There are provided an environment recognition device and an environment recognition method. An exterior environment recognition device obtains an image in a detection area, generates a block group by grouping, based on a first relative relationship between blocks, multiple blocks in an area extending from a plane corresponding to a road surface to a predetermined height in the obtained image, divides the block group into two in a horizontal direction of the image, and determines, based on a second relative relationship between two divided block groups, whether the block group is a first person candidate which is a candidate of a person.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exterior environment recognition device and an exterior environment recognition method for recognizing environment outside of a subject vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a technique has been known that specifies a target object such as a vehicle, a person, and an obstacle located in front of a subject vehicle to avoid collision with the specified target object (brake control) and perform control so as to maintain a safe distance between the subject vehicle and the preceding vehicle (cruise control) (for example, Japanese Patent No. 3349060). In many of these techniques, a target object is tracked to update position information, and moving speed and the like of the preceding vehicle and the person is calculated. The result of this calculation is reflected in the brake control and the cruise control, for example.
Among these target objects, a person such as a pedestrian in particular is highly flexible in moving direction and moving speed as compared with a preceding vehicle, and moreover, the absolute volume of the person is small. For this reason, it is difficult to find the behavior of the person and track the person, and which makes it difficult to apply the technique to the brake control and the cruise control.
Accordingly, a technique has been known in which, in an image obtained by the subject vehicle, an area where movement is uniform is provisionally defined as an upper area, and a determination is made as to whether movements of feature points in a lower portion are not uniform. When the movements are determined to be non-uniform, the area is defined as a lower area, and a combination thereof is specified as a whole body area of a pedestrian (for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application (JP-A) No 2009-157581).
When the technique of Japanese Patent No. 3349060 is used, the whole body of a person can be specified in daylight. However, in a state where it is necessary to turn on headlights such as night, an effective image can be obtained only in a relatively low position of the whole body area of the pedestrian (the area of the lower half of the body) upon which lights of the headlights of the subject vehicle are incident, and it is impossible to specify an area where movements are uniform, which corresponds to the area of the upper half of the body. Therefore, for example, the whole body area of the pedestrian crossing in front of the subject vehicle cannot be specified, and this may cause problem in smooth operation of the brake control and the cruise control.

Exterior environment recognition device and exterior environment recognition method


A method for monitoring an electrodynamic machine a stator and a rotor arrangement mounted along a rotatable shaft. The rotor arrangement is disposed within the stator and forms an air gap between the rotor arrangement and the stator. At least one sensor is disposed in the air gap and/or within the stator. Measurement signals are detected that are dependent on a magnetic field produced by the electrodynamic machine. The measurement signals are used as a basis for detecting oscillations of the shaft.

Electrodynamic machines convert mechanical energy to electrical energy (generator mode) or electrical energy to mechanical energy (electric-motor mode). The conversion is based on the Lorentz force, which acts on moving changes in a magnetic field.
By way of example, but without imposing any restriction, the following text relates to electrodynamic machines which operate as generators. In particular, the statements relate to large-technical installations, for example large synchronous generators, such as those used for industrial electricity generation.
The generator has a rotor which is mounted on a shaft and rotates at a rotor rotation frequency within a stationary stator. During rotation, the rotor produces a revolving magnetic constant field, which induces a sinusoidal electrical voltage, and therefore a sinusoidal current, in the stator windings. The constant field of the rotor is produced by windings through which current flows, and the windings are arranged in slots which run parallel to the rotation axis. In large-technical installations, the windings consist, for example, of hollow metal strips whose outer surfaces are electrically insulated from one another by means of a plastic layer. A cooling medium generally circulates in the interior of the hollow metal strips.
Electrodynamic machines, in particular large generators, are monitored during operation in order in particular to identify vibrations of the shaft or the causes thereof at an early stage, and in order in this way to make it possible to avoid damage to the machine.
The vibrations of the shaft preferably occurs in the form of torsional oscillations, pendulum oscillations and/or bending oscillations as well. Torsional oscillations are oscillations which lead to a non-uniform rotation frequency along the shaft, and therefore to torsion in the shaft. By way of example, they can be caused by sudden load changes. Torsional oscillations are very small oscillations, normally with a phase amplitude in the region of 0.01°, but can nevertheless lead to a very high load on the shaft. The frequencies at which torsional oscillations occur depend on the material character and on the thickness of the shaft, on the masses connected to the shaft, and on the size of the installation.
Pendulum oscillations are quasi-periodically damped changes in the rotation frequency of the shaft about the mains frequency (typically 50 to 60 Hz) which are caused, for example, by disturbances in the form of surges from the mains, and likewise have a torsional effect on the shaft. However, pendulum oscillations typically lead to considerably slower changes in the instantaneous angular velocity at which the shaft rotates, and the instantaneous phase of the rotary movement, than the torsional oscillations which have been mentioned. For example, in the case of a large-technical generator for industrial electrical generation, which has a rated rotor rotation frequency of typically 50 or 60 Hz, torsional oscillations occur at typical frequencies between 100 and 300 Hz, and pendulum oscillations at typical frequencies of 5 to 10 Hz.
Furthermore, vibrations can also be caused by rotor turn shorts or else by non-uniform pole arrangements of the magnetic field produced by the rotor.
In order to protect the electrodynamic machine against damage, it is shut down when major vibrations occur.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,914 describes a method by which rotor turn shorts can be detected which, as mentioned above, can lead to vibrations. So-called stray-field measurement is used to detect rotor turn shorts, in that the stray magnetic field which is produced by the rotor and tangentially to the rotor surface with the aid of air-gap sensors, which are fitted between the rotor and the stator in the air gap. This makes use of the fact that turn shorts result in the stray field being modified in a way which can be measured in the air gap.
Another approach to determine shaft oscillations, which is described in various documents, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,459, U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,420, U.S. Pat. No. 4,148,222, U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,780, U.S. Pat. No. 4,317,371, consists in that a toothed wheel is connected to the shaft in order to detect torsional oscillations of the shaft outside the rotor and the stator, which toothed wheel produces periodic measurement signals in one or more circumferential sensors during the rotation of the shaft, with the period depending on the number of teeth and the rotation frequency of the shaft. Torsional oscillations of the shaft result in phase or frequency modulation of the detected signals. However, this procedure has the disadvantage that a tooth wheel must be provided as a signal transmitter. Retrospective installation may be impossible or difficult, and may be associated with correspondingly high costs.
One method for detection of torsional oscillations, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,064, consists in first of all applying a magnetic pattern to the shaft, which acts as a pulse transmitter during operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,186 describes a measurement instrument for torsion measurement, which is connected to the phase winding terminals of a permanent-magnet generator which is coupled to the shaft of a generator. The torsional oscillations are deduced by evaluation, that is to say by frequency demodulation by means of phase locked loop technology, of the voltages which are produced. The method can be used only for systems with a permanent-magnet generator, and, furthermore, is relatively inaccurate.
A further possible way to detect torsional oscillations along a generator shaft is described in JP 52110449. This is based on the measurement and evaluation of phase terminal currents in the generator. This method is also relatively inaccurate and, furthermore, requires current transformers for relatively high frequencies.
The methods mentioned above relate exclusively to the measurement of torsional oscillations, but not to the detection of bending oscillations.
In contrast, EP 1 537 390 B1 describes a method by means of which not only torsional oscillations but also pendulum and bending oscillations can be detected. For this purpose, shaft currents and/or shaft voltages which occur on the shaft are tapped off and evaluated outside the generator.

Method for monitoring an electrodynamic machine


An electrooptic directional coupler having first and second electrodes for influencing coupling between a segment of a first optical waveguide and a segment of a second optical waveguide, is operated by varying the potential of the first electrode relative to the second electrode during a first interval in accordance with a first function such that the first electrode remains at a first polarity relative to the second electrode, and varying the potential of the first electrode relative to the second electrode during a second interval in accordance with a second function such that the first electrode remains at a second polarity, opposite the first polarity, relative to the second electrode. The integral with respect to time over the first and second intervals of the potential of the first electrode relative to the second electrode is essentially zero.

This invention relates to a method of operating an electrooptic modulator.
FIG. 1 illustrates an optical switch 2 that may be used in an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) to control propagation of light from a laser diode 4 to a fiber under test 6 and from the fiber under test to a detector 8, such as an avalanche photodiode. The switch shown in FIG. 1 comprises a substrate 10 of Z-cut LiNbO.sub.3 having diffused titanium waveguides 14-18 formed therein. Waveguides 14-18 form two directional couplers 26A, 26B. Electrodes 22, 24 are deposited over an SiO.sub.2 buffer layer (not shown) and an electrode driver 30 is connected to electrodes 22, 24 and controls the state of the directional couplers and hence the state of the switch. The switch has a first state, in which the directional couplers are each in the bar state and light entering waveguide 14, for example, at one end is confined in that waveguide and leaves the waveguide at its opposite end, and a second state, in which the directional couplers are each in the cross state and light entering waveguide 14 from fiber 6 is transferred to waveguide 16 and is then transferred to waveguide 18 so that it is applied to detector 8.
The manner of operation of an electrooptic directional coupler is well understood. In a conventional electrooptic directional coupler, the waveguides are dimensioned and positioned so that the transmission from one waveguide to the other depends on the potential difference between the electrodes in the manner illustrated by the curve A in FIG. 2. At a potential difference of about zero volts, the transmission is a maximum, and it falls off symmetrically as a function of voltage. The coupler is placed in its cross state by holding the electrodes at the same potential, and is placed in the bar state by establishing a potential difference V, which is generally on the order of 25 volts, between the electrodes. Therefore, to place switch 2 in its first state, electrode driver 30 applies a potential +V to electrodes 24, electrodes 22 being grounded, and to place switch 2 in its second state, electrode driver 30 grounds electrodes 24.
Operation of laser diode 4 is controlled by timing control circuit 32. Thus, timing control circuit 32 generates pulses at an interval T of, say, 100 .mu.s, and applies these pulses to a laser driver 36. In response to each pulse, laser driver 36 energizes laser diode 4, which emits a pulse of light having a duration that is typically 100 ns. The waveform of the signal applied to laser driver 36 is shown as curve A in FIG. 3. Timing control circuit 32 also controls operation of electrode driver 30, and hence switch 2. The waveform of the signal provided to electrode driver 30 by timing control circuit 32 might be as shown by the curve B in FIG. 3. For each pulse applied to laser driver 36, timing control circuit 32 applies a pulse 38 to electrode driver 30, which places switch 2 in its first state so that the light pulse from laser diode 4 is coupled through waveguide 14 and coupler 26B into fiber 6.
Following launch of a pulse into fiber 6, back-scattered and reflected light is received from fiber 6. The interval T between pulses applied to laser driver 36 is selected to be longer than the interval during which backscattered and reflected light is received from fiber 6. During intervals in which backscattered light is received from fiber 6, the switch is placed in its second state and light from the fiber under test is coupled to detector 8 through waveguide 14, coupler 26B, waveguide 16, coupler 26A and waveguide 18. The reflected light is generally of less interest than the backscattered light. Also, the reflected light is of much greater intensity than the backscattered light and may overdrive the detector. Therefore, timing control circuit 32 generates pulses 40 in response to reflection signals received from the fiber under test, and these pulses 40 are used to place the switch in its first state in order to isolate the detector from the fiber under test and thereby avoid overdriving of the detector. Therefore, the voltage applied to electrodes 24 is periodic, with a period T, and has a non-zero DC component. The manner in which the timing control circuit functions to mask receipt of reflection signals is well understood by those skilled in the art.
It has been found that some electrooptic directional couplers exhibit a slow drift in their transmission-vs.-voltage curve when the potential difference between the electrodes has a DC component. The curve shifts towards the bar state voltage of the original (unshifted) curve so that the cross and bar states occur at different drive voltages from before. A typical shifted curve is shown at B in FIG. 2. It is apparent from curve B that the drift results in a reduction in the transmission when electrodes 22, 24 are at the same potential and an increase in the transmission when electrode 24 is at a potential +V relative to electrode 22. Accordingly, the drift causes the performance of an optical switch employing electrooptic directional couplers to be degraded.
T. Fujiwara, S. Sato, H. Mori and Y. Fujii, "Suppression of Crosstalk Drift in Ti:LiNbO.sub.3 Waveguide Switches", IEEE J. Lightwave Tech., Vol. 6, No. 6 (1988) discusses the problem of drift and suggests that it is caused by leakage of current through the buffer layer. The leakage takes place under the influence of the voltage applied to the electrodes. In accordance with the disclosure in Fujiwara et al, the relaxation time of the drift is on the order of 20-30 s.
C. M. Gee, G. D. Thurmond, H. Blauvelt and H. W. Yen, "Minimizing dc drift in LiNbO.sub.3 waveguide devices", Appl. Phys. Lett., Vol. 47, 211 (1985), describes use of indium tin oxide (ITO) as the buffer layer of an electrooptic modulator, and reports a dramatic reduction in both short term and long term DC drift of the modulator. However, use of the ITO buffer layer caused substantial attenuation compared to devices with an SiO.sub.2 buffer layer. Also, an increase in the voltage required to achieve full modulation was observed, and it is to be expected that use of an ITO buffer layer would be attended by the disadvantage of increased thermal drift. (See co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/460,759 filed Jan. 4, 1990 and still pending.
G. Ramer, C. Mohr and J. Pikulski, "Polarization-Independent Optical Switch with Multiple Sections of .DELTA..beta. Reversal and a Gaussian Taper Function", IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and Tech., Vol. MTT-30, 1760 (1982), describes a technique for testing an optical switch in which one electrode is grounded and periodic voltage signals are applied to the ungrounded electrode.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,245 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein, describes an optical switch comprising two directional couplers and having desirable characteristics of polarization independence and wavelength broadening. However, in order to achieve these advantages, the potential difference between the electrodes of each coupler is at a non-zero bias value when the coupler is in the cross state. Consequently, the DC level of the potential difference between the electrodes is substantially higher than in the case of the switch shown in FIG. 1.

Method of operating an electrooptic modulator

Smiths Industries Aerospace & Defense Systems Incorporated


A computer-based method and apparatus transfer files from a source media to a destination media. In one embodiment, the presence of a source media in a source storage drive is detected. In response to the detection, a user is prompted to transfer files from the source media. Then, in response to user input, files are transferred from the source media to the destination media. In another embodiment, a user is prompted for a transfer session identifier. Data is then transferred from a source media to a subdirectory on a destination media. The subdirectory corresponds to the transfer session identifier. The method and apparatus aid in migrating computer data from one storage technology to another (e.g., from media based on an older technology to media based on a newer technology).

In today's computer storage industry, a number of peripheral storage options exist. These options include tape, floppy discs, compact discs (CD-WORMs, CD-RWs, DVDs), zip drives, and removable hard drives. As technology improves, new storage technologies have emerged. To add to the wealth of storage options, each technology has developed to offer a range of storage options within its own category. For example, in the floppy disc industry, the floppy disc media has progressed from 8½-inch floppies to 5¼-inch floppies to 3½-inch floppies. Within each media type, options exist as to the density of the data stored on the media (e.g., single-, double-, and high-density format).
As computers progress from one technology to another, or as earlier storage options become outdated by newer technologies that offer higher transfer rates, faster search speeds, higher density media, and/or lower costs, a need exists in the computer industry for a method of migrating files stored on one type of media to the newer type of media. For example, early versions of the personal computer (PC) were conventionally packaged with a 5¼-inch floppy drive that read from and stored data to either single-, double-, or high-density 5¼-inch floppy discs. Several years later, the 3½-inch floppy technology emerged. PC's were then conventionally packaged with dual disc drives, including one 5¼-inch floppy drive and one 3½-inch floppy drive. Later, as the 3½-inch floppy technology developed to offer its high-density format, the 5¼-inch floppy drives were increasingly, and eventually altogether, dropped from the standard PC packaging. A few years later, CD-ROM drives appeared, offering read-only capabilities. Again, conventional PC packaging began including dual 3½-inch and CD-ROM drives. Recently, the CD-RW drive, a CD-ROM technology with rewritable capabilities, has been introduced into the market. Because of the significant increase in storage density (1.44 MBytes for high-density 3½-inch floppies versus up to 650 MBytes for the currently available CD-rewritable discs), it is highly foreseeable that the CD-RW drive will become the storage peripheral that is conventionally packaged with PC's.
Computer users who have experienced one or more changes in standard peripheral storage technology will be familiar with the data organization problems that result from the transition from one storage technology to another. In many situations, a full transition from one storage technology to another is not performed immediately, or at all. In these cases, a user maintains drives of both technology types to allow data to be read from and/or stored to either type of media. Eventually, a full transition from the first storage technology to the newer storage technology is usually made for purposes of efficiency. However, in many cases, making the full transition from one storage technology to the other is necessary due to inconvenience of maintaining or the unavailability of a working drive for the older technology. In order to make a full transition, data stored on media using the older technology must be transferred to media based on the newer technology.
Currently, in order to transfer data from one media type to another, the user must manually attach to the first storage drive (typically by selecting the first storage drive via mouse clicks on the display), determine what files are contained on the first media, select the files to be transferred, attach to the second storage drive, and transfer the selected files onto the second storage media. Depending on the technology of the storage devices, the manual process can be more or less tedious. For example, when transferring data between devices that are both mapped drives (e.g., a floppy drive mapped to the a:\ drive and a CD-RW mapped to the d:\ drive), the process involves clicking on the a:\ drive icon, highlighting files and/or directories via mouse clicks, and dragging the highlighted files/directories to the d:\ drive icon. In other types of storage technology, such as tape drives, however, the manual process is far more complicated. Typically, tape drive systems are not mapped directly to a built-in mapped drive. Instead, to access the tape drive, the user must manually invoke special tape backup/restoration software to access the tape drive. The tape backup/restoration software must first position the tape to the volume information section, typically located at the beginning of the tape, begin reading volume information off the tape to determine what volumes are on it, position to the location of the desired volume, read the file structure information contained at the beginning of the volume, position to the desired file(s), and restore the desired file(s) to the local hard disk. Once the desired files are restored from tape, the user must then access the directory on the hard drive that the desired files were restored in, select the desired files, and then drag them to the destination drive. Clearly, when performed manually, the transfer process can be quite time consuming. No method currently exists for allowing automated migration of data from one storage technology to another. Accordingly, a need exists for an automated method for migrating data from one storage technology to another.

Method for transferring and indexing data from old media to new media

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


In an apparatus for cleaning of gases a centrifugal rotor is supported by two bearings, in which it is rotatable about a rotational axis. The two bearings are lubricated by means of an oil mist, which is generated in a space, when oil is sprayed against a turbine wheel supported by the rotor. Whereas the bearing, which is situated nearest said space, is lubricated by oil mist present in the space, the second bearing is lubricated by oil mist being conducted to it through a central channel in the centrifugal rotor.

Self-lubricating bearings are known in the art. Such bearings generally do not require the supply of additional lubricant during operation. However, a difficulty often occurs when these bearings are used in conjunction with a centrifuge rotor. In those cases, it is often required that the bearings be charged continuously or intermittently with lubricant in the form of oil or some other liquid. Sometimes, where the rotor is used to clean gas, liquid suspended in the gas may be used for the lubrication. In other cases, lubricant from a lubricant source may have to be supplied.
The general object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugal gas cleaning apparatus that facilitates adequate lubrication of the bearings support the centrifuge rotor.


User interface apparatuses, data signals, articles of manufacture, image forming systems, and processor-implemented methods are provided. One aspect of the invention provides a user interface apparatus including a display device configured to display visual images; and digital processing circuitry coupled with the display device and configured to control the display device to display a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range and comprising a plurality of positions, to display an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to a plurality of values of a plurality of targets, and to display an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions corresponding to the value of one of the targets.

The present invention relates to user interface apparatuses, data signals, articles of manufacture, image forming systems, and processor-implemented methods.
In complex software, it is becoming more commonplace to utilize graphical user interfaces (GUI) to interface with a user. Such interfaces utilize menus, controls and toolbars, for example, to present an attractive interface to the user.
One example of a control common to graphical user interfaces is a slider control which can be configured to set or adjust values on a continuous range of values. Slider controls may also be referred to as track bar controls and typically consist of a bar that defines an extent or range of adjustment. An indicator is provided that shows the current value of the control and provides means for changing the value. Slider controls may be arranged in vertical or horizontal orientations and often have various heights and lengths corresponding to a given application. A user moves a slide indicator by dragging it to a particular location or, alternatively, by clicking in a hot zone area of the bar. Such operation results in the slide indicator moving to the selected location.
It is becoming more conventional to use graphical user interfaces with controls that may apply to more than one object. Such controls have intermediate states which represent differing settings for the objects represented. An example is an object button, radio button or check box in a software installer where the check box identifies a package of components to be installed. If all of the components of the package are to be installed, then the package""s check box is checked by the user. If none of the components of the package are to be installed, then the package""s check box is not checked. When some of the components are to be installed and some are not, then the package""s check box indicates an intermediate state or a partially checked state. Such a solution is typically convenient in software where a given control or set of controls may apply, at different times, to more than a single target object.
However, such conventional controls show a single setting that do not adequately reflect a true state of the control when multiple settings are to be represented. Accordingly, there exists a need for improved user interfaces.
The invention provides user interface apparatuses, data signals, articles of manufacture, image forming systems, and processor-implemented methods. One aspect of the present invention proposes a user interface that applies to one set of target objects in one instance, and to another target object or another set of target objects in another instance. Aspects of the present invention provide proper, additional feedback to a user with a user interface representing multiple target objects.
According to a first aspect of the invention, a user interface apparatus comprises: a display device configured to display visual images; and digital processing circuitry coupled with the display device and configured to control the display device to display a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range and comprising a plurality of positions, to display an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to a plurality of values of a plurality of targets, and to display an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions corresponding to the value of one of the targets.
Another aspect of the invention provides a data signal embodied in a transmission medium comprising: processor-usable code configured to cause digital processing circuitry to display a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range and comprising a plurality of positions; processor-usable code configured to cause digital processing circuitry to display an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to a plurality of values of a plurality of targets; and processor-usable code configured to cause digital processing circuitry to display an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions corresponding to the value of one of the targets.
Another aspect of the invention provides an article of manufacture comprising: a processor-usable medium having processor-useable code embodied therein and configured to cause processing circuitry to perform steps comprising: displaying a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range and comprising a plurality of positions; displaying an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions and corresponding to a plurality of values of a plurality of targets; and displaying an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions and corresponding to the value of one of the targets.
The present invention provides in another aspect an image forming system comprising: a host device configured to communicate data corresponding to an image; and an image forming device coupled with the host device and configured to receive the data and to provide the image upon media responsive to the received data; wherein at least one of the host device and the image forming device comprise: a display device configured to display visual images; and digital processing circuitry coupled with the display device and configured to control the display device to display a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range comprising a plurality of positions, to display an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to a plurality values of a plurality of targets, and to display an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions corresponding to the value of one of the targets.
Another aspect provides a processor-implemented method comprising: displaying a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range comprising a plurality of positions; displaying an active indicator relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to a plurality of values of a plurality of targets; and displaying an inactive indicator relative to the range indicator at another one of the positions and corresponding to the value of one of the targets.
Yet another aspect provides a processor-implemented method comprising: displaying a slider control graphical user interface including a range indicator corresponding to an adjustment range comprising a plurality of positions; displaying indicia corresponding to the positions of the range indicator; determining a composite value from a plurality of values of a plurality of targets; displaying an active indicator of the slider control graphical user interface relative to the range indicator at one of the positions corresponding to the composite value; displaying a plurality of inactive indicators of the slider control graphical user interface relative to the range indicator at other positions corresponding to values of respective ones of the targets; displaying a scope identifier during the displayings of the range indicator, active indicator and inactive indicators of the slider control graphical user interface; receiving control input; selecting and moving the active indicator to another one of the positions responsive to the receiving; and applying the value corresponding to the another one position to the targets.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims, and drawings.

User interface apparatus for displaying a range indicator for setting a plurality of target objects

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


The quality of both a gate oxide and a tunnel oxide in a P-well active area of a CMOS EEPROM process is improved by reducing the field edge pullback arising from wet chemical etch steps prior to the growth of the gate and tunnel oxides. A first oxide is grown, and an implant is performed through the first oxide to form an implanted layer. The surface of the first oxide is then cleaned without removing all of the first oxide overlying the implanted layer. An anneal step then activates the implanted layer to form a heavily-doped region, after which the remaining first oxide is then removed. A second oxide is then grown, and a region of the second oxide is removed overlying the heavily-doped region. Lastly, a tunnel oxide is grown over the heavily-doped region while re-oxidizing the second oxide to form a gate oxide thicker than the tunnel oxide.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the fabrication of semiconductor devices, and more specifically, to the growth of high quality oxides from the surface of a semiconductor substrate.
2. Description of Related Art
The importance of high quality oxides in the fabrication of semiconductor devices cannot be overemphasized. Many broad categories of commercial devices, such as Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memories (EEPROMS), Dynamic Random Access Memories (DRAMs), and more recently, even high-speed basic logic functions, owe their commercialization to the reproducibility of high quality, very thin oxide layers.
Major improvements in gate oxide quality have been achieved by improved cleaning techniques, the addition of HCL/TCA to the gate oxidation process, and higher purity gasses and chemicals. RCA cleaning techniques are described in "Dependence of Thin Oxide Quality on Surface Micro-Roughness" by T. Ohmi, et. al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 39, Number 3, March 1992. Other techniques have incorporated different gas (NH.sub.3, ONO, WET O.sub.2) schemes in the gate oxidation cycle other than the conventional O.sub.2 with HCL or TCA. Also considerable progress has been made with single wafer RTA gate processing, as is described in "Effect of Rapid Thermal Reoxidation on the Electrical Properties of Rapid Thermally Nitrided Thin-Gate Oxides", by A. Joshi, et. al., IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, Vol. 39, Number 4, April 1992.
These techniques refer to "gate oxides" as in the gate of an MOS transistor, but are usually applicable to any thin (usually less than 300.ANG.) oxide. The "tunnel" oxide of an EEPROM process technology is a very thin gate oxide (usually less than 100.ANG.), with the somewhat unusual requirement that it be grown above a very heavily-doped N+ region. Oxides grown from heavily-doped substrate surfaces are generally considered to be lower in quality than those grown from more lightly doped surfaces, as would be the case for most MOS transistor processes.
The growing and subsequent removing of a KOOI oxide is used to eliminate the remnant KOOI ribbon of nitride which forms around the active area at the LOCOS edge (or field edge) during the previous field oxidation. (Silicon nitride in a steam oxidation environment decomposes into ammonia and silicon dioxide. The ammonia diffuses down through the field oxide until reaching the silicon surface, where it reacts to form a silicon nitride, and leaving a ribbon of nitride at the silicon/silicon dioxide interface around the edge of the active area.) In a non-EEPROM CMOS process (not incorporating a tunnel oxide for EEPROM structures) the KOOI oxide is commonly used as an implant oxide for V.sub.T controlling implants, and is subsequently removed and followed by the gate oxidation and polysilicon deposition for FET's.
Unfortunately, processes adequate for fabricating devices having high quality thin oxides are generally not adequate for fabricating devices having very thin high quality oxides.

Method for achieving a high quality thin oxide in integrated circuit devices


The present disclosure provides a method and a device for obtaining an answer, and a computer device. The method includes: receiving a question entered by a user; obtaining one or more first key information points in the question entered by the user according one or more preset word slots; asking the user about core question points through dialogue according to the one or more first key information points; obtaining answers entered by the user for the core question points; obtaining one or more second key information points in the answers entered by the user according to the one or more preset word slots; performing a retrieving in a question and answer library according to the one or more first key information points and the one or more second key information points to obtain an answer to the question entered by the user; and presenting the answer obtained to the user.

Enterprises think highly of labor costs, work efficiencies and customer experiences. Therefore, in recent years, most enterprises have or are considering introducing intelligent customer service or intelligent question and answer (Q&A) products for human-computer interaction in their websites, applications (APPs for short), business halls, etc., so as to help manual customer service to answer general-purpose questions, thereby replacing partial repetitive work of the customer service. Since it can help enterprises to significantly reduce labor costs, the demand for Q&A has always been a common demand in the course of business operation.
At present, intelligent Q&A has been widely used in various industries, especially in fields of finance, telecommunications, government affairs and e-commerce with large consulting volume.
Intelligent Q&A products in the related art have two functions, i.e., answer matching (a primary form) and dialogue understanding (an advanced form).
One, a primary form: answer matching
In this part, a semantic retrieval solution is used. In other words, Q&A resources are indexed first, and when the user asks questions, Q&A resources that are "approximate" to requirements of the user are "matched" out using semantic retrieval technologies, this path often cannot be combined with advanced dialogue management technologies.
Two, an advanced form: dialogue understanding
Through combination of natural language understanding (NLU) and dialogue management, language is understood as the form of "intention+word slot", and accurate answers are generated through subsequent technologies.
The technical solution of intelligent Q&A in the related art cannot achieve the combination of the above primary form and advanced form, and cannot allow the user to smoothly switch between the two forms, for this guidance path is not unique, but dynamically changed.
For example, users may want to ask "how to repay a cash loan with the mobile phone", there may be following situations in actual asking.
a) The user may first ask: I want to know about cash loan.
b) The user may also ask: I want to know about repayment.
c) The user may further ask: I want to know how to repay with the mobile phone.
In this way, when Q&A matching guidance technologies in the related art are used, multiple business logics (such as cash loan->mobile phone->repayment->obtaining the answer, mobile phone->cash loan->repayment->obtaining the answer, repayment->mobile phone->cash loan->obtaining the answer, etc.) with same goals may need to be configured.
However, when advanced dialogue understanding technologies are used, although dialogue logic configuration can be simplified by abstracting key information (such as "cash loan", "mobile phone" and "repayment") into word slots, users need to establish accurate intentions for respective questions (such as, how to repay the cash loan with the mobile phone, when will the cash loan be repaid, what is the handling fee for repaying the cash loan with the mobile phone). All the questions need to correspond to different intentions and accurate answers.
Dialogue understanding needs to build accurate intentions and word slots for respective answers, and provides a large amount of tagged data for training and learning, which is usually unaffordable for developers.

Method and device for obtaining answer, and computer device

BEIJING BAIDU NETCOM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A probe system for measuring a measured variable of a fluid, comprising: A probe body, which is connectable to the process container by means of a process connection; axially shiftable in a guiding passageway of the probe body between a measuring position and at least two different treatment positions; an immersion tube, which has a protective cylinder on its front end immersible in the fluid; a measuring probe held in the immersion tube, having a measuring head, wherein the measuring head is arranged within a region of the protective cylinder having openings; a first treatment chamber formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube; a second treatment chamber formed between the guiding passageway and the immersion tube and adjoining the first treatment chamber on a side of the first treatment chamber facing away from the process connection; and a seal arranged between the first and second treatment chambers, wherein the immersion tube has a first section with a first outer diameter and a second section adjoining the first section and having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter, so that, through axial shifting of the immersion tube, the seal arranged between the first and second treatment chambers can be opened.

The range of applications of probe systems for measuring physical or chemical, measured variables of a medium, e.g. of a fluid, especially a liquid, in process technology is numerous. For example, the manufacture of sterile solutions in pharmaceutical or food processes requires the use of measuring probes for monitoring the product, or the process. The measuring probes can be pH measuring probes, conductivity measuring probes, optical or electrochemical measuring probes for determining a concentration of a substance contained in the medium to be monitored, e.g. a substance such as O2, CO2, certain ion types, organic compounds.
From the state of the art, it is known to perform an inline-measuring of fluids, e.g. products of chemical processes, in the case of which probe systems with axially movable immersion tubes, in which a measuring probe is held, are used. Such probe systems are also referred to as "retractable assemblies". These retractable assemblies are secured on a process container, for example, a pipe conveying the fluid to be monitored by measuring, and include a treatment chamber, into which the measuring probe can be moved by means of the immersion tube temporarily during operation for calibration- or washing, and/or rinsing, purposes and therein brought in contact with a calibration liquid and/or with a washing, and/or rinsing, medium for cleaning. When the calibration-, or washing, and/or rinsing, procedure is finished, the measuring probe can, thereafter, be moved back into the fluid to be monitored, in order to continue with the inline measuring. In such case, contamination of the monitored fluid with calibration liquid, or, conversely, a contamination of the calibration liquid with fluid being monitored is counteracted with the assistance of seals, which seal the treatment chamber and the process container relative to one another.
For retractable assemblies for use in sterile processes, it has been suggested to provide a second treatment chamber. Thus, for example, in DE 38 20 405 C2, a retractable assembly is described, which has a housing with a housing nozzle connectable to a reaction vessel, wherein, in the housing, there is an immersion tube with a measured value sensing probe, whose measuring head is surrounded by a cage with passageways. The immersion tube can be viewed axially from a measuring position out of the housing nozzle into a retracted rest position in the housing, and back again into the measuring position. In the rest position, the opening of the housing nozzle is sealed by means of a closure. In the rest position, the front part of the immersion tube with the measuring head of the probe facing the reaction vessel is located in a first washing and/or rinsing chamber of the housing, which has an inlet and a drain. Associated with the rinsing chamber in the housing is a second rinsing chamber, further remote from the reaction vessel and having its own inlet and its own drain. In the rest position, a washing and/or rinsing and/or sterilizing of the measuring probe and of parts of the immersion tube can be performed by sending wash-, rinse-, or sterilization medium through the first and the second rinsing chambers. In this way also, those parts of the immersion tube and/or the probe can be cleaned and sterilized, which, in the case of the out viewing of the probe into the measuring position come into the first rinsing chamber. Therewith, it should be prevented, that not washed, or rinsed, and sterilized parts of the immersion tube and the probe come into the rinsing chamber, in which, in given cases, medium of the reactor vessel is contained, and cause contamination.
The drain of the second rinsing chamber is connected with the inlet of the first rinsing chamber via a liquid transport line, so that wash-, rinse- or sterilization medium introduced into the second rinsing chamber goes further via the liquid transport line and the inlet of the first washing and/or rinsing chamber into the first washing and/or rinsing chamber and from there via the drain of the first rinsing chamber is fed to a condensate drain or to a wash, or rinse, drain. This construction does, however, not permit supplying only a single rinsing chamber with liquid.
Between the first and second rinsing chamber in the case of the retractable assembly described in DE 38 20 405 C2, a seal is arranged, which seals the two washing, and/or rinsing, chambers relative to one another. In the region of this seal, no sufficient cleaning, or sterilization of the immersion tube is assured. Especially, also the seal itself cannot be sufficiently cleaned or sterilized.
Also in German patent application DE 10 2005 051 279 A1, a retractable assembly for use in sterile processes is described. Such an assembling includes a housing, which has a space for accommodating a measuring probe and a first chamber for accommodating a first fluid, e.g. a calibration fluid or a washing, and/or rinsing, fluid. The first chamber is in communication with the space for accommodating the probe. The housing includes furthermore a connecting section, by means of which the housing is connectable, or in connection, with a container, which serves for accommodating a medium, whose property is to be measured with the probe. In the housing, there is at least a second chamber for accommodating a second fluid, which should be uncritical both relative to the first fluid as well as also relative to the medium. An example of a second fluid is sterile water. The second chamber is arranged between the first chamber and the connecting section of the housing. In the case of defective seals, so should the probability for a contamination of the medium by the first fluid as well as also a contamination of the first fluid by the medium be lessened.
The probe is accommodated in an immersion tube, in which openings are provided for access of the medium, or a rinsing liquid, to the measuring head. The probe can be moved axially within the housing between a measuring position, in which the probe with its measuring head surrounding a sensor protrudes inwardly into the medium and a washing, and/or rinsing, position, in which the measuring head is arranged within the first rinsing chamber. In order also in the washing, and/or rinsing, position to assure a sealing of the second rinsing chamber arranged between the first rinsing chamber and the medium relative to the medium, the distance between the front end of the probe and the openings in the region of the measuring head of the probe must be greater than the axial length of the second rinsing chamber, i.e. than the distance between the two seals, which seal the second rinsing chamber from medium, on the one hand, and from the first rinsing chamber, on the other hand. As a result, this brings about that, for a certain immersion depth of the measuring head in the medium in measurement operation, a stroke of the immersion tube must be produced, which is enlarged by the axial length of the second rinsing chamber. Additionally, the front end of the immersion tube reaching beyond the position of the actual measuring head by, thus, this length requires correspondingly much space, so that the retractable assembly can only be applied to process containers having a certain minimum volume.
An object of the invention is to provide a probe system of the initially described type, which permits a calibrating of the measuring probe and/or a sufficient sterilizing of the immersion tube and the measuring probe in the state secured on the process container.

Probe system for measuring a measured variable of fluid contained in a process container, especially for sterile applications

Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft für Mess- und Regeltechnik mbH + Co., KG


An exercise device is disclosed including a first elongated structural member extending in a longitudinal direction. A resistance element is connected to the first elongated structural member, the resistance element providing a resistance force. A seat is connected to the first structural member, the seat includes a seating surface. A drive which drives the resistance element includes a handle to be held by a user. The seat and resistance element are moveable with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction and a centroid of the resistance element is arranged lower than an upper edge of the first elongated structural member.

Known rowing simulators include those shown in U.S. Pat./Pub. Nos. 5,382,210; 2011/0028278; D367,508, 4,396,188; 2013/0035216. Such machines suffer from a number of disadvantages which are resolved by the invention disclosed and described herein.
First, each of the above references involve a flywheel which is supported via a rotating cantilever axle. Furthermore, the flywheel is always positioned to one side of (i.e. offset from) the central slide axis of the seat such that the chain drive can align with the seat center. The flywheel is driven at relatively high RPMs which requires precise balancing for a long life and consistent resistance. Since the flywheel rotates relatively fast and may be relatively heavy, gyroscopic forces generated can be significant. The fact that the flywheel is cantilevered about its rotating axle means that significant stresses are put on this axle which often also doubles as/includes a clutch/freewheel to enable a pulling action on a chain to rotate the flywheel and then be returned in an opposite direction.
Next, all of the above references involve a flywheel whose rotation axis is positioned above the bar or surface on which the seat slides. This raises the center of gravity of the machine and also has gyroscopic forces generated above the bar which tends to reduce stability of the overall machine.
2011/0028278 also suffers the disadvantage that the two bars are positioned at a width outside that of the seat which takes up additional space, especially in storage.


A method and apparatus for the removal of overspray in coating booths. The systems include a circulating solvent which dissolves the overspray carrier and transports the non-soluble components of the overspray. The systems also include a method and apparatus to remove undesirable elements from the circulation working solvent and to recapture the reusable circulation working solvent to replenish the system.

The present invention relates to coating booth overspray removal systems and, more particularly, to a closed-loop systems which recirculates the working solvent.
In coating operations, it is desirous to reduce overspray to provide an optimum finish on the object being coated. In spray booths or the like, there is generally a ventilation system which draws air downward through a grate into a collection or recovery area. In the collection area, different types of fluid mixtures are used to "kill" or detactify the coating overspray. The "killing" or detactifying of the coating enables the coating to be removed from the collection area without adhering to the sides or removal equipment in the system.
The removal of the overspray coating is of concern in the coatings industry. Particularly, in the automotive industry, where a large number of vehicles are coated with varying types of paints and coating. The removal and disposal of the coating overspray is of great concern.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,919 issued June 14, 1988 to Patzelt et. al. illustrates a method for removal of oversprayed paint solids. The method utilizes an oil-in-water emulsion receiving the overspray to "kill" the overspray in the emulsion. Generally, the oil-in-water emulsion includes from 5 to 50 weight percent of an organic liquid having a boiling point of at least 150.degree. C.; from 1.0 to 20 weight percent based on the organic liquid of an oil-in water emulsifier; and the balance water. The oil-in-water emulsion is maintained at a pH value of from 7.5 to 12. The oil-in-water emulsion is continuously circulated in the bath until at least 5 parts by weight of the overspray paint solids for every 100 parts by weight of the organic liquid are received by the oil-in-water emulsion prior to recovery of any material from the emulsion.
While the above system may work satisfactorily, it has disadvantages. In the above system, the paint particles are tied up with the emulsifier which requires continuous removal of the emulsifier layer which, in turn, requires continuous additions of the emulsifier to replenish the emulsion during operation. This is labor intensive and costly to continuously reload the system. Also, continuous monitoring of the pH of the bath must be conducted.
The present invention provides the art with an apparatus and method to reduce the amount of reportable volatile organic compounds. The present invention enables continuous use of the working circulation solvent. The working circulation solvent of the present invention enables portions of the coating overspray to become soluble within the working circulation solvent and other portions of the overspray to be suspended in the working solvent to enable removal of these undesirable elements from the system. Additionally, the system provides for distilling or fractionating of the working solvent to enable removal of undesirable elements and continuous addition of the working circulation solvent back into the system to continuously regenerate the system.
From the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and subjoined claims, other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Overspray removal systems for coating booths or the like


The pressure increase of the brake hydraulic pressure starts again at a time point where the wheel speed, which has been decelerated due to an increase in the brake hydraulic pressure, recovers the speed due to the subsequent pressure decrease and holding of the brake hydraulic pressure and reaches the speed (Vv-Vx) which is lower than the computed vehicles speed Vv by a predetermined value .DELTA.Vx, where the predetermined value .DELTA.Vx varies in accordance with the magnitude of the friction coefficient of the road surface.

In general, with an anti-lock control device for a vehicle, anti-lock control is effected by means of a microcomputer such that hold valves and decay valves are opened and closed on the basis of electrical signals representing wheel speeds detected by wheel speed sensors, thereby increasing, holding or decreasing the brake hydraulic pressure, for the purpose of securing improved steering performance and running stability, while at the same time reducing the braking distance of the vehicle.
FIG. 1 shows control state diagrams as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,580 which illustrate the changes in the wheel speed Vw, the wheel acceleration and deceleration Vw and the brake hydraulic pressure Pw, as well as a hold signal HS and a decay signal DS for opening and closing the hold valves and the decay valves.
In a state of the vehicle in running where no brake is operated, the brake hydraulic pressure Pw is not increased and both of the hold signal HS and the decay signal DS are in the off-state, so that the hold valve is in the open state whereas the decay valve is in the closed state. However, with a brake operation, the brake hydraulic pressure Pw increases rapidly from time point t0 (normal mode), reducing the wheel speed Vw. There is set up a reference wheel speed Vr which is lower by a predetermined amount .DELTA.V than the wheel speed Vw and follows the latter with such a speed difference. The reference wheel speed Vr is set up so that when the wheel deceleration (negative acceleration) Vw of the wheel attains a predetermined threshold value, -1G, for instance, at a time point t1, it decreases linearly in time from the time point t1 with a slope .theta. for the deceleration of -1G.
At a time point t2 when the wheel deceleration Vw reaches a predetermined value -Gmax with maximum absolute value, the hold valve closes by turning on the hold signal HS to hold the brake hydraulic pressure Pw.
With the holding of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw in such a manner, the wheel speed Vw further decreases to become less than the reference wheel speed Vr beyond a time point t3. At that time point t3 the decay signals DS is turned on to open the decay valve to start reducing the brake hydraulic pressure Pw. As a result of the pressure reduction, the wheel speed Vw is shifted from decrease to increase at a time point t4 when a low peak Vl of the wheel speed Vw occurs. At the time point t4 of the low peak, the decay signal DS is turned off to close the decay valve, so that the reduction of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw is completed and the brake hydraulic pressure Pw is held at the value at that time.
Next, when the wheel speed Vw attains a high peak Vh at a time point t7, an increase in the brake hydraulic pressure takes place again. The pressure increase in the brake hydraulic pressure Pw and the decrease in the wheel speed Vw in this stage is arranged to take place gradually by a repetition of turning on and off of the hold signal HS mincingly. Starting at a time point t8 (corresponding to t3) a decompression mode is generated again.
It is to be noted that during the above operation, a time point t5 at which the wheel speed Vw is recovered to a speed Vb (=Vl+0.15Y) where Vl is the wheel speed at the low peak and Y is the difference between the wheel speed Va at the time point t3 and the low peak speed Vl, so that Vb represents the wheel speed at which 15% of the speed difference Y is gained from the low peak value Vl, and a time point t6 at which the wheel speed increases to Vc (=Vl+0.8Y) where 80% of the speed difference Y is gained from the low peak speed Vl, are detected. Further, the interval Tx of the first pressurization which starts at the time point t7 is determined by the judgment on the friction coefficient .mu. of the road surface as obtained based on the computation of the average acceleration (Vc-Vb) / .DELTA.T for the period .DELTA.T between the time point t5 and t6. In addition, the holding periods or the pressurization periods that follow are determined based on the vehicle deceleration Vw that are detected immediately before each holding or pressurization. Through a combination of augmentation, holding and reduction of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw as described in the above, it is possible to reduce the vehicle speed by controlling the wheel speed Vw without causing the locking of the wheels.
Now, as is clear from FIG. 1, in the conventional anti-lock control method, the brake hydraulic pressure Pw increases again at the time point t.sub.7 where the wheel speed Vw that has once been decelerated due to an increase in the brake hydraulic pressure Pw recovers the speed by the subsequent decrease and holding of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw and attains the high peak. However, when the pressure increase is started from the time point t.sub.7 of the high peak, the pressure increase tends to lag when the vehicle is on a road with high value of the friction coefficient .mu., thereby causing a drawback that the braking distance is increased. At the same time, on a road with low value of the friction coefficient .mu., a pressure increase starts even when the wheel speed Vw is shifted temporarily from acceleration to deceleration before the wheel speed Vw is fully recovered. Therefore, there was a drawback in that the wheel speed Vw drops further deep to generate a locking of the wheels.
In view of the foregoing drawbacks, there has been proposed to start the pressure increase, not at the high peak point of the wheel speed Vw but rather at the time point where the wheel speed Vw attains (Vv-.DELTA.V) which is the speed lower by a predetermined value .DELTA.V than the computed vehicle speed Vv. However, when the starting point of pressure increase is advanced in this manner, there still has a problem that the starting point of the pressure increase is too premature, giving rise to an excessively pressure increased state, if, for example, the road surface condition is changed suddenly from that of a high friction coefficient .mu. value to that of a low .mu. value.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide an anti-lock control method for a vehicle which can deal with a sudden change in the friction coefficient .mu. of the road surface.
The foregoing object can be achieved by a provision of an anti-lock method and system in which, according to the present invention, the pressure increase of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw starts again at a time point where the wheel speed Vw, which has been decelerated due to an increase in the brake hydraulic pressure Pw, recovers the speed due to the subsequent pressure decrease and holding of the brake hydraulic pressure Pw and reaches a speed (Vv-.DELTA.Vx) which is lower than the computed vehicle speed Vv by a predetermined value .DELTA.Vx, where the predetermined value .DELTA.Vx varies in accordance with the magnitude of the friction coefficient .mu. of the road surface.
The value of Vx is arranged to vary to be small when the friction coefficient .mu. of the road surface is low, and large when the friction coefficient .mu. of the road surface is high.

Anti-lock control method and system for a vehicle

Akebono Research and Development Centre Ltd.


The present invention includes an apparatus and method for producing x-rays, and/or ion beams and for enabling the generation of fusion energy and the conversion of the energy into electrical energy including an anode and a cathode positioned coaxially and at least partially within a reaction chamber that imparts an angular momentum to a plasmoid. The angular momentum may be imparted through the cathode having a helical twist; a helical coil about the cathode or a combination thereof. The anode has an anode radius and the cathode has a cathode radius that imparts a high magnetic field. The reaction chamber contains a gas and an electronic discharge source in electrical communication with the anode and the cathode. As a result of an electronic discharge a dense, magnetically confined, plasmoid is created about the anode and emits of one or more particles.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described mainly in connection with fusion energy. The increase in energy consumption and the disadvantages of hydrocarbon fuels has led to a search for alternate sources of energy. One such source is fusion energy from a thermo-nuclear fusion reactor, which offers an almost limitless source of energy. However, there are many scientific and engineering challenges.
Generally, a fusion reactor includes a fusion fuel, often a mixture of deuterium and tritium, that is heated to very high temperatures and confined for some time in a plasma state. The plasma state is generated using electrical energy. The plasma state contains ions that have sufficient energy to fuse. To fuse, the ions must be held together long enough for fusion to occur, e.g., magnetic confinement. Generally, the products of the fusion reaction may include elements such as helium, a neutron and energy. The energy released in most nuclear reactions is much larger than that for chemical reactions, because the binding energy that holds a nucleus together is far greater than the energy that holds electrons to a nucleus. In most reactor designs, the energy from the reaction is eventually collected as thermal energy which is subsequently converted into electricity.
There have been many fusion devices including the tokamak (i.e., a Russian word for a torus-shaped magnetic chamber) stellarator, z-pinch, spherical pinch, magnetized target fusion, laser, ion or electron beam and spheromak; however, these devices have not yet succeeded. One difficulty with the plasma heating approach has been instability in the plasma during the heating phase that has prevented the magnetic fields from being able to contain the heated, ionized gas for sufficient time to even reach the breakeven point in energy production.
One such method and apparatus for generating and utilizing a compound plasma configuration is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,065 issued to Koloc, which teaches a plasma configuration that includes a central toroidal plasma with electrical currents surrounded by a generally ellipsoidal mantle of ionized particles or electrically conducting matter. The methods of forming this compound plasma configuration include the steps of forming a helical ionized path in a gaseous medium and simultaneously discharging a high potential through the ionized path to produce a helical or heliform current which collapses on itself to produce a toroidal current, or generating a toroidal plasmoid, supplying magnetic energy to the plasmoid, and applying fluid pressure external to the plasmoid.
Another approach is the pulsed nuclear fusion reactor taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,650 issued to Fischer, which relates to a nuclear fusion power plant for producing useful electrical energy by nuclear combustion of deuterium and lithium to helium. A large concentric plate capacitor is discharged rapidly through a mass of molten LiD that is situated at its center. Before this discharge, a conducting path had been thermally preformed between the electrodes by an alternating current pulse and the high-temperature, high-pressure plasma is confined by the LiD liquid in a narrow channel. Neutrons are generated, partly by thermonuclear fusion, partly by suprathermal collisions which result from the well-known sausage instability. The escaping neutrons are absorbed by the surrounding liquid where they produce heat. The heat, radiation and mechanical shock are absorbed in the liquid which flows through a heat exchanger in order to energize the associated turbogenerator power plant.
Still another approach is a compound plasma configuration and method and apparatus for generating a compound plasma configuration taught in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20010046273 to Paul M. Koloc, which relates to a compound plasma configuration formed from a device having pins and an annular electrode surrounding the pins. A cylindrical conductor is electrically connected to, and coaxial with, the annular electrode, and a helical conductor coaxial with the cylindrical conductor. The helical conductor is composed of wires, each wire electrically connected to each pin. The annular electrode and the pins are disposed in the same direction away from the interior of the conducting cylinder.
The dense plasma focus (DPF) has been studied as a possible solution to the problem of instabilities. In this device, natural plasma instabilities are used to create confinement in a dense plasmoid, rather than being minimized as in other fusion devices. One such method and apparatus for a dense plasma focus radiation source for generating EUV radiation including a coaxially disposed anode and cathode is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,168 issued to Jacob, et al. The methods and apparatuses for enhancing the efficiency of EUV radiation production, for protecting, cooling and extending the life of the anode and cathode, for protecting and shielding collecting optics from debris and pressure disturbances in the discharge chamber, and for feeding Lithium into the discharge chamber.
Another plasma focus radiation source for generating radiation at a selected wavelength is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,324 issued to Birx, which teaches producing a high energy plasma sheathe that moves down an electrode column at high speed and is pinched at the end of the column to form a very high temperature spot. An ionizable gas introduced at the pinch can produce radiation at the desired wavelength. In order to prevent separation of the plasma sheathe from the pinch, and therefore to prolong the pinch and prevent potentially damaging restrike, a shield of a high temperature nonconducting material is positioned a selected distance from the center electrode and shaped to redirect the plasma sheathe to the center electrode, preventing separation thereof. An opening is provided in the shield to permit the desired radiation to pass substantially unimpeded.
However, the DPF has also not yet achieved breakeven conditions and has never simultaneously achieved a high efficiency of transfer of energy into the plasmoid, high ion energy and high density. In addition, the DPF suffers from a high degree of variation in output from shot to shot even with identical initial conditions.
In addition to its application as a fusion reactor, the DPF has other important potential applications as a source of x-rays, ion beams and neutrons. Such applications include x-ray lithography, x-ray and neutron inspection, and medical isotope production. However, its application in these areas has also been hampered by its high degree of variability.
Attempts to overcome this variability have not been entirely successful. A plasma focus apparatus is taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,075,522 and 4,912,731 issued to Nardi, which teaches plasma focus apparatus with a field distortion element in the interelectrode gap at the breech end displaced from the sleeve of insulating material between the electrodes. As a result the neutron yield of the accelerator is at least 5 times the yield in the absence of the field distortion element, e.g., in the shape of a knife blade.
A further difficulty of most approaches to fusion is that they rely on deuterium-tritium fuel, which produces high-energy neutrons. The neutrons generate induced radioactivity in the reactor structure. As well, the neutron energy must be captured as heat and converted to electricity by a standard steam cycle, which is very expensive and prevents any substantial reduction in the cost of electricity.
Alternate, advanced fuels that produce only charged particles could overcome this problem. It has long been recognized that the pB11 reaction, which produces 3 He4 ions and 8.7 MeV of energy, has great advantages as a fusion fuel. It produces only charged particles and thus the energy of the reaction can be converted directly into electricity, avoiding the very costly step of converting heat energy into electricity via a turbine and mechanical generator. This can lead to radical reduction in the cost of electricity. In addition, the reaction avoids the production of neutrons, which can induce radioactivity. A secondary reaction, B11+He4→n+N14 does produce approximately 0.2% of total energy in the form of low energy neutrons, but they have too little energy to activate reactor materials. Attempts have been made to use the pB11 reaction in fusion reactor designs.
One such method and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration and direct energy conversion is taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,002,148, 6,894,446 and 6,850,011 issued to Monkhorst, et al., which teaches plasma ions magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. Ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter.
Another method and apparatus for the formation of a field reversed configuration for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,891,911 issued to Rostoker, et al., which teaches a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.
However, these attempts have not been successful so far as there are substantial technical challenges to using pB11. To use pB11 fuel the ion energies must be in excess of 100 KeV, simultaneously with density-confinement time products of more than 3×1015 particle-sec/cc. The higher atomic change, Z, of B11 greatly increases the x-ray emission rate, which is proportional to Z2 making it difficult to achieve ignition, e.g., the point at which the thermonuclear power exceeds the x-ray emission.
Finally, conversion of energy to electricity from both the ion beams and x-rays must be performed with high efficiencies. For high-energy x-rays this problem has not yet been solved in a practical manner.
The foregoing problems have been recognized for many years and while numerous solutions have been proposed, none of them adequately address all of the problems in a single device.

Method and apparatus for producing x-rays, ion beams and nuclear fusion energy


A rotating foot anchor comprises a base, a pivot pin, and a spring strap. The foot of a user is placed on the base and beneath the spring strap. The foot anchor provides smooth rotation of the user's foot during a follow-through of a golf swing. The pivot pin comprises a downward pointed protrusion which penetrates a ground surface to further secure the device. As the user swings a golf club, the pivot pin enables the foot anchor along with the user's foot to rotate and therefore relive stress applied to the player's knees and back.

One (1) of the most popular games in the US and around the world is golf. With approximately twenty-thousand (20,000) golf courses in the US alone, golf represents not only an enjoyable game but a major economic activity.
Golf has a well-earned reputation of being a challenging game of skill. Playing a perfect game of golf is an elusive goal that players spend a lifetime attempting to achieve. Because of the difficulty of mastering golf, almost every golf course has a pro that provides golf instruction. Numerous golf stores, colleges and high schools offer instruction, and there is always a friend to go to for help. In addition, there are numerous golf aids available.
One (1) aspect of golf that is particularly difficult to achieve is obtaining a long driving distance. One (1) of the many keys to obtaining a long driving distance is obtaining a proper synchronization between hip and shoulder rotations. Furthermore obtaining such a proper synchronization involves achieving proper foot rotation when following through. Without proper foot rotation maximum distance and accuracy cannot be achieved. In addition, without proper foot rotation soreness and injury to knees and hips can result. Age only compounds the problem. In fact, as one ages proper foot rotation becomes more difficult.
In view of the importance of achieving proper foot rotation a device for assisting such foot rotation would be useful. Preferably, such a device would be useful for training proper foot rotation and for reducing body stresses.


A method and apparatus to limit the throughput rate of non-adapting aggressive flows on a packet-by-packet basis. Each packet of an input flow is mapped to an entry in a flow table for each output queue. The mapping is based on a subset of the packet""s header data, giving an approximation of per-flow management. Each entry contains a credit value. On packet reception, the credit value is compared to zero; if there are no credits, the packet is dropped. Otherwise, the size of the packet is compared to the credit value. If sufficient credits exist (i.e., size is less than or equal to credits), the credit value is decremented by the size of the packet in cells and the processing proceeds according to conventional methods, including but not limited to those disclosed in the co-pending DBL Application, incorporated herewith by reference in its entirety. If, however, the size of the packet exceeds the available credits, the credit value is set to zero and the packet is dropped. A periodic task adds credits to each flow table entry up to a predetermined maximum. The processing rate of each approximated flow is thus maintained to the rate determined by the number of credits present at each enqueuing decision, up to the allowed maximum. The scheme operates independently of packet flow type, providing packet-specific means for rapidly discriminating well-behaved flows that adapt to congestion situations signaled by packet drop from aggressive, non-adapting flows and managing throughput bandwidth accordingly. Bandwidth is shared fairly among well-behaved flows, large and small, and time-critical (low latency) flows, thereby protecting all from non-adapting aggressive flows.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to internetworking systems and in particular to methods and apparatus for managing traffic flow in routers and switches.
2. Description of the Related Art
Internetworking encompasses all facets of communications between and among computer networks. Such communications data flow streams may include voice, video, still images, and data traffic. All have widely varying needs in terms of propagation delay (or latency) during transit through the network. Various systems and devices, both in hardware and in software, have attempted to deal with the plethora of data flow requirements present in modern internetworking systems.
One such scheme consists of attempting to regulate the traffic within the router or switch connecting multiple networks in the typical internetworking system. Such schemes attempt to provide fair allocation of data throughput capacity (bandwidth) by allocating router buffer and/or queue space according to the type of packets in each flow stream received.
A particular problem in internetworking traffic regulation arises from the variety of traffic sources or flows presented to the router/switching device. Referring to FIG. 1, illustrating a high-level schematic view of the operation of a prior art router/switch 10, a number of input flows 20 are presented to the unit. These flows each consist of multiple packets of data in a variety of sizes and presented at a variety of rates. Additionally, flows may be presented in different protocols, such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and the related User Datagram Protocol (UDP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Terminal Emulation Protocol (Telnet), and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Other internetworking protocols are found in the literature, such as Merilee Ford, et. al., Internetworking Technologies Handbook, Cisco Press 1997 (hereinafter Ford), incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The packets are buffered in a buffer pool 30, which is typically random access memory (RAM). Buffering is accomplished according to the directives of a controller 60 and a buffer manager 25. The flows are sent to the proper output port 70 by way of a set of output queues 40 and a port scheduler 50, discussed below. Controller 60 is conventionally implemented as one or more high speed microprocessors with associated interface circuitry. Buffer manager 25 and port scheduler 50 can be implemented as part of a switch ASIC.
Some flows are well-behaved in the event of traffic congestion: when faced with packet drops (i.e., packets discarded deliberately by a downstream device due to congestion at that device), these xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d (robust) flows reduce their flow rates and send less packets per unit of time. Other flows, however, are not well-behaved. These non-adaptive xe2x80x9caggressivexe2x80x9d flows (NAFs) do not throttle back the flow of packets to the router when they experience drops. This may be because the NAFs do not recognize the congestion (sometimes due to protocol incompatibilities) or more likely because they actually are trying to capture more bandwidth. The latter situation arises particularly in flows sent by sources that consider themselves higher priority than all others (hence the term xe2x80x9caggressivexe2x80x9d); such priority assumptions by one flow are often in error in the modern, highly heterogeneous networks seen today.
Several regulation schemes are known in the art. Broadly classified, these schemes fall into two types: queue-based and buffer-based.
In queue-based schemes, incoming flows are classified according to their actual priority, as determined by the receiving router, and assigned accordingly to output queues within the router. High priority flows, such as time-sensitive voice traffic, are placed in a queue that is read out more often. Low priority flows, such as file transfer protocol (FTP) or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) flows, are placed in queues that are read out of the router at a slower rate. Numerous schemes, discussed below, are used to control the buffering and enqueuing methods to achieve a measure of throughput balance or fairness among flows, thus managing router/switch bandwidth as efficiently as possible. As will be seen, however, all of these schemes have drawbacks in cost, capacity, and efficiency that suggest a better scheme is needed.
In the extreme, queue-based flow management assigns one queue per input flow. Queues are read out of the router according to statistically fair scheduling process, such as round-robin, employing port scheduler 50. In round-robin scheduling, one packet is read out of each queue, one queue at a time, reading again from the first queue only when one packet has been read out from every other queue. This system is known as fair queuing (FQ). While FQ and its variants (e.g., weighted fair queuing, stochastic fair queuing) operate well when the number and variety of input flows is small and well-behaved, they becomes inefficient when the number of flows grows. Clearly, a high number of flows requires a large number of queues, consuming a proportionally larger amount of resources, both in hardware and in operational complexity. More memory and more software processing overhead is required to set up and tear down the queues as flows begin and end. In the context of the modern, high volume networks seen today, this extra cost and complexity is undesireably inefficient.
A less extreme variation of FQ is random early drop (RED) and variants thereon. In a RED scheme, a smaller number of queues (less than the total number of input flows present at any time) is maintained. Flows are segregated into queues by flow volume, with a number of high volume flows placed in one queue. Each queue is managed according to a probabilistic flow rule that causes packets to be dropped more often in the queues associated with the heaviest flows. Because of this relationship, heavy flows experience packet drops more often, statistically, than other flows. This scheme achieves a measure of fairness, but it assumes that heavy flows will be well-behaved, i.e., that they will reduce flow rate when they experience packet drops. This assumption has proven to be erroneous in the modem heterogeneous network. Certain NAFs do not reduce flow rate and thus continue to take an unfair amount of router bandwidth simply because they counter packet drops with retransmissions. The xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d flows get less and less throughput as they reduce flow rate in response to drops while the NAFs capture more bandwidth.
As a further drawback, the random packet drops sometimes hit fragile flows. Such flows contain time-critical traffic of the highest priority, such as voice data. Fragile flows have the lowest tolerance for drops and delay, so a random packet drop management scheme can have a highly detrimental effect on them.
An alternative to managing router/switch traffic at the queue end is to manage flows at the buffer end, referring to buffer pool 30 of FIG. 1. The basic premise of buffer-based management is that if one limits how much of a particular input flow gets into buffers 30 relative to other input flows 20, the output queues 40 will take care of themselves. Such limits on the number of packets buffered per flow can be either static or dynamic.
In the static or strict limit scheme, a set maximum number of buffers is available for each flow. Any packets received after those buffers are full are discarded. Static limits are set by the system administrator for each type of flow. However, this scheme has the obvious drawback of high overhead associated with setting up a gating mechanism for each flow and administrative oversight. Additionally, it lacks long-term flexibility to adapt to the wide variety and constantly changing mix of flow types seen in modem internetworking.
Typical prior art systems implement static buffer limitation schemes in software with limited hardware support. All experience the same or similar drawbacks noted above due to overhead (set up and tear down, as well as processing time delay and hardware resource) costs.
Dynamic buffer limiting, on the other hand, computes a buffer limit for each flow based on the size of the output queues, the size of the buffer pool, the number of buffers available at any given instant, and other router/switch state variables. Additionally, and most importantly, dynamic buffer limitation schemes compute limits based on the flow type. FIG. 2 illustrates the standard bit configuration for an Internet Protocol packet, including the fields within its header. Flow type, also known as flow classification, information can be found in, for instance, the type of service (TOS) field 210 in the internet protocol (IP) header 200 or in the source address 220 of the received packet. It can also be deduced from the type of packet received, voice being of a higher priority and thus demanding of a lower delay than other flows. While some forms of dynamic buffer limiting (DBL) are known, current schemes are unable to update their limit values fast enough to keep up with the latest generation of ultra-fast (e.g., Gigabit speed) flows. As an additional drawback, the use of TOS field 210 is not standardized among internetworking users. Thus, neither TOS nor source address is a reliable means of identifying flow type at this time.
Some of these shortcomings are addressed by the co-pending, commonly-assigned patent application entitled Per-Flow Dynamic Buffer Management, Ser. No. 09/238,552 (hereinafter xe2x80x9cDBL Applicationxe2x80x9d), naming Andreas V. Bechtolsheim and David R. Cheriton as inventors, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, large numbers of voice flows, in particular, pose additional problems not solved by the co-pending DBL Application.
A well-behaved voice flow, such as Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), makes very low demands on an internetworking switch, in terms of data rate and buffering, but needs low-latency queuing and forwarding to stay within an acceptable voice delay budget. Each voice channel needs only a small percentage of the available bandwidth; essentially no buffering would be required if all voice flows were well-behaved. However, one badly behaved flow (a voice NAF) can cause queuing, resulting in other voice flows being queued up behind it. This queuing quickly causes unacceptable delays.
The credit scheme disclosed in the DBL Application, discussed above, decrements a credit field for a given flow when packets are dropped and increments it when packets from that same flow are enqueued. That scheme is too crude, however, when flows have a nominally low data rate and are highly delay sensitive, as is the case for voice flows.
One alternative, simply giving a high priority to voice packets, runs the risk of starving other flows. Such starvation occurs when high priority packets are transmitted before all other flows, which can result in the low priority flows not being transmitted at all or with unacceptably long delays. Furthermore, such starvation can also occur when NAFs are only pretending to be voice flows, as by a deliberate mis-identification of TOS by the source. Experience has shown that malevolent users (e.g., hackers) will manipulate TOS in order to capture additional bandwidth and decrease latency in their own traffic at the expense of others.
Other existing schemes based on strict per-flow queuing are expensive to set up, manage, and tear down, as noted above. They also run at low utilization levels because voice flows are currently minority users of switch bandwidth and operate at very low data rates. Explicit bandwidth reservation schemes, such as Resource-Reservation Protocol (RSVP), described in Ford, require additional hardware for each flow to record and enforce reservations on the fast (low latency) path through the switch. Reservation systems also require long call set up times, placing further burdens and inefficiencies on the switch.
What is needed is a scheme to rapidly identify xe2x80x9cgoodxe2x80x9d flows from xe2x80x9cbadxe2x80x9d (i.e., the well-behaved flows vs. the non-adapting aggressive flows) on a packet-by-packet basis and to adaptively limit the throughput rate of the bad flows.
Each packet of an input flow is mapped (e.g., hashed) to an entry in a (typically) unique flow table for each output queue. The mapping is based on a subset of the fields within the packet""s header, giving (due to the small size of the flow table relative to the number of unique combinations of packet header bits) an approximation of a per-flow management system. Each flow table entry contains at least a credit value. On packet reception, the credit value is tested against zero to ascertain if any credits remain; if not (i.e., credits=zero), the packet is dropped. Otherwise, the packet size is compared to the credit value. If the size is less than or equal to the credit value, the credit value is decremented by the packet size and processing proceeds according to conventional methods, including but not limited to those disclosed in the co-pending DBL Application. If, however, the packet size is greater than the available number of credits, the credit value is set to zero and the packet is dropped.
A periodic task, executing in the router/switch controller, adds credits to each flow table entry (or xe2x80x9cbucketxe2x80x9d) up to a predetermined maximum corresponding to the allowed maximum rate for the flow in question. The processing rate of each approximated flow (i.e., approximated by the packet mapping) is thus maintained to the rate determined by the number of credits present at each enqueuing decision, up to the allowed maximum.
The scheme operates independently of packet flow type, providing packet-specific means for rapidly discriminating well-behaved flows from aggressive, non-adapting flows and managing throughput bandwidth accordingly. The present invention handles robust, well-behaved flows that adapt to congestion situations signaled by packet drop, fairly sharing bandwidth among these flows. The present invention also ensures good service for fragile flows (those sending few packets and those of a time critical nature) such as Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), thereby protecting them from non-adapting aggressive flows as well.