A prefilter (5) for an audio system comprising a loudspeaker (1) in a room (2), which corrects both amplitude and phase errors due to the loudspeaker (1) by a linear phase correction filter response and corrects the amplitude response of the room (2) whilst introducing the minimum possible amount of extra phase distortion by employing a minimum phase correction filter stage. A test signal generator (8) generates a signal comprising a periodic frequency sweep with a greater phase repetition period than the frequency repetition period. A microphone (7) positioned at various points in the room (2) measures the audio signal processed by the room (2) and loudspeaker (1), and a coefficient calculator (6) (e.g. a digital signal processor device) derives the signal response of the room and thereby a requisite minimum phase correction to be cascaded with the linear phase correction already calculated for the loudspeaker (1). Filter (5) may comprise the same digital signal processor as the coefficient calculator (6). Applications in high fidelity audio reproduction, and in car stereo reproduction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to filtering audio signals to compensate the effects of acoustic and/or electrical stages in the signal path from the original sound source to the human ear.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
In general, this signal path will include a pickup receiving the sound, and converting it to, typically, an electrical signal; signal transmission channels; signal processing (e.g. filtering, tone control or noise reduction); signal transmission, or alternatively recording on to a record carrier; signal reception or alternatively replaying from the record carrier; a further transmission link; and reconversion into an audio signal via an electro-acoustic transducer. If the transducer is a loudspeaker, the final stage in the path is transmission through an acoustic environment (typically a room) to the human ear.
Associated with each stage of the signal path is a transfer characteristic, and at various stages in the path attempts may be made to filter the signal to compensate the effects of these transfer characteristics. Compensation generally takes place at a stage in the signal path subsequent to the stages to be compensated. For example, in the case of a sound recording, the signal will be filtered at the mixing and cutting stages so as to compensate, if necessary, for the recording environment and equipment (amongst other things).
At the reproduction stage, it is nowadays common to provide a so called xe2x80x9cgraphic equalizerxe2x80x9d comprising a plurality of band pass filters each with its own gain control, though which the signal is passed, to allow a listener to re-equalize the reproduced sound signal. The graphic equalizer is generally positioned between the record carrier reader (e.g. turntable or compact disc player) and the power amplifier driving the electro-acoustic transducer (loudspeaker).
Since such equalizers are adjusted manually, their setting is a matter for the personal taste of the listener but they can be used (and are intended for use) to compensate for large scale irregularities in the amplitude response over frequency of the electro-acoustic transducer or of the acoustic environment in which the transducer is positioned.
In fact, with modern high fidelity audio equipment, the major variations in sound reproduction quality are due to the transfer functions of the loudspeaker and of the acoustic environment in which the loudspeaker is positioned.
The loudspeaker often comprises several separate transducers responsive to different frequency ranges, the loudspeaker input signal being split into the ranges by a crossover network (generally an analogue filter), and the transducers being mounted in a cabinet. The transfer function of the loudspeaker will thus depend upon the electrical characteristics of the crossover network and of the transducers; on the relevant positions of the transducers; and on the mechanical resonances of the cabinet.
The transfer function of the acoustic environment may be visualised by considering that the signal passes though multiple paths between the loudspeaker and the human ear; as well as the direct path through the air between the two, there will generally be a path through the floor on which the loudspeaker and user stand, and reflected paths from the (at least) four walls, ceiling and floor. This leads to constructive and destructive acoustic interference and to standing wave patterns of considerable complexity within the room, so that the paths from the loudspeaker to different points in the room will have different transfer characteristicsxe2x80x94where the room exhibits pronounced resonances, these transfer characteristics can be extremely different, with complete cancellation at some frequencies, the frequencies differing between different points. These effects are audible as colorations of the reproduced sound, and as relatively long reverberations.
It would in principle be desirable to provide a compensating filter and means for deriving the parameters of the filter such that a given sound source would be reproduced substantially identically through any loudspeaker and/or acoustic environment, so as to free the listener from the need to carefully select certain loudspeakers, and pay attention to their position within a room and to the acoustic properties of the room.
One example of a proposal to achieve exactly this is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,362 and corresponding EP0094762A, in which it is proposed to provide a finite impulse response digital filter (implemented by a microcomputer and a random access memory) in the signal path preceding the loudspeaker. The coefficients of the filter are derived in an initial phase, in which a listener postions himself at his desired listening point within a room and instructs the microprocessor to generate a test signal which is propagated via the loudspeaker through the room to the listener position and picked up by a microphone carried by the listener. From the test signal and signal picked up by the microphone, the impulse response of the intervening portions of the signal path (e.g. the loudspeaker and the acoustic path through the room to that listener position) is derived and the coefficients of an FIR filter approximating the inverse transfer characteristic to that of the signal path are calculated and used in subsequent filtering.
However, this attractively simple idea suffers from major drawbacks in practice. Firstly, since the transfer characteristic of the signal path is derived to only a single listener point within a room, and since (as discussed above) the transfer characteristics of signal paths to closely spaced points in the room can have widely different transfer characteristics because of the presence of multiple room resonances, if the listener moves within the room, then the transfer characteristic derived for the filter becomes inappropriate so that, far from compensating for the effects of the room, the filter may actually further degrade the sound heard by the listener at his new position.
The disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,362 further refers only to compensating the frequency response of elements of the signal path and ignores the phase responses of those elements. Although it is commonly thought that the human ear is relatively insensitive to phase, we have found that phase distortion, even at low levels, can be perceptually significant to a listener.
Different elements of the signal path will exhibit different phase behaviour; the behaviour of loudspeakers depends variously on the crossover network, the transducers and the cabinet dimensions. The phase response of the acoustic environment, however, can be extremely complex due to the reflection or resonances from the room boundaries. These give rise to sharp changes in the phase response of the path to a single point in the room.
Another problem is that it is possible, at some points in the room, for sound to reach a listener by a first path at a relatively low level and then by a second path at a relatively higher level; the first path could, for example, be through the floor of the room; or the first path could be a direct path from the loudspeaker through the air and the second a reflection of greater magnitude (which can occur if two reflections add up in amplitude and phase). The effect in any event is that instead of hearing a sound followed by a fainter echo, the listener hears a xe2x80x9cpre-echoxe2x80x9d followed by a louder sound, which is perceived as extremely unnatural.
It is relatively straightforward to cancel an echo; an IIR filter having a delay equivalent to the echo length and a loop gain equivalent to xe2x88x921 times the attenuation of the echo can be used, or an FIR filter of length sufficiently long to approximate such an IIR filter can be employed with suitable tap values. However, compensating a pre-echo is considerably more difficult. A direct compensation is impossible, since the corresponding IIR filter would be unstable, and it is necessary to employ a bulk delay within the compensating filter so that the impulse response of the compensating filter itself can be made acausal.
It is therefore clear that such filters themselves will introduce pre-echo, calculated to exactly compensate that introduced by the acoustic environment. However, because the pre-echo time and amount are themselves sensitive functions of the listener position in the room, a filter calculated to compensate at one point will not only fail to compensate pre-echo at another point but will introduce a further pre-echo of its own which sounds extremely unnatural to a listener. Even if no distinct echo is heard, a low level of response occurring prior to the arrival of the main part of the impulse response.
The invention generally provides a filter (preferably a digital filter) in which the substantially direction independent portion of the path (including loudspeaker and acoustic environment) is compensated so as to substantially linearise the phase response thereof, and the directionally dependent parts of the response are compensated so as to flatten the amplitude response without introducing further phase distortion. The substantially direction independent part of the response includes substantially the loudspeaker response, and more particularly the electrical portions thereof. Also provided are methods of processing signals to yield the parameters of such filters, and methods of manufacturing such filters using the results of such processing.
Also provided according to one aspect of the invention is audio processing apparatus which includes data relating to the response of the loudspeaker with which it is supplied or to be used, capable of generating a test signal through the loudspeaker and of measuring the test signal received at a plurality of points in the room to derive a representative room signal response taking account of the loudspeaker response data, and thereby generating filter parameters for subsequent audio reproduction in such a manner as not to generate audible pre-echos.
In another aspect, the invention provides a user controllable phase correction to compensate phase lead errors on audio source material, as a post filter.
Other aspects, embodiments, objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.


A fluid end manifold comprising a body having a front side and a back side, a first cylinder bore formed horizontally through the body, a second cylinder bore formed vertically through the body, a front mating face, and a back mating face, wherein the first and second cylinder bores intersect within the body to define an intersection region, wherein the front mating face is positioned on the front side of the body at a location corresponding to the intersection region, and wherein the back mating face is positioned on the back side of the body at a location corresponding to the intersection region.

The pump industry has used reciprocating pumps for many years to great effect. However, over the years, the market has placed higher demands on reciprocating pumps to operate at higher flow rates and pressures and to have longer operation lives. These market demands are pushing pumps to the limits of current design and materials technology. One result of these market demands has been an increase in failures rates of fluid end manifolds for reciprocating pumps.
Within the fluid end manifolds, several interactions are being realized as the pump operates with the reciprocating cycle. During the pump operation, fluids are compressed within the fluid end manifold, creating positive pressure during pumping. After the compression cycle is completed, the reciprocating action continues creating a vacuum within the fluid end chamber which then draws fluid back into the fluid end manifold. These pumps must operate continuously at speeds up to 350 cycles per minute. Pressures generated within the fluid end manifolds can be up to 20,000 psi or more.
Consequently, the fluid end manifold is constantly under variable stressing. This constant variable stressing may result in fatigue. It is well known within the industry that fatigue has a significant effect on the fluid end manifold life expectancy, often resulting in fatigue failure of the fluid end manifolds. This fatigue failure may be a result of the fluid end manifold flexing and/or ballooning under internal pressure loads. Fatigue failure may occur if the pressures realized within the fluid end manifold are high enough to effect the material stressing.
Thus, there is a need for an improved fluid end manifold assembly that is able to withstand the variable stressing associated with high pressure pumps.

Fluid end manifolds and fluid end manifold assemblies


The present invention relates to a solid electrolytic capacitor with low ESR obtained by stacking a dielectric layer on a surface of an anode body comprising a valve-acting metal or an electrically conducting oxide, further sequentially stacking a semiconductor layer and an electrically conducting layer on the dielectric layer to prepare a solid electrolytic capacitor element, and molding it with a jacket material, the electrically conducting layer having an electrically conducting paste layer mainly comprising an electrically conducting metal powder and resin, wherein the tap density of the electrically conducting metal powder is 4 g/cm3 or more, and an electronic circuit and an electronic device using the solid electrolytic capacitor.

The capacitor utilized for central processing unit (CPU) for personal computers and the like is required to have high capacitance and low ESR (equivalent series resistance) so as to suppress the fluctuation of voltage and reduce the heat generation at the passing of a high ripple current.
Generally, an aluminum or tantalum solid electrolytic capacitor is used.
The solid electrolytic capacitor is produced by stacking a dielectric layer on a surface of an anode body comprising a valve-acting metal or an electrically conducting oxide, further sequentially stacking a semiconductor layer and an electrically conducting layer on the dielectric layer to prepare a solid electrolytic capacitor element, and molding it with a jacket material. As for the shape of the anode body, a metal foil or electrically conducting oxide foil having fine pores in the surface layer and a metal powder or electrically conducting powder sintered body having fine pores in the inside are known. The dielectric layer is formed also on the surface of such a fine pore of the anode body, and the semiconductor layer is stacked also on the dielectric layer within the pore. A solid electrolytic capacitor with low ESR is produced by using an organic or inorganic semiconductor having a high electric conductivity for the semiconductor layer.
Also, studies are being made to produce a solid electrolytic capacitor with low ESR by improving the electrically conducting paste used for forming the electrically conducting layer of the solid electrolytic capacitor. For example, JP-A-2003-059338 (the term "JP-A" as used herein means an "unexamined published Japanese patent application") discloses a composition comprising two components of carbon powder and electrically conducting metal powder and JP-A-2003-203828 discloses an electrically conducting polymer layer for connecting electrically conducting metal particles of the electrically conducting paste layer.

Solid electrolytic capacitor and the use thereof


A height adjustable workstation for positioning a monitor and a keyboard relative to a work surface. The height adjustable workstation can include a stationary column positioned below the work surface and a movable column coupled to the stationary column and vertically extendable above the work surface. The movable column can support a keyboard support and/or a monitor mount. A counterbalance assembly, which is positioned below the work surface and operatively coupled to both the stationary column and movable column, functions to offset the load carried by the keyboard support and/or monitor mount to provide effortless height adjustment.

Recent research shows sedentary work increases the risk of cancer and heart disease regardless of other health indicators such as exercise and nutrition. However, standing all day in a static position can also cause health problems, including a significant increase in the risk of carotid atherosclerosis. The healthiest workplace solution allows users to alternate between sitting and standing positions throughout the day.
Height adjustable workstations presently include height adjustable tables with monitor and keyboard supports mounted thereon, the respective heights of which are adjusted as the table is adjusted between sitting and standing positions. A less expensive alternative to height adjustable tables is found in the height adjustable monitor and keyboard supports that typically include a base that is mounted or rests atop a work surface and a support column that extends upwards therefrom to a keyboard platform and a monitor mounting portion. The bases of these mechanisms can take up a lot of space on the work surface and the support columns often extend above the monitor when the user is in a sitting position, which can be obstructive in an open office plan.

Height adjustable monitor and keyboard support


A heat exchanger assembly includes a core with a header, an end tank and a joint between the header and the end tank. A seal between the header and the end tank is in an area at the joint between the header and the end tank. The seal normally produces a permanent seal except when a misalignment of the seal at the joint between the header and the end tank produces a temporary seal. At least one groove or channel is defined in the header or the end tank at the joint between the header and the end tank, for detecting the temporary seal. The at least one groove or channel extends beyond a highest point at which the temporary seal is formed. The groove or channel functions as a positive leak path between the temporary seal and the header and/or the end tank in the area at the joint between the header and the end tank.

Automotive heat exchanger assemblies commonly have a core comprising tubes, separators or fins, and side plates made of some type of metal, such as aluminum, and associated headers. These heat exchangers also comprise end tanks or manifolds made of plastic or metal. The purpose of the header is to attach the end tank or manifold firmly to the core portion of the heat exchanger. To provide for efficient heat exchange and to avoid potentially overheating due to loss of thermal liquid or gas within the heat exchanger, the tank to header joints must be essentially leak-proof. Typically the tank to header joints are made 'leak tight' by providing for a seal, such as a rubber gasket, between the header and the tank.
The problem with current designs is that the gasket, and, in particular, the rubber gasket often used between the header and the tank, is often misaligned or otherwise improperly positioned, either due to improper assembly procedures or faulty design of seal or gasket. Such a misalignment or 'defect' is often not detectable at the first stages of assembly or testing, due to the fact that the location of the seal is not visible on external examination. Detection of the defect is made more difficult since the seal, though defective, may make the tank to header joint appear to be leak proof and the heat exchanger may appear to be functioning properly, due to the fact that the misalignment or otherwise improper positioning of the gasket lead to it somehow being 'wedged' or 'pinched' in place during assembly, leading to the formation of a temporary seal. Since this temporary seal may be capable of lasting through traditional leak testing procedures performed after initial assembly at the manufacturing facility, the fact that it is defective vis-à-vis its use in the normal heat exchanger operating environment, may not be apparent until the heat exchanger is shipped to a customer assembly plant for further processing, or even during vehicle use by the end customer, which can lead to disastrous consequences.
One approach to solving this problem is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,267, which adds ribs which project from the interior wall of the end tank in order to hold in a gasket that is incorrectly positioned so that it can form a seal, while nevertheless, allowing the defective or not properly assembled joint gasket to exist and to hold back or contain fluid. The ribs may also prevent an inappropriately positioned gasket from being displaced during initial leak testing, to prevent the catastrophic loss of fluid. In addition, inappropriately positioned and/or pinched gaskets can have resultant tears and/or induced gasket surface defects or flaws, that reduce the life of the seal, and, thus, the effective lifetime of the heat exchanger assembly. The solution of U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,267 may, therefore, lead to the unexpected effect of shipping parts, with improperly positioned gaskets and/or other defects or flaws, to the customer or end consumer.
The heat exchanger assemblies of the present invention, with means to detect temporary seals at the tank to header joint, as described below, have not been described in this prior art.

Detection system for localizing defective seals in heat exchangers


A method for improving noise immunity of capacitive sensing circuit associated with a touch sense array is disclosed. The capacitive sensing circuit receives a response signal from a touch sense array. The capacitive sensing circuit measures a noise component of the response signal. When a level of noise of the noise component within a passband of the capacitive sensing circuit is greater than a threshold, the capacitive sensing circuit changes at least one parameter of capacitive sensing circuit to move the passband substantially outside the frequency spectrum of the noise component.

Computing devices, such as notebook computers, personal data assistants (PDAs), kiosks, and mobile handsets, have user interface devices, which are also known as human interface devices (HID). One user interface device that has become more common is a touch-sensor pad (also commonly referred to as a touchpad). A basic notebook computer touch-sensor pad emulates the function of a personal computer (PC) mouse. A touch-sensor pad is typically embedded into a PC notebook for built-in portability. A touch-sensor pad replicates mouse X/Y movement by using two defined axes which contain a collection of sensor elements that detect the position of one or more conductive objects, such as a finger. Mouse right/left button clicks can be replicated by two mechanical buttons, located in the vicinity of the touchpad, or by tapping commands on the touch-sensor pad itself. The touch-sensor pad provides a user interface device for performing such functions as positioning a pointer, or selecting an item on a display. These touch-sensor pads may include multi-dimensional sensor arrays for detecting movement in multiple axes. The sensor array may include a one-dimensional sensor array, detecting movement in one axis. The sensor array may also be two dimensional, detecting movements in two axes.
Another user interface device that has become more common is a touch screen. Touch screens, also known as touchscreens, touch windows, touch panels, or touchscreen panels, are transparent display overlays which are typically either pressure-sensitive (resistive or piezoelectric), electrically-sensitive (capacitive), acoustically-sensitive (surface acoustic wave (SAW)) or photo-sensitive (infra-red). The effect of such overlays allows a display to be used as an input device, removing the keyboard and/or the mouse as the primary input device for interacting with the display's content. Such displays can be attached to computers or, as terminals, to networks. Touch screens have become familiar in retail settings, on point-of-sale systems, on ATMs, on mobile handsets, on kiosks, on game consoles, and on PDAs where a stylus is sometimes used to manipulate the graphical user interface (GUI) and to enter data. A user can touch a touch screen or a touch-sensor pad to manipulate data. For example, a user can apply a single touch, by using a finger to touch the surface of a touch screen, to select an item from a menu.
Electronic systems that include touch screens are sensitive to a variety of noise sources. Noise coupled into touch screens and circuitry for applying and measuring the presence of a touch on a touch screen (hereinafter "touch controllers") may result in significantly reduced accuracy, resulting in false touches and the reported location of a touch on a touch screen. FIG. 1 depicts various paths that induced noise currents may take between a source of noise, a user of a touch screen, and the touch screen and touch controller. The main sources of induced noise include (1) switching regulators employed in DC-AC, DC-DC, and AC-DC converters used in power supplies and battery chargers for touch controllers and nearby external electronic equipment; (2) electromagnetic noise emitted by external electronic equipment, for example, by high speed motors during operation of the external equipment (i.e., in vacuum cleaners, mixers, washing machines, etc); (3) noise emitted by radio transmitting equipment (e.g., radio stations, mobile communications, CB radios, etc); and (4) noise emitted by high-voltage power lines.
These noise sources may emit electromagnetic radiation over a narrow band of frequency, a wideband of frequencies, or both under different operating conditions. Of the noise sources listed above, chargers and power supplies for use with touch screens are the most common and cause the largest number of false or inaccurate touch events reported by touch controllers. FIGS. 2A-2C, for example, depict amplitude vs. time and frequency for common mode noise emitted by a battery charger under different load conditions. The number of harmonics, the fundamental frequency, and amplitude of common mode charger noise depend on charger type, charger electronics, and charger physical construction. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, harmonic frequencies change during the battery charge process, resulting in a frequency band of noise that changes with time but generally has a narrow bandwidth.
Radiated noise may be coupled into conductors of the touch screen and/or touch controller radio transmitting equipment. The coupled radiated noise signal waveform type depends on the environment. The waveforms may be simple sine waves or waveforms with several tens of harmonics.
Noise sources generated internally within touch controllers may include internal charge pumps, communication lines, LCDs, etc.
A touch controller's response to injected noise depends to a large degree on the frequency response characteristic of a touch screen measurement channel within the touch controller. The measurement channel frequency response of a conventional touch controller is shown in FIG. 3. The frequency response characteristic shown in FIG. 3 contains high sensitivity zones (200-250 KHz, 700-750 Khz) and low sensitivity zones to noise. If a harmonic of injected noise coincides with one or more of the high sensitivity zones, the touch controller accuracy may be significantly reduced, resulting in false touches, etc. This is demonstrated in FIG. 4, which illustrates the effects of noise having harmonic components that coincide with a measurement channel response characteristic. FIG. 4 shows the effect of harmonically-induced noise on raw counts of a simulated finger touch over time as the amplitude of the harmonically induced noise increases.

Method and apparatus to improve noise immunity of a touch sense array


Disclosed is a learning model generation method executed by a computer, including: striking a percussion instrument with a striking member to emit a musical sound; and conducting machine learning upon receiving an input of the musical sound emitted from the percussion instrument, and generating, based on the machine learning, a learning model for outputting numerical values for setting musical performance parameters for an automatic musical performance of the percussion instrument that is struck when the striking member is driven.

The present disclosure relates to an automatic musical performance of a percussion instrument.
Musical performance control technologies for allowing a musical performance robot to automatically play percussion instruments and various other musical instruments have been proposed in the related art. Disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2008-026724 is a drum playing device that strikes a percussion instrument by moving a stick with a plurality of actuators in accordance with music data descriptive of a musical composition.

Learning model generation method, learning model generation device, and automatic musical performance robot


Assemblies of a vehicle positioning system, system and method thereof are disclosed. In an embodiment a ground assembly for a vehicle positioning system includes a first ground assembly antenna, wherein the ground assembly is configured to function together with a vehicle assembly of the vehicle positioning system to determine a position of the vehicle assembly relative to the ground assembly, and wherein a determination of the position is performed by utilizing a neural network.

Vehicle positioning systems should provide position information of a vehicle. Position information can be used to evaluate a vehicle's environment or to provide guiding information to find specific places efficiently.
Electric vehicles are vehicles, e.g. cars, tractors, vans, transporters, goods vehicles of any kind, etc., that use electric energy stored in a rechargeable battery establishing the main power source of the vehicle. When the vehicle's electric energy is exhausted then a recharge of the battery is needed. Electric energy can be transferred via a galvanic connection, e.g. an electric cable, between the vehicle and a power source. However, electric energy can also be provided wirelessly. WPT systems (WPT=Wireless Power Transfer) can provide power without the need for an electric cable. WPT systems usually have a primary coil for transmitting energy, e.g. magnetic energy, and a secondary coil for receiving energy. For a high efficiency and for reducing or preventing energy from being deposited away from the secondary coil a sufficiently small horizontal distance is wanted.
Thus, a vehicle positioning system shall provide sufficiently precise position information.
It is possible to use an RF antenna at a ground assembly (GA) of the system and an RF antenna at a vehicle assembly (VA) of the system. A signal is emitted from the antenna on the VA and received by the antenna on the GA. Measurements are taken on a grid for different horizontal (x and y) positions of the VA and saved on a look-up table, which is commonly referred to as "map." Each data point coming from the antennas is compared to each point on the map, and the root mean square error is computed to estimate a "best" position of the vehicle based on the smallest calculated error.
Such systems are known, e.g., from the contributions:    "An Improved Neural Network Training, Algorithm for Wi-Fi Fingerprinting Positioning" (Cheung, E. M. Hong Kong, China: ISPRS (2013));    "A Six-Antenna Station Based Indoor Positioning System" (Chih-Yung Chen, T.-H. L.-C. Kaohsiung City, Taiwan: IEEE (2013));    "Indoor Positioning System Using Artificial Neural Network" (Hamid Mehmood. N. K. Pathumthani, Thailand: Journal of Computer Science (2010)); or    "Lessons Learnt From Designing Indoor Positioning System Using 868 MHz Radios and Neural Networks" (Michal Meina, B. C. Warsaw, Poland: IEEE (2015)).
However these solutions may not reach accuracy in the cm range. It would be desired to have accuracy in the cm range. Thus, it is desired to have alternative solutions, specifically alternative solutions providing improved positioning accuracy.

Assemblies of a vehicle positioning system, system, use and methods


Methods of tissue engineering, and more particularly methods and compositions for generating various vascularized 3D tissues, such as 3D vascularized embryoid bodies and organoids are described. Certain embodiments relate to a method of generating functional human tissue, the method comprising embedding an embryoid body or organoid in a tissue construct comprising a first vascular network and a second vascular network, each vascular network comprising one or more interconnected vascular channels; exposing the embryoid body or organoid to one or more biological agents, a biological agent gradient, a pressure, and/or an oxygen tension gradient, thereby inducing angiogenesis of capillary vessels to and/or from the embryoid body or organoid; and vascularizing the embryoid body or organoid, the capillary vessels connecting the first vascular network to the second vascular network, thereby creating a single vascular network and a perfusable tissue structure.

The ability to create three-dimensional (3D) vascularized tissues on demand could enable scientific and technological advances in tissue engineering, drug screening, toxicology, 3D tissue culture, and organ repair. To produce 3D engineered tissue constructs that mimic natural tissues and, ultimately, organs, several key components—cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), and vasculature—may need to be assembled in complex arrangements. Each of these components plays a vital role: cells are the basic unit of all living systems, ECM provides structural support, and vascular networks provide efficient nutrient and waste transport, temperature regulation, delivery of factors, and long-range signaling routes. Without perfusable vasculature within a few hundred microns of each cell, three-dimensional tissues may quickly develop necrotic regions. The inability to embed vascular networks in tissue constructs has hindered progress on 3D tissue engineering for decades.
Classical experiments performed half a century ago demonstrated the immense self-organizing capacity of vertebrate cells. Even after complete dissociation, cells can reaggregate and reconstruct the original architecture of an organ. More recently, this outstanding feature was used to rebuild organ parts or even complete organs from tissue or embryonic stem cells. Such stem cell-derived three-dimensional cultures are called organoids. Because organoids can be grown from human stem cells and from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, they have the potential to model human development and disease and in a tree-dimensional, biomimetic environment (Lancaster M A, et al., Cerebral organoids model human brain development and microcephaly. Nature 501 (7467):373-9 (2013)). Furthermore, they have potential for drug testing and even future organ replacement strategies (Lancaster et al., 2013). The organoids are often developed in spinning bioreactors.
New methods of creating embryoid bodies or organoids and tissue constructs suitable for studies of tissue development and disease, as well as transplantation are desired.

Methods of generating functional human tissue

PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE


A ball pivot (1) of a ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles with a joint ball (2) and with a pivot (3) connected to the joint ball (2) is presented, in which a substantial part (3.1) of the pivot (3) is made nonround for preventing the ball pivot from rotating. A wheel suspension is also disclosed in which a nonround ball pivot is used.

The present invention pertains to a ball pivot of a ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles with a joint ball and with a pivot connected to the joint ball. The present invention also pertains to a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle for the spring-loaded connection of at least one wheel to the frame or the chassis of the motor vehicle with at least one shock-absorbing strut and at least one suspension.
Such a ball pivot of a ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles has been known from, e.g., the Patent DE 44 03 584 C2. With the design features according to the preamble, these ball pivots are frequently used in highly stressed ball-and-socket joints in chassis of motor vehicles and have been manufactured in large numbers by the corresponding manufacturers for decades. The ball pivot comprises a joint ball and an essentially cylindrical pivot pin connected thereto. The pivot pin is provided with threads over at least a substantial part of its length, so that the ball pivot can be introduced with the pivot into an opening of a component of the motor vehicle intended for this purpose in order to be fastened to the pivot pin by means of a nut screwed onto the pivot pin. A support surface, with which the pivot pin is supported against the pressing force of the nut screwed onto the thread, is usually provided on the side of the joint ball.
If the above-described nut is to be tightened or loosened during the mounting or removal of the ball pivot, it is necessary to fix the ball pivot itself with the pivot connected thereto in order to prevent the pivot from rotating together with the nut. This is achieved in the prior-art embodiments mostly by providing a multitooth engagement (Torx), a hexagon socket, a hexagon insert, or the like, at the pivot pin on the inside or on the outside, by means of which an opposite torque can be achieved between the nut to be tightened or loosened and the pivot itself. However, it was found in practical use that the multitooth engagement is very often destroyed by, e.g., stones and weather effects, so that major problems occur at the time of the removal of the ball-and-socket joint. Since it is impossible to fix the ball pivot because of the destruction of the multitooth engagement and the thread at the pivot pin is also heavily contaminated and stiff due to the use of the vehicle, the entire cylindrical pivot rotates together with the nut after the loosening moment of the cylindrical pivot has been exceeded. Thus, loosening of the cylindrical pivot pin is hardly possible or is possible only with great difficulty.
The primary object of the present invention is to improve the prior-art ball pivot with a joint ball and with a pivot pin connected to the joint ball such that the ball pivot will be prevented from rotating during loosening or tightening of the ball pivot in a component of the motor vehicle.
According to the invention, a ball pivot of a ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles is provided. The ball pivot has a joint ball and a pivot pin connected to the joint ball. A substantial part of the pivot pin is made nonround for preventing the ball pivot from rotating.
Thus, the invention provides that a ball pivot of a ball-and-joint socket for motor vehicles with a joint ball and with a pivot connected to the joint ball be further improved such that at least a substantial part of the pivot pin is made nonround. It is achieved due to this nonround design of a substantial part of the pivot pin that the pivot pin can be supported with respect to rotation in the motor vehicle component to which it is to be connected or is connected. To achieve this, the nonround part of the pivot pin must be located at least partially in the area of the opening of the motor vehicle component, through which the pivot pin of the ball pivot is inserted. This opening of the motor vehicle component may be, e.g., an elongated hole in the motor vehicle component or an opening designed corresponding to the nonround shape of the pivot pin. A multitooth engagement at the ball pivot or another possible securing against rotation of the ball pivot can be advantageously abandoned due to the nonround design of the part of the pivot pin extending into the opening of the motor vehicle component.
An advantageous variant of the nonround shape of the substantial part of the pivot pin may be the oval or angular design of the pivot, e.g., in the form of a square or polygon.
According to another advantageous variant of the ball pivot according to the present invention, the ball pivot may have a separate support surface between the ball pivot and the pivot pin, which support surface may be supported, e.g., against an opposite surface of the motor vehicle component, to which the ball pivot is to be connected, during tightening by means of a nut. Furthermore, it may be advantageous in this connection for the support surface to extend flatly and at right angles to the central axis of the pivot pin.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the ball pivot according to the present invention, at least part of the length of the pivot pin is provided with a connection contour. This may be, e.g., a thread, a force fit, a bayonet or another, similar, prior-art connection contour.
It is advantageous in the design of the contour for the cross-sectional area of the part of the pivot pin that has the connection contourxe2x80x94viewed in the cross section through the central axis of the pivot pinxe2x80x94to be located within the contour of the cross-sectional area of the nonround part of the pivot pin. In other words, in a cross section at right angles to the central axis of the pivot pin, the cross-sectional areas of the part of the pivot pin that carries the connection contour shall be advantageously located completely within the cross-sectional area of the nonround pant. It is thus guaranteed that the threaded part of the pivot pin can also be passed through all openings through which the nonround part of the pivot pin fits. Coaxial position of the two cross-sectional areas and viewing the cross-sectional areas in the direction of the central axis of the pivot pin of the ball pivot is assumed in this approach.
According to another advantageous embodiment of the ball pivot, the pivot pin has a notch or groove on the side located opposite the joint ball. As a result, it is advantageously possible to achieve a correct alignment of the ball pivot during the mounting of the ball pivot in the motor vehicle component or to facilitate such alignment.
According to another aspect of the object of the invention, it is suggested that the prior-art wheel suspension of a motor vehicle for the spring-loaded connection of at least one wheel to the frame or to the chassis of the motor vehicle with at least one shock-absorbing strut and at least one suspension arm be improved such that a ball-and-socket joint is provided as a nonpositive connection between at least one shock-absorbing strut and at least one suspension arm. This ball-and-socket joint may advantageously have a means for securing against rotation, as it is described in the preceding text or also in the following exemplary embodiments or in the claims.
It is apparent that the above-mentioned features of the present invention, which will be explained below, may be used not only in the combination described, but also in other combinations or alone, without going beyond the scope of the present invention.
Other features and advantages of the present invention appear from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.


An advanced modular plug connector assembly incorporating a substantially planar, low profile removable insert assembly with associated substrate disposed in the rear portion of the connector housing, the substrate adapted to optionally receive one or more electronic components. In one embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a single port with a single insert assembly. The conductors and terminals of the connector are retained within respective molded carriers which are received within the insert assembly. A plurality of light sources (e.g., LEDs) are also received within the housing, the conductors of the LEDs mated with conductive traces on the substrate of the insert assembly. In another embodiment, the connector assembly comprises a multi-port xe2x80x9c1xc3x97Nxe2x80x9d device. Methods for manufacturing the aforementioned embodiments are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic components and particularly to an improved design and method of manufacturing a single- or multi-connector assembly which may include internal electronic components.
2. Description of Related Technology
Modular connectors, such as for example those of the xe2x80x9cRJxe2x80x9d configuration, are well known in the electronics industry. Such connectors are adapted to receive one or more modular plugs of varying type (e.g., RJ-45 or RJ-11), and communicate signals between the terminals of the modular plug and the parent device with which the connector is associated. Commonly, some form of signal conditioning (e.g., filtering, voltage transformation, or the like) is performed by the connector on the signals passing through it.
Many different considerations are involved with producing an effective and economically viable connector design. Such considerations include, for example: (i) volume and xe2x80x9cfootprintxe2x80x9d available for the connector; (ii) the need for electrical status indicators (e.g., LEDs); (iii) the cost and complexity associated with assembling and manufacturing the device; (iv) the ability to accommodate various electrical components and signal conditioning configurations; (v) the electrical and noise performance of the device; (vi) the reliability of the device; (vii) the ability to modify the design to accommodate complementary technologies; (viii) compatibility with existing terminal and xe2x80x9cpin outxe2x80x9d standards and applications; (ix) ability to configure the connector as one of a plurality of ports, potentially having individually variant internal component configurations, and (ix) potentially the maintenance or replacement of defective components.
Myriad different configurations for modular connectors have been heretofore disclosed in the prior art. However, these prior art configurations are not optimized in terms of the foregoing considerations. For example, many connector designs, while providing a low manufacturing cost, do not possess the necessary electrical or radiated noise performance required by particular applications. Designs which do meet these performance and noise requirements are often complex, require numerous manufacturing steps, and/or difficult to assembly, thereby raising cost and potentially detracting from reliability. Alternatively, the plurality of electrical signal conditioning components required to meet performance standards cannot be readily contained within the required connector volume/footprint without increasing noise/cross-talk, or significantly altering the connector terminal array configuration.
Accordingly, it would be most desirable to provide an improved electrical connector design that would yield a simple and reliable connector with superior electrical and noise performance, and further facilitate economical fabrication. Such a connector design would ideally allow for the use of anything ranging from none to a variety of different electronic signal conditioning components in the connector signal path(s), as well as status indicators if desired, without affecting connector profile or footprint, or requiring changes to the housing. The improved connector design would also facilitate easy assembly, as well as removal of the internal components of the device if required. The design would further be amenable to integration into a multi-port connector assembly, including the ability to vary the configuration of the internal components associated with each port of the assembly individually.
The present invention satisfies the aforementioned needs by an improved modular connector apparatus and method for manufacturing the same.
In a first aspect of the invention, an improved connector assembly for use on, inter alia, a printed circuit board or other device is disclosed. The connector assembly generally comprises a connector housing having a single port; an insertion assembly having (i) an insert element, (ii) a plurality of first and second conductors mated to the insert element; and (iii) at least one substrate disposed in the housing in proximity to the insert element, the substrate having at least one electrical component disposed thereon and in the electrical pathway between the first conductors and the second conductors. In one exemplary embodiment, the insert assembly is substantially planar, and includes a plurality of cavities or recesses adapted to receive carriers formed around the respective sets of conductors. The insert assembly receives the substrate (and electrical component(s)) such that direct electrical connection with the first and second sets of conductors is accomplished within a minimum amount of space, and with minimal conductor length. Light sources (e.g., LEDs) are optionally disposed within apertures in the front of the housing and electrically terminated to traces on the substrate, these traces being terminated to a third set of conductors disposed within a carrier in the rear portion of the insert assembly.
In a second exemplary embodiment, the assembly comprises a connector housing having a plurality of connectors arranged in side-by-side (xe2x80x9c1xc3x97Nxe2x80x9d) configuration, each of the connectors incorporating the insert assembly described above. The insert assemblies for each respective port may be uniform in configuration, or alternatively may be varied as desired to provide differing functionality.
In a second aspect of the invention, an improved insert assembly for use with a modular connector is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the insert assembly comprises a molded low-profile insert element having a plurality of cavities formed therein; a plurality of first conductors adapted for mating with respective terminals of a modular plug, at least a portion of the first conductors being received within a first of said cavity; a plurality of second conductors adapted for electrical interface with an external device, the second conductors being disposed at least partly within a second of the cavities; and a substrate communicating with the insert element and having a plurality of conductive traces associated therewith, the conductive traces forming electrical pathways between at least some of the first and second conductors. In a second embodiment, the assembly further includes a plurality of light sources electrically communicating with traces on the substrate, and third set of conductors in communication with the traces, thereby forming an electrical path through the connector assembly with the light sources.
In a third aspect of the invention, an improved insert element adapted for use in the modular connector insert assembly previously described is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the insert element comprises an insert body having: (i) a front portion having a first cavity formed therein, and a plurality of first apertures formed within the front portion and communicating with the first cavity, the first apertures being adapted to receive respective ones of the first conductors; (ii) a rear portion having at least a second cavity formed therein, and a plurality of second apertures formed in the rear portion and communicating with the second cavity, the second apertures being adapted to receive respective ones of the second conductors; and (iii) at least one surface adapted to communicate with the internal substrate, the surface being disposed proximate to the first and second apertures, thereby allowing direct connection of conductive traces of the substrate with the first and second conductors.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, an improved electronic assembly utilizing the aforementioned connector assembly is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the electronic assembly comprises the foregoing connector assembly which is mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate having a plurality of conductive traces formed thereon, and bonded thereto using a reflow soldering process, thereby forming a conductive pathway from the traces through the conductors of the respective conductors of the assembly and modular plug terminals. In another embodiment, the connector assembly is mounted on an intermediary substrate, the latter being mounted to a PCB or other component using a reduced footprint terminal array.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, an improved method of manufacturing the connector assembly of the present invention is disclosed. The method generally comprises: forming an insert element having a plurality of recesses and adapted to be received within the connector housing; forming a plurality of first conductors; providing a plurality of second conductors; providing a substrate; forming a plurality of conductive traces upon the substrate; inserting a portion of the first and second conductors within respective ones of said recesses; and positioning the substrate proximate to the insert element such that the first and second conductors are in electrical communication via the conductive traces of the substrate.

Connector with insert assembly and method of manufacturing


A ferroelectric capacitor including a bottom electrode (15), a ferroelectric film (16) and a top electrode (17) is covered with an interlayer insulating film (18). One end of the bottom electrode (15) is formed like comb teeth. To match with the remaining portion of that end, a plurality of contact holes (21) are formed in the interlayer insulating film (18). In other words, gaps (notches) are formed in the bottom electrode (15) between lower ends of at least two of the contact holes (21). And a wiring (25) connected to the bottom electrode (15) through the contact holes (21) is formed on the interlayer insulating film (18).

In recent years, a ferroelectric memory (FeRAM) has been drawing attention, as a nonvolatile memory that can hold information even when power supply is cut off. The FeRAM utilizes hysteresis characteristics of a ferroelectric to store information. In the ferroelectric memory, a ferroelectric capacitor is provided in each memory cell. In a ferroelectric capacitor, a ferroelectric film is provided as a capacitor dielectric between a pair of electrodes. A ferroelectric capacitor becomes polarized in accordance with an applied voltage between the pair of electrodes, and its spontaneous polarization remains even though the applied voltage is removed, whereby information can be held. When the polarity of the applied voltage is reversed, the polarity of the spontaneous polarization is also reversed. The spontaneous polarization enables can be detected to read information.
In addition, because the capacitance of the ferroelectric film is larger than that of SiO2, a ferroelectric capacitor may be integrated in a boosting circuit or a smoothing circuit. A bottom electrode, a ferroelectric film, and a top electrode of a ferroelectric capacitor integrated in the boosting circuit or the smoothing circuit are all larger in size than those of a ferroelectric capacitor incorporated in the memory cell. Therefore, a great number of contact holes are formed on the bottom electrode.
Here, a conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a peripheral circuit including a ferroelectric capacitor will be explained. FIGS. 18A and 18B to FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating a conventional method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. FIGS. 18B, 19B, and 20B are cross-sectional views taken along the line II-II in FIGS. 18A, 19A, and 20A, respectively.
To manufacture such a semiconductor device (ferroelectric memory), an element such as a CMOS transistor is first formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g., an Si substrate; then, an interlayer insulating film, wirings, and the like are formed, and then, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, an alumina film 111 is formed as an adhesion layer (base film) of a ferroelectric capacitor. Next, a conductive film for a bottom electrode (a bottom electrode film) and a ferroelectric film are sequentially formed on the alumina film 111. A Pt film is formed as the bottom electrode film, and a Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 film (a PZT film) is formed as the ferroelectric film. Next, the ferroelectric film is crystallized by heat treatment. Thereafter, an IrOx film is formed as a conductive film for a top electrode (a top electrode film) on the ferroelectric film. Next, by processing the top electrode film, the ferroelectric film, and the bottom electrode film in that order, a plurality of ferroelectric capacitors (not shown) are formed in an area in which an FeRAM cell array is to be formed, and, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, a bottom electrode 115, a PZT film 116, and a top electrode 117 are formed in an area in which a peripheral circuit including a boosting circuit and a smoothing circuit is to be formed.
In addition, a planar shape of each of the bottom electrodes 115 is a rectangle having a narrow side of 50 μm to 60 μm in length and a longitudinal side of 200 μm to 250 μm in length. Meanwhile, a planar shape of the bottom electrode in the ferroelectric memory cell array is a rectangle having a narrow side of 4.0 μm in length and a longitudinal side of 560 μm in length.
After processing these films, a TEOS oxide film 118 is formed as an interlayer insulating film and flattened through CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) Next, in the TEOS oxide film 118, the alumina film 111, and the like, contact holes (not shown) are formed to reach a diffusion layer (semiconductor substrate) or the like formed below the bottom electrode 115. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, contact holes 121 that reach the bottom electrode 115 and contact holes 122 that reach the top electrode 117 are formed in the TEOS oxide film 118. In this situation, a plurality of contact holes 121 are formed for each of the bottom electrodes 117.
Next, on the entire surface, a TiN film (about 150 nm) as a lower barrier metal film, an Al film, and a TiN film as an upper-barrier metal film are formed and patterned to form a wiring 125 connected through all of the contact holes 121 to the bottom electrode 115 and a wiring 126 connected through the contact holes 122 to the top electrode 117, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B.
In addition, also in the ferroelectric memory cell array section, wirings are formed concurrently with the peripheral circuit section.
Next, after forming an interlayer insulating film that covers the wirings 125 and 126, heat treatment for eliminating moisture in the interlayer insulating film is implemented for 60 minutes, in the presence of N2 at 350° C.
Thereafter, by further forming wirings, interlayer insulating films, and the like, a semiconductor device is completed.
However, when the inventor of the present invention actually observed a surface of a semiconductor device that was produced in accordance with the conventional method as described above, a recess-like defect was found in the vicinity of the contact portion of the bottom electrode for the peripheral circuit section. Such a defect as described above was not found in the memory cell array section. In order to identify what the defect was, the inventor carried out cross-sectional observation and composition analysis. FIGS. 21A to 21C are graphs representing the results of the composition analysis on a wiring in the vicinity of the contact portion. In the cross-sectional observation, it was found that discoloration in the wiring had occurred in the vicinity of the contact portion of the bottom electrode. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 21A to 21C, peaks of Si and Pt appeared in the region where, in a normal situation, a peak of Al would conspicuously emerge. This fact suggests that, due to reaction, these atoms diffused into the wiring.
Meanwhile, in a semiconductor device including a ferroelectric capacitor, in order to improve the characteristics of the ferroelectric film, annealing processing in the presence of oxygen after formation of the top electrode is requisite. Therefore, as a material for the electrode, an oxidization-proof material, or a material that maintains electrical conductivity even when being oxidized, has been utilized. As the foregoing material, metal of the platinum family or oxide thereof, such as Pt, Ir, or IrOx, is mainly utilized. As another material for the wiring, Al is utilized, which is generally used even in other kind of semiconductor devices. The ferroelectric capacitor is connected through Al wirings to other elements or the like. In this situation, the thickness of the ferroelectric film is relatively large, and the dimension of the capacitor in the vertical direction is also relatively large. Therefore, a contact hole to the capacitor electrode is likely to be deep. An Al wiring is formed through the deep contact hole.
However, it is known that contact between Al and platinum-family metal such as Pt causes eutectic reaction; as disclosed in specifications of Japanese Patents No. 3045928 and No. 3165093, it is necessary to form between them a barrier metal film such as a TiN film. In other words, as shown in FIG. 22, a ferroelectric capacitor having a bottom electrode 148 made of Pt is formed on an insulating film 145, and an insulating film 146 is formed in such a way as to cover the ferroelectric capacitor. In the insulating film 146, a contact hole reaching the bottom electrode 148 is formed, and a barrier metal film 151 and a wiring 152 that are connected through the contact hole to the bottom electrode 148 are formed on the insulating film 146. The barrier metal film 151 and the wiring 152 are made of TiN and Al, respectively.
However, crystals of Pt and TiN are oriented in the same direction; therefore, if heat treatment is implemented after the Al wiring is formed on the TiN barrier metal film, Pt may pass through the TiN barrier metal film and react with Al. If the reaction such as this occurs, not only contact defect is caused, but also upward elevation occurs, whereby wirings in further upper layers may be affected.
Although, in logic products, a stacked barrier metal film formed by stacking a TiN film on a Ti film is usually utilized, in a ferroelectric capacitor, a Ti film absorbs O2 from a platinum-family metal oxide used as the electrode, at the contact interface, whereby a TiOx layer is formed. Consequently, contact resistance becomes higher. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-100740 describes a stacked barrier metal film having a Ti film formed on a TiN film. However, the structure causes Ti and Al to react and generate electromigration.
[Patent Document 1]
Specification of Japanese Patent No. 3045928
[Patent Document 2]
Specification of Japanese Patent No. 3165093
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-100740

Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof


A detector (30) is described for detecting a digital signal (Bio) out of an input information signal (Ai) which represents a runlength limited sequence, the runlength having a minimal value m. The detector (30) generates (60, 62) a preliminary binary signal (Bi) out of the input information signal (Ai). A composed sequence of subsequent bits is identified (86) within the preliminary binary signal (Bi) which subsequently includes at least a first neighboring bit of a run of length greater or equal than m+1, one or more further runs of length m and at least a second neighboring bit of a run of length greater or equal than intl. A set of sequences are generated (84, 86). These sequences can be obtained from said composed sequence by changing polarities of binary values within the composed sequence without violating the runlength constraint. The set includes the composed sequence obtained from the preliminary binary signal. A path metric (D) is calculated (94, 96) for two or more sequences of the set, said path metric (D) being the sum of the branch metrics (d) for the path through the trellis corresponding to the sequence of binary values. The sequence from the set which has the highest likelihood of corresponding to the input sequence represented by the input information signal (Ai) is identified (86, 98, 100) on the basis of the path metric.

The invention pertains to a detector for deriving a digital signal from an input information signal which represents a runlength limited sequence, the runlength having a minimal value m.
The invention further pertains to a reproduction apparatus, for reproducing digital symbols stored on a medium, comprising the detector
The invention further pertains to a receiver, for reproducing digital symbols from a received signal, comprising the detector.
The invention further pertains to a method for deriving a digital signal from an input information signal which represents a runlength limited sequence, the runlength having a minimal value m.
Optical recording methodology relies heavily on the use of runlength limited channel codes. Their purpose is a.o. to match the spectral characteristics of the user information to those of the optical recording channel. RLL codes restrict the number of consecutive like bits in the coded bit-stream, and may be characterized by two parameters, namely (d,k) with (d+1) being the minimum and (k+1) being the maximum allowed number of consecutive equal bits. Examples of such RLL codes include the EFM-code (d=2, k=10) employed in the CD, and the EFM+-code (d=2, k=10) employed in the DVD.
During the read-out of optically-recorded information, the stored bit-stream undergoes several kinds of distortion, a.o. owing to the limited resolution of the laser beam, dynamic defocusing of the read head and disc tilt. In many cases distortion is such that a simple threshold detector (TD) is not adequate to reproduce the distorted data with sufficient accuracy. This can be the case, for example, in DVD, where the recording density is significantly higher than in the CD, resulting in pits and lands of small size and thus in increased inter symbol interference (ISI) from adjacent pits and/or lands. In such situations more advanced detection techniques are necessary to achieve acceptable bit-error rates.
Several techniques have been proposed for use with RLL codes. According to a first class of techniques a bit sequence is estimated from the input signal by means of a maximum likelihood sequence detection, e.g. through the use of a Viterbi algorithm. The Viterbi algorithm is usually tailored to a fixed partial response and the resulting detector is then called a partial response maximum likelihood detector (PRML). It is normally used as a cascade to an equalizer that serves to shape the overall response of the channel and the equalizer to the fixed partial response used. This detector operates in a bit-by-bit fashion, using the received samples and its own estimates for them, in order to recover the most probable transmitted bit pattern. The Viterbi algorithm is described in more detail in xe2x80x9cDigital Baseband Transmission and Recordingxe2x80x9d, by Jan W. M. Bergmans, 1996, chapter 7, pages 301-372.
PRML-detection suffers from an operating speed bottleneck, caused by the bit recursive nature of its critical loop, which comprises at least a comparison and a selection operation. As a result of this speed limitation, application of PRML detection techniques to the high bit-rates of evolving optical recording technologies becomes increasingly problematic.
According to a second class of techniques a correcting stage is included for detecting and correcting runlength violations in a bit-sequence obtained in a first stage. The first stage may, for example, be implemented as a simple threshold detector. The second stage is known as runlength pushback detection (See for example WO 98/27681).
It is a purpose of the invention to provide a detector according to the introductory paragraph which detects a digital signal from an input information signal with an error-rate approximating that of a PRML-detector, while its computational complexity is reduced.
It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a reproduction system comprising such a detector.
It is a further purpose of the invention to provide a receiver comprising such a detector.
It is also a purpose of the invention to provide a method according to the introductory paragraph which detects a digital signal from an input information signal with an error-rate approximating that of a PRML-detector, while its computational complexity is reduced.
According to the invention a detector is provided for detecting a digital signal out of an input information signal which represents a runlength limited sequence, the runlength having a minimal value m. The detector according to the invention comprises
means for generating a preliminary binary signal out of said input information signal,
means for identifying a composed sequence of subsequent bits within the preliminary binary signal which subsequently comprises at least a first neighboring bit of a unipolar sequence of length greater or equal than m+1, one or more further unipolar sequences of length m and at least a second neighboring bit of a unipolar sequence of length greater or equal than m+1, a unipolar sequence being defined as a sequence of bits having the same binary value, and bordering at both sides at a bit having the opposite binary value,
means for generating a set of sequences which can be obtained from said composed sequence by changing polarities of binary values within said composed sequence without violating the runlength constraint, the set comprising the composed sequence obtained from the preliminary binary signal,
means for calculating a path metric for two or more sequences of said set, said path metric being the sum of the branch metrics for the path through the trellis corresponding to said sequence of binary values,
means for identifying the sequence from said set which has the highest likelihood of correspondence to the input sequence represented by the input information signal on the basis of the path metric.
In the detector according to the invention the computation of the likelihood is restricted to unipolar sequences (runs) or sequences of runs having a minimal runlength.
The invention is based on the insight that on the one hand the runs having a minimal runlength are most prone to detection errors as they have the highest frequency. On the other hand the path through the trellis that is based on the preliminary binary signal already has a relatively high likelihood of correspondence to the input sequence represented by the input information signal. Hence it suffices to consider only the set of possible sequences comprising the composed sequence obtained from the preliminary binary signal and those sequences which can be derived from said composed sequence with relatively few variations. Hence the number of calculations for estimating the optimal path is significantly reduced in comparison to the recursive calculations required in a PRML-detector. Hence, in the detector of the invention the computational power is used efficiently in that a relatively high number of errors is detected with a relatively small number of computations.
A preferred embodiment of the invention according to claim 2 is based on the observation by the inventors that the boundaries between subsequent unipolar sequences usually do not shift more than one sample with respect to each other.
A preferred embodiment of the invention according to claim 3 has the advantage that unlikely modifications of the composed sequence are left out of consideration. This further reduces the computational complexity while maintaining a good detection performance.
A further preferred embodiment is claimed in claim 4. It has been observed that often the boundaries between runs in the signal tend to shift in only one direction. In those cases it is therefore sufficient to evaluate only those variations of the composed sequence. This also reduces the computational complexity while maintaining a good detection performance.
The invention is in particular applicable to a reproduction system. In a reproduction system according to the invention for reproducing digital symbols stored on a medium, said reproduction system comprising read out means which include means for projecting a first optical beam along an optical axis at a scanning spot at the medium and for generating an input information signal representing the digital symbols stored on the medium, by measuring an intensity of an optical beam returned from the scanning spot, said reproduction system further comprising movement means for causing a relative movement in a movement direction between the scanning spot and the medium, said reproduction system further comprising a detector according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 for deriving a digital signal from said input information signal.
A preferred embodiment of the reproduction system according to the invention is described in claim 6. The tilt measurement enables the signal detector to predict the kind of distortion which occurs in the signal. This can be used to restrict the possible modifications in the composed sequence to those which have the highest likelihood.
The tilt detection means may be implemented in several ways. For example by a separate sensor, which measures a deviation of the position of the beam reflected from the record carrier. Preferably, however, the tilt detection means derive a tilt signal from the signal read from the record carrier. In that way a separate sensor is superfluous. Such tilt detection means are described for example in the earlier filed application WO 00/10165-A1. A practical embodiment of such detection means is claimed in claim 7.
The invention is in particular suitable for application with a channel code which apart from the runlength constraint also has a repeated minimum transition runlength (RMTR). The latter prescribes the maximum allowed number of concatenated unipolar sequences of minimum length. Such a code is described for example in WO 99/63671-A1. If the channel code has a low value for RMTR also the hardware requirements for the detector are modest, and relatively few variations of the composed sequence have to be computed. EFM+ has a RMTR of 15. The channel codes 17PP and EFMCC, both designed for DVR, have a RMTR of 6.
The invention also pertains to a receiver for reproducing a sequence of output symbols from a received signal, the receiver comprising a detector according to the invention which is coupled to a demodulator for demodulating the received signal.
Preferably the detector is coupled to the demodulator via an equalizer.
The invention also pertains to a method for detecting a digital signal out of an input information signal which represents a runlength limited sequence, the runlength having a minimal value m. The method according to the invention comprises the steps of
generating a binary signal out of said input information signal,
identifying a composed sequence of subsequent bits within the binary signal which subsequently comprises at least a first neighboring bit of a unipolar sequence of length greater or equal than m+1, one or more further unipolar sequences of length m and at least a second neighboring bit of a unipolar sequence of length greater or equal than m+1, a unipolar sequence being defined as a sequence of bits having the same binary value, and bordering at both sides at a bit having the opposite binary value,
generating a set of sequences which can be obtained from said composed sequence by changing polarities of binary values within said composed sequence without violating the runlength constraint, the set comprising the composed sequence
calculating a path metric for two or more sequences of said set, said path metric being the sum of the branch metrics for the path through the trellis corresponding to said sequence of binary values,
identifying the sequence from said set which has the highest likelihood of correspondence to the input sequence represented by the input information signal on the basis of the path metric.

Detector, reproduction system, receiver and method


A saddle type vehicle includes a throttle body arranged while restraining the effect of the exhaust air of a radiator while restraining the vehicle width even though the radiator is large. A radiator includes a mixed flow fan which flows exhaust air from the radiator rearwardly and outwardly in the vehicle width direction and a motor configured to rotate the mixed flow fan on the back surface thereof. A throttle body is arranged rearwardly of the mixed flow fan so as to be overlapped with the mixed flow fan in a front view.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a saddle type vehicle.
2. Description of Background Art
An automatic two-wheeled vehicle is known wherein a structure includes a water-cooled engine of a forward-tilted cylinder, a radiator disposed upward of a line extending along the front surface of a cylinder block of the engine in a side view, and with an air intake pipe having a throttle body, in which the radiator and the throttle body are arranged side by side. See, for example, JP-A-2002-037166. In this configuration, the throttle body having an electric element can be arranged so as not to be affected by exhaust air heated by the radiator.
However, in the configuration in which the radiator and an air intake pipe are arranged side by side, there arises a problem that if the capacity of the radiator is increased due to the increase of the displacement of the engine or the like, the size in the vehicle width direction is increased.


A pitch driving unit according to the present invention is equipped with hydraulic actuators that change the pitch angles of wind turbine blades; a hydraulic pump that supplies oil to the hydraulic actuators; a high-pressure oil line that guides the oil discharged from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuators; a low-pressure oil line that returns the oil discharged from the hydraulic actuators to the hydraulic pump; and a pressure control unit that stores a surplus amount of the oil and that refills the low-pressure oil line with the oil so as not to generate negative pressure at an oil intake portion of the hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic actuators 15, the hydraulic pump, the high-pressure oil line, the low-pressure oil line, and the pressure control unit constitute a closed hydraulic circuit that does not open to the atmosphere, the closed hydraulic circuit being filled with the oil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pitch driving unit for a wind-turbine rotor blade in which the pitch angles of wind turbine blades are changed by hydraulic actuators, and to a wind power generator equipped with the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Standard propeller-type wind power generators are equipped with a wind-turbine rotor blade in which a plurality of wind turbine blades are mounted to a rotor head serving as a rotation center. These wind power generators are configured in such a manner that the wind-turbine rotor blade is rotatably supported by a nacelle that is supported at the upper end of a tower in a manner allowing yawing, and the wind-turbine rotor blade rotates by receiving wind power, so that a generator installed in the nacelle is driven to generate electricity. In the case of an up-wind wind power generator, yaw driving control of the nacelle is performed so that the rotation center axis of the rotor head (wind-turbine rotor blade) is constantly pointed in the windward direction to allow efficient power generation.
In recent years, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,594 and so on, a pitch driving unit is provided which rotates individual wind turbine blades provided on the wind-turbine rotor blade relative to the rotor head by using a hydraulic driving source or the like to change the pitch angles (attack angles) of the individual wind turbine blades. With this pitch driving unit, when the wind is weak, the wind turbine blades are rotated to a fine side at which the pitch angles are increased, and when the wind is strong, the wind turbine blades are rotated to a feather side at which the pitch angles are decreased. This allows the generator to efficiently generate electricity in the vicinity of a desired rotational speed.
The pitch driving unit of the wind power generator disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,594 is equipped with hydraulic cylinders serving as actuators for rotating the individual wind turbine blades, a hydraulic pump that supplies oil to the hydraulic cylinders, a high-pressure oil line that guides the oil discharged from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuators, a low-pressure oil line that returns the oil discharged from the hydraulic actuators to the hydraulic pump, and an oil tank that stores the oil, all of which are installed inside the rotor head.
Accommodating all the components constituting the pitch driving unit inside the rotor head in this manner eliminates the need to pass a hydraulic line between the rotating rotor head and the fixed nacelle via a rotary joint. This can therefore omit the rotary joint, which is expensive and is prone to cause oil leakage, thus resulting in much time for maintenance, and thus considerably reducing the manufacturing cost of the wind power generator and eliminating the portion having the highest risk of oil leakage.
The pitch driving unit of U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,594 is provided with a snorkel-like air bleed pipe in an oil tank to allow the oil tank to be disposed in the rotating rotor head. The air bleed pipe is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation center axis of the rotor head. A weight is provided at the opposite side of the vent hole of the air bleed pipe, with the rotation center axis of the air bleed pipe interposed therebetween. The mass of this weight allows the vent hole of the air bleed pipe to always project higher than the oil level in the oil tank irrespective of the rotation of the oil tank, thus allowing good ventilation.
However, the pitch driving unit disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,658,594 has the possibility that the oil may spout out from the air bleed pipe, even if it is of a rotating type, to the interior of the rotor head depending on the degree of waviness of the oil surface, thus contaminating the interior of the rotor head because the oil tank has a very complicated structure, and moreover, it opens to the atmosphere through the air bleed pipe.
Furthermore, there is the problem that, even if the oil does not spout directly from the air bleed pipe, oil mist (mist-like oil) in the oil tank comes out of the air bleed pipe during ventilation with the air bleed pipe, thus contaminating the interior of the rotor head with the oil content. Moreover, because the oil is always mixed with air in the rotating oil tank, there are the problems that the oil is degraded by oxidization and that foreign substances tend to get mixed therein.
Furthermore, even if the oil tank is installed not in the rotor head but in the nacelle, there is a high possibility that the hydraulic pump takes in the air in the oil tank when the oil level becomes low because the oil tank opens to the atmosphere, and thus air is present on the surface of the stored oil. This hinders the correct operation of the pitch driving unit; therefore, it is necessary to consider increasing the amount of oil stored in the oil tank and to dispose the intake portion of the oil pump deep in the stored oil, so that the oil pump sucks in as little air as possible.
This increases the size of the oil tank, and thus, many times as much as oil as the pitch driving unit actually needs must be stored. This impairs the interior layout of the rotor head or the nacelle in which the oil tank is disposed, thus making it difficult to design, and increases the amount of oil consumed, which is not desirable in terms of cost and environment.

Pitch driving unit for wind-turbine rotor blade and wind power generator equipped with the same


Water is supplied to a water user outlet facility by maintaining a tappable flow of water in a recirculating loop that includes a pump such as a centrifugal pump driven by a substantially constant speed motor to establish the flow, a water delivery path that extends from the pump to the outlet facility, and a water return path that extends from the outlet facility back to the pump. The flow is permitted to be controllably tapped at the facility by a water user while directing any untapped portion of the flow into the water return path. Such recirculation avoids stagnation and thereby impedes deterioration in the potability of the water. Further such recirculation makes the recirculating loop and water within the loop less sensitive to the temperature of the surrounding environment. The recirculating loop may include a water purifier such as an ultra-violet lamp source to kill organic contaminants and, as well, may include a filter to remove inorganic material.

This invention relates to water distribution systems, and in particular to water distribution systems that are able to reliably supply and improve the quality of water throughout a range of external environmental conditions.
The prior art is replete with water distribution systems of various types. Generally, these are once-through systems where water is delivered from a water tank or other source to a user outlet facility such as a tap, but only when a user demand occurs. The path of water flow may include devices such a filters, water purifiers, or the like that are designed to improve the quality of water passing through.
It is also known in prior art water distribution systems to include a means for recirculating stored water for the purpose of aeration and to prevent stagnation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,337 granted to Deutsch on Sep. 27, 1994, discloses a system that may be selectively controlled to deliver water from a storage tank to a user outlet facility along a once-through path or, alternately, to recirculate water in a short loop that bypasses a substantial part of the path to facility.
Such systems fail to take full advantage of the benefits that can be achieved with devices such as air and water filters and water purifiers. Further, such systems typically will be quite sensitive to the temperature of the surrounding environment and incapable of operating in freezing temperatures for extended periods without external heating, for example, as is common with many aircraft water distribution systems.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a method of water distribution and water distribution apparatus that has reduced sensitivity to the temperature of the surrounding environment and that is capable of being operated at freezing temperatures or below for extended periods of time without the need for external heating.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of water distribution and water distribution apparatus that is able to improve the quality or impede the deterioration of water, including substantial reduction of organic and inorganic contamination in the system by way of water and air supplied to the system.
In a broad aspect of the method of the present invention, water is supplied to a water user outlet facility by maintaining a tappable flow of water in a recirculating loop that includes a pump that establishes the flow, a water delivery path that extends from the pump to the outlet facility, and a water return path that extends from the outlet facility back to the pump. The flow is permitted to be controllably tapped at the facility by a water user while directing any untapped portion of the flow into the water return path.
The system may include only a single water user outlet facility. However, more typically, it is contemplated that it will include a plurality of such facilities located at intervals around the recirculating loop. In such cases, a part of the water return path for all but the last facility in the loop will also be a part of the water delivery path for the one or more other facilities in the loop.
Two immediate advantages derive from such recirculation. Firstly, recirculation avoids stagnation and thereby impedes deterioration in the potability of the water. The formation of bacteriological colonies is deterred. Secondly, recirculation makes the recirculating loop and water within the loop less sensitive to the temperature of the surrounding environment. In this regard, it will be understood that the operation of the pump effectively adds energy to the system and inherently tends to maintain a continuous and uniform thermal level throughout the system. The added energy to a degree serves to balance heat energy loss to the surrounding environment. Thus, where water in a non-recirculating system will eventually freeze if the system is exposed for a sufficient length of time to freezing temperatures, it may be maintained in a liquid condition in the present system even though the water delivery path, the water return path, or parts thereof, may be so exposed for extended periods. Such avoidance of freezing may be achieved without the necessity to provide external heating for either the water delivery or the water return paths. Of course, there are limits depending upon the volume flow rate that can be maintained by the pump. Harsher environments may dictate a pump that is capable of adding more energy than a pump that would suffice for more moderate environments.
To make the system more adaptable to differing water usage rates, the pump is preferably a centrifugal pump that is driven by a substantially constant speed motor configured to provide a relatively constant discharge pressure over a broad range of water flow rates.
Advantageously, the recirculating loop may include a water purifier such as an ultraviolet lamp source to kill organic contaminants and to impart heat into the water, thus assisting in reducing the probability of freezing in harsh environments. The recirculating loop may also include a filter to remove inorganic material. Preferably, all such devices are located within the water delivery path of the loop and upstream from all water user outlet facilities. While such devices are generally well known in and of themselves, their effectiveness is enhanced by the present system because any given control volume of water may pass through the devices many times before it is ultimately tapped by a user.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the recirculating loop includes a water storage tank in which water is stored as a preliminary step. This embodiment is considered particularly suitable for mobile applications, and especially applications such as airborne applications where the system may be exposed to a wide range of environmental temperatures depending upon flight operations. In airborne operations, the system may be operated whether it takes operating power from the aircraft electrical system while in flight or from ground support facilities while on the ground with the aircraft engines shut down. It is noteworthy that since the water storage tank need not be pressurized as typical in conventional aircraft, it may be shaped or configured to take better advantage of available space within the contours of the aircraft hull.
In another embodiment of the present invention a storage tank is not included. Flow is maintained in the recirculating loop by adding make-up water into the loop to replace water tapped at the user facility or facilities. This embodiment is suited for stationary applications where water is drawn from an external source such as a domestic water supply utility.

Method of water distribution and apparatus therefor

International Water-Guard Industries, Inc.


Techniques are provided for maintaining the visibility of a priority page in the background of a software application window while simultaneously displaying unrelated content from a content tab. The content displayed in the content tab can be obtained from a web page. A user can resize or minimize the content tab, but the background priority page is always visible in the window. The priority page can be a friends lists displayed in the background of an instant messenger application. Content from a content tab is simultaneously displayed in the instant messenger window with the friends list.

The present invention relates to techniques for simultaneously displaying a background page and an interactive content page in an application window, and more particularly, to techniques for always displaying at least a portion of a background page in an application window while the application simultaneously displays content from a second content page.
The Internet offers various ways for users to communicate with other users, such as instant messaging. Instant messaging provides real-time communication between users within a closed community. Only registered users can send or receive messages via an instant messaging service. Users are required to sign in to the same system (or possibly the same server) with a pre-selected user name and password before sending messages.
An instant messaging software application typically allows a user to define a list of "friends" (i.e., other registered users with whom the user wishes to communicate) and to reject or ignore messages sent by other users. The list of friends is an important feature in an instant messaging application. A user can easily send an instant message to a friend in the friends list by clicking on that friend's username in the list. The friends list also indicates who is currently online and available to receive instant messages.
The list of friends is displayed when the user clicks a tab on the bottom of an instant messaging window. A user can click on other tabs at the bottom of the instant messaging window to view other web features. For example, clicking on a stock tab displays a list of current prices for a selected group of stocks. Clicking on a news tabs displays a list of hyperlinks to today's top news stories. The contents displayed in these other tabs is typically accessed from a web page.
The friends list is hidden when the instant messenger displays content from one of the other content tabs. As soon as the user clicks on one of these other content tabs, the user no longer has access to the important context of their friend's status. A user is therefore forced to choose between tracking the prices of their stocks and keeping an eye on their friends. For this reason, the features provided by these other tabs are greatly underutilized by IM users.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide techniques for making a friends list visible while a user in an instant messaging environment views the content of other tabs.

Techniques for simultaneously displaying a background page and an interactive content page in an application window