This system comprises local monitoring units installed in close proximity to the facilities to be monitored, each of which comprises a device for detecting facility malfunctions; a first computer made available to the facility maintenance company, connected to the local units through a transmission network for receiving and processing fault information transmitted from the local units; a second computer made available to a facility management company, which receives the same information as the first computer from the local units; each local unit being associated with a facility and further comprising a control device for allowing a maintenance engineer to signal the beginning and the end of an inspection of the associated facility, these events being transmitted to the computers which comprise a device for storing all information transmitted by the local units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for remotely managing the maintenance of a set of facilities.
More particularly, although not exclusively, it applies to facilities installed in buildings, such as elevators, force-ventilation, air-conditioning and district heating systems, automatic parking lot gates, and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Presently, the maintenance of such facilities is ensured by maintenance companies that are bound through a maintenance contract to the company that manages such facilities. This contract provides for servicing, repairing and maintaining the facilities by maintenance engineers on a regular basis, and specifies the modalities and scheduling for inspection by these engineers.
In addition, there are known devices designed for monitoring a set of facilities operational parameters and thus, for detecting malfunctions and failures and for transmitting this information, for example over a telephone network, to the company in charge of the maintenance of such facilities. Thus, only one maintenance company may perform a real-time monitoring of the operation of several facilities distributed across far apart geographical locations and rapidly dispatch maintenance personnel on the site where the failure has been detected.
However, these devices do not allow to guarantee the facility manager or owner that the response time for servicing facility or that the frequency with which maintenance operations are performed, which are specified in the maintenance contract, are complied with by the maintenance company. In addition, if the contract provides for specific response or restarting times according to failure type, these devices do not allow the compliance with these times to be checked.
In addition, these devices frequently provide false alarms which induce unnecessary visits of maintenance personnel.

System for remotely managing maintenance of a set of facilities


A buffer storage arrangement contains at least two roll modules (41-44) with interchangeable roll hubs or rolls. A common feed belt (11), the winding planes of the roll modules (41-44) and a common removal belt (12) are located in a vertical plane. The feed belt (11) passes linearly over the winding stations (41-44) and has a number of branching locations (51-54) corresponding at least to the number of winding stations (41-44). Each winding station (41-44) has a connection to the removal belt (12), which passes linearly beneath the winding stations. In order to be able to select the reciprocal arrangement of the products at the outlet, within the apparatus at least one device (7, 79) is provided for rewinding the rolls or the modifying the inlet parameters of the arrangement of the printed products. This permits unrestricted off-line buffer storage of the products and flexible conversion of their inlet parameters, with respect to their reciprocal positioning, orientation or timing frequency.

It is known to continuously supply to a roll hub or core flat products of the most varied types and to roll or wind same onto said hub or core (cf. e.g. German patent 2 207 556, Swiss patent application 1 788/86-0). Particularly in printing technology, the printed products are preferably in stream formation and are supplied to the winding station in this way and are wound up to form rolls. If the number of products to be processed in this way is greater than the capacity of a roll, as soon as the latter is full, measures must be taken in order to be able to wind the continuously arriving products onto another empty roll hub. In the simplest, but uneconomic manner, it would e.g. be possible to interrupt the working process and during said interruption to replace the full roll by an empty roll hub.
In addition, Swiss patents 654 553 and 654 554 disclose a process and an apparatus making it possible in the case of only a single winding station with an additional intermediate roll to replace the main roll of the winding station without interrupting the working process. However, the products must be wound in double layer form and for further processing must be subdivided by a special means back into two separate scale or stream flows. If a roll is to be further processed in another working area, such additional means must be provided there for unwinding the double roll. As a function of the intermediate roll capacity and as a result of the double layer form of the wound products on the main roll, in this process it is necessary to replace the roll at relatively short intervals.
DE-OS 33 04 219 discloses an apparatus for stacking printed sheets. The printed sheets supplied by means of a feed conveyor are transferred to a conveyor belt of the apparatus. It is obvious that during this transfer the phase relationship of the printed sheets, i.e. the information concerning the reciprocal overlap or displacement of the printed products, is lost and the sheets are necessarily differently arranged due to the feed taking place at right angles to the conveyor belt. Thus, said apparatus can only be used if there is a subsequent intermediate stacking of the printed products and no significance is attached to the modified phase relationship during further processing. However, in many uses it is desirable or necessary to retain the phase relationship of the printed products throughout all the working stages and also during intermediate storage. Therefore, without additional complicated and expensive measures, said apparatus cannot be used for such purposes. In addition, with said apparatus it is not possible to freely select the reciprocal positioning of the printed sheets on the discharge conveyor. A further disadvantage is that it is not possible, or is only possible with considerable effort and expenditure, to replace the individual rolls or storage rolls because they are juxtaposed in parallel, access to the individual rolls is substantially impossible and consequently the apparatus can only be used to a limited extent as an off-line buffer store.
It is known from DE-OS 25 44 135 to provide two alternately loadable winding stations, in which articles are in each case supplied to one, while the full roll is removed from the other winding station. However, this solution in this form can only be used to a limited extent within an overall process, because the rolls must be supplied to another installation for further processing either manually, or at the best by using handling equipment, i.e. the apparatus constitutes a "dead-end" within a continuous process. Additional stations must be provided for unwinding purposes. Moreover, the right-angled path of the conveyor belts at the transfer locations leads to problems as in the case of DE-OS 33 04 219, because the relative arrangement of the products is necessarily and undesirably modified.
In many applications, e.g. in the printing field, the products for different processing operations occur in a specific arrangement. Thus, newspapers on conveyors are conveyed with the cording first whereas journals and magazines are conveyed with the head or bloom first. Obviously the reciprocal arrangement of the products can vary with regards to a number of other parameters (phase relationship, overshot/undershot conveying, spatial position, etc.). In order to be able to process products with different parameters in a following, standardized process or special machines, it is consequently necessary to convert or standardize these parameters associated with the products. Apparatuses are generally known which, by means of rewinding, convert printed products wound in undershot manner on to a roll and which in the case of mere unwinding would be obtained in overshot manner, into an undershot product flow again. The hitherto known apparatuses of this type have always been specifically intended for given uses and consequently only permit a limited conversion of such parameters. These apparatuses also provide no possibility for the buffer storage of products.

Process and apparatus for the buffer storage and conversion of flat products preferably occurring in stream formation


A sheet post-processing apparatus is provided that includes a first delivery path that guides a sheet to a first post-processing portion, a delivery holding path having a first holding path which branches off from a branch point of the first delivery path and a second holding path which is formed to be continuous with the first holding path and joins together with the first delivery path; a second delivery path that branches off from a branch point of the first holding path and guides the sheet to the second post-processing portion; a first path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first delivery path; and a second path switching portion that is provided at the branch point of the first holding path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a sheet post-processing apparatus that performs post-processing (stapling, booklet processing) on sheets on which an image is formed by an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic-type of copy machine, printer, or the like.
2. Related Art
Generally, a sheet post-processing apparatus that is attached to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic-type of copy machine, printer, or the like has functions of collecting sheets on which an image is formed by way of an image forming apparatus so as to bind a stack of sheets thus collected at one place or at a plurality of places (staple processing) and binding the sheets on which images are formed in a magazine-like style (booklet processing). In addition, in order to improve the productivity of the image forming apparatus, the sheet post-processing apparatus has a holding path that allows the sheet delivered from the image forming apparatus to be held singularly or held by being stacked in plurality during stapling.
With the conventional technology, sheet post-processing apparatuses equipped with functions of stapling or booklet processing are configured to deliver the sheets on which images are formed by way of the image forming apparatus to a post-processing tray through a first delivery path and collect the sheets in the post-processing tray. A stack of sheets thus collected in the post-processing tray is bound at one place or a plurality of places by a stapler (stapling). Furthermore, the conventional sheet post-processing apparatus includes a second delivery path (delivery holding path) that branches off from the first delivery path. Then, one or a plurality of sheets is also held in the second delivery path while stapling. Moreover, the sheet post-processing apparatus includes a third delivery path that branches off from the first delivery path. Then, the sheet post-processing apparatus delivers via the third delivery path the sheets on which images are formed to an apparatus that performs booklet processing.
In the sheet post-processing apparatus, switching to the first delivery path, the delivery holding path, or the third delivery path is performed by a plurality of switching means (flappers) that is provided in a dedicated space at a delivering entrance side of the sheet post-processing apparatus.
However, in the conventional technology, a switching means that connects the third delivery path with the apparatus that performs booklet processing is provided in a dedicated space at a delivering entrance side of the sheet. Therefore, the horizontal width of the sheet post-processing apparatus increases. On the other hand, attempting to suppress the increase in the horizontal width of the sheet post-processing apparatus leads to another problem in that it is not possible to deliver cardboard sufficiently since the radius of curvature of the second delivery path will be small.
Furthermore, in the conventional technology, the first delivery path, the delivery holding path, and the third delivery path are formed independently. As a result, there is also a problem in that the cost of forming the first delivery path, the delivery holding path, and the third delivery path increases and the space for forming the same becomes large.

Sheet post-processing apparatus with branched holding path


Disclosed examples include redundant Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems, powered device (PD) controllers and methods in which a first PD controller sends a signal to indicate to the other PD controllers that the first PD controller is powered, and a second PD controller newly connected or reconnected to a corresponding power sourcing equipment (PSE) refrains from turning off a shared DC-DC converter, and the second PD controller waits to allow an inrush current delay of the corresponding PSE to complete before allowing current flow between the DC-DC converter and the corresponding PSE, and the second PD controller selectively provides a signal to request an application circuit powered by the DC-DC converter to temporarily reduce its power consumption below a predetermined value if the corresponding PSE is configured to provide no more than the predetermined value of power.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology facilitates provision of electrical power to one or more devices connected to a network, such as cameras and other audiovisual equipment, wireless access points, etc. The power sourcing equipment (PSE) provides power supply connection to one end of an Ethernet communication cable and the power-consuming or "powered" device (PD) is connected to the second end. PoE systems can also accommodate different load requirements. The supply and control of applied power in PoE systems is provided at the source end, commonly in an endspan Ethernet switch or an intervening (midspan) device, where the power sourcing equipment queries the powered device or devices and ensures that the load does not draw more power than is allowed. In certain situations, it is desirable to provide redundant PoE cables and associated power sourcing equipment for a given load to achieve power channel redundancy with no power interruption during any transition. The basic architecture uses two or more PoE inputs, each fed by a PSE port. Each input must draw enough current on its respective power feed to ensure the PSE power is maintained. One configuration uses a PD interface for each PoE input and a single shared DC-DC converter to provide continuous output power without interruption while PoE inputs are connected in any sequence and over any time interval. Redundant designs must therefore accommodate situations in which a PoE input is connected while another PoE input is already providing power to the load without disruption of output power. Conventional PoE operating procedures for powered device controllers are thus largely incompatible with desired redundant system operation in situations where one PSE port is providing power to a shared DC-DC converter and another PoE port is connected to a PSE.

Turn on method without power interruption for redundant power over ethernet systems


As provided herein, a primary content provider (e.g., a book retailer) may present a campaign for a product (e.g., a novel), comprising non-published content and a keyword (e.g., the novel title), to a permitted content provider (e.g., the publisher of the novel). The permitted content provider may be presented with an option to bid on the keyword. Responsive to the bid being accepted by the primary content provider, a cumulative bid is determined based upon an accumulation of an existing bid from the primary content provider and the bid. The non-published content, but not second non-published content of a second primary content provider, may be selected to be provided to a user based upon the cumulative bid exceeding a second bid for the keyword by the second primary content provider. In this way, content that may be relevant to the user may be identified and provided to the user.

Content, associated with a content provider, may be presented to users based upon the users performing keyword searches using a keyword associated with the content. For example, a seller of a shoe brand (e.g., a basketball shoe) may generate content, displaying attributes of the shoe brand, to present to the users. The content provider may bid on a keyword (e.g., shoe, athletic shoe, basketball shoe, and/or other keywords), such that if the content provider wins the bid, then the content may be displayed to the users that submit search queries corresponding to the keyword. There may be other entities, such as a second content provider, that may have an interest and/or stake in the users purchasing the shoe brand, such as a manufacturer of the shoe brand. Thus, the second content provider may bid on the keyword. Unfortunately, the content provider and the second content provider may be bidding against one another and thus increasing a price of the keyword even though both the content provider and the second content provider may benefit from the keyword being associated with the content for presentation of the content to the users.


A gripper system which utilizes two different suction systems is disclosed. This gripper system utilizes one suction system to pick up an item, while using the second suction system to hold the item. In some embodiments, a Venturi device based suction system is used as the first suction system to pick up the item, as this type of system is proficient at picking up items without requiring initial contact to create a seal. In some embodiments, a vacuum based system is used as the second suction system, as this type of system is able to hold items cost effectively.

Many applications require the use of robotic arms or other means to pick up an item, hold that item, and move it to another location. For example, in semiconductor or solar cell manufacturing, it is common to use a gripper to pick up one or more wafers, and move those wafers to another location. For example, unprocessed wafers may arrive at a site in a carrier. These unprocessed wafers must be transferred to another carrier or holder so that they may be processed. After being processed, these wafers must again be picked up and moved to a carrier for processed wafers.
There are various techniques currently used to pick up and hold items. FIG. 1 shows a typical suction system 10 utilizing a Venturi device 40. Compressed Dry Air (CDA) arrives from a source 20. When gating element 30, which may be a valve, is actuated, CDA rushes from the source 20, passing through the Venturi device 40 and exiting through the muffler 50 into the environment. Note that muffler 50 is optional in all Venturi device based embodiments shown in this disclosure. The Venturi device 40 creates negative pressure in conduit 60, which forces air into the suction system, thereby evacuating the cavity 70 in communication with the conduit 60. These suction systems 10 generate a great amount of negative pressure, and are therefore effective for picking up items 90 located below gripper 80. However, while these suction systems 10 excel at picking up items 90, they require a continuously flow of CDA in order to retain the item 90 once picked up. In some instances, a single gripper 80 may require 4 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of CDA to pick up and retain an item 90. Therefore, for large systems, or those with very high utilization, the amount of CDA used may be excessive and cost prohibitive.
FIG. 2 shows a typical suction system 100 utilizing vacuum. In this system, a negative pressure source 110 is used. A gating element 120, such as a valve, is used to actuate this system. When the gating element 120 is in a first position, the negative pressure source 110 is in communication with the cavity 130, thereby creating negative pressure in the gripper 140. If an item 90 is placed at or near this gripper 140, the suction system 100 can retain the item 90. However, due to the low differential pressure, vacuum systems may not be ideal in picking up items, such as semiconductor wafers, without initial contact. However, vacuum systems are relatively cost effective, in comparison to the Venturi device based suction system 10 described in FIG. 1.
When the gating element 120 is in a second position, the negative pressure source 110 is disconnected from the gripper 140, thereby releasing the item 90. In some embodiments, a source of CDA 150 is provided in series with a second gating element 160, which also may be a valve. When the gating element 120 is turned to the second position, the second gating element 160 may be opened. This supplies CDA to the gripper 140, which forces the item 90 away from the gripper 140.
In some embodiments, there may be a requirement to pick up (without initial contact), hold and place a large number of items. One such embodiment may be a semiconductor or solar cell manufacturing process. The use of vacuum systems is cost effective, but is not optimal in picking up a large number of items. Venturi device based suction systems are very proficient at picking up items quickly and effectively without initial contact for a seal to be formed, but may be cost prohibitive at a large scale due to the amount of CDA needed.
Thus, it would be beneficial if a suction system existed which was cost effective and had the ability to pick up items quickly without initial contact. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if there were a large scale system capable of picking up, holding and placing large numbers of items in a relatively short period of time.

Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.


An agreement apparatus P(i) (where i=0, . . . , n−1) which executes a consensus protocol generates an opinion value with a signature Xij=(xi, sig_i(xi)) including an opinion value xi indicating an opinion and a signature sig_i(xi) on the opinion value xi or information different from the opinion value with the signature Xij as an opinion value with a signature X′ij=(x′ij, e′ij) and outputs the opinion value with the signature X′ij to an agreement apparatus P(j) (where j=0, . . . , n−1, i≠j). The agreement apparatus P(j) accepts the opinion value with the signature X′ij and outputs the opinion value with the signature X′ij or information different from the opinion value with the signature X′ij to an agreement apparatus P(m) (where m=0, . . . , n−1, m≠i, m≠j) as an opinion value with a signature X″ij.

In a distributed autonomous system, a plurality of apparatuses perform processing independently of each other. Processing content of these plurality of apparatuses has to be consistent with each other. As a technique for realizing this, there is a consensus protocol (see, for example, Non-patent literature 1). In the consensus protocol, a plurality of apparatuses provide values (opinion values) indicating their own opinions (such as, for example, processing order, whether or not there is a request, and content of a request) to each other, and input them in a final consensus function to obtain a consensus result (such as, for example, processing order, whether or not there is a request and content of a request) which is consistent as the whole system.

Agreement system, agreement apparatus, program, and recording medium

NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION


A system may include a spherical retroreflector that reflects incident light back in substantially the same direction as a light source; and a surface of the spherical retroreflector including a light modulator that modulates incident light from the light source in response to a stimulus and reflects a modulated light, wherein the light modulator is a variably reflecting backing of the spherical retroreflector.

Both corner cube retroreflectors and spherical retroreflectors are optical designs that redirect an incoming beam of incident light from a wide range of viewable angles back towards the source of the incident light without the need for moving optics or other assemblies.
Corner cube retroreflectors make use of angled reflecting surfaces to reflect incident light back to the source. Corner cube retroreflectors can have exposed protruding reflective surfaces, such as polished metal or other coated surfaces, or can be internally reflective, for example lenses cut to have an internal corner at one end and a face to receive light at the other end. Incident light that enters the corner cube is reflected between the surfaces such that it exits in the same direction as the light entered.
Spherical retroreflectors utilize beads that are embedded in a reflective material, such that incident light enters the front of the bead, is refracted as it enters the bead, is reflected by the reflective material at the back of the bead, and is again refracted by an equal amount as it exits the bead. In this manner, the incident light is returned in the same directions as the light entered.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,230 to Dreyer et al. describes a modulating retroreflective article having a back surface and a front surface separated by a distance. The back surface has alternating retroreflective areas and separation areas and the front surface has alternating areas of different transmission characteristics. The modulating retroreflective article modulates the incident light based on the relative displacement of the back and front surfaces and the angle of the incident light. Physical movement of the article or changes in the angle of incident light modulates the light and therefore can be used to transmit information. However the system is not adapted to a communications system. Moreover, a system that requires physical movement limits the data rate at which information can be transmitted, both because physical systems have limits as to how quickly they can be moved to cause the modulation, and because there is a limit as to how accurately the physical changes can be transformed into detectable modulations. Moreover, systems that rely upon physically moving elements are susceptible to system noise such as vibration and other perturbations of physical systems. The use of a physically spaced plate in front of the retroreflector also reduces viewable area of the reflector component, while imposing a reduced effective operating angle for the entire assembly as light will be blocked or interfered with by the front mask as incident angle increases.

Low power retroreflective communications system and method


An improved tire rack (10, 100) is disclosed for use on any vehicle, but which is particularly suitable for use on a pickup truck (12). Brackets (24, 26 or 130, 131) are mounted on the frame members of the truck and support a rod (28) and arms (32, 36 or 102, 104) for pivotal motion between a storage position and a release position. In the storage position, the spare tire is held horizontally against the bottom of the bed of the truck. When moved to the release position by rotating a worm gear (72) to pivot the sector gear (66) on the rod (28), the tire rack moves the spare tire below and behind the bumper of the vehicle for ready access.

Virtually every vehicle in use today carries a spare tire for emergency purposes. A great many techniques have been used to store the spare tire within the vehicle, often without any concern to the convenience or ease of removing the tire for use. This lack of concern exists even though the very need for use of the spare implies an emergency situation has arisen where one of the tires on the vehicle has failed. Unfortunately, tires often fail in inconvenient locations and in inclement weather, situations which compound the difficulty of tire retrieval.
A number of attempts have been made in the past to simplify access to the stored spare tire. However, many of these designs are so complex as to be simply impracticable. Vehicle manufacturers are resistant to complicated mechanisms which are expensive to manufacture. Further the complexity of a device often decreases its reliability.
The problem of retrieving the spare tire is amplified when considering a vehicle such as a pickup, or other truck. The spare wheel can be very heavy and awkward for anyone. Even a spare tire used on a common passenger car can be quite difficult for an elderly or weaker person to work with.
Therefore, a need exists for a more effective way of storing and retrieving a spare tire within a vehicle which does not require the exertion of an extraordinary effort to retrieve the tire when needed.


An ultrasonic atomizing unit is provided which can spray fine particles of a liquid farther without greatly increasing a voltage applied to a piezoelectric vibrator and using a fan. An annular atomizing member (1) is provided and ultrasonically vibrates a vibrating plate (12) with a piezoelectric vibrator (11) to atomize a liquid. The atomizing member (1) is elastically sandwiched and held by a casing (3) through a pair of annular elastic rings (2) that are in contact with the atomizing member (1). A maximum facing width in a radial direction between each annular elastic member and one surface of the atomizing member (1) on one side in the radial direction from the center of the atomizing member (1) is 40% of a radial direction width of the piezoelectric vibrator (11) on one side in the radial direction from the center of the piezoelectric vibrator (11).

Conventionally, as an ultrasonic atomizing unit for use in an ultrasonic atomizing device, a unit is known which has a structure in which an atomizing member including a piezoelectric vibrator and a vibrating plate mounted to the piezoelectric vibrator is elastically sandwiched and held by a casing through elastic members formed from an elastic material (e.g., see Patent Literature 1).
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of the ultrasonic atomizing unit described in Patent Literature 1, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the ultrasonic atomizing unit. The ultrasonic atomizing unit includes: an atomizing member 100 including a piezoelectric vibrator 101 having an opening 101a at a central part thereof and a vibrating plate 102 mounted to the piezoelectric vibrator 101; a pair of elastic members 103 that are arranged so as to extend along both surfaces, respectively, of the atomizing member 100; and a casing 104 as a holding member that accommodates the atomizing member 100 and the elastic members 103 therein.
The piezoelectric vibrator 101 is formed from a circular thin plate-shaped piezoelectric ceramic. When a high-frequency voltage is applied to electrodes 101b provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator 101, ultrasonic vibrations occur such that the piezoelectric vibrator 101 expands and contracts in a radial direction thereof. In addition, the vibrating plate 102 is formed from a circular thin plate-shaped metal, and is mounted to the lower surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 101 so as to cover the opening 101a of the piezoelectric vibrator 101. The vibrating plate 102 has a large number of micropores 102a formed in a portion thereof which faces the opening 101a.
The pair of elastic members 103 are formed from annular flat plate-shaped rubbers, and are adhered to both surfaces, respectively, of the atomizing member 100 so as to be in surface contact therewith. In addition, the casing 104 has a hollow circular plate shape with an opening at a central part thereof, and elastically sandwiches and holds therein the atomizing member 100 through the pair of elastic members 103. The casing 104 is divided into two upper and lower portions that are separable from each other.
According to the above conventional ultrasonic atomizing unit, a high-frequency voltage is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 101 to ultrasonically vibrate the piezoelectric vibrator 101 to ultrasonically vibrate the vibrating plate 102, whereby a liquid supplied to the micropore 102a portion of the vibrating plate 102 can be atomized and sprayed.
Patent Literature 1 also discloses an ultrasonic atomizing unit in which instead of the thin plate-shaped elastic members 103, a pair of first elastic members 105 having rubber band shapes and a pair of second elastic members 106 having outer diameters larger than those of the first elastic members 105 are used, and the elastic members 105 and the elastic members 106 are arranged so as to extend along outer peripheral edges and opening edges of both surfaces, respectively, of the atomizing member 100 (see FIG. 7).


A traffic sensor system for detecting and tracking vehicles is describede. A video camera is employed to obtain a video image of a section of a roadway. Motion is detected through changes in luminance and edges in frames of the video image. Predetermined sets of pixels (xe2x80x9ctilesxe2x80x9d) in the frames are designated to be in either an xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d state or an xe2x80x9cinactivexe2x80x9d state. A tile becomes active when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile differ from the respective luminance or edge values of a corresponding tile in a reference frame in accordance with predetermined criteria. The tile becomes inactive when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile do not differ from the corresponding reference frame tile in accordance with the is predetermined criteria. Shape and motion of groups of active tiles (xe2x80x9cquantaxe2x80x9d) are analyzed with software and a neural network to detect and track vehicles.

The development of at least some of the presently disclosed subject matter may have been funded in part by the United States Government. The United States government may have rights in the invention.
The present invention is related to traffic monitoring systems, and more particularly to a traffic monitoring system for detecting, measuring and anticipating vehicle motion.
Systems for monitoring vehicular traffic are known. For example, it is known to detect vehicles by employing inductive loop sensors. At least one loop of wire or a similar conductive element may be disposed beneath the surface of a roadway at a predetermined location. Electromagnetic induction occurs when a vehicle occupies the roadway above the loop. The induction can be detected via a simple electronic circuit that is coupled with the loop. The inductive loop and associated detection circuitry can be coupled with an electronic counter circuit to count the number of vehicles that pass over the loop. However, inductive loops are subjected to harsh environmental conditions and consequently have a relatively short expected lifespan.
It is also known to employ optical sensors to monitor vehicular traffic. For example, traffic monitoring systems that employ xe2x80x9cmachine visionxe2x80x9d technology such as video cameras are known. Machine vision traffic monitoring systems are generally mounted above the surface of the roadway and have the potential for much longer lifespan than inductive loop systems. Further, machine vision traffic monitoring systems have the potential to provide more information about traffic conditions than inductive loop traffic monitoring systems. However, known machine vision traffic monitoring systems have not achieved these potentials.
In accordance with the present invention, a traffic monitoring station employs at least one video camera and a computation unit to detect and track vehicles passing through the field of view of the video camera. The camera provides a video image of a section of roadway in the form of successive individual video frames. Motion is detected through edge analysis and changes in luminance relative to an edge reference frame and a luminance reference frame. The frames are organized into a plurality of sets of pixels. Each set of pixels (xe2x80x9ctilexe2x80x9d) is in either an xe2x80x9cactivexe2x80x9d state or an xe2x80x9cinactivexe2x80x9d state. A tile becomes active when the luminance or edge values of the pixels of the tile differ from the luminance and edge values of the corresponding tiles in the corresponding reference frames in accordance with predetermined criteria. The tile becomes inactive when the luminance and edge values of the pixels of the tile do not differ from the corresponding reference frame tiles in accordance with the predetermined criteria.
The reference frames, which represent the view of the camera without moving vehicles, may be dynamically updated in response to conditions in the field of view of the camera. The reference frames are updated by combining each new frame with the respective reference frames. The combining calculation is weighted in favor of the reference frames to provide a gradual rate of change in the reference frames. A previous frame may also be employed in a xe2x80x9cframe-to-framexe2x80x9d comparison with the new frame to detect motion. The frame-to-frame comparison may provide improved results relative to use of the reference frame in conditions of low light and darkness.
Each object is represented by at least one group of proximate active tiles (xe2x80x9cquantaxe2x80x9d). Individual quantum, each of which contains a predetermined maximum number of tiles, are tracked through successive video frames. The distance travelled by each quantum is readily calculable from the change in position of the quantum relative to stationary features in the field of view of the camera. The time taken to travel the distance is readily calculable since the period of time between successive frames is known. Physical parameters such as velocity, acceleration and direction of travel of the quantum are calculated based on change in quantum position over time. Physical parameters that describe vehicle motion are calculated by employing the physical parameters calculated for the quanta. For example, the velocities calculated for the quanta that comprise the vehicle may be combined and averaged to ascertain the velocity of the vehicle.
The motion and shape of quanta are employed to delineate vehicles from other objects. A plurality of segmenter algorithms is employed to perform grouping, dividing and pattern matching functions on the quanta. For example, some segmenter algorithms employ pattern matching to facilitate identification of types of vehicles, such as passenger automobiles and trucks. A physical mapping of vehicle models may be employed to facilitate the proper segmentation of vehicles. A list of possible new objects is generated from the output of the segmenter algorithms. The list of possible new objects is compared with a master list of objects, and objects from the list of possible new objects that cannot be found in the master list are designated as new objects. The object master list is then updated by adding the new objects to the object master list.
At least one feature extractor is employed to generate a descriptive vector for each object. The descriptive vector is provided to a neural network classification engine which classifies and scores each object. The resultant score indicates the probability of the object being a vehicle of a particular type. Objects that produce a score that exceeds a predetermined threshold are determined to be vehicles.
The traffic monitoring station may be employed to facilitate traffic control in real time. Predetermined parameters that describe vehicle motion may be employed to anticipate future vehicle motion. Proactive action may then be taken to control traffic in response to the anticipated motion of the vehicle. For example, if on the basis of station determined values for vehicle distance from the intersection, speed, accelleration, and vehicle class (truck, car, etc.), the traffic monitoring station determines that the vehicle will xe2x80x9crun a red light,xe2x80x9d traversing an intersection during a period of time when the traffic signal will be otherwise be indicating xe2x80x9cgreenxe2x80x9d for vehicles entering the intersection from another direction, the traffic monitoring station can delay the green light for the other vehicles or cause some other actions to be taken to reduce the likelihood of a collision. Such actions may also include displaying the green light for the other vehicles in an altered mode (e.g., flashing) or in some combination with another signal light (e.g., yellow or red), or initiating an audible alarm at the intersection until the danger has passed. Further, the traffic monitoring station may track the offending vehicle through the intersection and record a full motion video movie of the event for vehicle identification and evidentiary purposes.


Enhanced techniques and circuitry are presented herein for artificial neural networks. These artificial neural networks are formed from artificial synapses, which in the implementations herein comprise a memory arrays having non-volatile memory elements. In one implementation, an apparatus comprises a plurality of non-volatile memory arrays configured to store weight values for an artificial neural network. Each of the plurality of non-volatile memory arrays can be configured to receive data from a unified buffer shared among the plurality of non-volatile memory arrays, operate on the data, and shift at least portions of the data to another of the plurality of non-volatile memory arrays.

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be formed from individual artificial neurons or synapses that are emulated using software, integrated hardware, or other discrete elements. Such neural networks may be used to perform a variety of functions, such as image processing. In image processing applications, specialized neural networks (commonly referred to as convolutional neural networks or CNNs) may be used to analyze an image to detect certain features that may be included within the image. To perform image processing, a neural network may operate on portions of the image as defined by one or more filters or kernels which convolve around the image. As part of the processing, the neural network may perform multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) operations on the data in an area of the image specified by the filter when the filter is located at a particular position with the image.
To implement a neural network using computer-based hardware, a processor and memory circuits may be employed. During operation, data can be transferred from the memory circuits to the processor in order to perform MAC operations. Such data transfers may result in data transfer bottlenecks between the processor and the memory circuits, as well as consume power as signals that carry the data are transferred between the processor and the memory circuits.
Overview
Enhanced techniques and circuitry are presented herein for artificial neural networks. These artificial neural networks are formed from artificial synapses, which in the implementations herein comprise a memory arrays having non-volatile memory elements. In one implementation, an apparatus comprises a plurality of non-volatile memory arrays configured to store weight values for an artificial neural network. Each of the plurality of non-volatile memory arrays can be configured to receive data from a unified buffer shared among the plurality of non-volatile memory arrays, operate on the data, and shift at least portions of the data to another of the plurality of non-volatile memory arrays.

Shifting architecture for data reuse in a neural network


An energy storage apparatus including: a plurality of energy storage devices each including a pair of external terminals, wherein one of two adjacent energy storage devices among the plurality of energy storage devices includes a connecting portion having at least a convex part at one of the pair of external terminals, the other of the two adjacent energy storage devices includes a connecting portion having at least a concave part at the other of the pair of external terminals, and the convex part is fitted into the concave part.

Since various kinds of equipment such as electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles require power sources having large capacity, there is provided a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells 6 as shown in FIG. 10 (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-181765, for example).
As shown in FIG. 11, the plurality of battery cells 6 each has a prismatic exterior case 60 and a pair of electrode terminals 61 protruding from an upper face of the exterior case 60.
The electrode terminals 61 each have a bent piece 610 formed by bending a plate-like member. The bent piece 610 has a first piece 611 protruding upward from the exterior case 60 and a second piece 612 extending from the first piece 611 and extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the first piece 611 extends. A coupling hole 613 is formed in the second piece 612.
In the battery pack, the second pieces 612 of the adjacent battery cells 6 are brought into contact with each other and the battery cells 6 are electrically connected to each other. Further, in the battery pack, a fastening member such as a rivet and a bolt (a rivet in the case of the battery pack shown in FIG. 12) is inserted into the coupling hole 613 of each of the second pieces 612 being in contact with each other. Then, the second pieces 612 being in contact with each other are fastened to each other by the fastening member.
Hence, in the case of manufacturing the battery pack, when the fastening member is inserted into the coupling hole 613 of each of the second pieces 612 of the adjacent battery cells 6, it is necessary to align the coupling holes 613 of the second pieces 612 with each other. Therefore, the work of electrically connecting the adjacent battery cells 6 is complicated.
Moreover, in the battery pack, when the second pieces 612 of the adjacent battery cells 6 are not properly fastened to each other, connection between the second pieces 612 of the adjacent battery cells 6 is occasionally released. Hence, electrical connection between the adjacent battery cells 6 is occasionally released.
In the battery pack, a terminal connected to an external circuit (a circuit that electricity flows through partially and that constitutes a part of an electric circuit, such as a motor, a control unit, or another battery pack) is fastened to each of the electrode terminals 61 of the battery cell 6, for example. Also in this case, when the terminal is not properly fastened to the electrode terminals 61 of the battery cell 6, connection between the electrode terminals 61 of the battery cell 6 and the terminal is occasionally released. Hence, electrical connection between the external circuit and the battery cell 6 is occasionally released.

Energy storage apparatus and method of manufacturing energy storage aparatus


A device for managing removable storage media includes a first management unit and a control unit. The first management unit is adapted to update first media management information which is held in said device and which includes at least a first datum that is used to detect that one removable storage medium has been replaced with a second removable storage medium, when the second removable storage medium is connected to said device, the first datum being information other than a user-input password. The control unit is adapted to test a command from an external device for consistency with the first datum and to execute the command if the first datum is consistent with second media management information contained in the command.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic device, connected to another electric device, for managing a removable storage medium, and a method and a storage medium therefor.
2. Related Background Art
The networking of imaging devices such as a digital camera or digital camcorder has recently progressed and there is being developed an environment capable of connecting such devices with a personal computer or peripheral devices thereof at home.
Many such imaging devices are provided with a removable storage medium (also called simply a "removable medium"), and store various digital information (still image data, moving image data, audio data, text data, etc.) in such removable medium by converting such information into a file of predetermined format.
For making access from an imaging device (first imaging device) connected to a network to a removable storage medium connected to another imaging device (second imaging device), there can be conceived the following two methods. The first method consists of the user manually moving the desired storage medium from the second imaging device to the first imaging device and making direct access by the first imaging device to the storage medium. The second method consists of making access by the first imaging device to the desired storage medium without moving the removable storage medium from the second imaging device to the first imaging device (namely while the storage medium is connected to the second imaging device).
In order to exploit the first method, however, each imaging device has to be provided with a structure capable of directly connecting with the storage medium desired by the user. Particularly in a case where storage media of plural kinds are desired by the user, each imaging device has to be capable of accommodating all such storage media. Such requirement, however, results in the drawback of hindering the compactization, simplification and cost reduction of the imaging device. There is also encountered the drawback that a new kind of storage medium cannot be accommodated.
On the other hand, in order to exploit the second method, the first imaging device has to be provided with a procedure for judging or recognizing a replacement of the storage medium connected to the second imaging device or a change in the content of such storage medium. Without such procedure, there cannot be avoided erroneous operations such as deletion of a file not intended by the user, addition of a file to a storage medium not intended by the user, or deletion of a file from a storage medium not intended by the user.

Electronic device for managing removable storage medium, method and storage medium therefor


Nonvolatile memory devices utilize vertically-stacked strings of nonvolatile memory cells (e.g., NAND-type strings) that can be selectively coupled to common source lines within a substrate. This selective coupling may be provided by lateral ground select transistors having different threshold voltages that account for different lateral spacings between the vertically-stacked strings of nonvolatile memory cells and the common source lines.

To satisfy excellent performance and low cost, it is required to increase a degree of integration in semiconductor devices. Particularly, a degree of integration in memory devices is an important factor for determining the prices of products. In typical Two-Dimensional (2D) memory devices, a degree of integration is mainly determined in proportion to the occupied area of memory cells, which is affected by the level of fine pattern forming technology. However, since high-cost equipment is required for reducing pattern size, a degree of higher integration in 2D semiconductor memory devices may become limited.
To overcome these limitations, Three-Dimensional (3D) memory devices including three-dimensionally arranged memory cells are being proposed. For mass production of the 3-D memory devices, however, a process technology which reduces manufacturing costs per bit relative to 2-D memory devices and realizes reliable product characteristic is required.

Vertically-integrated nonvolatile memory devices having laterally-integrated ground select transistors


To provide a method for color-matching a paint having brilliant feeling whose reference blend is already known and which contains a brilliant material, comprising (1) a step of obtaining the liquid color measurement data for an enamel paint not containing a brilliant material in accordance with a paint blend excluding the brilliant material and if necessary, a paint additive from a reference paint blend of a paint having brilliant feeling whose reference paint blend is already known, (2) a step of obtaining a toned enamel paint adjusted to the liquid color measurement data for the enamel paint by blending and toning a paint material such as an elementary color paint excluding a brilliant material and if necessary, a paint additive on the basis of the liquid color measurement data for the enamel paint, and (3) a step of color-matching a paint having brilliant feeling by adding a brilliant material and if necessary, a paint additive to the toned enamel paint.

The following method and apparatus have been proposed so far in U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,000: a method and an apparatus for storing color data showing the hue, chroma, and lightness of a selected color to be toned by using a portable color meter, connecting the color data in the color meter to a computer, storing a plurality of usable paint blends in the computer, storing color data showing the hue, chroma, and lightness of each paint designated by the stored usable color formula in the computer, comparing the color data for a selected color received from the color meter with the stored color data showing each of the stored usable color blends to find most similar matching, selecting a stored paint blend shown by the color data found as the most similar matching, and thereby color-matching the selected color (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,000).
In recent years, the number of paint colors having brilliant feeling in which aluminum powder and brilliant mica powder are blended has been increased for paint colors of vehicles because personal tastes have been diversified and the aesthetic dress design has been advanced. To tone the paint colors having brilliant feeling, the color-matching method disclosed in the above U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,000 is not sufficient in toning accuracy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,885 discloses a metallic-pearl-paint color-matching method for obtaining a blending quantity of a coloring material and a brilliant material coinciding with a target color of a metallic-pearl paint obtained by blending a coloring material and brilliant material, in which a proper blending ratio of a coloring material and a brilliant material is obtained by previously measuring spectral reflectances of a plurality of coated plate samples obtained by changing blending ratios of a coloring material and brilliant material to be used by a variation-angle spectrophotometer, storing the spectral reflectances in a memory of a computer, and estimating reproduced spectral reflectances while capturing a change of variation-angle spectral reflectances caused by changing quantities of a brilliant material to be added when performing toning by using the measured spectral reflectances (refer to U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,885).
In the case of this method, however, at least 5 to 6 levels of coated plate samples obtained by changing quantities of a brilliant material to be blended or blend ratios of a coloring material and the brilliant material are necessary for one color material and a lot of labor is required to prepare basic data, and because a calculation algorithm is complex, the cost of an apparatus to be used increases.
The following are entered in U.S. patent application Publication No. 2001/036309: (A) a calorimeter, (B) micro brilliant feeling measuring instrument, and (C) a plurality of paint blends, color data and micro brilliant feeling data corresponding to each paint blend, and color characteristic data for a plurality of elementary color paints and micro brilliant feeling characteristic data and moreover, the following method is disclosed: a toning method using a computer toning apparatus for paints constituted by the paint blends and a computer in which a color-matching calculation logic using the data for the paint blends and capable of corresponding to a paint having brilliant feeling (refer to U.S. patent application Publication No. 2001/036309). However, because very much labor and cost are required to enter color data corresponding to various paint blends used of this method, micro brilliant feeling data, color characteristic data for a plurality of elementary colors, and micro brilliant feeling characteristic data and the calculation algorithm is complex, the above mentioned causes the cost of an apparatus used to increase.
Moreover, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-50891 discloses a liquid color measuring method for color-measuring a coloring liquid packed into a cell, in which a color is measured while continuously renewing the coloring liquid at a measuring portion of the cell by discharging and circulating the coloring liquid to and through a face including the measuring portion of the cell (refer to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-50891). However, very much labor and cost are required to enter the color data corresponding to blends of paints having brilliant feeling used for this method and color characteristic data for a plurality of elementary color paints and moreover, it is necessary to discharge and circulate a coloring liquid to and through a face including a measuring portion of a cell. Therefore, the above mentioned causes the cost of an apparatus used to increase.
The following are prior-art document information relating to the invention of this application.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,000
U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,885
U.S. patent application Publication No. 2001/036309
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-50891
The above both methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,362,885 and U.S. patent application Publication No. 2001/036309 respectively have problems that when toning a paint having brilliant feeling, it is necessary to perform toning while checking the optical characteristic of a paint film including a brilliant material even in repetitive toning in which the basic blend of a paint is already known and moreover because brilliant feeling is included as a factor in addition to colors, toning becomes complex, the toning frequency until reaching a shipment pass level increases, and the number of man-hours for preparing coated plates for toning is increased.
Moreover, in the case of the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-50891, though it is unnecessary to prepare coated plates for toning when toning a paint having brilliant feeling, it is impossible to completely tone a paint containing a brilliant material such as a paint having brilliant feeling whose effect cannot be confirmed before coated plates are prepared (e.g. paint blended with micro titanium) or a paint color having much less scattering factors.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a color-matching method capable of easily and accurately toning a paint whose basic blend is already known and has brilliant feeling and contributing to reduction of the toning frequency before reaching a shipment pass level.

Color-matching method of paint having brilliant feeling


The inserts and pockets in an inserted drill are provided with differing curvatures on their arcuate back edges. Consequently, when the insert is aligned in the pocket, a crescent shaped, instead of annular, gap is created, with minimal or no thickness at the outboard ends. Very little braze seam is thus exposed to erosion at the cutting edge, but the braze seam is as strong or stronger than conventionally. It is also easier to maintain the desired thickness of the braze seam during manufacture.

The cutting edges of one type of standard drill are produced by the intersection of two or more axially extending flutes with the conical head of the cylindrical body of the drill. The straight cutting edges so created run from the apex of the conical head to the cylindrical side wall of the drill body, creating an obtuse angled corner. In some cutting applications, it is desired to give the cutting edges more wear resistance than the material of the drill body alone could provide. Since it is the outboard portion of the cutting edges that moves at the highest cutting speed, and therefore sees the most potential wear, it is often enough to enhance just that outboard portion, creating what may be referred to as an inserted drill. This is typically done by machining a pocket with an arcuate back edge into the face of the flute, across the corner. An insert of more wear resistant material is cut to basically the same size as the pocket, with an arcuate back edge of substantially the same radius and curvature. When attached into the pocket, an edge of the insert will be aligned with what remains of the original cutting edge, becoming part of it, in effect.
The insert is typically attached to the drill body by a brazing process. In the brazing process, a piece of brazing material cut from a thin sheet to approximately the same shape as the pocket is placed in the pocket and liquefied by melting it with a torch. Then, the insert is delicately laid into the pocket on top of the melted layer of brazing material by an operator working with a tweezer like tool. The insert in effect floats on the melted layer as it is carefully manipulated until its outer straight edge is aligned with the cutting edge of the drill body. As a practical matter, it is not possible to machine the pocket and insert arcuate edges closely enough that they can be pushed hard against one another with no gap therebetween. As a result, the operator is obliged to hold a semi annular gap between the two arcuate edges as the insert is maneuvered. it is difficult to minimize that gap, since there is no positive stop to work against, and because the operator has to worry about aligning of the rest on the insert, as well. consequently, brazing material inevitably is squeezed into and hardens in the gap between the arcuate edges, creating a semi annular seam, one end of which intersects the cutting edge. The brazing material is much softer than either the drill material or the insert, and is therefore subject to wear and erosion from the workpiece as the drill cuts.


A light-emitting device includes a substrate, having a first surface and second surface opposite to the first surface; a light-emitting stack, formed on the first surface of the substrate, the light-emitting stack including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer, wherein the active layer is formed between the first conductive semiconductor layer and the second conductive semiconductor layer; and a distributed Bragg reflection structure (DBR), formed on the second surface of the substrate, including a plurality of dielectric-layer pair formed sequentially on the second surface, wherein each of the dielectric-layer pairs includes respectively a first dielectric layer having a first optical thickness and a second dielectric layer having a second optical thickness, and wherein from the second surface, the first dielectric layer of each of the dielectric-layer pairs is thicker than the first dielectric layer of the adjacent previous dielectric-layer pair.

Light-emitting Diode (LED) is a solid-state semiconductor device having a p-n junction formed between a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer. When imposing a certain level of forward voltage to an LED, holes from the p-type semiconductor layer can radiatively recombine with electrons from the n-type semiconductor layer to release light. The region where the recombination occurs is generally called a light-emitting region or an active layer.
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional light-emitting device 10 includes a substrate 100; a DBR structure 120 under the substrate 100; a first conductive semiconductor layer 142, a second conductive semiconductor layer 144, and an active layer 146 on the substrate 100; a first electrode 160 and a second electrode 180 on the first conductive semiconductor layer 142 and the second conductive semiconductor layer 144 respectively. The DBR structure 120 includes multiple dielectric layers which are alternately stacked with each other. The light from the active layer 146 can be reflected by the DBR structure 120. FIG. 2 shows in each dielectric-layer pair of the DBR structure 120, the ratios of the first optical thickness of the first dielectric layer and the second optical thickness of the second dielectric layer respectively to the central wavelength λ (such as 550 nm) of the visible light band (such as 400 nm to 700 nm). The material of the first dielectric layer is silicon dioxide (SiO2). The material of the second dielectric layer is titanium dioxide (TiO2). The optical thickness is defined as the product of the physical thickness of the dielectric layer and the refractive index of the dielectric layer.
When the light generated by the active layer 146 of the light-emitting device 10 contacts the DBR structure 120, the direction of incidence of the light L is at an angle θ with the normal n of the DBR structure 120, which is defined as the incident angle. Referring to FIG. 7, a simulation data of the reflectivity of the DBR structure 120 to the incident light having a wavelength range of 350 nm to 1050 nm when the incident angle θ is 0 degree is shown. The reflectivity of the DBR structure 120 to the blue light band such as 400 nm to 450 nm is low along with the average reflectivity lower than 50%. In addition, referring to FIG. 3, a simulation data of the reflectivity of the DBR structure 120 in a variety of different incident angle θ when the incident light wavelength is 450 nm is shown. The reflectivity of the DBR structure 120 in the incident angle θ the ranging from 40 degrees to 65 degrees is lower than other incident angles.

Light-emitting device with distributed Bragg reflection structure


A rail fixing system comprises a rail fixing arrangement adapted to fix the rail fixing system to a profile rail, a system coupling arrangement adapted to fix the rail fixing system to another rail fixing system disposed adjacent to the rail fixing system on the profile rail, and an actuation device common to the rail fixing arrangement and the system coupling arrangement. The actuation device is connected to a first positive-locking connection element of the rail fixing arrangement and a second positive-locking connection element of the system coupling arrangement. The actuation device is supported on a resilient element and the first positive-locking connection element, the second positive-locking connection element, and the resilient element are arranged along a straight line that extends in an effective direction of the resilient element.

German Patent No. 4011447 A1 discloses a rail fixing system for rapid fixing of an electrical installation device. An actuation device of the rail fixing system is used to move a clamping element of the rail fixing system into an open position or a closed position. Rail fixing systems of the prior art have a rail fixing arrangement and a system coupling arrangement with a common actuation device. The common actuation device, however, can become jammed or cannot reliably ensure retention forces which are necessary for the system coupling. Further, the rail fixing systems of the prior art relate only to a single rail fixing system.


In one aspect, a clock monitor includes a frequency-to-voltage converter (FVC) configured to receive a clock signal and configured to generate a voltage signal in response to the clock signal received. The FVC includes a resistor and a switched capacitor (SC) circuit connected to the resistor to form a resister divider circuit. The switched capacitor circuit includes a capacitor. The clock monitor detects that a clock frequency is zero and/or the clock frequency is not within a frequency range.

A clock (i.e., an oscillator) is provided in a circuit to provide a clock signal, for example, to synchronize signals. A clock monitor detects whether the clock signal provided by the clock is behaving as expected. Generally, a second clock is added to the circuit to assist in clock monitoring. For example, a first clock signal from a main clock is compared to a second clock signal from the second clock to detect any deviations in the clock frequency.

Clock monitoring using a switched capacitor


A differential gear set assembling method includes: a pivoting step of closing openings by guide portion and pivoting a pair of pinions between a pair of side gears; and an insertion step of inserting a pinion shaft into a pair of case shaft holes and a pair of pinion shaft holes from outside the differential case. The pivoting step is performed in a state where projecting portions are buried in the guide portions. The insertion step is performed in a state where the projecting portions are projected from the guide portions toward the pair of side gears, and the pair of side gears are pressed by the projecting portions so as to apply loads against biasing forces of coned disc springs to the pair of side gears.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a differential gear set assembling method and a differential gear set assembling device.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a differential gear set assembling device is well known as a device for assembling a differential gear set. The differential gear set includes a differential case, a pair of pinions that rotate with the differential case, and a pair of side gears that mesh with the pinions.
When the differential gear set is assembled by use of the differential gear set assembling device, the pair of side gears are placed on a top side and on a bottom side inside the differential case via coned disc springs, and a pinion temporary assembled product in which the pair of pinions are disposed at both ends of a dummy shaft is inserted into the differential case from an opening formed in the differential case, so that the pinion temporary assembled product meshes with the side gears. Subsequently, when the pinion temporary assembled product is rotated by substantially 90°, the dummy shaft is inserted into a pair of shaft holes formed in the differential case. After that, a pinion shaft is inserted into the pair of shaft holes from outside the differential case, so as to replacing the dummy shaft with the pinion shaft. Hereby, the differential gear set is finished (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 05-192830 (JP 05-192830 A)).
However, since the pair of side gears are biased by the coned disc springs in directions where the pair of side gears approach each other in the differential case, when the pinion shaft is inserted, the pinions receive loads from the side gears. Accordingly, at the time when the pinion shaft is inserted, the pinions are being restricted, so that a positional displacement of pinion shaft holes in the pinions, inclination (which means an inclination of an axial center of the pinion shaft hole in the pinion with respect to an insertion direction of the pinion shaft), and the like occur, which might cause poor insertion of the pinion shaft.
Further, at the time when the pinion shaft is inserted, if the pinion shaft is inserted with an excessive force, an inner diameter portion of the pinion is scratched, which causes poor quality of the pinion.
Meanwhile, it is conceivable, for example, that a device for reducing the loads from the side gears to the pinions is provided in the differential gear set assembling device separately at the time when the pinion shaft is inserted. However, in the differential gear set assembling device, a space in which to provide the device separately is narrow, so it is difficult to really provide the device. Accordingly, it is desirable to realize a mechanism for reducing the loads from the side gears to the pinions with a simple configuration in which the mechanism is provided in an existing device or mechanism in the differential gear set assembling device.

Differential gear set assembling method and differential gear set assembling device


The invention relates to a polyolefin composition. The polyolefin composition can be in the form of a multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membrane comprising a first microporous layer containing 7% or less by mass of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having a weight-average molecular weight of 1×106 or more, and having a structure in which a pore size distribution curve obtained by mercury intrusion porosimetry has at least two peaks, and a second microporous layer containing 8% or more by mass of the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.

Microporous polyolefin membranes are useful as separators for primary batteries and secondary batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries, lithium-polymer secondary batteries, nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries, nickel-cadmium secondary batteries, nickel-zinc secondary batteries, silver-zinc secondary batteries, etc. When the microporous polyolefin membrane is used as a battery separator, particularly as a lithium ion battery separator, the membrane's performance significantly affects the properties, productivity and safety of the battery. Accordingly, the microporous polyolefin membrane should have suitably well-balanced permeability, mechanical properties, dimensional stability, shutdown properties, meltdown properties, etc. The term "well-balanced" means that the optimization of one of these characteristics does not result in a significant degradation in another. As is known, it is desirable for the batteries to have a relatively low shutdown temperature and a relatively high meltdown temperature for improved battery safety, particularly for batteries exposed to high temperatures under operating conditions. High separator permeability is desirable because it generally results in high battery capacity. A separator with high mechanical strength is desirable for improved battery assembly and fabrication, and for improved durability.
The optimization of material compositions, stretching conditions, heat treatment conditions, etc. has been proposed to improve the properties of microporous polyolefin membranes. For example, JP6-240036A discloses a microporous polyolefin membrane having improved pore diameter and a relatively sharp pore diameter distribution. The membrane is made from a polyethylene resin containing 1% or more by mass of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene having a weight-average molecular weight ("Mw") of 7×105 or more, the polyethylene resin having a molecular weight distribution (weight-average molecular weight/number-average molecular weight) of 10 to 300, and the microporous polyolefin membrane having a porosity of 35 to 95%, an average penetrating pore size of 0.05 to 0.2 μm, a rupture strength (15-mm width) of 0.2 kg or more, and a pore size distribution (maximum pore size/average penetrating pore size) of 1.5 or less.
WO 2000/20492 discloses a microporous polyolefin membrane having improved permeability. The membrane contains fine fibrils made of polyethylene having Mw of 5×105 or more or a composition containing such polyethylene. The microporous polyolefin membrane has an average pore size of 0.05 to 5 μm, and the percentage of lamellas at angles θ of 80 to 100° relative to a membrane surface being 40% or more in machine and transverse cross sections.
In general, microporous polyolefin membranes consisting essentially of polyethylene (i.e., they contain polyethylene only with no significant presence of other species) have relatively low meltdown temperatures. Accordingly, proposals have been made to provide microporous polyolefin membranes made from mixed resins of polyethylene and polypropylene, and multi-layer, microporous polyolefin membranes having polyethylene layers and polypropylene layers in order to increase meltdown temperature.
WO 2005/113657 discloses a microporous polyolefin membrane having conventional shutdown properties, meltdown properties, dimensional stability and high-temperature strength. The membrane is made using a polyolefin composition comprising (a) a polyethylene resin containing 8 to 60% by mass of a component having a molecular weight of 10,000 or less, and a Mw/Mn ratio of 11 to 100, wherein Mn is the number-average molecular weight of the polyethylene resin, and a viscosity-average molecular weight ("Mv") of 100,000 to 1,000,000, and (b) polypropylene. The membrane has a porosity of 20 to 95%, and a heat shrinkage ratio of 10% or less at 100° C. This microporous polyolefin membrane is produced by extruding a melt-blend of the above polyolefin and a membrane-forming solvent through a die, stretching a gel-like sheet obtained by cooling, removing the membrane-forming solvent, and annealing the sheet.
WO 2004/089627 discloses a microporous polyolefin membrane made of polyethylene and polypropylene comprising two or more layers, the polypropylene content being more than 50% and 95% or less by mass in at least one surface layer, and the polyethylene content being 50 to 95% by mass in the entire membrane. The membrane has relatively high permeability and high-temperature strength, as well as a relatively low shutdown temperature and relatively high short-circuiting temperature.
JP7-216118A discloses a battery separator formed from a porous film comprising polyethylene and polypropylene as indispensable components and having two microporous layers each with a different polyethylene content. The polyethylene content is 0 to 20% by weight in one microporous layer, 21 to 60% by weight in the other microporous layer, and 2 to 40% by weight in the overall film. The battery separator has relatively high shutdown-starting temperature and mechanical strength.
With respect to the properties of separators, not only permeability, mechanical strength, dimensional stability, shutdown properties and meltdown properties, but also properties related to battery productivity characteristics such as electrolytic solution absorption, and battery cyclability characteristics such as compression resistance have been disclosed as important. In particular, electrodes for lithium ion batteries can expand and shrink according to the intrusion and departure of lithium, and an increase in battery capacity can lead to larger expansion ratios. Because separators are compressed when the electrodes expand, the separators are needed which suffer little, if any, decrease in electrolytic solution retention by compression. However, when the separators are provided with larger pore size to achieve improved electrolytic solution absorption, the compression resistance of the separators decrease. Battery separators disclosed in any of JP6-240036A, WO 2000/20492, WO 05/113657, WO 04/089627 and JP7-216118A have insufficient electrolytic solution absorption and/or retention characteristics. Thus, microporous polyolefin membranes for battery separators are desired which have improved and well-balanced permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, meltdown properties, electrolytic solution absorption, and compression resistance.

Polyolefin composition, its production method, and a battery separator made therefrom


A vehicle seat includes a seat frame. The seat frame has a hollow deformable portion that is bent, and linear recessed portions formed by partially recessing an inner side of the deformable portion. The deformable portion has a linear separation portion formed in a projecting manner relative to the recessed portions and extending on the inner side of the deformable portion. A plurality of recessed portions is formed on each of one side and the other side of the separation portion so as to sandwich the separation portion, and placed independently from each other such that adjacent recessed portions are not connected to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle seat including a metal seat frame (in a hollow tubular shape) that forms a sheet outer shape.
2. Description of Related Art
As such a type of a vehicle seat, there has been known a vehicle seat including a seat cushion and a seatback (see Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-68353 (JP 5-68353 U)). The seatback is a member connected to the seat cushion in an uprising manner, and includes a metal seat frame (an arch-shaped frame body) that forms a seat framework. The seat frame is a hollow member (a generally rectangular shape in a sectional view), and is formed such that a metal member in a planar shape is molded into a hollow tubular shape and then bent into an arch shape.


The present invention is directed to a process for separating nitrogen from gas mixtures containing nitrogen and less strongly adsorbed components such as oxygen, hydrogen, argon or helium at ambient temperatures or above by use of a magnesium exchanged, sodium A-zeolite in a preferred level of magnesium exchange and an appropriate pressure range for adsorption and desorption of bulk gases which provides improved recovery and reduced bed size factor.

Separation of gas mixtures containing nitrogen are important industrial processes allowing for the production of enriched oxygen and nitrogen products. These processes are practiced on a variety of scales ranging from less than 1 to greater than 100 tons per day. In the past, the primary means of air separation was by cryogenic processing. For intermediate volumes of oxygen product or production in remote areas far away from cryogenic supplies, stand-alone pressure swing adsorption units are providing significant opportunities for expanded markets.
The removal of nitrogen from air by adsorptive separation uses nitrogen selective zeolites which preferentially adsorb higher amounts of nitrogen than oxygen under a wide variety of equilibrium conditions. Oxygen enriched product made using nitrogen selective adsorbent zeolites are typically produced at elevated pressures during the air feed step, whereas the nitrogen product is formed during the desorption step and is typically at lower pressure. For a given oxygen purity, the recovery and efficiency of the process is directly related to the process scheme employed and the intrinsic adsorption properties of the zeolite.
Depending on the zeolite structure and composition, their effectiveness for adsorptive separation of air can vary over a wide range. The use of crystalline zeolitic molecular sieves in pressure swing adsorption processes for air separation are well known. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,931 the use of crystalline zeolitic molecular sieve material having apparent pore sizes of at least 4.6 angstroms for separating oxygen-nitrogen mixtures at subambient temperatures is disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,932 the strontium, barium, or nickel ion exchanged forms of X-zeolite are set forth.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,091 the use of A-zeolite and X-zeolite adsorbents exchanged with Group II metal cations, such as: magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium are set forth. This patent describes ambient temperature operation at high cation exchange levels, but reports only marginal performance in its Table 1 results. It suggests that the greater cation exchange level achievable is best for performance.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,481,018 and 4,544,378 demonstrate an improved performance of faujasite composition containing divalent cations provided they are activated in such way that a preponderance of the polyvalent cations are in the dehydrated/dehydroxylated state. Properly activated materials showed the expected increase in nitrogen capacity and nitrogen/oxygen selectivity with increase in cation charged density from barium to strontium to calcium. In addition, these patents note the increasing calcium exchange level and greatly enhanced nitrogen/oxygen selectivity only for calcium exchange levels above 50%.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,736 discloses that the binary ion exchange forms of X-zeolite wherein between 5 and 404 of the available ion sites are occupied by calcium and between 60 and 95% of the sites are occupied by strontium exhibit higher nitrogen capacities at 3 to 3.5 atmospheres without adverse affects on nitrogen/oxygen selectivity or large increases in heat of adsorption compared to the single ion exchange X-zeolite with calcium or strontium.
The use of X-zeolites exchanged with monovalent cations for air separation is also known in the art. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,933 the use of lithium X-zeolite to separate oxygen-nitrogen mixtures at feed pressures between 0.5 and 5 atmospheres and a temperature between about 30.degree. C. and 150.degree. C. is disclosed. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,859,217 a process for selectively adsorbing nitrogen using X-zeolite having a framework silicon/aluminum molar ratio not greater than 1.5 and having at least 88% of its aluminum oxide tetrahedral units associated with lithium cations is set forth.
The use of A-zeolite for oxygen pressure swing adsorption processes which has about 70% or more of its exchangeable cations in the calcium form (commonly called 5A) is well known. This has been the most widely used adsorbent for the production of oxygen from sorptive separations on both small scales and large scale as an alternative to cryogenic production. Many improvements in the formulation and manufacture of 5A zeolite have provided effective granular, beaded or pelleted adsorbents for oxygen production. These include optimizing the activation processes Japanese 61153138-A, forming binderless granules British 1431686 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,690, and using nonreactive binders such as silica U.S. Pat. No. 4,950,312. Besides improvements in the 5A adsorbent formulation numerous process improvements have been developed. Recent U.S. patents describing improved oxygen processes such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,265 or U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,158 contain many of the relevant preferences.
In spite of all the work on A-zeolites containing calcium, there are only a few reports of the effects of magnesium containing A-zeolites on air separation properties. U.S. Pat. No. 2,882,243 discloses the utility of A-zeolites as adsorbents. However, no reference is made to the utility of magnesium containing A-zeolites for air separation and all references to any cation form are at temperatures well below ambient conditions. The use of magnesium containing A-zeolites for air separation at ambient conditions was first reported in a process patent for a vacuum swing adsorption process in U.S. Pat. No. 3,313,091. Work was reported by R. Schollner in publications and patents from East Germany between the period of 1978 to 1986. These works studied the influence of alkaline earth and alkali metal cation forms of A-zeolite for air separation, and initially carried out gas chromatograph studies showing that the high charge density of magnesium in A-zeolite greatly improves selectivity for nitrogen over oxygen. See R. Schollner, R. Broddack, M. Jusek, translation from Z. Phys Chemie, Leipzig, 262 (1981) to pages 362 to 368. This work is the first disclosure of the high nitrogen-oxygen separation factors obtainable on highly magnesium exchanged A-zeolite. Schollner recognized the importance of this observation and stated that highly exchanged magnesium A-zeolite was well suited for air separation. Schollner demonstrated air separation over magnesium, sodium A-zeolite using frontal chromatography and disclosed a process for the separation of oxygen and nitrogen from gas mixtures over magnesium A-zeolites having at least 30% magnesium and carried out in a process at temperatures less than or equal to 20.degree. C. at a pressure of 1 to 10 atmospheres. See East German patent 131,166. Schollner also demonstrated mixed magnesium, lithium A-zeolite. Finally, Schollner discloses a single step ion exchange process for exchanging calcium and magnesium on an A-zeolite useful for separation of air in an adsorptive separation. See East German 239,536.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,813 discloses calcium as strontium exchanged lithium X-zeolite as adsorbents for air separation.
The various reports of interest in magnesium exchanged A-zeolites fail to report a high performance magnesium A-zeolite having significant increase in performance over the standard adsorbent for nitrogen adsorption or oxygen production in pressure swing adsorption comprising calcium A-zeolite more widely known as 5A zeolite. The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art in a process providing high performance in air separation using a specially prepared magnesium A-zeolite as set forth below.

Magnesium A-zeolite for nitrogen adsorption


An organic light emitting diode display device is disclosed which includes: a scan switch controlled by a scan pulse on a gate line and connected between a data line and a first node; a driving switch which includes a gate electrode connected to the first node, a source electrode connected to a second node, and a drain electrode connected to a first driving voltage line; a sensing switch controlled by a sensing control signal and connected between the second node and a third node on a sensing line; and an organic light emitting diode connected between the second node and a second driving voltage line.

Field of the Disclosure
The present application relates to an organic light emitting diode display device and a driving method thereof.
Description of the Related Art
Recently, a variety of flat panel display devices with reduced weight and volume corresponding to disadvantages of cathode ray tube (CRT) are being developed. The flat panel display devices include liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, field emission display (FED) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), electroluminescence devices and so on.
The PDPs have advantages such as a simple manufacturing process, lightness and thinness, and easiness to provide a large-sized screen. In view of these points, the PDPs attract public attention. However, the PDPs have serious problems such as low light emission efficiency, low brightness and high power consumption. Also, thin film transistor LCD devices use thin film transistors as switching elements. Such thin film transistor LCD devices are being widely used as the flat display devices. However, the thin film transistor LCD devices have disadvantages such as a narrow viewing angle and a low response time, because of being non-luminous devices. Meanwhile, the electroluminescence display devices are classified into an inorganic light emitting diode display device and an organic light emitting diode display device on the basis of the formation material of a light emission layer. The organic light emitting diode display device corresponding to a self-illuminating display device has features such as high response time, high light emission efficiency, high brightness and wide viewing angle.
The organic light emitting diode display device controls a voltage between a gate electrode and a source electrode of a driving transistor. As such, a current flowing from a drain electrode of the driving transistor toward a source electrode of the driving transistor can be controlled.
The current passing through the drain and source electrodes of the driving transistor is applied to an organic light emitting diode and allows the organic light emitting diode to emit light. Light emission quantity of the organic light emitting diode can be controlled by adjusting the current quantity flowing into the organic light emitting diode.
The current flowing through the organic light emitting diode is largely affected a threshold voltage Vth and mobility of the driving transistor. As such, the threshold voltage and mobility of the driving transistor should be accurately measured and compensated.

Organic light emitting diode display device and driving method thereof


An optical transceiver implemented with a tunable LD is disclosed. The tunable LD is installed within a TOSA (Transmitter Optical Subassembly). The optical transceiver provides two circuit boards arranged in the up-and-down relation. The TOSA is primarily connected to the second board but signals to drive the tunable LD are carried on an FPC board directly connected to the first board that mounts a driver circuit for the tunable LD.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transceiver, in particular, the present invention relates to an optical transceiver that installs a tunable laser diode (hereafter denoted as LD) integrated with a semiconductor optical modulator, which is hereafter called as iTLD.
2. Related Prior Art
The United State patent, U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,353, has disclosed an optical transceiver that installs two circuit boards arranged in up-and-down relation in the housing and electrically connected with a flexible printed circuit (hereafter denoted as FPC) board to each other. But, the optical transceiver disclosed in prior art above installs two optical subassemblies (hereafter denoted as OSA) electrically coupled to only one of the two circuit boards.

Optical transceiver implemented with tunable LD


In some examples, an implantable medical device determines that another medical device delivered an anti-tachyarrhythmia shock, and delivers post-shock pacing in response to the determination. The implantable medical device may be configured to both detect the delivery of the shock in a sensed electrical signal and, if delivery of the shock is not detected, determine that the shock was delivered based on detection of asystole of the heart. The asystole may be detected based on the sensed electrical signal. In some examples, an implantable medical device is configured to revert from a post-shock pacing mode to a baseline pacing mode by iteratively testing a plurality of decreasing values of pacing pulse magnitude until loss of capture is detected. The implantable medical device may update a baseline value of the pacing pulse magnitude for the baseline mode based on the detection of loss of capture.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs), including implantable pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), record cardiac electrogram (EGM) signals for sensing cardiac events, e.g., P-waves and R-waves. IMDs detect episodes of bradycardia, tachycardia and/or fibrillation from the sensed cardiac events, and respond to the episodes as needed with pacing therapy or high-voltage anti-tachyarrhythmia shocks, e.g., cardioversion or defibrillation shocks. Types of pacing therapy include bradycardia pacing, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP), which may attempted prior to resorting to an anti-tachyarrhythmia shock to terminate a tachyarrhythmia, and post-shock pacing, which may be delivered to help the heart recover from successful termination of a tachyarrhythmia by an anti-tachyarrhythmia shock.
Some IMDs include a can or housing that is implanted subcutaneously or submuscularly, and coupled to one or more intracardiac leads. Such IMDs may be capable of providing cardiac pacing and/or anti-tachyarrhythmia shock therapies via the one or more leads. However, other IMD configurations that avoid the use of intracardiac leads have been proposed. For example, an intracardiac pacing device (IPD) may be fully implantable within the heart, i.e., may include a housing and electrodes configured to be implanted in the heart. The IPD may be configured to deliver one or more types of pacing.
As another example, an extracardiovascular ICD system may include a can or housing that is implanted at a subcutaneous or submuscular location, and at least one lead implanted extracardiovascularly, e.g., subcutaneously or substernally. Extracardiovascular ICD systems deliver anti-tachyarrhythmia shocks, and may also be configured to deliver pacing pulses, using one or more electrodes on the lead and/or housing. However, the greater distance between the electrodes and the cardiac tissue, e.g., relative to the electrodes of an intracardiac lead or IPD, may necessitate greater pacing pulse magnitudes to capture the heart. Consequently, co-implantation of an extracardiovascular ICD system and IPD to provide shock and pacing therapies, respectively, has been proposed.

Detecting and responding to anti-tachyarrhythmia shocks