A power-up signal generation circuit includes a main driving unit configured to drive a power-up detection node according to power supply voltage level information; an auxiliary driving unit configured to additionally drive the power-up detection node according to temperature information; and an output unit configured to output a power-up signal in response to a voltage change of the power-up detection node in accordance with the operations of the main driving unit and the auxiliary driving unit.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a power-up signal generation circuit in a semiconductor integrated circuit.
A semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) includes an internal power supply voltage generation unit configured to stably operate various internal logic circuitry and other elements. The internal power supply voltage generation unit supplies internal power supply voltages to power terminals of the internal logic circuitry. When the internal power supply voltages have a proper voltage level during the application of an external power supply voltage, problems, such as latch-up, occur. In this case, it is difficult to guarantee the reliability of the semiconductor IC.
When the internal logic circuitry is not initialized to a specific value before power supply voltages are supplied to operate the elements thereof, a failure may occur due to a false data input and output during the operation of the IC. Therefore, a circuit to initialize the internal logic circuitry before the operation of the IC is required.
To prevent the latch up caused by the instability of the internal power supply voltage and to initialize the internal logic circuitry, the semiconductor IC includes a power-up signal generation circuit configured to generate a power-up signal.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power-up signal generation circuit of a conventional semiconductor IC.
Referring to FIG. 1, the power-up signal generation circuit includes an external power supply voltage detection unit 110, an internal power supply voltage detection unit 120, and a combination unit 130. The external power supply voltage detection unit 110 is configured to detect a voltage level of an external power supply voltage VEXT and to generate a first power-up signal PUPB. The internal power supply voltage detection unit 120 is configured to detect a voltage level of an internal power supply voltage VINT and to generate a second power-up signal PUPBP. The combination unit 130 is configured to combine the first power-up signal PUPB and the second power-up signal PUPBP and to generate a final power-up signal PWRUP.
FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram of the power-up generation circuit of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, power is externally supplied to increase the external power supply voltage VEXT. When the level of the external power supply voltage VEXT approaches a preset level, the external power supply voltage detection unit 110 detects the level such that the first power-up signal PUPB changes from a logic low level to a logic high level.
When the first power-up signal PUPB has changed to a logic high level, the internal power supply voltage generation unit is enabled to operate in response to the first power-up signal PUPB. Accordingly, the internal power supply voltage VINT increases.
When the internal power supply voltage increases to a stable level, the internal power supply voltage detection unit 120 detects the level such that the second power-up signal PUPBP changes from a logic low level to a logic high level.
The combination unit 130 changes the final power-up signal PWRUP from a logic low level to a logic high level in response to both the first and second power-up signals PUPB and PUPBP being changed from a logic low level to a logic high level. Therefore, when the final power-up signal PWRUP has changed from a logic low level to a logic high level, the internal logic circuitry of the semiconductor IC is activated.
FIG. 3 illustrates a circuit configuration of the internal power supply detection unit 120 of the conventional power-up signal generation circuit.
Referring to FIG. 3, the internal power supply detection unit 120 includes a block configured to lower a voltage of a detection node NC, a block configured to raise a voltage of the detection node NC, and a block configured to output the second power-up signal PUPBP in response to a voltage change of the detection node NC.
The block configured to lower a voltage of the detection node NC includes a PMOS transistor MP1, an NMOS transistor MN1, and a NMOS transistor MN2. The PMOS transistor MP1 has a source connected to the external power supply terminal VEXT and a drain connected to a node NA, and receives a ground voltage from a ground voltage terminal VSS through a gate thereof. The NMOS transistor MN1 has a source connected to the ground voltage terminal VSS and a drain and gate connected to the node NA. The NMOS transistor MN2 has a source connected to the ground voltage terminal VSS, a drain connected to the detection node NC, and a gate connected to the node NA.
The block configured to raise a voltage of the detection node NC includes a PMOS transistor MP2 and a PMOS transistor MP3. The PMOS transistor MP2 has a source connected to an internal power supply voltage terminal VINT and a drain and gate connected to a node NB. The PMOS transistor MP3 has a source connected to the node NB and a drain connected to the detection node NC, and receives a ground voltage from the ground voltage terminal VSS through a gate thereof.
The block configured to output the second power-up signal PUPBP in response to a voltage change of the detection node NC includes an inverter INV1, a PMOS transistor MP4, and an inverter INV2. The inverter INV1 has an input terminal connected to the detection node NC. The PMOS transistor MP4 has a source connected to the internal power supply voltage terminal VINT, a drain connected to the detection node NC, and a gate connected to an output node ND of the inverter INV1. The inverter INV2 has an input terminal connected to the output node ND, and outputs the second power-up signal PUPBP.
When the external power supply voltage VEXT is supplied in accordance with a power-up sequence, the voltage of the node NA increases to a threshold voltage Vth of the NMOS transistor MN1. Accordingly, the NMOS transistor MN2 is turned on to lower the voltage level of the detection node NC.
When the internal power supply voltage generation unit operates to increase the voltage level of the internal power supply voltage VINT, the PMOS transistor MP2 is turned on to increase the voltage level of the detection node NC. At this time, the discharge drive of the detection node NC by the NMOS transistor MN2 is continuously maintained. However, since the voltage level raising ability of the two PMOS transistors MP2 and MP3 is greater than the voltage level lowering ability of the NMOS transistor MN2, the voltage level of the detection node NC increases.
As such, when the level of the detection node NC increases to exceed a logic threshold value of the inverter INV1, the second power-up signal PUPBP changes to a logic high level. Since the node ND changes to a logic low level, the transistor MP4 is turned on to latch the detection node NC to a logic high level.
However, since the MOS transistor has a temperature characteristic, the threshold voltage decreases with a temperature increase (−2 mV/° C.). That is, at a high temperature, the threshold voltage decreases in comparison with the threshold voltage at a normal temperature. On the other hand, at a low temperature, the threshold voltage increases in comparison with a normal temperature.
Therefore, the threshold voltage Vth of the NMOS transistor NM1 increases in a low-temperature environment. This means that the voltage level of the node NA increases, and the voltage level lowering ability of the NMOS transistor NM2 for the detection node NC is improved by an increase of the gate voltage. On the other hand, since the threshold voltages Vth of the two PMOS transistors MP2 and MP3 also increase, the voltage level raising ability of the two PMOS transistors MP2 and MP3 for the detection node NC is reduced. In this case, the voltage of the detection node NC may not increase sufficiently. In a severe case, since the voltage of the detection node NC does not exceed the logic threshold value of the inverter INV1, the second power-up signal PUPBP does not change to a logic high level. When the second power-up signal PUPBP does not change to a logic high level, the final power-up signal PWRUP is not activated. Then, since the internal logic circuitry of the semiconductor IC is not initialized, a malfunction may occur.

Power-up signal generation circuit in semiconductor integrated circuit


An apparatus and method for selecting optimal GPS satellites to locate an object. A satellite list including the coordinates of satellites is made, the redundancies of the satellites are calculated, at least one satellite having a maximum redundancy is eliminated from the satellite list, and channels of a GPS receiver are assigned to an intended number of satellites if the intended number of satellites remain in the satellite list.

This application claims priority to an application entitled xe2x80x9cApparatus and Method for Selecting Optimal Satellites in Global Positioning Systemxe2x80x9d filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jun. 12, 2002 and assigned Serial No. 2002-32955, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to GPS (Global Positioning System), and in particular, to an apparatus and method for selecting optimal GPS satellites to locate an object.
2. Description of the Related Art
Along with today""s dramatic development in personal, portable communication devices, a variety of additional services are supported. In particular, some countries have mandated the use of positioning devices such as GPS in mobile terminals to provide location-based services to users.
Many GPS satellites broadcast their ephemeredes and system time, circling the earth in predetermined orbits, so that GPS receivers can determine their positions. The orbits of GPS satellites are carefully chosen so that at least four of them can be observed around the earth to allow the locations, velocities, and clock errors of the GPS receivers to be calculated. The GPS receivers can trace their positions with an error of 20 or less meters in urban areas.
Navigation data broadcasted from each satellite contains the PRN (Pseudo-Random Noise) code of the satellite corresponding to its satellite ID. Since the GPS navigation message is transmitted in CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) format, a GPS receiver can receive the navigation data from each satellite accurately. The GPS receiver calculates its position using the navigation data. With the use of its internal algorithm, the GPS receiver tracks GPS satellite signals. Once it tracks one satellite signal, the GPS receiver can achieve information about the relative positions of other satellites using the received satellite orbit infomation. Thus the GPS receiver can track signals from all available satellites within a short period of time. Recently, the A-GPS (Assisted-GPS) is widely used which enables a GPS receiver to receive the ephemeris and timing information from a base station. Therefore, information of all available satellites is immediately available to the GPS receiver.
In general, a GPS receiver on the ground can observe 6 to 12 satellites simultaneously. To initially acquire CDMA signals from the satellites, a typical GPS receiver is required to search a wide range of frequency and code for each satellite signal. This search process is a major time-consuming factor that determines time to first fix (TTFF).
The GPS receiver can acquire at least 4 satellite signals more rapidly by assigning a plurality of independent channels to track the satellite signals. However, a system such as a small-sized portable terminal having a limited size uses a relatively small number of hardware channels and, in some cases, assigns multiple hardware channels to one satellite to reduce the TTFF.
In this case, it is difficult to track all the satellites that are visible to the GPS receiver because of the limited number of hardware channels. Thus, the GPS receiver selectively tracks a subset of visible satellites. The accuracy of a navigational solution, when a fixed number of satellites is to be selected, depends mainly on the quality of the subset (GDOP) that is being selected. Accordingly, a number of methods of selecting satellites that minimizes the positioning error of the GPS receiver (hereinafter, referred to as optimal satellites) have been proposed.
The primary requirements for optimal satellites are that they must minimize GDOP (Geometric Dilution Of Precision) and that their signals can actually be acquired through tracking. If GDOP is not minimized, position error could increase by a factor of five or more in some cases.
A unit vector pointing from a GPS receiver to a satellite i is defined as an LOS (Line-Of-Sight) vector losi. If there are N visible satellites in the three-dimensional space, their coordinates can be expressed as an Nxc3x973 (x, y, z coordinates)-LOS matrix of                     H        =                              [                                                                                x                    1                                                                                y                    1                                                                                z                    1                                                                                x                    2                                                                                y                    2                                                                                z                    2                                                                                xe2x80x83                                                                    …                                                                      xe2x80x83                                                                                x                    N                                                                                y                    N                                                                                z                    N                                                                        ]                    =                      [                                                                                los                    1                                                                                los                    2                                                                                …                                                                                los                    N                                                                        ]                                              (        1        )
where H represents line of sight matrix for N visible satellites.
When n satellites are to be selected from N number of the total visible satellites, NCn number of satellite combinations can be produced where NCn represents the number of combinations of the n selected satellites among the N visible satellites. Then, T (T=NCn) number of nxc3x973 LOS matrices h1, h2, . . . , hT are formed. The selected line of sight (LOS) matrices are represented by h. Using the jth combination hj, the position of the GPS receiver is calculated by using the following linearized equation
xcex4{overscore ("PHgr")}=hjxcex4{overscore (x)}+{overscore (xcexd)}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
where xcex4{overscore ("PHgr")} is an (nxc3x971) vector containing measurements received from satellites, xcex4{overscore (x)} is a three-dimensional vector with which an intended navigational solution is updated, and {overscore (xcexd)} is an (nxc3x971) vector indicating the measurement noise of the satellite signals (Ev=0 and EvvT="sgr"2I. Here, "sgr" is the noise standard deviation and I is an identity matrix).
The estimation procedure of the xcex4{overscore (x)} is
xcex4{overscore (x)}=(hjThj)xe2x88x921hjTxcex4{overscore ("PHgr")}xe2x88x92(hjThj)xe2x88x921hjT{overscore (xcexd)}
xcex4{overscore (x)}=(hjThj)xe2x88x921hjTxcex4{overscore ("PHgr")}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
The influence of the measurement error {overscore (xcexd)} on the navigational solution is calculated by
xcexde=(hjThj)xe2x88x921hjT{overscore (xcexd)}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
The statistics of the effective noise xcexde is
Excexde=E[(hjThj)xe2x88x921hjT{overscore (xcexd)}]=0
ExcexdexcexdeT=E[(hjThj)xe2x88x921hjT{overscore (xcexd)}xcexdThj
(hjThj)xe2x88x921]=(hjThj)xe2x88x921"sgr"2xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
From Eq. (5) GDOP is defined as
GDOP={square root over (TRACE [(hjThj)xe2x88x921])}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(6)
Where TRACE is an operator that indicates the sum of the diagonal elements of the matrix, which is equal to the sum of all Eigen-values. It is noted from Eq. (6) that the measurement error of the GPS receiver is influenced by the geometrical positions hj of satellites. If GDOP is less than 1, the effective noise standard deviation is less than the measurement noise standard deviation. If GDOP is larger than 1, the former is higher than the latter by a multiple of GDOP. Therefore, it is desired to select the combination h that minimizes GDOP in order to achieve an optimal navigational solution.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a conventional satellite selection method for optimal satellite selection. In the optimal satellite selection, GDOP is calculated for all possible subsets of the available satellites and the subset that minimizes the GDOP is selected by comparing the GDOPs of all possible subsets. It is assumed in this process that a GPS receiver has already received information about the relative positions of all the other satellites from an initially observed satellite.
Referring to FIG. 1, the GPS receiver calculates N unit vectors (LOS vectors) representing the three-dimensional coordinates of N available/visible satellites with respect to the GPS receiver, using the relative positions of the satellites in step S10 and generates T (=NCn) LOS combinations h1, h2, . . . , hT from the N LOS vectors in step S20. The GPS receiver sets a variable k to 1 in step S30. The variable k is used to identify a LOS combination. The GPS receiver calculates the GDOP for a kth combination, GDOP(k) by TRACE(hkThk)xe2x88x921 in step S40 and stores it in step S50. After calculating the GDOPs for all T number of combinations, increasing the variable by 1 at each time in step S60 until the variable k is T in step S70, the GPS receiver compares the GDOPs and chooses the LOS combination that has the minimum GDOP in step S80. Then the GPS receiver assigns channels to the PRN codes of the satellites included in the chosen LOS combination.
The GDOP calculation and storage for all the LOS combinations requires a very large number of operations including matrix inversions. FIG. 2 is a listing of numbers of matrix combinations required for the optimal satellite selection. Referring to FIG. 2, the number of matrix combinations grows by geometric progression as the number N of visible satellites and the number n of satellites to be chosen increase. Therefore, despite its effectiveness in selecting optimal satellites, the optimal satellite selection has the shortcomings of the long operation time, impossible real time operation, requirement for a large number of operation circuits, large-capacity memory requirement, great power consumption, limited integration, and the resulting limitations in application for small portable systems. Moreover, if the Galileo system, similar to GPS, already under development under ESA (European Space Agency) were to be deployed, more satellites could be observed. In such case, the number of subsets of satellites and the required operation volume would further increase.
Another conventional satellite selecting method is a highest elevation satellite selection method. In principle, this method selects the subset of satellites with the highest elevations with respect to a user. The algorithm requires very little computation. However, since satellites in only one direction may be selected, minimization of GDOP cannot be guaranteed. In real application, a GDOP achieved in this scheme is larger than a GDOP achieved in the optimal satellite selection by about 2 to 10 times, which implies that the error of a navigational solution is 2 to 10 times higher. When a GPS receiver is indoors or in an area crowded with buildings, the receiver may fail to acquire signals if it attempts to track satellites in one direction only.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for selecting GPS satellites to locate an object.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for selecting GPS satellites without directional redundancy.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for selecting optimal satellites using minimum operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for selecting optimal satellites, suitable for small portable systems.
To achieve the above and other objects, there is provided an apparatus and method for selecting optimal GPS satellites to locate an object.
According to an aspect of the present invention, to select optimal satellites, a satellite list including the coordinates of satellites is made, the redundancies of the satellites are calculated, at least one satellite having a maximum redundancy is eliminated from the satellite list, and channels of a GPS receiver are assigned to an intended number of satellites if the intended number of satellites remain in the satellite list.
According to another aspect of the present invention, to select optimal satellites, a satellite list including the coordinates of effective satellites is made, the redundancies of the satellites are calculated, the satellite list is updated by eliminating at least one satellite having a maximum redundancy from the satellite list, the redundancy calculation and the satellite list updating are repeated for the updated satellite list until an intended number of satellites remain in the updated satellite list, and channels of a GPS receiver are assigned to the intended number of satellites if the intended number of satellites remain in the satellite list.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, in a satellite electing apparatus, an RF unit receives RF signals on channels assigned to GPS satellites, a digital unit processes the received RF signals, a processor unit selects satellites to which the channels are assigned and calculates a navigational solution using the processed signals, and a memory stores an operating program executed in the processor unit. Specifically, the processor unit makes a satellite list including the coordinates of satellites, calculates the redundancies of the satellites, eliminates at least one satellite having a maximum redundancy from the satellite list, and assigns the channels to an intended number of satellites if the intended number of satellites remain in the satellite list.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, in a satellite selecting apparatus, an RF unit receives RF signals on channels assigned to GPS satellites, a digital unit processes the received RF signals, a processor unit selects satellites to which the channels are assigned and calculates a navigational solution using the processed signals, and a memory stores an operating program executed in the processor unit. Specifically, the processor unit makes a satellite list including the coordinates of effective satellites, calculates the redundancies of the satellites included in the satellite list, updates the satellites list by eliminating at least one satellite having a maximum redundancy from the satellite list, calculates the redundancies of the satellites included in the updated satellite list, eliminates one satellite having a maximum redundancy from the updated satellite list, and assigns channels of a GPS receiver to an intended number of satellites if the intended number of satellites remain in the satellite list.

Method and apparatus for selecting optimal satelittes in global positioning system


In this heat insulating engine, an auxiliary combustion chamber which is formed by a block consisting of a material of a low heat transfer rate and provided on the inner surface thereof with a thin member composed of a high-density ceramic material, and which is provided with a fuel injection nozzle in the wall thereof, is communicated with a main combustion chamber fitted in a cylinder head via a heat insulating member and formed by a thin member consisting of a high-density ceramic material. Accordingly, the thermal capacity of the inner surface of the auxiliary combustion chamber becomes small, and the mixing of the atomized fuel with air is effected speedily. Consequently, the combustion temperature increases in a short period of time, and the generation of smoke is suppressed. The gaseous mixture is then blow out as a flame from the auxiliary combustion chamber into the main combustion to suddenly reduce the fuel equivalent ratio, so that the combustion temperature also lowers to supress the generation of NOx.

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to an heat insulating engine consisting mainly of a ceramic material and provided with an auxiliary combustion chamber.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
A conventional heat insulating engine utilizing a ceramic material as a heat resisting material is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 46317/1984. The parts of a combustion chamber in the internal combustion engine will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. The parts of the combustion chamber in the internal combustion engine include parts constituting an auxiliary combustion chamber, a cylinder head 41, a cylinder liner 44, a piston 45, and parts of a combustion chamber which constitute the inner surface of the combustion chamber, and these parts are formed out of a ceramic material having excellent heat insulating characteristics. The cylinder head 41 is combined with a cylinder block 42 via a gasket 43, and the cylinder liner 44 is fixed to the cylinder block 42. A vortex chamber 47 formed in the cylinder head 41 consists of upper and lower vortex chamber members 48, 49 fitted in the cylinder head 41. The lower vortex chamber 49 is provided with an ejection port 50 which communicates the vortex chamber 47 and a main combustion chamber 46 with each other. A fuel injection nozzle 52 and a glow plug 53 are provided in the cylinder head 41. The upper and lower vortex chamber members 48, 49 are formed as combustion chamber parts out of a ceramic material of a non-oxide of silicon, such as a silicon nitride ceramic material and a silicon carbide ceramic material. The material of the surfaces defining the vortex chamber 47 and ejection port 50 is converted into a silicon oxide ceramic material due to the heating of the non-oxide ceramic material to a high temperature. A thin layer of a catalyst of a noble metal, such as platinum, rhodium and palladium is formed on each of these surfaces by spattering. Owing to such a construction, these combustion chamber parts prevent the separation of a thin layer 51 of a noble metal catalyst, minimizes the deterioration of the catalyst and reduces an unburnt hydrocarbon content of an exhaust gas.
However, it is very difficult to sufficiently obtain the heat insulating characteristics in a heat insulating engine having a cylinder head utilizing these ceramic materials as heat insulating or heat resisting materials, and, in such an engine, the wall thickness is increased for the purpose of meeting the requirements. Namely, the portions of such an engine which face the combustion chamber can be formed so that they can withstand a high-temperature combustion gas, by making them of a ceramic material, such as silicon nitride having high thermal resistance and thermal shock resistance and excellent heat insulating characteristics. However, when the wall thickness is too large, the thermal capacity of the wall surface increases. Consequently, the suction air receives the heat energy accumulated on the inner surface, and is thermally expanded, so that the suction efficiency decreases.
The thicknesses of the constituted parts of the combustion chamber in the internal combustion engine disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 46317/1984 referred to previously are all large, and the thin layer 51 consists of a noble metal as mentioned above. In addition, the upper and lower vortex chambers 48, 49 are formed out of a ceramic material of silicon nitride or silicon carbide which has a high heat resistance and not so good heat insulating characteristics. Therefore, the thermal capacity of the surface of each part of the combustion chamber becomes high, and the thermal capacity of the parts exposed to a high temperature cannot be reduced to a low level. This makes it impossible to prevent a decrease of the suction efficiency. Moreover, it is impossible in this construction to speedily carry out the mixing of atomized fuel with air.


Data over a range of values is stored using a segment tree data structure. One or more nodes are generated to cover the range of values based on a parent node in the segment tree data structure. The one or more nodes are generated by subdividing nodes of the segment tree data structure only along paths from the parent node to the one or more nodes. The data is stored in the one or more nodes.

This invention relates to storing data, such as the duration of a network service reservation, using a segment tree data structure.
Segment tree data structures are used to store information over ranges of data. A segment tree data structure includes a parent node and typically one or more xe2x80x9cdescendentxe2x80x9d nodes, which are generated based on the parent node. The one or more descendent nodes each stores a subset of the range of data stored in the parent node. When combined, the range of data that can be stored in the descendent nodes equals that which can be stored in the parent node.
Network service reservations are made over time periods. Segment tree data structures therefore can be used to store the network service reservations over time periods.
In general, in one aspect, the invention is directed to storing data over a range of values, such as the time period of a network service reservation, using a segment tree data structure. One or more nodes are generated to cover the range of values based on a parent node in the segment tree data structure. The one or more nodes are generated by subdividing nodes of the segment tree data structure only along paths from the parent node to the one or more nodes. The data is stored in the one or more nodes.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The range of values is a duration of the network service reservation. The one or more nodes each has a granularity that makes it possible to cover, without exceeding, the duration of the network service reservation. Subdividing the nodes is performed by generating child nodes for each subdivided node. Each of the child nodes covers a portion of a duration of the subdivided node.
Two nodes are generated for each subdivided node. Each of the two nodes covers half of the duration of the subdivided node. The range of values defines a time duration and the one or more nodes correspond to the time duration. If more than one node is generated, resulting nodes when combined have a duration that corresponds to the time duration. Subdividing is not performed along potential branches of the segment tree data structure that are not on paths from the parent node to the one or more nodes.
In general, in another aspect, the invention is directed to populating nodes in segment tree data structures to cover continuous time durations. This aspect of the invention features generating a first segment tree data structure that includes nodes covering a first time duration and generating a second segment tree data structure that includes nodes covering a second time duration. In this aspect, nodes in the first segment tree data structure are reset to cover a third time duration following expiration of the first time duration.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. Nodes in the second segment tree data structure are reset to cover a fourth time duration following expiration of the second time duration. A network service reservation is received. The network service has a predetermined time duration. It is determined which of the first and second segment tree data structure(s) has one or more nodes that cover the predetermined time duration. Data from the network service reservation is stored using the segment tree data structure(s) determined to have one or more nodes that cover the predetermined time duration.
In general, in another aspect, the invention is directed to generating a segment tree data structure. This aspect of the invention features generating a parent node for an existing node of a segment tree data structure to cover the duration that the existing node cannot cover. The parent node has a duration that encompasses a duration of the existing node. The existing node is deleted following a duration of the existing node.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. A descendent node of the existing node is deleted when a duration of the descendent node expires. A node is inserted beneath the parent node that covers a duration following the duration of the existing node. The node inserted beneath the parent node branches off to a corresponding segment tree data structure.
A network service reservation is received. The network service reservation has a predetermined time duration. One or more nodes are generated to cover the network service reservation based on the parent node. The one or more nodes are generated by subdividing nodes of the segment tree data structure along paths from the parent node to the one or more nodes. Data from the network service reservation is stored in the one or more nodes.
In general, in another aspect, the invention is directed to a computer-readable medium storing a data structure. The data structure features a plurality of nodes arranged in a tree structure. The plurality of nodes includes a parent node relating to a range of values and one or more final nodes. Each of the one or more final nodes relates to a subset of the range of values. The data structure stores a predetermined range of values in the one or more final nodes. The one or more final nodes are generated by subdividing nodes in the tree structure, starting with the parent node, along paths from the parent node to one or more nodes that correspond to the predetermined range of values.
This aspect of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The predetermined range of values includes data from a network service reservation. The one or more final nodes are generated by subdividing nodes in the tree structure, starting with the parent node, only along paths from the parent node to one or more nodes that correspond to the predetermined range of values.

Method for reserving network resources using a hierarchical/segment tree for starting and ending times of request


To provide a method for producing a fluororesin film, whereby defects due to deterioration (such as fish-eyes due to gelation) of a melt-processable fluororesin are less likely to occur during the production. A method for producing a fluororesin film, which comprises extruding a fluororesin material containing a melt-processable fluororesin through an extruder die, wherein the temperature of the extruder die is from 305 to 355° C., and the average flow velocity v0.95 of the fluororesin material as obtained by v0.95=Q0.95/A0.95, is at least 1×10−4 m/sec. Here, when the distance from the flow inlet 22 of the extruder die to the end of the manifold 24 of the extruder die is set to be x=1, Q0.95 is the flow rate (m3/sec) of the fluororesin material flowing in the manifold 24 at a position of x=0.95 from the flow inlet 22, and A0.95 is the cross-sectional area (m2) of the manifold 24 at a position of x=0.95 from the flow inlet 22.

A fluororesin is a material having a relatively high thermal stability and is used in applications in which its heat resistance, chemical resistance, etc. are utilized. Recently, a fluororesin having adhesive functional groups has been proposed and has attracted attention as a printed circuit board material by taking advantage of its characteristics such as heat resistance, low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, etc. (Patent Document 1).


Sizes of buffer pools for temporarily storing data from a database are dynamically optimized. A database server includes: a dividing ratio setting unit for setting a dividing ratio for dividing a memory area of a predetermined size into a plurality of buffer pools used selectively according to a type of transaction or type of data; a response time measuring unit for measuring response time of transactions; a response time computation formula generating unit for calculating parameters of a response time calculation formula for calculating the response time based on the size of each of the plurality of buffer pools from the set dividing ratio and the measured response time; and a dividing ratio calculation unit for calculating the dividing ratio that minimizes the response time by using the response time calculation formula; wherein the dividing ratio setting unit sets the dividing ratio calculated by the dividing ratio calculating unit.

A method of providing a buffer pool on a database server for temporarily storing contents of a database for the purpose of increasing the speed of access to the database has been used. Ordinarily, the effect of increasing the access speed is higher in the case of providing a plurality of buffer pools on a database in correspondence with types of transaction than in the case of providing one buffer pool on the database.
In a case where the total size of a memory area usable as a buffer pool is determined, there is a need to set a dividing ratio by which the memory area is divided into a plurality of buffer pools to a suitable value. However, it is difficult to calculate a dividing ratio at which the access speed is maximized. Further, in some cases of access to a database, it is preferable to dynamically change the dividing ratio, depending on characteristics of access.
The following documents are considered:                [Patent Document 1]        Published Unexamined Patent-Application No. 9-330256        [Non-Patent Document 1]        Y. Diao et al., "Generic Online Optimization of Multiple Configuration Parameters With Application to a Database Server", pp. 3-15, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 2867, Springer, 2003.
In view of these problems, a method has been proposed in which the dividing ratio is calculated by substituting statistical information such as a record of use of a buffer pool in a predetermined mathematical expression (see Patent Document 1). In this method, the mathematical expression is determined in advance on the basis of user's experience, knowledge and the like.
Another method has been proposed in which the dividing ratio is determined on the basis of a direct search method (see Non-Patent Document 1). In this method, a plurality of dividing ratios different from each other are first set on the basis of a search algorithm, and an average response time is measured. The same steps are repeated to make a plurality of dividing ratio settings and measure average response with respect to the dividing ratio settings until a minimum average response time is obtained.
The following problems are to be solved by the invention:                According to Patent Document 1, it is difficult to set a suitable mathematical expression by supposing all possible access patterns. Moreover, in some cases where the pattern of access to a database is changed, it is unsuitable to continue using the same mathematical expression. For this reason, it is thought to be difficult to apply one mathematical expression to a general-purpose database server capable of processing according to various requirements.        According to Non-Patent Document 1, many candidates exist for the next dividing ratios to be set after measurement of one average response time. It is difficult to set suitable dividing ratios by selecting from the candidates by a small number of searches.

Optimization of buffer pool sizes for data storage

International Buisiness Machines Corporation


A processing apparatus includes a detector, a control section, and the processing section. The detector is configured to detect a position of a device which is a target of a process. The control section is configured to determine a priority of the device based on determining, using the position of the device, whether or not the device is moved according to a predetermined movement pattern. The processing section is configured to perform the process on the device based on the priority of the device.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a processing apparatus that performs a process with a plurality of devices as the targets thereof.
Related Art
In the related art, contactless charging electronic apparatuses that can charge a device such as a digital camera or a smartphone without having a metal contact with the corresponding device, has been known (for example, in JP-A-2010-22105).
However, in contactless charging electronic apparatuses of the related art, there is a problem in that it is difficult to designate a charging priority of a plurality of devices according to the intentions of a user. For example, JP-A-2010-22105 discloses the acquisition of information, which acts as a determination material for determining a charging priority, from a device, but a priority based on the information acquired from a device does not necessarily always match the intentions of a user. In addition, the same also applies to cases of performing processes other than charging on a plurality of devices.


An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power conversion apparatus that includes an inverter circuit.
2. Description of Related Art
As a conventional technology intended to increase heat dissipation efficiency of a semiconductor module by efficiently transferring heat from the semiconductor module to a cooler, patent reference literature 1 (Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2005-175163) discloses, for example, a cooling structure. According to the description of patent reference literature 1, a semiconductor module is inserted in a hole formed in a cooler for inserting a semiconductor module to allow heat to be released from a surface of the semiconductor module that abuts the hole for inserting the module. More particularly, a layer of soft metal is applied on the surface of the semiconductor module that abuts the hole for inserting the module so that heat is released to the cooler through the layer of the soft metal.
A conventional technology intended to balance the cooling efficiency and the assemblability of a semiconductor element for use in an inverter includes, for example, an inverter disclosed in patent reference literature 2. According to the description of patent reference literature 2 (Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2005-237141), an accommodating portion that accommodates a power card of which both sides of a semiconductor device are sandwiched by heat dissipation plates and a cycling path that circulates a coolant around the power card is formed, and an insulating resin is filled between the power card and the accommodating portion, and the insulating resin is cured to fix the power card.
A conventional technology for a cooling structure intended to improve cooling capacity with a decreased burden of assembling a semiconductor module is disclosed in, for example, patent reference literature 3. According to the description of patent reference literature 3 (Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2006-202899), a block is provided in which a semiconductor module is housed inside thereof and heat dissipation planes are provided on its front and rear sides to dissipate Joule heat generated in the semiconductor module. The block is inserted into a cooling water channel formed in a case so as to cause the front and rear sides of the block to face the cooling water channel.
A conventional technology of a cooling structure that is capable of cooling a smoothing capacitor as well as cooling both sides of a semiconductor module is disclosed in, for example, patent reference literature 4 (Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2001-352023). According to the description of patent reference literature 4, semiconductor modules are provided on each side of a smoothing capacitor, and a switchback-shaped flat coolant tube is used to form a coolant channel along the both sides of the semiconductor modules and along the smoothing capacitor, achieving a high level of heat dissipation efficiency without leakage.
In recent years, in automobiles, for example, various in-vehicle systems for vehicles including a drive system for a vehicle are operated electrically. In order to electrically operate the in-vehicle systems, it becomes necessary to add freshly or in place of a component of the conventional system an electrical machine that drives a driven body and an electric power conversion apparatus that controls the power supplied to a rotating electrical machine from an in-vehicle power source in order to control driving of the rotating electrical machine.
The electric power conversion apparatus, e.g. for an automobile, has functions to convert direct current power supplied from the in-vehicle power source to alternating current power for driving a rotating electrical machine and to convert alternating current power generated by the rotating electrical machine to direct current power for supplying to the in-vehicle power source. While electrical energy converted by an electric power conversion apparatus tends to increase, automobiles tend to be small in size and weight in general. Thus, increase in size and weight of an electric power conversion apparatus is limited. An in-vehicle electric power conversion apparatus, in comparison with an industrial one, is required to be used in an environment with great temperature change. Therefore, an electric power conversion apparatus relatively small in size that converts high power and assures a high level of reliability even in a high-temperature environment is required.
The electric power conversion apparatus includes an inverter circuit and performs power conversion between direct current power and alternating current power by the operation of the inverter circuit. In order to perform this power conversion, it is necessary to repeat action of switching between a blocked state and a conduction state of a power semiconductor that constitutes the inverter circuit (switching action). When the switching action is performed, a large amount of heat is generated in the power semiconductor. Because of the heat generated by a semiconductor chip, which is the power semiconductor of the inverter circuit, upon the switching action, the temperature of the semiconductor chip is increased. For this reason, it is important to prevent this temperature increase.
According as power to be converted increases, the amount of heat generated in the semiconductor chip increases. To cope with this, it is necessary to increase the size of the semiconductor chip or the number of the semiconductor chips to be used, resulting in an increase in size of the electric power conversion apparatus. As a measure of preventing such an increase in size of the electric power conversion apparatus, it is conceivable to improve cooling efficiency of the semiconductor chips.
For example, patent reference literatures 1 to 3 present proposals to increase the cooling efficiency of the semiconductor chips. Although improvement in cooling efficiency of a semiconductor chip obviously leads to miniaturization in the semiconductor chip, it does not necessarily contribute to size reduction of the overall electric power conversion apparatus. For instance, an improvement in cooling efficiency of a semiconductor chip may result in a complex structure of the overall electric power conversion apparatus. Thus, although the semiconductor chip may be miniaturized, the overall electric power conversion apparatus may not be miniaturized significantly.
Accordingly, in order to prevent an increase in size of the overall electric power conversion apparatus, it is necessary to improve the cooling efficiency of the semiconductor chip with the overall electric power conversion apparatus considered, and necessary to prevent electrical or mechanical complexity in the overall electrical power conversion apparatus. The electrical complexity results from, for example, complex electrical wiring between the semiconductor module having a semiconductor chip incorporated therein and a capacitor module, a driver board, or an alternate current connector. The mechanical complexity results from complex mounting of a semiconductor module to the channel case or complex mounting of a capacitor module.
In the technologies disclosed in the patent reference literatures 1 to 3, miniaturization of the overall electric power conversion apparatus is not sufficiently considered, and specific disclosure of the disposition of capacitor modules or the cooling structure is insufficient. The patent reference literature 4 discloses a disposition structure in which the cooling of a smoothing capacitor, in addition to the cooling of a semiconductor module, is intended. However, the disposition structure does not adopt a water-cooling method but employs a cooling method with which the semiconductor module and the smoothing capacitor are cooled through a coolant tube connected to a coolant pipe of an external refrigeration cycle device. Furthermore, an arrangement of other components such as a circuit board that is connected to the semiconductor module is not elaborated, thereby leaving an issue in miniaturization of the overall electric power conversion apparatus.
The present invention is to provide a technology for miniaturization of an overall electric power conversion apparatus. The electric power conversion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention described hereinafter intends to provide not only the technology for miniaturization but also improvement in reliability, productivity, and cooling efficiency, which are necessary to commercialize the device.


A mat for a bovine animal has an elastomeric body having a ground-engaging underside and a top side, the mat having a head end and a tail end. The top side has a generally planar area on which a cow may rest in use, and a portion of the generally planar area towards the head end is bounded on either side and across the head end thereof by a barrier integrally formed with the elastomeric material of the mat. The barrier projects upwardly above the generally planar area, and defines a pair of arms extending on either side of the bounded portion. The configuration of the mat encourages an animal to rest correctly on the mat, increasing comfort and reducing the chance of injury, while also avoiding the problems of hygiene and installation difficulties associated with known mats and their accessories.

Domesticated farm animals are typically kept in stalls when in doors. To increase animal welfare and to assist in ensuring comfort, it is typical to provide a padded mat such as a rubber mat in the individual animal stall.
A typical cattle stall will be open at a tail end allowing the animal to enter and leave the stall, will have side rails or dividers between adjacent stalls, and will have a head-end rail or barrier defining the closed end at which the animal's head will be positioned when the animal is standing or lying in the stall.
DE 26917690-U1 and WO 99/56529 each disclose a mat for a cattle stall having raised edges around three sides of the mat.
In cattle stalls, a brisket board is often provided at the head end. The purpose of the brisket board is to position the cow correctly when she is lying down. When the board is correctly located, it will prevent the cow lying too far forward which can lead to soiling on the mat.
Installation of brisket boards can however cause a health issue as it allows waste material to build up between the brisket board and underlying mat. It also adds to the complexity of the installation.
Conventional stall designs also can be ineffective if the animal does not position itself correctly when entering the stall and lying down. Due to the preference for stall dividers made using bars or rails, rather than hard-sided enclosed stalls, the possibility arises of an animal being injured by an adjacent animal, due to one or other of them lying with a leg projecting into the adjacent stall.


The present disclosure relates to network management methods. One example method includes obtaining, by a network slice selection function (NSSF), a configuration parameter sent by a network slice management and orchestration module (NSMAO), where the configuration parameter includes a correspondence, the correspondence includes at least one of a correspondence between single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) and a network slice instance identifier (NSI ID) or a correspondence between the S-NSSAI and a network slice subnet instance identifier (NSSI ID), and the configuration parameter instructs the NSSF to select, based on the configuration parameter, at least one of a network slice instance (NSI) or a network slice subnet instance (NSSI) for S-NSSAI provided by user equipment.

In a next generation mobile network, a network is abstracted as many "network slices", one network slice satisfies a type of communications service requirements or a communications service requirement, and an entire network system includes a large quantity of network slices satisfying different service capabilities. A network slice instance is a really running logical network, and a complete network slice instance can provide a complete end-to-end network service. The network slice instance may include a network slice subnet instance and/or a network function.
When user equipment (UE) registers with a telecommunications network, a network slice selection function (NSSF) is introduced into the network to select a network slice instance for the UE.
However, in the prior art, a solution in which the NSSF selects a unique network slice instance (NSI) and/or network slice subnet instance (NSSI) for the UE based on single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) is not provided, and consequently, access of the UE to the telecommunications network is affected.


There is produced a fine silver particle dispersing solution which contains: fine silver particles (the content of silver in the fine silver particle dispersing solution is 30 to 90% by weight), which have an average primary particle diameter of 1 to 100 nm and which are coated with an amine having a carbon number of 8 to 12, such as octylamine, serving as an organic protective material; a polar solvent (5 to 70% by weight) having a boiling point of 150 to 300° C.; and an acrylic dispersing agent (1.5 to 5% by weight with respect to the fine silver particles), such as a dispersing agent of at least one of acrylic acid ester and methacrylic acid ester.

Conventionally, in order to form fine electrodes and circuits of electronic parts and so forth, it is known that a conductive ink containing fine silver particles (silver nanoparticles) having particle diameters of a few nanometers to tens nanometers dispersed in a dispersing medium, or a conductive paste made into a paste after mixing silver nanoparticles with a binder resin and a solvent, is applied on a substrate, and then, heated at a low temperature of about 100 to 200° C. to be burned to sinter the fine silver particles with each other to form a silver conductive film.
Such fine silver particles for use in conductive inks and conductive pastes have a very high activity and are easy to proceed the sintering thereof even at a low temperature, so that they are unstable particles as they are. For that reason, in order to prevent the sintering and aggregation of fine silver particles with each other to ensure the independence and preservation stability of the fine silver particles, it is known that fine silver particles coated with an organic protective material of an organic compound are dispersed in a dispersing medium to be preserved as a fine silver particle dispersing solution.
As fine silver particles which are coated with an organic protective material and which can be used for such a fine silver particle dispersing solution, there are proposed silver particles which have an average particle diameter of 3 to 20 nm and which are coated with an organic protective material of a primary amine having a carbon number of 6 to 12 (see, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-138242).
However, the fine silver particles coated with an organic protective material, such as a primary amine, as proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-138242, are hydrophobic, so that they are aggregated in a polar solvent to have a bad dispersion therein. For that reason, there is a problem in that the viscosity of a fine silver particle dispersing solution containing such fine silver particles dispersed in a polar solvent is increased, so that the resistance of a silver conductive film is increased if such a fine silver particle dispersing solution is used for producing the silver conductive film. On the other hand, the fine silver particles coated with such an organic protective material have a good dispersion stability in a nonpolar solvent. However, if the fine silver particle dispersing solution containing the fine silver particles dispersed in a nonpolar solvent, together with a resin binder, is used for producing a conductive paste, there is a problem in that the nonpolar solvent generally has a bad compatibility with the resin binder, so that it is not possible to dissolve the resin binder therein.

Fine silver particle dispersing solution


A coded imaging and multi-user communications systems using novel codes, algorithms to develop such codes, and technological implementations to use the codes for various types of systems involving multiple (or single) transmitters and multiple (or single) receivers of signals (which could include but are not limited to electromagnetic radiation, acoustic waves, other types of waves or data) as a function of time-or-space.

Coded excitation is widely used in various ultrasound, radar, sonar and other imaging systems as well as in communication system. Coded excitations can be used for different purposes, including enhancing SNR by using codes with large time-bandwidth product, implementing code-division multiplexing, among others. Literature Review: Complementary Codes, Barker Codes, Golay Codes, Pseudorandom Noise, Chirps,

Coded imaging and multi-user communications systems

The Governors of the University of Alberta


A vehicle controller including communication hardware for receiving data transmissions from an automotive communication network, control software to control an automotive system, the control software requiring process data from at least one of a plurality of controllers linked to the automotive communication network to control the automotive system, the plurality of controllers broadcasting the process data over the automotive communication network, calibration software containing constants for the operation of the control software, communication software used in conjunction with the communication hardware for polling the automotive communication network for the required process data and identifying a source controller of the required process data, and memory in the vehicle controller for storing the source ID of the source controller, wherein upon identification of the source controller of the required process data, the communication software will read the required process data from the source controller.

An area in the auto industry seeing tremendous change from past practices is the area of control and communication in automotive vehicles. The creation of relatively inexpensive microprocessors and the digital. revolution have put the power of advanced electronics and communication into the hands of automotive engineers. Controllers, microprocessors, and other electronic devices control and monitor various systems in a vehicle such as the transmission, the internal combustion engine, braking systems, and other related systems. The information stored on the controllers in the vehicle during some vehicle functions must be communicated between the controllers for operation of the vehicle systems. For example, the transmission controller may need engine speed information from the engine controller or braking information from the brake controller to properly shift a transmission apparatus.
Vehicle controllers typically include software separated into a logic section and a calibration section. The logic section includes the executable control methods of operation, and the calibration section generally includes constants and other variables used in the operation of the logic section, such as a table of shift schedules for a transmission. The calibration section may be modified to operate with different vehicles having different engine types and diverse performance and physical characteristics.
Traditional vehicle controllers are rigidly calibrated or pre-programmed for the types and amount of data that may be transferred for a particular vehicle platform. It would be advantageous to use a single calibration, for a vehicle controller controlling a specific automotive system such as a transmission controller, with multiple vehicle platforms.

Vehicle communication link auto detection


Discussed is an assembly apparatus for assembling a semiconductor light emitting diode to a display panel, the assembly apparatus including an assembly module including at least one magnetic member and a magnetic member accommodator having at least one magnetic member accommodation hole, and a rotary module connected to the assembly module to rotate the assembly module along an orbit.

Recently, displays having excellent characteristics such as a thin shape and flexibility have been developed in the display technology field. On the other hand, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes) are representative of main displays that are commonly used now.
However, the LCD has a problem that a response time is not short and it is difficult to implement flexibility and AMOLED has a defect that the lifespan is short and the yield is not good.
Meanwhile, a light emitting diode (LED), which is a well-known semiconductor device that converts a current into light, has been used as a light source for displaying images in electronic devices including information devices together with a green LED based on GaP:N since a red LED using a GaAsP compound semiconductor was commercialized in 1962. Accordingly, a plan that solves the problems by implementing a display using the semiconductor LED may be proposed. Such an LED has the advantage of a long lifespan, low power consumption, an excellent initial driving characteristic, high vibration resistance, etc, as compared with a filament-based light emitting element.
Meanwhile, according to a display that uses semiconductor light emitting diodes, it is required to couple semiconductor light emitting diodes respectively corresponding to pixels to a substrate, so it may be relatively difficult to implement a display having a large screen and many pixels. Accordingly, recently, a self-assembling method of moving LEDs put in fluid to a substrate, using an electromagnetic field, and then assembling them is being developed.

Assembly apparatus for assembling semiconductor light emitting diode to display panel


The present invention relates to a method for monitoring state of a coil having at least two connection wires, which coil is part of an apparatus for determining at least one process variable of a medium in a containment, as well as relating to an apparatus for executing the method. The method, in such case, includes method steps as follows: ascertaining a desired-value of an ohmic total resistance for the coil and the connection wires, supplying the coil with an electrical excitation signal and receiving an electrical, received signal from the coil by means of the two connection wires, ascertaining an actual-value of the ohmic total resistance based at least on the received signal, and comparing the actual-value with the desired-value and ascertaining a state indicator based on the comparison.

Vibronic sensors are widely applied in process and/or automation technology. In the case of fill-level measuring devices, such have at least one mechanically oscillatable unit, for example, an oscillatory fork, a single rod or a membrane. This is excited during operation by means of a driving/receiving unit, frequently in the form of an electromechanical transducer unit, such as a piezoelectric drive or an electromagnetic drive, to cause the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations. The mechanically oscillatable unit can in the case of flow measuring devices, however, also be embodied as an oscillatable tube flowed through by a medium, such as, for example, a measuring device working according to the Coriolis principle.
Corresponding field devices are produced by the applicant in great multiplicity and in the case of fill-level measuring devices sold, for example, under the marks, LIQUIPHANT and SOLIPHANT. The underpinning measuring principles are known, in principle, from a large number of publications. The driving/receiving unit excites the mechanically oscillatable unit by means of an electrical excitation signal to cause the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations. Conversely, the driving/receiving unit can receive the mechanical oscillations of the mechanically oscillatable unit and convert them into an electrical, received signal. The driving/receiving unit is correspondingly either a separate drive unit and a separate receiving unit, or a combined driving/receiving unit.
In such case, the driving/receiving unit is in many cases part of a fed back electrical, oscillatory circuit, by means of which the exciting of the mechanically oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations occurs. For example, for a resonant oscillation, the oscillatory circuit condition must be fulfilled, according to which the amplification factor is greater than or equal to 1 and all phases arising in the oscillatory circuit must add to a multiple of 360°. For excitation and fulfillment of the oscillatory circuit condition, a certain phase shift between the excitation signal and the received signal must be assured. Therefore, frequently, a predeterminable value for the phase shift, thus a desired value for the phase shift, between the excitation signal and the received signal is set. The state of the art provides the most varied of solutions for this, both analog as well as also digital methods, such as described, for example, in DE102006034105A1, DE102007013557A1, or DE102005015547A1. The setting of a predeterminable phase shift is, moreover, possible by means of a so-called frequency sweep, such as disclosed, for example, in DE102009026685A1, DE102009028022A1, and DE102010030982A1, or also as based on a phase control loop (phase-locked loop, PLL). An excitation method based on a PLL is subject matter of, for example, DE00102010030982A1.
Both the excitation signal and also the received signal are characterized by frequency w, amplitude A and/or phase ϕ. Correspondingly, changes of these variables are usually taken into consideration for determining the particular process variable, such as, for example, a specific fill level of a medium in a containment, or also a density and/or viscosity of a medium or the flow of a medium through a pipe or tube. In the case of a vibronic limit level switch for liquids, for example, it is distinguished, whether the oscillatable unit is covered by the liquid or freely oscillating. These two states, the free state and the covered state, are, in such case, distinguished, for example, based on different resonance frequencies, thus a frequency shift. The density and/or viscosity can, in turn, be ascertained with such a measuring apparatus only when the oscillatable unit is covered by the medium. Various methods for determining viscosity and/or density of a medium are set forth, for example, in DE10050299A1, DE102007043811A1, DE10057974A1, and DE102015102834A1.
Used for the driving/receiving unit are, especially, piezoelectric and/or electromagnetic driving/receiving units. In the case of driving/receiving units based on the piezoelectric effect, as a rule, a comparatively high efficiency can be achieved. Here, efficiency refers to the efficiency of converting electrical into mechanical energy. Used as materials are frequently piezoceramic materials based on LZT (lead zirconate titanate). These are normally suited, however, only for a limited temperature range of up to about 300° C. While there are piezoceramic materials, which keep their piezoelectric properties at temperatures above 300° C., they have the disadvantage that they are significantly less effective than the LZT-based materials. For use in vibronic sensors, these high temperature materials are, moreover, only limitedly suitable, because of the large differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion of metals and ceramic materials. Because of its function as force provider for exciting the mechanical oscillations of the oscillatable unit, the piezoelectric element must be connected for force transmission to the oscillatable unit. Especially in the case of high temperatures, however, large mechanical stresses arise, which can break the piezoelectric element and, associated therewith, lead to a total failure of the sensor.
An alternative, which can be better for high temperatures, are so-called electromagnetic driving/receiving units, such as, for example, described in WO 2007/113011, WO 2007/114950 A1, DE102015104533A1 or also in the German patent application No. 102016112308.0 unpublished at the date of first filing of this application. The changing of electrical energy into mechanical energy occurs, in such case, via a magnetic field. A corresponding electromechanical transducer unit includes at least one coil and a permanent magnet. By means of the coil, a magnetic alternating field passing through the magnet is produced, and via the magnet a periodic force is exerted on the oscillatable unit. Such a driving/receiving unit, depending on utilized materials, is applicable, for example, for a temperature range between −200° C. and 500° C.
In order to assure the reliable working of a vibronic sensor, the state of the art provides the most varied of methods for diagnosis of possible malfunctions of a vibronic sensor. The opportunity for a state monitoring or diagnosis is especially important in the case of safety-critical applications, such as, for example, use of a limit level switch in a containment filled with a combustible liquid. Depending on concrete application, the measuring apparatus must satisfy different safety requirements. In this regard, known, for example, is the so-called SIL (Safety Integrity Level) based on the standard, IEC61508, which distinguishes between four different levels for specification of the requirement for the safety integrity of safety functions. The safety requirement level provides, in such case, in principle, a measure for the reliability of the particular system, or measuring apparatus, as a function of a potential danger. Typically provided safety functions for assuring a certain level of safety integrity are, for example, given by emergency turn offs, e.g. turning off overheated devices.
For setting a safety integrity level, for example, the stoppage behavior of individual assemblies is examined. Furthermore, the presence of redundant structures is checked, as well as the rates of safe and unsafe, or dangerous, failures. From such considerations, a total failure rate can be determined, based on which a particular system, or measuring apparatus, can be assigned a certain safety integrity level.
DE102004027397A1 describes an opportunity for detecting a cable break in a vibronic sensor. Known from the documents DE10014724A1 and DE102009045204A1 are diagnostic techniques for detecting accretion in the region of the oscillatable unit. However, also diagnoses in the region of the driving/receiving unit are possible, such as, for example, the diagnosis of a piezoelectric driving/receiving unit described in DE102008032887A1.

Monitoring the state of a coil in a sensor


An extrudate cutting apparatus including a generally cylindrically shaped shaping die having an upper surface and a lower surface with an eccentrically positioned opening extending therebetween. The opening releasably receives an orifice fitting for permitting extrudate to pass from the fitting through the opening. A generally tubular housing rotatably receives the shaping die therein. A nozzle knife is integral with the housing and is in facing relation with the lower shaping die surface. The knife includes an aperture for allowing extrudate passing from the orifice fitting to pass therethrough unimpeded when the aperture and the shaping die opening are in registry. A reciprocating bar is provided for imparting rotational movement to the tubular housing for moving the housing between an open position wherein the shaping die opening and the aperture are in registry and a closed position wherein the shaping die opening and the aperture are completely out of registry to prevent any of the extrudate from passing through the aperture. In this manner, the aperture severs the extrudate passing through the opening as the housing moves from the open to the closed position.

In the pretzel making field, pretzel dough is extruded in the shape of a pretzel and then severed. Consequently, in the pretzel dough extruding field, there exists a need for a simple and accurate way of apportioning and extruding dough. In addition, there exists a need for an extrudate cutting apparatus which can cleanly sever extruded pretzel dough at high speeds and without distorting the dough from the configuration imparted to it by the orifice fitting.
When flowable, viscous material or dough is to be divided and dispensed from a large mass of material into smaller measured volumes of material or dough, it has been common practice to urge the dough from a supply of dough through a conduit system to the area where it is to be subdivided and dispensed. By repeatedly opening and closing a cutting apparatus, the material moving through the conduit system can be divided from the on-coming material and dispensed to an awaiting container, conveyor, etc.
Conventionally, there exist two processes for apportioning and extruding dough. One process requires dough strips to be extruded in continuous strands and cut to length on a transport conveyor by a different piece of machinery. The problem with this process is that the major diameter of the product is limited by the fixed size of the orifice and the length of the material is limited by the cutting system, which is designed to provide a uniform and fixed length of product.
The second process entails the use of a complicated cutting system which severs the dough at the face plate of the extrusion nozzle. A pretzel die fixes the major shape and appearance of the pretzel. By varying the cutting rate and extrudance speed, pretzels of this defined shape can be a bit lighter or heavier in weight, but the appearance remains the same. The above processes are problematic in that they require a continuous flow of dough through either a dye or an orifice.
The present invention overcomes many of the disadvantages inherent in the above-described extrudate systems by providing an efficient and accurate way of cleanly severing the extrudated pretzel dough or other viscous material, while at the same time stopping the flow of the pretzel dough or material. Moreover, the present invention can temporarily stop the flow of dough while other machine operations could occur that might alter the final shape of the product. In addition, the extrudate cutting apparatus of the present invention includes a variable orifice for allowing the major diameter of the extrudate stream to be varied, to thereby give the dough piece the appearance of being handmade.
The extrudate cutting apparatus of the present invention, for example, can extrude dough onto a computer-controlled table which moves in two dimensions to produce a pretzel or other decorative shape. By changing the program of the two-dimensional table, the shape of the product can be changed. By temporarily interrupting the extrusion process, the two-dimensional table can yield a limitless variety of shapes and decorative patterns.

Extrudate cutting apparatus for controlling the flow of extrudate from an orifice fitting


Techniques are described herein for effectively managing usage of a shared object cache in a container database management system (DBMS). The shared object cache maintains shared objects belonging to a set of pluggable databases (PDBs) hosted by the container DBMS. In an embodiment, a shared object metadata extension structure (SOMEX) is maintained for each PDB. The SOMEX stores metadata for each shared object of the PDB that resides in the shared object cache. In an embodiment, a share of the shared object cache is maintained for shared objects from each PDB in the set of PDBs based on entries in the SOMEX for the PDB.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
A database management system (DBMS) manages a database, and may have one or more database servers. A database comprises database data and a database dictionary that are stored on a persistent memory mechanism. An extension of a DBMS is a container DBMS, which contains multiple individual databases that are hosted and managed by a database server. The individual databases are called Pluggable Databases ("PDBs"). A container DBMS may contain numerous PDBs. A user may access a PDB within a container DBMS by establishing a database session for a PDB.
A container DBMS is a powerful mechanism for database consolidation. A container DBMS provides a high degree of computer resource sharing while concurrently providing a high degree of isolation.
The isolation provided by a container DBMS is at an existential level. Database sessions established for a PDB may be limited to accessing or otherwise viewing database objects defined for the PDB by the PDB's dedicated database dictionary.
While database objects may be isolated between database sessions of PDBs, various computing resources may be shared across database sessions of PDBs. Hosting multiple PDBs on same database server thus allows the computing resources of database servers or instances to be shared between multiple PDBs.
Among the computer resources shared between multiple PDBs is a shared object cache of a database server. The shared object cache is used to cache shared database objects used by the various database sessions of the PDBs hosted on a database server. Because the shared object cache is a computer resource that is shared by database sessions of multiple PDBs, balancing its usage between PDBs is an important function for a container DBMS. Described herein are techniques for more effectively managing the usage of the shared object cache in a container DBMS.


The soft Cr-containing steel includes, on a % by mass basis, C: from about 0.001% to about 0.020%, Si: more than about 0.10% and less than about 0.50%, Mn: less than about 2.00%, P: less than about 0.060%, S: less than about 0.008%, Cr: from about 12.0% to about 16.0%, Ni: from about 0.05% to about 1.00%, N: less than about 0.020%, Nb: from about 10xc3x97(C+N) to about 1.00%, Mo: more than about 0.80% and less than about 3.00%, wherein the contents of alloying elements, represented by Si and Mo, respectively, on a % by mass, satisfy the formula Si xe2x89xa61.2xe2x88x920.4 Mo, so as to prevent precipitation of the Laves phase and to stably secure an effect of increasing high-temperature strength due to solid solution Mo.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Cr-containing steel. In particular, the present invention relates to a soft Cr-containing steel which has both heat resistance and formability and is suitable for members used in high-temperature environments, for example and especially, exhaust pipes of automobiles and motorcycles, outer casings for catalysts, and exhaust ducts in thermal power plants.
2. Description of the Related Art
Exhaust system members such as exhaust manifolds, exhaust pipes, converter cases, and mufflers, used in exhaust environments of automobiles are required to have superior formability and superior heat resistance. Conventionally in many cases, Cr-containing steel sheets containing Nb and Si, for example, Type 429 (14Cr-0.9Si-0.4Nb-base) steel, which is malleable, and has superior formability at room temperature, and has relatively increased high-temperature strength, have been used for the aforementioned applications. However, when exhaust gas temperatures are increased to about 900xc2x0 C., which is higher than can be endured due to improvements of engine performance, there is a problem in that Type 429 steel has an insufficient high-temperature proof stress.
In order to solve the aforementioned problems, SUS 444 (JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) G4305, 19Cr-0.2Nb-1.8Mo) steel, which is a Cr-containing steel having improved high-temperature proof stress by addition of Nb and Mo, has been developed. However, there were problems in that the SUS 444 steel was expensive to produce because of the large amounts of alloying elements required, and in particular, molds were significantly worn during use due to high yield strength YS. Furthermore, although a technique related to a stainless steel having superior intergranular corrosion resistance, superior formability into pipes, and superior high-temperature strength has also been disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 4-228547, since malleability at room temperature was not taken into consideration, there has been a problem in that molds were significantly worn during use.
Accordingly, requirements for a material having strength equivalent to, or less than, that of Type 429 steel and malleability with excellent workability at room temperature, and having superior high-temperature strength, in order to have a proof stress higher than that of Type 429 steel at 900xc2x0 C., have become even more intensified. When the high-temperature strength of the material for the exhaust system members is increased, it becomes possible to reduce the thicknesses of the members so as to contribute to reduced weight of automobile bodies. As a consequence, requirements for an increase in high-temperature strength have become even more intensified. Furthermore, accompanying the increase in exhaust gas temperatures, a material for exhaust system members has also been required to have superior oxidation resistance in order to prevent the occurrence of undesired oxidation at high temperatures.
For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-73147, a Cr-containing steel having superior high-temperature strength, workability, and surface properties has been disclosed as a raw material which can be applied to a wide range of temperatures from the high temperature portion to the low temperature portion of the exhaust system member. This raw material is a Cr-containing steel containing C: 0.02% or less, Si: 0.01% or less, Cr: 3.0% to 20%, and Nb: 0.2% to 1.0%, and precipitation of the Fe2Nb Laves phase is prevented in order to prevent an increase in yield strength at room temperature, and to impart superior high-temperature strength and workability, as well as excellent surface properties.
However, there was a problem in that the steel described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-73147 could not sufficiently satisfy the properties recently required of the material for exhaust system members, since, for example, undesirable oxidation occurred when the steel was heated to a high temperature in the region of 900xc2x0 C.
The present invention was made to solve the aforementioned problems in the conventional techniques and to provide advantages. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a soft Cr-containing steel having malleability and superior workability at room temperature, and having, especially, superior high-temperature strength compared to those of conventional steels, as well as superior oxidation resistance. Herein, xe2x80x9cmalleable at room temperaturexe2x80x9d means that when the steel is produced under the same conditions as the conventional steels, such as type 429, a strength equivalent to, or less than, those of the conventional steels can be achieved, xe2x80x9csuperior high-temperature strengthxe2x80x9d means that a proof stress (0.2% PS) at 900xc2x0 C. is 17 MPa or more, and xe2x80x9csuperior oxidation resistancexe2x80x9d means that undesired oxidation does not occur at 900xc2x0 C.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the inventors of the present invention earnestly researched regarding a composition that can significantly improve high-temperature strength without an increase in room-temperature strength of a Cr-containing steel containing Nb. As a result, the inventors of the present invention discovered that regarding the composition, when the Si content was limited to within an appropriate minimum range, the Mo content was appropriately specified in connection with the Si content, and the Cr content was reduced as much as possible, precipitation of the (Fe,Cr)2(Mo,Nb) Laves phase was prevented and Mo was present primarily in the form of solid solution Mo, and therefore, the Cr-containing steel had malleability at room temperature, and had a significantly improved strength at high temperatures, and the occurrence of undesired oxidation could be prevented.
That is, according to the present invention, a soft Cr-containing steel having a composition composed of, on a % by mass basis, C: from about 0.001% to about 0.020%, Si: more than about 0.10% and less than about 0.50%, Mn: less than about 2.00%, P: less than about 0.060%, S: less than about 0.008%, Cr: from about 12.0% to about 16.0%, Ni: from about 0.05% to about 1.00%, N: less than about 0.020%, Nb: from about 10xc3x97(C+N) to about 1.00%, Mo: more than about 0.80% and less than about 3.00%, and Fe and incidental impurities, wherein the contents of alloying elements, silicon and molybdenum, represented by Si and Mo, respectively, on a % by mass basis, satisfy the following formula (1), could be achieved.
Sixe2x89xa61.2xe2x88x920.4Mo.xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
In the present invention, the aforementioned soft Cr-containing steel preferably further contains, on a % by mass basis, at least one selected from the group consisting of Cu: from about 0.05% to about 1.00%, Ti: from about 0.02% to about 0.50%, V: from about 0.05% to about 0.50%, and B: from about 0.0005% to about 0.0100%. The aforementioned soft Cr-containing steels preferably further contain W: from about 0.50% to about 5.00% by mass. The aforementioned soft Cr-containing steels preferably further contain Al: from about 0.02% to about 0.50% by mass. The aforementioned soft Cr-containing steels preferably further contain, on a % by mass basis, at least one selected from the group consisting of REM: from about 0.03% to about 0.10% and Zr: from about 0.05% to about 0.50%.
In the present invention, regarding the state of Mo in the steel, a ratio of (112) diffraction intensity of the Laves phase, (Fe,Cr)2(Mo,Nb), to (111) diffraction intensity of Nb carbonitride, Nb(C,N), A value=I{(Fe,Cr)2(Mo,Nb)}(112)/I{Nb(C,N)}(111), is preferably less than 0.4 based on X-ray diffraction of extraction residues of precipitates in the steel.


Embodiments of a gas turbine engine cooling system for deployment within a gas turbine engine are provided, as are embodiment of a method for producing a gas turbine engine cooling system. In one embodiment, the gas turbine engine cooling system includes an impeller having a hub, a plurality of hub bleed air passages, and a central bleed air conduit. The plurality of hub bleed air passages each have an inlet formed in an outer circumferential surface of the hub and an outlet formed in an inner circumferential surface of the hub. The central bleed air conduit is fluidly coupled to the outlets of the plurality of hub bleed air passages and is configured to conduct bleed air discharged by the plurality of hub bleed air passages to a section of the gas turbine engine downstream of the impeller to provide cooling air thereto.

A gas turbine engine commonly includes an intake section, a compressor section, a combustor section, a turbine section, and an exhaust section. Due to the positioning of the turbine section immediately downstream of the combustor section, the air turbines and other turbine section components (e.g., turbine nozzles) are exposed to highly elevated temperatures during engine operation. Gas turbine engines are therefore often further equipped with a turbine cooling system to prevent overheating of the turbine section components by continually supplying cooling air thereto. The cooling air is bled from the gas turbine engine's compressor section and conducted through a network of cooling circuits, which directs the airflow over and around the combustion chamber before reintroducing the airflow into the turbine section. The turbine cooling system is typically passive in nature and relies upon the air pressure within the compressor section to drive airflow through the system's cooling circuits. In certain cases, the turbine cooling system may include a "Tangential On-Board Injection" or "TOBI" device, which injects the cooling airflow immediately upstream of the high pressure turbine while imparting the airflow with a tangential or swirling-type motion. In so doing, the TOBI device allows the bleed air to flow more easily into cooling channels provided in the rotating turbine thereby reducing parasitic pumping losses and providing lower cooling air temperatures and pressures to the turbine. The TOBI device thus serves as a means for producing a desired turbine cooling pressure and temperature that is lower than the maximum compressor exit condition.
To optimize the effectiveness of the turbine cooling system, the temperature of the air extracted from the compressor section is ideally as low as practical. At the same time, the pressure of the bleed air is preferably sufficiently high to create an adequate flow rate through the system's cooling circuits. Gas turbine engine platforms employing axial compressors typically have a relatively large number of compressor stages. As a result, it is typically relatively easy to select a compressor stage from which the turbine cooling system can bleed air that has a relatively low temperature while also having a sufficiently high pressure to satisfy the flow rate requirements of the cooling system. However, in the case of a gas turbine engine including a centrifugal compressor or impeller, it can be more difficult to extract air from the compressor section at a location that satisfies these competing criteria. When bled from a location near the inlet of the impeller, the temperature of the air is relatively low; however, so too is the air's pressure. Conversely, when bled from a location near the outlet of the impeller, the highly compressed airflow has a greatly elevated temperature and is generally undesirable for cooling purposes. The pressure level also tends to be much higher than necessary for adequate blade and disk cooling flow control and cooling passage pressurization. In addition, bleeding cooling air from the outlet of the impeller effectively wastes the energy expended to compress the airflow and consequently reduces the overall efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
It is thus desirable to provide embodiments of a gas turbine engine cooling system, such as a turbine cooling system, that enables the extraction of bleed air from an impeller at a location at which the temperature of the bleed air is relatively low, while the pressure of the bleed air is sufficiently high to satisfy the flow rate requirements of the cooling system. Ideally, embodiments of such a gas turbine engine cooling system would significantly reduce cooling circuit requirements, eliminate the need for a TOBI device, and decrease the overall part count, weight, and complexity of the cooling system as compared to a conventional turbine cooling system. It would also be desirable for embodiments of such a gas turbine engine cooling system to provide an improved impeller thermal stress gradient response and to improve overall system reliability by minimizing the amount of bleed air-entrained debris ingested by the cooling system. Finally, it would be desirable to provide embodiments of a method for producing such a gas turbine engine cooling system. Other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent Detailed Description and the appended Claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings and the foregoing Background.

Gas turbine engine cooling systems having hub-bleed impellers and methods for the production thereof