document. The server, upon retrieval of the document, customizes the behavior of the retrieval based upon attributes included in the PURL, as well as log information associated with the retrieval in a data base. This architecture and usage of PURLs enables secure document delivery and tracking of document receipt.

The development of computerized information sources, such as those provided through the Internet or other on-line sources, has led to a proliferation of electronically available information. Currently, a user who subscribes to the Internet manually navigates through the Internet to visit sites which may or may not be of interest.
An inherent problem in this Internet system is that the available information is distributed through a "pull" type infrastructure, where the user who wants to receive information must manually search sites of interest, or use a finder application, to search and download appropriate information. For a user who wishes to publish and distribute information or documents, either an individual or a larger entity that has information that is desired to be distributed, the present "pull" system doesn't allow the freedom to send and distribute to a recipient or group of recipients, in a "push" fashion.
Facsimile technology is widely used at the present time for the distribution of simple documents, but has numerous drawbacks, including lower quality printed documents, costly and bulky paper copies (particularly if the recipient doesn't care to have a paper copy), loss of content (e.g. text and graphics can't be edited or manipulated), and time requirements for transmission, particularly for long or complex documents.
Electronic Mail (E-mail) provides a means for sending electronic messages from computer user to another. E-mail has advantages of convenience, format and storage of messages for later retrieval. As such, E-mail has been accepted and widely used for basic communication. E-mail is typically an ASCII based format, however, and proves to be very limiting for the communication of long or formatted documents. As well, E-mail is not the medium of choice for the distribution of complex documents, such as reports, articles, advertisements and art which can include page layout grids, postscript-formatted objects, multiple fonts with tracking and kerning, graphics, imbedded tables and spreadsheets, and other complicated information. Some E-mail systems provide a means for appending an ASCII based E-mail message with an associated file, to be downloaded along with the E-mail message. Most systems that allow the appending of an associated file are designed to allow a single user to send unsecured files to an associate or friend, and neither allow for controlled automated distribution to multiple recipients, nor do they provide advanced accounting, billing or other such features (e.g., receipt notification). E-mail gateways also limit the applicability of attachments, and do not solve the problems of security and receipt notation or acknowledgment.
C. Baudoin, Interenterprise Electronic Mail Hub, U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,557 (Apr. 11, 1995) discloses an interenterprise communications center, which has a computer hub comprising a common core and a plurality of input and output modules. The input modules connect to a first end user, and convert a message sent by the first end user into a universal format. The hub core queues the message and forwards it to the output module for conversion into the format of the destination user. While the disclosed hub discloses techniques to relay simple e-mail messages, it is designed to convert the e-mail message formats, thus losing the integrity of the original text-based file.
The disclosed prior art systems and methodologies thus provide some methods for the delivery of documents, but fail to provide an economical, fast document delivery system that operates in a push-fashion, while conserving the integrity of the original electronic file. The development of such an electronic document delivery system would constitute a major technological advance. In addition, the ability to distribute electronic portable high content-quality documents to many recipients in a controlled, economical and accountable fashion would constitute a further technological advance.

Private, trackable URLs for directed document delivery


A holographic recording and reproduction apparatus has a spatial light modulator for converting digital information to a two-dimensional image and for intensity modulating an object beam based on the two-dimensional image. The spatial light modulator is configured to employ four or more pixels on the two-dimensional image as a unit pixel block, and allow at least two types of encoded patterns having a different number of ON pixels in the unit pixel block to be present at the same time for display of the two-dimensional image. During a reproduction operation, a two-dimensional photodetector detects the amount of light on per unit pixel block basis to determine the number of its ON pixels and then set a threshold, and thereafter an image pickup device detects the image.

There is a holographic recording method and apparatus for recording two-dimensional images, in which digital information is converted to a two-dimensional image and an object beam having been subjected to spatial optical modulation based on the two-dimensional image information is directed to a holographic recording medium in conjunction with a reference beam, thereby recording the two-dimensional image using their interference fringes.
In this case, one pixel in a spatial light modulator used for spatial optical modulation can be associated with one bit of data. However, there is a differential encoding method for associating two pixels in the spatial light modulator with one bit of data (e.g., refer to Science 265,749 (1994) by J. F. Heanue et al.).
This is intended to prevent a bit error rate (BER) from increasing due to crosstalk from neighboring places during a reproduction operation. However, this raises a problem that the image display capability of the spatial light modulator, the image transfer capability of the optical system, and the capability of reading images on a holographic recording medium are limited, unavoidably causing crosstalk to occur between pixels.
In general, when one pixel is employed to represent one bit, the amount of light of a pixel to be detected varies thereby causing an error depending on which is greater, the number of ON pixels or the number of OFF pixels, among eight pixels that include neighboring four pixels or four pixels sharing only the apexes of the pixel.
Accordingly, an error will occur if an OFF pixel having the maximum amount of detected light cannot be distinguished from an ON pixel having the minimum amount among a few ten thousands to a few millions of pixels.
On the other hand, since a predetermined pair of two pixels is coded to either ON/OFF (data of 0) or OFF/ON (data of 1) using the differential encoding method, only such a pixel as having a larger amount of light has to be detected as being ON. That is, no error will occur if the amounts of light of only two pixels are properly identified by comparison.
An encoding method has been suggested which is further improved from the differential encoding method so as to employ a larger number of pixels as a unit (pixel block) to determine a particular number of the pixels as being ON (see B. Marcus, "Modulation Codes for Holographic Recording" in Hans Coufal et al. "Holographic Data Strage," Springer Verlag (2000) p.283).
For example, when with six pixels defined as one block, three of the pixels are coded as being ON and the other three pixels as being OFF, the pixel patterns that can be represented by one pixel block is 6C3=20, that is, four bits can be represented by six pixels.
With the ratio of the number of bits to the number of pixels being defined as the "coding rate," the recording density is proportional to the coding rate. The differential encoding method provides a coding rate of 50%, whereas the coding with six pixels defined as one block provides a coding rate of 67%.
As such, the larger the number of pixels forming one block, the higher the coding rate becomes. However, a coding rate of 100% will never be reached (in the case of non-differential encoding) so long as the number of ON pixels within a pixel block is constant. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of reducing the consumption of the dynamic range of a recording material, the number of ON pixels within a pixel block is desirably as small as possible, and the coding rate tends to be more reduced as the ratio of the number of ON pixels to the number of pixels constituting the block (the ON pixel ratio) becomes farther apart from 50%.
As such, since an encoded pattern with a larger number of ON pixels exhibits a higher degree of photosensitivity consumption per bit, it is possible to constitute the pattern only by a combination of a less number of ON pixels when the system performance is governed by the dynamic range of a recording material. For example, when with nine pixels defined as one pixel block, zero to four ON pixels are allowed in their coding, the number of patterns that can be represented by one pixel block is 256, resulting in a coding rate of 8/9=89%, which is advantageous in the case of the number of ON pixels being fixed.
As described above, an increase in recording capacity causes a problem with the accuracy for image detection during a read operation.
This is because unlike the case of the number of ON pixels being fixed, the simultaneous presence of encoded patterns having different ON pixel ratios may cause variations in the intensity of reproduced images on the image pickup device, leading to a problem that BER increases due to crosstalk between pixels.

Holographic recording method, holographic memory reproduction method, holographic recording apparatus, and holographic memory reproduction apparatus


An apparatus for estimating at least one property of an earth formation is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be disposed in the formation; a neutron tube disposed at the carrier and located on an axis; a high voltage power source disposed in the carrier and electrically connected to the neutron tube, the high voltage power source located remotely from the neutron tube; and at least one detector disposed in the carrier and located proximate to the neutron tube.

Pulsed neutron measurement tools are utilized in downhole environments for a variety of purposes, such as neutron based density and porosity measurements, and neutron induced gamma-ray spectral measurements.
Pulsed neutron generators for well logging applications normally consist of a sealed neutron tube, means of generating ions in a portion of the tube and means of extracting and accelerating the ions generated onto a target material. The acceleration of the ions is generally accomplished by way of a power supply capable of providing sufficient voltage to efficiently accomplish the desired reaction. The geometrical constraints associated with a neutron source housing such as a sonde or drill collar, together with the high voltage considerations imposed, are typically addressed by a linear coupling configuration between the high voltage power supply (HVPS) and the neutron generator tube. Such constraints often prevent emitters and detectors from being positioned in measurement devices at optimal locations.

Apparatus and method for pulsed neutron generation including a high voltage power supply


The invention relates to a twin screw extruder for preparing a polymeric solution. The extruder includes an elongated housing having an inlet end, an outlet end, an extruder shaft length L and a pair of interconnecting bores disposed within the housing, a pair of elongated extruder shafts, each having an axis of rotation, the pair of elongated extruder shafts disposed within the pair of interconnecting bores and drivable in at least one direction of rotation, a plurality of extruder screw segments positioned along the pair of elongated extruder shafts in a fixed angular relationship therewith, the plurality of extruder screw segments selected to form multiple extruder stages. The invention also relates to a process for extruding a mixture of polymer and diluent.

In the processing of polymeric resins and other materials, extruders are commonly employed for the plastication, mixing and pumping of such materials. In their simplest form, extruders include a frame designed to be bolted to a concrete floor, a barrel mounted to the frame, and, in the case of a twin screw extruder, two interconnecting bores extending longitudinally from one end of the barrel to the other. A twin screw extruder also includes two intermeshing screws located within the two interconnecting bores and drive means for turning the screws in the same (co-rotating) or opposite (counter-rotating) direction.
Polymeric materials are useful for the fabrication of a variety of films, sheets and molded or shaped articles. As is well-known to those skilled in the art, plastication refers to the softening of a polymeric material to such an extent that it flows freely and will assume any shape. In the case of a polymeric material that is crystalline, plastication is synonymous with melting. In the case of a polymeric material that is amorphous, plastication occurs at or about the glass transition temperature (Tg) thereof.
An extruder screw is shaped generally in the form of an elongated cylinder, and has one or more raised ridges helically disposed thereabout, each of which is a commonly referred to as a flight. A flight may have forward, reverse or neutral pitch, with the degree of pitch varied to accommodate a particular application. The surface of the screw above which the flight is raised is commonly referred to as the root of the screw. When the screw is viewed in cross section, the course of a particular flight, between one point of intersection with a line parallel to the screw axis and the next closest point of intersection of the flight with such line, typically defines a 360° circle. The tip of a flight, which extends toward the perimeter of such circular-shaped cross section, defines a lobe above the root of the screw. The space bounded by the root of the screw and the side walls of any two flights is a channel of the screw. The screw rotates on its longitudinal axis within a barrel or sleeve, which may be generally described as the bore of an annular cylinder.
The screw typically has an initial, feed section which begins the process of conveying solid polymeric material forward within the barrel of the extruder. Polymeric material may be fed into the extruder by means of a hopper which empties into the barrel, or may be metered into the barrel through a feed chute or a side feeder. The direction of travel of the polymeric material in the barrel as it is transported away from the feed port by the screw is known as the downstream direction. In the case of the extrusion of polymer melts, the feed or inlet section of the screw is typically followed, with or without other intervening sections, by a melting section in which partial or complete plastication of the polymeric material occurs.
The melting section of the screw is typically followed, with or without other intervening sections, by a metering section which functions to pump the material, as extrudate, out through the downstream end of the extruder, which typically contains a die or some other form of restricted orifice. The sections of the extruder and screw through which the polymeric material travels before it reaches the die are considered to be upstream from the die.
With respect to a twin screw extruder, two screws are said to be intermeshing if a flight of one screw is disposed within a channel of the other screw. In such a configuration, the distance between the axes of each screw is less than the sum of the respective radii of the two screws, when each radius is measured from the axis to the top of the tallest or highest flight of the screw. When, on a pair of screws, a flight has a shape and size such that its fit into a channel in which it is intermeshed is close enough that essentially no extrudable material passes through the space between the flight and channel, the screws are said to be conjugated. Otherwise, the screws are said to be non-conjugated, and the degree of intermeshing in the case of non-conjugation can be varied to an essentially unlimited extent.
Co-rotating screws, even when conjugated, allow for extensive movement of polymeric material laterally from one screw to the other. Mixing is benefited by this movement and it is further enhanced when the screws are not conjugated. The shape of the flights on non-conjugated screws may be arranged to create the passage of polymeric material from one channel into two channels on another screw. Or, when screws are conjugated, or essentially conjugated, certain flights can be designed in a shape such that they wipe each other in the zone of intermeshing but do not wipe the wall of the barrel.
The production of certain specialty films, such as microporous membranes has presented unique requirements in the design of extruders for their production. This is due in large part by the need to introduce a large amount of a solvent or diluent for the polymeric raw material, e.g., polyolefin resin, so that a polymeric solution (which can also be called a polymeric resin solution) is prepared for subsequent extrusion. Microporous membranes are useful as separators for primary batteries and secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries, lithium-polymer secondary batteries, nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries, nickel-cadmium secondary batteries, nickel-zinc secondary batteries, silver-zinc secondary batteries, etc. When the microporous membrane is used as a battery separator, particularly as a lithium ion battery separator, the membrane's performance significantly affects the properties, productivity and safety of the battery. Accordingly, the microporous membrane should have suitably well-balanced permeability, mechanical properties, dimensional stability, shutdown properties, meltdown properties, etc. The term "well-balanced" means that the optimization of one of these characteristics does not result in a significant degradation in another.
As is known, it is desirable for the batteries to have a relatively low shutdown temperature and a relatively high meltdown temperature for improved battery safety, particularly for batteries exposed to high temperatures under operating conditions. Consistent dimensional properties, such as film thickness, are essential to high performing films. A separator with high mechanical strength is desirable for improved battery assembly and fabrication, and for improved durability. The optimization of material compositions, casting and stretching conditions, heat treatment conditions, etc. have been proposed to improve the properties of microporous membranes.
In general, microporous polyolefin membranes consisting essentially of polyethylene (i.e., they contain polyethylene only with no significant presence of other species) have relatively low meltdown temperatures. Accordingly, proposals have been made to provide microporous polyolefin membranes made from mixed resins of polyethylene and polypropylene, and multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membranes having polyethylene layers and polypropylene layers in order to increase meltdown temperature. The use of these mixed resins and the production of multilayer films having layers of differing polyolefins can make the production of films having consistent dimensional properties, such as film thickness, all the more difficult.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,332 proposes a screw element for a screw-type extrusion machine. The screw elements are helical and have varying pitch directions. Lengthwise mixing is obtained by the screwing in opposite directions, whereas crosswise mixing is attained by the elongated wedge of the flank arc. This crosswise flow is a typical continuous shear flow, which is primarily a dispersive mixing operation. Dividing the flow into various partial flows, recirculation and offset combination do not take place. The extruder proposed is for use in preparing a polymer melt and does not relate to the field of polymer solution extrusion.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,719 proposes a co-rotating multiple-screw extruder comprising first and second intermeshing screws of more than one flight. The first screw comprises first and second segments paired with first and second segments of the second screw, respectively. On the first segment of the first screw, the height of the first flight is less than the height of the second flight and on the second segment of the second screw, the height of the first flight is less than the height of the second flight and screws for use in such extruder. The extruder proposed is for use in preparing a polymer melt and does not relate to the field of polymer solution extrusion.
U.S. Publication No. 20050013192 proposes a kneading disk having a plurality of disk elements having flight tips arranged at a helix angle E in a direction supporting main streams of a resin. The flight tips of every two adjoining disks have a clearance formed therebetween. The resin is kneaded by undergoing dispersion and distribution without having any excessive temperature elevation in approximately three kinds of streams, i.e. its main streams flowing along the flight tips, its back streams through the clearances and its tip riding streams flowing over the flight tips. The reference discloses a continuous or "rotor"-type screw segment in the "dispersion" region of the extruder for improved melt-shearing in that region. When distribution or "stirring" in needed, a discontinuous or "disk-type" segment having disk elements arranged along a screw axis and flight tips arranged discontinuously and helically in parallel to the screw axis is employed. Polymer flowing counter-currently in the regions between the flight tips (see, e.g., FIG. 7) increases polymer residence time to increase mixing uniformity. With conventional screw segments, the L/D value is small and multiple segments are needed to get good dispersion. This however leads to a problem since, at the interface between two segments in registry, what is effectively produced is a lobe that is twice as long as the interior lobes. This abruptly changes the "pitch" of the flight of lobes. Moreover, the total number of lobes is reduced by the number of segment interfaces. All of these effects serve to reduce the amount of beneficial countercurrent polymer flow.
JP7-216118A discloses a battery separator formed from a porous film comprising polyethylene and polypropylene as indispensable components and having at least two microporous layers each with different polyethylene content. The polyethylene content is 0 to 20% by weight in one microporous layer, 21 to 60% by weight in the other microporous layer, and 2 to 40% by weight in the overall film. The battery separator has relatively high shutdown-starting temperature and mechanical strength. Since this is a "dry" process, the resins are combined as a polymer melt and then extruded.
WO 2004/089627 discloses a microporous polyolefin membrane made of polyethylene and polypropylene comprising two or more layers, the polypropylene content being more than 50% and 95% or less by mass in at least one surface layer, and the polyethylene content being 50 to 95% by mass in the entire membrane. The membrane is made in a wet process, where polymer and a plasticizer are combined by melt blending in a double screw mixer for example. Generally, it is advantageous to combine the polymer first in an inlet stage where the polymer resins can be blended or distributed amongst themselves before adding the plasticizer.
WO 2005/113657 discloses a microporous polyolefin membrane having conventional shutdown properties, meltdown properties, dimensional stability and high-temperature strength. The membrane is made using a polyolefin composition comprising (a) composition comprising lower molecular weight polyethylene and higher molecular weight polyethylene, and (b) polypropylene. This microporous polyolefin membrane is produced by a so-called "wet process".
As those skilled in the art will plainly recognize, extruder screw design requirements for extruding polymer melts differ greatly from those relating to polymer solutions. While much work has been conducted with respect to polymer melts, this work largely fails to translate to the field of polymer (particularly polyolefin) solution extrusion. Since polyolefin solutions behave differently from polymer melts, those skilled in the art recognize that there is no expectation that a combination of extruder screw segments used for extruding a polymer melt will yield satisfactory performance when extruding a polymer solution. As may be appreciated by those working in the field of polymeric solution extrusion, a counter current flow of the solvent or diluent phase in the extruder can be (and generally is) undesirable. As such, it is desirable to have no significant amount of solvent (preferably none) in the inlet stage of an extruder, since even a small amount of solvent would interfere with polymer blending as a result of the much lower viscosity of the solvent compared to the polymer.
A further problem relating to the extrusion of polymer solutions involves the fact that the knowledge base relating thereto is limited. While it is generally recognized that single and twin-screw extruders can be used, information as to which particular extruder segments or combinations of segments have utility is very limited.
JP 2003-053821 discloses a wet process for manufacturing a microporous film where a polyolefin solution is extruded through a twin-screw extruder and each screw contains at least one of (a) a normal screw-notch screw element, (b) a reverse screw-notch screw element, and (c) a collar. This arrangement is said to benefit the mixing of different kinds and molecular weight polymers. As may be appreciated, the problems identified with respect to U.S. Publication No. 2005/0013192 (too little countercurrent flow of polymer, leading to shorter residence time in the extruder and, consequently, incomplete kneading) are addressed by the introduction of a reverse-pitch segment.
JP Publication Nos. 8-109268, 8-120093, 8-164518, 8-224735, 8-245798 and B-109268 each relate to the field of polymeric solution extrusion. While having an upstream pressure greater than the pressure at the point of solvent injection may be proposed, no teaching as to how this may be achieved is disclosed within any of the aforementioned publications.
Despite these advances in the art, there remains a need for improved extrusion systems capable of producing high quality microporous polyolefin membranes and other films or sheets from polymer solutions.

Extruder and process for preparing a mixture of polymer and diluent


Techniques for regulating a radio frequency (RF) output power of an antenna of a computing device are described. In an example a physical signal filter unit (PSFU) to filter a detection signal from a proximity sensor for regulating an RF output power of a device is described. The PSFU includes a first filter circuit to filter the detection signal and generate a first filter output signal and a logical inverter gate to generate an inverted detection signal based on the detection signal. The PSFU also includes a second filter circuit to generate a second filter output signal based on the inverted detection signal. The PSFU also includes a logical AND gate to perform a logical AND operation on the first filter output signal and the second filter output signal to generate a control signal for regulating the RF output power of an antenna of the computing device.

Computing devices, such as mobile phones and laptops have become ubiquitous part of everyone's life. The computing devices are often connected to multiple networks, wirelessly. These computing devices incorporate different antennas to connect to different networks. Many computing devices also utilize proximity sensors to detect presence of a nearby object to regulate the functioning of the computing device.

Controlling radio frequency (RF) output power of antennas

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An image forming apparatus is equipped with a manual sheet-feeding device to feed a sheet to an image forming section. The manual sheet-feeding device is mounted on a side of a casing in such an arrangement that a manual sheet-feeding entrance is located at the top of the casing and a manual sheet-feeding passage is extended downwardly from the manual sheet-feeding entrance and connected with a sheet passage at the lower portion of the casing.

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus equipped with a manual sheet-feeding device such as a copying machine and a printer each being equipped with a manual sheet-feeding device.
With regard to the image recording apparatus mentioned above, there have hitherto been known one wherein, from a sheet-feeding unit containing multiple recording sheets such as a sheet-feeding cassette, the recording sheet is fed out one sheet by one sheet to be subjected to steps of exposure, development and transfer in an image forming means so that a recorded image may be formed on the recording sheet, and one wherein a manual sheet-feeding device is provided so that the recording sheet may be fed manually one sheet by one sheet for forming a recorded image.
In the case of a sheet-feeding unit by means of the former sheet-feeding cassette, there has recently been employed a construction of a front-loading type for drawing out a sheet feeding cassette to the front which offers remarkable effects on the points of improvement in operation and a floor space for installation.
In the case of the latter manual sheet-feeding device, on the other hand, the manual sheet-feeding device is positioned horizontally or obliquely on the side or on the rear side of a main body of the image recording apparatus when viewed from an operator of the apparatus.
In the case of the manual sheet-feeding device mounted on the rear side of the image recording apparatus of a type of operating a sheet-feeding cassette on the front side, a manual sheet-feeding tray is protruded horizontally or obliquely at the lower portion on the rear side of a main body of the image recording apparatus. Therefore, a space for installing the sheet-feeding tray is required on the back side of the apparatus. Further, since the sheet-feeding tray is located at the lower portion on the rear side of the main body of the apparatus and an opening for insertion of a recording sheet is invisible, an operator is required to move to the rear side of the apparatus main body and to move a guide plate for the width of a recording sheet for setting recording sheets, which is troublesome and causes a risk of erroneous operations.
The first object of the invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, save the floor space for installation of an image recording apparatus equipped with a manual sheet-feeding device, improve operations for setting recording sheets in the case of manual sheet-feeding and thereby to prevent erroneous operations.
Because of a narrowed space for installation mentioned above, when foreign matters such as clips, pins, and staples fall from the opening for manual insertion in a sheet-traveling path, an image recording apparatus having a sheet-feeding tray mounted obliquely or vertically on the apparatus main body has had problems such as troubles caused by the foreign matters caught by sheet-feeding rollers in a manual sheet-feeding unit or in a sheet-feeding unit in an image recording apparatus. Or, the problems have been caused by the foreign matters staying in the sheet-traveling path to be troubles of defective recording sheet transport (jam). Further, it has been difficult to remove the aforementioned foreign matters fallen on a manual sheet-feeding device or in a sheet-feeding unit of an image recording apparatus.
The second object of the invention is to solve the problems mentioned above, eliminate the troubles caused by the entry of foreign matters in a manual sheet-feeding device and thereby to secure stable transport of recording sheets and prevent troubles of the apparatus.
When viewing from the other aspect of the invention, when a recording sheet is inserted into a sheet-inlet for manual insertion on the image recording apparatus mentioned above, a sensor detects the recording sheet and the detection information starts recording operations such as copying operations, then the inserted recording sheet is taken into the apparatus and ejected from an ejection outlet after image recording on the recording sheet, thus, the sheet-inlet for manual insertion has an advantage that it can be used for image recording on a sheet of a special size or a specific sheet which is difficult to be set in a sheet-feeding cassette or on a sheet-feeding stand. However, it has a problem that the production cost of an image recording apparatus equipped with a sheet-inlet for manual insertion is high due to a low production quantity caused by poor demand therefor, because it is troublesome to insert a recording sheet one by one.
The invention has been achieved for the purpose of solving the problems mentioned above, an its third object is to provide an image recording apparatus equipped with a sheet-inlet for manual insertion whose production cost can be reduced by the increase of its production quantity, an the sheet-inlet for manual insertion can be frequently used without any troublesome of manual insertion of a recording sheet.

Image forming apparatus having a protective gate member


A remote controlled system employs a computer-based remote control facilitator to facilitate remote control of a controlled device from a non-dedicated remote controller. The computer facilitator is coupled to the remote controller and controlled device via a wireless or wire-based network. In one implementation, the computer facilitator is a general-purpose computer that runs an open platform operating system. The computer facilitator runs an application that corresponds to the controlled device. The application contains program code, data, information, and any other intelligence that may be used by the facilitator to assist the remote controller in controlling the controlled device. Neither the remote controller nor the controlled device need have any awareness of the other, or any knowledge as to how to communicate with one another. The remote controller gains its power and flexibility from the general-purpose computer. The computer tells the remote controller what options to present to a user and translates the selection entered by the user into a command that is sent to the controlled device.

This invention relates to remote controlled systems having a remote controller and a controlled device. More particularly, this invention relates to remote controlled systems that employ a computer-based facilitator that enables a non-dedicated remote controller to control other devices.
Remote controlled systems have been around for many years. People are familiar with remote controlled televisions, stereos, VCRs (video cassette recorders), and other such commercial products.
FIG. 1 shows a traditional remote control system 100 having a remote controller 102 that is specially configured to control exactly one associated controlled device 104. The dedicated remote controller 102 uses proprietary communication schemes to transmit signals via a wireless link 108 (e.g., infrared, RF) directly to the controlled device 104. For instance, a television remote controller is designed with dedicated buttons to control one associated television by sending proprietary channel up/down signals, volume control signals, and so forth, in response to user activation of the buttons. Due to the proprietary nature, the television remote controller cannot be used to control other devices, such as a stereo system or VCR.
Universal remote controllers make it possible to control more than one device. Universal remote controllers have generic user interfaces, such as a numeric keypad, control buttons, and a multi-positional actuator pad, which can be used to control several devices like a television, VCR, and set top box. Unfortunately, universal remote controls are complicated, often difficult to program, and hence, are not always very flexible.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved remote controlled systems that enable inexpensive controllers to control multiple different devices without the hassles of pre-programming such controllers.
A remote controlled system employs a computer-based remote control facilitator to facilitate remote control of a controlled device from a non-dedicated remote controller. The computer facilitator is coupled to the remote controller and controlled device via a wireless or wire-based network. Neither the remote controller nor the controlled device need have any awareness of the other, or any knowledge as to how to communicate with one another. In fact, both devices can be completely unrelated to one another, particularly in terms of what a user would perceive as their primary or intended use. For instance, the remote controller may be a cell phone and the controlled device might be a television or stereo. More generally, the remote controlled system allows any device with some form of user interface to control, via the computer-based facilitator, any other device.
In the described implementation, the computer facilitator is a general-purpose computer that runs an open platform operating system. The computer facilitator executes a software application that corresponds to the controlled device. The application contains program code, data, information, and any other intelligence that may be used by the computer facilitator to assist the remote controller in controlling the controlled device.
During operation, the computer facilitator senses that a remote controller is nearby. As one example, the facilitator, remote controller, and controlled device are compatible with the universal plug and play (UPnP) architecture. With UPnP, the facilitator can learn the existence of potential devices as well as the information (an IP address) needed establish TCP/IP connections to them. The remote controller provides a description of its capabilities and components and this description is stored as schema at the facilitator.
From the schema, the computer facilitator chooses an appropriate user interface based on the physical properties of the remote control device and on the device to be controlled. The UI provides options to the user, and allows the user to select a desired option. This selection is returned to the computer facilitator. The remote controller has no inherent or pre-configured knowledge of the controlled device, or any way to control it. The remote controller simply presents the options received from the computer facilitator and returns the user""s choice.
The application running at the computer facilitator translates the user""s selection into a command that is sent to the controlled device. The command directs the controlled device to perform an action related to the option selected by the user.
The remote controlled system is very beneficial in that an inexpensive remote controller can be used to control many unrelated devices in homes and offices. The remote controller need not be tied to a specific brand or model of controlled device nor understand what it is doing; rather, the remote controller gains its power and flexibility from the general-purpose computer.
In fact, the remote controller may be a device that one would not expect to be used for controlling other devices. For instance, the remote controller may be implemented as a cell phone with an LCD display and numeric keypad. This cell phone may be controlled by the computer facilitator to present menus used to control a living room stereo system. The cell phone does not have to know anything about music playback, but simply shows on its screen the menus provided by the computer. The cell phone reports the button presses back to the computer without any knowledge of what those presses mean.
Another specific implementation of the remote controlled system is a clock radio. In this implementation, the clock radio consists of a clock/UI, one or more speakers, and a general-purpose computer that facilitates remote control of the speakers from the clock/UI.

Remote controlled system with computer-based remote control facilitator