This invention relates to an improvement of a high power mos device which includes a plurality of power MOSFETs whose drain regions and source regions are respectively connected in common with each other and respectively receive on-off control voltages to the respective gate regions, and circuits for generating the control voltages. When short-circuiting occurs between the gate and the source in either of these power MOSFETs, a gate current detection and interruption circuit is inserted between a control voltage source and the gate so as to interrupt the supply of the control voltage to the gate. With such an arrangement it becomes possible to dissolve adverse effect due to the short-circuiting between the gate and the source, which was not possible in the prior device of this kind, and to improve the reliability of the monolithic power MOSIC device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high power MOS device composed of a plurality of elemental MOS FET's, and more particularly to a monolithic MOS integrated circuit for high power driving (referred to as a high power MOSIC hereinafter) of the kind equipped with protective means against abnormality condition such as overcurrent.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The high power MOSIC is being used widely for ignition control Or brake control of motor vehicles for the reason that it makes the driving and switching of a large current possible, and it is playing an important role for realization of an electronic control system of motor vehicles. A high degree of reliability is fundamentally demanded of the control system for motor vehicles in order to prevent personal accidents. Accordingly, the reliability requirement for each of the electronic components that constitute the electronic control system is severe.
While the required level of reliability is high as mentioned above, the operating environment of the high power MOSIC is a harsh one which is accompanied by variations in the operating voltage caused by electromagnetic induction, variations in the constants of the load, variations due to changes in the temperature, and the like. For these reasons, such a high power MOSIC normally has a built-in protective circuit against these various kinds of variations. Namely, such a high power MOSIC has within the IC sensors which respectively detect an overcurrent in the electronic circuit caused by a short-circuiting generated on the part of the load, an overvoltage accompanying an external electromagnetic induction, and an overheated state of the MOSIC itself, and is so constructed as to prevent the breakdown of the chip as a whole by temporarily suspending the operation of the high power part of the MOSIC in response to the output of these sensors.
The protective circuit disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,390 entitled "Integrated Circuit Power Timer", for example, uses a power MOS FET constructed by connecting a large number of MOS FET's in parallel and detects an overcurrent with one of the large number of MOSFETs that are connected to a load in common, and prevents the breakdown of the MOSIC due to an overcurrent and an overtemperature by reflecting the allowable upper limit of the temperature of the MOSIC chip on a reference voltage which is the comparative object with the output of the MOSFET for overcurrent detection. However, in spite of the fact that such a circuit construction can appropriately detect an overcurrent that is caused by the load alone and lead to the interruption of Operation of the high power MOSFET part, the driving of the high power MOSFET part becomes impossible if a short-circuiting is generated between the gate and the source in one or several units of the parallely-connected large number of MOSFETs. As shown in the specification of the U.S. Patent, the high power MOSFET is normally constituted of parallel connection (the so-called multicell construction) of a large number of MOSFETs each of which consisting of the mutually isolated regions of source, drain and gate, instead of being constituted of a single FET. The reason for doing so is that it is effective for reducing the on-resistance by maintaining the advantages of the MOSFET, namely, a large gain, a high input impedance, facility of securing the balance in the parallel connection state, and the like. However, when a large number of gate electrodes are commonly connected with each other as described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent in order to realize the multicell structure, the on-off control of the load current becomes impossible if a short-circuity is generated between the gate and the source.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a power MOS device composed of a large number of MOS FET's connected in parallel, which maintain its operation even if gate-source short-circuiting is produced in a part of the large number of MOS FET's.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a monolithic power MOSIC including a power MOSFET part of multicell structure which is substantially free from the influence of short-circuiting between the gate and the source of the power MOSFET part.

High power MOS device with protective circuit against overcurrent or the like


A method for sensing analyte. The method includes the steps of sensing one or more parameters in reaction to the presence of one or more analytes and outputting a current therefrom in accordance with level of the sensed parameter by each of a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being provided in one or more sensor array columns, selectively heating one or more of the sensor array columns by a heating element, and receiving an output current from one of the plurality of sensors from each of the plurality of sensor arrays by a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) arranged in a VCO array. The method further includes the steps of generating an output oscillation frequency by each VCO in accordance with the level of the received output current, and counting a number of oscillations over a predetermined time received from each of the plurality of VCOs in the VCO array by a plurality of counters arranged in a counter array.

There are a wide variety of sensor technologies available. While many of these technologies may be used to sense one or more gasses, each comes with one or more drawbacks or tradeoffs as compared with the present invention, most are not suitable for wide-spread portable applications for a variety of reasons. Many sensors are physically too large for portability. Others consume too much power to be reasonably operated by a battery. Others operate at very high temperatures making them difficult to use in portable applications. Still others are too expensive for wide-spread use, and many require training to use properly. A survey of existing mainstream sensor technology is outlined below.
Chromatography
A chromatograph is an apparatus that separates a complex mixture into individual components. A mixture of gas components is injected into a chromatograph column, where the components travel down the column at different rates, reaching the end of the column at different times. A detector is positioned at the end of the column to quantify the concentrations of individual components of the mixture as they reach the end of the column.
The apparatus used in gas chromatography consists of four basic components: (1) a carrier-gas supply and flow controller, (2) a sample inlet system providing a means for introduction of the sample, (3) the chromatographic column and associated column oven, and (4) the detector system. The column is the heart of the gas chromatograph. Typically the column is a glass or metal tube of that is 6 to 13 mm in diameter and 1 to 2 meters in length. The chromatic column is filled with a carrier gas, most commonly nitrogen or helium, though other gases such as carbon dioxide, argon, xenon, and hydrogen are occasionally used.
The detector produces a response that is proportional to component that is separated by column and is located at the end of the column. Different detectors may be utilized dependent upon the analyte of interest. Any one of many different types of detectors could be used, such as an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS), mass spectrometer, photo ionization detector (PID), flame ionization detector (FID), thermal conductivity detector (TCD), electron capture detector (ECD), flame photometric detector (FPD) or far UV absorbance detector (FUV).
Chromatography is a well known and accurate technique for identifying constituents in a gas mixture. However, these units tend to be large and expensive, and specialized training is required to use them effectively.
Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS)
The gaseous sample to be analyzed enters a spectrometer, where it is ionized by a radioactive source. The resulting positive and negative charged species are then accelerated over a short distance and the time-of-flight is determined. The IMS differs from mass spectrometer in that it operates under atmospheric conditions and does not need large and expensive vacuum pumps. Because of this, IMSs can be miniaturized.
Like Chromatography, IMS is well know and accurate. However, IMS units are large and expensive, and require trained personnel to make a measurement.
Mass Spectrometry
The principle of the mass spectrometer is similar to the ion mobility spectrometer, except a vacuum is required. The sampled gas mixtures are ionized, and charged molecular fragments are produced. These fragments are sorted in a mass filter according to their mass to charge ratio. The ions are detected as electrical signals with an electron multiplier or a Faraday plate. Low mass ions are displayed as a vertical line at the left end of a scale while heavy ions are displayed towards the right. The length of a line represents the quantity of that ion in the gas mixture.
Mass Spectrometry is well know and accurate. However, IMS units are large and expensive, and require trained personnel to make a measurement.
Electrochemical Sensors
There are a wide variety of electrochemical sensors, which can be classified in two basic groups called potentiometric, in which a voltage measured and amperometric, in which a current is measured. These sensors consist of a casing that contains a collection of chemical reactants (electrolytes or gels) in contact with the surroundings through two terminals, an anode and a cathode. For gas sensors, the top of the casing has a membrane which can be permeated by the gas sample.
The presence of the gas to be detected causes oxidization to take place at the anode and reduction to take place at the cathode. A current is created as the positive ions flow to the cathode and the negative ions flow to the anode. Gases such as oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and chlorine, which are electrochemically reducible, are sensed at the cathode while electrochemically oxidizable gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide are sensed at the anode. Potentiometric measurements are performed under conditions of near-zero current. Amperometric sensors are usually operated by imposing an external cell voltage sufficiently high to maintain a zero oxygen concentration at the cathodic surface. Sensitivity of amperometric sensors is generally better than potentiometric sensors.
Electrochemical sensors are wide-spread, but are typically too large and require too much power for portable applications. In addition, these sensors typically utilize toxic materials that are not suitable for portable applications.
Fiber Optic Sensors
Fiber optic sensors are a class of sensors that use optical fibers to detect chemical contaminants. Light is generated by a light source and is sent through an optical fiber. The light then returns through the optical fiber and is captured by a photo detector. Some optical fiber sensors use a single optical fiber while others use separate optical fibers for the light source and for the detector.
There are three general classes of fiber optic sensors The first type is completely passive. A spectroscopic method can be used to detect individual types of contaminants. This method involves sending a light source directly through the optical fiber and analyzing the light that is reflected or emitted by the contaminant. A second class of fiber optic sensors consist of a fiber optic sensor with a chemically interacting thin film attached to the tip. This film is formulated to bind with certain types of chemicals. Contaminant concentration can be found by measuring the color of the thin film, the change in refractive index, or by measuring the fluorescing of the film. The third type of fiber optic sensors involves injecting a reagent near the sensor. This reagent reacts either chemically or biologically with the contaminant. The reaction products are detected to give an estimate of the contaminant concentration.
These types of sensors have the advantage of power. Several types have no moving parts. They are also capable of detecting various chemicals at very low concentrations. However, they are limited by the ability to transmit light through the optical fiber over long distances. Some organic pollutants are not easily differentiated using UV-visible spectroscopy.
Colorimetry
Colorimetric devices work by analyzing the color of contaminated water that has been mixed with a particular chemical reagent. Pre-measured, unit-dose reagent that react with water samples are available for sale. To test water samples, the pocket colorimeter compares a reacted sample with a sample blank and yields results in concentration units.
Pocket colorimeter test kits are portable and are simple to use. They provide visual evidence of a gas detection event, and they are not prone to interferences. However, these devices have limited chemical sensitivity to individual VOCs. They also need actual water samples for testing, and cannot therefore be used in situ. Most kits do not meet U.S. EPA method requirements and may not be used for compliance monitoring.
Infrared Sensors
Infrared sensors can be used to detect gases, which, in general, have unique infrared absorption signatures in the 2-14 um range. The uniqueness of the gas absorption spectra enables identification and quantification of chemicals in liquid and gas mixtures with little interference from other gases. These devices are typically comprised of a source of infrared radiation, a detector capable of seeing the infrared radiation, and a path between the detector and source that is exposed to the gas being detected. When gas in the path absorbs energy from the source, the detector receives less radiation than without the gas present, and the detector can quantify the difference.
Mass Sensor-Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors/Portable Acoustic Wave Sensors
Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors (SAWS) are small miniature sensors used to detect VOCs. A SAW device consists of an input transducer, a chemical absorbent film, and an output transducer on a piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate is typically quartz. The input transducer launches an acoustic wave which travels through the chemical film and is detected by the output transducer. The device runs at a very high frequency, generally about 100 MHz. The velocity and attenuation of the signal are sensitive to the viscoelasticity as well as the mass of the thin film which can allow for the identification of the contaminant. Heating elements under the chemical film can also be used to desorb chemicals from the device. A signal pattern recognition system that uses a clustering technique is needed to identify various chemicals.
SAWS have been able to distinguish organophosphates, chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, aromatic hydrocarbons, saturated hydrocarbons, and water. They are small, low power, have no moving parts other than the high-frequency excitation, and are known to have good sensitivity to various chemicals, able to detect chemicals in very low concentrations. However, they are generally not able to discriminate among unknown mixtures of chemicals.
Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Sensors
Metal oxide sensors are the among the earliest and most popular sensor element in sensor arrays. For example, oxygen sensors used in every automobile are metal oxide sensors. A metal oxide sensor is an n-type inorganic semiconductor, such as tin oxide, doped tin oxide derivatives, zinc oxide, or iron oxide. These materials are heated to temperatures of 300 C to 550 C and used as a two-terminal resistive device. The response arises from the reduction of the gas species at the surface of the semiconductor which increases the electron carrier concentration, resulting in higher conductivity. The gas species is consumed as the sensor operates.
The sensor is traditionally constructed using a ceramic support tube containing a platinum heater coil and the metal oxide is coated onto the outside of the ceramic tube with the appropriate electrical leads connected to the film. In recent decades, newer implementations of the metal oxide sensor have been constructed with planar configurations using conventional micro-fabrication techniques. While using micro-fabrication methods is advantageous, there is a significant challenge with integration of multiple sensor elements into a single array. The procedure can be difficult and expensive due to extensive subtractive processes arising from materials compatibility across the different elements. In addition, there are complicating issues related to its high operating temperature.
Another disadvantage of the metal oxide is power consumption. Because the sensing response depends directly on the reduction reaction, which is very sensitive to the temperature, the sensor must be heated to at least 300 C. Generating such high temperatures is consumption, typically around 800 mW. Yet another disadvantage is a general lack of discrimination since the combustion mechanism limits the sensitivity of the device and is not reliant on the chemistry of the gas species itself
Despite the these disadvantages of power consumption and integration, the metal oxide is by far the most commonly used gas sensor in commercially available electronic noses. The sensor is rugged and rather versatile and is already used in many other industrial settings. Of those that are often used for industrial applications, the tin oxide sensor doped with palladium or platinum is the most popular. However, the use of metal oxides continues to pose a fundamental problem of difficult integration.
Polymer-Absorption Chemiresistors
The concept of using polymeric absorption to detect the presence of chemicals in the vapor phase has existed for several decades. These polymer-absorption sensors, also called chemiresistors, consist of a chemically sensitive absorbent that is deposited onto a solid phase that acts as an electrode. When chemical vapors come into contact with the absorbent, the chemicals absorb into the polymers, causing them to swell. The swelling changes the resistance of the electrode, which can be measured and recorded. The amount of swelling corresponds to the concentration of the chemical vapor in contact with the absorbent. The process is reversible, but some hysteresis can occur when exposed to high concentrations. Several companies and organizations have developed chemiresistors, but the specific attributes and types of absorbents, which are generally proprietary, vary among the different applications.
Chemiresistors are attractive because they are small, low power devices that have no moving parts and have good sensitivity to various chemicals. However, these types of sensor generally react to a broad array of analytes, making it difficult to identify a specific gas. Some polymers react strongly to water vapor and moisture. Although the reaction with the analyte is designed to be reversible, the signal may experience hysteresis and a shift in the baseline over time when exposed to chemicals.
Conducting Polymer Sensors
A conducting polymer sensor is based on a polymer material possessing electrical properties that can selectively absorb specific odorants. Exposure to a gas analyte induces changes in the electrical behavior of the sensor. The sensor response arises from intermolecular interactions between the sensor and the analyte. These interactions are the result of hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole or dipole-induced dipole dispersions, and hydrophobic forces. For this reason, conducting polymer sensor array are considered the most similar to the olfactory sensor of a biological nose.
The most popular materials is polypyrrole, a key feature of the polymer of which is the repeating and alternating arrangement of double bonds throughout the molecule. This feature, known as a conjugated pi electron system, gives rise to the electrical behavior. Reduction and oxidation of the polymer can subsequently modify its charge conducting behavior and it is surmised that the sensor response may result from reduction and oxidation processes or similar interactions involving partial charge transfer. Polypyrrole is most often deposited using electrochemical polymerization in order to avoid solvent compatibility issues. The properties of the film are strongly affected by the growth conditions but with careful control, purified and reproducible films can be achieved.
Conducting polymer sensors have several advantages. In general, they respond to a broad range of organic vapors and there is a large spectrum of materials that can be synthesized allowing for a wide range of selectivity. There are synthesized using relatively low cost materials and the sensor element can be fabricated with an attractive form factor. Unlike metal oxide sensor, conducting polymer sensors operate at room temperature, reducing power consumption and providing for longer lifetime.
A major disadvantage of a conducting polymer sensor is they tend to be sensitive to humidity and show a long-term drift in their performance. Further, they do not generally display a high specificity to individual gases. However, these polymers can be chemically tailored to enhance differences to response toslasses of molecules.
ChemFET Sensors
A Chemically sensitive FET, also known as a ChemFET, is the structural analog of a MOSFET, with the polysilicon gate replaced with a chemically sensitive layer. The gate is chosen such it reacts with the gaseous species to cause a work function shift that can be detected through FET operation. Though ChemFETs are amenable to CMOS integration, in practice fabrication is greatly complicated since most polymers are electrochemically deposited.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a sensor that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art to make it suitable for low-cost, low-power, wide-spread, and portable applications.

Method and apparatus for vapor signature with heat differential


An opening arrangement for a packing container includes a flexible strip having first and second parts which are connected to one another by a flexible intermediate piece. The first part of the strip has a downwardly projecting portion that fits within the hole in the packing container. The first part includes an openable part for preventing the contents from being emptied from the container until the openable part has been torn away. The second part of the strip is somewhat cup-shaped and includes a bottom surface that is sealed to the openable part of the first part so that when the cup-shaped second part of the strip is pulled backwards, the openable part will be torn away, thereby forming a pouring opening.

In packing technology finished consumer packages of non-returnable character which are manufactured from a material consisting of a carrier layer of cardboard or paper and outer and inner coatings of thermoplastics have been used for a long time. Material in these so-called non-returnable packages is often also provided with one or more layers of other material, e.g. aluminum foil or plastic layers of a different type than those mentioned here.
The composition of the packing material is selected to create the best possible protection for the product which is to be packed, while at the same time providing the package with sufficient mechanical strength to make possible a comfortable handling of the package. To achieve the required mechanical strength which affords protection for the contents and makes it possible for the package to be sufficiently rigid in its dimensions so that it can be handled and manually gripped without difficulty, the material in packages of this type is frequently provided with a relatively thick carrier layer of paper or cardboard. Such a carrier layer, however, is not airtight with respect to gases or liquids and the rigidity of the material is quickly lost when it is subjected to moisture or liquid. To impart to the material a good liquid tightness a thin coating of plastic material is provided, and, if the plastic material is a thermoplastics, it may also be used for sealing the plastic layers to one another by means of heat and pressure (so-called heat-sealing). Thus a packing container can be sealed and made permanent in its given shape by heat-sealing overlapping, thermoplastic material panels to one another in a tight and mechanically durable seal.
Non-returnable packages of the type described above are manufactured either from blanks punched out beforehand or from a continuous web which has been prepared with suitable decoration and with a pattern of crease lines facilitating the formation of folds. Packing containers are manufactured from a web by joining to one another longitudinal edges of the web in an overlap joint, so as to form a tube which subsequently is filled with the intended contents and is divided into closed cushionlike container units through repeated flattenings and transverse sealings of the tube at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tube. Through appropriate fold-forming of the packing material in the tube the container units are converted to the desired geometrical final shape, usually a parallelepiped.
The problem with the abovementioned packages has always been the difficulty associated with creating an opening arrangement which is comfortable to handle and which functions satisfactorily, that is to say which can be opened readily without the use of a tool and which allows emptying of the contents in a uniform and well-defined jet.
One type of known opening arrangements up to now consisted of some form of perforation which extends through the outer plastic layer of the packing container and the carrier layer, whereas the inner plastic layer of the packing container is kept intact. The demand made on such an opening arrangement certainly is that it should be easy to tear the perforation when the package is to be opened, but the perforation should not be liable to be torn up during normal handling and transport of the package. It will be readily understood that these two demands are difficult to meet at the same time, since avoidance of inadvertent opening of the perforation during handling of the package implies that the perforation should not weaken the package wall to an excessive degree, which in turn means that greater force will be needed for tearing open the perforation when the package is to be opened. It also has been found that perforations of this kind may give rise to small leakages, which perhaps are not so great as to allow the contents to escape, but are still large enough to enable bacteria to penetrate and infect the contents of the package.
A somewhat more readily openable package is that which has been provided with an opening arrangement of the tearing strip (so-called pull-tab) type, Such an opening arrangement usually comprises a hole punched out in the container wall which is closed with the help of a tearing strip attached to the outside of the container wall and which is sealed to a plastic film covering the hole from underneath. The plastic film usually consists of the inner plastic coating of the packing material, but may be a separate plastic strip which has been sealed to the inside of the container wall along a liquid-tight sealing joint round the whole opening contour of the hole. Such packing containers are opened in that the tearing strip with the help of a readily grippable pull-tab or pull-ring is pulled upwards and backwards over the hole, as a result of which the firmly sealed plastic film, covering the hole from underneath, is stretched and torn off against the cut edge of the hole to expose a corresponding pouring opening through which the contents of the package can be emptied.
An opening arrangement similar to that described above is as a general rule easy to open, but the ability the contents to be poured in a desired coherent and well-directed jet is impaired by the fact that the plastic film adhering to the inside of the package often produces a somewhat uneven or frayed tearing edge around the pouring opening. One of the causes of the uneven tearing edge is that it is difficult to carry out the seal between the tearing strip and the plastic film in the area closest to the cut edge of the opening which means that as the outer tearing strip is pulled away, the plastic film is stretched and breaks sooner within this poorly sealed region than against the cut edge of the opening. A futher problem with this type of opening arrangement is that the plastic film torn away within the opening region exposes the cut edge of the opening so that the contents come into contact with, and are absorbed by, the cut edge during the pouring.

Opening arrangement on a packing container


The present disclosure prevents an inrush current generated when one side is completely discharged, or charged voltages are different from one another because a DC link capacitor and an ultra-capacitor are directly connected to each other, by driving a load motor after completing initial charging by making each voltage the same through the performing of switching between a DC link capacitor and an ultra-capacitor during initial ignition, so as to safely perform initializing regardless of the charged-discharged state of an electricity storage device during initial ignition.

Recently, due to the sudden increase in oil prices, research has been actively conducted on hybrid-type construction machinery having improved fuel efficiency by storing surplus power from an engine in a battery and by supplying power from a battery to make up for insufficient power from an engine.
Such a system that uses both an engine and an electric motor as a source of power and has an electric energy storage device is called a hybrid system. For example, hybrid systems include hybrid systems for hybrid vehicles and heavy machinery such as excavators.
A typical excavator system, uses an engine as a source of power to perform an operation of rotating or propelling a boom, an arm, and a bucket that embody the final load, by means of a medium that is hydraulic pressure. Conversely, a hybrid excavator system additionally includes 2 motors and electricity storage devices installed on a typical excavator, so as to improve the overall efficiency of the excavator system. Main components that are added to a hybrid excavator system include a motor, an electricity storage device, an inverter, and a converter. Here, the electricity storage device includes a battery and an ultra-capacitor.
FIG. 1 is a configurative diagram of a power converting device including a DC-DC converter according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, a power converting device 100 including a DC-DC converter according to the related art includes a switched mode power supply unit 110, a logic control board 120, an engine auxiliary motor inverter 130, a load motor inverter 140, a DC link capacitor 150, and an ultra-capacitor converter 160 that is a DC-DC converter. Here, the switched mode power supply unit 110, the logic control board 120, the engine auxiliary motor inverter 130, the load motor inverter 140, and the ultra-capacitor converter 160 are connected to a battery 101 for a control board, an excavator electric device 102, an engine auxiliary motor 103, a load motor 104, and an ultra-capacitor 105, respectively.
The switched mode power supply (SMPS) 110 is connected to the battery 101 for a control board and supplies power to the logic control board 120.
The logic control board 120 senses the power of the ultra-capacitor 105 and the power of the DC link capacitor, and performs the function of controlling an initial driving logic.
The engine auxiliary motor inverter 130 performs the function of charging the DC link capacitor 150 through the engine auxiliary motor 103. Here, the engine auxiliary motor 103 is directly connected to an engine, and rotates at the same rpm as the engine during engine operation.
When a power contactor of the ultra-capacitor 105 is turned ON, the load motor inverter 140 performs the function of driving the load motor 104 according to a charged voltage. Here, the load motor 104 supplies the power required by driven components that may be used for electric power, from among the driven components for the tasks of the excavator.
The DC link capacitor 150 charges a DC voltage converted by the engine auxiliary motor inverter 130. The DC link capacitor 150 is connected to the ultra-capacitor converter 160.
The ultra-capacitor converter 160 uses the electric energy stored in the DC link capacitor 150 to perform the function of charging the ultra-capacitor 105. The ultra-capacitor converter 160 is connected between the DC link capacitor 150 and the ultra-capacitor 105. Here, the ultra-capacitor 105 is charged by a voltage converted by the ultra-capacitor converter 160.
The power converting device 100 including a DC-DC converter configured as above includes an inverter (for example, the engine auxiliary motor inverter 130 and the load motor inverter 140) for driving a motor, and a converter (for example, the ultra-capacitor converter 160) for driving an ultra-capacitor. Here, the process of converting a voltage of the DC link to charge the ultra-capacitor 105 by the ultra-capacitor converter 160 is accompanied by operational loss. Without such a converter, the power converting device 100 may have many benefits.
First, compared to a power converting device having a DC-DC converter according to the related art, a converterless power converting device may improve system efficiency. This is because the loss generated from the ultra-capacitor 160 is absent.
Second, the size of the power converting device 100 may be reduced. The power converting device does not require an inductor for a DC-DC converter, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) capable of high-speed switching, and a current transformer (CT) for current measurement. Thus, because the space occupied by the inductor for a converter, the IGBT, and the CT is absent, the size of the power converting device 100 may be reduced.
Third, the cost for manufacturing the power converting device 100 may be reduced. The power converting device 100 may be manufactured as a structure without the inductor for a converter, the IGBT, and the CT.
Accordingly, when a converter is not used and an electric energy storage device such as the ultra-capacitor 105 is used, the power switching device 100 in the related art is advantageous in that loss may be reduced.
However, when the DC link capacitor 150 and the ultra-capacitor 105 are directly connected to each other, a dangerous inrush current may be generated when the ultra-capacitor converter 160 is discharged or the ultra-capacitor 105 must be charged due to a large voltage difference with the DC link. When the current converting device 100 initializes ignition, if one side is completely discharged or the charged voltages are mutually different, this inrush current may be generated when the voltage of the ultra-capacitor 105 is low while the ultra-capacitor 105 is being charged through energy recovery. That is, when the DC-DC converter is simply excluded from a power converting device 100 in the related art, there arises the problem where components may be damaged by an inrush current during initial ignition or charging of the ultra-capacitor 105. Accordingly, the development of a technology for resolving the issue of such an inrush current is urgently required.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.


Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for implementing lightning strike protective compositions. In one aspect, a composition for providing protection against electrical discharges (e.g., including lightning strikes) for composite structures includes a binder material capable of dispersing material structures therein and attaching to a surface of a substrate, and a plurality of pigment structures dispersed in the binder material. The pigment structures include a central layer including an electrically conducting material, and outer layers formed on the central layer, in which the outer layers include an optical absorber material or a dielectric material. The composition, when attached to the substrate, is capable of providing electrically conductive paths to transfer electrical current from a multi kiloamp electrical discharge within the composition.

Aircraft, large commercial jets, and wind turbines are vulnerable to lightning strikes. For example, aircraft are typically struck once or twice a year by lightning during flight. Unlike some older aircraft designs using all metal materials, some newer aircraft designs use conventionally painted composite materials that do not readily conduct away the extreme electrical currents (e.g., up to 200 kA) generated by lightning strikes. Some composite materials used in aircraft are not electrically conductive (e.g., fiberglass) or are substantially less electrically conductive (e.g., carbon fiber composites (CFC) or graphite fiber composites) than metallic materials. Thus, when struck by lightning, these composite materials may provide insufficient or no electrical conduction paths, and the electrical current from the lightning strike causes dangerous and costly damage to the composite materials. For example, lightning strikes can vaporize and burn through materials proximate the strike area, causing "direct effect" damage (e.g., vaporized metal control cables, vaporized resin in the composite with burn through of the laminate) or "indirect effect" damage (e.g., electromagnetic effects that damage aircraft electronic systems).

Material compositions for lightning strike protection


A method and apparatus for encoding and decoding data. A primary data channel comprising a parallel data word has a bit of a secondary data channel associated with the parallel data word. ECC bits are generated based upon the parallel data word and the monitor bit and the ECC bits are appended to the data comprising the primary and secondary channel data to form an extended width parallel word. The extended width parallel data word is divided into a plurality of lesser width data words which are each scrambled using respective side scrambler for form respective cipher data words. An ECC control bit and a parity bit is generated for each channel, and associated with the cipher data words to form extended cipher data words. The cipher data words are serialized and transmitted over a serial link. The received serial data is deserialized, word framed and word aligned across the respective channels, and descrambled to obtain the data contained in the primary and secondary data channels. ECC is provided both on data and control bits to permit error correction on either the data or control information.

Not Applicable
The present invention relates generally to data encoding and more specifically, to physical coding and decoding techniques for segregating and reliably communicating data over a plurality of serial channels.
In recent years there has been an increasing desire to produce electronic products which operate at ever increasing speeds. Of particular note in this regard are telecommunications devices such as routers, bridges and switches. While typical communication line rates for such devices were 10 megabits per second (mbps) for Ethernet transmissions less than a decade ago, 100 mbps Ethernet line rates have now become commonplace. Moreover, devices are currently being deployed which support ten gigabit per second (gbps) Ethernet line rates.
Data is typically received at an input port of a telecommunications device over a high speed serial communications link. Received data is converted to a parallel word format in accordance with a specified media access control (MAC) protocol for processing within the device. The width of the parallel data output from the MAC protocol is typically specified for the respective MAC protocol. A 10 gigabit per second Ethernet protocol has been described having a MAC output using a 64 bit wide data word. At such high data rates, the transport of data within the device can be problematic.
While data can be transported through the device as a parallel word to achieve workable clock rates, such is undesirable for a number of reasons. First, wide bus widths consume substantial space on the printed circuit boards for the numerous conductive paths which are required. Second, passing large numbers of conductive signals through backplanes requires large numbers of connector contacts as well as drivers and receivers. Often, it is undesirable to provide for the large number of connector contacts that are required to accommodate a 64 bit wide or greater width parallel bus. Additionally, it is recognized that interconnections through backplane connectors contribute to system unreliability and for this reason as well it is preferable to minimize the number of signal paths through backplanes and connectors. Finally, numerous integrated circuits are required in terms of drivers and receivers to interface to wide parallel buses.
In order to minimize the number of printed circuit board runs and backplane connections, parallel data has been segregated into narrower parallel data words and the respective words have been serialized for transmission over a plurality of serial channels. This technique can result in the introduction of near end and far end crosstalk in adjacent channels that can introduce data errors in the transmission. Furthermore, complex techniques and/or substantial overhead in terms of signal bandwidth and circuitry have typically been necessary to accomplish synchronization and/or framing in such systems.
Moreover, it is desirable to be able for the receive logic to be able to be acquire synchronization of serially transmitted data xe2x80x9cblindxe2x80x9d; i.e. without the use of additional synchronization signal lines since the transport of separate synchronization signals also adds to the number of printed circuit board runs and connector contacts that are needed.
It would therefore be desirable to have a data coding, decoding and transport technique which allows the transmission of data reliably through a telecommunications device without employing wide parallel buses and which permits blind acquisition of synchronization at the receiver and reassembly of the transmitted data words.
In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for transporting data reliably over a plurality of serial channels is disclosed. Physical coding sublayer logic receives a parallel data word from a system interface. The parallel data word includes data of a first data channel and a monitor channel. The monitor channel is employed to convey supervisory or other information in a second data channel that is independent of the data conveyed in the first data channel. A monitor channel and the parallel data data word are applied to an error correction code generator and a error correction code (ECC) is generated. The parallel data word is divided into a plurality of lesser width data words. Selected bits of the ECC code and the monitor channel are appended to the lesser width parallel data words in a predetermined manner to form a plurality of extended lesser width parallel data words corresponding in number to the number of lesser width parallel data words. The extended lesser width parallel data words are serialized in respective serializers and transmitted over a plurality of serial data links.
Each serial channel also includes two parity bits. The first parity bit is employed for error detection and correction and additionally carries control state information. The parity bits are generated such that proper parity is indicated if the XOR sum of all bits within a channel (including the first and second parity bits) equals 1. This property is used to obtain proper word framing at receive logic within the physical coding sublayer. The second parity bit in each channel is generated such that the XOR sum of all of the second parity bits equals 0 when the channels are properly aligned. Proper word framing and alignment is verified by testing framing and alignment over a predetermined number of word samples.

Coding sublayer for multi-channel media with error correction


An electrical connector includes a housing having a contact loading end and a locking member rotatably mounted in the housing and substantially enclosed within the connector. The locking member has a circumferential edge portion that is exposed through a window of the connector to permit finger rotation of the locking member. A backshell at least partially encloses the housing. The backshell includes a chamber between the contact loading end of the housing and a back wall of the backshell. The backshell includes side walls that have windows opening to the chamber to provide access to the edge portion of the locking member.

This invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more specifically to a cable to board power connector assembly having a rotatable locking member.
Some electrical systems include one or more connectors that are removably mounted in a chassis. For instance, in some applications, power supplies may be slid into a chassis. The power supplies can be removed for service or replacement. Typically, a cable mounted connector mates with a header connector on a board in the power supply. Jackscrews are typically used to assure that the connectors are reliably mated. However, in some systems, the chassis or board is mounted in a case with a hinged or otherwise closeable cover which limits connector space. Cables must be negotiated out of the case and the connectors must remain reliably mated when the case is closed. Jackscrews are commonly used in pairs with one jackscrew at each end of the connector. A disadvantage associated with jackscrews is that one or more of the jackscrews may interfere with the closing of the cover.
When several connectors are mounted on a panel, cable routing may become more of a problem. Often cables must be turned or otherwise manipulated to exit the case. Typically, technicians forcibly bend the cables in order to route the cables in a desired direction. Care must be taken, however, to avoid damage to the cable that may result from excessive pulling or twisting on the cable. This problem is alleviated when the connector provides a right angle wire exit. In another disadvantage, the use of the typical two-jackscrew retention system generally precludes the provision of a right angle wire exit on the connector.
There is a need for a cable to board connector system that may be used in applications having a board mounted connector in a closed case that negotiates wires out of the case and keeps the connectors reliably mated when the case is closed.

Connector with thumb screw retention member


In an anchor installation in a lightweight construction panel having spaced cover plates with a support core disposed therebetween, wherein an anchor installed in a bore extending through at least one of the cover plates and the support core includes an expansion body having engagement elements spreading outwardly behind the cover plate to lock the anchor in the bore, the expansion body includes an axial bore fittingly accommodating a needle for the injection of cement into the expansion body and distribution passages for the distribution of the cement to various cavities in and around the expansion body for firmly fixing the anchor in the lightweight construction panel.

The invention resides in an anchor for installation in lightweight construction panels including a support core with a first and a second cover plate and an anchor installation method with cement injection for form- and material-locking mounting of the anchor, which includes an expansion body embedded with a cement material.
Lightweight construction panels with support cores disposed between cover plates are often also called sandwich plates, honeycomb plates or light-weight construction panels. All types of panels used in furniture construction generally include cover plates or veneer of thin wood shaving plates, medium- or high-density fiber plates, plywood or hard fiber plates. The sandwich panels include as intermediate layer or support core for example polymethane foam or polysterol. In the honeycomb panels, often corrugated web inserts or so-called expanded honeycomb layers are used as intermediate support layers. Most lightweight panels have a raw density which is below 500 kg/m3. If for the intermediate layer no fire retardant aluminum foams or expanded glass is used, the raw density is below 350 kg/m3. For comparison, it is noted that the raw density of an unveneered particle board is about 600-750 kg/m3.
If hardware is to be attached to lightweight construction panels for example by screws, it is a problem that the mounting means generally find hold only on the relatively thin cover layers or cover plates. A typical solution herefor are straddling dowels as they are disclosed in the printed publication DE 20 2004 000 474 U1. The straddling dowels however have the disadvantage that they engage the upper cover plate in front and back over a large area. The rear engagement displaces furthermore the support core material over a large area around the bore whereby the cover plate is easily released from the support core material when a pulling force is effective on the straddling dowel.
Furthermore, from the brochure "Fischer Leichtbauplattenbefestiger" of the company Fischer Befestigungssysteme GmbH, a cement anchor is known since May 2007. The cement anchor is a tubular body which is provided at its upper end with a plurality of transverse bores which end in a kind of thread grooves. At its lower end, the body is open. The lower edge includes semi-circular channels. For mounting, the anchor is inserted into a bore in the lightweight construction panel—without mechanical fixing. Into the central bore of the tubular body, a cement material is pressed which exits the tubular body in the area of the cover plates. In the process, the cement material also fills the central bore of the anchor. The mounting element, for example a screw, is then screwed into the cement material in the central bore.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an anchor for lightweight construction panels, which can be easily installed into the lightweight construction panel and which is firmly and durably retained therein.

Anchor for installation in lightweight construction panels and method for its installation with cement injection


An interface receiver having multiple tiers such that a first tier in the receiver houses a module having its longest dimension in a first direction and a second tier houses a module having its longest dimension in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The receiver has three or more cams on each of two parallel sides. The receiver is capable of being mated with “legacy” test adapters having two pairs of parallel sides with each side in one of the pairs having two locator elements for engaging with the cams of the receiver and new test adapters of the present invention having an odd number of locator elements on each side.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates broadly to an interface connection system and, more specifically, to a multi-tier mass interconnect device that allows for modules to be inserted in directions perpendicular to one another. Such interface connection systems require the frequent placement of interchangeable test adapters (ITA) or wiring modules with multiple minute electrical contacts in operative engagement with opposite co-acting electrical contacts of, for example, receiver modules. The receiver contacts and interchangeable test adapter/wiring contacts should engage with precision to minimize wear and to prevent damaging the delicate and expensive equipment.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
A variety of mass interconnect devices have been used in the past. One example of prior art interface systems was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,005, entitled "Slide Cam Mechanism for Positioning Test Adapter in Operative Relationship with a Receiver," which was assigned to Virginia Panel Corporation. In the '005 Patent, the receiver included an inner frame and outer walls. Between the outer walls and adjacent sides of the receiver frame were placed fixed hanger plates provided with straight slots and interior slides having coacting cam slots. The slides were driven by a hand lever and attached round torsion shaft with connected linkage having an over-dead-center locked position. Movement of the hand lever would cause the slides to move parallel to the outer walls and interior sides. Modules for holding various electrical contacts were mounted in the receiver parallel to the direction of movement of the slides.
The individual test adapter, or ITA, had four split roller dual bearings or rollers on common dry lube sleeves that would rotate oppositely during the camming action to minimize friction. The individual test adapter rollers rested on dwell shoulders of the cam slots and then descended through the straight slots during movement of the slides of the receiver to produce positive straight-on engagement of the test adapter and receiver multiple contacts. The slides had elongated linear guide bearings with dry lube pads for precision free movement. The slides were connected to a cylindrical torsion shaft via linkage. Like the receiver modules, the ITA modules were mounted in the system in a direction parallel to the ITA sides on which the rollers were located. When modules, pins, patchcords, and perhaps a cover are mounted to or on the interface test adapter, the assembly is sometimes referred to as a "fixture."
Another prior art system has been known as the MAC Panel Series 06, or rotating latch, interface device. In the rotating latch type device, the camming is performed by plates that rotate rather than moving in a linear fashion. In the rotating latch devices, the connector modules have been mounted to the receiver and test adapter frame parallel to the plane of rotation of the rotating latches.
Another prior art system sold by Virginia Panel Corporation included a receiver that included slides similar to those disclosed in the '005 patent but used pins at two corners, diagonal from one other, on the receiver. These pins inhibited vertical movement of the ITA in the receiver to produce straight-on engagement. This prior art system included machined side rails and a cylindrical torsion shaft.
Another prior interface device is known as the TTI Testron VG Series interface device. This device may be in a tabletop or a rack-mounted form. This VG Series device included a fixture support plate mounted to the receiver in a direction perpendicular to the face of the receiver. The receiver would be mounted directly to the test equipment.
The TTI Testron fixture, or test adapter, would be engaged to the receiver by lifting the fixture onto a pair of hooks protruding from the face of the receiver and then resting the fixture on the support plate. A handle and gears were used to pull the hooks, and hence, the fixture, into the receiver to cause the electrical contacts in the receiver and the fixture to mate.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,091,415, entitled "Low Profile Mass Interconnect Device" discloses an interface device in which the modules are oriented in a direction perpendicular to a direction of movement of the camming mechanisms. In the '045 patent, a receiver frame has fixture alignment pins on one or both sides of the receiving for aligning a fixture for engagement with the receiver assembly. One or more mounting members extend across a face of the receiver, adjacent the sides of the receiver frame, displaced from the sides of the receiver frame, or both. Each mounting member has one or more module mounting holes therein. One or more modules of similar or varying types and sizes are mounted on the receiver frame by connecting the modules to one or more mounting members. In this arrangement, the modules are mounted perpendicular to the direction of movement of the linearly moving engagement slides, or perpendicular to the plane of rotation or movement in a rotating latch or other cam embodiment. By arranging the modules in this manner, a lower profile interface device may be achieved. The modules may accommodate any type of contact, including, but not limited to, signal, power, coaxial, high frequency, pneumatic and fiber optic. Each module is mounted to the receiver frame by connecting the module to two mounting members in the receiver frame. The modules may be connected to the module mounting members via any of a variety of known methods such as with screws or spring means. At each side of the receiver assembly, there is an engagement slide and a receiver outside wall. Each engagement slide has a cam slot and an elongated guide slot therein. Each sidewall has a pair of pins, each having a bearing thereon for guiding the engagement slide in a linear motion. Each receiver outer sidewall further may have slots or recesses therein. Such recesses may accommodate pins extending from the sides of test adapters and may or may not be designed to guide the test adapters into the receiver. The cam slots in the engagement slides are use to exert force on pins, or pins having bearing thereon, on the sides of test adapters to draw the test adapters into the receiver. The camming action likewise could be performed by a plate that rotates around a single pin rather than moving linearly.
Although these devices generally functioned well and provided advantages over prior devices, the devices did not provide users with convenient access to the connectors and wires of a test adapter after the test adapter had been assembled. Such access may be desirable to perform troubling shooting tasks and repairs on the test adapters. Further, the devices included many components, including some machined parts, which contributed to expense and increased time for manufacturing and assembling the products.


A device for measuring the length of a root canal of a subject is provided. The device includes a flexible sheath slidable over a dental handpiece head. The sheath includes electrically conducting wires for connecting to an apex locator. Also provided is a device for measuring root canal length that includes an endodontic file having a metallic element at the file end far from the end inserted into a root canal. The modified file provides a region in the metallic element for electronic attachment to an apex locator such that the rubber stopper may be moved along the entire file surface without interference.

An endodontic hand file used in clinical endodontic practice typically is a stainless steel or nickel titanium file attached to a plastic handle with a moveable rubber stopper. The rubber stopper is used for measuring the length of a root canal by aligning it with a reproducible landmark on the tooth. The rubber stopper is pierced through the metal portion of the file. Once the file is placed in a canal and moved to the very end/tip/apex of the root canal, the rubber stopper is moved to a tooth reference point which can then be measured on a small hand rule. Length verification can be done with a radiograph (x-ray). With the advent of an electronic apex locator, a clip is attached to the metal portion of the file and the clip is connected by a wire to the electronic apex locator which provides a read out as the file is moved toward the apex of the root canal. A second patient "lip" click is also used to complete a circuit. Once the device registers the proper length, the rubber stopper is adjusted to the tooth reference point. The clip is then removed and the entire file is withdrawn from canal length and measured on a small hand ruler, thus establishing the working length for that particular canal.
While the endodontic instruments currently known, in which an endodontic file is used in conjunction with an electronic apex locator, are helpful in determining a tooth root canal length, they have several limitations.


The hydrogel of the invention contains polyvinyl alcohol (a hydrogel support), and a high water-absorbent resin and/or a hydrophilic high molecular compound, which are capable of containing a large amount of water. The rate of evaporation of water from this hydrogel is slow. The hydrogel retains water for a long time and releases an active ingredient gradually. The hydrogel containing a pharmacologically active substance is useful as a pharmaceutical preparation.

A hydrogel is a gel which contains water by hydration. Such hydrogels have been known for years but recently as the interest in functional materials has increased, unique properties of hydrogels have attracted special interest. Hydrogels generally are sparingly irritating to the tissues and are superior in permeability to various substances. Hydrogels also show improved antithrombotic activity with increasing water contents. Hydrogels are, thus, considered to be very promising medical raw materials.
Those skilled in the art know high polymers capable of forming such hydrogels such as gelatin, carrageenin, alginic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl polymethacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol and so on. Hydrogels can be produced by a number of methods. For polyvinyl alcohol (hereinafter referred to sometimes as PVA) hydrogel as an example, when a concentrated aqueous solution of PVA is prepared and allowed to stand at a temperature below room temperature, it progressively gains viscosity and ultimately gives a gel.
However, the PVA gel prepared in this manner is not satisfactory in mechanical strength. Therefore, a method was proposed which comprises freezing a concentrated aqueous solution of PVA at a low temperature in a brief time and thawing it at room temperature(Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 52296/1975). A method has also been proposed in which a crosslinked gel is produced using a crosslinking agent such as formaldehyde or by irradiation with .gamma.-rays, for instance. The resulting hydrogels have definite mechanical strength and flexibility and can be used as medical materials such as vehicles for slow-release of drugs, carriers for immobilization of enzymes and microbial cells, thermal carriers for cold retention, and bases for controlled release of aromas and perfumes.
While the hydrogel generally has the above-mentioned beneficial properties, the gel tends to shrink with time as it releases the entrapped water. Therefore, the hydrogel has not only poor formulation stability but, when such a hydrogel preparation is applied to the skin, it elicits irritable responses owing to vaporization of entrapped water.
The present inventors have conducted an intensive investigation to overcome these disadvantages. As the result, it has been found that a hydrogel with a minimum of change in water content and an improved formulation stability can be obtained by incorporating a water-containing component capable of containing a large amount of water into a hydrogel. The present invention is predicated on this finding.


A capacitive sensor system for controlling operation of a device in response to a rate of change in capacitance due to motion of a proximate object includes at least two sense electrodes disposed on a surface and a phase locked loop, including a voltage controlled oscillator and a phase/frequency comparator, connected between the sense electrodes and an RC network for providing an operating frequency to the sense electrodes. A circuit loop, including a reference oscillator, provides a fixed frequency reference for the phase locked loop to follow and a phase delay circuit connected between said phase/frequency comparator and said voltage controlled oscillator causes the voltage controlled oscillation to run ahead of the reference oscillator. A trigger circuit provides a control output in response to a change in phase shift between said fixed frequency and said operating frequency.

The present invention is generally related to automatic control systems and is more particularly directed to a system for controlling operation of a device utilizing a capacitive sensor.
A great number of capacitive sensors have been heretofore developed for the sensing of persons or materials to provide an alarm, indicating signal, or control. For example, capacitive sensing circuits have been used for alarm systems to provide a signal in response to touching of a particular area or the proximity of an object. In other instances, capacitive sensing circuits have been utilized to detect the presence or absence of liquids and solids and thereafter initiating an indicator for alarm signals or measurement. Capacitive sensors have also been used to measure the distance to an object, material size, material moisture content, oil contamination, humidity, pressure, liquid level and in fact have formed the basis for sensing in numerous measurement and detection applications.
With regard to dispenser control, it is often preferable to operate a device without direct handling thereof by human interaction. For example, it is preferable for sanitary reasons in washing to avoid the need for physical contact with faucet handles, towel dispensers, hand dryers, soap dispensers and the like.
While a number of control systems have been developed for such touch-free devices in order to conserve water and soap, they have been plagued by false activation. That is, devices are turned on without the actual presence of a human body part. This, of course, leads to fluid waste that is contrary to the original purpose of the control system.
Further, in the case of soap dispensers and the like, safety becomes a factor when such liquids are falsely dispensed and accumulate on a floor, or other surface, where subsequent slippage thereon may cause bodily harm.
The problem of false activation, and more generally of reliable as well as sensitive detection of a proximate object by a proximity sensor, stems from the need to reliably discriminate between a small change in signal strength due to changes in the proximity of the object versus changes in signal strength which can occur due to other factors such as sensor noise, sensor drift or induced changes in the signal due to actual changes in the ambient environment itself, such as contamination of the sensor and other effects which can give rise to signals which are similar in magnitude to or even larger than the detection signal itself.
In the case of infrared proximity sensors, which are for instance frequently used in current commercial non-contact soap dispensers and other similar devices, false activation can arise due to the effects of stray, extraneous light impinging on the sensor due to spurious reflections in shiny objects or otherwise, or a failure to detect an object can occur due to variations in the reflectivity of the object or contamination of the optics.
In the case of capacitive proximity sensors, where an object is sensed via the detection of a change in capacitance due to the proximate presence of the object, sensitive detection of a proximate object in everyday environments is made difficult and unreliable because the actual capacitance changes due to a proximate object can be small compared with other changes in capacitance due to changes in the surroundings.
Certain commonly occurring variations in the environment which can cause such interfering variations in capacitance include contamination of the surface of the electrodes or other structures in the sensing field region by gradual dirt accumulation or condensed moisture, significant changes in ambient humidity, gradual variations in the proximity or composition of other nearby structures and objects, or variations in sensor mounting location, all of which can give rise to small alterations in the electric field shape or intensity between the sensor electrodes thereby altering the charge state and hence capacitance between the electrodes.
There are currently two basic types of capacitive proximity sensor in the known prior art. In one case, often referred to as the parallel plate type, there is only one sense electrode at the sensor and the capacitance to ground is measured. If the object to be sensed is generally conductive and grounded it can effectively form the second electrode such that movement of the object towards or away from the primary sense electrode changes the capacitance and this change is measured and related to the distance or proximity of the object.
If the object to be sensed is instead not electrically conducting, a second stationary electrode is incorporated at a fixed distance away and connected to ground and the object to be sensed is passed between the two electrodes giving rise to a change in capacitance. In the second case, called the fringe field type, there are instead two sense electrodes disposed near one another at the sensor and the object which is sensed changes the capacitance between them by changing the electric field by dielectric or conductive effects. The resulting change in capacitance is sensed and this can then be related to a change in distance or proximity of the object. Fringe field type capacitive proximity sensors are widely used industrially in manufacturing applications where sensor installations are typically specified and fixed, and other potentially interfering environmental factors can be controlled.
Such devices nevertheless also frequently incorporate an additional electrode to separately sense for and thereby compensate for drift due to surface contamination. The maximum sensing distance is the sensor range and this is related to the sensitivity of the capacitance change sensing technique, the nature and size of the object to be detected and the physical size of the sense electrodes. Larger sense electrodes provide greater range.
More sensitive detection provides greater range with a given electrode size and a given object to be sensed, which is a performance advantage in applications where larger electrode structures are undesirable and greater range is desired. However, more sensitive detection of changes in capacitance does not by itself provide reliability where significant capacitance changes can also arise due to environmental factors.
The present invention has been developed to overcome the shortcomings of the hereinbefore known systems in order to provide for a capacitive sensor system with increased sensitivity and reliability.
This is accomplished by providing a sensitive means for instead detecting the time rate of change of capacitance only. This quantity is denoted mathematically as dC/dt and is distinctly different from a measurement of the difference between two capacitances as is typical of the prior art.             ⅆ      C              ⅆ      t        =      the              xe2x80x83            rate              xe2x80x83            of              xe2x80x83            change              xe2x80x83            of              xe2x80x83            capacitance              xe2x80x83            with              xe2x80x83            respect              xe2x80x83            to              xe2x80x83            time
This is hence contrary to the known prior art systems where instead detection is based on a change in capacitance.
In the present invention, the detection, which is performed in the phase domain, utilizing a continuously operating control loop, is thereby advantageously insensitive to gradual changes in capacitance due to changes in the environment which may be of any absolute magnitude provided that these changes occur over sufficient lengths of time and hence at rates which are below the detection sensitivity for dC/dt.
It should be appreciated that although a time rate of change signal could in principle alternatively be derived from the output of various prior art capacitive sensors, which instead measure capacitance change, by electronically differentiating that signal, such a derived signal would not then provide the required reliable and sensitive detection. This is because the very act of differentiating a sensor signal makes the resulting signal noisier and hence less reliable.
In the present invention an intrinsically motion sensitive capacitive sensing means is thus provided for detecting the movement of an object, such as for example a person""s hand, in a region which is within a prescribed distance range from the sensor. The system in accordance with the present invention provides a means for reliably detecting small motions of a hand towards the sensor when it is within a sensing region. Moreover this reliability is independent of whether or not the person is electrically grounded or even intermittently grounded during sensor operation as may occur in the case of someone who is washing their hands.
This reliability inherently provides immunity to false activation because the sensor continuously adapts to the electrical characteristics of the surroundings and gradual changes in those surroundings of an overall magnitude greater than that due to the introduction of a hand into the sensing region. The sensor thereby has zero drift.
Thus, the present invention is functional in a range of different surroundings without requiring manual adjustment. In addition, the present invention is highly immune to RF and other externally generated electrical field interferences, has low electromagnetic emissions itself and consumes little power. This last mentioned feature enables extended operation by battery.
A capacitive sensor system in accordance with the present invention for controlling operation of a device in response to the rate of change in capacitance due to the motion of a proximate object generally comprises at least two sense electrodes disposed in a spaced apart relationship for enabling the establishment of an electrical field between the sense electrodes. An electronic circuit provides a control output signal in response to a rate of change in capacitance of the sense electrodes due to motion of the proximate object within the field without intermediate electronic differentiation of signals related to a change in capacitance.
Preferably, the sense electrodes are disposed on a planar surface, and in that configuration, enabling the establishment of an electric field extending outwardly and between the sense electrodes.
More particularly, the electronic circuit may include a phase locked frequency control loop (PLL) which includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), a fixed frequency reference oscillator for the VCO to follow, a phase/frequency comparator, a phase delay network for delaying the phase of the VCO output with respect to that of the reference and which acts to cause the VCO frequency to run ahead of the reference oscillator when the loop is phase locked and a loop filter which integrates the phase error signal from the comparator and thereby defines the dynamic response of the loop.
The characteristics of the loop filter are such as to slow down and in fact match the dynamic response of the loop to the characteristic timescale of motion of the object to be detected. Additionally, a phase sensitive trigger circuit is connected between the VCO and the reference oscillator and generates the sensor output signal whenever those two signals are in phase.
The VCO is connected to the sense electrodes such that any increases in capacitance there act to slow the VCO frequency and vice versa. A capacitance change caused by an object moving into the sensing region of the sense electrodes causes a phase shift in the operating frequency with respect to that of the reference which is greater for greater rates of change in capacitance of the sense electrodes.
The phase error signal thus generated by the comparator is integrated in the loop filter and if the phase error is accumulated at a fast enough rate, such that the phase shift exceeds the threshold defined by the phase delay network, then a sensor output or trigger signal is generated. This signal can then be used for control of another device, such as a soap pump where the sensor is used to detect hand motion near a non-contact soap dispenser, or a proximity indication via connection to a display or alarm device.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the trigger signal generating circuit includes a D-flop circuit and in an alternative embodiment the trigger circuit includes a voltage comparator.
In the preferred embodiment a frequency divider is included between the VCO and the phase/frequency comparator which causes the VCO frequency to operate at a frequency which is a fixed multiple of that of the reference oscillator.
Also, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the control circuit incorporates an additional feedback path for the loop which is parallel to the loop filter and is for eliminating multiple trigger signals for very large phase delay errors which would otherwise be caused by very large dC/dt""s generated at the sense electrodes. This feedback path incorporates a circuit which is adaptive to very large phase error signals in such a way that for small error signals it provides negligible output while for very large signals it does not allow the phase difference to move out of the +/xe2x88x9290 degree range. In the preferred embodiment this feedback path incorporates diodes in conjunction with an RC demodulating network.
More particularly, the VCO provides an operating frequency to the sense electrodes which is sufficiently high to insure that if the object is a human hand and the individual is grounded that the hand is nevertheless detected as a dielectric object. This eliminates any possible detection artifacts due to variations in the electrical groundedness of the hand and, as is known in the prior art, places a minimum operating frequency requirement on the sensor of a few hundred kilohertz. Hence, in the preferred embodiment and where the object is a hand and the device is a soap dispenser, the operating frequency is set to about 0.5 MHz. In this regard and alternatively for other sensing applications, the avoidance of conduction effects may impose other preferred constraints on the operating frequency. Such constraints are within the scope of the invention.
Preferably a grounded shield electrode is also provided and disposed in a spaced apart relationship parallel to and above the sense electrodes. This eliminates the sensing electric field in the region above the shield in order that that region may be utilized without falsely activating the system. In an alternative embodiment the shield electrode may be split into two halves and each half driven at the same voltage as the opposing sense electrode so as to reduce the capacitance between the sense electrodes and shield and thereby enhance the sensitivity and hence sensor range. This alternative requires additional electronic circuitry to generate the voltage waveform for the shield.


An aquatic weed harvester includes an open frame and a tubular mesh harvesting material that is secured to the open frame via a series of hooks disposed about the harvesting frame. The frame can be secured to a bow of a floatable structure or vessel via a variety of configurations, such as a pair of mounting channels or a rotating frame assembly. The rotating frame assembly allows the user to rotate the harvester between an in use orientation and a stored orientation. When placed in a stored orientation, the harvester opening is rotated upwards aiding the user in sealing the harvesting bag. The vessel preferably is designed having a split bow, where the weed harvester is positioned between the two bow extensions.

Aquatic weeds thrive in bodies of still water, such as ponds, lakes, and the like. The weeds can grow, replicate, and decompose blocking waterways. These weeds, algae, and similar growths can affect the health of people and animals, becoming a detriment to activities such as swimming, boating, fishing, and the like.
The collection of aquatic weeks is often referred to as harvesting. Harvesting is known, utilizing pontoons or large, expensive catamaran barges using paddle wheel, fossil fuel propulsion systems. The harvesters utilize power driven weed cutters and conveyors. The cutters sheer sections of the weeds for removal. The conveyors collect the weeds from the water and are later used for offloading the harvested weeds.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a cost effective weed harvester capable of removing the excessive growth of aquatic weeds, algae, and similar growths.


A method of handling a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection to support interworking to 5G system (5GS) is proposed. In a first novel aspect, both UE and the network stores mapped 5GSM parameters of a corresponding Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session when inter-system change from S1 (4G, EPS) mode to A/Gb (2G) mode or Iu (3G, UMTS) mode. In a second novel aspect, the PDN connection is enable to support interworking to 5GS, and the UE is allowed to allocate and indicate the PDU session ID by using the bearer resource modification procedure in EPS, or the mapped 5GSM parameters can be provided and modified in 2G/3G system.

The wireless communications network has grown exponentially over the years. A Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system offers high peak data rates, low latency, improved system capacity, and low operating cost resulting from simplified network architecture. LTE systems, also known as the 4G system, also provide seamless integration to older wireless network, such as GSM, CDMA and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). In LTE systems, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) includes a plurality of evolved Node-Bs (eNodeBs or eNBs) communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, referred to as user equipments (UEs). The 3rd generation partner project (3GPP) network normally includes a hybrid of 2G/3G/4G systems. The Next Generation Mobile Network (NGMN) board, has decided to focus the future NGMN activities on defining the end-to-end requirements for 5G new radio (NR) systems (5GS).
In 4G evolved packet system (EPS), a Packet Data Network (PDN) connectivity procedure is an important process when LTE communication system accesses to the packet data network. The purpose of PDN connectivity procedure is to setup a default EPS bearer between a UE and the packet data network. In 5G, a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session establishment a parallel procedure of the PDN connectivity procedure in 4G. A PDU session defines the association between the UE and the data network that provides a PDU connectivity service. Each PDU session is identified by a PDU session ID (PSI), and may include multiple QoS flows and QoS rules. In 5G network, QoS flow is the finest granularity for QoS management to enable more flexible QoS control. The concept of QoS flow in 5G like EPS bearer in 4G. When a QoS flow is added, the network can provide a QoS flow description IE to the UE, which comprises a list of QoS flow descriptions. Each QoS flow description comprises a QoS flow identifier (QFI), a QoS flow operation code, a number of QoS flow parameters, and a QoS flow parameters list. Each parameter included in the parameters list consists of a parameter identifier that identifies the corresponding parameter. One of the parameter identifiers is the EPS bearer identity (EBI), which is used to identify the EPS bearer that is mapped to or associated with the QoS flow.
Interworking to 5GS is supported for a PDN connection if the corresponding default EPS bearer context includes a PDU session identity (PSI), S-NSSAI, session AMBR and one or more QoS flow descriptions received in the Protocol configuration options IE or Extended protocol configuration options IE, or the default EPS bearer context has association with the PDU session identity, the S-NSSAI, the session-AMBR and one or more QoS flow descriptions after inter-system change from N1 (5GS) mode to S1 (4G, EPS) mode. If the UE has a PDN connection which supports interworking to 5GS and then the UE performs inter-system change from S1 mode to A/Gb (2G) or Iu (3G, UMTS) mode, it is not defined whether the mapped 5GSM parameters (e.g., PSI, S-NSSAI, session AMBR, QoS flow descriptions) shall be maintained by both the UE and the network. If the mapped 5GSM parameters are deleted, then after inter-system change from A/Gb mode or Iu mode back to S1 mode, it is impossible for the PDN connection to support interworking to 5GS due to the PSI is only provided in the PDN Connectivity Request message. In addition, it is not defined whether the PDN connection transferred from a PDP context (without mapped 5GSM parameters) shall be enalbed to support interworking to 5GS.

PDN connection supports interworking to 5GS


Presented herein is a method of extending a recording in a media content receiver of a media event that is delayed. In the method, a recording of media content is begun at an expected start time for the media event based on a recording timer, wherein the recording timer indicates the expected start time and an expected end time for the media event. After beginning the recording, the media content being recorded is analyzed to determine an actual start time for the media event. The actual start time is then compared with the expected start time. If the difference between the actual start time and the expected start time exceeds some predetermined value, the expected end time is adjusted to extend the recording. The recording is then ended at the adjusted end time.

For many years, viewers of broadcast television content, such as movies, news programs, weekly television episodes, sporting events, and the like, have taken fully advantage of the ability to record their favorite programs for subsequent viewing at a latter, more convenient time. This ability was first made widely available via the video cassette recorder (VCR), and more recently by way of the digital video recorder (DVR) or personal video recorder (PVR). With DVR technology, users may simply select a program to record from an electronic program guide (EPG) presented to the user via a television display. Further, the user may also be able to record each instance of a recurring program, such as a weekly episode, by setting a single recording timer in the DVR unit, which may be a standalone device, or a sub-unit incorporated into a satellite, cable, or terrestrial television receiver. In many cases, the user may also manually add or subtract time from the beginning and end of the program to account for small differences between the scheduled broadcast time and the typical broadcast time for the program.
While product developers continue to improve and simplify the user's interaction with a DVR for home recording of television programs, some unpredictable situations regarding the timing of television program broadcasts continue to make error-free recording difficult to attain. For example, due to unforeseen circumstances, a television presentation preceding a program for which a recording timer has been set may continue beyond its schedule ending time, thus delaying the program to be recorded by some unknown amount of time. As a result, while the beginning of the program may be recorded, the recording may end prior to the actual end of the selected program due to the unanticipated delay. In cases in which a program selected for recording has been rescheduled well in advance, the provider of EPG data residing in the DVR unit may be able to update the EPG data remotely, resulting in the associated recording timer being adjusted accordingly. However, if the program to be recorded is delayed with little or no warning, the EPG data provider would need to provide the unlikely capability of updating the EPG data in the recording DVR unit in real time for all programming channels to yield a proper recording of the program.

Recording extension of delayed media content


Searcher hardware is multiplexed to perform simultaneous searches in either an IS-95 CDMA mode or a GPS mode. In the IS-95 mode, the search hardware is time-multiplexed into a number of searcher time slices, each of which can generate a PN sequence to despread a data sequence. In the GPS mode, the search hardware is configured as a number of distinct GPS channels, each of which can generate a Gold code sequence for tracking a GPS signal from a particular GPS satellite. This configuration allows the searcher to perform multiple GPS signal searches simultaneously. Signal searching in both IS-95 and GPS modes is performed at significantly higher speeds compared to conventional searcher hardware. Moreover, the search hardware can be dynamically configured to operate in either the IS-95 or the GPS mode, eliminating the need for dedicated circuitry for each mode of operation.

Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication, such as voice and data communications. These systems may be based on a variety of modulation techniques, such as code division multiple access (CDMA) or time division multiple access (TDMA). A CDMA system provides certain advantages over other types of systems, including increased system capacity.
A CDMA system may be designed to support one or more CDMA standards such as (1) the "TIA/EIA-95-B Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System" (the IS-95 standard), (2) the standard offered by a consortium named "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP) and embodied in a set of documents including Document Nos. 3G TS 25.211, 3G TS 25.212, 3G TS 25.213, and 3G TS 25.214 (the W-CDMA standard), (3) the standard offered by a consortium named "3rd Generation Partnership Project 2" (3GPP2) and embodied in a set of documents including "C.S0002-A Physical Layer Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems," the "C.S0005-A Upper Layer (Layer 3) Signaling Standard for cdma2000 Spread Spectrum Systems," and the "C.S0024 cdma2000 High Rate Packet Data Air Interface Specification" (the cdma2000 standard), and (4) some other standards.
Pseudorandom noise (PN) sequences are commonly used in CDMA systems for spreading transmitted data, including transmitted pilot signals. The time required to transmit a single value of the PN sequence is known as a chip time, and the rate at which the chips vary is known as the chip rate. CDMA receivers commonly employ rake receivers. A rake receiver is typically made up of one or more searchers for locating direct and multipath pilots from one or more base stations, and two or more multipath demodulators (fingers) for receiving and combining information signals from those base stations.
Inherent in the design of direct sequence CDMA systems is the requirement that a receiver must align its PN sequences to those of a base station. For example, in IS-95, each base station and subscriber unit uses the exact same PN sequences. A base station distinguishes itself from other base stations by inserting a unique time offset in the generation of its PN sequences (all base stations are offset by an integer multiple of 64 chips). A subscriber unit communicates with a base station by assigning at least one finger to that base station. An assigned finger must insert the appropriate offset into its PN sequence in order to communicate with that base station. An IS-95 receiver uses one or more searchers to locate the offsets of pilot signals, and hence to use those offsets in assigning fingers for receiving. Since IS-95 systems use a single set of in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) PN sequences, one method of pilot location is to simply search the entire PN space by correlating an internally generated PN sequence with different offset hypotheses until one or more pilot signals are located.
As the searcher correlates the PN sequence with each offset hypothesis, it records the resulting signal energy. Energy peaks appear for the offset hypotheses that result in recovery of the signal, while other offset hypotheses typically result in little or no signal energy. Multiple energy peaks may result from, for example, echoes produced when signals reflect from buildings and other objects.
PN sequences are also used in global positioning system (GPS) receivers for position location. GPS satellites transmit PN sequences to a GPS receiver, which uses the PN sequences to calculate the distance between the GPS receiver and the satellites. By calculating the distance from a number of satellites, the GPS receiver can use trilateration techniques to determine the location of the GPS receiver.
The PN sequences used in GPS receivers are known as Gold codes and have particularly good autocorrelation and cross-correlation properties. The cross-correlation properties of the Gold codes are such that the correlation function between two different sequences is low, enabling GPS receivers to distinguish between signals transmitted from different satellites. A GPS receiver typically employs a searcher that can generate the Gold code that is needed to track and lock onto the GPS signal from a particular GPS satellite.
Search time is an important metric in determining the quality of a CDMA or GPS system. Decreased search time implies that searches can be done more frequently. As such, a subscriber unit can locate and access the best available cell more often, resulting in better signal transmission and reception, often at reduced transmission power levels by both the base station and the subscriber unit. This, in turn, increases the capacity of the CDMA system, either in terms of support for an increased number of users, higher transmission rates, or both. Decreased search time is also advantageous when a subscriber unit is in idle mode. In idle mode, a subscriber unit is not actively transmitting or receiving voice or data, but is periodically monitoring the system. In idle mode, the subscriber unit can remain in a low power state when it is not monitoring. Reduced search time allows the subscriber unit to spend less time monitoring, and more time in the low power state, thus reducing power consumption and increasing standby time.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Recovery support techniques for storage virtualization environments are described. In one embodiment, for example, a method may be performed that comprises defining, by processing circuitry, a storage container comprising one or more logical storage volumes of a logical storage array of a storage system, associating the storage container with a virtual volume (vvol) datastore, identifying metadata for a vvol of the vvol datastore, and writing the metadata for the vvol to the storage system. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

In order to enable the provision and/or management of storage capacity at a per-virtual machine (VM) level of granularity, a virtual volume (vvol) storage environment may be presented to a virtualization system. In such a vvol storage environment, a set of storage resources of a storage system may be presented to the virtualization system as a vvol datastore, via one or more layers of abstraction. The virtualization system may create vvols within the vvol datastore and make those vvols available for use by VMs running within the virtualization system. Support for the abstraction associated with implementation of the vvol storage environment may be provided by an intermediary framework, within which various types of metadata may be retained during the course of ongoing operation.


A space lighting fitting comprises a support, lamp holder means and light directing means adjustable between first and second positions giving direct and indirect lighting respectively.

This invention relates to a space lighting, that is to say lighting for illuminating spaces such as rooms of dwelling houses or offices or theatres or even for outdoor spaces such a patios.
It is conventional to provide lighting fittings which have shades, reflectors diffusers and the like, and many designs of fittings are available which give indirect lighting as by directing light from a lamp in the fitting on to a wall or ceiling, while many other designs provide direct lighting by allowing light from the lamp to fall directly, either with or without an intervening diffuser or lensed refractor, into the space to be illuminated.
In particular with tubular lamps such as fluorescent tubes, fittings comprise a reflector behind the tube with an optional diffuser prismatic controller, or lensed refractor in front of the tube, although often tubular lamps are used to give indirect lighting by being concealed within pelmets or under soffits or within alcoves where, however, they may provide direct illumination on to objects displayed within the alcove, but some indirect illumination into the room space beyond the alcove by reflection from the walls and ceiling of the alcove.
Although certain shaded lamps can be adjusted, for example, desk and table lamps, to direct light at a working area, mostly lamps are designed to be permanently positioned to provide direct illumination or indirect illumination in order to achieve a permanent, desired lighting effect in a room, office or other space.
The fittings for tubular lamps, such as fluorescent tubes, have been on the whole typical of such permanently deployed lighting fittings.
The present invention provides improved lighting fittings that give more flexibility of lighting effect whereby a single lamp can be permanently or adjustably deployed in a variety of configurations.