An assembly that provides for the mounting of paired sets of lubricant sample holders into balanced, opposed contact with a rotating rotor and whereby comparative data pertaining to measured load, speed and elicited thermal, audio and visual responses are obtained. The coded data is stored for digital comparison. In one assembly, a metal disc is mounted to rotate from a motor drive shaft in a cylinder block and in contact with calibrated sample support bushings biased to contact upper and lower surfaces of the disc. In another construction, an annular cylinder block supports several radially directed, opposed pairs of sample support bushings in biased, tangential contact with a circumferential wall of a cylindrical race or spherical rotor. Pneumatic or hydraulic pressure may be used to augment or load each bushing. In yet another construction, an annular cylinder block supports a pair of opposed weighted lever arms and sample support bushings in tangential contact with a rotor surface. A turnbuckle assembly coupled to the weights permits an adjustment of the center of gravity position of the weights.

The present invention relates to lubricant testers and, in particular, to a portable friction tester having balanced, opposed test bushings that are biased with springs, levers and/or pressure to load a rotating rotor (e.g. race, disc or sphere) and wherefrom numerous variables (e.g. torque, angular speed, audio and temperature outputs) are monitored to test the relative lubricating properties of lubricants (e.g. commercial oils and greases).
Classical friction is the resistance to relative motion between two surfaces as a consequence of slip-sticking, plastic deformation and/or welding that occurs with the ultimate generation of heat. Friction can be measured quantitatively and/or qualitatively by visual examination of tested samples. In physics, friction is an energy process that converts the ordered motion of some object into disordered motion and heat.
An important engineering concept in the study of friction and lubrication is the xe2x80x9clubrication parameterxe2x80x9d (LP). The lubrication parameter considers friction and lubricity in relation to three factors: sliding speed, load and viscosity of a lubricant sample. The relative control of these three factors determines not only the degree of friction for a specific sample but also wear. Depending upon the physical parameters that indicate friction for a particular test, quantitative measures can be obtained in various units, depending upon the physical property that is monitored and measured.
Wear between two mating surfaces experiencing friction can also elicit a qualitative measure of friction. The degree of wear is found by visual examination of the two mating surfaces after a test. Wear can also be determined, for example, by methods such as particle count analysis and/or magnetic or chemical examination of debris left in a lubricant sample after a test. However, the detection of wear from friction is not a primary goal of this invention because friction analysis and wear analysis are highly dissimilar and not comparable disciplines. For example precise wear analysis would take much longer times of operation and greater PSI loading than this invention is designed for.
Tribology is the study of lubrication and lubricants and their related coefficients of friction, viscosity and lubricity, among other relevant physical properties and parameters. A variety of testers have been developed to test the lubrication properties of all types of lubricants and materials in their various states (i.e. liquid, solid and gas) from grease to oil to plastics, to name a few lubricants. The knowledge of these properties and pertinent wear characteristics allows for the design of improved machines.
Some examples of devices used to test rubber are shown at U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,167,745; 6,334,358 and 6,349,587. Some lubrication/friction testing assemblies are shown at U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,388,442; 5,932,790; 6,145,370 and 6,167,745. Some oil testing assemblies are shown at U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,990,960 and 6,365,413. A force and position related test system for tribological materials is shown at U.S. Pat. No. 5,679,883 and a strain measuring tribological test assembly is shown at U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,798.
The present improved tester was developed to provide a portable, yet accurate lubricant tester that employs an electric or hydraulic motor to drive a rotating surface or rotor (e.g. a disc, race or sphere) at a stable and measured but not necessarily constant speed. At least one pair of sample holders (e.g. bushings) are maintained with a controlled bias to present a constant, known load with the rotating surface in the presence of a lubricant sample (e.g. oil, grease or solid film). The specific loading is measured in pounds force or pressure in pounds per square inch (PSI) and can be adjusted with different combinations of bushings and/or bias springs and/or weighted levers and/or pneumatic/hydraulic pressure to direct the bushings into contact with the rotating surface.
The motor runs briefly for several seconds as two lubricated metal surfaces (e.g. steel or aluminum or copper or iron) are pressed against each other. A loss of RPM, heat, noise and the consumption of power at the motor reflect the resultant drag. The latter outputs can be measured in terms of shaft torque, temperature degrees, RPM, decibels and frequency of noise, hydraulic PSI, amperage draw or voltage drain, among other values. The observed/measured values do not directly yield a calculated coefficient of friction for each oil sample. The values however reflect numbers that can be compared to other samples to provide a relative comparison and give a history. The measured results can also be captured on video or film and/or be analyzed by computer.
It is a primary object of the invention to provide a portable lubricant tester that supports at least two sample lubricant holders into balanced, opposing contact with a moving surface.
It is further object of the invention to provide a lubricant tester wherein bushings soaked in a sample lubricant and containing a wick soaked in the lubricant or lined with a solid film sample are biased under a known force in opposed resistance to a rotor (e.g. rotating disc, race or spheroid).
It is further object of the invention to provide a generic motor, either electric or hydraulic, typically about one horsepower to drive the rotor to overcome the opposed loading applied by paired sets of sample support bushings.
It is a further object of the invention to provide sample holders or xe2x80x9ccylinder blocksxe2x80x9d having multiple bores that are symmetrically arranged toward a rotating disc, race or ball rotor and that each contain sample support bushings and resilient biasing members for directing the bushings into contact with the disc, race or ball rotor.
It is further object of the invention to provide a cylinder block having bores that define upper and lower cylinders relative to an intermediate cavity within which a disc rotates and wherein the upper and lower cylinders contain sample supporting bushings and springs to bias the bushings into orthogonal contact with the rotating disc.
It is further object of the invention to resiliently bias each bushing with one or more springs having calibrated spring constants.
It is further object of the invention to resiliently bias each bushing with weighted lever arms.
It is further object of the invention to resiliently bias each bushing with a controlled pneumatic or hydraulic pressure.
It is further object of the invention to provide one or more cylinder blocks having radially directed bores that contain sample supporting bushings biased with springs, weighted levers or fluid pressure to direct the bushings into tangential contact and load a rotating rotor.
The foregoing objects, advantages and distinctions of the invention are obtained in three presently preferred test assemblies. In one preferred construction, the assembly provides an electric motor secured to a rigid base plate. A metal disc is mounted to rotate from the motor drive shaft. Mounted to the base plate are one or more symmetrically positioned cylinder blocks. Each cylinder block provides a horizontal raceway cavity that partially encompasses the disc and at least one orthogonal bore that defines first and second cylinders. The cylinders each contain appropriate test or sample support bushings lubricated with a test lubricant and one or more calibrated springs or other means that bias the bushings into contact with opposite surfaces of the disc at a known, constant force.
In another construction, a metal race or cylindrical or spherical rotor of substantial thickness is mounted to rotate on the motor drive shaft. Mounted to the base plate are one or more symmetrically positioned cylinder blocks. Each cylinder block provides a number of radially directed bores that define sample support cylinders and which cylinders are aligned in radially opposed relation to each other relative to the drive shaft and rotor. Each cylinder contains a sample support bushing and one or more calibrated springs, weighted levers or other pressurized means bias the bushing into contact with the rotor at a known, constant force.
In another construction, a metal race or spheroid rotor is mounted to rotate on the motor drive shaft. Concentrically mounted to the rotor at a supporting base plate is an annular cylinder block. The cylinder block provides several paired sets of bores that define sample support cylinders and which cylinders are aligned in radially opposed relation to each other relative to the drive shaft and rotor. Each cylinder contains a sample support bushing. Each bushing is biased to contact the rotor via a lever that pivots on an axle secured to the cylinder block. Each lever supports a calibrated weight and whereby a force multiplication (e.g. 2xc3x97 to 12xc3x97) is achieved and a known, constant load force is obtained at the rotor. The levers and weights provide identical, balanced, opposing loading forces, which generate relatively extreme frictional pressures between the bushings. The loading can be augmented or alternatively achieved with a controlled pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. As in all the embodiments, the opposed mountings of the bushings cancels extraneous conditions that may exist, other that the load forces


An optical device includes an optical splitter having an input port, a first output port and a second output port and is adapted to receive at said input port a WDM optical signal including a plurality of channels equally spaced by a frequency spacing and occupying an optical bandwidth, and wherein the optical splitter is adapted to output at the first and second output ports, respectively, a first and a second portion of the optical signal; an optical combiner having a respective first and second input ports and a respective output port; a first optical path optically connecting the first output port of the optical splitter to the first input port of the optical combiner; a second optical path optically connecting the second output port of the optical splitter to the second input port of the optical combiner, a first optical filter optically coupled along the first optical path, and a second optical filter optically coupled to the second optical path and the free spectral range of both the first and the second optical filter is equal to an odd multiple of the frequency spacing and greater than half of the optical bandwidth.

A common technique to increase the transmission capacity of today optical communication systems is wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), wherein a plurality of optical channels, each having a respective optical frequency (and correspondingly respective optical wavelength), are multiplexed together in a single optical medium, such as for example an optical fiber. The optical frequencies allocated for the WDM channels are typically arranged in a grid having an equal spacing between two adjacent frequencies. In dense WDM (DWDM), wherein the WDM channels may be closely spaced, the frequency spacing is typically equal to about 100 GHz (corresponding wavelength spacing of about 0.8 mm) or about 50 GHz (about 0.4 mm). Other used channel separations are 200 GHz, 33.3 GHz and 25 GHz. Typically, the set of allocated optical frequencies occupies an optical bandwidth of about 4 THz, which gives room for the use of up to 40 or 41 WDM channels having 100 GHz spacing. The device of the present invention is suitable for a WDM optical bandwidth of at least about 1 THz, preferably at least about 2 THz, typically placed around 1550 mm.
Optical networking is expected to be widely used in perspective optical communication field. The term 'optical network' is commonly referred to an optical system including a plurality of point-to-point or point-to-multipoint (e.g., metro-ring) optical systems optically interconnected through nodes. In all-optical transparent networks few or no conversions of the optical signal into electrical signal, and then again in optical signal, occur along the whole path from a departure location to a destination location. This is accomplished by placing at the nodes of the optical networks electro-optical or optical devices which are apt to process the optical signal in the optical domain, with limited or no need for electrical conversion. Examples of such devices are optical add and/or drop multiplexers (OADM), branching units, optical routers, optical switches, optical regenerators (re-shapers and/or re-timers) and the like. Accordingly, the term 'optical filtering' or 'optical processing', for the purpose of the present description is used to indicate any optical transformation given to an optical radiation, such as extracting a channel or a power portion of said channel from a set of WDM channels ('dropping'), inserting a charnel or a power portion of said channel into a WDM signal ('adding'), routing or switching a channel or its power portion on a dynamically selectable optical route, optical signal reshaping, retiming or a combination thereof. In addition, optical systems, and at a greater extent optical networks, make use of optical amplifiers in order to compensate the power losses due to fiber attenuation or to insertion losses of the optical devices along the path, avoiding the use of any conversion of the optical signal into the electrical domain even for long traveling distances and/or many optical devices along the path. In case of DWDM wavelengths, all channels are typically optically amplified together, e.g. within a bandwidth of about 32 nm around 1550 mm.
In optical systems, and at a greater extent in optical networks, a problem exists of filtering one or more optical channels at the nodes while minimizing the loss and/or the distortion of the filtered optical channel(s), as well the loss and/or the distortion of the optical channels transmitted through the node ideally without being processed (hereinafter referred to as 'thru' channels). Advantageously, the optical processing node should be able to simultaneously process more than one channel, each one arbitrarily selectable independently from the other processed channels. Ideally up to all the channels may be simultaneously selectable to be processed, but in practice a number between 2 and 16, preferably between 4 and 8, is considered to be sufficient for the purpose.
It is desirable that the optical processing node is tunable or reconfigurable, i.e., it can change dynamically the subset of channels on which it operates. In order to be suitable to arbitrarily select the channel to be processed within the whole WDM optical bandwidth, the tuning range of the whole optical processing node should be at least equal to said optical bandwidth. It is in general a problem to tune an optical filter over the whole optical bandwidth, especially when the bandwidth exceeds about 3 THz, for example when it is equal to about 4 THz. For example, notwithstanding the silicon's fairly large thermo-optic effect, scanning the entire telecommunication C-band (32 nm or 4 THz) with a single tunable silicon filter, such as a single silicon microring filter, remains quite a difficult task due to the high temperatures reached at the heater layer (up to about 600° C.).
It is also preferred that while the processing node "moves" from an initial channel (A) to a destination channel (B), the channels different from A and B remain unaffected by the tuning operation. In this case the component is defined as 'hitless'. In particular, the channels placed between the initially processed channel and the final channel after tuning should not be subject to an additional impairment penalty, called 'hit', by the tuning operation. The hit may include a loss penalty and/or an optical distortion such as phase distortion and/or chromatic dispersion.
For example, optical communication networks need provisions for partially altering the traffic at each node by adding and/or dropping one or several independent channels out of the total number. Typically, an OADM node removes from a WDM signal a subset of the transmitted channels (each corresponding to one frequency/wavelength), and adds the same subset with a new information content, said subset being dynamically selectable.
There are several additional concerns. The tunable optical processing node should not act as a narrow band filter for the unprocessed channels, since concatenation of such nodes would excessively narrow the channel pass bands. The tunable optical processing node should also be ultra-compact and should have low transmission loss and low cost, since these important factors ultimately determine which technology is selected.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,482 discloses (see, e.g., FIG. 2 thereof) an optical filter device for processing a multi-frequency light signal to separate therefrom a predetermined frequency component, the device comprising: (i) a first tunable filter structure having a first tuning range and operable to receive an input light signal and output first and second light components thereof through first and second spatially separated light paths, respectively, the first light component having a specific frequency range of the input signal including said predetermined frequency component, and the second light component including a remaining portion of the input light; and (ii) a second tunable filter structure having a second tuning range defining an optical spectrum overlapping with that of the first filter, the second filter being operable to receive the first light component and separate therefrom said predetermined frequency component to propagate to a drop/add light path of the device and direct a remaining portion of the first light component into the first filter structure to be output at the second light path.

Method and system for tunable optical filtering


The present invention provides improved methods for processing seismic data which include the effects of offset dependence of reflection amplitudes. The methods of the present invention provide a way to estimate and remove the effect of stretch and small moveout velocity errors on the measurement of offset dependence for the case of small offsets (less than about 30 degrees angle of reflection). Further, the methods of the present invention provide an improved estimate of the correct movement velocity.

The present invention relates to exploration seismic reflection surveying and more particularly, relates to the processing of exploration seismic reflection data to enhance information in seismic signals reflected from contrasts in elastic constants, velocities, and/or densities in the subsurface of the earth.
The methods of the present invention which are described herein are generally discussed in terms of compressional wave (PP) seismic data, acquisition, and processing, which is the most common form of seismic data used in exploration seismology. However, it should be understood that these methods are equally applicable to shear wave seismic data and to converted wave seismic data.
Conventional land or marine seismic acquisition techniques involve the use of an appropriate source to generate seismic energy and a set of receivers, spread out along or near the surface of the earth on land, or at or near the water surface or water bottom in a water covered area, to detect any reflected seismic signals due to seismic energy striking subsurface geologic boundaries. These signals are recorded as a function of time and subsequent processing of these time varying signals, i.e. seismic "traces" or seismic data, is designed to reconstruct an appropriate image of the geologic boundaries of the subsurface and to obtain information about the subsurface materials. In simplistic terms, this conventional process has a seismic wave, from a source of seismic energy, traveling down into the earth, reflecting from a particular geologic interface (i.e., a contrast in elastic constants, velocities, and/or densities), and returning to the surface, where it may be detected by an appropriate detector.
As noted in the above-referenced related application, seismic data is processed to obtain information about the subsurface over which seismic data has been acquired. More particularly, one conventional processing technique is hyperbolic normal moveout (NMO) velocity analysis and subsequent "stacking" of the NMO corrected data. However, such conventional NMO techniques ignore the offset dependence of the seismic data. The related application provides methods for more accurately estimating moveout velocities while obtaining consistent estimates of the offset dependence and the zero offset information of the seismic data.
The estimate of the offset dependence of the amplitude (as described in the related application) has been somewhat limited by the coupling of the offset dependence and moveout velocity. Further, the conventional process of hyperbolic normal moveout correction distorts the amplitude and frequency of the seismic data, such an effect is commonly referred to as "stretch". In practice with actual field data, the measured offset dependence is frequently contaminated by relatively small moveout velocity errors, as well as other errors related to the process of moveout correction.
Thus, a method for determining the effect of moveout velocity errors and other errors (such as stretch) on the measurement of such offset dependence for the case of small offsets is needed. Such a method can simultaneously determine a more accurate measure of amplitude variation with offset and normal incident reflection amplitude, as well as moveout velocity. However, it should be noted that given the correct moveout velocity and in the absence of other known effects, the techniques and methods in the related copending application provide the correct offset dependence. The terms "amplitude variation with offset", "variation with offset", "offset dependence", and "offset dependence of amplitude" are used interchangeably herein.
These and other limitations and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, however, and an improved method is provided for determining from seismic data, normal moveout velocities, and associated dynamic corrections that preserve amplitude versus offset information to provide better estimates of effective velocities, the normal incidence reflection amplitudes, and the offset dependence of the reflection amplitudes.


A method is disclosed comprising: determining at least one relative altitude information based, at least in part, on at least one pressure information, wherein the at least one relative altitude information is indicative of a relative value of an altitude, determining at least one absolute altitude information associated with a data element of a database comprising map data, wherein the at least one absolute altitude information is indicative of an absolute value of an altitude, determining an estimation information based, at least in part, on the determined relative altitude information and, at least in part, on the determined absolute altitude information, wherein the estimation information represents an absolute value of an altitude. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.

Indoor positioning (i.e. position finding, including floor detection) requires novel systems and solutions that are specifically developed and deployed for this purpose. The 'traditional' positioning technologies, which are mainly used outdoors, e.g. satellite and cellular positioning technologies, generally cannot deliver such performance indoors that would enable seamless and equal navigation experience in both environments. The required positioning accuracy (e.g. 2-3 m), coverage (e.g. ˜100%) and floor detection are challenging to achieve indoors with satisfactory performance levels with the systems and signals that were not designed and specified for the indoor use cases. Satellite-based radio navigation signals simply do not penetrate enough through the walls and roofs for adequate signal reception, and the cellular signals usually have too narrow bandwidth for accurate ranging by default.
Several indoor-dedicated solutions have been developed and commercially deployed during the past years, e.g. solutions based on pseudolites (GPS-like short range beacons), ultra-sound positioning, BTLE signals (e.g. High-Accuracy Indoor Positioning, HAIP) and WiFi-Fingerprinting. What is typical to these solutions is that they require either deployment of totally new infrastructure (beacons, tags to name but a few examples) or manual exhaustive radio surveying of the buildings including all the floors, spaces and rooms. This is rather expensive and will take a considerable amount of time to build the coverage to the commercially expected level, which in some cases narrowed the potential market segment only to very thin customer base, e.g. for health care or dedicated enterprise solutions. Further, the diversity of these technologies makes it difficult to build a globally scalable indoor positioning solution, and the integration and testing will become complex if a large number of technologies needs to be supported in the consumer devices, such as smartphones.
For an indoor positioning solution to be commercially successful, that is, being globally scalable, having low maintenance and deployment costs, and offering acceptable end-user experience, the solution should be based on existing infrastructure in the buildings and on existing capabilities in the consumer devices. This leads to the conclusion that the indoor positioning is advantageously based on WiFi- and/or Bluetooth (BT)-technologies that are already supported in every smartphone, tablet, laptop and even in the majority of the feature phones. It is, thus, required to find a solution that uses the WiFi- and BT-radio signals in such a way that makes it possible to achieve e.g. 2-3 m horizontal positioning accuracy, e.g. close to 100% floor detection with the ability to quickly build the global coverage for this approach.

Precise altitude estimation for indoor positioning


The present invention overcomes image defects such as the brightness inclination or smears by reducing the line resistance of a power source bus line which supplies electricity to organic EL elements. A plurality of pixels which are arranged in a matrix array is connected to power source lines, and the plurality of power source lines are connected to a power source bus line. Both ends of the power source bus line are connected to a power source part via a FPC. By supplying electricity to both ends of the power source bus line from the power source part, the line resistance of the power source bus line can be reduced.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic EL display device which uses organic EL elements as pixels, and more particularly to an improved power source wiring which supplies electricity for allowing the organic EL elements to emit light.
2. Description of the Related Art
An organic EL element is a current-light-emitting-type element which emits light when an electric current flows therethrough, wherein a large current of several tens to 100 mA flows in a power source line in the inside of a TFT substrate on which the organic EL elements are formed. Particularly, in performing fixed-voltage driving of an EL display panel, when electricity is supplied to respective pixels via the power source line in the inside of the TFT substrate from a terminal at an inlet of the display panel, due to a voltage drop which is generated attributed to the resistance of the power source line, image defects such as the brightness inclination, smears and the like are generated. Accordingly, it is necessary to reduce the resistance of the power source line in the inside of the TFT substrate (from the inlet of the display panel to the respective pixels).
With respect to the reduction of the power source resistance, in following patent document 1, there is described a technique in which, for lowering a voltage drop attributed to the resistance of a drive power source line which drives a plurality of organic EL elements arranged in a matrix array, auxiliary power source lines are connected to both ends (and an intermediate portion) of a drive power source line.    Patent document 1: JP-A-2003-108068

Organic electroluminescent display device

Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.


A method and apparatus is provided for calibrating a Fabry-Perot etalon based optical measurement system. The calibration is performed by analyzing the shape of transmission peaks output from the etalon in response to a known optical signal and using that information, along with a formula that approximates the response of the etalon, to perform the calibration.

As it is known in the telecommunications art, dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) is a technology that allows many wavelengths of light to travel along the same fiberoptic cable. Each of those wavelengths of light convey a stream of data that is filtered and decoded when it reaches an optical DWDM receiver. DWDM technology significantly increases the amount of data that can be conveyed, at a single time, across a fiberoptic cable and hence is becoming highly utilized.
DWDM systems typically include equipment to monitor the optical signals communicated thereon to determine, among other characteristics, their wavelength and intensity. Such monitors are typically referred to as optical spectrum analyzers. Fixed and tunable Fabry-Perot interferometers, characterized by narrow passband periodic transmission functions, are used as wavelength etalons in these optical spectrum analyzers. Such interferometers are also utilized in wavelength tunable lasers that drive the DWDM signals.
There are two widely used measurement schemes, involving Fabry-Perot cavities, referred to as the static scheme and the dynamic scheme. With respect to the static scheme, broadband or laser light transmitted through a fixed Fabry-Perot cavity forms an interference pattern. The wavelength and intensity of light under test are judged by the form and shape of the resultant optical signal, taking into account fixed transmission characteristic of the cavity. In the dynamic scheme, the optical path in the Fabry-Perot cavity is dynamically changed by adjusting the incidence angle of light or by adjusting the spacing between the mirrors. In the dynamic scheme, the input light forms a dynamically changing interference pattern and the properties of the light are judged by the resultant dynamic optical signal.
Both methods require prior determination of the transmission function of the Fabry-Perot interferometer being utilized. The accuracy of the measurement is dependent upon how precisely that transmission function is known and how stable it is. The stability of the transmission function is highly dependent on the physical characteristics of the Fabry-Perot cavity. These physical characteristics are highly susceptible to environmental changes and, therefore, the accuracy of the above-mentioned methods are significantly dependent thereon.
Accordingly, an algorithmic mechanism is needed for providing accurate and reliable measurements across wide operating and environmental ranges.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an algorithmic method and apparatus is provided for improving the accuracy of Fabry-Perot based measurement systems by performing the calibration of the cavity transmission function and introducing the correction into the measurement results.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for calibrating an etalon based optical system includes the steps of applying an optical signal having a known spectral shape to the etalon. The resulting transmission peaks are recorded and analyzed at selected points, in the wavelength domain. Accordingly, the centre wavelength, peak transmission and full-width-half-max parameters are determined. The center wavelength, peak transmission and full-width-half-max parameters are subsequently applied to a formula that approximates the response of the etalon such that the etalon is calibrated.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the peak transmission is determined by performing a least square fit of the shape of the resulting transmission peaks to the aforementioned formula.

Method and apparatus for calibrating a fabry-perot interferometer based measurement system


A control system comprises a driving mode setting part 41 setting a driving mode, a fuel consumption rate calculating part 42 calculating a first fuel consumption rate when outputting power for driving use and a second fuel consumption rate when storing electric power in the battery, a fuel consumption rate correcting part 43 and a driving region judging part 44. The driving mode setting part sets the driving mode to the EV mode when the first fuel consumption rate is higher than the second fuel consumption rate and sets the driving mode to the engine operating mode when the first fuel consumption rate is lower than the second fuel consumption rate. The fuel consumption rate correcting part performs at least one of first correction raising the first fuel consumption rate and second correction lowering the second fuel consumption rate if the hybrid vehicle is driving through a residential neighborhood.

Known in the art has been a hybrid vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine and motor able to output power for driving use, and a battery storing power generated by output of the internal combustion engine and supplying power to the motor (for example, PTLs 1 and 2). In such a hybrid vehicle, the driving mode is switched between an EV mode in which operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped and output of only the motor is used as the power for driving use, and the engine operating mode in which output of the internal combustion engine is used as the power for driving use.
In the vehicle control system described in PTL 1, the driving mode is selected based on the relative magnitude of the first fuel consumption rate of the internal combustion engine when outputting power for driving use and the second fuel consumption rate of the internal combustion engine when storing power in the battery. By doing this, the driving mode with the optimum fuel efficiency becomes selected more often and the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine is improved.
Further, in such control, even when the driving output demanded by the driver is small such as at the time of driving at a low speed, the engine operating mode is frequently selected by a change in the accelerator operation etc. For this reason, forced charging of the battery due to a drop in the remaining battery power can be kept from occurring, and the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine can be kept from deteriorating due to forced charging.


A system and method for multi-spectrum segmentation for computer vision is described. A first sensor captures an image within a first spectrum range and generates first sensor data. A second sensor captures an image within a second spectrum range different than the first spectrum range and generates second sensor data. A multi-spectrum segmentation module identifies a segmented portion of the image within the second spectrum range based on: the second sensor data, a subset of the first sensor data corresponding to the segmented portion of the image within the second spectrum range, and a segmented portion of the image at the second spectrum range corresponding to the subset of the first sensor data. The multi-spectrum segmentation module identifies a physical object in the segmented portion of the image within the second spectrum range, and a device generates augmented reality content based on the identified physical object.

A device can be used to generate and display data in addition to an image captured with the device. For example, augmented reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or Global Navigation System (GPS) data. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive. Artificial information (e.g., device-generated) about the environment and its objects can be overlaid on the real world.
The device-generated information is based on a computer vision analysis of the physical, real-world environment. Computer vision enables the device to identify and track objects. Such process is typically computer intensive because of the complexity of the analysis of the image or video. Furthermore, mobile devices have very limited computing resources.

Multi-spectrum segmentation for computer vision


A system and method to implement synchronous channel timing are disclosed. The method comprises establishing a session time interval. In addition, the method comprises establishing a first time interval within the session time interval for transmitting a first data packet.

Wireless devices in a wireless communication system may communicate with one another via signals having frequencies within a given radio frequency band. The traditional method of providing synchronous channel timing is to define periodic transmissions. For example, devices are synchronized to align with a slotted or super frame structure. When a data channel is set up, a subset of periodic slots are assigned to the channel. Data transmissions then happen in the assigned slots.
Techniques such as these may be employed in a variety of wireless communication systems in personal area network ("PAN") or body area network ("BAN") applications. An access scheme for some wireless PAN or BAN applications may need to support a variety of devices with significantly different requirements. For example, for some devices it is important to consume as little power as possible. In addition, a given device in a network or different devices in a network may support a wide range of data rates. Consequently, the access scheme may need to provide relatively robust, yet flexible, functionality.

System and method to implement synchronous channel timing in a wireless communications network


A battery temperature control device for an electric vehicle is provided which is capable of maintaining both the range of the electric vehicle and the battery life at a high level without drastically reducing either of them. A recommended temperature range suitable for battery use and a usable temperature range in which a battery is usable and which is wider than the recommended temperature range are included, and while the battery temperature is basically controlled to converge to the recommended temperature range to maintain the battery life, in a situation where the power consumption necessary for controlling the battery temperature to converge to the recommended temperature is increased, making it difficult to travel a desired travelling distance, the recommended temperature range is switched to the usable temperature range and the battery temperature is controlled to converge to the usable temperature range, and the power consumption necessary for controlling the battery temperature is suppressed and the range of the vehicle is maintained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery temperature control device, and more particularly, to a battery temperature control device for a lithium ion battery used in an electric vehicle.
2. Background Art
In recent years, electric cars are gaining attention as environment-friendly vehicles. As batteries used in the electric cars, lithium ion batteries with high energy density and high charge acceptability are becoming the mainstream.
Now, the lithium ion battery is highly dependent on temperature with respect to the charge/discharge performance and the life property, and to improve the battery performance such as the charge/discharge performance and the life property, the battery temperature has to be maintained within an appropriate temperature range.
JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-252467 A (1998) and JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2009-110829 A disclose conventional devices for adjusting the battery temperature mentioned above.
A battery temperature adjusting device disclosed in JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 10-252467 A (1998) is a device for adjusting the battery temperature by introducing air inside a vehicle cabin into a battery case and cooling or warming a battery inside the battery case by the air.
Also, a battery temperature adjusting device disclosed in JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2009-110829 A is a device for adjusting the battery temperature by introducing air inside a vehicle cabin into a battery, and at the same time, warming or cooling the air to be introduced into the battery by using a Peltier device in the case that the battery temperature is not within a predetermined temperature range.


A method and system for shredding data within a data storage subsystem is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method is provided of continually shredding data within a data storage subsystem in which all the data of a first storage element is made permanently unreadable followed by the performance of a data shred process. In the described data shred process, second storage element is first selected (e.g., from plurality of candidate or potential storage elements), which includes a first storage object to be preserved and a second storage object to be shredded. Once the second storage element is selected, data of the first storage object is stored/copied within the first storage element. Thereafter, all data of the second storage element is rendered permanently unreadable.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to data storage and management and more particularly to a method and system for shredding data within a data storage subsystem.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, enterprises have become more dependent on the ability to store, organize, manage and distribute data. Accordingly, "information lifecycle management," the process of managing business data from conception until disposal in a manner that optimizes storage, access, and cost characteristics has become increasingly important. In particular, the significance of how data is "deleted" or disposed of has increased as confidential data has begun to play a more vital role in business transactions and stricter regulations are imposed on maintaining customer privacy.
FIG. 1 illustrates a high level block diagram of a data storage network including a conventional data storage subsystem in which stored data may be designated for destruction or "shredding." Data storage network 100 of FIG. 1 includes a host 102 communicatively coupled to a data storage subsystem 104. Data storage subsystem 104 of the illustrated embodiment includes storage 106 coupled with a storage management processing module 108 as shown. Storage 106 of the illustrated data storage subsystem 104 includes at least one storage element 112 (e.g., a logical volume) capable of storing data within one or more storage objects (e.g., storage objects 114, 116 and 118) such as a file. Within data storage network 100 of FIG. 1, data is stored within storage elements (e.g., storage element 112A) utilizing storage management processing module 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the manner in which data is stored is monitored utilizing metadata 110 maintained or used by storage management processing module 108.
Storage element 112 of data storage subsystem 104 includes two active data objects (storage objects 114 and 116) and one inactive or "latent" storage object (storage object 118). Active and inactive storage objects such as storage objects 116 and 118 may be associated with one another. For example, storage object 118 may be a duplicate of storage object 116. In illustrated data storage network 100, inactive/latent data such as that stored within storage object 118 may or may not be indexed utilizing metadata 110. Consequently, storage management processing module 108 may be the only element within data storage network 100 capable of tracking the location of such inactive data. When storage object 116 (and consequently storage object 118) includes data to be destroyed or "shredded" storage management processing module 108 identifies the associated inactive storage objects utilizing metadata 110 and subsequently renders data associated with the appropriate storage objects permanently unreadable. Several shortcomings are therefore associated with such a data shredding process.
As storage management processing module 108 is responsible for storage element management including the processing of storage element creation, deletion and/or access (e.g., read/write) requests in addition to the permanent destruction of data via shredding, this module may become overloaded and a system bottleneck. Consequently, expired data may be retained for longer than necessary or desired and/or storage read and write operations may be unnecessarily delayed. Moreover, the described shredding technique necessitates the tracking of storage objects (utilizing metadata 110) to be shredded which may be otherwise ignored.

Method and system for shredding data within a data storage subsystem

International Business Machines Corporation


An anti-vibration apparatus includes a table, an actuator system which applies a force to the table, a first system which applies to the actuator system a first signal for causing the actuator system to apply the force in proportion to a displacement of the table, and a second system which applies to the actuator system a second signal for causing the actuator system to apply the force based on an acceleration of the table. The first and second signals are generated by the first and second systems, respectively, so that a natural vibration mode of a system including the table and the actuator system is unchanged.

The present invention relates to a vibration damping apparatus which reduces vibrations of a structure such as an exposure apparatus used to fabricate various devices such as a semiconductor chip including an IC or LSI, a display element including a liquid crystal panel, a detection element including a magnetic head, and an image sensing element including a CCD, a control method for the vibration damping apparatus, an exposure apparatus having the vibration damping apparatus, a maintenance method therefor, a semiconductor device fabrication method, and a semiconductor fabrication factory.
Precision apparatuses such as an electron microscope and an exposure apparatus applied to a semiconductor fabrication process must minimize and cut off vibrations transferred from the outside and vibrations transferred to the outside, and must incorporate (or be mounted on) a vibration damping apparatus which reduces and cuts off vibrations. Particularly, in the exposure apparatus, an exposure X-Y stage continuously moves at a high speed. The vibration damping apparatus must realize high-precision vibration damping performance against external vibrations and high-precision vibration suppression performance against internal vibrations generated by the mounted apparatus itself.
To meet this demand, active vibration damping apparatuses have recently been put into practical use. This vibration damping apparatus can achieve effective vibration control by driving an actuator in accordance with a detection signal from a vibration sensor.
A passive vibration damping apparatus is comprised of only a support mechanism having spring and damper characteristics, and exhibits a tradeoff between the vibration damping performance and the vibration suppression performance. If the vibration damping performance is preferred in the passive vibration damping apparatus, low stiffness and low viscosity are demanded of the support mechanism. This demand degrades the vibration suppression performance.
The advantage of the active vibration damping apparatus is that it can satisfy both the vibration damping performance and vibration suppression performance. The vibration sensor and actuator can realize the viscosity and stiffness of a skyhook whose fulcrum is an absolute rest point in the space.
The feature of the active vibration damping apparatus is to set a vibration sensor on a vibration damping table which supports a precision apparatus and to feed back a detection signal from the vibration sensor to the actuator. A vibration damping apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-274482 (active vibration damping apparatus, exposure apparatus and method, and device fabrication method) adopts a feedback loop which applies the stiffness of a skyhook to a vibration damping table together with the viscosity of the skyhook. According to this reference, the vibration damping apparatus has a vibration measurement unit which measures vibrations of the vibration damping table and those of an actuator serving as an air spring which supports the vibration damping table. By supporting the vibration damping table by a stiffness element such as the actuator serving as an air spring, vibrations transferred from the installation floor to the vibration damping table are cut off. The vibration damping apparatus also comprises an acceleration/velocity feedback loop. An acceleration and velocity based on an output from the vibration measurement unit are fed back to the actuator serving as an air spring, applying the viscosity and stiffness of the skyhook to the vibration damping table. The xe2x80x9cskyhookxe2x80x9d means that an absolute rest point in the space is used as a fulcrum. The viscosity and stiffness of the skyhook keep the vibration damping table absolutely at rest. The stiffness suppresses displacement, and the viscosity quickly damps residual vibrations.
For effective vibration control, a vibration damping apparatus having both the viscosity and stiffness of a skyhook is desirable, as disclosed in the reference. Most of conventional vibration damping apparatuses realize only the skyhook viscosity through a feedback loop. The first step of vibration control is to damp residual vibrations, and many vibration damping apparatuses are equipped with only a minimum function of realizing the skyhook viscosity.
However, only the viscosity cannot fully demonstrate the ability of the vibration damping apparatus. Realization of the skyhook stiffness is desired for higher-precision vibration control.
One of the reasons why no conventional vibration damping apparatus realizes the skyhook stiffness is that an acceleration sensor has conventionally been used for vibration measurement in the vibration control field, as considered in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-274482 described above. The acceleration sensor, also called a tilt sensor, can detect from a direct current to a high-frequency component. When, however, vibrations are actually measured using the acceleration sensor, almost no very low frequencies are observed. The physical quantity of velocity is a first-order integral of the acceleration, and the velocity sensor has a higher sensitivity to a lower frequency than the acceleration sensor. In other words, the velocity sensor is more advantageous than the acceleration sensor to low-frequency vibration measurement. The skyhook stiffness contains a low-frequency component in the control band, and the above reference realizes effective skyhook stiffness by using the velocity sensor.
There is another technical problem which obstructs realization of the skyhook stiffness. This problem is changes in a natural mode accompanying application of the stiffness. The rigid-body motion of the vibration damping table has natural modes equal in number to the degree of freedom of motion. From the viewpoint of dynamics, the vibration damping table is modeled into a stiffness element, and the air spring which supports the vibration damping table is modeled into a stiffness element (spring element). As is well known, the rigid-body spring system has natural modes equal in number to the degree of freedom of motion of the rigid body. Thus, the rigid-body motion of the vibration damping table has a natural mode which is a phenomenon unique to the rigid-body spring system.
The frequency in the natural mode is called a natural frequency, and the direction or state of the natural mode is called a mode shape. Upon applying disturbance vibrations similar in direction to frequency, vibrations excited in the system are converted into a natural mode. That is, not only are various vibrations generated in the vibration damping table, but also, vibrations are excited mainly in the natural mode.
The skyhook viscosity so acts as to apply damping to the natural mode. It should be noted that the natural mode is kept unchanged regardless of the presence/absence of viscosity. This is because the natural mode is determined by the inertia and stiffness of the system regardless of the viscosity. As long as the feedback loop which realizes the viscosity is appropriate, damping can be applied to all natural modes.
The skyhook stiffness influences the natural mode. The skyhook stiffness applies new stiffness using the space as a fulcrum to the vibration damping table, and the natural mode changes depending on the presence/absence of the stiffness. Changes in natural mode should be prevented because of the following reasons.
First, the natural mode is a basic design specification in the design of a mechanical structure such as a vibration damping apparatus. The movable direction and range of a movable mechanism are designed based on the natural mode. This also applies to the layout of the vibration sensor and actuator, and their layout is determined in consideration of the observability and controllability of the natural mode. The mechanical structure of the vibration damping apparatus is designed based on the natural mode, and the natural mode is desirably kept unchanged regardless of the presence/absence of the feedback loop.
Second, changes in natural mode inhibit the performance evaluation of the vibration damping apparatus. The primary role of the vibration damping apparatus is to cut off vibrations transferred from the installation floor. The floor vibration transmissibility is one of indices for performance evaluation. The floor vibration transmissibility is measured by installing vibration sensors on both the vibration damping table and installation floor in two horizontal directions and the vertical direction. Measurement in the two horizontal directions and the vertical direction is performed because the sense of directions is clear and the vibration sensors basically detect vibrations in horizontal or vertical translation. In general, the vibration damping table has natural modes corresponding to translations in the two horizontal directions and the vertical direction. With the presence of such natural modes, vibrations from the installation floor and vibrations from the vibration damping table exhibit a high correlation upon measurement by the vibration sensors. Thus, the floor vibration transmissibility can be measured at a high precision. Application of the skyhook stiffness may decrease the measurement precision of the floor vibration transmissibility. This is because applying the stiffness may change the natural mode in a direction different from translations in the two horizontal directions and the vertical direction. Considering the performance evaluation of the vibration damping apparatus, the natural mode is desirably kept unchanged.
Third, the natural mode is a basic design specification of the vibration damping apparatus, but an improper natural mode different from the design may be realized. The natural mode becomes different from the design owing to characteristic variations of the structure of the vibration damping apparatus and the shape and weight of a precision apparatus mounted on the vibration damping table. This inhibits smooth operation of the movable mechanism of the vibration damping apparatus and the layout of the vibration sensor and actuator. In this case, the natural mode is desirably shaped into a proper one by a feedback loop operation.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a vibration damping apparatus capable of fixing the natural mode of the rigid-body motion of a vibration damping table even upon applying the stiffness of a skyhook to the vibration damping table in a feedback lop.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a vibration damping apparatus capable of arbitrarily adjusting the natural mode of the rigid-body motion of the vibration damping table.
To solve the conventional problems and to achieve the above objects, there are provided a vibration damping apparatus and a control method, comprising a vibration damping unit which reduces vibrations of a structure, a support unit which supports the vibration damping unit, an actuator which applies a vibration suppression force to the vibration damping unit, a vibration sensor which detects vibrations of the vibration damping unit, and a controller having a feedback loop which so controls as to drive the support unit and the actuator in accordance with a detection result of the vibration sensor and to apply stiffness, viscosity, and inertia to the vibration damping unit, wherein the controller applies the inertia in accordance with physical parameters of the vibration damping unit and the support unit and the stiffness so as not to change a natural mode of rigid-body motion of the vibration damping unit depending on the presence/absence of the feedback loop.
Also, there are provided a vibration damping apparatus and a control method therefor according to the present invention, comprising a vibration damping unit which reduces vibrations of a structure, a support unit which supports the vibration damping unit, an actuator which applies a vibration suppression force to the vibration damping unit, a vibration sensor which detects vibrations of the vibration damping unit, and a controller having a feedback loop which so controls as to drive the support unit and the actuator in accordance with a detection result of the vibration sensor and to apply stiffness, viscosity, and inertia to the vibration damping unit, wherein the controller applies the stiffness in accordance with physical parameters of the vibration damping unit and the support unit and the inertia so as not to change a natural mode of rigid-body motion of the vibration damping unit depending on presence/absence of the feedback loop.
According to these apparatuses and methods, the vibration damping unit which supports a precision apparatus or the like is supported by an air spring serving as the support unit. The actuator such as a linear motor applies a vibration suppression force to the vibration damping unit. The air spring functions as a support leg which supports the vibration damping unit, and as an actuator which controls the internal pressure to apply a vibration suppression force to the vibration damping unit. The vibration sensor detects vibrations of the vibration damping unit. xe2x80x9cVibrationsxe2x80x9d mean the absolute acceleration and velocity of the vibration damping unit with respect to the space. The stiffness and viscosity of the skyhook and the inertia are applied to the vibration damping unit by driving actuators such as the air spring and linear motor in accordance with an output from the vibration sensor. In general, application of the stiffness to the vibration damping unit changes the natural mode of the rigid-body motion of the vibration damping unit. The inertia is so applied as to keep the natural mode unchanged. The inertia is applied in accordance with the physical parameters of the vibration damping unit and air spring, and application of the stiffness. The physical parameters of the vibration damping unit and air spring mean the mass, moment of inertia, and inertia product of the vibration damping unit, the stiffness of the air spring SU, and the like.
Also, there are provided a vibration damping apparatus and a control method therefor according to the present invention, comprising a vibration damping unit which reduces vibrations of a structure, a support unit which supports the vibration damping unit, an actuator which applies a vibration suppression force to the vibration damping unit, a vibration sensor which detects vibrations of the vibration damping unit, and a controller having a feedback loop which so controls as to drive the support unit and the actuator in accordance with a detection result of the vibration sensor and to apply stiffness, viscosity, and inertia to the vibration damping unit, wherein the controller applies the inertia in accordance with physical parameters of the vibration damping unit and the support unit and the stiffness so as to arbitrarily adjust a natural mode of rigid-body motion of the vibration damping unit.
Also, there are provided a vibration damping apparatus and a control method therefor according to the present invention, comprising a vibration damping unit which reduces vibrations of a structure, a support unit which supports the vibration damping unit, an actuator which applies a vibration suppression force to the vibration damping unit, a vibration sensor which detects vibrations of the vibration damping unit, and a controller having a feedback loop which so controls as to drive the support unit and the actuator in accordance with a detection result of the vibration sensor and to apply stiffness, viscosity, and inertia to the vibration damping unit, wherein the controller applies the stiffness in accordance with physical parameters of the vibration damping unit and the support unit and the inertia so as to arbitrarily adjust a natural mode of rigid-body motion of the vibration damping unit.
According to these apparatuses and methods, the inertia is so applied as to arbitrarily adjust the natural mode of the rigid-body motion of the vibration damping unit. The inertia is applied in accordance with the physical parameters of air springs serving as the vibration damping unit and support unit, and application of the stiffness.
It is preferable that a correspondence table between the stiffness and the inertia be held in advance, and the feedback loop be operated in accordance with the correspondence table.
An exposure apparatus according to the present invention comprises the above vibration damping apparatus.
The present invention can be applied to a semiconductor device fabrication method comprising the step of installing fabrication apparatuses for performing various processes, including the exposure apparatus of the present invention, in a semiconductor fabrication factory, and the step of fabricating a semiconductor device by performing a plurality of processes using the fabrication apparatuses.
The semiconductor device fabrication method preferably further comprises the step of connecting the fabrication apparatuses by a local area network, and the step of communicating information about at least one of the fabrication apparatuses between the local area network and an external network outside the semiconductor fabrication factory.
Preferably, a database provided by a vendor or user of the exposure apparatus is accessed via the external network to obtain maintenance information about the fabrication apparatus by data communication, or data communication is performed between the semiconductor fabrication factory and another semiconductor fabrication factory via the external network to perform production management.
The present invention can be applied to a semiconductor fabrication factory comprising fabrication apparatuses for performing various processes, including the exposure apparatus of the present invention, a local area network which connects the fabrication apparatuses, and a gateway which allows the local area network to access an external network outside the factory, wherein information about at least one of the fabrication apparatuses can be communicated.
The present invention can be applied to a maintenance method for the exposure apparatus of the present invention that is installed in a semiconductor fabrication factory, comprising the step of causing a vendor or user of the exposure apparatus to provide a maintenance database connected to an external network outside the semiconductor fabrication factory, the step of granting access to the maintenance database in the semiconductor fabrication factory via the external network, and the step of transmitting maintenance information accumulated in the maintenance database to the semiconductor fabrication factory via the external network.
The exposure apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a display, a network interface, and a computer which executes network software, and maintenance information about the exposure apparatus can be communicated via a computer network.
The network software preferably provides on the display a user interface for accessing a maintenance database which is provided by a vendor or user of the exposure apparatus and connected to an external network outside a factory where the exposure apparatus is installed, and enables obtaining information from the database via the external network.
As described above, according to the present invention, vibrations of the vibration damping table are suppressed by applying the stiffness and viscosity of the skyhook and the inertia to the vibration damping table. The natural mode of the rigid-body motion of the vibration damping table is kept unchanged regardless of the presence/absence of the feedback loop. Hence, a feedback loop for each motion mode operates preferably. The movable range of the vibration damping apparatus and the layout of the vibration sensor and actuator need not be redesigned. According to the present invention, the natural mode of the rigid-body motion of the vibration damping table can be arbitrarily adjusted. The natural mode can be shaped into a desirable one. The present invention can provide a vibration damping apparatus capable of preferable vibration damping control, and a high-precision semiconductor exposure apparatus having the vibration damping apparatus.
Other objects and advantages besides those discussed above shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which follows. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and which illustrate an example of the invention. Such an example, however, is not exhaustive of the various embodiments of the invention, and, therefore, reference is made to the claims which follow the description for determining the scope of the invention.

VIBRATION DAMPING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, EXPOSURE APPARATUS HAVING THE VIBRATION DAMPING APPARATUS, MAINTENANCE METHOD THEREFOR, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE FABRICATION METHOD, AND SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION FACTORY


A stunt kite string winder includes a pair of bracket members which hold a pair of string handles substantially spaced apart and in generally parallel relationship to each other. A crank handle extends from each bracket member so that the winder can be rotated about axis which is located between the string handles. A resilient member biases the brackets towards each other to releasably hold the string handles therebetween.

This invention relates to an apparatus for winding kite strings, in particular dual kite strings connected to a stunt-type kite.
It is well known that stunt kites are flown with two fixed lengths of strings, each attached to a separate handle. One method of winding the strings is to wind each string on its own handle, one at a time. This is time consuming and may introduce twist into the kite strings.
Only a few dual string stunt kite winding devices have been proposed. In one such device, each string handle is mounted on pins which project from opposite sides of a central shaft. The central shaft is then revolved by one hand while the strings are separated and/or guided onto the assembled handles and shaft by the other hand. Another dual string stunt kite winding device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,702 issued in 1987 to McGinnis. In this device both handles are again mounted on pins on opposite sides of a central shaft. A string guide is held radially outwardly from the handles and is supported from a hollow sleeve which slidably and rotatably receives the shaft. A crank handle is fixed to an end of the shaft so that the assembled handles can be rotated to take up the strings. Use of both these dual string winding devices can be time consuming because not much string is taken up for each rotation because the handles are mounted close to each other. Thus, many rotations are required to wind up the standard 150 foot string lengths. It would be desirable to provide a stunt kite string winder which rapidly and simultaneously winds a pair of stunt kite strings.


A table lamp having an ornamental liquid container movably connected to a main body thereof, so that the ornamental liquid container tends to swing, rotate and/or turn upside-down under an external force applied on the ornamental liquid container. At least one type of liquid, such as a dual-liquid or a magma-like liquid, and floating ornaments are contained in the ornamental liquid container. The liquid and floating ornaments tend to create unique, changeful and dynamic scenes when the ornamental liquid container is moved by the external force applied on it. The ornamental liquid container therefore gives the table lamp novel appearances and additional decorative effect.

The present invention relates to a table lamp with movable ornamental liquid container, and more particularly to a table lamp having an ornamental liquid container movably mounted on a base of the table lamp, so that liquid and floating ornaments contained in the liquid container produce dynamical, changeful and beautiful scenes in the liquid container when the latter is moved by an external force applied on it. The table lamp therefore has unique ornamental effect apart from its illuminating function.
The table lamp is a very popular lighting fixture and may be versatilely designed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,272,604 entitled "Cyclonic Liquid Ornament" and 5,678,918 entitled "Lamp Stand" both granted to the inventor of the present invention, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/888,833 entitled "A Lamp Seat Type Liquid Decoration" filed by the same inventor and having been paid of issuance fee, all disclose lamps having different dynamic decorative effect. There are also corresponding applications of the above-mentioned U.S. Patents and Patent Application being filed and granted a patent right in many other countries. A common feature of these earlier disclosed table lamps is they all include a liquid container fixedly mounted to an illuminating lamp body, and a motor for driving liquid and/or floating ornaments in the liquid container to move. That is, the liquid container itself does not move at all.
While these earlier disclosed table lamps having ornamental liquid container are structurally novel and unique in ornamental effect, they all have complicate components and accordingly require increased manufacturing cost that will adversely affect the competitive position of the table lamps in the market. However, as a matter of fact, some of the dynamical ornamental effect can be easily achieved, such as in a dual-liquid floating ornament that includes floating ornaments freely floating at an interface between two different liquids for quite a long time whenever the liquid container is vibrated. There is also a unique hourglass-like liquid container having a magma-like liquid contained therein. When the hourglass-like liquid container is turned upside-down, the magma-like liquid will naturally flow from an upper space in the liquid container to a lower space thereof. The time for the magma-like liquid to completely flow to the lower space is usually about three to five minutes that is long enough for producing continuously changeful liquid scenes in the liquid container.

Table lamp with movable ornamental liquid container


The present invention is directed to pure polyurethanes which are biocompatible. These pure polyurethanes comprise the reaction product of:. a) a pre-adduct containing NCO groups and comprising the reaction product of PA1 b) a chain extender having a molecular weight of from 62 to 400 and being selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diols, cycloaliphatic diols, and mixtures thereof, and optionally, PA1 c) additional diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diisocyanates, cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, and mixtures thereof,. i) a diisocyanate selected from the group consisting of aliphatic diisocyanates, cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, and mixtures thereof, with PA2 ii) a macrodiol having a molecular weight of from 500 to 10,000 wherein said components i) and ii) reacted at temperatures of from 90.degree.-150.degree. C.; with. wherein said component c), when added, is added either simultaneously with component b) or separately from component b), the quantities of components a)i), a)ii), and c) being such that the molar ratio of diisocyanate to macrodiol is from 1.5:1 to 22:1, and the reaction of components a) and b) and optionally component c) is conducted at temperatures of from 90.degree. to 230.degree. C., with the proviso that the reaction conditions are maintained until said polyurethane has a melt viscosity of at least 2500 mPa.s at 120.degree. C.

The present invention relates to pure polyether urethanes and polyester urethanes based on aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates. This invention also relates to the use of such pure polyurethane synthetic materials for biomedical applications. Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPU) have long been known (Kunststoff Handbuch Vol 7 (1983) ISBN 3-446-13614-2, p.428 ff).
The use of such TPU for biomedical applications is described, e.g., by Gogolewski in Colloid Polym. Sci 267 757-785 (1989). In particular, the chemistry, structure-property relations, tissue-material interaction, surface properties, biomedical use, and compatibility properties of biomedical polyurethanes are discussed. On page 782, Gogolewski concludes that: "Biocompatible and blood compatible polyurethane elastomers with unique physical and mechanical properties resulting from the hard-segment-soft-segment microphase segregation, are materials of choice for a number of biomedical applications".
Gogolewski further indicates that for biomedical applications, the two-step solution polymerization process which leads to polyurethanes having better physical characteristics, is preferred to one-step solution or melt polymerizations. The purity of reactants and polymerization media is critical to the final properties of polyurethanes. Factors affecting the purity of biomedical polyurethanes include the effective removal from the polymer of catalyst residues, low molecular weight fractions, processing aids, etc. The purity of the biomedical polyurethane determines to a great extent their in vivo performance (i.e. biocompatibility, blood compatibility, molecular stability).
Research on polyurethanes has continued since then, with the goal of developing the `ultimate` biomedical polyurethanes of tomorrow.
In recent years, many authors and companies have applied for patents for so-called biocompatible polyurethanes. For instance, G. Wick, Akzo GmbH, in German Auslegeschrift 3,643,465 (1986) describes a process for the production of biocompatible polyurethanes by the reaction of cycloaliphatic diisocyanates with a macrodiol to form a pre-adduct exhibiting NCO groups, wherein the diisocyanate to macrodiol molar ratio is from 3:1 to 33:1. Chain extension of the pre-adduct is effected with a mixture consisting of low-molecular-weight aliphatic diol and an aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic macrodiol, wherein the aliphatic diol contains trimethylhexanediol within the mixture of the chain extenders. The addition of tin catalysts is prescribed in the embodiments given as examples.
In European Patent 0,461,375 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,742, a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is described which is suitable for medical purposes. The preferred TPU described is synthesized from polycarbonate diol (molecular weight 1898), MDI, and 1,4-butanediol.
In PCT WO 92/04390, M. SZYCHER, Polymedica Industries Inc., describes other biostable polyurethanes. The polyurethanes described therein are synthesized from organic diisocyanates which are preferably the reaction product of aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates with polycarbonate diol, and chain-extended with diol, diamine or a mixture of diamine and alkanolamine. Example 1 substantiates the use of tin catalysts.
E. Muller discovered as long ago as 1969 (see Angew. Makromol. Chemie 14 (1970), 75-86) that polyurethane elastomers having the highest resistance to hydrolysis are obtained from 1,6-hexanediol polycarbonate.
Gogolewski indicates that aliphatic polyurethanes are to be preferred to the aromatic polyurethanes for biomedical purposes.
However, aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyisocyanates react with diol components too slowly. This resulted in the addition of catalysts to the reaction mixtures according to all known processes of the state of the art. Tin octoate, dibutyl tin dilaurate and/or tertiary amines, such as, for example, diazabicyclooctane (DABCO), have proved to be useful as catalysts.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to make available polyurethanes which are as free as possible from additives and which are produced without the addition of catalysts. The polyurethanes should be synthesized from aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, and as a result constitute pure polyurethanes which can also be used in medical technology.
All known processes of the state of the art which are employed to produce TPUs operate at temperatures which are as low as possible in order to avoid any unwanted side reactions. The most important side reactions to be avoided are the dimerization of diisocyanates, trimerization, formation of carbodiimide, formation of allophanate and formation of biuret.
In the synthesis of TPUs, one particular factor which must be taken into account is the formation of allophanate with the occurrence of molecular branching. Kunststoffhandbuch Vol. 7 Polyurethane (1983) at page 82, suggests that these reactions can also be carried out without catalysts at temperatures of around 120.degree. to 140.degree. C.
Synthesis of TPUs is customarily effected via NCO prepolymers. According to D. Dieterich in Houben-Weyl, Vol E 20, pp 1613-1617, it is the catalysts which influence the composition of the products. The temperature (i.e. below 100.degree. C.), the reaction time and the mode of addition play a less significant role in the composition.
From the publications disclosed hereinabove, it is evident that for the synthesis of TPUs via NCO prepolymers and semiprepolymers temperatures below 100.degree. C. are preferred.
For the production of transparent, non-yellowing elastomers, and in particular for biomedical applications, prepolymers based on 1,6-bis-[isocyanate]-hexane (i.e. HDI) or 5-isocyanate-3-(isocyanatemethyl)-1,3,3-trimethylcyclohexane (i.e. IPDI) can be used. For glycol extension of these prepolymers, a considerable amount of catalysis has to be effected (see, for example, D. Dieterich in Houben-Weyl, Vol E 20, p. 1637 and the bibliography therein). From the processes known from the literature, one of ordinary skill in the art would conclude that aliphatic TPUs cannot be produced without the use of catalysts.
For these reasons, it is surprising that in accordance with the present invention it is possible to produce particularly pure aliphatic TPUs of high mechanical quality by operating at temperatures above 100.degree. C. without the addition of catalysts.

Pure, in particular catalyst-free polyurethanes


The transmission delay of a voice frame can be reduced by performing internal collision resolution and frame aggregation according to the presence or absence of a voice frame awaiting transmission in a MAC layer, thereby reducing an end-to-end voice transmission delay time for a VoIP service.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transmission method for aggregating a voice frame and a non-voice frame and transmitting and receiving them in a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) Medium Access Control (MAC) layer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Widespread use of the Internet and increasing demand among users for multimedia services such as voice and video services, in addition to data services, is driving up demand for real-time quality assurance for stable provision of multimedia services. Especially, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for providing voice services using the Internet is an application that requires more real-time quality assurance for the services, because VoIP has a high sensitivity to delay and jitter compared to data and images.
Meanwhile, wireless LANs, which have the advantages of convenient installation and mobility, have been widely deployed since the mid-1990s and widely used in recent years as they offer a transfer rate close to the 100 Mbps of a wired LAN. Besides, mobility and reduction of usage fees can be achieved due to a combination of wireless LAN and VoIP.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) developed a standard that defines a protocol for transmission of data frames between a Wireless LAN station and an Access Point (AP). As a result, the IEEE established a standard for Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications (IEEE 802.11-PHY/MAC) in 1999, and afterwards established a standard for supporting Quality of Service (QoS) in a MAC layer (IEEE 802.11e) in 2005.
The IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN standard describes a mobile station and a fixed AP as the two principal elements of a Wireless LAN. A single cell using the IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard is defined as a Basic Service Set (BSS), and a multiple cell is defined as an Extended Service Set (ESS). Each station and each AP implements a MAC layer having a function enabling exchange of MAC frames. The MAC frame is used as a medium for management, control, and data transmission between a wireless station and an AP. An efficient method of transmitting and receiving a MAC frame, especially, a voice frame is required in order to achieve reliable provision of voice services sensitive to delay.

Method for transmitting and receiving frame in wireless LAN

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


A charged-particle energy analyzer includes a hollow axisymmetrical body with an annular opening therein receptive of input electrons from a cylindrical mirror analyzer, the electrons having a distribution of electron energies and a range of electron trajectories. The trajectories each have a radially inward directional component and an axial directional component in a forward direction parallel to the axis. Annular deflectors with negative potentials are disposed coaxially in the body so as to reverse the axial directional components of the electron trajectories. A ring-shaped channel detector detects the electrons relative to radial distance and thereby to energy.

Instrumentation for use in spectroscopy of charged particles makes use of electrons or ions which are emitted from a substance after being bombarded or irradiated with electrons or ions from a source such as an electron gun. A technique to which the invention is particularly directed is known as Auger electron spectroscopy. In this technique, a target sample material is placed in a vacuum, usually below 10.sup.-7 Torr, and upon being bombarded with electrons from some source, such as an electron gun, the sample gives off a variety of emissions. Among these are X-rays, secondary electrons, and reflected primary electrons from the source. The emissions include Auger electrons (a particular class of secondary electrons) in the manner which is well known in the literature.
In the art of Auger electron spectroscopy, as taught for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,226 (Gerlach), of the present assignee, instruments making use of cylindrical mirror analyzers ("CMA") are known which analyze the energy and the energy spectrum of Auger electrons emitted by the sample material. Such instruments operate by injecting the diverging electrons into a radial electric field produced between a pair of coaxially mounted electrode cylinders held at different electric potentials. Auger electrons injected from the sample into the radial electric field between the cylindrical electrodes are deflected by the field back toward the common axis of the electrodes. Electrons of a predetermined energy are thereby brought to a focus. By positioning a collector apparatus at this focus, electrons of a predetermined energy are selected and detected. By sweeping the voltage impressed across the cylindrical electrodes through a range of values, and detecting as a function of these applied potentials such electrons as are collected, the energy spectrum of the injected electrons may be plotted and determined.
As disclosed in the aforementioned patent, it is advantageous to utilize a detector system that is off-axis, for example annular, because the central axis is used for the primary beam to the target. Also, magnetic lenses used for the electron gun deflect paths of electrons being detected, thus interfering with precision measurements. German Patent Application No. 27 05 430 similarly discloses off-axis detection in several configurations and electron paths, representing efforts to increase sensitivity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,409 teaches bringing the electron gun beam from off-axis, eliminating magnetic lenses, and then utilizing an on-axis detector system to receive electrons from the cylindrical analyzer.
In an article "A Cylindrical Mirror Photoelectron Spectrometer With Position-Sensitive Detector Used For X-Ray Analysis" by O. Benka, Nuclear Instruments and Methods, 203, 547-550 (1982) there is described a CMA with a position sensitive detector positioned off-axis for multichannel detection of electrons leaving the CMA, to increase instrument sensitivity. The high precision detector useful for such an application is a channel plate detector of the type disclosed in an article "Microchannel Plate Detectors" by J. L. Wiza, Nuclear Instruments and Methods, 162, 587-601 (1979). Such a detector includes a ceramic plate formed with a large number of microchannels therethrough, each microchannel being an electron multiplier of incident electrons or ions.
The channel plate detector is quite effective but, because of its inherent construction, has generally been available commercially as a flat ceramic plate with a planar electron entry surface. Recently curved plate technology has become available on a limited basis but is extremely expensive. Therefore, Benka placed such a channel detector plate in only a small (40 degree) azimuthal portion of the 360 degree CMA. He further utilized a 6 degree polar range (12 degrees is actually more standard), and reported measuring 6.5% of the electron energy spectrum with 0.3% resolution. This result was actually an 18 times decrease in angular acceptance. This could be improved upon by utilizing a ring of such plates, but such an assembly would be a cumbersome and costly solution and still may not provide optimum sensitivity.


According to one embodiment, a first program code including a plurality of variables is converted to a second program code to be executed by a multi-core processor including a plurality of cores. Specifically, an access pattern of each variable in the first program code is decided. All variables in the first program code are classified into a plurality of groups each of which variables belong to the same access pattern. A member structure of each group having variables belonging to the same access pattern is created. Each member structure includes variables of one group. A route-pointer indicating an address (in a memory) of variables of the member structure is created. The variables in the first program code are converted to the member structure and the route-pointer (in the second program code) that indicate the variables. The second program code is outputted to the multi-core processor.

As to an architecture using a scratch pad memory, a technique related to an memory-optimization is disclosed (For example, US-A 20070174829 . . . Patent reference 1). In this technique, based on a profile result of an application program, data to be used is copied from a main memory to the scratch pad memory. However, this technique disclosed in the patent reference 1 cannot be applied to the cache memory.
Furthermore, as to an architecture using the cache memory, a technique to execute the memory-optimization is disclosed (For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,729 . . . Patent reference 2). In this technique, Object members of an application program to be executed are classified into a plurality of groups, and Object members belonging to the same group are located at near position on the memory. However, this technique disclosed in the patent reference 2 cannot be applied to a multi-core processor in which each core has its own memory.

Program conversion apparatus and computer readable medium


Described herein is an illuminating device with reflector. Said device includes a heat sink insert moulded cylindrical plastic housing, and a circular metal core printed circuit board, MCPCB, mounted on a circular slot provided on a top inner end of the housing, the circular MCPCB having light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein LEDs mounted in a circular manner near peripheral region of a top surface of the MCPCB and having electronic components mounted in a central region of the top surface of the MCPCB. Further said device includes a cylindrical reflector fixed on the top surface of the MCPCB with its cylindrical wall lying between the LEDs and the electronic components; and a diffuser connecting a top surface of the cylindrical reflector with the top inner end of the housing, wherein lower end of said plastic housing connected with a holder.

Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
The illuminating device is having property to provide lighting in various direction. Lighting includes the use of artificial light sources like lamps, light fixtures and the like. The illumination device may include the light source such as Light Emitting Diode (LED) or any other electronic device applicable in different areas. Further, a brief about the LED is discussed herein below.
LED devices are more efficient than most forms of widely used lamps, for example, incandescent, high-intensity discharge (HID) light sources, and the like. One advantage of using LED devices is that LEDs are more efficacious than incandescent light and more efficacious than some fluorescent and low wattage HID light sources. Another advantage of LED device usage is that the LEDs may be configured as low voltage, low energy devices. Another advantage of the LED devices is that of the longer life when compared to other light forms.
In LED illuminations, heat transmission and its management during the operation of a LED bulb is always a major concern. The conventional systems of existing LED bulb are designed in such a way that most of the components are mounted on a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) and/or below the MCPCB where heat sink is installed on the fixture where the ambient temperature in much higher compared to the ambient temperature over the MCPCB area where Optics/Diffuser is installed, due to which the operating temperature of the electronic parts is much higher thus limiting and reducing the life time of the electronics parts.
Further, along with heat management, it becomes necessary that the device is cost-effective, easy to assemble and capable of mass production in order to meet the large market demands as compared to the conventional DOB LED bulbs available in the market.
In tradition, the electronic parts are mounted on a LED lamp, where the ambient operating temperature of the critical parts like ELCO, MOV is higher and further creates the problem of longevity of the various electronic component parts. Further, the design of the LED lamp is such a manner which may harm the human eyes during direct exposer of the lamp. In addition to this, the traditional lamp does not provide uniformly in-terms of desired beam angle due to typical directional nature of LED, which is required to direct the light in the desired area.
Therefore, there is a need for such a device with reflector which can overcome the above-described limitations and obtain maximum operating efficiency in a cost-effective manner which is unique in its design and exhibits prime quality for use over a sufficient period of time.