An apparatus and method for enabling fast set up for push-to-talk (PT) communications in a wireless communication network. PTT set up related messages are identified through a specially designated header and the messages with the special designated header are transmitted through signaling channels from a radio transmission unit to a mobile device.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to data transfer in a wireless telecommunication system and, more particularly, the identification of data type transferred within a wireless telecommunication system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In wireless telecommunication systems, Push-to-talk (PTT) capabilities are becoming popular with service sectors. PTT can support a "dispatch" voice service that operates over standard commercial wireless infrastructures, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), and global system for mobile communications (GSM). In a dispatch model, communication between endpoints (end user devices) occurs within virtual groups, wherein the voice of one "talker" is broadcast to one or more "listeners." A single instance of this type of communication is commonly referred to as a dispatch call, or simply a PTT call. A PTT call is an instantiation of a group, which defines the characteristics of a call. A group in essence is defined by a member list and associated information, such as group name or group identification. In the absence of a wireless multicast channel, each group is formed by the combination of separate point-to-point connections between each endpoint and PTT servers manage the call. Each endpoint is also known as a client.
FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art architecture 100 supporting PTT communications. The architecture includes the deployment of a single PTT server region in conjunction with a carrier's CDMA infrastructure and packet data network. Each region of the PTT servers is deployed over a specific portion of a carrier packet data network. The PTT server within the region may be routing traffic between one or more Packet Data Service Nodes (PDSNs) in the carrier network. A communication device 102 that supports the PTT feature is in communication with a base station 104. The base station 104 is in communication with a high speed network 106 and PTT communications received from the communication device 102 is sent through the base station 104 and the network 106 to a packet data service node (PDSN). The PDSN communicates with the high speed network 106 and a PTT server's network 108, which is connected to a PTT network 110. The PDSN forwards the PTT communications to a PTT server 112 in the PTT network 110.
The PTT server 112 handles PTT communications among members of a PTT group. The PTT server 112 receives a PTT communication from one member and forwards it to all members of the PTT group. The PTT communication is usually received as data packets from the network 110, and the PTT communication sent out by the PTT server 112 are also in data packet format. A receiving mobile switching center (MSC) and a connected base station (BS) then established a dedicated channel to transmit the PTT communication to a receiving mobile client (a PTT member).
FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art message flow 200 for a PTT call set up. When a PTT user (originator) is ready to make a PTT communication, he presses a PTT activation button on his mobile device 102 and a PTT request is thus made. In response to the PTT request received by the mobile device 102, and the mobile device sends a call request to the PTT server 112, which is also known as the PTT dispatcher. The PTT server 112 receives the call request and process the call request. The call request processing includes identifying the PTT user, identifying a PTT group to which the PTT user belongs, identifying member of this PTT group, and preparing announce call messages to be sent to each member of the PTT group.
After the PTT server 112 sends the announce call messages, each announce call message is received by a MSC and forwarded by the MSC to a BS. The BS broadcasts the announce call message. If a mobile client who is a targeted receiver is available, the mobile client sends an accept call message back to the PTT server 112. After receiving the accept call message from at least one mobile client, the PTT server 112 sends a floor grant message back to the originating mobile client. There may be more than one targeted user in the originator's PTT communication group, and the PTT server 112 will grant the floor to the originator if there is at least one targeted mobile client available. After receiving the floor grant message, the PTT requesting mobile client (originator) can then make a PTT communication.
The PTT communication set up process described above is time sensitive and the initial PTT latency shown in FIG. 2 is affected by network traffic. The long latency affects directly users of the PTT communication. Therefore, it is desirous to have a system and method for enabling fast PTT set up, and it is to such system and method this invention is primarily directed.

Method for using a signaling channel to set up a call request for a push-to-talk communication on a wireless communication network


Aspects of the invention relate generally to identifying and providing 3D models in response to a search request. More specifically, a server may access a database of 3D models, at least some of which include geolocation information such as an address, intersection, or geolocation coordinates. The server may select a particular model and identify points of interest. For example, the server may use detailed map information to identify points of interest located at or near the geolocation information associated with the particular model. Once a point of interest has been identified, a corresponding system tag may be generated and associated with the 3D model. Tags may be used to index, search, and retrieve 3D models in response to a search request. For example, when a request for a 3D model is received, the server identifies the search terms and searches the tags to identify relevant 3D models.

Various Internet-based services allow users to upload and share three-dimensional ("3D") models of various objects such as the buildings, stadiums, ships, vehicles, lakes, trees, etc. The objects may be associated with various types of user-provided information such as titles, descriptive data, user reviews, business listings, etc. Many of the objects and the models themselves, for example buildings or parks, may be geolocated or associated with a geographic location such as an address or geolocation coordinates. Models may also be categorized by users. For example, a model of a sky-scraper may be associated with one or more user designated collections such as sky-scrapers, buildings in a particular city, etc. In this regard, a user may request models, and the service may search the database for models, for example, titles, geographic locations, descriptions, object types, collections, physical features, etc. for instances of the search terms in order to identify relevant search results. The results may be sent back to the user who may select a model to obtain further information.
Once a user has selected a 3D model, the user may interact with the model. For example, a user may query the database for "the Eiffel Tower" and in response receive a list of search results including various models of the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, France, as well as other objects associated with or indexed by the search terms. Once a user has selected an object, for example, by clicking on a search result, the user may, among other actions, download, view, rotate, or comment on the model.


A hitch for connecting an implement to a vehicle. The hitch comprises a first frame for attachment to the vehicle and a second frame for attachment to the implement. The hitch further comprises a mechanism for connecting the first frame to the second frame. The connection of the first frame to the second frame provides for connecting the implement to the vehicle when the first frame is attached to the vehicle and the second frame is attached to the implement.

The industry of vehicles adapted to receive implements, and the industry of implements themselves are both quite vast. It goes from residential, commercial and industrial applications. Examples of vehicles adapted to receive implements include tractors, trucks, all-terrain vehicles and heavy machinery. The variety of implements is wide since each implement usually corresponds to a particular task to be performed. Non-restrictive examples of implements include rotary-cutter, post-hole-digger and finish mower.
A system specifically designed for connecting an implement to a vehicle is generally used. The system may consist of a three-point hitch comprising three links for connecting the implement to the vehicle. Alternatively, the system may consist of a four-point hitch comprising four links for connecting the implement to the vehicle. A common design for a four-point hitch comprises two lower links and two upper links, each link being connected at one end with the implement and at the other end with the vehicle.
Although a plurality of designs for implementing a hitch are known in the art, most of these designs are not intended to facilitate the operation of attachment of the implement to the vehicle, which may lead to a degradation of the hitch and/or the implement if the operation of attachment is not performed accurately. For instance, the operation of attachment can be performed in various operating conditions, on various types of grounds, in various climatic conditions, which may render the operation of attachment more delicate and more prone to a failure.
There is therefore a need for a new hitch for connecting an implement to a vehicle, which facilitates the operation of connection.

Hitch for connecting an implement to a vehicle


A program segments display bar is described. In embodiment(s), a program segments display bar has still images that can include scene images and advertisement images. The scene images can each correspond to a different segment of television media content, such as a movie or television program, and are displayed in the program segments display bar to indicate a sequence of the television media content. The advertisement images can each correspond to a different advertisement and can be displayed in the program segments display bar to indicate where the different advertisements are included with the television media content. The program segments display bar can also include a focus that can be positioned proximate a still image to indicate that the still image is selectable.

The advent of on-demand programming, such as recorded or cached on-demand and broadcast media content, provides a viewer with the option to navigate a recorded or on-demand program with media content navigation commands commonly referred to as "trick modes". These media content navigation commands are typically initiated with a remote control device and include commands such as play, fast-forward, rewind, pause, and other navigation commands that were derived from tape transport mechanisms.
The fast-forward function, for example, provides a time-savings for a viewer when used to shorten the viewing time for a recorded program. However, the fast-forward function does not provide a convenient technique to locate segments or scenes of a recorded program that may be of interest to a viewer. Typically, video that is being displayed in a fast-forward mode must be observed by the viewer to input another remote control input, such as a play or pause command, at precisely the right time to keep from overrunning a particular scene and missing part of the recorded or on-demand program.


A method, system and server for processing low balance data session requests are provided. The server includes a memory storing an account record including an account balance and a count of failed service requests; a network interface; and a processor interconnected with the memory and the network interface. The processor receives a request to access a data service for a mobile device corresponding to the account record; and to determine whether the account balance is sufficient to access the data service. When the account balance is not sufficient, the processor compares the count of failed service requests to a threshold. When the count exceeds the threshold, the processor sends a notification to the mobile device, and when the count does not exceed the threshold, the processor increments the count. The processor also returns a message denying access to the data service.

Mobile devices, such as smart phones, with data communication (i.e. packetized communications) capabilities can automatically establish data sessions with telecommunications networks. An individual device may establish a large number of sessions over a given time period, depending on the nature of the device and the software executing thereon.
Such devices may attempt to establish data sessions even when their prepaid account balances are too low to successfully establish the sessions. This can lead to rejection of the session requests, followed quickly by further attempts to establish sessions. These frequent requests to establish sessions and rejections thereof can impose a significant burden on the resources of the network, as well as those of the devices (particularly with respect to battery life).

Method, system and apparatus for processing low-balance data session requests


Implementations set forth herein relate to using fiducial markings on one or more localized portions of an agricultural apparatus in order to generate local and regional data that can be correlated for planning and executing agricultural maintenance. An array of fiducial markings can be disposed onto plastic mulch that surrounds individual crops, in order that each fiducial marking of the array can operate as a signature for each individual crop. Crop data, such as health and yield, corresponding to a particular crop can then be stored in association with a corresponding fiducial marking, thereby allowing the certain data for the particular crop to be tracked and analyzed. Furthermore, autonomous agricultural devices can rely on the crop data, over other sources of data, such as GPS satellites, thereby allowing the autonomous agricultural devices to be more reliable.

In areas of a field, agricultural conditions can rapidly change at a localized and regional level, with some changes resulting in healthier crops and other changes resulting in degradation of plant environments. In some instances, pests can damage certain areas of crops without warning or recognition by those persons tasked with overseeing such areas—and despite such pests typically having an observable origin. In other instances, crops can reap benefits from weather that is moving through a region, and such crops may be able to leverage certain benefits from the weather, at least with prior preparation relative to the weather. However, when agricultural personnel fail to recognize these benefits, those benefits are not leveraged to increase yields of the crops.
Although satellite imaging can be helpful for predicting activities of natural systems and how they may affect certain agricultural operations, satellite imaging may lack precise data, e.g., at the individual plant level, which otherwise could be harnessed to increase agricultural yields. It is possible to traverse various types of robots through agricultural areas to capture data at the individual plant level, e.g., using two-dimensional ("2D") and/or three-dimensional ("3D") sensors. However, many robots (also referred as "rovers") perform localization using position coordinate sensors, such as global position system ("GPS") sensors, that are often not sufficiently accurate or consistent to localize the robots at an individual plant level. Moreover, GPS may not operate in some scenarios, such as when crops are planted underneath or near a natural or man-made canopy.

Applying and using fiducial markings on agricultural apparatuses


A gas trap apparatus for liberating gas from drilling mud and collecting such gas for analysis. A motor is connected to a rotatable vertical shaft having beater bars thereon, which when the shaft is immersed in drilling mud and rotate, stirs such mud to liberate gas entrained therein. The gas trap is characterized in having a top member and a bottom member which surrounds the vertical shaft and which is releasably secured to the top member thereof by a quick release mechanism which facilitates rapid detachment of the bottom member from the top member to permit quick access said vertical shaft and beater bars thereon for replacement or servicing. The vertical shaft may further likewise be provided with a quick-release means to allow quick release of the shaft from the motor for easy replacement and servicing of same.

"Drilling mud" is a generic term for a fluid containing dispersed solids which is used in the drilling of wells. Drilling mud, comprising various chemical compounds, is pumped down the drill string during the drilling of a well to assist, among other things, in cooling the drill bit, minimizing corrosion of drill pipe, pressurizing the well against hydrostatic head when the drill string enters a pressurized formation, and further to carry drill chips away from the drill bit, which then become suspended in such drilling mud. The drilling mud flows back to surface, typically in the annulus between the drill string and the well casing.
When a hydrocarbon-containing strata is encountered during drilling of a well, a certain amount of the gas containing hydrocarbons from the strata will be entrained in the drilling mud and thus be carried to the surface by the drilling operation. Thus any entrained gas, when extracted from the drilling mud, can be analyzed and used to determine the presence of hydrocarbon and the likely "quality" of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation (ie provide an estimate of the quantum of hydrocarbon in the strata being drilled through) at the depth of the well at which such hydrocarbon-bearing strata existed.
The above procedure is known as "mud logging" and is a critical process in the drilling of wells for determining if the drilled well has successfully encountered a "rich" hydrocarbon-containing formation, the "quality" of the formation, and the depth at which such hydrocarbon-bearing formation was encountered.
Gas trap devices for facilitating the liberation of gases from drilling mud and collecting such gases during drilling for subsequent analysis in mud-logging operations are well known in the mud-logging industry.
Such prior art gas trap devices are typically mounted on "mud tanks", and serve to: (i) agitate the mud collected in such tanks from a well being drilled in order to liberate any gas entrained therein; and (ii) collect such liberated gas from the agitated mud and direct such collected gas to gas detection and analysis equipment.
One such gas trap device 10 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,509 entitled "Controlled Gas Trap System", assigned to Texaco Inc. Such gas trap device 10, as shown in FIG. 1 thereof, possesses a cylindrical trap body 12 closed at its upper end by plate 14 and at its lower end by a plate 16 having a central annular aperture 18 which is co-axial with the housing 12, with plates 16 and 20 defining a mixing chamber 24 therebetween. A constant speed motor 26 is mounted co-axially on the top plate 14, and a downwardly-extending vertical shaft 30 of the motor extends downwardly into the interior of the housing 12. An agitator 42 is connected to the bottom of the shaft 30 and lies in the mixing chamber 24. Agitator 42 possesses a series of legs 44, 46, 48 ("beater bars") which when rotated by shaft 30 serve to agitate drilling mud to thereby liberate any entrained gas, which is collected via sample line 34 for analysis.
Another similar prior art gas trap is that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,603, likewise assigned to Texaco Inc., which discloses a similar gas trap 11 having a similar plurality of legs 18, which collects liberated gas from agitated drilling mud in head space 21, with the added feature of providing a standard gas from a standard gas source 27 (a pressurized tank). The flow of standardized gas is calibrated, to assist in error correction with regard to the sampled (liberated) gas stream.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,389,878 teaches a similar type of gas trap 1, possessing a modification wherein the shaft 43 extending downwardly from motor 41 is hollow, with radially-extending tubes 44 extending radially outwardly therefrom, which serve to inject "stripping" air into the drilling mud, which air is drawn (along with gas entrained in the mud) upwardly within the gas trap for subsequent collection via tube 20 and thereafter compositional analysis. Significantly, US '878 expressly teaches that the gas trap 1 is comprised of an upper and lower canisters 13, 12, respectively, each of which is a truncated right circular cone. The truncated open end 19 of the upper canister 13 is smaller than the truncated open end 15 of the lower canister 12 so that it is partially insertable into lower canister 12. The upper and lower canisters 13, 12 are sealably joined at their connective interface 23. No means of quick release of one canister from the other is taught or suggested.
US Patent Publication 200910077936 teaches a similar gas trap, with the added feature that such gas trap is vertically variably positionable. Significantly, the container 16 which contains the stirrer 32, appears to be a unitary construction, with no disclosure of means to access the stirrer 32 in the event replacement is required.
Problematically, due the drilling mud containing significant abrasives, not the least of which is drill chips entrained therein from drilling operations, as well as having (and being designed to entrain therewithin) suspended solid particles, such drilling mud and abrasive particles therein causes serious and substantial wear to rotating outwardly-radially extending "beater bars" on the agitator shaft, frequently resulting (depending on the speed of rotation of the shaft and the amount of abrasives contained in the drilling mud) in breakage and/or substantial material loss of the beater bars, all of which result in ineffective or reduced effective operation of the agitation of the drilling mud and thus the gas trap, requiring servicing of or replacement of the shaft and/or one or more beater bars of the gas trap.
Thus a significant disadvantage of each of the prior art gas traps and their designs is that the container (or plates) which surround the shaft make replacement or access to the shaft difficult or impossible.
Similarly, prior art gas traps sold by RigSat Communications Inc. (the within application assigned to such entity) possessed a bottom member which surrounded the shaft and beater bars, which was releasably secured to a top section on which the motor was mounted by means of threaded bolts and mating threaded apertures. Although such design, being of a two part construction, allowed access to the shaft upon removal of the threaded bolts, such was time consuming and often resulted in loss of bolts within the mud tanks upon which the gas traps were mounted.
Accordingly, a real need exists in the prior art for a gas trap of two-part construction, which allows ready and easy access to beater bars to adequately service or replace such shafts and/or beater bars, in order to reduce maintenance costs (and "down" time) of existing gas traps in mud logging operations.

Gas trap for drilling mud having quick-release separable lower section


The present invention relates to an aerosol spray for cleaning a drain with an excellent foam cleaning effect by spraying a drain cleaning composition to a drain hole and a drain of a sink, and the foamed cleaner can remain for a long time by spraying the drain cleaning composition in an aerosol or foam form to a sink filter, a drain hole and a drain, to maximize the cleaning effect. In addition, the present invention discloses a method for cleaning a drain of a sink comprising; (a) preparing a cleaner container comprising a first receiving part and a second receiving part in which a first agent and a second agent are received respectively; (b) mixing the first agent and the second agent each other; and (c) arranging the cleaner container in a drain inlet of a sink to inject a mixed foam cleansing agent released through an outlet of the cleaner container.

In general, the filter and drain of the sink are easily soiled and cause severe odors, as foods remain in the process of cooking or disposing of foods and they are always wet in water so it is an environment where microorganisms can easily grow. However, it is inconvenient and time-consuming and labor-intensive to clean them to keep the filter or drain clean, but there is no special alternative other than replacing the filter or drain, and therefore it is problematic.
To solve this, U.S. Patent Application No. 2014-529388 discloses a two liquid system for cleaning a pipe by foaming hydrogen peroxide with hydrolase such as amylase. However, this system has a disadvantage in that the sterilization bleaching effect of hydrogen peroxide is significantly lower than that of sodium hypochlorite and thus the sterilization bleaching effect is not sufficiently exhibited.
In addition, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003-0171234 discloses a method for cleaning a pipe by pouring a sodium hypochlorite composition having viscosity and a foaming agent at the same time to foam. However, in this cleaning method, the sodium hypochlorite and foaming agent are difficult to be uniformly, and foam does not stay in the pipe of the vertically installed sink for a long time, but is released shortly, and therefore there is a limit to maintain the cleaning effect. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a composition or method capable of cleaning a sink drain more effectively, by increasing the duration of the cleaning effect of a foam cleaner composition.

Method for cleaning drain pipe of sink and cleaning container therefor


The outer peripheral surface (32) and the inner spherical peripheral surface (34) of a cage (30) of a double-offset constant velocity universal joint are cut after being quenched. More specifically, to finish the outer peripheral surface (32) of the cage (30) made up of a spherical portion (32a) and tapered portions (32b, 32c), the spherical portion (32a) and the tapered portions (32b, 32c) are cut after being quenched. Then, the spherical portion (32a) is cut at a cutting speed lower than that for the tapered portions (32b, 32c), thereby providing a better roughness to the cut surface of the spherical portion (32a) than to the cut surface of the tapered portions (32b, 32c).

Among those constant velocity universal joints that are used for automobiles or various types of industrial machines, for example, the plunging constant velocity universal joint, which is designed to permit angular and axial displacement, is employed for the drive shafts of front wheel drive cars or rear wheel drive cars of the independent suspension scheme. One type of plunging constant velocity universal joint is a double-offset constant velocity universal joint. The double-offset constant velocity universal joint mainly includes: an outer race serving as an outer joint member; an inner race serving as an inner joint member; a plurality of balls interposed between the outer race and the inner race to serve as a torque transmitting element for transmission of torque; and a cage for holding all the balls in a plane. The cage has an outer spherical surface in contact with the inner cylindrical peripheral surface of the outer race and an inner spherical surface in contact with the outer spherical peripheral surface of the inner race, in which the center of the outer spherical surface and the center of the inner spherical surface are offset oppositely from each other with respect to the joint center. This is because the joint is of the double offset type. Because the balls are held in one and the same plane by the cage, even at an operation angle, the axial position of the center of the balls is located on a bisecting plane of the outer spherical surface center and the inner spherical surface center of the cage, thereby maintaining the constant velocity property.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-71394

Double-offset constant velocity universal joint


An apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store information which is acquired by a negotiation with an external apparatus and is for communication via a network, a detection unit configured to detect that conditions are satisfied for switching to a power saving mode in which power consumption is smaller than in a normal power mode while the normal power mode is operating, and a notification unit configured to notify a network interface of the stored information when the conditions for switching to the power saving mode are satisfied.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus which is connected to a network via a network interface and communicable with an external apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an information processing system which has a power saving mode for minimizing power consumption on standby has been known. As an example of such an information processing system, there is a communication system including an information processing apparatus on the main body side provided with a main central processing unit (CPU) and a network interface card (NIC) apparatus provided with a sub CPU. In general, such a communication system brings the information processing apparatus on the main body side into a power saving mode during the power saving mode and each module of the NIC apparatus which uses less power stands by while being supplied with a normal electric power.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-259906 discusses that, when a normal power mode is transferred to a power saving mode to stop supplying the main CPU with electric power, the main CPU notifies the sub CPU of an address of a multicast packet to be responded. This allows the sub CPU to respond instead of the main CPU when the sub CPU receives a multicast packet when the supply of the electric power to the main CPU stopped, which eliminates need for starting the main CPU. In other words, a stoppage in supplying the electric power to the main CPU can be continued longer to increase an effect of power saving.
In recent years, as a technique for encrypting a network path in order to protect confidential information, an encryption system such as Internet protocol security (IPSec) and secure socket layer (SSL) has been known. The use of these techniques can transfer data via a network with data encrypted and prevent leakage of information.
As a standard for authentication used in the connection of a system to a local area network (LAN), an 802.1X is known. The 802.1X limits connection by authentication to prevent a terminal device other than a predetermined terminal device from connecting a system to a computer network.
As described above, information about a packet to be responded when the information processing apparatus on the main body side is brought into a power saving mode is registered into the NIC apparatus to allow the NIC apparatus to respond to a received packet instead of the information processing apparatus on the main body side.
When the NIC apparatus responds instead of the information processing apparatus on the main body side, if a packet transmitted via the network is encrypted, the NIC apparatus may not be able to adequately respond.
In other words, when the NIC apparatus is caused to respond instead of the information processing apparatus on the main body side, a pattern of the packet to be responded by the NIC apparatus and a packet to be transmitted as a response to the packet matching with the pattern are registered into the NIC apparatus. This means that the NIC apparatus which receives the packet matching with the registered pattern transmits the packet corresponding to the pattern. If the packet received by the NIC apparatus is encrypted and then the encrypted packet is compared with the registered pattern, it is determined that the content does not match with the registered pattern even if the content of the packet matches with the registered pattern.
In this case, the information processing apparatus on the main body side is returned from the power saving mode to the normal power mode and the packet received by the NIC apparatus is to be transferred to the information processing apparatus on the main body side. Thus, this increases the number of times that the information processing apparatus on the main body side is returned from the power saving mode to the normal power mode and the effect of saving power is lessened.
The NIC apparatus may include a configuration for encryption and decryption processing similar to the information processing apparatus on the main body side, which, however, may cause the following situation.
When the information processing apparatus on the main body side executes an encrypted communication, the information processing apparatus on the main body side previously performs negotiation with an external apparatus which is the other party for the encrypted communication to acquire and store information to execute the encrypted communication. The stored information is used when the information processing apparatus on the main body side executes the encrypted communication.
However, if the information processing apparatus on the main body side is switched to the power saving mode and the NIC apparatus executes the encrypted communication with an external apparatus, the NIC apparatus is to perform again the negotiation with the external apparatus. Such processing may cause a situation in that both the NIC and the external apparatus are subjected to an unnecessary load and a time-consuming negotiation decreases communication efficiency.
Further, a generally NIC apparatus is poorer in hardware configuration (processing efficiency of CPU and memory capacity) than the information processing apparatus on the main body side. Therefore, it may be difficult for the NIC apparatus to be equipped with a configuration for performing the negotiation with the external apparatus as well as a configuration for performing the encryption and the decryption processing.
This applies to an authentication system such as 802.1X. If the information processing apparatus on the main body side is switched to the power saving mode and the NIC apparatus communicates with the external apparatus instead of the information processing apparatus on the main body side, the negotiation is again to be performed between the NIC apparatus and the external apparatus.

Information processing apparatus, network interface apparatus, method of controlling both, and storage medium


Methods, apparatus, and processor-readable storage media for processing order experience data across multiple data structures are provided herein. An example computer-implemented method includes processing data, obtained from a first set of data structures, pertaining to orders placed with an enterprise, wherein the first set of data structures contains data associated with distinct portions of order transactions; extracting information pertaining to pre-defined attributes from the processed data and processing the extracted information into a second set of data structures; calculating order experience scores for the orders by applying at least one algorithm to the extracted information in the second set of data structures; generating at least one benchmark order experience value, wherein each benchmark order experience value is based at least in part on the calculated order experience scores; and performing operations related to order experience within the enterprise based at least in part on the benchmark order experience values.

Order experience (OEx or OE) can serve as a lens through which businesses or other enterprises monitor the other side of the sales spectrum. Namely, order experience represents the experience that is delivered to user and/or customers from the time a user and/or customer initiates orders and/or purchases a product or service to the time when the transaction is deemed completed, whether in a satisfactory or unsatisfactory capacity. Attempting to deliver a perfect order experience to every order in a given enterprise system can be difficult to achieve, however, as existing tools and approaches for measuring order experience are typically based on feedback solicited from the human users and/or customers. Accordingly, such feedback may not accurately reflect the true health of a given order experience, and moreover, such human feedback may not pertain to all of the components of an enterprise's order experience system.
Additionally, such human feedback, commonly obtained via customer satisfaction surveys, include participation challenges, wherein typically only a small percentage of users/customers actually respond to the surveys. Obtaining useful feedback for many orders via existing approaches, therefore, is a very expensive and implausible means of accurately capturing order experience data on a meaningful scale.
Further, conventional tools for measuring order experience do not include the ability to evaluate an order and/or transaction across large sets of pre-defined order experience components.

Processing order experience data across multiple data structures


The present invention relates to substituted diphenyl heterocycle compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that inhibit replication of HCV virus. The present invention also relates to the use of the compounds and/or compositions to inhibit HCV replication and/or proliferation and to treat or prevent HCV infections.

The present invention relates to substituted diphenyl heterocycles and compositions thereof useful for treating or preventing Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. In particular, the present invention relates to substituted diphenyl isoxazole, pyrazole and oxadiazole compounds, compositions comprising the compounds and the use of such compounds and compositions to inhibit HCV replication and/or proliferation as a therapeutic approach towards the treatment and/or prevention of HCV infections in humans and animals.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global human health problem with approximately 150,000 new reported cases each year in the United States alone. HCV is a single stranded RNA virus, which is the etiological agent identified in most cases of non-A, non-B post-transfusion and post-transplant hepatitis and is a common cause of acute sporadic hepatitis (Choo et al., Science 244:359, 1989; Kuo et al., Science 244:362, 1989; and Alter et al., in Current Perspective in Hepatology, p. 83, 1989). It is estimated that more than 50% of patients infected with HCV become chronically infected and 20% of those develop cirrhosis of the liver within 20 years (Davis et al., New Engl. J. Med. 321:1501, 1989; Alter et al., in Current Perspective in Hepatology, p. 83, 1989; Alter et al., New Engl. J. Med. 327:1899, 1992; and Dienstag Gastroenterology 85:430, 1983). Moreover, the only therapy available for treatment of HCV infection is interferon-xcex1 (INTRON(copyright) A, PEG-INTRON(copyright) A, Schering-Plough; ROFERON-A(copyright), PEGASys(copyright), Roche). Most patients are unresponsive, however, and among the responders, there is a high recurrence rate within 6-12 months after cessation of treatment (Liang et al., J. Med. Virol. 40:69, 1993). Ribavirin, a guanosine analog with broad spectrum activity against many RNA and DNA viruses, has been shown in clinical trials to be effective against chronic HCV infection when used in combination with interferon-xcex1 (see, e.g., Poynard et al., Lancet 352:1426-1432, 1998; Reichard et al., Lancet 351:83-87, 1998), and this combination therapy has been recently approved (REBETRON, Schering-Plough; see also Fried et al., 2002, N. Engl. J. Med. 347:975-982). However, the response rate is still at or below 50%. Therefore, additional compounds for treatment and prevention of HCV infection are needed.
In one aspect, the present invention provides substituted diphenyl heterocycles that are potent inhibitors of Hepatitis C virus (xe2x80x9cHCVxe2x80x9d) replication and/or proliferation. In one embodiment, the compounds are substituted diphenyl isoxazole, pyrazole and/or oxadiazole compounds according to structural formula (I):
where Z is CH (isoxazoles, or pyrazoles) or N (oxadiazoles) and X and Y are each, independently of one another, O and N, provided that: (i) X and Y are not both O and (ii) when X and Y are each N, then Z is CH. The xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d phenyl ring includes at least one, and in many instances two, substituents positioned ortho to the point of attachment (R2 and/or R6) and optionally from 1 to 4 additional substituents, which may be the same or different. Although the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d ring may include a single ortho (R2 or R6) substituent, compounds which include two ortho substituents (R2 and R6) are particularly active and useful. It is preferable that at least one of the substituent groups at positions R2 and/or R6 provide some steric bulk. For example, it is preferable that the R2 and/or R6 substituent be larger than a fluoro group.
The nature of the R2 and/or R6 substituents, as well as the optional substituents at positions R3, R4 and R5, can vary widely. As a consequence, the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d phenyl ring may be substituted with virtually any substituent groups, provided that at least one of R2 or R6 is other than hydrogen. When the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d phenyl ring includes more than one substituent, the substituents may be the same or different. Typical substituent groups useful for substituting the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d ring include, but are not limited to, branched, straight-chain or cyclic alkyls, mono- or polycyclic aryls, branched, straight-chain or cyclic heteroalkyls, mono- or polycyclic heteroaryls, halos, branched, straight-chain or cyclic haloalkyls, hydroxyls, oxos, thioxos, branched, straight-chain or cyclic alkoxys, branched, straight-chain or cyclic haloalkoxys, trifluoromethoxys, mono- or polycyclic aryloxys, mono- or polycyclic heteroaryloxys, ethers, alcohols, sulfides, thioethers, sulfanyls (thiols), imines, azos, azides, amines (primary, secondary and tertiary), nitriles (any isomer), cyanates (any isomer), thiocyanates (any isomer), nitrosos, nitros, diazos, sulfoxides, sulfonyls, sulfonic acids, sulfamides, sulfonamides, sulfamic esters, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, amidines, formadines, amino acids, acetylenes, carbamates, lactones, lactams, glucosides, gluconurides, sulfones, ketals, acetals, thioketals, oximes, oxamic acids, oxamic esters, etc., and combinations of these groups.
These substituent groups may be further substituted at one or more available carbon or heteroatoms with the same or different additional substituents, which may be selected from the substituents described above. Any reactive functionalities in the groups used to substituted the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d phenyl ring may be masked with a protecting group or a progroup, as is well-known in the art.
The substituent groups may be attached directly to the phenyl ring, or they may be spaced away from the ring by way of a linker. The nature of the linker can vary widely, and can include virtually any combination of atoms or groups useful for spacing one molecular moiety from another. For example, the linker may be an acyclic hydrocarbon bridge (e.g, a saturated or unsaturated alkyleno such as methano, ethano, etheno, propano, prop[1]eno, butano, but[1]eno, but[2]eno, buta[1,3]dieno, and the like), a monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon bridge (e.g., [1,2]benzeno, [2,3]naphthaleno, and the like), a simple acyclic heteroatomic or heteroalkyldiyl bridge (e.g., xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Sxe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94NHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94PHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94C(O)NHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94S(O)xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94S(O)2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94S(O)NHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94S(O)2NHxe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, xe2x80x94Oxe2x80x94CHxe2x95x90CHxe2x80x94CH2xe2x80x94, and the like), a monocyclic or polycyclic heteroaryl bridge (e.g., [3,4]furano, pyridino, thiopheno, piperidino, piperazino, pyrizidino, pyrrolidino, and the like) or combinations of such bridges. In one embodiment, the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d ring is substituted at both R2 and R6 with the same or different halo, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, methoxy, haloalkyl, trifluoromethyl, 5-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl or substituted 5-6 membered cycloheteroalkyl group.
The xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d ring is substituted at the meta position with a group of the formula xe2x80x94NR11C(O)R12, where R11 is hydrogen or lower alkyl and R12 is monohalomethyl or dihalomethyl. The xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d ring may optionally include from 1 to 4 additional substituents (R8, R9, R10 and/or R13), which may be the same or different. As for the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d phenyl ring, the nature of the optional R8, R9, R10 and R13 substituents can vary broadly. Groups useful for substituting the xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d phenyl ring are the same as those described for the xe2x80x9cAxe2x80x9d phenyl ring, supra. In one embodiment, the xe2x80x9cCxe2x80x9d ring does not include optional substituents, such that R8, R9, R10 and R13 are each hydrogen.
As will be recognized by skilled artisans, the actual electron distribution or double bonding pattern of the xe2x80x9cBxe2x80x9d ring will depend upon the identities of substituents X and Y. As illustrated, structural formula (I) is specifically intended to include at least the following six structures:
In another aspect, the invention provides starting and intermediate compounds useful for synthesizing the compounds of the invention. Representative starting and intermediate compounds useful for synthesizing isoxazole and pyrazole compounds of the invention include compounds 201, 203, 205, 207, 209, 223, 225, 227, 229, 231, 245, 247, 248a, 248b, 249, 257 and 259 as depicted in FIGS. 1-7. Representative starting and intermediate compounds useful for synthesizing oxadiazole compounds of the invention include compounds 265, 267, 269, 271, 285, 287 and 289 as depicted in FIGS. 1-7.
In one embodiment, the intermediates are compounds according to structural formula (II):
wherein R15 is NO2 or NHR, where R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or a protecting group and X, Y, Z, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R8, R9, R10 and R13 are as previously defined for structural formula (I) and subject to the same provisos. Like the compounds of structural formula (I), in the compounds of structural formula (II) the double bonding pattern will depend upon the identities of substituents X and Y.
In another aspect, the invention provides methods of making the substituted diphenyl heterocycle compounds of structural formula (I) or (II). Specific exemplary embodiments of the methods are illustrated in FIGS. 1-7. In one embodiment, the method for synthesizing compounds according to structural formula (I) comprises optionally alkylating a compound according to structural formula (II) in which R15 is NHR with an alkylating agent (e.g., R11-halide) followed by optional deprotection and acylation with an acylating agent of the formula LGxe2x80x94C(O)xe2x80x94R12, where xe2x80x9cLGxe2x80x9d represents a leaving group or an activating group and R12 is as previously defined in connection with the compounds of formula (I).
In another aspect, the present invention provides compositions comprising the compounds of the invention. The compositions generally comprise a substituted diphenyl isoxazole, pyrazole or oxadiazole of the invention, or a salt, hydrate, solvate, N-oxide or prodrug thereof and a suitable excipient, carrier or diluent. The composition may be formulated for veterinary uses or for use in humans.
The compounds of the invention are potent inhibitors of HCV replication and/or proliferation. Accordingly, in still another aspect, the present invention provides methods of inhibiting HCV replication and/or proliferation, comprising contacting a Hepatitis C virion with an amount of a compound or composition of the invention effective to inhibit its replication or proliferation. The methods may be practiced either in vitro or in vivo, and may be used as a therapeutic approach towards the treatment and/or prevention of HCV infections.
In a final aspect, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing HCV infections. The methods generally involve administering to a subject that has an HCV infection or that is at risk of developing an HCV infection an amount of a compound or composition of the invention effective to treat or prevent the HCV infection. The method may be practiced in animals in veterinary contexts or in humans.

Substituted diphenyl heterocycles useful for treating HCV infection


A dental patient chair comprises an arrangement for adjusting the seat height, the inclination position of the seat and the backrest, as well as the position of the seat and backrest with reference to a longitudinal direction of the chair. The arrangement includes two pivotably connected arms having one arm pivotably connected to a pedestal and the other connected to the seat and being provided with a drive arrangement for shifting the arms relative to their pivotable connection to move the seat in both a vertical and horizontal direction, as well as to tilt the seat relative to a base plane. The arrangement includes a control device for operating the drive arrangement for pivoting the arms relative to the pivotable connections between themselves and to the pedestal and seat.

The present invention is directed to a dental patient chair comprising an arrangement for adjusting the seat height, the inclination position of the seat and backrest, as well as the position of the seat and backrest in a longitudinal direction relative to the base of the chair.
In order to be able to position a patient ergonomically and treatment-suited, i.e., optimally adjusted both with respect to the attendant as well as with respect to the treatment to be undertaken, it is necessary to be able to adjust both the seat and backrest, that form the upper chair part of a patient chair, both in height as well as in longitudinal direction of the chair and, over and above this, in its inclined position relative to a vertical or horizontal reference plane. Various designs are known for this purpose.
German OS 29 38 330 discloses a parallelogram linkage arrangement which is provided for the height adjustment of a seat. Although a relatively great stroke can be achieved with such a parallelogram linkage arrangement, it is necessarily a disadvantage that additional means must be provided in order to achieve initially addressed longitudinal adjustability of the upper chair part. German OS 22 26 572 discloses an arrangement for longitudinal adjusting, which can be a straight-line mechanism having a hooked-out curve for simultaneously lifting an end of the chair part adjacent the foot or foot end of the chair.
A scissor arm structure having mirror-inverted scissor arms arranged in pairs or having one set guided in corresponding longitudinal guide elements for longitudinal adjustment of an upper chair part are also known. An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,106, whose disclosure is incorporated by reference and which was based on German Application 32 28 834.
Although these latter scissor arm designs have proven themselves extremely well and have advantages over the earlier-known embodiments of being more space saving, relatively narrow limits are also nonetheless placed on these designs. For example, limits are placed on a design with respect to the demand for little mechanical outlay given an improvement in the motion possibilities, particularly relating to the height adjustment and longitudinal adjustability of the seat.


The present invention relates to a method of mending runs, snags, holes or the like in hosiery by the application of adhesive material. A single application applicator may be used. The preferred adhesive is biocompatible so that the adhesive may be applied while the hosiery is being worn; and the preferred adhesive is a cyanoacrylic adhesive. Decorative material such as dyes, glitter or other decorative material may be added to the adhesive to match or to decorate the hosiery.

Hosiery, for example pantyhose, are fine, thinly-knit articles of clothing worn over the legs of women. Hosiery, however, has a tendency to easily develop rips, tears, holes and runs, usually caused by objects catching or snagging them. The prices of pantyhose range in cost from about $2.00 to about $20.00, depending on their quality, brand, size, color and pattern. Any tear or run in the pantyhose results in the wearer disposing of them. This problem often causes the wearer to spend a considerable amount of money replacing them over the course of time, especially when the imperfection appears on the first day of use.
Furthermore, another problem with pantyhose is that they tend to tear or run while they are worn on the woman's legs. This often causes embarrassment and inconvenience to the wearer since they are difficult and virtually impossible to repair on the spot.
Attempts have been made to repair hosiery that have developed tears, rips, holes or runs. One way in which an imperfection such as a run, snag, hole or the like in the hosiery is sealed is by applying a clear fingernail enamel thereto. This method, however, provides only a temporary repair, and repeated stress and/or stretching causes the nail polish enamel to give way, thus causing the pantyhose to run. Furthermore, clear nail polish enamel will neither hold nor allow for overlap repair holding of the pantyhose or other hosiery.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,322 relates to a pantyhose mender and a method for mending a snag in pantyhose. This patent discloses a decorative mending device for placement over the snag or run on the outside of the pantyhose and a matching piece for placement over the snag or run on the inside of the pantyhose. Each member has a waterproof adhesive on the inside surface allowing the members to be adhesively pressed together to decoratively repair the snag. Even though this device is capable of mending a snag or run in pantyhose, it often requires the wearer to take her pantyhose off each time an imperfection in the pantyhose exists. In order to place the matching backup piece on the inside of her pantyhose. Therefore, this device cannot be used if a rip occurs at a location where the wearer has no access to removal of her pantyhose. Accordingly, this method of repairing runs and snags in pantyhose may prove to be impossible or at least inconvenient. Moreover, even though this mending device may decorate and repair runs and snags in pantyhose, if the rip or run is considerably large, this device may be so large that it may be aesthetically unappealing and may no adequately repair the damaged pantyhose. Therefore, in light of the prior art, there is no known method of both conveniently and permanently repairing rips, tears, holes and runs in hosiery.
Reference is also made to L. G. Copeman, U.S. Pat. No. 2,172,251, which discloses dipping hosiery into latex to coat stockings and prevent runs, but with the obvious adverse effect on appearance.


An intersection start judgment device judges whether to start an own vehicle at an intersection at which vehicles in all directions need to temporarily stop. The device includes an autonomous sensor, a driving environment recognizer, a locator, and a controller. The autonomous sensor is disposed on the own vehicle and configured to detect a driving environment in front of the own vehicle. The driving environment recognizer is configured to recognize, with the autonomous sensor, the driving environment of the own vehicle. The locator is configured to calculate a location of the own vehicle with map information and a global navigation satellite system; and a controller configured to give, in a case where the own vehicle stopped temporarily at the intersection, start permission to the own vehicle when the number, counted by the driving environment recognizer, of other vehicles that are already stopping at the intersection becomes zero by subtraction counting.

The technology relates to an intersection start judgment device configured to judge a start priority of a vehicle at an intersection, particularly at a "4-WAY STOP" intersection.
There has been known a vehicular stereo camera device that includes a right-and-left pair of stereo cameras mounted on a vehicle, and captures images of a driving environment ahead of the own vehicle by using the stereo cameras, thereby recognizing a preceding vehicle and various obstacles, and measuring a distance between the own vehicle and the objects.
With such a vehicular stereo camera device, various proposals to perform vehicle control such as driver assistance, automatic driving, and the like by using recognized images have been made. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (JP-A) No. 2010-095078 discloses a course prediction device configured to predict a course of a moving object based on a movement state of the moving object such as a vehicle.


A method for selective use of control channel element (CCE)-based implicit pointing. The method includes the step of determining whether a number of multiple user elements (UE) within a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) group is greater than the number of resource blocks allocated to the MU-MIMO group. If the number of UEs in the MU-MIMO group is greater than the number of resource blocks allocated to the MU-MIMO group, the method further includes transmitting to each of the UEs of the MU-MIMO group acknowledgements on acknowledgement channels within a first acknowledgement bank and acknowledgements on acknowledgement channels within a second acknowledgement bank. A first portion of the UEs of the MU-MIMO group receives the acknowledgements on the acknowledgement channels within the first acknowledgement bank and a second portion of the UEs of MU-MIMO group receives the acknowledgements on the acknowledgement channels within the second acknowledgement bank.

1. Field of the Invention
The claimed subject matter concerns management of acknowledgements and more particularly, management of acknowledgements through the selective use of control channel element (CCE)-based implicit pointing.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a general move in the wireless industry towards broadband communications. In particular, LTE, which is a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard, is the next step forward in cellular third generation (3G) services. As is known in the art, through the use of LTE, a base station can support multiple user elements (UE), or mobile stations, particularly through a technique referred to as multiple user multiple-input multiple-output (MU MIMO). In this arrangement, it may be necessary for the base station to provide acknowledgements that include positive acknowledgements (ACK) or negative acknowledgements (NACK) over a downlink (DL) channel to the UEs to allow the UEs to determine whether their transmissions to the base station were properly received.
It is desirable, however, to limit the overhead required for signaling the UEs with the DL ACKs or NACKs. One way to help minimize the use of valuable resources is to generate an ACK/NACK channel bank (ACK/NACK bank). An ACK/NACK channel bank is a set of frequency resources (resource elements also called sub-carriers or frequency bins or tones) for conveying ACK/NACK information to each scheduled UE, which are contained in the control region of a subframe in the DL channel of LTE. The UEs must refer to the ACK/NACK bank to determine whether their transmissions to the base station were properly received. Significantly, however, because of the ambiguity involved in the multiplexing of UEs on an allocated MU-MIMO resource in a subframe, it is necessary to construct and transmit on multiple ACK/NACK banks, which is a waste of valuable bandwidth.

Method and system for selective use of control channel element based implicit pointing


Magnetic random-access memory (RAM) cells and arrays are described based on magnetoresistive thin-film structures.

In order to realize the full potential of magnetic random access memory (RAM), whether based on tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) or giant magnetoresistance (GMR), fundamental challenges at the basic cell design need to be addressed. Such challenges include (1) scalability (e.g., decreasing drive currents and stable error rates with decreasing feature size); (2) endurance (e.g., the number of read/write cycles before cell breakdown); and (3) thermal stability of stored information (e.g., stability against errors due to thermally-induced transitions between two states that represent different bit values, an effect that increases with decreasing element volume and comes into play at deep nanoscale feature sizes).
Cell design features that we have conceived to enable scalability, increased endurance, and thermal stability include (1) a closed-flux cell structure, (2) parallel drive lines at the memory cell, and (3) increased film thickness. Each of these design features is described in more detail below.
An issue that transcends the individual cell design is the compatibility of magnetic RAM fabrication technology with CMOS processing. Some success with regard to this issue has already been demonstrated by commercial magnetic RAM. Another higher level issue is capacity (e.g., sufficient write and read margins for large arrays). We found that the issues attendant to scalability and capacity can be treated as distinct.
The issue of thermal stability has been resolved conceptually. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,830 entitled Scalable Nonvolatile Memory issued Mar. 22, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
We determined that a critical factor for scalability is control of the demagnetizing field Hd, i.e., the field produced by the magnetization M according to: V·Hd=−4π∇·M. The presence of Hd in a magnetic RAM (e.g., due to incomplete flux closure in its memory cells) causes multiple problems. Inside the memory cell the write current needs to overcome Hd to impress a given magnetization on the material, i.e., the write current must increase to write the bit value. Additionally, Hd from one cell can disturb the magnetization (i.e., change the bit values) of neighboring cells, causing errors. Increasing cell footprint can mitigate increase in error rates, but this sacrifices cell density. Hd also causes "shearing," a decrease in the slope of the intrinsic hysteresis loop of a cell, that produces skewed minor loop operation and a resulting decrease in the signal strength of the cell's read signal. Moreover, in a cell without fully-closed flux, Hd increases strongly as feature size decreases into nanoscale.
These problems—increasing drive currents, increasing error rates, increasing cell footprint, and decreasing signal strength—are exacerbated by increasing demagnetizing fields that accompany decreasing feature size. These problems are further exacerbated by the interplay between thermal fluctuations and Hd in that the two can reinforce each other in specific configurations. To address these problems, we designed a memory cell that has a fully closed-flux and which is characterized by decisive advantages in power consumption, error rates, and memory density over designs with incomplete flux closure.
We also developed a measurement protocol to separate out the effects of demagnetizing fields from possible thermal effects in a magnetic RAM (based on either GMR or TMR) and to determine the magnitude of both. See R. Spitzer and E. Wuori, Demagnetizing Fields in Magnetic RAM, Intermag 2009, Session ET-06, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
Capacity is linked to the signal strength provided by the film (GMR or TMR) used in the memory cell. We chose GMR films for our cell design, despite the smaller signal of presently available GMR structures than that of TMR, for three reasons: (i) simplicity of cell design—the GMR cell size is about one-half that of the TMR cell size, and requires fewer than one-half the number of masking steps; (ii) the method for addressing thermal stability at deep nanoscale lends itself much more readily to GMR than to TMR structures; (iii) the functional memory components of our magnetic RAM—the memory array without support electronics—may be constructed with metals and insulators alone (no semiconductors). This provides the potential for monolithic 3D structures (vertically replicated 2D arrays). The storage density of such a 3D SpinRAM with 4 levels of 2D arrays can exceed that of a hard disk at 30 nm feature size and, for many mainstream applications (e.g., ones that depend on a specific number of input/output operations per second) it will likely be strongly economically competitive with hard disks. Additional information and examples are provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,919 entitled All-Metal Three-Dimensional Circuits and Memories issued Jan. 31, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
To realize the strong sense signal needed for high capacity, we developed a ferromagnetically-coupled GMR superlattice with low drive fields and potential for significantly higher useful GMR values than currently available, well upwards of 50%. Examples of such a superlattice structure are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,619,467 entitled High GMR Structure With Low Drive Fields issued Dec. 31, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.
The issue of cell endurance is addressed by our crosspoint magnetic RAM with a coincident-current architecture and tied to the configuration of the drive lines in the memory array as described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,911,830 incorporated herein by reference above.
Despite these successes in the advancement of magnetic RAM design, further improvement continues to be our goal.


A mobile station for use in a wireless network. The mobile station transmits feedback values in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) to a base station of the wireless network. The mobile station is operable to transmit to the base station a subband second precoder matrix index (PMI) associated with a particular subband and a subband channel quality indicator (CQI) value associated with the particular subband together in a subframe of the PUCCH.

In 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is adopted as a downlink (DL) transmission scheme.
The 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard is the last stage in the realization of true 4th generation (4G) mobile telephone networks. Most major mobile carriers in the United States and several worldwide carriers have announced plans to convert their networks to LTE beginning in 2009. LTE is a set of enhancements to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Much of 3GPP Release 8 focuses on adopting 4G mobile communications technology, including an all-IP flat networking architecture.
The 3GPP LTE standard uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for the downlink (i.e., from the base station to the mobile station). Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is a multi-carrier transmission technique that transmits on many orthogonal frequencies (or subcarriers). The orthogonal subcarriers are individually modulated and separated in frequency such that they do not interfere with one another. This provides high spectral efficiency and resistance to multipath effects.
The following documents and standards descriptions are hereby incorporated into the present disclosure as if fully set forth herein: 1) Document No. R1-101683, "Way Forward For Rel-10 Feedback Framework", February 2010; 2) Document No. R1-102579, "Way Forward On Release 10 Feedback", RAN WG1, April 2010; and 3) Document No. R1-103332, "Way Forward On UE Feedback", May 2010.
In Release 10 LTE systems, a mobile station (or user equipment) performs feedback of precoder matrix index (PMI), rank indicator (RI), and channel quality indicator (CQI) to the base station (or eNodeB). In the 3GPP RAN1 #60 meeting, a way forward on feedback in Release 10 was agreed upon. Release 10 uses implicit feedback of precoder matrix index (PMI), rank indicator (RI), and channel quality indicator (CQI). The user equipment (UE) or mobile station (MS) spatial feedback for a subband represents a precoder and CQI is computed based on the assumption that the eNodeB or base station (BS) uses a specific precoder (or precoders), as given by the feedback, on each subband within the CQI reference resource. It is noted that a subband may correspond to the whole system bandwidth.
A precoder for a subband is composed of two matrices. The precoder structure is applied to all transmit (Tx) antenna array configurations. Each of the two matrices belongs to a separate codebook. The codebooks are known (or synchronized) at both the base station (eNodeB) and the mobile station (user equipment). Codebooks may or may not change over time for different subbands. The two codebook indices together determine the precoder. One of the two matrices targets the wideband or long-term channel properties. The other matrix targets the frequency-selective or short-term channel properties. It is noted that a matrix codebook in this context should be interpreted as a finite, enumerated set of matrices that, for each resource block (RB), is known to both the mobile station (or UE) and the base station (or eNodeB). It is also noted that that a Release 8 precoder feedback may be deemed a special case of this structure.
Two messages are conveyed in this way: 1) Release 10 feedback will be based on implicit feedback similar to Release 8 feedback; and 2) two codebook indices will specify a precoder in Release 10, with one codebook targeting wideband and/or long-term channel properties and the other codebook targeting frequency-selective and/or short-term channel properties.
In the RAN1 #60bis meeting, another way forward on mobile station (or UE) feedback in Release 10 was also agreed upon. A precoder, W, for a subband is a function of two matrices, W1 and W2, (i.e., where W1εC1 and W2εC2). W1 is also referred to as a first PMI, and W2 is also referred to as a second PMI in this disclosure. The codebooks C1 and C2 are codebook 1 and codebook 2, respectively. The first PMI targets wideband (or long-term) channel properties. The second PMI targets frequency-selective (or short-term) channel properties. For the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), the feedback corresponding to the first PMI and the second PMI may be sent in different or the same subframe, unless the payload is too large to send the first PMI and the second PMI in the same subframe on PUCCH. Also, periodic and aperiodic reports are independent.
Thus, there is an important difference in feedback between Release 8 (Rel-8) and Release 10 (Rel-10) of 3GPP networks. In Release 8, only one codebook index specifies a precoder. However, in Release 10, two codebook indices specify a precoder. Furthermore, these two codebook indices in Release 10 may be sent in different subframes or in the same subframe.
Based on current discussions in RAN1 group about the refinement of UE feedback, there are two possible ways of performing precoding: 1) W=W1×W2 or 2) W=W2×W1, with W1 or the first PMI targeting wideband/long-term channel properties and W2 or the second PMI targeting frequency-selective/short-term channel properties. It is likely that the Rel-10 feedback mechanism will be largely different from that of Rel-8 feedback scheme based on the two codebook structure. Furthermore, the design philosophy of the corresponding feedback mechanisms should be tailored towards detailed ways of performing matrix multiplication of the corresponding two codebook matrices.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved devices and methods for providing feedback information related to CQI, PMI, and RI in Rel-10 wireless networks based on the double codebook structure for both physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) periodic feedback and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) aperiodic feedback. In particular, there is a need in the art for improved devices and methods for providing feedback information related to CQI, PMI, and RI in Rel-10 wireless networks that minimize overhead signaling while improving the granularity of the feedback information.

Systems and methods for PUCCH feedback in 3GPP wireless networks


A tool-actuated ejector for extracting electronic modular components. The ejector, which functions as a levered cam, has a body with a first end, a second end and a pivot located intermediate the first and second ends. A tool-receiving socket mounts at the second end. A tool, such as a screwdriver with a blade that matches the shape of the socket, actuates the ejector by applying a force to the socket. A cam, located at the first end, engages the electronic modular component. To provide a mechanical advantage, the distance between the tool-receiving socket and the pivot, which constitutes one lever arm, is greater than the distance between the cam and the pivot, which constitutes a second lever arm. In addition, a shock absorber mounts on the body and gliders extend below the body to provide stability and balance to the ejector. The ejector mounts in a casing having a tool passage that communicates with the tool-receiving socket and the exterior of the casing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to electronic modular structures. More particularly, the invention relates to tool-actuated ejectors for extracting modular components plugged into electronic devices.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Modular construction techniques are widely used to manufacture a variety of electronic equipment, such as personal computers (PC's), peripheral devices, networking equipment, and the like. With modular construction, manufacturers can assemble, at markedly low cost, a variety of systems using different combinations of pre-assembled modular circuits. The versatility of modular construction also permits computer vendors to construct complex systems having varying optional functions and capabilities by simply adding, at a point of sale, modular components to basic units initially provided by manufacturers. In addition, modular construction allows an end user with only moderate skill to repair, upgrade and/or re-configure electronic equipment. In most instances, replacing and/or adding modular electronic circuits to a basic system requires no more than a simple screwdriver and minimal mechanical skill.
Manufacturers design many modular circuits as printed circuit boards (PCB's). Conventional PCB's, frequently called circuit boards or cards, normally carry an electrical connector that mates with a matching connector mounted on a separate component, such as another PCB (e.g., a motherboard). The matching connectors are ordinarily of the plug-in type wherein protruding conductive pins and/or edge contacts of a male connector mate with corresponding electrical sockets of a female connector. The sockets usually include resilient or spring-loaded electrical contacts that tightly grip the protruding edge contacts or pins of the male connector.
During manual installation of most circuit boards, guides and/or grooves located on or within a casing help position and guide the boards as their connectors plug into appropriate connectors within the casing. The restrictive forces exerted by the electrical contacts of a typical connector socket, in addition to any other forces exerted by guides and/or mounting structures, generally provide sufficient mechanical support to hold a circuit board in place. In some situations, however, manufacturers need to add special board fasteners to help secure circuit boards. The use of fasteners becomes especially important when parts of a modular component are exposed to the exterior of a casing. For instance, many circuit boards, such as expansion boards, mount within individual expansion slots having openings located in the front, side or back panels of a casing. In those instances, screws, springs, detents and the like often secure the circuit boards to the casing or to a fixed support located within the casing.
When manually removing an ordinary circuit board from a slot, an individual first removes any special fasteners, and then simply grasps the board with a hand and pulls the board free. Individuals normally have no problem in manually overcoming the restricting forces exerted by standard plug-in connectors, guides and similar supports. However, the extraction forces for some plug-in connectors are too large for most individuals to safely perform manual removal of a circuit board. When applying excessive extraction forces to a plug-in connector, a user will often twist or bend a board or a component, causing damage to pin and socket contacts or other delicate structures. In other instances, where circuit boards mount in crowded spaces, neighboring circuit boards often block a user's hand or otherwise prevent the user from applying sufficient extraction force to a circuit board. To avoid these and similar problems, some manufacturers provide mechanical ejectors that individuals can manually actuate to help extract a plugged-in circuit board or other component.
The following United States patents illustrate prior art ejectors for circuit boards and similar modular electronic components: McNiece et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,616 issued Apr. 11, 1978; Miller et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,375 issued Jul. 29, 1986; and Blankenship, U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,744 issued Mar. 12, 1991. The ejectors of these patents generally comprise levered cams that individuals operate manually to perform a safe, controlled extraction of a circuit board or other component. Specifically, a user manually operates a lever while an attached cam exerts a force in an appropriate direction at a suitable safe point on a component being extracted. Essentially, the combination of the lever and the cam provide a user with sufficient mechanical advantage so that the user can easily overcome the particular extraction force required to unplug a component.
Although currently available ejectors have served the purpose, they have not proved entirely satisfactory when an ejector and/or its associated modular component mounts on the exterior of a casing or in unprotected areas within a casing. Manufacturers have found that exposed surfaces of an ejector often present a hazard to equipment and/or personnel using the equipment. For example, users, onlookers or other individuals may inadvertently actuate an exposed ejector, thereby unwittingly displacing or damaging its associated component. More seriously, accidental ejection of and/or tampering with some electronic components can cause injury from electric shock. Thus, those concerned with the development of modular electronic equipment have recognized the need for improving such equipment to forestall accidental actuation of an ejector and discourage tampering with potentially hazardous electronic devices.

Tool-actuated ejector mechanism for extracting electronic modular components


A recording apparatus comprises a sheet feed roller, a sheet guide member, movably arranged on an outer surface of the feed roller, for guiding a sheet to be printed around the outer surface of the feed roller and drive means for reciprocating the sheet guide means between a first portion for guiding the sheet to a print position and a second position for guiding the sheet during a printing operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recording apparatus comprising a feeder for sheets to be printed and, more particularly, to a recording apparatus comprising an automatic feeder using cut sheets.
2. Prior Art
Conventionally, a method for separately feeding recording sheets such as paper from a paper feed cassette to a paper feed roller such as a platen roller one by one to perform printing has many advantages in terms of operability, low cost, and compactness of a machine, and a large number of proposals have been made.
However, in such a conventional recording apparatus, a length along a width of paper sheet, i.e., a direction perpendicular to a paper feed direction must be limited to a constant value. Such a limitation is necessary for winding a paper sheet around a platen roller without floating therefrom. Thus, a structure of a machine is complicated, and becomes bulky.
In another conventional apparatus, when a paper sheet is wound around a platen roller, a pinch roller which is urged against the platen roller is manually or automatically caused to escape from the platen roller to allow paper winding. However, even if such a structure is adopted, it is difficult to perfectly wind a paper sheet around the platen roller. After the winding operation, a correction operation must be performed.
After the winding operation, a paper sheet tends to be damaged or skewed due to a shock generated when the pinch roller is again urged against the platen roller. In addition, the mechanism and its control operation are complicated.
In particular,,this tendency noticeably appears when an urging force of the pinch roller against the platen roller is increased in order to improve printing precision.

Recording apparatus having a movable sheet guide member


A liquid crystal display (LCD) includes: a gate-off voltage generator including a temperature compensation unit which comprises a constant voltage output device and which outputs a gate-off voltage having a level which varies based on a change in ambient temperature;    a clock generator outputting a first clock signal and a second clock signal;    a gate driver outputting gate signals; and    a plurality of pixels which turn on or off based on the gate signals,wherein the constant voltage output device outputs a temperature variable voltage having a value based on a voltage difference between a reference terminal of the constant voltage output device and an input terminal of the constant voltage output device, and a voltage difference between the reference terminal and the input terminal of the constant voltage output device varies based on the change in the ambient temperature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display ("LCD"), and more particularly, to an LCD having a substantially reduced manufacturing cost and substantially improved display quality.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") typically includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines disposed thereon, a gate driver which transmits a plurality of gate signals to gate lines of the plurality of gate lines, and a data driver which transmits a plurality of data signals to data lines of the plurality of data lines.
In conventional LCDs, a gate driver is implemented by mounting gate driver integrated circuits ("ICs") in a form such as of a tape carrier package ("TCP") or chip-on glass ("COG"), for example. However, research is being conducted to find better manufacturing methods in terms of manufacturing costs, product size and design, for example. More particularly, a method of mounting a gate driver, which generates gate signals using amorphous silicon thin-film transistors ("a-Si TFTs"), on a liquid crystal panel is being researched.
A gate driver mounted on a liquid crystal panel typically includes a plurality of stages, individual stages of which sequentially output gate signals. In addition, each of the individual stages includes at least one a-Si TFT.
However, driving capability of an a-Si TFT varies according to an ambient temperature in which the a-Si TFT is operated. In particular, when the ambient temperature decreases, the driving capability of the a-Si TFT substantially deteriorates. As a result, the a-Si TFT cannot output a gate signal having voltage level which is sufficient to turn on/off a switching device associated with a pixel.
The gate signals are generated using a clock signal and a clock bar signal which are provided to the gate driver, and the clock signal and the clock bar signal swing between a level of a gate-on voltage and a level of a gate-off voltage. Therefore, an LCD which controls the level of the gate-on voltage and the level of the gate-off voltage based on ambient temperature is required.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Liquid crystal display having a gate voltage generator for varying gate on/off voltage according to change in temperature


Provided is a fully differential adaptive bandwidth phase locked loop with differential supply regulation. One fully differential phase locked loop includes a differential active loop filter and regulator coupled to an output of a differential charge pump, a differential voltage-controlled oscillator coupled to differential control voltages developed by the differential active loop filter and regulator, and a bias circuit coupled to the differential control voltages and providing a bias current to the differential charge pump.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to semiconductor devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to phase locked loop (PLL) implementations for semiconductor devices.
2. Background Art
Phase locked loops (PLLs) are used throughout the electronic device industry in a variety of circumstances, from tuning radio receivers to a particular frequency band to generating precise synthesized tones for musical equipment. In particular, PLLs may be used to clean and propagate a clock signal or a multiple of a clock signal throughout a computational device.
Typically, PLLs accept a provided reference signal and "lock" to the frequency and phase of the provided reference signal after a settling period, where the feedback loop of the PLL incrementally adjusts an operating frequency of the PLL until a PLL feedback signal matches the reference signal's frequency and phase. The stability of a particular PLL depends on its ability to lock to a particular reference signal frequency, and so depends on the loop bandwidth and damping factor of the PLL, where too little or too much bandwidth or too long a settling period may lead to unstable operation. For example, a PLL's loop bandwidth should be sufficiently large to reduce input tracking jitter and to allow for lock to a wide range of reference signal frequencies, but too large a loop bandwidth allows off-frequency noise to encroach into the operation of the PLL, which introduces errors into the operating frequency of the PLL. Similarly, a damping factor that varies with operating frequency can introduce errors into the operating frequency of the PLL that limits its utility to a relatively narrow operating frequency range. Because contemporary PLLs are often required to lock to relatively wide ranges of reference signal frequencies, bandwidth and damping related PLL operating frequency errors have become a significant problem.
Conventional methods to address these problems include adaptive bandwidth loop filter implementations, where loop bandwidth follows operating frequency so as to limit input noise without necessarily limiting an operating frequency range, and where a damping factor is kept reasonably constant over a selected operating frequency range, but these implementations are typically complex and require a relatively large amount of die space to fabricate. Furthermore, these implementations also typically introduce or at least do not fully address other sources of errors in an operating frequency of a PLL, such as decreased jitter performance due to supply or common mode noise and substrate noise.
Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies in the art by providing a compact PLL implementation with an increased jitter performance and increased operating frequency range.

Fully differential adaptive bandwidth PLL with differential supply regulation


A wall mounting plate assembly simplifies installation while providing positive securement with a substrate such as a wall, ceiling, floor, duct work or like substrates and is particularly suitable for low voltage electrical connection applications. A plug portion is receivable within a port provided in a face plate which includes a tubular extension. The tubular extension acts as a guide for accommodating movement of the plug from a nonsecuring position to an engaging or operative position. Preferably, a spring bias is created as the plug is forced into the face plate which serves to draw the face plate towards wall engaging arms which moved outwardly past the tubular extension as the plug is moved to the engaging position. The assembly allows more convenient porting of the wall or substrate and simplifies installation.

The present invention realtes to a mounting plate assembly suitable for electrical connections, particularly electrical connections for low voltage applications.
A host of different arrangements for effecting electrical connections are known as exemplified by the references cited in my co-pending application, namely U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,854(Bailey et al), U.S. Pat. No. 3,366,729 (Pauza), U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,629 (Brannen), U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,559 (Meyer), U.S. Pat. No. 4,451,106 (Wiseheart et al), U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,358 (Chaundy), and U.S. Pat. No. 2,891,103 (Swengel).
A number of these references relate to telephone or cable connections, as but two examples of low voltage type applications which do not require a complete metal enclosure or junction box at the connection. Typically, these low voltage type connections require appropriate drilling or cutting of plasterboard to allow the outlet to be secured in a wall and traditionally a square type aperture has been used.
According to the present invention, a circular aperture is used such that a drill can be used for effecting placement of the aperture in the drywall. In drilling of drywall and other substrates, often a raised edge occurs at the rear surface where the drill passes through the substrate. In the case of drywall, the back of the drywall often curls rather than being cut. When this occures, it slightly increases the thickness of the drywall adjacent the aperture and also renders securement somewhat more difficult in that the precise thickness of the wallboard is not known.
Other advantages of this type of system are described in my Pat. No. 4,840,584 the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present wall mounting assembly will be described with respect to securement on a wall having a wallboard substrate, however, it does have applications for other mounting applications where the substrate is of a generally known thickness and can be suitably ported. Such substrates include, but are not limited to metal sheeting, plywood or other wood substrates, concrete, tile, plaster, and drywall sheeting.


The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an insulating resin material (4) from a core/shell particle (3) having a core particle (2) containing a macromolecular compound and a shell layer (1) coating the core particle (2) and containing an inorganic compound. The method of fabrication includes mixing the core/shell particles (3) with a good solvent (10) for the macromolecular compound, infiltrating the good solvent (10) through the shell layer (1), impregnating the good solvent (10) into the macromolecular compound, molding a compact from the impregnated core/shell particles (3), and removing the good solvent from the compact by heating the molded compact.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an insulating resin material that is useful as a material for members requiring insulation and heat dissipation.
2. Description of Related Art
Since resins formed of macromolecular compounds are low-cost insulating materials with high moldability, they are used in various electric components as substrates for electronic circuit boards, insulating materials for motors, insulating adhesives, or the like. Recently, such electronic components have been configured with highly dense constructions and realized high output, resulting in increased heat generation from those electronic components. Accordingly, measures to dissipate heat of the electric components are strongly desired.
To solve such a problem, related arts employ a method that the interior of the resin is filled with a filler formed of an inorganic material such as alumina or silica, thus enhancing heat conductivity of the resin. For example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-233694 discloses a technology such that particles of an inorganic material such as crystalline silica or aluminum oxide are added into a macromolecular resin to provide heat conductivity. In such a case, a continuum formed with inorganic filler particles joined together functions as a heat conducting pathway. In other words, the inorganic filler particles filled in the resin must be in contact with each other. Accordingly, it is required that a large amount of inorganic filler be filled in the resin to achieve efficient heat conduction.
In consideration of such a problem, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication 2010-189600 discloses a method of fabricating an insulating resin material, by which core/shell particles including core particles having a macromolecular compound and shell layers coating the core particles and having a heat-conductive and insulating inorganic compound are fabricated by seed diffusion polymerization in an ionic liquid, and by which the insulating resin material is molded from an aggregate of the core/shell particles.
Further as another embodiment, Japanese Patent Application Publication 2010-144153 discloses a method of fabricating a insulating resin material by which an aggregate of core/shell particles in which a core formed of a macromolecular compound is coated with a shell layer formed of an inorganic compound, is compression-molded into a compact, the molded compact is impregnated with a sol, the sol is next gelatinized, and the gel is then hardened to obtain the insulating resin material.
According to these embodiments, use of the core/shell particles enables reduction in the ratio of inorganic compound which serves as the shell layer to the macromolecular compound which serves as the core and enables obtainment of an insulating resin material with high heat dissipation.
As described above, in molding an insulating resin material from an aggregate of core/shell particles, compression-molding is preferable. However, control of temperature, pressure, and time is required to continuously form shell layers of an insulating resin material without interposing gaps among the particles in the aggregate. An investigation for finding out the optimum conditions requires a large amount of time. Even if the optimum conditions were found, limited shapes of the insulating resin material might be available.
In other words, differently from insulating resin materials formed of only a macromolecular compound, the shell layers of insulating resin materials formed of core/shell particles are inorganic layers. Accordingly, since the shells are not softened by pressure, the insulating resin materials tend to have narrow adequate conditions for molding compared to the compacts formed of only a macromolecular compound.
Further, differently from the insulating resin materials formed of only a macromolecular compound, molding of the insulating resin materials from an aggregate of core/shell particles requires a large amount of energy for heating and pressurization, resulting in a higher fabrication cost.

Method of fabricating insulating resin material


A transfer includes: an input shaft; a motor; first and second output shafts; first and second planetary gear devices; an input switching unit; a transmission switching unit; and a distribution switching unit. Further, connection states of the input shaft, the first and the second planetary gear devices, the first and the second output shafts can be switched to a plurality of modes including first, second, and third modes by the input switching unit, the transmission switching unit, and the distribution switching unit.

The present disclosure relates to a transfer.
As a power transmission device mounted on a four-wheel-drive vehicle, a transfer to distribute and transmit power from an engine to front wheels and rear wheels has been known. The transfer has a front wheel-side output member to transmit power to the front wheels, and a rear wheel-side output member to transmit power to the rear wheels, and can establish a two-wheel driving state in which power is output from only one output member and a four-wheel driving state in which power is output from both of the output members.
Also, in a transfer case, the transfer includes a planetary gear device as a transmission unit that outputs a rotation of the engine while changing a speed thereof. With respect to three rotational elements included in this planetary gear device, a rotational element to which the power of the engine is input and a rotational element fixed to the transfer case (fixing member) are different rotational elements. Then, the transfer can be switched between a state in which a rotation of the engine is output with a speed thereof not being changed, and a state in which the rotation of the engine is output with the speed thereof being changed by the planetary gear device.
International Publication No. WO 2010/141682 discloses a transfer including a motor functioning as a power source inside a transfer case. In this transfer, when power of an engine is transmitted to drive wheels, power of the motor can be transmitted to the drive wheels via a planetary gear device.