The present invention provides a single self-contained device for collecting, extracting, on-site testing, and transferring for forensic confirmatory analysis, a wide variety of substances including, but not limited to, drugs of abuse, explosives, weapons of mass destruction, food toxins and industrial wastes. Samples can be obtained from a surface by swabbing a suspect area or the testing of solid materials (pills, capsules, powders), air samples and biological and non-biological fluids by placing the substance in the device. The device includes a swab, a retention well including a wash, and analysis technologies that can be, for example, a lateral flow testing system. The swab is rinsed with a wash prior to testing thereby not compromising the chemistry of the detection technologies and allowing for a wide variety of applications under a number of field conditions. Also, the device is a single self-contained unit instead of having a separate reagent droppers or sprays, making it compact and easy to use. Moreover, the device is designed to not only collect and test samples but to seal the originally target analyte, not affected by testing procedures, in a specially designed cap for shipping under chain of custody documentation to a forensic laboratory for confirmatory testing.

The rapid and accurate detection of visible and invisible substances, including target molecules and microorganisms is critical for many areas of research, environmental assessment, food safety, medical diagnosis, air quality assessment, homeland security, illicit drug identification, and warfare. In fact, diagnostic assays of biological compounds have become routine for a variety of applications, including medical diagnosis, forensic toxicology, pre-employment, insurance screening, and foodborne pathogen testing.
Industrial demand for low-cost, sensitive, rapid assays with the potential for screening multiple analytes simultaneously or in rapid succession has caused the development of many testing systems and formats. Most systems can be characterized as having three key components: a probe that recognizes the target analyte(s) with a high degree of specificity; a reporter that provides a signal that is qualitatively or quantitatively related to the presence of the target analyte; and a detection system capable of relaying information from the reporter to a mode of interpretation.
To ensure accuracy, the probe (e.g., antibody or nucleic acid sequence) should interact uniquely and with high affinity to the target analyte, but be non-reactive to non-targets. In order to minimize false positive responses, the probe should be non-reactive with and have no cross-reaction to non-target analytes.
Often, a label is directly or indirectly coupled (conjugated) to the probe. The label provides a signal that is related to the concentration of analyte upon completion of the assay. Ideally, the a label is not subject to signal interference from the surrounding matrix, either in the form of signal loss from analyte extinction or by competition from non-specific signals (noise) from other materials in the system.
A detector is usually a device or instrument used to determine the presence of the reporter (and therefore the analyte) in a sample. Some devices utilize a detector that provides an accurate and precise quantitative scale for the measurement of the analyte. Other devices, such as rapid on-site tests, such as pregnancy tests, utilize a detection instrument that provides the test results as a qualitative (positive or negative) signal. This signal may be visual.
Immunochromatographic assays have been known in the art for some time. These include, but are not limited to, lateral flow tests (e.g., lateral flow strips), for detecting analytes of interest. A typical lateral flow test utilizes the concept of lateral liquid or suspension flow in order to transport a given sample to the test. The benefits of lateral flow tests include a user-friendly format, rapid results, long-term stability over a wide range of climates, and relatively low cost to manufacture. These features make lateral flow tests well-suited for applications involving drug testing in urine and saliva in the workplace or retail markets, rapid point-of-care testing in hospitals and doctor's offices, as well as testing in the field for various environmental and agricultural analytes.
Most lateral flow tests are directed to fluid samples and may require several separate materials or parts in a kit in order to perform and/or optimize detection of a target analyte. Current lateral flow tests require some means for collecting the sample and then a means of exposing the sample to probes specific to the target analyte. Urine samples for drug testing are normally collected into a container and then the lateral flow strip is dipped into the sample. The sample travels up the lateral flow strip and if a drug is present binds to available antibodies which causes a reaction that can be visually detected on the strip. Applying this technology to surface, air and fluid testing has been problematic resulting in cumbersome testing procedures that have limitations. For example, applying the sample to be tested directly to the lateral flow strip disturbs the flow of the materials on the strip and hence the results of the test. Applying the sample directly to the lateral strip also limits the areas available to be tested to clean dry areas where there no grease or other debris is present to interfere with the flow on the strip. Also, the material supplied to initiate the reaction, distilled water droplets from a separate water dropper, freezes and as such the test can not be performed in below freezing climates. Moreover, having a separate device for dropping water to initiate the lateral flow reaction is cumbersome, costly and difficult to use.
Additional materials that can be provided with the lateral flow test include a separate vial containing a buffer solution or water to start the lateral flow reaction, a wick to transport the sample to the test; a filtration material to remove unwanted particles; a conjugate release pad where the detection reagent(s) is immobile when dry but mobilized when wet; and a reaction matrix where the capture reagents are immobilized. Unfortunately, in all of these cases, at least two separate devices (i.e., one device for collecting the sample and another device for detecting target analytes) and multiple steps are required to perform the test. Our invention simplifies and improves upon the previous inventions in this field.
Further, lateral flow tests are frequently subject to flow problems due to the nature of the chemistry and flow of reagents and sample. Any alteration of the test strip can alter the dynamics of the chemistry and reaction of the strip in the present of a target analyte. These tests usually require complex, multipart assays performed on a series of overlapping pads of different types of materials aligned on a test strip. Problems arise from, for example, material incompatibility, contact issues, and imperfect material characteristics. Boundaries found between segments can adversely affect flow characteristics. Different materials may have widely different flow, or wicking, rates, which have different effects on molecules flowing through them. Other problems that exist include contamination of the sample by interfering materials in the matrix, by contact with collector/operator; insufficient sample size due to inadequate "washing"; and operator/collector error when utilizing devices that require multiple devices/parts and steps necessary to test a surface for a target analyte.
Thus, it would be desirable to have a single self-contained device for collecting, extracting, testing, and a system of shipping the original untested material under forensic chain of custody a sample collected from a surface, powder, pill or fluid or sample of air that is easy to operate and not limited by dirty, greasy or wet contaminates and is stable under a wide variety temperatures and field conditions. The subject invention solves the above limitations in a self-contained device by first collecting samples on a built-in, specially treated swab and then washing the target analytes off the swab into a temperature stable buffer solution prior to testing. This approach does not limit the type of sample tested as the target analyte does not overload or disrupt standard lateral flow technology and is applicable to a wide variety of analytes and detection technologies. While the subject invention has been optimized for the drugs of abuse market, it is not limited or intended to just testing for drugs of abuse and can be used to test for a wide variety of substances such as explosives, WMD's, food toxins and industrial waste in dusts, powders, air, biological and non biological liquids with the same basic device.

Devices and methods for the collection and detection of substances

University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.


An integrated circuit is provided for reducing scale of flip-flops which can be connected in the form of a shift register by the switching operation, in order to facilitate the test during the manufacture of an integrated circuit (gate array). One selector for switching a clock signal for the flip-flops to either of a system clock signal and a scan clock signal is provided not for each of the sequential circuits, but for each of the clock systems for these sequential circuits. In a case of a gate array, for example, this allows a reduction of three gates for each flip-flop to be realized.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an integrated circuit containing a scan circuit in which sequential circuits such as flip-flops are connected in the form of a shift register in order to facilitate the test during the manufacture.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the manufacture of an integrated circuit using a gate array, etc., it is required to conduct a test for determining whether or not a manufactured chip normally functions. However, the test pattern (inspection series) for an integrated circuit including sequential circuits (elements having memory functions) such as flip-flops and latches is complex and huge. Therefore, a scan pass method has been practically used in which the internal state is set and read out by switching sequential circuits to connect them in the form of a shift register and applying a scan clock signal only to these circuits. According to this method, it is easy to prepare a test pattern.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one portion of an integrated circuit using the scan pass method. In the figure, three flip-flops are shown in which the memory state is set and read out by a scan clock signal. Each of the flip-flops 60 includes a flip-flop main body 61 which is a D-type flip-flop, a data selector 62, and a clock selector 63. As is well known, a D-type flip-flop is a flip-flop which outputs from the Q output terminal the state of the data input terminal D at the time when a clock signal (rising edge) is input. The data selector 62 is a switch circuit by which the connection of the D terminal of the flip-flop main body 61 is switched to the data input terminal 64 in the primary operation (normal operation) of the integrated circuit, or to the scan-in terminal 65 for receiving the input from a flip-flop which is connected in the preceding stage in the read out operation (scan operation) wherein the flip-flops are connected during the test process in the form of a shift register to read out the memory contents. The clock selector 63 is a switch circuit which selects one of the system clock signal and the scan clock signal and supplies the selected clock signal to the clock (CK) terminal of the flip-flop main body 61. The switch operations of the data selector 62 and clock selector 63 are controlled by the same select signal from an LSI tester.
The system clock signal is a clock signal used in the normal operation, and applied to all circuits of the integrated circuit. Depending upon the configuration of the integrated circuit, there may be a case that the same clock signal is not applied to all circuits of the integrated circuit. Today, with the increased scale of integrated circuits, it has been popular that a plurality of system clock signals exit in an integrated circuit of one chip. On the other hand, the scan clock signal is a clock signal which is applied only to sequential circuits from which data must be read out during the test process as illustrated, and the same scan clock signal is applied to all circuits which are connected in the form of a shift register.
In a conventional integrated circuit such as shown in FIG. 1, all of the flip-flops which are to be connected in the form of a shift register are provided with the data selector 62 and the clock selector 63. These selectors may have a configuration such as shown in FIG. 3(A). When this configuration is realized by basic cells of a gate array, it is required to use three gates. Although only three flip-flops are shown in FIG. 1, the number of flip-flops which are subjected to the scan path method (or connected in the form of a shift register) in an actual integrated circuit amounts from several tens to several hundreds. When the selectors are provided for all of these flip-flops, a very large number of gates are required for performing the selection of clock signals, thereby developing a defect that the circuit configuration becomes large.

Integrated circuit containing scan circuit


The invention relates to a method for determining the rate of leakage on a non-rigid specimen, wherein the specimen is introduced to a film chamber which can be evacuated, having at least one wall region made of a flexible material and the pressure in the film chamber is reduced outside of the specimen. The pressure gradient within the film chamber outside of the specimen is measured. In order to increase the accuracy of the leak detection, an outer over-pressure is exerted on the flexible wall region during pressure measurement which exceeds the pressure in the film chamber and outside of the specimen and the pressure inside the specimen.

The invention relates to a film chamber and a method for detecting a leak on a non-rigid specimen, for example a food package. Non-rigid specimens have a flexible structure which yields upon variations in pressure. When the pressure differences between the inner pressure of the specimen and the ambient pressure are too great, there is a risk that the specimen ruptures or is at least damaged.

Film chamber and method for leak detection on a non-rigid specimen


A document analysis device (1) comprises a common assessment information selection unit (90) and an event impact analysis unit (100). The common assessment information selection unit (90) identifies information that matches second assessment information that appears in event-related documents which include descriptions concerning a designated specific event, from among first assessment information that appears in documents for analysis which include descriptions relating to items for analysis, and classifies the information thus identified as common assessment information. The event impact analysis unit (100) counts the number of times the common assessment information appears in the documents that are generated prior to the event occurring, and the number of times the common assessment information appears in the documents for analysis that are generated subsequent to the event occurring, and derives an index that denotes the impact of the specific event upon the documents for analysis, on the basis of the results of the counts thereupon.

These days, there is a need for analysis and evaluation of the impact made by a specific event designated by the user, such as an incident or an advertising campaign, on a subject of interest, for the purpose of marketing, public opinion survey, or the like. For example, let us assume that a user is interested in, as an analysis subject, "dieting effect of product X", and an incident relating to the product X has occurred (e.g., a scandal involving the manufacturer of the product X). In this case, there is a need for measurement by which what impact was made by the incident on a public image and evaluation of the analysis subject "dieting effect of product X" after the incident.
As existing methods for meeting such need, there are conventional technologies using an "assessment information extraction technique". Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose examples of "assessment information extraction technique". Here, "assessment information extraction technique" refers to a technology for extracting, from a document, an expression (hereinafter, referred to as "assessment information") indicating an evaluation (including a value judgment) described in the document and made by the author of the document. Furthermore, methods for grouping extracted assessment information into expressions indicating a positive evaluation, expressions indicating a neutral evaluation, and expressions indicating a negative evaluation have been published as the assessment information extraction technique.
Additionally, for example, Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose techniques in which the assessment information extraction technique disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 above is applied to a document set provided with their origination dates, such as blogs on the Internet. According to the techniques disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4, assessment information indicating a positive evaluation and assessment information indicating a negative evaluation that appear in the document set are extracted, then the number of appearances of these pieces of assessment information for each origination date is counted, and the temporal transition of the number of appearances is output as a graph or the like.
For example, the user can apply the techniques disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4 above to a document containing a description regarding an analysis subject (hereinafter, referred to as an "analysis subject document"), thus visualizing the change of the number of appearances of the assessment information for the analysis subject. Then, the user can analyze the visualized change of the number of appearances of the assessment information, thus carrying out investigation as to what impact that the event of interest has on the public evaluation on a given analysis subject.
Furthermore, if the user knows the date of the event of interest, the user can understand the increase and decrease in the amount of the positive assessment information or the negative assessment information contained in the analysis subject documents after that date, from the change in the number of appearances of the visualized assessment information. Specifically, to put it simply, if the amount of the positive assessment information has increased after the event, the user can judge that the evaluation on the analysis subject has changed in a favorable direction by that event. Conversely, if the amount of the negative assessment information has increased after the event, the user can judge that the evaluation on the analysis subject has changed in an unfavorable direction by that event. Additionally, the amount of increase in the positive assessment information or the negative assessment information indicates the magnitude of impact of the event. Thus, the user can judge, for example, the magnitude of impact and the direction of impact of the event, using the techniques disclosed in Non-Patent Documents 3 and 4.

Document analysis device, document analysis method, and computer readable recording medium


A device, system and method are configured to attach a printed display and a flag therewith to a fence, rail and the like. The disclosure includes a flat stock substrate defining a point of insertion for a free-end of a mast of the flag. Two cutout arms form an I beam cross-section with the substrate and extend backward from the substrate by twisting and hang perpendicularly on a top rail or a side of the fence, the cutout arms each configured at an elbow thereof to wrap around a portion of the fence and down over a side thereof. Two cutout legs extend backward from the substrate by twisting in an upward arc perpendicular to the fence rail and join with the mast through an end of each leg triangulated between the extended cutout arms. Multiple substrates and printed displays may be ganged on a single mast.

Signage during political campaign seasons, dot the American landscape. Pickets are placed on residential lawns and fence balustrades are covered with candidates' shingles and messages. Similarly, advertisers sometimes to want the shock value of additional signage during promotionals, sales and liquidations. However, commercial and local city laws and residential covenants and restrictions limit where signs may be placed at a business or on a homeowner's lawn.
While two-dimensional signage is helpful in getting a message across, three-dimensional advertisements provide another way of grabbing attention. Flags and or banners thus posted during political campaigns next to posters and placards help get the voter's attention. On the commercial side, billboards and signage including three-dimensional aspects or components are also effective in getting a consumer's attention. However, flags or banners require extra footprint on the political landscape or the commercially available space.
Furthermore, economies of scale are not favorable for three-dimensional signage due to transportation and manufacturing costs. Flat stock displays transport most easily because of the high density packaging. Also, flat stock displays are economically printed in large numbers. Three-dimensional signage on the other hand, lacks all the economies of two-dimensional signage but is more effective where cost and available advertising space is less an issue.
Flags or banners may be attached to signage with extra and discrete adapters but add cost to the complete advertising system not only in materials but also in installation and maintenance costs and assembly requirements. Integrating the cost and space benefits or two-dimensional signage with the advertising benefits of three-dimensional advertising thus comes at a price premium.
There is therefore a long felt for an integrated flat stock system which produces the effective advertising benefits of three dimensional systems having the production, installation costs and space benefits of two dimensional signage systems.

Flat stock device to attach a printed display and a flag therewith to a fence


An air compressor according to an embodiment, which includes a cylinder and a rotating body provided to be rotatable around a rotation axis in the cylinder so as to generate compressed air through intake and exhaustion caused by rotation of the rotating body, includes an intake valve. The intake valve takes air in the intake and exhaustion. The intake valve is provided in the cylinder.

Conventionally, there is known a camera that is provided in a vehicle so as to capture a vicinity of this vehicle. An image captured by this camera is, for example, displayed on a monitor for visibility auxiliary of a driver and used in sensing for detecting white lines on a road, an object approaching the vehicle, etc.
An extraneous matter such as a raindrop, a snowflake, dust, and mud is adhered to a lens of this camera to become an obstacle to the above visibility auxiliary and sensing, in some cases. Therefore, in recent years, there is proposed an extraneous-matter removing apparatus that ejects a compressed air toward the lens of the camera so as to remove the extraneous matter (see Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2014-037239, for example).
However, the aforementioned conventional technology has room for improvement in ensuring excellent air-compression performance by a simple configuration.
Specifically, in generating compressed air, there exists a case where an intake route as well as an exhaustion route is arranged on a aide of a nozzle for ejecting the compressed air in order to perform a series of cycles including intake and exhaustion, for example.
In this case, there exists a case where an intake valve and an exhaust valve are provided as check valves between a cylinder chamber, in which air is compressed, and the nozzle so as to prevent an extraneous matter other than air from entering therein from a nozzle side. In other words, the case is for preventing the extraneous matter from entering the cylinder chamber so as to prevent a malfunction and ensure the air-compression performance.
However, when the intake valve and the exhaust valve are provided between the cylinder chamber and the nozzle, a mechanism becomes complicated and further a passage resistance of air becomes large, and thus there exists a fear that an ejection force of the compressed air ejected from the nozzle is reduced by a pressure loss in the exhaust valve, for example.

Air compressor and extraneous-matter removing apparatus


Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for multilayered deception for intrusion detection. According to various embodiments of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a multilayer deception system includes honey servers, honey files and folders, honey databases, and/or honey computers. A multilayer deception system controller generates honey activity between the honey entities and exposes a honey profile with contact information associated with a honey user. Contact directed at the honey user and/or activity at any of the honey entities can trigger alarms and/or indicate an attack, and can be analyzed to prevent future attacks.

This application relates generally to network security. More specifically, the disclosure provided herein relates to multilayered deception for intrusion detection and prevention.
Computer attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Some attackers create attacks that operate over long periods of time and from multiple attack vectors. In some attacks, a computer intrusion is launched using a single event such as a phishing message or spear-phishing message to infect a computer of an employee or representative of a targeted organization. Thus, for example, attackers may send a phishing email or malware attachment to an employee of a company via email. When the employee opens or executes the mail or message attachment, the computer may be compromised and key loggers, viruses, worms, and/or other threats may be initiated at the target computer.
Detecting malicious activities, such as data exfiltration, can be a complex task that may require tracking network traffic data and/or log analysis. As mentioned above, the attacks sometimes can be initiated by a user clicking on a link or executable script or macro within a single email or message. As such, these and other types of threats sometimes are not detected until data has already been exploited by the attack. In other instances, the attacks are not detected until the attack has already ended.

Multilayered deception for intrusion detection and prevention


An unsupervised method is presented for determining size of an object captured in an image. The method includes: capturing a set of images with a camera, where each image in the set of images is captured with the camera set at a different f-number; for each image in the set of images, computing a quality metric for the image, where the qualitymetric quantifies focus using contrast; identifying a given image in the set of images using the contrast metrics and the f-number of the camera; calculating a hyperfocal distance using parameters of the camera when taking the given image; and quantifying one or more dimensions of the object as a function of the hyperfocal distance; and if the object is known, using a view classifier to estimate the dimension in 3D.

Unsupervised object size estimation using single camera view and no reference object is a very complex and uncommon task for computer vision systems. Despite the complexity of the problem, the information provided by the object sizing is useful in a variety of domains, such as video surveillance systems, medical images, and other kind of systems. Object profiling, object identification or object state recognition are examples of higher-level tasks that may rely on the object size information. There is a number of problems arising from the decision of using a single camera-based approach. However, it also presents a number of advantages.
In real world solutions, it is not always possible to have reference objects with known size.
Supervised methods require continuous interaction between the user and the system. In contrast, the advantage of an unsupervised method is to provide output without user intervention. Thus, there is a need for systems that provide an accurate and non-reference-based object sizing information without the use of a reference object.
Common state of the art solutions size objects by means of some external sensors or the interaction of multiple cameras. Current solutions that provide object size measurement are sometimes inaccurate or require a guide object with a known size to be precise.
Additionally, object size measurement is a complex task, and there are some issues that generally appear, for instance, the irregular shape of some objects, the occlusion that can suffer when the objects of interest are in realistic environments, lack of knowledge of the object's scale or the distance of the camera sensor to the object.
One approach is described in US Patent Publication No. 2007/0098251 which is a case of a single camera, no extra sensor and no reference algorithm. In this method, movement of the camera is essential to obtain the object distance which is a drawback because there are many scenarios where movement of the camera is not possible.
Another approach based on a single camera without external sensor and no reference object is described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2012/0274762. This method introduces a focus swept so as to keep away from the required movement of the camera to acquire two pictures to compute the size, but selecting two points of the image by the user is needed to measure the distance. Supervised sizing systems are generally at a disadvantage as compared to unsupervised systems.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2018/0336733 introduces an approximation that perform object detection combined with view detection and 3D reconstruction, however this proposal uses two cameras.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Unsupervised object sizing method for single camera viewing


An embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC), an electronic device equipped with an eMMC and an eMMC engineering board are disclosed. The eMMC includes an eMMC substrate plate, a plurality of solder balls and an eMMC chip. The solder balls are soldered to the eMMC substrate plate, and, one of the solder balls is designed as a security protection enable/disable solder ball. The eMMC chip is bound to the eMMC substrate plate, and, the eMMC chip has a security protection enable/disable pin electrically connected to the security protection enable/disable solder ball. The security protection enable/disable pin is internally pulled high by the eMMC chip when the security protection enable/disable solder ball is floating. When the security protection enable/disable solder ball is coupled to ground, the eMMC is protected from software-based attacks.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC), an electronic device equipped with an eMMC and an eMMC engineering board.
2. Description of the Related Art
A MultiMediaCard (MMC) is a flash memory card standard. An Embedded MultiMediaCard (eMMC) is an architecture having an embedded storage solution with an MMC interface, flash memory and controller, all packaged together.
Today, eMMC is commonly used in mobile devices (such as a mobile phone) for data storage. However, via vendor commands designed in eMMCs for failure analysis, malicious hackers may gain access to the eMMC for security data.
Thus, protecting the eMMC of a mobile device from malicious software-based attacks is an important issue.

Embedded flash memory card and electronic device using the same, and engineering board for embedded flash memory card


A memory card supporting near field communication through single wire protocol includes a power management unit, an interface control unit, a data storage unit, a power protection unit and an intelligent unit. The power protection unit is interposed between the power management unit and a near field voltage source of the near field communication unit to prevent short-circuit induced by direct connection there between. Moreover, direct connection between the power management unit and the intelligent unit can also be prevented, which can protect against bursts of excessive voltages or currents that may damage the data in the intelligent unit. Additionally, the power protection unit can prevent power leakage from the power management unit and the near field voltage source, which solves the problem of improperly driving near field communication or insufficient power supply to the interface control unit or intelligent unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a memory card used in near field communication through single wire protocol (SWP), and more particularly to a memory card that includes a power protection unit that prevents short-circuits and power leakage between a power management unit and the SWP connection points.
2. The Prior Arts
Mobile phones are widely used electronic devices. As technology advances, the mobile phone is provided with more functions such as voice recording, video recording, photo shoot, etc. To accommodate the increasing functions, adequate memory cards are also required for data storage in the mobile phone.
Digital wallets are also becoming increasingly popular, such as debit cards used for small amount payments. The debit card uses magnetic induction to proceed to near field communication. In particular, the card can include a chip that may be powered by an external near field communication device to proceed to storage, debit and like transactions.
In this context, a current trend is the development of near field communication (NFC) mobile phones that integrate near field communication functionality in the traditional mobile phone to proceed to small amount payments. To ensure that the consumer's data are kept safe, security components are required in the NFC mobile phones. Presently, the NFC mobile phone provided by the company Google uses a Single Wire Protocol (SWP) SIM card as the security component. However, banks cannot write personalized data in the SWP SIM card. Accordingly, memory cards supporting SWP are developed for use in NFC mobile phones.
However, the voltage supply of the memory card is usually connected directly with the power source of the electronic product, which may result in the near field communication chip being easily connected directly with the voltage source. As a result, short-circuits may occur, which may damage secure data and even damage the memory card or electronic product. Moreover, because the near field communication chip and the power source of the electronic product are directly conducting, power leakage may happen, which results in insufficient driving power and incapability of driving the near field communication or the memory card.
Therefore, there is a need for a design that prevents short circuit between the connection port of the near field communication chip and the power source, as well as power leakage.

Memory card supporting near field communication through single wire protocol


Disclosed is a disc brake capable of constantly maintaining the braking performance by preventing the eccentric abrasion of a pad upon the braking operation. The disc brake includes a disc rotating together with a wheel, inner and outer friction pads installed at both sides of the disc, respectively, a caliper housing supporting the outer friction pad, a wedge member installed at a rear side of the inner friction pad and formed at a rear surface thereof with an inclined surface, a support member fixed to the caliper housing and formed with an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surface of the wedge member, a driving device operating the wedge member for a braking operation, and a hinge unit for coupling the wedge member to the friction pad. The disc brake further includes an elastic member coupled to the wedge member and the friction pad while interposing the hinge unit therebetween.

1. Field
The disclosure relates to a disc brake employing an electric wedge brake (EWB) system for performing a braking operation by using a wedge member and a pad.
2. Description of the Related Art
A disc brake generates braking force by pressing a friction pad against an outer surface of a disc rotating together with a wheel. The disc brake includes an electronic wedge brake (EWB) that presses a friction pad against a disc by using a sliding type wedge member. For instance, the wedge member presses the friction pad against the disc while moving along an oblique side by a driving device.
The EWB includes a driving motor for driving the wedge member, a screw shaft coupled with a rotating shaft of the driving motor, and a pressing member coupled to the screw shaft such that the pressing member can move back and forth according to the operation of the driving motor to press the wedge member against the disc.
In such a disc brake, as the driving motor operates, the pressing member presses the wedge member against the disc, so that the friction pad makes contact with the disc. At the same time, the wedge member further presses the friction pad against the disc while moving along an oblique side, so that the braking action is achieved.
However, in this case, the moment is generated due to the friction so that the friction pad may be urged to the disc, thereby causing the eccentric abrasion to the initial contact part of the friction pad. If the eccentric abrasion occurs continuously, the braking performance of the EWB system may be degraded.


An apparatus for improving a golfer""s putting stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball. The apparatus enables the golfer to practice positioning his or hear head and feet in selected positions with respect to the golf ball and the line of intended ball travel, as well as the desired positioning of the putter, at the address position. The golfer can also practice the motion of the putting stroke according to either a xe2x80x9cstraight back/straight throughxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cinside the linexe2x80x9d stroke motion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a training device and method for practicing and improving skills in the game of golf. Specifically, the invention relates to putting, and to a device and method for training proper alignment and motion of the putter as well as proper head, foot and club positioning during the putting stroke.
2. Background Art
The game of golf is played by millions of people worldwide spanning all skill levels from beginner to expert. For most golfers, a great deal of practice is required to advance one""s skills. For many, a great deal of practice is required simply to maintain one""s current skill level. Throughout a round of golf, shots of varying distances are required, for which different golf clubs are used. A large subset, often more than half, of a golfer""s shots during any given round are hit with the putter, which is the golf club specially designed for use on or around the putting green. The golfer""s putting stroke is therefore an important part of the golfer""s game. Consequently, many golfers spend a great deal of time practicing their putting stroke.
Because of the popularity of the game and the need for intensive practice, many training devices exist to assist the player with developing and maintaining proper form in the golf swing, and specifically the putting stroke. A need exists, however, for a training device and method directed to training the golfer to maintain a desired alignment between the putter and the target throughout the putting stroke. Additionally, a need exists for a training device and method for teaching proper alignment and positioning of the feet, head and golf club during the putting stroke.
In accordance with the invention, as embodied and described herein, this invention, in one aspect, relates to an apparatus for improving a golf stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball by aligning a user""s eyes at an eye location point above the apparatus within a vertical plane that includes the golf ball and the line of intended travel. In this aspect, the invention includes a frame structure having a first support leg and a second support leg spaced from the first support leg. An eye alignment device, which is supported by the frame structure, includes a substantially linear top edge portion that is visible when viewed from the eye location point, and a tail portion spaced from the top edge portion and located within the same vertical plane as the top edge portion. When the user""s eyes are located within the vertical plane, the tail portion is obscured from view by the top edge portion, thus indicating that the user""s head is correctly aligned.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for improving a golf stroke by aligning a heel portion of a putter along a desired stroke plane that includes a horizontal line that is parallel to the line of intended travel of a golf ball along the ground. In this aspect, the invention includes a frame structure having a first support leg and a second support leg spaced from the first support leg. A putter alignment member, which is supported by the frame structure, has a first end affixed to the first support leg, a spaced second end affixed to the second support leg, and a substantially planar contact face for contacting the heel of the putter head. The contact face is oriented so that a horizontal line extending along the contact face is parallel to the line of intended travel of the golf ball. When the heel portion of the putter head is moved back and forth in a putting motion with the heel portion in contact with the contact face, the heel portion moves within a plane that is parallel to the contact face.
In yet another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for improving a golf stroke by allowing a golfer to align their feet with an intended line of travel of a golf ball along the ground. In this aspect, the invention includes a frame structure having a first support leg and a second support leg spaced from the first support leg. A stance alignment device, which is supported by the frame structure, includes a substantially linear foot reference indicator that is substantially parallel to the line of intended travel of the golf ball. The foot reference indicator extends between the first support leg and the second support leg of the frame structure.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for improving a golf stroke by imparting a force to a putter having a putter head and a connection location, the apparatus tending to maintain the putter head along a line of intended travel of a golf ball when the putter head is moved back and forth in a putting motion. In this aspect, the invention includes a frame structure having a first support leg attached to a first base member, and a second support leg spaced from the first support leg and attached to a second base member. A stroke resistance device, which is supported by the frame structure, includes a first resistance component and a second resistance component. The first resistance component has a fixed end and a variable end spaced from the fixed end, the fixed end being connected to the first base member at a first fixed point and the variable end being connected to the putter at the connection location. The second resistance component also has a fixed end and a variable end spaced from the fixed end, the fixed end being connected to the second base member at a second fixed point and the variable end being connected to the putter at the connection location. When the putter head is moved back and forth in the putting motion generally between the first fixed point and the second fixed point, at least one of the first or second resistance components imparts a tensile force to the putter head toward the respective first or second fixed points.
In a further aspect, the invention relates to an apparatus for improving a golf stroke along a line of intended travel of a golf ball by positioning a putter, the putter having a putter shaft connected to a putter head with a heel portion and a sole surface, so that the sole surface lies substantially flat upon the ground. In this aspect, the invention includes a frame structure having a first support leg and a second support leg spaced from the first support leg. A putter alignment member, which is supported by the frame structure, defines a substantially planar contact face oriented so that a horizontal line extending along the contact face is substantially parallel to the line of intended travel. A substantially linear shaft alignment device, which is also supported by the frame structure, is oriented substantially parallel to the line of intended travel. The shaft alignment device is attached to the frame structure at a selected location so that when the heel portion of the putter head is in contact with the contact face and the putter shaft is in contact with the shaft alignment device, the sole surface of the putter head lies substantially flat upon the ground.
Additional aspects of the invention are forth in the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.


An end fixing block fixed to one end in a length measuring direction of a frame body has a parallel plate spring mechanism capable of absorbing a thermal expansion of the frame body. The frame body has a plate spring mechanism which is provided at the end of the frame body fixed by the end fixing block, the plate spring mechanism being capable of absorbing a deflection of the one end of the frame body in a direction perpendicular to a direction to which the thermal expansion occurs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus having a detection head integrally formed with a frame body housing a main scale, wherein the detection head detects an amount of movement in a longitudinal direction on the basis of an amount of relative movement of an index scale that moves along the main scale, an end fixture therefor, and a fixing method using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a machine tool, an industrial machine, or the like, an apparatus for detecting a linear displacement of objects to be measured (moving members) that move relatively to each other is used for such as control. As such a linear displacement detecting apparatus, a unit-type linear scale is generally used in which an elongated frame body housing a main scale and a detection head housing a detecting portion such as an index scale capable of relatively moving with respect to the frame body are formed integrally.
In the unit-type linear scale, the main scale is generally incorporated in the frame body made of aluminum. The frame body 10 is directly fixed mainly to a stage-sliding portion of the machine tool, the industrial machine, or the like, with screws 12 at a plurality of positions, as shown in FIG. 6 (this type is referred to as a multi-position fixed type). Alternatively, the frame body 10 is fixed to the stage-sliding portion with the screws 12 mainly at both ends thereof via fixing blocks 14 for fixation, as shown in FIG. 7 (this type is referred to as a double-end fixed type).
However, the frame body 10 is made of aluminum, whereas a mating member to which the frame body is fixed is mainly made of iron, so that the following problem occurs due to the change in an ambient temperature.
Namely, as a generality, a coefficient of linear expansion of iron, of which the mating member is made, is 11xc3x9710xe2x88x926, whereas a coefficient of linear expansion of aluminum, of which the frame body 10 is made, is 23xc3x9710xe2x88x926 In the state in which aluminum is fixed to iron, the elongation of aluminum is restricted due to the difference in the coefficient of linear expansion, so that a thermal stress occurs. There is a possibility that deflection and torsion occur in the frame body owing to the thermal stress, and accuracy deteriorates as the main scale in the frame body conforms thereto.
In particular, with the double-end fixed type shown in FIG. 7, the structure is such that deflection or torsion is likely to occur in the frame body 10, so that the aforementioned tendency occurs noticeably.
FIG. 8 shows a fixing mechanism of the double-end fixed type shown in FIG. 7 and an example of the behavior the deflection of the frame body in the case where the ambient temperature has arisen. In FIG. 8, the frame body 10 and the fixing blocks 14 are completely joined with screws 16, and the fixing blocks 14 are fixed to a mating surface (iron) 8 with the screws 12 (see FIG. 7).
When the ambient temperature rises in this state, the frame body 10 tends to be elongated in the left-and-right direction in the drawing (this direction is set as a Z direction), and the amount of its elongation is greater than that of the mating surface 8. At this time, the frame body 10 is elongated relatively easily at the position in an upward direction of the drawing (this direction is set as a +Y direction) in the cross section of the frame body 10. However, the elongation of the frame body 10 in the downward direction of the drawing (this direction is set as a xe2x88x92Y direction) is restricted by the fixing blocks 14, and a thermal stress occurs. Furthermore, since the thermal stress is not a force uniformly distributed in the Y direction of the cross section, this thermal stress is converted into bending moment with respect to the cross section, so that the frame body 10 is curved in the +Y direction. When the ambient temperature has conversely dropped, the frame body 10 is curved in the xe2x88x92Y direction for the same reason.
When the frame body 10 is thus curved, the main scale inside it is also curved, resulting in the deterioration of accuracy. When the thermal stress exceeds the fastening forte with which the frame body 10 and the fixing blocks 14 are fastened, an offset in the joint occurs, so that the relative positional relationship with the mating member 8 changes. This constituted a factor of uncertainty of the origin, and caused the problem that the reproducibility of measured values with respect to the temperature deteriorates.
As a mechanism for absorbing such elongation of the frame body, JP-A-8-14819 discloses a technique in which an end fixture 18, such as the one shown in FIG. 9, is provided at each end. In this end fixture 18, important dimensions for determining the rigidity in the Z direction are t and L. It is necessary to make the dimension of L small in compliance with the demand in recent years for the compact size, and in order to reduce the occurrence of the thermal stress in that state, it is also necessary to make t small. In this case, it is impossible to obtain sufficient rigidity capable of withstanding external forces such as vibrations.
The invention has been devised to overcome the above-described conventional problems. It is an object to provide a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus capable of reducing an occurrence of a thermal stress by positively absorbing an elongation of a frame body due to a change in the ambient temperature while ensuring rigidity, an end fixture therefor, and a fixing method using the same.
To attain the above object, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus comprising: a frame body extending in a length measuring direction and housing a main scale; and a first end fixture fixed to one end in the length measuring direction of the frame body and having a parallel plate spring mechanism capable of absorbing a thermal expansion of the frame body, wherein the frame body has a plate spring mechanism which is provided at the one end of the frame body fixed by the first end fixture and which is capable of absorbing a deflection of the one end of the frame body in a direction perpendicular to a direction to which the thermal expansion occurs.
The above-described unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus preferably further comprises: a second end fixture fixed to another end in the length measuring direction of the frame body and having a parallel plate spring mechanism capable of absorbing the thermal expansion of the frame body.
In addition, the above-described unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus preferably further comprises: an intermediate-portion fixing block fixed to a substantially central portion in the length measuring direction of the frame body and having rigidity higher than that of the first end fixture.
In addition, to attain the above object, there is provided an end fixture for a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus for being fixed to one end in a length measuring direction of a frame body which houses a main scale and which extends in the length measuring direction, so as to fix the frame body to an object to be measured, comprising: a parallel plate spring mechanism capable of absorbing the thermal expansion of the frame body.
Furthermore, to attain the above object, there is provided a method of fixing a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus comprising the step of: fixing an object to be measured to a frame body which extends in a length measuring direction and which houses a main scale with a first end fixture fixed to one end in the length measuring direction of the frame body and having a parallel plate spring mechanism capable of absorbing the thermal expansion of the frame body.
The above-described method of fixing a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus preferably further comprises the step of: fixing the object to be measured to the frame body with a second end fixture fixed to another end in the length measuring direction of the frame body and having a parallel plate spring mechanism capable of absorbing the thermal expansion of the frame body.
The above-described method of fixing a unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus preferably further comprises the step of: fixing the object to be measured to the frame body with an intermediate-portion fixing block fixed to a substantially central portion in the length measuring direction of the frame body and having rigidity higher than that of the first end fixture.

Unit-type linear displacement measuring apparatus, end fixture therefor, and fixing method using the same


The present invention relates to an optical fiber and power line composite cable comprising a cable core comprising at least one power line unit including a conductor and an insulator surrounding the conductor and at least one optical fiber unit including an optical fiber and a tube accommodating the optical fiber, a protective metal layer surrounding the cable core, and having corrugations including corrugation peaks and corrugation valleys that are alternately formed and an outer coating layer surrounding the protective metal layer, wherein a relation shown by the following formula is satisfied Di<Dc≦Do assuming an external diameter of the cable core as Dc, an internal diameter of the corrugation peak as Do, and an internal diameter of the corrugation valley as Di.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber and power line composite cable that is installed in a section between base station equipment and an antenna included in a mobile telecommunication base station and that includes optical fiber units and power line units to transmit a mobile telecommunication signal and power, and more particularly, to an optical fiber and power line composite cable that includes a protective metal layer surrounding optical fiber units and power line units and that is capable of preventing the power line units or the optical fiber units from moving inside the protective metal layer when the optical fiber and power line composite cable is vertically installed, compared to the related art.
2. Background Art
In the case of conventional mobile communications, communication signal is transmitted to a base station from a backbone station of a telecommunication company or the like, and a radio-frequency (RF) signal is transmitted from a base transceiver station (BTS) of the base station via an antenna of the base station. A radio signal transmitted from a user's mobile phone is transmitted to the antenna of the base station, amplified through a tower mounted amplifier (TMA), and then supplied to the BTS. In this case, the base station, the TMA, and the antenna are connected via a coaxial feeder.
However, the longer the length of a cable, the greater signal loss in the coaxial feeder. When the antenna is installed at a tower having a height of several tens of meters, signal loss occurs in the coaxial feeder that connects the antenna and the base station installed on the ground. Since the signal loss occurring in the coaxial feeder causes a signal supplied from the base station to have an intensity that is less than signal intensity required in the antenna, the supplied signal attenuates. Thus, the supplied signal needs to be amplified by the degree to which the signal attenuates in the coaxial feeder, thereby causing additional power consumption. Also, since the intensity of a signal transmitted from a mobile phone to the antenna of the base station is relatively low, it is very difficult to transmit the signal to the BTS via the coaxial feeder causing high signal loss. Accordingly, it is necessary to install a TMA at an input unit of the antenna to amplify the attenuating signal. However, since the TMA consumes a relative large amount of power to amplify the signal, high costs are incurred to perform maintenance and repair, thereby lowering system efficiency.
A remote radio unit (RRU) has been introduced to compensate for the high power consumption and inefficient maintenance and repair of the telecommunication base station using the TMA. The RRU separates an RF unit (RU) from the conventional BTS, disposes the RU on a base station tower, and remotely controls the RU. Here, RRU equipment and the remaining BTS from which the RU is separated, i.e., a baseband unit (BBU), are connected via an optical cable in which signal attenuation hardly occurs, and a power supply cable is additionally used to supply power to the RRU. Also, since the RRU is installed on the base station tower together with the antenna of the base station, the length of the coaxial feeder that connects the antenna of the base station and the RU may be minimized and the TMA need not be installed. Thus, signal amplification need not be additionally performed for a signal that attenuates in the coaxial feeder, and the efficiency of maintenance and repair performed by the base station increases. Here, an optical fiber and power line composite cable manufactured by combining an optical cable and a power supply cable is used to minimize the number of cables to be installed.
As described above, when the optical fiber and power line composite cable is installed between base station equipment and the antenna of the base station in the mobile telecommunication base station to simultaneously supply power and an optical signal, a metal layer is formed to accommodate a cable core including optical fiber units and power line units of the optical fiber and power line composite cable. However, in the related art, the cable core is surrounded with a metal layer having no corrugations or a having a corrugated tape form. In this case, when the optical fiber and power line composite cable is vertically installed, the power line units or the optical fiber units are likely to move inside the metal layer.

Optical fiber and power line composite cable


A micromechanical yaw rate sensor includes a substrate and a rotationally oscillating mass having a rotationally oscillating mass bearing. The rotationally oscillating mass bearing includes a rocker bar, a rocker spring rod which resiliently connects the rocker bar to the substrate, and two support spring rods which resiliently connect, on opposite sides of the rocker spring rod, the rocker bar to the rotationally oscillating mass.

Micromechanical yaw rate sensors are used in the automobile sector, e.g. in ESP systems, for rollover sensing or for navigation purposes. The object of the yaw rate sensor is the correct measurement of the vehicle movement about an axis of rotation.
DE 10 2009 027 897 A1 discloses a micromechanical yaw rate sensor with a disk-shaped rotationally oscillating mass, which extends in the x-y plane defined by a chip substrate and which is caused to make a rotational oscillation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to said plane (z axis). The rotationally oscillating mass is connected via four springs to a hub. The springs are arranged in a circular central cut-out of the rotationally oscillating mass, into which the hub projects. The end of the hub that is directed counter to the rotationally oscillating mass is fixedly arranged on the substrate.
If, during a rotational movement of the oscillating body about the axis of oscillation, the yaw rate sensor experiences a rotation about a sensitive axis (e.g. x axis) of the yaw rate sensor, then Coriolis forces act on the axis of oscillation, which effect tilting of the oscillating body with respect to a surface of the substrate. The tilting of the rotationally oscillating mass can be detected capacitively with the aid of measuring electrodes and can be evaluated.
For reliable detection of the yaw rate, it is desirable with a low overall height to decouple the rotational oscillation transmitted to the rotationally oscillating mass by an oscillating drive from the tilting brought about by the Coriolis forces to the furthest possible extent.

Micromechanical yaw rate sensor and method for the production thereof


A device for delivering signatures (S) for a printing press (10) having a delivery device (50) having a plurality of sets (60a and 60b) of flies (58a, 58b, 58c, and 58d), with the flies (58a-d) each having a plurality of open pockets (26) disposed around the flies (58a-d), a device (62a and 62b) for stripping signatures (S) from the pockets (26) disposed between a pair of adjacent flies (58a and b, and 58c and d) in each set (60a and b) of the flies (58a-d), a device (76, 78, and 80) for adjusting the sets (60a and b) of flies (58a-d) and stripping devices (62a and b) in unison laterally across the delivery device (50), and a device (64 and 84) for modifying the lateral distance between adjacent sets (60a and b) of the flies (58a-d) and respective stripping devices (62a and b).

The present invention relates to devices for aligning flies in a printing press.
In the past, rotary flies having open pockets disposed around the flies have been utilized in printing presses to deliver signatures from a folder in a shingled configuration onto a conveyor belt. During this time, a leading edge of the signatures must be stripped from the pockets of the fly onto the conveyor belt, such as by fixed stripping devices. However, such signatures delivered from the folder may have varying widths, or may be passed to the flies at different lateral locations. Hence, it is necessary to adjust the flies in order to accommodate such varying incoming signatures.

Device for aligning flies for a printing press


A uniform enclave interface is provided for creating and operating enclaves across multiple different types of backends and system configurations. For instance, an enclave manager may be created in an untrusted environment of a host computing device. The enclave manager may include instructions for creating one or more enclaves. An enclave may be generated in memory of the host computing device using the enclave manager. One or more enclave clients of the enclave may be generated by the enclave manager such that the enclave clients configured to provide one or more entry points into the enclave. One or more trusted application instances may be created in the enclave.

Software applications may store sensitive data such as passwords, account numbers, financial and health records. Various safeguards may be used to protect such sensitive data, for example, a host operating system may prevent unauthorized users from accessing operating system resources, and the application may encrypt sensitive data, but the application has no safeguard against processes having higher privileges, including the host operating system itself. Secured execution technologies provide the capability to run applications without requiring trust in the system administrator or the system software itself, such as a host operating system or hypervisor. In order to do so, a secured execution technology may create an enclave—a protected environment in which the data within the enclave is isolated from the rest of the system. Code and data inside an enclave are not visible and cannot be manipulated by untrusted processes outside the enclave, and the only way to communicate from within the enclave with the unsecured environment outside the enclave is by sending and receiving messages.


A method is provided for transmitting messages between bus users that are each linked with a communication bus for the purpose of exchanging messages and with a diagnostic device for detecting the failure of the communication bus. In a diagnostic operation mode that is different from the normal operation mode, the bus user receiving the message is requested by the diagnostic device to output the message to the communication bus, thereby diagnosing a message transmission between two bus users.

The invention relates to a method of transmitting messages between bus users which are each connected with a communication bus for exchanging messages, and having a diagnostic device for a disturbance of the communication bus.
The necessity of mutually connecting several bus users, such as control units and sensors, increasingly exists in modern vehicles. Such control units are, for example, an electronic engine control and the control of an automatic transmission. In order to read out faults for such a control unit during a repair shop stay, it is known from German Published Patent Application DE 39 34 974 A1 to arrange a diagnostic bus as a diagnostic device in the vehicle. One bus line is used for the transmission of control signals and the other line is provided as a status line. This results in considerable constructive expenditures just for the diagnosis.
From German Patent Document DE 19837242 C, a method of the above-mentioned type is known, in the case of which a data transmission also takes place by way of a separate diagnostic bus in the event of a fault. The diagnostic bus represents a redundant data bus. As in German Patent Document DE 39 34 974 A1,considerable constructive expenditures are also required here. Furthermore, a possibly occurring fault, as a rule, cannot be seen in the data transmission because the diagnostic bus will then automatically "intervene". If, as in the case of German Patent Document DE 39 34 974 A1,the status of the transmitted message is checked, the status does not change in the event of a fault.
It is an object of the invention to provide a method of transmitting messages between bus users of a vehicle, which permits a reliable diagnosis of a disturbance in the data transmission, specifically in the case of a data transmission between two bus users, without any special expenditures.
This object is achieved by a method of transmitting messages between bus users which are each connected with a communication bus for exchanging messages, and having a diagnostic device for a disturbance of the communication bus, wherein in a diagnostic operating mode differing from the normal operation, for the diagnosis of a message transmission between two bus users, the bus user receiving the message is asked by the diagnostic device to output the message on the communication bus. Advantageous further developments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
In an operating mode which differs from the normal operation, using the diagnostic device, the bus user normally receiving the message can be caused, in a targeted manner, to output the message to the communication bus. If the bus user does not do so, or if the message is damaged, a disturbance is present. However, it can then not yet be determined where the disturbance is situated.
For localizing the source of the disturbance, a third bus user not participating in this message transmission in the normal operation, can be caused in the diagnostic operation to receive this message. The status of this message for the three bus users is subsequently read out. If the fault is present in the sender, the two receiving bus users have the same status ("no message present"). If the fault is in the receiver, the two receivers have different statuses.
The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for a bilateral message transmission. For messages which are transmitted in the normal operation between more than two bus users, in the operating mode differing from the normal operation, the addition of another bus user is no longer required. Here, it is sufficient for the status of this message to be read out for all bus users participating in this message transmission. A fault of the sender does not change the message status of the receivers. A fault in a receiver can be recognized by the different status of this receiver in comparison to the other receivers.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for transmitting messages between bus users

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A method for enhancing the lithium-ion capacity of a doped silicon carbide is disclosed. The method utilizes heat treating the silicon carbide in an inert atmosphere. Also disclosed are anodes for lithium-ion batteries prepared by the method.

The increased use of rechargeable batteries for portable electronics and electric vehicles motivates the need for smaller, lighter, safer, and more durable batteries (Goodenough, J. B. et al, Basic Research Needs for Electrical Energy Storage, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Department of Energy, 2007). The capacity of a lithium-ion battery is determined largely by its electrode materials, which are currently graphite for the anode and a lithium-metal-oxide (LiMO2, M=Co, Ni, Mn) or lithium-metal-phosphate (e.g., LiFePO4) for the cathode (Tarascon, J. M. et al., Nature 2001, 414, 359-367; Whittingham, M. S., Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 4271-4301). Among the many promising replacements for the anode, silicon has the highest theoretical capacity (4009 mAh/g), which corresponds to the maximum uptake of 21 Li per 5 Si atoms (Goward, G. R. et al., J. Alloys Compd. 2001, 329, 82-91). However, silicon suffers from a large volumetric expansion of up to 300% and amorphization during lithiation, which introduces challenges for its use as a stable battery anode upon repeated cycling (Ding, M. S. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 2001, 148, A1196-A1204; Liang, M. H. et al., J. Mater. Chem. 2009, 19, 5871-5878; Kim, T. et al., J. Power Sources 2006, 162, 1275-1281; Wang, W. et al., J. Power Sources 2007, 172, 650-658; Zhang, Y. et al., Electrochim. Acta 2006, 51, 4994-5000).
Another important factor for battery performance is the structure and composition of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on the electrodes. In the case of graphite, the SEI layer helps protect the electrode and electrolyte from degradation, but also can be deleterious by impeding lithiation processes (Peled, E. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 1979, 126, 2047-2051). Methods have been proposed to create an artificial SEI by depositing thin films of lithium-ion conducting materials, leading to modest improvements in capacity and increases in battery lifetime (Kim, Y. J. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 2003, 150, A1723-A1725; Fey, G. T. et al., J. Power Sources 2009, 189, 837-840; Li, G. et al., J. Power Sources 2008, 183, 741-748; Ren, M. et al., J. Phys. Chem. C 2008, 112, 5689-5693; Vidu, R. et al., Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2004, 43, 3314-3324; Wang, Z. X. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 2002, 149, A466-A471; Jung, Y. S. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 2010, 157, A75-A81).
Composite materials hold promise for next generation lithium-ion battery anodes. In particular, silicon-carbon composites are now commonly explored as anode materials because the Si component can provide a significantly enhanced capacity, while the C component can act simultaneously as an active electrode and an electronic bridge between the particles (Liu, W. R. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 2005, 152, A1719-A1725; Ng, S. et al., Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 6896-6899; Kim, H. et al., Nano Lett. 2008, 8, 3688-3691; Wang, W. et al., ACS Nano 2010, 4, 2233-2241; Cui, L. et al., Nano Lett. 2009, 9, 3370-3374; Chou, S. et al., Electrochem. Commun. 2010, 12, 303-306; Chan, C. et al., ACS Nano 2010, 4, 1443-1450; Winter, M. et al., Monatsh. Chem. 2001, 132, 473-486; Zhao, C. et al., Adv. Energy Mater. 2011, 1, 1079-1084). Architectures of Si and C that concurrently provide high capacity and long lifetime are therefore of great interest to the lithium battery community (Krishnan, R. et al., Nano Lett. 2010, 11, 377-384). On the other hand, silicon carbide (SiC) is an inert refractory material that is not traditionally viewed as a promising candidate for Li-ion battery electrodes (Capitani, G. C. et al., Am. Mineral. 2007, 92, 403-407). For example, SiC has been identified as the inactive matrix in Si—SiC "active-inactive" composite anodes in previous Li-ion battery studies (Kim, S. et al., J. Power Sources 2004, 130, 275-280).
In recent years, 6H-SiC (space group P63mc) has received increased interest as a substrate for epitaxial growth of graphene (Yu-Ming, L. et al., IEEE Electron Device Lett. 2011, 32, 1343-1345; Kedzierski, J. et al., IEEE Trans. Electron Devices 2008, 55, 2078-2085; Zhou, S. Y. et al., Nat. Mater. 2007, 6, 770-775; Emtsev, K. V. et al., Nat. Mat. 2009, 8, 203-207). In particular, it has been found that high temperature annealing of SiC (0001) leads to the formation of epitaxial graphene at the surface (EG/SiC) with low defect density and superlative performance in high frequency electronic devices. The interface between epitaxial graphene and the underlying SiC substrate is carbon-rich and possesses a surface reconstruction designated as (6√3×6√3)R30°; Berger, C., J. Phys. Chem. B 2004, 108, 19912-19916; Berger, C. et al., Science 2006, 312, 1191-1196; Emtsev, K. V. et al., Phys. Rev. B 2008, 77, 155303). Recent studies of epitaxial graphene on SiC, where Li is vapor deposited on the surface, have shown evidence for Li diffusion through graphene into the subsurface (6√3×6√3)R30° region leading to Li—Si bonding (Virojanadara, C. et al., Phys. Rev. B 2010, 82, 205402). It has also been shown that Li can be ion implanted into SiC interstitial sites, and the Li diffusion constants have been measured (Virdis, S. et al., ISOLDE Collaboration, J. Appl. Phys. 2002, 91, 1046-1052; Linnarsson, M. K. et al., Mater. Sci. Eng., B 1999, 61-2, 275-280)
It is therefore desirable to provide a method for substantial enhancement of the electrochemical lithiation capacity of traditionally inert SiC via surface graphitization.

Method of enhanced lithiation of doped silicon carbide via high temperature annealing in an inert atmosphere


A processor includes a register set, at least one execution unit that executes load instructions to transfer data into the register set, a load queue and associated queue management logic. The load queue contains a plurality of entries that each include a reservation valid field, and each of the plurality of entries is associated with a respective one of a corresponding plurality of load instructions that includes at least one load-reserve instruction. In response to execution of the load-reserve instruction, the queue management logic detects whether a data hazard exists by reference to the load queue, and if so, initiates correction of the data hazard. In addition, the queue management logic records a reservation for the load-reserve instruction by setting the reservation valid field of an entry in the load queue associated with the load-reserve instruction. Thus, the load queue, which is utilized to detect and correct data hazards resulting from out-of-order execution of load instructions, is also advantageously utilized to manage reservations.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to data processing and, in particular, to processing load-reserve and store-conditional instructions within a processor. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to an out-of-order execution processor that simplifies the use of reservations by validating reservations by reference to a load reorder queue.
2. Description of the Related Art
In shared memory multiprocessor (MP) data processing systems, each of the multiple processors in the system may access and modify data stored in the shared memory. In order to synchronize access to a particular granule (e.g., cache line) of memory between multiple processors, load-reserve and store-conditional instructions are often employed. For example, load-reserve and store-conditional instructions have been implemented in the PowerPC(trademark) user instruction set architecture (UISA) with opcodes associated with the LWARX and STWCX mnemonics, respectively.
In typical shared memory MP data processing systems that support load-reserve and store-conditional instructions, each processor within the system is equipped with a special-purpose reservation register. When a processor executes a load-reserve to a memory granule, the processor loads some or all of the contents of the memory granule into one of the processor""s internal registers and the address of the memory granule into the processor""s reservation register. The requesting processor is then said to have a reservation with respect to the memory granule. The processor may then perform an atomic update to the reserved memory granule utilizing a store-conditional instruction.
When a processor executes a store-conditional to a memory granule for which the processor holds a reservation, the processor stores the contents of a designated register to the memory granule and then clears the reservation. If the processor does not have a reservation for the memory granule, the store-conditional instruction fails, and the memory update is not performed. In either case, a condition register bit is set to indicate whether or not the store-conditional was successful. In general, the processor""s reservation is cleared if a remote processor requests exclusive access to the memory granule for purposes of modifying it (the request is made visible to all processors on the shared bus) or the reserving processor executes a store instruction targeting the reserved memory granule. If only one reservation is permitted per processor, a processor""s current reservation will also be cleared if the processor executes another load-reserve instruction.
The present invention recognizes that reservation management as described above has traditionally been handled by a special-purpose reservation register and associated register management logic. The use of this special-purpose structure complicates processor design, data flow, and verification. Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved processor and method for handling reservations that simplifies processor design, data flow, and verification.
In accordance with the present invention, a processor includes a register set, at least one execution unit that executes load instructions to transfer data into the register set, a load queue and associated queue management logic. The load queue contains a plurality of entries that each include a reservation valid field, and each of the plurality of entries is associated with a respective one of a corresponding plurality of load instructions that includes at least one load-reserve instruction. In response to execution of the load-reserve instruction, the queue management logic detects whether a data hazard exists by reference to the load queue, and if so, initiates correction of the data hazard. In addition, the queue management logic records a reservation for the load-reserve instruction by setting the reservation valid field of an entry in the load queue associated with the load-reserve instruction. Thus, the load queue, which is utilized to detect and correct data hazards resulting from out-of-order execution of load instructions, is also advantageously utilized to manage reservations.
All objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.

Processor and method having a load reorder queue that supports reservations

International Business Machines Corporation


A tool is provided for preforming a metallic starter tube section for subsequent internal high pressure forming in order to produce a tubular IHF-component. The tool includes a plurality of tool sections that can move relative to one another and that delimit, between them, a shaping cavity for receiving and forming the starter tube section. The cavity has a contour which is both derived from the shape of the IHF component to be produced and adapted to the circumference of the starter tube section to be formed, such that each cavity cross section perpendicular to a cavity longitudinal axis predefined by the starter tube section corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the IHF component cross-section in the same position, reduced in its cross-sectional circumference to exactly the circumference of the starter tube section. A method is provided for producing such a tool, and a method is provided for producing a tube-like IHF component using such a tool.

The invention relates to a tool for preforming a metallic starter tube section for subsequent internal high pressure forming.
The invention also relates to a method for producing such a tool.
The invention further relates to a method for producing a tube-like component by internal high pressure forming.
In internal high pressure forming (IHF), an essentially metallic tube, referred to below as the starter tube section, is formed into a tube-like component (IHF component) by the application of a high internal pressure. The expression "a tube" is generally understood to denote a longitudinally extending hollow body having a closed tube casing made from a metallic material. The starter tube section is inserted for this purpose into the cavity (engraving) of a shaping IHF tool and is opened out essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis by use of a fluid (e.g. a water/oil emulsion) introduced into the interior, wherein the tube casing of the starter tube section is pressed against the cavity wall and is shaped accordingly in the process.
Frequently, and in particular in the case of a complex shape of the IHF component, preforming is initially necessary, wherein a preformed starter tube section for the subsequent internal high pressure forming is produced from the starter tube section in the IHF tool. Preforming has a considerable influence on the following internal high pressure forming and on the quality of the IHF component.
Various procedures and apparatuses for preforming are familiar from the prior art, in respect of which reference is made to patent specifications DE 10 2006 028 099 A1, DE 101 48 451 C2, DE 199 46 010 B4 and EP 0 195 157 B1.
The object of the invention is to provide a tool for preforming a metallic starter tube section, which permits an optimal distribution of the tube material with a view to subsequent internal high pressure forming. The object of the invention is further to provide an optimized method for the production of a tube-like IHF component.
This and other objects are achieved by, in accordance with embodiments of the invention, providing a tool for preforming a tube for subsequent internal high pressure forming, and methods for producing such a tool and for producing an internal high pressure formed component.
A tool according to the invention for preforming a metallic starter tube section for subsequent internal high pressure forming for the production of a tube-like IHF component has a plurality of tool components with the ability to move relative to one another, which between them delimit (at least) one cavity for receiving and forming the starter tube section. According to the invention, it is proposed that the cavity has a contour which is both derived from the shape (or geometry) of the IHF component to be produced and is adapted to the circumference of the starter tube section to be formed, such that each cavity cross section of this cavity perpendicular to a cavity longitudinal axis predefined by the starter tube section conforms to the cross-sectional shape of the IHF component cross section in the same position (relative to the longitudinal axis), reduced in its cross-sectional circumference to exactly the circumference of the starter tube section.
In other words, this means that the cross-sectional shape of each cavity cross section, along a cavity longitudinal axis predetermined by the starter tube section, corresponds to the reduced cross-sectional circumference of the cross section of the IHF component in the same position or in the same location relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cross-sectional circumference of each cavity cross section in each case conforms exactly to the circumference of the starter tube section, however.
The cross-sectional geometry of a cross section consists essentially of the shape or the cross-sectional shape and the circumference or the cross-sectional circumference, from which an appropriate area or cross-sectional area results.
The cavity of the tool according to the invention has a cavity longitudinal axis that is predetermined by the starter tube section, wherein the cavity longitudinal axis is essentially identical to the longitudinal axis of an inserted starter tube section. It is proposed according to the invention that the respective cavity cross section at every point or at every location on this cavity longitudinal axis exhibits a reduced cross-sectional shape of the IHF component to be produced relative to an IHF component cross section at the same point on the longitudinal axis, wherein the respective cross-sectional circumference corresponds exactly to the circumference of the starter tube section, however. The circumference of the starter tube section thus determines at each point the scaling factor for the reduction of the cross-sectional shape of the respective IHF component cross-section (in which case the scaling factor must be ≤1). Compared with the IHF component to be produced or compared with the cavity of the shaping IHF tool, the cavity of the tool according to the invention thus exhibits a variable offset along its cavity longitudinal axis, wherein the respective offset dimension is obtained from the scaling factor.
Each cross section of a starter tube section that has been preformed with this tool has the same distance or a constant distance to the cavity wall of the IHF tool along its circumference in the course of subsequent internal high pressure forming inside an IHF tool. In the course of internal high pressure forming, viewed over the circumference, an approximately uniform forming and stretching of the tube material and thus an excellent material utilization is achieved in this way. This gives rise to many advantages for the IHF process and for the properties of the IHF component. For example, the IHF component that has been produced in this way essentially exhibits a uniform wall thickness.
The preforming of a starter tube section that is present inside the cavity of the tool according to the invention takes place in particular such that at least one of the parts of the tool is displaced relative to at least one of the other parts of the tool. The design features according to the invention for the cavity relate primarily to a final shaping state of the cavity at the end of the forming process, wherein the parts of the tool in particular exhibit the smallest possible distance to each other. The contour of the cavity (or the cavity contour) can be defined as the totality of the geometrical design features of the cavity wall.
Since the cross-sectional circumference of each cavity cross section on the cavity longitudinal axis corresponds exactly to the circumference of the starter tube section, defined, accurate and compression-free forming or preforming of the starter tube section takes place at every point. Indefinite forming is avoided. With regard to the subsequent internal high pressure forming, a starter tube section that has been preformed with the tool according to the invention exhibits an essentially optimal preform and, associated therewith, optimal distribution of the tube material.
It is proposed that the tool according to the invention is preferably a press-based tool having a tool lower part and having a tool upper part that is capable of movement relative thereto. The tool can be opened and closed by raising and lowering the tool upper part. Forming or preforming of a starter tube section that is present inside the cavity is effected by the application of a pressing force, with the tool closed, in conjunction whereby the starter tube section assumes the preform that is predetermined by the contour of the cavity.
A method according to the invention for producing a tool according to the invention for preforming a metallic starter tube section for subsequent internal high pressure forming comprises essentially the following steps:
a.) provision of the geometrical data determining the shape (overall shape) of the IHF component to be produced or alternatively the geometrical data of the cavity of the IHF tool;
b.) determination of the circumference and, if necessary, the cross-sectional shape of the starter tube section to be used, for which purpose, for example, the smallest cross section of the IHF component is considered and, on the basis of its cross-sectional circumference, in particular less 3%, the circumference of the starter tube section is determined;
c.) calculation of the contour of a shaping cavity required for the preforming of the starter tube section by use of guide sections, for which purpose transverse sections are produced initially along the longitudinal axis of the IHF component (or alternatively along the longitudinal axis of the cavity of the IHF tool), and these are then reduced or scaled respectively in respect of their circumference to the calculated circumference of the starter tube section, wherein the guide sections obtained in this way can subsequently be brought together, in order to determine the contour of the cavity therefrom; and
d.) manufacture of the tool with a cavity exhibiting this contour.
This method can include further steps and/or intermediate steps. It is proposed that steps a., b. and c., in particular being automated, are preferably executed with a CAD program or the like, that is to say with the help of computer equipment.
A method according to the invention for producing a tube-like IHF component by internal high pressure forming comprises at least the following steps:
a.) provision of a starter tube section, being in particular a starter tube section having a defined axial length cut to length from a semi-finished product;
b.) preforming and, in particular, kink-free preforming of the starter tube section in a tool according to the invention for preforming; and
c.) internal high pressure forming of the preformed starter tube section in an IHF tool.
The individual steps and the devices or tools used for that purpose are matched to one another. The proposed method can include further steps and/or intermediate steps, of which a number are explained in more detail below.
It is proposed that the starter tube section is preferably pre-bent in a step preceding the preforming operation, essentially without changing any cross section. The bending or pre-bending leads to a tool longitudinal axis having an uneven and preferably complex, although in particular kink-free, spatial course, which corresponds in particular at least approximately to the IHF component to be produced (as illustrated, for example, in EP 0 195 157 B1). The pre-bending also serves to ensure, among other things, that, for the purpose of its preforming, the pre-bent starter tube section can be inserted in line with the shape into the cavity of the tool.
The starter tube section is preferably produced from an aluminum material or a steel material. However, the starter tube section can also be produced from other materials (e.g. brass).
The starter tube section preferably exhibits a circular or oval cross section or a circular or oval cross-sectional shape (in relation to the external shape). The starter tube section can also exhibit other cross-sectional shapes (for example a polygonal shape).
It is further proposed that, in conjunction with internal high pressure forming in the IHF tool, different degrees of circumferential stretching due to plastic material deformation are achieved preferably over the longitudinal axis of the preformed starter tube section, which in particular lie in a range between 3% and 10%. Typically, the circumferential stretching may be greater at the ends of the tube and may have a value of up to 10% at that point, whereas the smaller circumferential stretching in the central sections of the tube should have a value of at least 3%. Forming without heat treatment is possible, in particular in combination with the previously mentioned materials, in the case of circumferential stretching in the aforementioned region. Deformation with a tool according to the invention makes higher circumferential stretching or circumferential enlargement possible to some extent in conjunction with internal high-pressure forming, depending on the nature of the material, than with the procedures that are familiar from the prior art.
The preformed starter tube section is preferably inserted into the cavity of the IHF tool in such a way that it exhibits the same distance to the cavity wall of the IHF tool over the respective cross-sectional circumference at every point on its longitudinal axis, i.e. in such a way that it is surrounded by a gap of uniform width, wherein the distance or the width of the gap may vary depending on the position of the respective cross section on the longitudinal axis. As already described above, approximately uniform forming and thinning due to stretching of the tube material, associated with excellent material utilization, are obtained as a result when observed over the circumference, in conjunction with internal high-pressure forming. The IHF tool can exhibit suitable positioning elements.
The IHF component to be produced is, in particular, a motor vehicle component, in particular such as a body component (for example, an internal reinforcement part) or an axial part (for example, a longitudinal member or a transverse member). There is thus a preference for both a tool according to the invention for preforming and a method according to the invention for producing a tube-like IHF component to be used for producing a motor vehicle component.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Tool for preforming a tube for subsequent internal high pressure forming, as well as a method for producing such a tool and for producing a component by internal high pressure forming