A support apparatus and method includes, for a surface with an edge, an unbound base resting on the surface with an edge. An angled face is connected to the unbound base. The connection of the angled face creates an edge receiving notch and the edge receiving notch is conformed to receive the edge of the surface and support and extend the angled face beyond the edge of the surface.

This invention relates to a support apparatus and method. In particular, according to one embodiment, the invention relates to a support apparatus for use with a surface with an edge. An unbound base includes an angled face. The angled face connection creates an edge receiving notch. The edge receiving notch is conformed to receive the edge of the surface and support and extend the angled face beyond the edge of the surface.
There is no doubt that technology has greatly enhanced the ability of individuals to accomplish more tasks more efficiently than ever before. The increased use of these technologically advanced devices at home and in the workplace, however, has created new problems and added new difficulties for users of these devices.
For purposes of example only, and not by limitation, a typical work surface height does not allow for proper ergonomics when using devices, such as data entry-input/output devices such as laptops, tablet PCs, and the like, from a sitting or a standing position. In particular, the typical height of a desktop work surface area positions devices at a level which does not allow the recommended horizontal positioning (perpendicular to the torso) of the forearms, when entering data, and so forth, because unrecommended erect seating is employed. In this position, the forearms of a user have to be angled upward from the torso to reach over the work surface area to input data.
Angled forearms cause a smaller elbow angle, thereby decreasing circulation and compressing nerves. An associated problem is that, as a result of this position, a user""s wrists have to be hyper-extended downward to reach the device in order to enter data, for example. A still further problem associated with the prior art, is that the back, shoulders and neck of a user have to be hunched (craned) over to accommodate the downward angle of the wrists and to see and operate the device.
Modern chairs associated with home and work surfaces are incorporating several features that encourage a reclined working position. The term xe2x80x9ccounter balanced seatingxe2x80x9d refers to seating that cradles the back, putting a vertical and horizontal multidirectional support along the entire back to relieve spine compression. Reclining offers several advantages to the prior art required position for operation of devices. The reclining positioned allows the forearms to be positioned perpendicular to the torso. As a result, the wrists, therefore, are at their neutral position in relation to the device. The back is cradled in this reclining positioned thereby relieving compression stress on the spine. This cradled position allows a user to take full advantage of the lumbar support in modern chairs. Reclining also opens the abdominal angle (between the torso and legs) for better blood circulation. Additionaly, the popliteal angle (behind the knee) is opened as well providing better circulation in the legs. Additionally, reclining allows the spine to conform to its natural s-shaped position. Other features of modern chairs also facilitate use of the Applicant""s device in that the arms of the chairs may also be adjustable so that they may be located in best relation to the support.
An additional problem exists with users of modern devices in the normal home and office workplace. Most modern devices have some sort of material on the bottom of the device intended to secure them to the surface. Rubberized feet are common. The problem is that this makes the device difficult to move around the surface when not needed or for minor adjustments to shift the body of the user for better circulation. That is to say, prior art devices which are stationery in nature and are not easily moved, do not allow the user to easily change the effective seating, or standing, positions, thus causing poor circulation and pressure points.
In addition to the difficulty in moving and relocating devices along a horizontal plane, another common prior art problem with the operation of a device on a surface is that the vertical location of the device, such as the display screen on a portable computer or tablet PC, is often at improper viewing levels. Typically, they are too low thus causing stress on the neck from bending down and, again, are difficult to adjust.
Many prior art devices do exist for aiding in the use of modern devices. Representative of these are U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,354, 658 B 1; 6,113,050; 5,822,185; and 5,111,361. A primary objective of these prior art devices is to secure it in place so that it does not move during the use of the device attached to it. Again rubberized feet, to prevent movement during use of the device, are common as are clamps and other complicated attachment devices. Thus, the prior art devices, while designed to solve some problems associated with the use of devices on a surface, create other problems in their complexity and in the inability to be rapidly moved from one place to another on the surface. An associated problem is that, while some of the prior art devices allow for use of a device beyond the edge of a surface, these devices require complicated clamps and the like and are not, again, easily moved.
The support apparatus and method of the present invention includes, for a surface with an edge, an unbound base resting on the surface with an edge. An angled face is connected to the unbound base such that the connection of the angled face to the unbound base creates an edge receiving notch. The edge receiving notch is conformed to receive the edge of the surface and support and extend the angled face beyond the edge of the surface. According to one embodiment, the unbound base further includes at least one lateral movement device attached to the unbound base for moving the unbound base laterally while resisting movement backwards and forwards.


The present invention prevents warp deformation of a molded object formed by laser powder layer laminating molding. There is provided a powder layer laminating molding method including a first step of forming a powder layer which includes powder of a thermoplastic resin, and a second step of sintering the powder layer by irradiating the formed powder layer with a beam having a heating action, in which a molded object is obtained by repeatedly performing the forming and the sintering of the powder layer in the first step and the second step, and an irradiation surface which is irradiated with the beam is divided into a plurality of small regions.

As a background art in the present technical field, there is JP-A-2016-155367 (PTL 1). In PTL 1, "a three-dimensional molding method for molding a three-dimensional molded object by laminating layers of a layer-shaped molded object obtained by combining pulverulent bodies of a pulverulent body layer with each other, in which when a lower surface of a molding region of the layer-shaped molded object is formed while being in contact with the pulverulent body, a sacrifice molded object that is separable from the three-dimensional molded object through the pulverulent body, is formed below the molding region where the lower surface is formed while being in contact with the pulverulent body" is disclosed.

Layer laminating molded object, powder layer laminating molding method, and ridge filter


A shoulder adjuster apparatus includes an adjusting base secured to a car body, a sliding base mounted on the adjusting base, and a garnish sliding together with the sliding base. The adjusting base 1 includes side walls formed by bending both edges, which are arranged in the width direction, at about 90 degrees with respect to a flat surface to be attached to the car body, and engaging portions formed by bending the ends of the side walls inwardly. The engaging portions and the side walls form acute angles. The sliding base is slidably inserted into a sliding part, which is defined by the side walls, the engaging portions, and the flat surface. According to the structure as described above, a shoulder adjuster apparatus having excellent shock absorbency, capable of preventing degradation of performance due to deformation and the like, and having excellent safety characteristics can be provided.

Installation of seatbelt apparatuses in automobiles is compulsory to ensure safety of drivers/passengers. When a driver/passenger operates a seatbelt apparatus to set a seatbelt (i.e., the webbing), the webbing may cause a so-called "hanging" state depending on the sitting height of the driver/passenger. To prevent such a hanging state and ensure a comfortable ride, a variety of shoulder adjuster apparatuses, which are capable of adjusting the height of a webbing anchor according to the sitting height of a driver/passenger, have been proposed.
Examples of shoulder adjuster apparatuses of this type include a seatbelt anchor apparatus and a webbing anchor apparatus that were proposed by the present inventor as shoulder adjuster apparatuses, and are disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publications Nos. 2-279445, 5-294208, and 2001-341614.
In known shoulder adjuster apparatuses, however, a strong impact force applied to a webbing anchor may cause a large impact load on the shoulder adjuster apparatus, deformation of the shoulder adjuster apparatus due to a heavy load particularly exerted on an engaging portion between an adjusting base and a sliding base, damage to the adjusting base and the sliding base, and impairment of adjusting function due to the deformation of the shoulder adjuster apparatus.
Moreover, the deformation of the shoulder adjuster apparatus due to a heavy load being exerted on the engaging portion between the adjusting base and the sliding base causes the adjusting base to be detached from the sliding base, the adjusting function of the shoulder adjuster apparatus to be impaired, and the shoulder adjuster apparatus to be disabled.
To provide a safer shoulder adjuster apparatus, a crucial issue that has been recognized is to improve the shape of the engaging portion between the adjusting base and the sliding base such that the strength thereof can be improved.
To adjust the height of the webbing anchor according to the sitting height of a driver/passenger, a latch mechanism needs to be pulled out against the elastic force of a spring.
However, to fix the shoulder adjuster apparatus at a desired height, this spring has a spring constant sufficient for preventing problems, such as detachment of a latch pin caused by vibrations or the like. Therefore, pulling out a button requires a large amount of force and cannot necessarily be performed easily by a drivers/passengers sitting in a seat. Thus, since the latch mechanism of the known shoulder adjuster apparatus does not have sufficient operability for adjusting the height of the webbing anchor, there has been a demand for the development of a mechanism capable of tightly securing the webbing anchor while exhibiting excellent operability in terms of adjusting the height of the webbing.
Moreover, in the latch mechanism of the known shoulder adjuster apparatus, it is assumed, in some rare cases, that vibrations and impacts cause a button section to malfunction because of the structure of a fixed button. It has also been pointed out that this may cause the latch pin to be pulled out of a lock hole and change the height of the webbing anchor while riding in the car. A strong impact force applied to the shoulder adjuster apparatus from one direction, particularly at the time of impact, causes the shoulder adjuster apparatus to malfunction.
There is also a possibility that the height of the webbing anchor may be changed at the time of impact, because an air bag installed in the car for ensuring the safety of drivers/passengers presses the shoulder adjuster apparatus from one side, thus causing the shoulder adjuster apparatus to malfunction. Therefore, improved stability of a button, which serves as an operating section, has been demanded to improve vibration resistance and impact resistance of the latch mechanism.
Moreover, vibrations while the car is moving bring the latch pin and a lock hole into contact, which produces metallic noises. In the known shoulder adjuster apparatus, to reduce such metallic noises caused by contact, the tip of the latch pin is coated with a resin or provided with an O-ring for noise reduction. This increases the number of components required to form the shoulder adjuster apparatus and causes an increase in material costs and production costs.
The present invention is made in view of the circumstances described above and aims to provide a shoulder adjuster apparatus having excellent shock absorbency, capable of preventing degradation of performance due to deformation and the like, and having excellent safety characteristics.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder adjuster apparatus in which a latch mechanism installed therein offers improved impact resistance and vibration resistance to prevent malfunctioning, and in which a webbing anchor ensures its stability when it is fixed, which improves its operability during the height adjustment.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoulder adjuster apparatus in which contact noise produced from a latch pin and a lock hole of the latch mechanism installed in the shoulder adjuster apparatus is reduced.


One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for operating a mill train, in particular used in a cold-rolling mill. The mill train includes operating rolls with a roll gap disposed in-between through which a rolled strip is guided. With the method of at least one embodiment, the thickness and the roll-in speed of the rolled strip are measured in front of the roll gap. The roll-out speed of the rolled strip after the roll gap is reconstructed with the aid of the tangential speed of the operating rolls. The thickness after the roll gap is then determined with the aid of the thickness and the roll-in speed in front of the roll gap and the reconstructed roll-out speed.

A method for controlling the thickness of a rolled strip on a mill train used in a rolling mill is known from the document DE 41 41 742 A1. This method is based on mass-flow control which is used to compute the output thickness of the rolled strip from the measured input thickness of the rolled strip as well the measured input and output speeds at the roll gap.
In particular the measurement of the rolled strip speed at the output of the roll gap has proven to be problematic since vibrations or a dirty measuring location or other measuring errors can interfere with the thickness control.

Method for operating a mill train, in particular in a cold rolling mill


A computer is programmed to deploy an aerial drone to fly within a specified distance of a first vehicle. The computer is programmed to detect a second vehicle and then activate an aerial drone light.

Vehicle lights provide visibility at night and under adverse environmental conditions, e.g., rain, fog, dust, etc. A vehicle light can help people and/or machines to recognize and locate the vehicle. Additionally, a vehicle light can help a vehicle occupant to recognize another vehicle proximate to the vehicle, e.g., another vehicle approaching the vehicle can be recognized.


A method, system, and computer program product for solving a congestion problem in an integrated circuit (IC) design are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A congested g-edge is selected from a set of congested g-edges. A set of congesting nets is selected, wherein the set of congesting nets cause congestion in the selected congested g-edges by crossing the selected congested g-edge. A vacancy data structure corresponding to the selected congested g-edge is populated. A subset of the set of the congesting nets is selected. The subset of the set of the congesting nets is rerouted to a candidate g-edge identified in the vacancy data structure.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to a method, system, and computer program product for designing an integrated circuit (IC). More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program product for solving congestion problems in an IC design using net grouping.
2. Description of the Related Art
Modern day electronics include components that use ICs. ICs are electronic circuits formed using Silicon as a substrate and by adding impurities to form solid-state electronic devices, such as transistors, diodes, and resistors. Commonly known as a "chip," an IC is generally encased in hard plastic. The components in modern day electronics generally appear to be rectangular black plastic pellets with connector pins protruding from the plastic encasement.
Circuit designers use a variety of software tools to design electronic circuits that accomplish an intended task. For example, a digital circuit may be designed to accept digital inputs, perform some computation, and produce a digital output. An analog circuit may be designed to accept analog signals, manipulate the analog signals, such as my amplifying, filtering, or mixing the signals, and produce an analog or digital output. Generally, any type of circuit can be designed as an IC.
Logical synthesis, physical synthesis, and generation of a routed and timing-closed design are some of the functions of an IC design software tool. Logical synthesis is the process of designing the logical operation that is to be achieved by a circuit. Physical synthesis is the mapping, translating, or integration of that logical synthesis to the physical design components, such as logic gate and buffer circuits. Routing and timing-closed design is the design produced by adjusting the wire routings and component placements in a design so that the design meets certain design criteria such as delay or slew of signals, or wirelength restrictions.
The software tools used for designing ICs produce, manipulate, or otherwise work with the circuit layout at very small scales. Some of the components that such a tool may manipulate may only measure tens of nanometer across when formed in Silicon. The designs produced and manipulated using these software tools are complex, often including millions of such components interconnected to form an intended electronic circuitry.
The interconnects between components are called wires. A wire is a connection between parts of electronic components, and is formed using a metallic material or others such as fiber optics and carbon nanotubes that conducts electricity. A net is a collection of interconnections among a group of components. A wire forms a segment of a net, such as a connection between two components.
The software tools manipulate these components at the components level, or blocks of components level. A block of components is also known as a global cell, or g-cell. A g-cell in an IC design is a portion of the IC design. One way of identifying g-cells in an IC design is to overlay a grid of imaginary vertical and horizontal lines on the design, and deeming each portion of the IC design bound by horizontal and vertical lines as a g-cell. The horizontal or vertical lines bounding a g-cell are called cut-lines. A g-cell is also known as a tile. The boundary between two g-cells is known as a g-edge.
Imposing such a grid on an IC design abstracts the global routing problem away from the actual wire implementation and gives a more mathematical representation of the task. A net may span one or more g-cells and may cross several cut lines (i.e., g-edges).
An IC design software tool can, among other functions, manipulate cells, or interconnect components of one cell with components of other cells, such as to form nets. These cells are different from g-cells in that these cells are the actual logic components, such as the semiconductor gates.
Placement problem is the problem of placing the cells of a chip such that the design meets all the design parameters of the chip. Routing is the process of connecting the pins after placement. In other words, placement results in a rendering of the components of various cells as being located in certain positions in the design, whereas routing results in a rendering of how the metal layers would be populated with that placement.
A wire can be designed to take any one of the several available paths in a design. Placement of a wire on a certain path, or track, is a part of routing.
A router is a component of an IC design tool that performs the routing function. Once the placement component—known as a placer—has performed the placement function, the router attempts to connect the wires without causing congestion. For example, if a design parameter calls for no more than five wires in a given area, the router attempts to honor that restriction in configuring the wiring. Such limitations on the wiring are a type of design constraints and are called congestion constraints. Other types of design constraints may include, for example, blocked areas or blockages—cell areas where wires may not be routed.
A global router divides the routing region into g-cells and attempts to route nets through the g-cells such that no g-edge overflows its capacity. Global routing is the process of connecting a g-cell to other g-cells.
After global routing, wires must be assigned to actual tracks within each tile, followed by detail routing, which must connect each global route to the actual pin shape on the cell. Another type of router—known as the detailed router—performs the detailed routing. The global and detailed routing produced during the design process is collectively referred to as "routing" and is usually further modified during optimization of the design.

International Business Machines Corporation


A modular counter-type work station for use by tellers in dealing with customers in a public area includes a counter top at a convenient working level above the floor having a generally U-shaped configuration with a front bight portion publicly accessible on the outside for direct customer access and a rearwardly extending teller section comprising a pair of parallel, opposite side leg portions joined at the forward end to the bight portion. A first cabinet is provided at a central location below the bight portion to support the counter top and a pair of second cabinets are provided for supporting the rearwardly extending leg portions. The cabinets define open corner leg spaces for the tellers while seated on opposite sides of the first cabinet. A counter top cabinet is provided above the level of the counter top to divide the bight portion between a public access or forward section and a rearward teller access section. A pair of teller windows are formed by the counter top cabinet for providing access between customers and tellers. A plurality of the modular work stations may be aligned and connected side by side to provide an elongated row of teller stations and a common panel structure and forward counter top may be provided to match the architectural dress of the facility in which the work stations are used.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to modular, counter-type work stations for use by tellers in dealing with customers in a public area. More particularly, the modular work stations are especially well adapted for use in banks, savings and loans, and other financial institutions, as well as in postal stations, ticket sale facilities and other types of financial institutions where separation between public customers and tellers is desired.
2. Background of the Prior Art
In the past, teller stations in banks, savings and loans, insurance companies and other financial institutions were generally designed on an ad hoc basis with little thought to providing an efficient work space which is user friendly to tellers and other employees in dealing with the public. With the advent of new and improved teller equipment including computers, terminals, printers and other modular types of calculators, signature verifying equipment, etc., it is desirable and an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved modular, counter-type work station for tellers which improves and enhances the efficiency of operations in utilizing new state of the art, modern equipment now becoming available.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved modular work station which saves space and reduces space planning requirements for architects and designers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved modular, counter-type work station of the character described which is easily installable and yet can be taken down after installation for removal and relocation to other facilities.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved modular teller station of the character described which can be assembled together with similar stations in an elongated row or line and utilizing a common counter front adapted to meet the particular decor of the building environment.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved, highly efficient, modular, dual-teller, counter-type work station which is relatively low in cost, extremely efficient in operation and which provides a labor saving advantage for tellers working at the station.

Modular counter work station for tellers


The present invention provides solid electrolytic condensers with increased heat resistance and decreased ESR, and methods for preparing the same. The solid electrolytic condensers of the present invention comprise a porous sintered body 1 made of a valve action metal, a dielectric layer 2 covering at least a portion of the porous sintered body 1, and a solid electrolytic layer 3 covering at least a portion of the dielectric layer 2, where the solid electrolytic layer 3 is composed of an anion exchange resin.

Solid electrolytic condensers are widely used for charge accumulation in power supply circuits or noise cancellation in direct current. FIG. 16 shows an example of conventional solid electrolytic condensers (see Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-110688). The solid electrolytic condenser X shown in FIG. 16 has a structure where a dielectric layer 92, a solid electrolytic layer 93 and an anode conductor layer 94 are stacked on a porous sintered body 91 made of valve action metals such as tantalum. The porous sintered body 91 is obtained by press-molding e.g., fine tantalum powders and then sintering the molded body and has many micropores. FIG. 16 schematically shows the sintered state of fine valve action metal powders where micropores are formed. The dielectric layer 92 may be formed by anodizing the porous sintered body 91 and covers the porous sintered body 91. The solid electrolytic layer 93 is formed to fill in the micropores and covers the dielectric layer 92 all over. The anode conductor layer 94 may have a graphite layer and an Ag layer stacked together, and is joined to the surface of the solid electrolytic layer 93. For the materials of the solid electrolytic layer 93, manganese dioxide or conductive polymers are mainly used.
However, using manganese dioxide as the material for the solid electrolytic layer 93 is problematic in that the equivalent series resistance (hereinafter, ESR) of the solid electrolytic condenser X becomes relatively high. In the meantime, using conductive polymers such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) as the material for the solid electrolytic layer 93 is advantageous for reducing ESR, but is problematic in that heat resistance becomes as low as 125° C. Thus, it was previously difficult to provide a solid electrolytic condenser X having reduced ESR, as well as increased heat resistance.

Solid electrolytic condensers and methods for preparing the same


A vehicle includes a starter motor having a dedicated power source, an electric machine, and a controller configured to, responsive to a command for the motor to start an engine, open a switch to isolate the motor and source from a network electrically connected with the machine, and responsive to voltages on both sides of the switch falling within a predetermined range, close the switch to charge the source.

A hybrid or an electric vehicle may be equipped with at least one traction battery configured to provide energy for propulsion. The traction battery may also provide energy for other vehicle electrical components. For example, the traction battery may transfer energy to high voltage loads, such as compressors and electric heaters. In another example, the traction battery may provide energy to low voltage loads.


A method for simultaneously transmitting packets to one or more users in a wireless communication system includes: generating the packets which include length information and are to be transmitted to the one or more users; and simultaneously transmitting the generated packets to the one or more users. The length information includes information representing a unit of the length information and information representing lengths of the packets according to the unit.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a packet transmission/reception method and apparatus in a wireless communication system.
2. Description of Related Art
The throughput of wireless communication systems is not high enough to support various high-capacity multimedia services. Since multi-users share wireless resources, the data rate of wireless services sensed by the users decreases remarkably. In this regard, research is conducted on various techniques to improve the throughput of a wireless communication system for multi-users by increasing a bandwidth to expand wireless resources shared by multi-users, or by implementing a desired beam for communication with each user while using wireless resources of the same bandwidth.
Since a medium access control (MAC) protocol of a wireless communication system operates on the basis of carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA), resource waste may occur in a channel contention process. In order to solve such a problem, an enhanced MAC protocol defined by IEEE 802.11e has proposed a burst transmission scheme in which multiple MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) are transmitted at a short inter-frame space (SIFS) during a transmission opportunity (TXOP) time when a transmission right for a wireless resource is acquired, and block ACKs for the multiple MPDUs are received. Furthermore, IEEE 802.11n has defined an aggregated MAC service data unit (MSDU) (hereinafter, referred to as A-MSDU) and an aggregated MPDU (hereinafter, referred to as A-MPDU). In this case, MSDUs and MPDUs (which are a transmission unit) may be respectively aggregated without IFS, and then transmitted through a one-time contention process for a wireless resource.
With the development of the above-described wireless communication system, IEEE 802.11ac specifies that, in order to construct a high-rate wireless communication system, a data rate of up to 1 Gbps should be supported by a MAC service access point (SAP) of an access point (AP) in a wireless communication system including one AP and two stations (STAB), and a data rate of up to 500 Mbps is required by a MAC SAP of an STA for a point-to-point environment. Furthermore, as the requirements of the high-performance wireless communication system, each AP and STA need to support compatibility with the existing wireless communication system (the IEEE 802.11a/n system).
In the wireless communication system, a data transmitter (AP or STA) acquires a wireless channel and then transmits data together with information required for the transmission of the data. A structure including the data and the information required for the data transmission may be referred to as a packet. At this time, the information required for the data transmission is defined as a promised value in a structure named 'header'.
FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a packet defined in IEEE 802.11a. A protocol header and data information of a previous stage, for example, a MPDU with a header and data of a MAC protocol is transmitted to a receiver, together with short and long training fields 110 and 120 storing information required for a physical layer (PHY), a signal field 130, a service field 142, and a tail & padding field 144, and the receiver receives the data using information acquired from the received fields. At this time, the data included in a data field 140 as well as the service field 142 and the tail & pad field 144 has a variable length within the maximum range. It is possible for the receiver to recognize the length of the data through information stored in a length field 132 of the signal field 130.
FIG. 2 illustrates the structure of a packet with a mixed format, which may be received both in an IEEE 802.11a system and an IEEE 802.11n system. Referring to FIG. 2, as the packet with a mixed format includes legacy fields 210 such as a legacy-short training field (L-STF), a legacy-long training field (L-LTF), and a legacy-signal field (L-SIG), the IEEE 802.11a system may acquire information required for the reception of data. Furthermore, the packet includes fields 220 for the IEEE 802.11n system from an HT-SIG field such that the IEEE 802.11n system may acquire information required for the reception of data. For example, the IEEE 802.11a system uses length information stored in the L-SIG field, and the IEEE 802.11n system uses length information stored in the L-SIG field or information stored in a length field 222 in the HT-SIG1, thereby recognizing the length of data.
As the packet structures as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 are defined in the IEEE 802.11a and 802.11n wireless communication systems, there is a demand for a packet structure suitable for a high-performance wireless communication system (e.g., a wireless communication system based on multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) technology), which is capable of simultaneously transmitting different packets to multi-users, respectively.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Packet transmission/reception method and apparatus in wireless communication system

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


The invention generally relates to gelled oil compositions which employ aluminum complex soaps as gelling agents. The gelled oils comprise an oil component, a bleed inhibitor of polybutene, and optional amounts of antioxidant and pour point depressant. The gelled oils are particularly suited for use as buffer tube gels and as filling compounds for waveguides.

Increasingly, in technologies which employ beams of light for transmission of data, or for other communications, fiber optics are being employed. Since the fiber optic element is fragile, one or more fiber optic elements are placed into a bundle which is inserted into a protective buffer tube such as a polyethylene jacket.
The fiber optic elements, however, cannot be allowed to remain loose in a buffer tube. If such were permitted, then almost any kind of mechanical shock or bending could result in damage to or breakage of the fiber optic element. In view of the substantial length of many of the presently used fiber optic elements in data transmission cables, replacement or repair of the fiber optic elements would be both difficult and expensive. Accordingly, means must be provided for cushioning of the fiber optic elements within the buffer tube.
In providing lubrication for or cushioning of the fiber optic elements carried in the buffer tube, care must be taken to assure that the optical qualities of the fiber optic elements are not diminished. Thus, in formulating a filling composition such as a gelled-oil for use with fiber optic elements carried in a buffer tube, the gelled-oil must provide not only lubrication or cushioning, but also must not deleteriously affect the optical qualities of the fiber optic element. Moreover, the gelled oil must not attack the buffer tube or cable housing.
The requirements of gelled oils useful as buffer tube gels and filling compounds for optical cables are not easily satisfied. The gelled oil compounds must remain stable throughout the temperature range of use of the cable, which should extend at least from -40.degree. to +70.degree. C. If the cable is subjected to temperatures higher than the working temperature range but not so high as to injure any of the components of the cable, the filling compounds must be fluid enough for the cable to be formed and completely filled with the compound without risk of breaking or over-stressing the optical fibers.
The gelled oils also should be cohesive enough to ensure that bending of the cable at a radius of a few decimeters or less will not result in the formation of voids in either the interior or surface of the compound. Also, the gelled oils should be soft enough to allow such bending without subjecting the optical fibre elements to any significant strain (since strain causes signal attenuation) but yet resist flow under gravity as well as the hydrostatic pressures likely to be applied to the cable if one of its ends is exposed in a flooded manhole.
It is known in the art that gelling agents such as clays and hydrophobic fumed silica may be employed to provide gelled oil formulations. Hydrophobic fumed silica, however, is expensive since relatively large amounts of fumed silica must be used to provide useful gels. Use of hydrophobic fumed silicas, moreover, causes the resulting gels to be highly abrasive.
A need therefore exists for gelled oil formulations and greases which have improved lubricating properties and which avoid the abrasiveness of silica based gel formulations.


A method including requesting access to a resource governed by a spinlock; determining an allocation of the resource to a further requester; determining an expiration of a time limit for the spinlock, if the resource is allocated to the further requester; and initiating a fault recovery, if the time limit is expired.

Computing systems may use spinlocks to control access to resources having limited capacity. Spinlocks may ensure that one taker is granted exclusive access to the resource while subsequent takers wait until the resource becomes available in order that they may subsequently be granted access. However, if a taker experiences a failure while accessing a spinlock-controlled resource, the spinlock may be unable to grant access to subsequent takers.

Method and system for spinlock fault recovery


There is provided, a computer-implemented method of monitoring overall latency, comprising: monitoring a sequence of images of an actuator controlled by a user interface presented on a display of a client terminal, detecting, in a first image of the sequence of images, a first visual indication denoting termination of a user triggered activation of movement of the actuator via the user interface, detecting, in a second image of the sequence of images, a second visual indication denoting termination of the movement of the actuator in response to the termination of the user triggered activation, computing an overall latency from a timestamp associated with the second image and a timestamp associated with the first image, and when the overall latency is above a threshold, adjusting at least one system parameter of a system connecting the client terminal with the actuator and with a camera that captures the sequence of images.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to monitoring of system latency and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to systems and methods for monitoring of overall latency.
Network latency, which is usually low even for packets travelling across the glove, is usually irrelevant for most applications. For example, a web site that takes a second or two to load on a browser does not really affect user performance. However, for real time applications, network latency may be significantly apparent to a user and affect quality of the application. For example, delays in packets of even 1 second or less affect quality of a voice call transmitted via packets over the network.

Systems and methods for monitoring of overall latency


The invention contemplates a body structure for a vehicle. The body structure includes a roof panel and a side frame. The attachment flange of an outer body side panel includes a roof mounting portion with a dual angle, a glass mounting portion at an angle that matches one of the dual angles, and a transition area where the dual angle of the roof mounting portion tapers to the glass mounting portion with the single angle.

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle having a body structure designed to allow for layered roof build construction.
The typical construction of an automotive vehicle involves joining various individual stamped sheet metal parts into multi-piece subassemblies. Commonly, there are four main large subassemblies, which are the underbody, the left-hand body side, the right-hand body side, and the roof. A conventional method of joining the subassemblies together, referred to as modular roof construction, involves clamping together the main subassemblies plus some smaller parts in tooling called a framing station. The parts are then joined, by welding or other means, while in this framing station. For various design, costs, and structural reasons associated with particular vehicles, the modular roof construction assembly method may be less desirable than a method where the roof is attached to the other main subassemblies after the framing station.
A layered build roof construction method allows the roof to be joined to the other large subassemblies after the framing station. This, of course, requires a special design that allows the roof to be mounted on and affixed to the other body structure after the other main subassemblies have been joined in the framing station. Such designs must also allow for tolerances between the roof and other body structure, since the other main subassemblies that make up the other body structure have already been permanently attached to each other.
One such design for a layered build roof construction mounts the roof to an outer body side panel with an intentional gap between the upper surfaces of the two. This allows for both mounting the roof after the framing station and accepting tolerances in the body structure. This gap, with the welding at the bottom of the gap, is then covered with a plastic or rubber roof molding to hide the welds and fill in the gap. The roof moldings, however, add to the cost of the vehicle, as well as limit the design options for the visual appearance of the vehicle.
Another design for a layered build roof construction eliminates the roof molding by providing a roof with side mounting flanges angled at approximately 45 degrees that mate with corresponding angled mounting flanges on outer body side panels in order to allow for tolerances between the width of the roof and the distance between the outer body side panels. A high-quality joining method, such as laser brazing attachment, is then used to provide an outer surface with a quality appearance without requiring a roof molding.
But this other design creates an issue at the roof corner—that is, the location where the body side frame, roof panel, and windshield come together. Namely, the flanges of the roof and body side frame come together at an angle of about 45 degrees in order to allow for the tolerances in the parts and assembly, but the body side frame provides a portion of the surround for the glass attachment, which needs an angle of about 83 degrees in order to mount the glass properly. To avoid this discontinuity, and possible creation of a hole that would need to be sealed, the roof and windshield flanges are offset so they are not in-line. A plastic or rubber windshield molding is then added along the body side frame over the windshield in order to give the aesthetically pleasing appearance that the roof and windshield are aligned with one another. Unfortunately, with this design, the savings from eliminating roof moldings is significantly reduced or eliminated because of the need to add windshield moldings. Moreover, the ability to style the vehicle as desired is again limited due to the fact that this windshield molding is needed.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a body structure for a vehicle that allows for a layered build roof construction, while also eliminating the need for roof or glass moldings and still maintaining an aesthetically pleasing vehicle appearance.


An ink cartridge includes an ink chamber, and a movable member disposed within the ink chamber. The movable member includes a signal blocking portion, and a float portion. The ink cartridge also includes a guide, and the movable member is configured to move between a first position and a second position based at least on an amount of ink disposed within the ink chamber. Moreover, when the moveable member moves from the first position to the second position the moveable member slides along the guide.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ink cartridges. In particular, the present invention is directed towards ink cartridges which may be used in combination with ink jet printers.
2. Description of Related Art
A known printer may be configured to detect when an amount of ink within an ink cartridge is relatively low. For example, a known ink cartridge may comprise a float which floats on the ink within the ink cartridge, and a known printer may comprise an optical sensor positioned on the bottom side of the ink cartridge. When there is a sufficient amount of ink within the ink cartridge, the float is positioned above the optical sensor, and the light of the optical sensor is not blocked by the float. Nevertheless, as the ink within the ink cartridge is consumed by the printer, the surface of the ink within the ink cartridge moves downwards, which causes the float to also move downwards. When the surface of the ink moves down to a predetermined level, the light from the optical sensor is blocked by the float, and the printer determines that there is an insufficient amount of ink within the ink cartridge.
Another known ink cartridge may be installed in a printer from the horizontal direction. This known ink cartridge comprises an ink supply outlet for supplying ink externally, which is positioned on the front surface of the ink cartridge in the insertion direction of the ink cartridge into the printer. A communication path is provided in the ink cartridge and connected to the ink supply outlet. The communication path is connected to the printer by the insertion operation of the ink cartridge from the horizontal direction. The communication path extends in parallel to the insertion direction. Because this ink cartridge is inserted into the printer in the horizontal direction, there is no need to provide access from the upper side of the printer when the ink cartridge is replaced. Therefore, the space on the upper side of the printer may be effectively used. It may be possible to overlay devices vertically.


A method for determining direction of transmission using an antenna array having a number of panels is disclosed. Each panel is configured to receive signals. According to one aspect of the method, each of the panels is directed to receive signals from a transmitting node. For each panel, a first table having data representing received signal power difference between the panel and a first neighboring panel and a second table having data representing received signal power difference between the panel and a second neighboring panel are built. The panel with the maximum received power is identified. For the identified panel, a first gain table and a second gain table corresponding to its first and second neighboring panels are searched to identify a first transmission angle and a second transmission angle, if any. A transmission angle relative to the transmitting node is determined using the first and second transmission angles.

The present invention relates in general to network communications and, more specifically, to a method and system for providing an active routing antenna for use in conjunction with fixed and mobile wireless transceivers with dynamic routing based on quality-of-service (QoS) criteria in order to optimize data transfers in a network with dynamically changing topology.
Wireless networks are gaining in popularity. Standards such as IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.1 μg, Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband (UWB), etc., allow users to connect wirelessly via portions of the radio-frequency spectrum As the cost of wireless network systems decreases and their popularity increases, these systems are becoming more prevalent. Some provide channels for relatively unrestricted transfer of information among various devices. The devices can be owned or operated by different users without formal licensing registration, certification, administrator approval or other access restrictions. In cases where mobile wireless transceivers are used, there can be a constant change in the number and type of devices accessing a wireless network.
The types of wireless systems available today have shortcomings for some applications. The IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g standard systems have two modes of operation: infrastructure and Ad-Hoc. The infrastructure mode uses a dedicated radio controller and is primarily designed to provide a direct wireless link to a standard Ethernet network connection. The "Ad Hoc" approach allows for peer-to-peer networking, so that a very small network of several PCs on the same wireless channel can share files. The nodes in this network control their own access to the wireless media. The Ad Hoc mode is primarily used to temporarily interconnect a few computers together where an Ethernet backbone may not be available or an emergency network is required. There is no means of gaining access to the corporate Ethernet network or an Internet connection. As such, neither scheme is designed for "multi-hop" transmission. In a "multi-hop" scheme, data is transferred to intermediary wireless transceivers before arriving at a final target receiving device.
Generally, the quality of a communications channel in a wireless network is not guaranteed so that, for example, a software process executing on a device is not guaranteed a specific transfer rate over any given interval of time. This makes it very difficult to provide, e.g., streaming media such as video and audio.
Other approaches to wireless communications do not provide a comprehensive system design approach. For example, UWB only defines a radio physical layer. This merely defines how bits will be transmitted on the radio interface physical connection. There is no definition for a flexible protocol to allow coordination of devices, channels, links, etc., within a UWB wireless network. Bluetooth does include several features for point-to-point communications between devices, but does this based on a master-slave relationship that is difficult to use in a network with changing topology, such as one made up of mobile wireless transceivers. In addition, all the nodes within the Bluetooth network must be able to communicate at least with the master for coordination purposes. This clearly limits the operational range of the network.
Other considerations for a flexible wireless communication system include scalability, range, coverage, user interface presentation and options, network management, minimization of radio interference, compliance with applicable regulations, creation of user features to generate market desirability, security and access controls, physical design, features and operation of the devices, etc.
Furthermore, wireless communications are typically implemented using radio frequency (RF). Typically, a radio network is made up of a number of base transmitting stations (BTSs), each connected to a wired network. Each BTS provides a region of RF coverage (also called cells) for users of the network. The radio frequencies used by the BTSs may be in a licensed or ISM band. Devices then communicate with the wired network using the radio frequency associated with a BTS. Adjoining BTSs may use different frequencies to improve use of the radio resources.
The radio network as described above suffers from a number of shortcomings. These shortcomings include, for example, link inefficiency, security problems, roaming issues and network deployment issues.
With respect to link inefficiency, most of the current radio technologies rely on a Media Access Control (MAC) layer to provide shared access to the radio media. However, the current MAC layers are designed to deal with a single point-to-point link, that is, one mobile user/terminal device in communication with one BTS radio link. This leads to a number of problems in the design of the MAC layer. For example, the MAC layer is not designed to coordinate transmissions from multiple BTSs, or peer nodes, but only terminal devices. The MAC layer also does not generally provide any quality of service functions, since it is not required to by the nature of the communication link. In addition, in some networks, the MAC layer must sense the radio media before transmission, which means that the best link may not be utilized.
With respect to network security, the radio network is inherently a shared medium. Hence, anyone equipped with suitable receiver equipment can eavesdrop on the network. Many attempts have been made to prevent eavesdropping, for example, by encrypting the radio link based on some shared key or other algorithm. In public cellular systems, the keys are usually generated and stored in a central database, which can lead to security problems with respect to access. Other techniques that have been used include end-to-end encryption using IPSec or secure shells. However, these techniques require software to run above the radio connection and must also be run by the user prior to any communication between the user and the network.
With respect to roaming, handover techniques could be used in a radio network to allow the user to roam within the bounds of the network. However, the problem remains that as the user moves from one BTS to another, the point of attachment to the network changes. In an IP network, this may mean that the subnet that the user is originally registered on may change thereby leading to loss of connection. Existing solutions to this problem mainly rely on the use of mobile IP and its variants. These solutions remain unsatisfactory in that as the user moves around more and more, nodes in the network may become tied up with carrying traffic that is merely transiting the node and not terminating the IP traffic, thereby leading to very inefficient use of network resources. Some such solutions may attempt to clear up the network trails but may also provide disruption problems for real time traffic.
With respect to network deployment, in order to provide radio network coverage, it is generally necessary for the operator of the network to install BTSs in areas to provide coverage and then to link these BTSs back to the main network. This can be an expensive and time-consuming process. Furthermore, the positioning of the BTSs is generally dictated by physical constraints of the locale and may be suboptimal.
An alternative to the Fixed BTS-Mobile Terminal network architecture is an "Ad Hoc" wireless network. In this type of network, many or all the nodes of the network could be in motion. Consequently, it is difficult to know the relative location of the two wireless nodes that may wish to communicate. Hence, it is also difficult to determine a "best path" to the destination or recipient node without generally flooding the network with route requests the essentially search every possible path for a route to the destination. The foregoing method of establishing links between two wireless nodes is very inefficient, wasting a large amount of bandwidth in the process. In addition, the foregoing method also limits the number of nodes that could be supported. In effect, the network becomes self-limiting because of the lack of node location information.
In order to improve the performance of an ad hoc network, it is possible to provide location information to various wireless nodes using, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS). Use of GPS, however, is generally quite expensive in terms of product cost and power drain on each node. In addition, GPS has certain coverage limitations which prevent it from being used in some physical locations, such as, inside a building structure.
Hence, it would be desirable to provide a wireless network with dynamically changing topology that is capable of accommodating and handling heterogeneous user traffic from multiple devices in a more efficient manner.

Method and system for determining direction of transmission using multi-facet antenna


Provided is a method of manufacturing a laminated core for stably fixing a thin core piece while suppressing reduction in production efficiency, and an inner core and an outer core with core pieces stably fixed. A method of manufacturing a laminated core for manufacturing an inner core 10 includes: a step A of laminating a plurality of core pieces 11 and temporarily fixing each of the core pieces to another core piece 11 to obtain a core piece group 16; a step B of fitting the core piece group 16 to a holder 17; a step C of applying an uncured curable resin P to an outer peripheral region of the core piece group 16; and a step D of curing the curable resin P applied to the core piece group 16 and fully fixing each of the core pieces 11 to another core piece 11.

In a laminated core (inner core or outer core) formed by laminating a plurality of core pieces, each core piece is fixed by caulking or with an adhesive. Specific examples of fixation by caulking and specific examples of fixation with an adhesive are described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2.

Laminated core manufacturing method, inner core, and outer core


A signal analyzer for calculating the power consumption and power factor of a three-phase power system driving a motor includes logic that determines whether the analyzer's own input terminals are wired in a proper or inverted manner. To do this, the signal analyzer observes a pattern of zero crossing slope values of the three line-to-line voltages of the three-phase power system and observes a pattern of zero crossing slope values of the current in the three power lines. The analyzer also compares the slope of a voltage signal as the signal passes through zero volts and the sign of a corresponding current signal that exists as the voltage signal crosses zero volts. Based on the observed voltage and current patterns and the voltage-to-current relationships, the analyzer can positively identify which of a plurality of inputs or signal wires are inverted.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention generally pertains to signal wiring used in monitoring a three-phase electrical power system. The invention more specifically applies to a method for determining whether the signal wiring is properly connected to the power system.
2. Description of Related Art
There are many available systems for determining whether a three-phase electrical power supply is properly connected to its load. The invention, however, actually pertains to the proper wiring of signal wires, not the proper wiring of the power lines.
Once a three-phase power supply is properly wired to its load, a control circuit can monitor the line voltage and current of all three phases to determine the system's power consumption and power factor. Six pairs of signal wires (three for the voltage readings and three for the current) can be used to couple the control circuit to the power lines. It is important for the signal wires to be properly wired. Otherwise, if one or more signal wires are inverted, the control will likely calculate incorrect values for the power consumption and power factor. In some cases, the control might even shut the system down unnecessarily.
When such problems occur, identifying the source of the problem or even recognizing the problem exists can be difficult and can result in costly service calls. Moreover, once the signal wiring is identified as causing the problem, it can be difficult to determine exactly which signal wires are wired incorrectly.
Consequently, there is a need for a system that can determine whether signal wiring used in monitoring a three-phase power system is properly wired; wherein the system preferably identifies any inverted pairs of wires that may exist.

Method of recognizing signal mis-wiring of a three-phase circuit


An implant for stabilizing a bony segment includes a flexible body sized and shaped to extend intravertebrally between at least first and second bony portions. In use the body is attachable intravertebrally to each of the first and second bony portions to distract each of the first and second bony portions while allowing motion between each of the first and second bony portions.

Adjacent bony portions can require treatment to obtain the desired surgical result. For example, the adjacent bony portions may require the application and/or maintenance of distraction forces therebetween in order to provide proper positioning and alignment of the adjacent bony portions for the desired surgical correction and healing to occur. There remains a need for implants and techniques that facilitate surgical correction of adjacent bony portions with distraction forces.

Orthopedic distraction implants and techniques


The present disclosure provides a single-side modified β-Anderson-type heteropolymolybdate organic derivative having an anionic moiety with a general formula represented by: β-{[RC(CH2O)3]M(OH)3Mo6O18}3−; β represents a non-planar folded structure; R=substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, CnH2nX (n is an integer from 0 to 22; X═H, OH, NH(CH2)3SO3H, NHCH2COOH, NH2, or NO2); M=Cr3+. The single-side modified β-Anderson-type heteropolymolybdate organic derivative can be prepared under hydrothermal conditions.

Polymetallic oxygen cluster compounds, also known as polyoxometalates (POMs), are a large class of "molecular state" inorganic nanocluster compounds with a spatial network structure formed by highly polymerized transition metal ions of high valence (e.g., Mo(VI), W(VI), V(V), Nb(V), Ta(V) and the like) with oxygen anions. Although Anderson-type hetero-polyoxometalates are one of the early-found basic polyoxometalate structures, most of them are synthesized under weaker acidic (near-neutral) conditions and have poor stability, and thus few studies were conducted on Anderson-type polyoxometalates and derivatives thereof. Early work mainly focused on simple investigation of the isolated anionic clusters thereof. As an important branch of polyoxometalate organic modification chemistry, alkoxylating modification of polyoxometalates has regained the attention of chemists in recent years. Among them, trimethylol-based organic ligands, RC(CH2OH)3 (R═NH2, Me, Et, NO2 and the like, simply referred to as tris), is widely used in the organic modification of polyoxometalates including Lindqvist-, Dawson-, and Anderson-type polyoxometalates.
The classical Anderson-type heteropolymolybdate alkoxylated derivatives with Mn(III) as the center heteroatom is mainly obtained by reconstructing and assembling octamolybdate in an acetonitrile organic phase followed by further reaction with a tripod alkoxide organic ligand, and is primarily used for the preparation of symmetric double-side modified Anderson-type heteropolymolybdate alkoxylated derivatives. Single-side modified α-Anderson-type heteropolymolybdate alkoxylated organic derivatives (with a planar configuration) is currently known to be possibly prepared in an aqueous phase. However, a non-planar configuration with a single-side modification has not yet been revealed.

Single-side modified β-Anderson-type heteropolymolybdate organic derivatives


The present invention relates to system clocking in computer systems. In particular, it relates to system clocking in high-end multi-processor, multi-node server computer systems with an enhanced degree of performance and reliability and to a method for dynamically switching between a first and a second clock signal, if the first should fail. More redundancy even to the Dynamic Clock Switching Circuit (DCSC) (14) and the wiring (17) from there to multiple, PLL-(12) free clock chips (22) is provided. Instead of only one DCSC (14) and one single wiring (17), two of them (14-0, 14-1; 17-0, 17-1) are used combined with a further particular logic present on each clock chip (22), which in combination generate two synchronous, fine-tuned, minimum-shifted clock signals and select always the first of them to arrive at a FlipFlop controlling the output for clock distribution wiring.

1.1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to system clocking in computer systems. In particular, it relates to system clocking in high-end server computer systems with an enhanced degree of performance and reliability and to a method for dynamically switching between a first and a second clock signal, if the first should fail. Said first signal is the primary signal and the second signal is a stand-by signal for said computer system.
1.2. Description and Disadvantages of Prior Art
State-of-the-art clock switching is exemplarily disclosed at www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/.
The prior art Freescale MPC9993 Intelligent Dynamic Clock Switch (IDCS) circuit continuously monitors both input clock signals. Upon detection of a failure (clock stuck HIGH or LOW for at least 1 period), the INP_BAD for that clock will be latched (H). If that clock is the primary clock, the IDCS will switch to the good secondary clock and phase/frequency alignment will occur with minimal output phase disturbance. The typical phase bump caused by a failed clock is eliminated.
The prior art Freescale MPC9894 is a quad input redundant differential clock generator. The device contains logic for clock failure detection and auto switching for clock redundant applications. The generator uses a fully integrated PLL to generate clock signals from up to four redundant clock sources. The PLL multiplies the frequency of the input reference clock by one, two, four, eight or divides the reference clock by two or four. The frequency-multiplied clock signal drives four banks of two differential outputs, each bank allows an individual frequency-divider configuration. All outputs are phase-aligned and due to the external PLL feedback, the clock signals of all outputs are also phase-aligned to the selected input reference clock, providing virtually zero-delay capability.
A prior art multi-node system is depicted roughly in FIG. 1 with the focus directed to clock signal generation and distribution. The scheme given in FIG. 1 shows a prior art application with a standard 'Dynamic Clock Switch Circuit' (DCSC). The left box comprises two redundant pairs indexed 0 and 1 of oscillator 10 and synthesizer/Phase locked loop circuits 12 denoted as PLL. The clock signals as generated from an Oscillator are multiplied in frequency by said synthesizer/PLL circuits 12. A DCSC circuit 14 is provided for switching to the secondary clock signal, in case the primary clock signal would fail. DCSC 14 thus receives the multiplied clock signals and drives a plurality of N clock chips 18 provided on respective N nodes 15. A node is hereby understood to be a relatively large mainboard having, by way of example a number of 16, 32, or more processor chips implemented thereon. In a casing of a high-end server, for example a number of 10 nodes are arranged to build a mainboard tower.
Each processor chip 18 in turn comprises a fine clock signal distribution network for supplying said multiple processor chips with properly time-adjusted clock signals, in order to run the processors in highly synchronous operation modes.
The DCSC 14 thus allows a switch-over from the pair e.g. Oscillator 0/PLL 0 to the pair Oscillator 1/PLL 1, in case of a failure in pair 0. During this switch-over, the inner logic of DCSC 14 guarantees that the output of the DCSC 14 still generates valid clock signals, so that the processor chips 18 at the end of this outer clock distribution still get valid clock signals and continue operation.
The problem with this scheme, however, is that in case of a failure of the DCSC 14 itself or of the wiring 17 between DCSC and the clock chip the clock distribution will be interrupted and broken, and so the processor chips 15 will stop operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,307 provides a clock distribution, which resolves this problem for single-node computer systems. Disadvantageously, this system is not simply adaptable for multiprocessor or multi-node systems, as this would imply to implement many PLL circuits at each clock chip, which is not desired due to increased jitter and space consumption. Further disadvantageously, a large delay line is used, which results in decreased accuracy for the clock output. This decreased accuracy would reduce the system performance and therefore has to be avoided.
1.3. Objectives of the Invention
It is thus an objective of the present invention to provide a system and method for switching between two redundant clock signals in a multi-processor, multi-node computer system, wherein no outage time is required.

Redundant oscillator distribution in a multi-processor server system


A method for producing a duct from a planar board having two opposed substantially parallel edges with metal foil facings on opposed major surfaces of the board is disclosed. The method comprises making planar cuts through one of the metal foil facings and at least most of the planar board there below to produce a blank with 3 parallel “V shaped grooves which are parallel to angled edges of the blank. A duct is formed by folding the blank so that the “V” shaped grooves form three of the edges of the duct, and the angled edges form the fourth of the edges.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for converting flat boards for use in constructing ducts and duct fittings. The methods and the apparatus are particularly well suited for use with boards that are rigid or semi-rigid and are produced specifically for use in fabricating insulated ducts for heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Boards that are commercially available today are being produced for use in forming thermally insulating ducts such as are employed for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. In one case, these boards consist of a rigid foamed plastics material, namely, a closed cell expanded phenolic foam in the form of a planar board having a metallic foil such as aluminum bonded to each major surface. One example of such a board is sold under the trademark KOOLDUCT®. The apparatus and methods of the present invention are especially well suited for use with such planar boards although the methods and apparatus are also suitable for use with other foil faced planar boards, for example, boards consisting of open cell or closed cell expanded foam materials, such as polyurethanes. Such boards are referred to herein generally as "foam boards". They are to be distinguished from other duct materials such as sheet metal and fiber board typically made from glass fibers with resins and/or binders to provide stiffness.
The fabrication of ducts and duct fittings from foam boards is quite different from the fabrication of ducts and duct fittings from conventional metal sheets. For one thing, sheet metal can be treated fairly roughly and foam board, in general, tends to be more fragile and frangible than sheet metal and some extra care needs to be taken in handling foam board and in fabricating ducts and duct fittings from it. However, foam board is remarkably light, with excellent thermal insulating properties, and often sufficiently rigid itself for duct applications although long unsupported spans, large cross-sectional areas, or significant differential pressures between interior and exterior may require reinforcement or additional support. There are numerous other advantages to foam board in heating, ventilating and air conditioning applications, vis-à-vis sheet metal and fiber board, as well. Foam board is very robust. Ducts made from it can handle pressures of up to four inches of water column. Accordingly, better fabrication apparatus and methods are needed to expand the use of this important material.

Apparatus and method for converting insulated panels


A transmission system is used in a method of transmitting a camouflaged transmission of signals by generating an underlying transmission comprising a plasma transmission discharge constituting background noise having a first amplitude and generating an embedded transmission of signals within the underlying transmission.

Plasma antennas are being considered for use in many different industrial fields. A plasma antenna is a type of radio antenna in which plasma is used instead of the metal elements of a traditional antenna. A plasma antenna can be used for both transmission and reception. Early practical examples of the technology used discharge tubes to contain the plasma and are referred to as ionized gas plasma antennas. Ionized gas plasma antennas can be turned on and off and are good for stealth and resistance to electronic warfare and cyber-attacks. Ionized gas plasma antennas can be nested such that the higher frequency plasma antennas are placed inside lower frequency plasma antennas. Higher frequency ionized gas plasma antenna arrays can transmit and receive through lower frequency ionized gas plasma antenna arrays. This means that the ionized gas plasma antennas can be co-located and ionized gas plasma antenna arrays can be stacked. Ionized gas plasma antennas can eliminate or reduce co-site interference. Smart ionized gas plasma antennas use plasma physics to shape and steer the antenna beams without the need of phased arrays. Satellite signals can be steered and/or focused in the reflective or refractive modes using banks of plasma tubes making unique ionized gas satellite plasma antennas. The thermal noise of ionized gas plasma antennas is less than in the corresponding metal antennas at the higher frequencies. Solid state plasma antennas (also known as plasma silicon antennas) with steerable directional functionality that can be manufactured using standard silicon chips are now also in development.
Phased array antennas are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,905,014 issued to Gonzalez et al. In general, a microwave phasing structure includes a support matrix, i.e., a dielectric substrate, and a reflective means, i.e., a ground plane, for reflecting microwaves within the frequency-operating band. The reflective means is supported by a support matrix. An arrangement of electromagnetically loading structures is supported by the support matrix at a distance from the reflective means, which can be less than a fraction of the wavelength of the highest frequency in the operating frequency range. The electromagnetically loading structures are dimensioned, oriented, and interspaced from each other and disposed at a distance from the reflective means, as to provide the emulation of the desired reflective surface of selected geometry. Specifically, the electromagnetically-loading structures form an array of metallic patterns, each metallic pattern preferably being in the form of a cross, i.e., X configuration. It is disclosed that each electromagnetically-loading structure can be constructed to form different geometrical patterns and, in fact, could be shorted crossed dipoles, metallic plates, irises, apertures, etc. It is further disclosed that the microwave phasing structures of Gonzalez et al. (014) patent may be used for electromagnetically emulating a desired microwave-focusing element of a selected geometry.
The selected geometry of the desired reflective surface can be a parabolic surface in order to emulate a parabolic reflector wherein all path lengths of the reflected incident electromagnetic waves are equalized by phase shifting affected by the microwave phasing structure of the present disclosure. While the microwave phasing structure may emulate desired reflective surfaces of selected geometries such as a parabola, the microwave phasing structure is generally flat in shape. However, the shape of the microwave phasing structure may be conformal to allow for mounting on substantially non-flat surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,474,723 (Pavliscak) discloses a gas plasma antenna with a rigid, flexible, or semi-flexible substrate and an improved method of generating a uniform electron density. The antenna has a plasma display panel (PDP) containing a multiplicity of Plasma-shells, each Plasma-shell containing a gas which is ionized to produce electron density. Each Plasma-shell acts alone or in concert with other Plasma-shells to form a dipole or pattern of dipoles. In a phased array plasma antenna characterized by a plurality of localized gas discharge areas, each gas area is selectively and sufficiently ionized to form a reflector to incident radiation, the improvement wherein: each localized gas discharge area is confined within a gas encapsulating Plasma-shell, each Plasma-shell affixed to a substrate, at least two or more electrodes in contact with each gas encapsulating Plasma-shell, said electrodes being affixed to or embedded within the substrate, and AC electronic circuitry including address and sustain waveform electronics for addressing and sustaining the electrodes so as to selectively ionize a gas within a Plasma-shell and produce a controllable level of electron density over time within each Plasma-shell, each Plasma-shell acting alone or in concert with other Plasma-shells to form dipoles or patterns of dipoles.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,169 (Anderson) describes an antenna in which electromagnetic signals in the High Frequency and Super High Frequency bands are propagated utilizing ionized gas, or plasma. Energized electrodes ionize the gas and the plasma is confined within non-metallic coaxial tubes contained within a non-metallic pressure vessel. Electric field gradients are used to change the shape and density of the plasma to affect the gain and directivity of the antenna. The inner plasma tube acts as the radiating source, while the outer plasma tube is used to change the radiation of the inner tube and to reflect the radiated signal. Instrumentation measures the density of the plasma providing a means to measure incoming signals as well as to regulate the radiation frequency.
Published U.S. Patent Document 20030142021 Anderson) describes an antenna system and method for a plurality of plasma antennas driven by means of an optical driver. In one embodiment the driver comprises one or more lasers which may be modulated by one or more electro-optical modulators to produce a modulated laser signal. The modulated laser signal may be supplied to the plasma antenna by optical fibers whereby the photons from the modulated signal impart momentum to the plasma particles. The plasma particles, which may include unbound electrons, oscillate in accord with the modulated laser signal to radiate electromagnetic energy. In one embodiment, the plasma antenna is operated at a frequency near the resonant frequency of the plasma to form a more efficient radiator requiring a smaller size than to a metallic antenna. In another embodiment a plurality of closely spaced plasma antennas are operated with different plasma resonant frequencies such that one plasma antenna is electrically invisible with respect to another plasma antenna.
In an ionized gas plasma antenna, a gas is ionized to create a plasma. Unlike gases, plasmas have very high electrical conductivity so it is possible for radio frequency signals to travel through them so that they act as a driven element (such as a dipole antenna) to radiate radio waves, or to receive them. Alternatively the plasma can be used as a reflector or a lens to guide and focus radio waves from another source. Solid-state antennas differ in that the plasma is created from electrons generated by activating thousands of diodes on a silicon chip.
Commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application U.S. Ser. No. 61/767,059 (Schill, filed 13 Mar. 2013) describes, amongst other technology, a plasma generating system that can be used, among other purposes, to enable practice of the present technology by generating the plasma field containing information camouflaged therein. That reference, and all references cited herein, are incorporated in their entirety herein.
That technology relates to the fact that a simple nonlinear theory has been developed to capture the essence and process of electron channeling for an energetic electron beam passing through a cool plasma. In this model, the electron species is separated into two different species of the same type but with very different initial particle states immersed in a sea of nearly stationary ions. Under appropriate conditions, theory suggests that the fast moving secondary electron emission particles passing through a discharge may be responsible for a non-arc-like plasma pinch effect that results in experiments with periodic pulse discharge. In certain periodic pulsed plasma discharge experiments, it has been observed that under specific conditions a plasma glow discharge column is generated and tends to seek the central location of the discharge electrodes away from the electrode edges and chamber walls. Further, the column appears to have the properties of a stabilized equilibrium plasma pinch in a glow (non-arc-like) state. This is unusual since, normally field enhancements occur on edges of the electrode resulting in arc-like discharge breakdown. Also, the column of plasma that protrudes from the anode emits highly intense, non-uniform light that is uncharacteristically bright for a typical glow discharge with the same applied voltage. It appears that under certain conditions and assumptions, the secondary electron beam will initiate and sustain electron channeling and subsequent pinch forces due to charge repulsion, charge neutralization, and self-magnetic forces. This theory can be expanded beyond a glow discharge and be applied to any moderately energetic beam that passes through plasma, as long as the assumptions and conditions are not violated. An apparatus was also constructed to investigate this phenomenon. It delivers controlled pulses that generate stable and repetitive pinched discharges. It allows the user to change the parameters and the conditions of the discharge and to study the conditions that bring about plasma constriction. Measurement tools were integrated into the system including current and voltage probes and image analysis tools. Based on the models developed and on experimental implications, a parameter space based on the properties of the discharge has been identified that leads to the pinch of the discharge. Further, from transient discharge measurements, various properties of the pinch have been identified.

The Board of Regents of Nevada System of Higher Education on Behalf of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas


An apparatus and methods for generating multi-level output signals for use by an optical modulator are provided. The apparatus comprises a plurality of input signal lines each configured to receive a binary input signal, an output signal line and a plurality of amplifier stages. The amplifier stages are each connected between one of the input signal lines and the output signal line so as to each produce an output voltage on the output signal line of either a first level or a second level. The level of the output voltage is based on the binary signal at the respective input signal line, and the output voltages of the respective plurality of amplifier stages collectively produce a summed analog output voltage on the output signal line at two or more different levels each configured to drive an optical modulator.

In recent years there has been increased use of optical fiber communication networks. Early fiber optic communication networks used transmission of one bit of information per data symbol. However, due to the need for high-capacity communications, there is an increasing demand for higher bit rates which has led to the use of higher order modulation schemes for transmissions. Modulation schemes that have been implemented include Quaternary Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) and M-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (M-QAM), wherein M is an integer with the power of 2 (i.e., 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, etc.). In such modulation schemes, one or more electrical drive signals are used by an optical modulator to generate an optical signal carrying data that is sent in an optical fiber.

Electrical modulator driver circuit for generating multi-level drive signals for QAM optical transmission


A system and method for a controlling an aircraft with flight control surfaces that are controlled both manually and by a computing device is disclosed. The present invention improves overall flight control operation by reducing the mechanical flight control surface components while providing sufficient back-up control capability in the event of either a mechanical or power-related failure. Through the present invention, natural feedback is provided to the operator from the mechanical flight control surface which operates independent of computer-aided flight control surfaces.

Aircraft are typically controlled by moveable aerodynamic surfaces on the wing and tail for controlling the altitude and attitude of the aircraft in flight, including roll, pitch, and yaw. Small aircraft can use simple mechanical linkages to transmit the operator's control inputs to these surfaces. Larger and faster aircraft need power assisted or fully-powered control systems. Most powered control systems use mechanical linkages to command the surface actuators, but "fly-by-wire" and "fly-by-light" are becoming more common. In these systems, the mechanical linkage is replaced by a computerized command and feedback loop.
While manually operated control systems provide a direct and reliable link between the operator's input and the movement of the aircraft control surfaces, these mechanical systems tend to have a poor failure tolerance, and as such, require redundant and independent load paths for continued safe flight and landing, in the event of a failure. As a result, additional hardware and mechanisms are required to provide this redundancy.
With a manual system, the work available at the control surface is limited by the force and travel that an operator can apply to the cockpit controls. As the speed and size of aircraft increase, manual control of the aircraft becomes inadequate to effectively maneuver the aircraft. Various means, including servo tabs and fully powered systems, have been employed to provide the additional force necessary to move the control surfaces. However, these systems add complexity and additional failure modes. For example, fully powered systems are dependent on their power sources, which themselves must be highly redundant. Failure of a fully powered system, without having a manual reversion or back-up, would result in complete failure, and lack of control, of any aircraft control surface. Furthermore, fully powered systems do not provide natural force feedback to the operator. Therefore, artificial feel systems must be added when such a control system is utilized.
The evolution of aircraft design and technology have resulted in a class of aircraft, such as many larger business class jets, that cannot be completely controlled manually and require power-aided controls and would benefit from computer-aided controls. However, fully powered and completely computerized controls, such as fly-by-wire, are not warranted.

Manual and computerized flight control system with natural feedback


A pocket lighter with a universal disposable butane fuel can has been developed. The pocket lighter includes: a fuel can adaptor; the fuel can adaptor comprises: a first recess that accepts a ridged portion of the disposable fuel can, a through hole that accepts a gas outlet valve; the gas outlet valve comprising a second recess that accepts a depressible portion of the disposable fuel can; wherein the gas outlet valve extends through the through hole of the fuel can adaptor; and wherein the ridged portion of the disposable fuel can seals against a shoulder portion of the first recess, and the depressible portion of the disposable fuel can seals against the second recess when the disposable fuel can is installed in fuel can adaptor.

Pocket lighters contain built-in fuel tanks. Built-in fuel tanks, due to mechanical challenges, are very small in size and allow a very small amount of butane fuel storage requiring frequent refill or disposal of the pocket lighter. Moreover, many lighter users are reluctant to refill a lighter due to a complicated refilling process. Additionally, because of a variety of different butane suppliers, butane purity, butane pressures (mixed gases) and butane quality suffer causing a negative impact on a lighters' performance. Built-in fuel tanks contain extra mechanical parts used for refilling the tanks and are common causes of lighter repair or failure.

Pocket lighter with a disposable fuel can


Disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms including N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino) benzamide that are useful in the treatment of subjects having cancer. The present disclosure also provides methods for preparing these pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms, and methods of treating subjects having cancer utilizing the pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms provided herein.

The compound N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide and its preparation have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,299,057, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide is a potent inhibitor of tyrosine kinases, NTRK1/2/3-transforming tyrosine kinase proteins (TrkA, TrkB, TrkC), proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase 1 (ROS1), and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). In various in vitro studies, N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide inhibited proliferation of the CRC cell line KM12, which depends upon TrkA kinase activity for proliferation and survival. It was also potent in inhibiting cell proliferation of ALK-dependent Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma cell lines.
In a single-dose food effect study in dogs of N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide, in a formulation that did not comprise at least one acidulant, exposure levels of N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide in the dogs were approximately 2-fold higher under fed conditions compared to those observed under fasting conditions. Such food effects can cause difficulty during human testing of drugs as the fed or fasted condition of the patient can cause exposure or bioavailability of drugs to vary widely.
In early clinical studies in humans, N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide has been shown to have antitumor effects in patients having various forms of cancer having at least one molecular alteration in one or more of ALK, ROS1, TrkA, TrkB and TrkC. In the studies using a formulation of N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide that did not comprise at least one acidulant, systemic exposure of N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide increased when co-administered with food. In particular, N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide AUC values were approximately 200% and 50% higher using N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide doses of 200 mg/m2/day and 400 mg/m2/day, respectively when taken with food. Cmax values were approximately 150% higher with food for both doses. In addition, some patients in these studies received N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide and concomitant proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPIs), such as lansoprazole, and demonstrated variable N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide exposures. Moreover, dose proportionality was lost at doses higher than 800 mg/m2/day. As such, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms comprising N-[5-(3,5-difluorobenzyl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]-4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-ylamino)-benzamide that do not suffer from the variability in absorption in subjects, such as humans, when dosed with or without food and in the presence or absence of PPIs.

Pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms


An electrical connector for electrically connecting a first electronic element and a second electronic element, includes an insulating body having multiple receiving holes, a conducting assembly and an elastic member respectively received in each receiving hole, and an elastic member. The conducting assembly includes a first conductor, a second conductor and a third conductor electrically connected to the first conductor and the second conductor. The elastic member is used for elastically supporting the first conductor and the second conductor. One end of the first conductor is electrically conducted to the first electronic element, and one end of the second conductor is electrically conducted to the second electronic element. The conductor is spherical, which shortens the conducting path, lowers the height and impedance of the electrical connector, and improves the electrical performance. The elastic member can effectively avoid poor contact and instant disconnection.

In the electronic industry, many electronic elements are interconnected through an electrical connector. Currently, an electrical connector generally adopted in the industry includes an insulating seat and an insulating cover that match with each other, and a first terminal, a second terminal and a compression spring assembled in a receiving hole of the insulating seat. The first and second terminals are respectively disposed at two ends of the compression spring, and contact ends thereof are respectively exposed out of the insulating seat and the insulating cover, for signal transmission at two ends of the first and second terminals.
However, the electrical connector still needs to be improved, that is, since the two ends of the compression spring indirectly urge against the first and second terminals, the current transmission fluctuates, which affects stability of signals in communication. Further, the first and second terminals are respectively disposed at the two ends of the compression spring, and to enable elastic extension and retraction of the spring, the receiving hole of the insulating seat for receiving the first terminal, the second terminal and the compression spring is generally made large. As a result, the contact of the first terminal and the second terminal is not tight, a forward force between the contact parts of the first terminal and the second terminal is small, and the contact impedance is large. Moreover, when an action force of the mating electronic element against the electrical connector is too large, the elastic extension and retraction directions change, so that the contact parts between the first and second terminals deviate, which affects electrical conduction between the electrical connector and the mating electronic element and further affects stability of signals in communication.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Electrical connector with spherical contacts with an elastic member in between