A server generates an update file for transmission to a client that permits the client to generate a copy of a current version of a subscription file from a copy of an earlier version of the subscription file. For each segment of the current version of the subscription file, the server searches an earlier version of a signature list for an old segment signature which matches a new segment signature corresponding to the segment. When a match is detected, the server writes a command in the update file for the client to copy an old segment of the client""s copy of the earlier version of the subscription file into the client""s copy of the current version of the subscription file, where the old segment corresponds to the segment for which a match was detected. When no match is detected, the server writes a command into the update file for the client to insert a new segment of the current version of the subscription file into the client""s copy of the current version of the subscription file, where the new segment of the current version of the subscription file is written into the update file. The update file is only generated when the server determines the subscription file has changed. The server periodically monitors the subscription file to determine if it has been altered before generating an update file.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of personal computers which access files on network drives and which utilize electronic mail systems. Specifically, the present invention involves the synchronization of the local copies of files on user""s client computer hard disk to the current versions of the files on a network drive.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
As more and more business information moves from analog to digital formats, the relatively newfound ability to create, amend, and revise information spontaneously and frequently has brought with it challenges for corporate users. Revenue results can now be easily aggregated and updated in near real time, sales presentations can be amended regularly, and changes made to business documents. However, causing these changes to effectively trickle down through the organization without causing a digital flood is a challenge.
Companies have responded to the threat by carefully creating structures for organizing, storing, and sharing these electronic files. Organizations have moved from file servers to intranet sites to combinations of both to meet the need of the corporate user. While these structures are clearly effective means of storing, sharing, and organizing information, they do not address the fact that users have very individual information needs. They also do not resolve the obstacle users face who do not have the time to spend looking for changes. An effective paradigm for addressing the problem of individual needs and delivering changes to documents can be found in the emerging category of xe2x80x9cPush Technology.xe2x80x9d
As its simplest definition, push is the process of automatically delivering user-requested information electronically. It is not an application, but merely a function or feature in a product. There are clear distinctions between the three different categories of push-based application: content, software, and document.
Content push is the first mover. Conventional products focus on delivering breaking news and information to user desktops automatically. Instead of the user constantly surfing multiple Web sites for stock quotes, news, weather, etc., conventional products aggregate and broadcast information automatically according to individual user preferences. Many companies incorporate xe2x80x9cpushxe2x80x9d functionality into their products.
Following acceptance by hundreds of thousands of early adopters, many push-based applications started the move into the corporate world. For IS Managers, xe2x80x9cpush-based technologiesxe2x80x9d were seen as an uncontrollable avenue for terabytes of graphics and HTML to come through the corporate firewall and network, filling local hard drives.
Microsoft and Netscape entered the fray with their own xe2x80x9cpushxe2x80x9d clients andmdash; IE 4.0 Active Desktop and Communicator""s Netcaster, respectively. Rather than spurring the growth of content delivery, however, the effect of the push entries has been to call into question the value of delivering Web content to user hard drives. The value is questioned not only in terms of relevance, but also its effects and load on corporate networks. The automated information flow becomes a flood through the Internet gate-ways of corporations threatening the stability and reliability of the network infrastructure itself.
Within the corporate world, the future of content push remains in limbo. Uncertainty over standards and overall value have caused the market to trip on the initial momentum and slow to a crawl. However, what is questioned here is not the value of automating delivery or xe2x80x9cpush,xe2x80x9d but rather the value of what is being pushed.
Software Push is another important objective. Microsoft and Marimba, among others, have recognized the importance and potential of xe2x80x9cElectronic Software Distributionxe2x80x9d (ESL) or xe2x80x9csoftware pushxe2x80x9d as a way of addressing the need to seamlessly deliver software updates across the network with the goal of directly impacting the total cost of ownership. The requirements for software distribution are dramatically different from content distribution. For one, the xe2x80x9ccontentxe2x80x9d in software delivery is, by its very nature, deemed critical. To reduce the impact of supporting multiple versions of products across the corporate network, near-simultaneous deployment is imperative. Companies that do not use some form of software push technologies require dedicated individuals to make the rounds updating software by reinstalling or applying patches for each personal computer and laptop.
Rather than aggregating and displaying information, software push transparently delivers one specific piece of information and applies it to user systems or applications. Files tend to be very large and the delivery of these files must be well-managed. Incremental downloading becomes important to reduce frustration and bandwidth associated with broken and lost connections. Management of software updating also needs to be centralized and MIS-controlled. In addition, the primary value of the application is to IS personnel and only indirectly to for the end-users.
A good example of software push is Marimba""s Castanet, which allows Java applications to be distributed and updated seamlessly and automatically without user intervention. This same approach to Java programming can be, and is being, applied to C-language programs as well. The case of content push vs. software push makes it clear that the importance lies in the distinction between the data being delivered andmdash; and not the delivery mechanism itself.
The Next Phase is Electronic Document Delivery. The final frontier in digital push is xe2x80x9celectronic document deliveryxe2x80x9dor EDD. It deals with delivering changes or xe2x80x9cupdatesxe2x80x9d to the same physical files (like software push), but the files themselves are highly personalized (like content push). Different from content push, these files exist in the form of sales presentations (PowerPoint), spreadsheets (Excel and Lotus 1,2,3), and reports and plans (Word or WordPerfect). These are the types of documents for which companies currently invest millions of dollars in file servers and intranet technologies in order to share among respective workgroups. The important distinction here between content and document push is the fact that EDD delivers data that currently exists in its native format within corporations and whose value is clearly understood by the company, MIS, and the end-user. With the recognized features, the willingness to invest in infrastructure is more likely.
Within conventional environments, users have access to files and can download or copy them on-demand, whenever they are aware that the network file document changes. File servers and intranet servers act as document repositories waiting passively to be accessed. The reality is that these files change erratically and the user can never really know when a file has changed. As a result, those who need to have the most current documents are required to perform hit-and-miss network browsing and checking which is time-consuming, unproductive, and frustrating. Even if the changes are scheduled, the user is still required to manually access, retrieve and manage those changes.
For mobile users, the problem of knowing about and accessing changes to network-based files is compounded by infrequent access to the corporate network. In addition, when remote from the office, users need to establish connections to the network via dial-up networking technologies, then search and browse the network over an often slow, unreliable connection. The productivity losses and frustrations are simply multiplied.
As is apparent from the above discussion, a need exists for an efficient and effective mechanism for allowing a computer user to have copies of the current versions of network files on his client computer.
Conventionally, those who need to have the most current versions of computer files are required to perform hit-and-miss network browsing and checking which is time-consuming, unproductive, and frustrating. An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism by which a user can be automatically provided with a current version of a file to which he subscribes. Another object of the present invention is to communicate the current version of the file in an efficient manner. According to the present invention, a server computer monitors network files and folders stored on the network for changes and then sends the user email notifications and updates when monitored items change.
According to the present invention, a server computer generates an update file for transmission to a client computer that permits the client computer to generate a copy of a current version of a subscription file from a copy of an earlier version of the subscription file. The server computer periodically reads the subscription file from the network drive and divides the subscription file into variable-length segments based upon a segment delimiter. The server computer computes a signature for each segment and stores the segment signature along with the beginning position and length of each segment in a current version of the signature list. The server computer also maintains the earlier version of the signature list.
For each segment of the current version of the subscription file, the server computer searches an earlier version of a signature list for an old segment signature which matches a new segment signature corresponding to the segment. When a match is detected, the server computer writes a command in the update file for the client computer to copy an old segment of the client computer""s copy of the earlier version of the subscription file into the client computer""s copy of the current version of the subscription file, where the old segment corresponds to the segment for which a match was detected. The command need only specify the location within the earlier version of the file where the old segment is stored, rather than the actual data that is stored at this position. This information is found in the signature list in the beginning location and size fields. The beginning location field is preferably expressed as a number of bytes from the beginning of the file. At the client computer, when this location information is combined with the offset of the beginning of the client computer""s copy of the earlier version of the subscription file, the correct old segment can be copied into the client computer""s copy of the current version of the subscription file. The size of the copy command is negligible in comparison to the size of the segment to which it pertains. This savings reduces the size of the update file, and thus reduces the connection time in communicating the update file to the client computer.
When no match is detected in the earlier version of the signature list, the server computer writes a command into the update file for the client computer to insert a new segment of the current version of the subscription file into the client computer""s copy of the current version of the subscription file, where the new segment of the current version of the subscription file is written into the update file. Because the new segment of the current version of the subscription file contains the actual data of the new segment, the new segment of the current version of the subscription file may be compressed to reduce the size, encrypted for security, or both, by the server computer before being written into the update file.
When the update file is completed, the server computer transmits the update file to the client computer as an executable attachment via electronic mail. The update file is only generated when the server computer determines that the subscription file has changed. The server computer periodically monitors the subscription file to determine if it has been altered before generating an update file. The user determines the periodicity of the checks to determine if the file has been altered, and if so, to generate the update file and send it as an electronic mail.
These and other features of the present invention are apparent from the Drawings which are described in narrative form in the Detailed Description of the Invention.

Methods and apparatuses for file synchronization and updating using a signature list


The present invention relates to a composite tantalum powder and a process for preparing the same, and to a capacitor anode prepared from the tantalum powder. The method for preparing a composite tantalum powder comprises the following steps of: 1) providing a tantalum powder prepared by a reduction process, and flattening the tantalum powder so as to prepare a flaked tantalum powder; 2) providing a granular tantalum powder prepared from tantalum ingot; 3) mixing the flaked tantalum powder and the granular tantalum powder to give a tantalum powder mixture; and 4) thermally treating the tantalum powder mixture, and then pulverizing, screening to give a composite tantalum powder. The present invention further relates to a composite tantalum powder prepared from the process and the use thereof in a capacitor.

Metal tantalum, being a valve metal, is able to form a dense oxidative film on a surface, so that the metal has the unilateral conduction property. Anode films prepared from the metal tantalum have stable chemical properties (particularly, the films are stable in an acidic electrolyte), a high electrical resistivity (7.5×1010 Ω·cm), a high dielectric constant (27.6), a small leakage current. In addition, the anode films further have the advantages of a broad working temperature range (from −80° C. to 200° C.), a high reliability, shock resistance, and a long life or the like. Thus, tantalum powder is an ideal material for preparing tantalum capacitors having a small volume and a high reliability. Since the tantalum capacitors have many advantages, they can be widely used in electronic devices of aviation, aerospace, communication, computer and cellphone.
The batch production of tantalum powder has a history 70-year or more. However, the production is developed in large scale and high speed merely in recent 50 years. As early as 1904, people employed carbon to reduce tantalum pentoxide, and the reduction product is refined at a high temperature and under vacuum, to obtain the first tantalum ingot having the ductility in the world. The fused salt electrolysis process which is developed afterward is economic, while requiring simple apparatus. Hence, the process is ever widely used. However, tantalum powder electrolyzed by conventional processes has simple particle shape, coarse particles, and a low specific capacitance, and thus the tantalum powder cannot meet the requirements of electronic industry to high capacitance tantalum powder. Carbothermal reduction of tantalum oxide, hydrogen reduction of tantalum pentoxide and aluminothermic reduction still are not applied in industrial productions. Tantalum powder prepared by the sodium reduction has the characteristics of a high purity, complex particle type, and a high specific capacitance, and thus the reduction process becomes a primary production process for tantalum powder at home and abroad. Now, manufacturers for tantalum powder in the world primarily include Cabot Group in U.S.A, HCST Group in German and Ningxia Orient Tantalum Industry Co. LTD. in China.
In view of material classification, tantalum powder special for the manufacture of a capacitor is called as a capacitor grade tantalum powder. Tantalum powder, according to used voltages, may be classified into high voltage tantalum powder (working voltage is higher than 35 V), intermediate voltage tantalum powder (working voltage is from 20 to 35 V), and low voltage tantalum powder (working voltage is below 20 V). Tantalum powder which are used in capacitors is about 60 to 70% of the total consumption of tantalum powder in the world. In particular, recently, with the rapid development of computer and electronic industry, tantalum powder is always required in a stable and raised trend, and it can be predicted that in the coming five to ten years, tantalum industry in the world will be continuously developed in a speed that the production amount is increased by 15% per year.
High voltage tantalum powder used in military products mainly is meant to 63V series tantalum powder manufactured by electron beam smelting, hydrogenation and pulverization, and its working voltage range can be expanded to between 50 V and 75 V. The high voltage tantalum powder is important in the fields of aviation, aerospace and military. Still some high voltage tantalum powder having the working voltage of from 35 to 50 V mainly includes intermediate voltage flaked tantalum powder and other tantalum powder having a high voltage resistance. Recently, intermediate voltage tantalum powder having the working voltage from 20 to 35 V is a hot spot of the later development in the art.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,415 discloses tantalum powder for electrolytic capacitors wherein tantalum particles in said powder have an average flakiness of 2 to 60, at least 80 percent by weight of said powder consisting of particles having a shorter breadth of 3 to 250 μm and said powder being free from particles having a shorter breadth of above 500 μm, and methods of preparing the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,927 discloses an ingot-derived agglomerated tantalum powder composition comprising a select granular tantalum powder and including a critical proportion of a select flaked tantalum powder. Both are derived from the tantalum ingot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,268 is a method invention, relating to flaked tantalum powder having improved workability. The mixed powder is an agglomerated tantalum powder mixture made by electron beam smelting. It contains flaked tantalum powder (20-40%) and particular tantalum powder (70%). Prior to the mixing, the mixed tantalum powder are subjected to heat treatment at temperatures range from about 1250° C. to about 1550° C. for a period ranging from about 5 to about 120 minutes, so as to improve the workablity. The tantalum powder prepared according to the method in the patent is suitable for intermediate working voltage (20 V to 35 V).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,238 is concerned to an ingot-derived unagglomerated tantalum powder composition includes a platelet tantalum powder having an average Fisher sub-sieve size (FSSS) of less than two micrometers, preferably in the range of 0.6 to 1.1 micrometers, a Scott density not greater than 30 g/in3, and a BET surface area of at least 0.7 m2/g. The tantalum powder is tantalum powder in the pure flaked form.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,490 relates to an improved flaked tantalum powder and process for making the flaked powder are disclosed. The powder is characterized by having a Scott density greater than about 18 g/in3 and preferably at least about 90% of the flaked particles having no dimension greater than about 55 micrometers. Agglomerates of the flaked tantalum powder, provide improved flowability, green strength and pressing characteristics compared to conventional flaked tantalum powders. The improved flaked tantalum powder can be made by preparing a large flaked tantalum and then reducing the flaked size until a Scott density greater than 18 g/in3 is achieved. The tantalum powder is a tantalum powder in the pure flaked form.
In addition, the contents as recited in patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,211,741, 5,261,942, 5,580,367 and 5,261,942 are substantially the same as those in U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,490.
The prior art tantalum powder useful for an intermediate voltage capacitor mainly include flaked tantalum powder prepared by reducing tantalum powder with sodium or from tantalum ingot. These tantalum powders commonly have the disadvantages of bad particle shapes, and a too high oxygen content. More importantly, anode block prepared from the tantalum powders has poor electrical properties, for example, bad breakdown resistance, high leakage current, and too high loss or the like, and especially, the disadvantage of the too high leakage current can influence the applications of the tantalum powder.

Composite tantalum powder and process for preparing the same and capacitor anode prepared from the tantalum powder

Ningzia Orient Tanatum Industry Co., Ltd.

National Engineering Research Center for Special Metal Materials of Tantalim and Niobium


A magnetic bearing having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring arranged concentrically in relation to the first bearing ring. The first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to each other about an axis of rotation by means of electromagnets. The first bearing ring has a first magnet row and a second magnet row. The magnet rows each include electromagnets arranged at a distance from one another in a circumferential direction of the first bearing ring. The electromagnets of the magnet rows are oriented such that they can each exert a magnetic force on the second bearing ring, which magnetic force is oriented transversely to the axis of rotation and transversely to a radial plane which is arranged perpendicularly to the axis of rotation.

Magnetic bearings are employed for the contactless bearing support of mutually rotatable mechanical elements and, in comparison with rolling bearings or plain bearings, provide an advantage in that exceptionally high speeds of rotation can be achieved. Moreover, magnetic bearings permit virtually noise-free operation.
A magnetic bearing of the above-mentioned type is known, for example, from DE 10 2015 108 081 A1. This magnetic bearing comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, which are mounted so as to be mutually rotatable about an axis of rotation. In the inner ring, a total of three magnet rows are provided, each of which is comprised of a plurality of electromagnets which are configured in a mutually spaced arrangement in the circumferential direction of the inner ring. The electromagnets of a first magnet row are arranged such that they exert a magnetic force on the outer ring, which acts in a radial direction. These electromagnets constitute a radial sectional magnetic bearing. The electromagnets in the other two magnet rows are arranged such they exert magnetic forces on the outer ring in an axial direction. These electromagnets thus constitute axial sectional magnetic bearings.
Known magnetic bearings are entirely proven in practice. However, it has proved to be disadvantageous that a large number of electromagnets is involved, thereby resulting in high production costs.
Thus a need exists for the production of a magnetic bearing with reduced costs.

Magnetic bearing and method for operating a magnetic bearing


A memory management method for a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The memory management method includes using a first management mode to manage the rewritable non-volatile memory module after the rewritable non-volatile memory module is powered on; and using a second management mode to manage the rewritable non-volatile memory module if a shut down command is received from a host system, wherein the second management mode is different from the first management mode and the second management mode executes at least one mandatory processing procedure in background.

Technical Field
The invention relates to a memory management method, and more particularly, relates to a memory management method for a rewritable non-volatile memory, a memory control circuit unit and a memory storage device using the method.
Description of Related Art
The growth of digital cameras, mobile phones, and MP3 players has been rapid in recent years. Consequently, the consumers' demand for storage media has increased tremendously. A rewritable non-volatile memory is one of the most adaptable memories for said electronic products due to its data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, non-mechanical structure and high read/write speed. For these reasons, the flash memory has become an import part of the electronic industries. For example, an eMMC (embedded Multi Media Card) widely adopted in mobile electronic device is one storage device that uses the flash memory as a storage medium.
Generally, the flash memory of a flash memory storage device is divided into a plurality of physical units and these physical units are grouped into a data area and a spare area. The physical units sorted into the data area are used for storing valid data written by a write command, and the physical units in the spare area are used for replacing the physical units of the data area during the execution of the write command. Specifically, when the flash memory storage device intends to perform writing for the physical units of the data area after receiving a write command from a host, the flash memory storage device retrieves one physical unit from the spare, writes to-be-written valid old data in physical units of the data area and to-be-written new data into the physical units retrieved from the spare area, associates the physical units written with the new data to the data area, and erases the physical units originally belonging to the data area and associates the same to the spare area. In order to allow the host to successfully access the physical units stored with data in an alternating manner, the flash memory storage device may provide logical units to the host. In other words, the flash memory storage device may establish a logical to physical mapping table or a physical to logical mapping table, and record and update a mapping relation between the logical unit and the physical unit in the data area to reflect the alternating (or substituting) of the physical units. As such, the host only needs to perform writing with respect to the provided logical units so the flash memory storage device can perform data reading or writing for the mapped physical units according to the logical to physical mapping table or the physical to logical mapping table.
However, as capacity and amount of the physical units become larger with advancements in manufacturing process of the flash memory, size of the mapping table and its required time for updating are increased correspondingly. To overcome said issue, a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) is usually disposed in the flash memory storage device to serve as a cache memory. In this kind of architecture, the flash memory storage device temporarily stores said mapping table in the cache memory in order to improve overall operational efficiency of the system.
In general, if a shut down command is received by a storage device from a host system, the storage device may write aforesaid mapping tables or other system data/file for managing the storage device into the rewritable non-volatile memory of the storage device. However, after the shut down command is received by the storage device, the storage device may need to process one or more write commands before it can be really powered off. Accordingly, the previously stored mapping table or system data/file is unable to truly reflect write operations (e.g., the mapping relation updated in response to the write operation) performed after the shut down command is received. As a result, because it is possible that the previously stored mapping table and system data/file is incorrect, the storage device may enter a processing process of abnormal when the next time it is powered on, which leads to increases in the required time for powering on.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Memory management method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage device


The present invention provides a bipolar coagulator which can be passed through the internal lumen of a ventricular catheter previously implanted into a cranial ventricle of a living subject and engaged in-situ. The bipolar coagulator will provide bipolar electrical arc currents for coagulation cauterization of adherent brain tissues, such as the choroid plexus, which occludes fluid flow into the intake drainage holes in the implanted ventricular catheter and often becomes adherent to the catheter in-situ. The cautery current provided by the bipolar coagulator is direction oriented and spatially controlled; thereby providing a better distribution of electrical current and heat within the surrounding cranial tissues; and thereby avoiding major complications of damage to intracranial structures such as blood vessels as well as avoiding the severe subarachnoid hemorrhages which are typical using other kinds of coagulation instruments.

The present invention is directed generally to ventricular catheters which have been previously implanted in-vivo into one or more ventricles of the human brain for therapeutic purposes; and is particularly directed to removing adherent tissue occlusions of ventriculoperitoneal shunts employed in pediatric neurosurgical techniques for release and fluid flow of cerebral-spinal fluids
The present invention is usefully employed with ventricular catheters which have been therapeutically implanted in-vivo into the human brain; but which have become blocked by the surrounding cranial tissue which has occluded the intake drainage holes within the implanted catheter and become adherent to the catheter itself. In order to properly appreciate both the medical problem and the improved bipolar coagulator device which is employed therapeutically to alleviate such occlusion conditions in-situ, an in-depth description of the relevant medical and therapeutic use circumstances is provided below.
The four ventricles of the human brain are interconnected cavities that produce and circulate cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF). Procedures involving ventriculostomy (i.e., placement of a catheter into the ventricular system of the brain) form a major part of a neurosurgeon""s clinical practice. General areas for application of ventricular catheter placement include intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP), draining or shunting of CSF and the installation of pharmacological therapeutic agents.
CSF drainage is a major life-sustaining therapy for patients with congenital or acquired hydrocephalus. CSF drainage, which can only be performed with an intraventricular catheter, is a life-preserving procedure, because it can immediately reduce intracranial pressure. The ventricular catheter, used to drain cerebral-spinal fluid, is connected to a peripheral subcutaneous drainage system, i.e., to the peritoneal cavity or systemic circulation via the heart. However, later catheter obstruction by tissue and debris is a common, sometimes life-threatening problem.
Standard procedures for ventricular catheterization are disclosed in the textbook literature. See, for example, Neurosurgery, edited by Robert H. Wilkins and Setti S. Rangacharty, Section A, Chapter 13, Techniques of Ventricular Puncture (McGraw Hill 1984).
A frequently chosen site for ventricular catheterization is the coronal plane. In most cases, a catheter is inserted in the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle through an orifice or burr hole drilled just anterior to the coronal suture in the midpupillary line of the cranium, i.e., in the frontal bone over the ventricle. This is known in the field as Kocher""s point. The burr hole, only slightly larger than the diameter of the selected catheter to insure a snug fit and provide a seal against CSF leakage, is placed approximately 1 cm, anterior to the coronal suture, approximately 10 to 12 cm. above the nasion, and approximately 2 to 3 cm. from the midline over the nondominant hemisphere. After the burr hole is made, the dura and underlying pia-arachnoid are opened and coagulated, for example, with a fine-tipped blade after cauterizing the dural surface.
A pre-measured catheter having a stylet is then introduced and directed freehand through the burr hole, approximately in the coronal plane, and angled towards the medial canthus of the ipsilateral eye, using external landmarks such as the inner canthus of the eye in the frontal plane and a point just in front of the external auditory meatus in the lateral plane as guides to placement. CSF should flow freely from the catheter tip at a depth of approximately 4 to 5 cm. from the interior cranial surface.
A distinctive xe2x80x9cgivexe2x80x9d, or release of opposition, can often be felt when the ventricle is penetrated. Pressure should be measured at this point, since an artificially low value will be obtained even if small amounts of fluid are lost. Then, after removal of the stylet from the catheter, advancement another 1 cm. or so should insure placement in the frontal horn at a depth of about 5 to 6 cm. from the external table of the skull, care being taken that CSF continues to flow.
A variety of ventricular catheters and a range of methods for guiding a catheter into the ventricular system of the human brain are conventionally known and used. Merely illustrating this range and variety are: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,267; 5,030,223; 4,860,331; 4,613,324; 4,392,307; 4,386,602; 3,934,590; 3,223,087; 3,073,310; 3,053,256; 3,817,887; and the references cited within each of these printed publications.
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement for hydrocephalus is one of the most common procedures in neurological surgery. Hydrocephalus may result from subarachnoid hemorrhage, trauma, tumors, and the like. The technique entails introducing a catheter through brain tissue into one of the lateral ventricles of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricle may be vented through the catheter to relieve signs, symptoms, and sequelae of hydrocephalus.
The current surgical technique for placement of VP shunts was developed in the 1950s by Scarff and has persisted with few modifications. Despite the relative simplicity of this procedure, the complication rate can be significant and includes operative morbidity as well as post-operative infections and tissue obstructions.
Surgical technique plays a major role in reducing complications associated with VP shunts. Improper placement of the ventricular catheter may result in neurologic injury from the misplaced catheter or may cause an early proximal shunt obstruction, which is often secondary to blockage by adherent choroid plexus and other debris. The incidence of misplaced catheters is variable and dependent on a variety of factors, including the experience of the surgeon, the size of the targeted ventricle, the surgical approach, and the use of intraoperative guidance, such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, or endoscopy. Thus, to optimize shunt function and minimize morbidity proper placement of the proximal catheter is essential.
Two surgical approaches have been principally used for VP shunt placement, frontal and parieto-occipital. To assist in placement into small ventricles, a frontal catheter guide has been developed by Ghajar for placement of frontal ventricular catheters [Ghajar J B, J. Neurosurg. 68: 318-319 (1988)]. This instrument capitalized on the anatomical observation that a line passing perpendicular to the skull at the coronal suture will intersect the lateral ventricle.
However, parieto-occipital catheter placement has some advantages over frontal catheter placement. The catheter path necessary for the frontal approach to the ventricles traverses frontal lobe regions having a low seizure threshold. Mechanical irritation of the neural tissue surrounding the catheter may give rise to epileptogenic foci independent of the underlying cause of hydrocephalus. This complicates patient management and increases health care cost, as well as markedly impacting the patient""s quality of life.
The anatomy of the head and neck also cause technical difficulties for the surgeon. The distal end of the shunt is subcutaneously tunneled to the peritoneal cavity for implantation. Implantation in the open peritoneum provides an outlet for excess fluid drainage from the ventricles. The catheter path to the abdomen is circuitous from the frontal burr hole, however. The tube must pass posterior to the ear, and generally requires an additional skin incision. These difficulties frequently cause major complications and tissue obstructions.
Although generally successful and widely accepted by both neurosurgeons and patients, the ventriculoperitoneal shunt (xe2x80x9cVPSxe2x80x9d) and indeed all shunting systems, regularly malfunction despite the best efforts of physicians and biomedical engineers. These malfunctionsxe2x80x94once commonly the result of material, construction, or mechanical failuresxe2x80x94now relate primarily to necessary compromises or technical errors occurring during shunt placement or revision that occur coincident to successful cerebrospinal fluid diversion. VPS malfunction rates are maximal during the first year after insertion (see Ventureya et al., Neurosurgery 34: 924-926 (1994)].
Malfunction is most commonly caused by obstruction of the ventricular catheter by choroid plexus, ventricular ependyma, or xe2x80x9cdebrisxe2x80x9d. Ventricular catheter obstruction typically occurs in 80 to 90% of VPS malfunctions; and has become the predominant cause of obstruction because rigorous techniques have reduced the incidence of other causes of malfunction. Moreover, such ventricular catheter obstructions remain a major unsolved problem despite current improvements in materials or in catheter design changes, such as the Portnoy catheter [Haase et al., Acta Neurochir (Wien) 33: 213-218 (1976)]; and despite increased emphasis on precise techniques favoring optimal catheter placement [see for example: Ehni, G., Neurosurgery 14: 99-110 (1984); Epstein, F., Clin. Neurosurg. 32: 608-631 (1985); Gutierrez-Lara et al., J. Neurosurg. 42: 104-107 (1975); Nolsen, F. E. and D. P. Becker, Clin. Neurosurg. 14: 256-273 (1966) and J. Neurosurg. 20: 362-374 (1967)].
A ventricular tube, a catheter, having many sidewall holes in its head part and used for the above described purposes is well known, but these sidewall holes are often blocked by choroid plexus tissues which penetrate into the ventricular tube through the holes. In order to prevent this blockage, various device improvements have been proposed. These include the following illustrative examples: A drainage tube made of silicone [U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,343]; an external cerebrospinal fluid drain apparatus [U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,357]; a drain cannula [U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,852]; and improved devices and methods for parieto-occipital placement of ventricular catheters [U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,569,267; 6,197,003; and 5,683,357].
In addition, a number of other innovations have been put forward as alternative preventative improvements. These are represented by an electrolyte fluid flow rate method and apparatus [U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,582]; an anti-siphoning valve [U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,894]; a method of screening for silicone-specific hypersensitivity [U.S. Pat. No. 5,747,270]; and a catheter advancing single-handed soft passer [U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,003].
Shunt malfunction usually demands elective, and often urgent, open surgical intervention to revise the shunt system and restore functional integrity before permanent brain injury occurs. Such revisions require general anesthesia in addition to the operative procedure and are followed typically by a minimum hospitalization of 2 to 3 days.
Once shunt function is restored, malfunction is most likely to recur in the next few weeks or months. Subsequent malfunctions and, necessarily, further surgical revisions are unfortunately not uncommon; and these carry significant risks of shunt infection, hemorrhage or bleeding difficulties, and seizures in addition to the emotional and chological trauma endured by patients and families [see for example: Ivan, L. P. and S. H. Choo, Can. J. Sure. 23: 566-568 (1980); Keuchner, T. R. and J. Mealey, J. Neurosurg. 50: 179-186 (1979); Shurin, S. and H. L. Rekate, J. Neurosurg. 54: 264-267 (1981)]. Revision of ventriculoperitoneal shunts is also the most common performed single neurosurigcal operation in the pediatric population. Pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunts often occlude because the choroid plexus flows into the intake drainage holes in the ventricular catheter and then becomes adherent. This results in a proximal shunt malfunction requiring surgical revision. A significant complication of this revision surgery is that removal of the catheter can avulse the choroid plexus, causing intraventricular hemorrhage; and this can be dangerous by itself or cause a high risk of occlusion of the new shunt with debris or blood.
Another frequent neurosurgical maneuver for removing shunt occlusions has been the use of a monopolar cautery. In typical usuage, a stilette is passed down the existing implanted catheter; and then the occluding tissue is coagulated with monopolar cautery to shrink the occlusion (typically the choroid plexus) and release the adhesion. This can be successful, but often can be complicated by concomitant damage to intracranial structures. Typically blood vessel damage and severe subarachnoid hemorrhages have been reported as a result of the monopolar coagulation technique. Nevertheless, monopolar cauterization continues to remain the conventionally accepted procedure and standard of care, despite the long-recognized dangerous and uncontrolled distribution of electric current and heat within the tissue which accompanies its use.
The medical dangers and substantive disadvantages of monopolar cauterization are perhaps best evidenced and exemplified by a brief, but revealing, patient case historyxe2x80x94as reported by the authors, Drs. F. A. Boop and B. C. Cherny, at the 24th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons held Jan. 28-Feb. 2, 2001. Their published Abstract and patient case history is reproduced in full below.
xe2x80x9cThe authors present the case of an 8 year old child with congenital hydrocephalus, shunted in infancy, who presented with a proximal VP shunt malfunction. At the time of surgery, the ventricular catheter was stuck to the choroid plexus. The catheter was styletted and the choroid plexus coagulated with the monopolar bovic set on 30. The catheter was replaced uneventfully and the child sent home the next day doing well. He returned to the emergency room 2 weeks later with a spontaneous frontal lobe and intraventricular hemorrhage. At that time he was found to have a 1 cm pseudo-aneurysm arising from the anterior cerebral artery. In retrospect, the tip of the ventricular catheter extended to the level of the inter-hemispheric fissure. The authors believe that thermal injury from coagulation of the catheter caused the pseudo-aneurysm, which was subsequently treated endovascularly.
The authors suggest that, in cases in which ventricular catheter is in close proximity to major cerebral vessels, extreme caution be used in manipulating the catheter and that the current of the coagulating unit be turned down low prior to coagulating the anchoring tissues.xe2x80x9d
Accordingly, even though monopolar cauterization remains the current standard of care and therapeutic technique, it is clearly evident that an improved technology which is able to provide a better distribution of electric current and heat within the adherent tissue is both desirable and needed. Were a device to be developed which offers these desirable features and advantages and also allows for an easy utilization of the coagulation cauterization technique to remove adherent cranial tissue in-situ within a previously implanted ventricular shunt, such an innovation would be recognized and accepted by practitioners as offering major benefits and advantages as well as being a marked improvement in the relevant technical field.
The present invention provides a bipolar coagulator for in-vivo coagulation cauterization of tissue which is occluding at least one sidewall hole leading to the internal lumen of a catheter previously implanted into the body of a living subject for in-vivo flow release of fluids, said bipolar coagulator comprising:
a flexible obturator of fixed dimensions and substantially cylindrical form which is configured to fit within and pass through the inner diameter of the internal lumen of the catheter previously implanted in-vivo, said flexible obturator
(i) comprising a shaped proximal end section adapted for passage within the inner diameter of the internal lumen of the implanted ventricular catheter, a distal end section, and a flexible body section adapted for passage through and around such internal lumen bends as may exist within the implanted catheter, and
(ii) being constituted at least in part of an electrically insulating material;
at least two electrodes spatially disposed at different, direction-oriented, pre-chosen positions on said exterior surface of said proximal end section of said flexible obturator, each of said electrodes comprising a discrete electrode tip disposed on said exterior proximal end surface of said obturator at a pre-chosen position and an electrically communicating electrode body which is joined to said electrode tip and which extends into the interior of said obturator, said at least two direction-oriented disposed electrodes providing at least one positively charged electrode pole and at least one negatively charged electrode pole which collectively identify
(a) a demarcated surface area between said disposed electrode poles on said exterior surface of said obturator,
(b) a discrete gapped space which exists adjacent to and over said demarcated surface area between said disposed electrode poles as a cauterization zone, and
(c) an on-demand electrode system for generating a direction-oriented and spatially-controlled flow of electrical arc current for coagulation cauterization over said gapped space of said obturator; and
electrical current conveyance apparatus which is contained internally at least within said proximal end section of said obturator and is joined to each electrode spatially disposed on said surface of said obturator.

Direction-oriented and spatially controlled bipolar coagulator for in-situ cauterization of adherent cranial tissue occluding a ventricular catheter previously implanted in-vivo


Provided is a terminal device that receives RRC layer information indicating an asynchronous HARQ for a secondary cell, and a first random access response, which is a random access response including fields for indicating an uplink grant and a Temporary C-RNTI and is related to a non-contention based random access procedure on the secondary cell, that manages multiple HARQ processes, and that delivers the uplink grant to an HARQ process that instructs the transmission unit to transmit the MAC layer data in accordance with the uplink grant. In a case that the RRC layer information indicating the asynchronous HARQ is configured, a HARQ process in which the uplink grant included in the first random access response is delivered is determined based on the value of a field for indicating the Temporary C-RNTI included in the first random access response.

In the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a radio access method and a radio network for the cellular mobile communication (hereinafter referred to as "Long Term Evolution (LTE)", "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (EUTRA)", or "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (EUTRAN)") have been studied. In LTE, a base station device is also referred to as an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), and a terminal device is also referred to as user equipment (UE). LTE is a cellular communication system in which multiple areas each covered by the base station device are deployed to form a cellular structure. A single base station device may manage multiple cells.
LTE supports a time division duplex (TDD). LTE that employs the TDD scheme is also referred to as TD-LTE or LTE TDD. In TDD, uplink signals and downlink signals are time division multiplexed. Furthermore, LTE supports a frequency division duplex (FDD).
LTE provides a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) functionality at Medium Access Control (MAC) layers. The HARQ functionality in the downlink has an asynchronous adaptive HARQ characteristic, and the HARQ functionality in the uplink has a synchronous HARQ characteristic (NPL 1). Introduction of the asynchronous HARQ in the uplink has been studied in the 3GPP (NPL 2).

Terminal device, base station device, integrated circuit, and communication method


In a unit inverter system where multiple unit inverters are connected in parallel, the quantity of operating unit inverters is determined in accordance with an amount of power to be converted. A gate signal of a semiconductor switching element of a unit inverter is turned off after an output current of the inverter is reduced when reducing the quantity of inverter units, thereby improving the partial load efficiency of the system without an adverse effect on the system. A regulator connected to the inverter determines dead time of the inverter according to the output current value and an average output current value of the unit inverters, waits for the determined dead time so as to reduce the output current of the unit inverter, and then turns off the gate signal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a technology of controlling a unit inverter system where a dispersed power source whose power fluctuates, such as in solar battery or wind power generation, includes multiple unit inverters, and a quantity of operating unit inverters is changed in accordance with power generated. The present invention also relates to a dead time regulator that adjusts dead time of a unit inverter to reduce an output current of the unit inverter before stopping the unit inverter to reduce the quantity of operating unit inverters.
2. Related Art
The configuration of a unit inverter system using heretofore known technology, where multiple inverter units are connected in parallel, and the capacity of the system is increased, is shown in FIG. 6. The system includes a direct current power source 1 such as a solar battery as an input, an inverter INV1, whose output is connected to an alternating current filter formed of an alternating current reactor L1 and a capacitor C10, a balance reactor BL1 and a contactor CN1. The system also includes an inverter INV2, whose output is connected to an alternating current filter formed of an alternating current reactor L2 and a capacitor C20, a balance reactor BL2, and a contactor CN2. The inverters INV1 and INV2 are connected in parallel, and connected to an alternating current power source ACP of the system. The inverters INV1 and INV2 respectively include current detectors CT1 and CT2, which detect an output current, and dead time regulators DTR1 and DTR2. The output current of each inverter is controlled by a command from a common controller CONT.
When connecting this kind of unit inverter to a system, it is connected to the system after reducing a high frequency current output by the inverters using the inverters, the alternating current reactors, and the capacitors. Furthermore, when providing a contactor in each unit, the balance reactors BL1 and BL2 are used to balance the current of the contactors, in order to reduce the cost of the contactors.
This kind of unit inverter calculates an average current of each unit using the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 8 and principle shown in FIG. 9 described in JP-A-2006-296110, and carries out a control using a voltage at a connection point with the current. Referring to FIG. 6, a PWM pulse signal output by the controller CONT is supplied to the inverters as a gate signal via the dead time regulators DTR1 and DTR2 in each unit. The average current can be obtained using the kind of calculator circuit shown in FIG. 9 by converting the output of each current detector into a voltage, as described in JP-A-2006-296110.
The configuration of the dead time regulators DTR1 and DTR2 is shown in FIG. 7. The dead time regulators adjust dead time in such a way that an own unit current amplitude value of each unit calculated by an amplitude calculator AC1, and an in-unit average current amplitude value calculated by an amplitude calculator AC2, match. The own unit current output by each unit, and the average current amplitude value, are calculated by the amplitude calculators AC1 and AC2. A deviation of the two current values is obtained by an adder AD1, and input into an regulator ACR. The output of the regulator ACR is input into an upper and lower limit limiter LMT which has 0 as a lower limit value, and a fixed value as an upper limit value. The output of the limiter LMT is then added by an adder AD2 to a dead time fixed value for preventing a short circuit of upper and lower arms of the inverters. The added value is used as a delay time of on-delay circuits DT1 and DT2 into which a gate signal and an inverted gate signal are input.
When using the unit inverter in a dispersed power source connected to a power generation source whose power constantly fluctuates, such as in solar light or wind power generation, it often happens that the converted power thereof is smaller than the device capacity. In this case, it is known that it is possible, without operating all of the units, to improve efficiency from the power generation source to the alternating current output by changing the quantity of units operated in accordance with the amount of power to be converted (refer to JP-A-61-135365, and the like). In this case, a method is adopted whereby the contactor is maintained in an on condition in order to prevent a reduction of lifespan, and only the gate signal of the inverter is put into a locked condition.
Herein, in the case of stopping the gate signal of one portion of the operating units, there is a problem in that the balance reactor and filter capacitor connected to the relevant unit form a resonant circuit, and the resonant current thereof has an adverse effect on the system. Even in a hypothetical case in which no contactor is used, and no balance reactor is provided, when the wiring from the connection point of each unit to the filter capacitor is long, the impedance thereof acts as inductance, meaning that a resonant current is generated.


Disclosed is a brake device, particularly a disc brake, comprising a caliper, brake drum, or similar, and energy accumulator, especially an accumulator spring. The energy accumulator rests on the caliper or similar while being supported on an abutment by means of a lever arm. A mechanism for transmitting resilient forces between the energy accumulator embodying one spring element is created with the aid of a lever arm via the abutment. The brake device is characterized in that the lever arms can take at least two or more different angular positions relative to each other in relation to the abutment.

The invention relates to a brake device, in particular to a disc or drum brake, having a brake caliper or a brake drum and an energy accumulator, in particular an accumulator spring. The energy accumulator is supported, on the one hand, on the brake caliper or the like, and, on the other hand, by way of a lever arm on an abutment.
A wide and diverse variety of brake devices are known from the prior art, such as, also, vehicle brakes having an elastic energy accumulator, typically a spring accumulator, in which an equilibrium between the energy accumulator and the brake mechanism to be spread open is maintained by adapting the force step-up ratio in the range of possible tension forces of the brake.
Solutions of this type have been adopted, for example, in WO 01/44 677 A1 and WO 03/016745 A2.
A basic illustration of such prior art is shown in FIG. 1.
According to this design, in each position of a displaceable abutment "A", a stable equilibrium state between the energy accumulator and brake caliper is established by relaxing or tensioning the spring elasticities of the energy accumulator (lever arm l1) and brake caliper (lever arm l2) according to the ratio of the lever arm lengths l1 and l2 and of the spring rigidities c1 and c2.
By displacing the position of the abutment "A", the tension force of the brake can thus be varied within given limits.
What the solutions of the prior art have in common is that an adjustably positioned abutment is required, in each case, in order to variably set the equilibrium state.
The adjusting operation in this case entails an appreciable outlay in terms of energy, since, depending on the compression state of the energy-emitting or energy-absorbing elements, forces directed opposite to the adjusting movement occur on the adjusting mechanism of the abutment:FA=(F1+F2)·sin φ
There are, in addition, the frictional losses occurring in the adjusting mechanism (see the basic diagram of FIG. 2).
A further problem of the known solutions is that no measures are provided for adapting the force step-up ratios to the spring rigidities of the brake mechanism which are variable due to wear.
Particularly in disc brakes, however, the overall rigidity of the brake mechanism consisting of the brake caliper, the brake pads and the brake disc is influenced substantially by the relatively soft brake lining material.
Since, during operation, the lining material is worn away from a maximum thickness (when new) to virtually zero, a high wear-dependent variation in the overall rigidity of this arrangement occurs.
What is applicable is:
      1          c      overall        =            1              c        Caliper              +          1              c        Lining              +          1              c        Disk
The amount of coverall may vary, for example, in a ratio of
            c              overall        ·        max                    c              overall        ·        min              =  2as a result of the wear-dependent compressibility of the brake pads.
The result of the pronounced spread in the Coverall value is that, in the extreme states of "lining new" and/or "lining worn", energy compensation between the energy accumulator and the brake caliper becomes out of tune such that only a small fraction of the possible energy saving is utilized, that is to say, a considerable power consumption of the brake is required, thus making it necessary to have a correspondingly large dimensioning of the electric drive motor and of the following drive elements.
Against this background, the object of the invention is to develop further a brake device such that the problems of the adjustable abutment and, preferably, also the above-described problem of the influence of the lining compressibility, variable as a function of wear, on the power requirement of the brake are in any event essentially eliminated.
According to the invention, a brake device is provided, in particular a disc brake, having a brake caliper and an energy accumulator. The energy accumulator, in particular, an accumulator spring, is supported, on the one hand, on the caliper and, on the other hand, by way of a lever arm on an abutment. A mechanism for transmitting resilient forces between the energy accumulator embodying one spring element and the caliper embodying another spring element is formed with another lever arm via the abutment. The lever arms can take at least two or more different angular positions relative to each other in relation to the abutment.
Accordingly, the lever arms (l1 and l2) can assume at least two or more different angular positions in relation to one another with respect to the abutment "A". By virtue of this measure, the brake device is provided with a force step-up mechanism which, in the case of a suitable arrangement of the force action directions of the accumulator spring and brake caliper tension force in relation to the lever arms acted upon by these forces, and also of the configuration of the lever arm lengths and rigidities of the two spring systems in relation to one another, is automatically in an equilibrium state in any adjustment position of the lever and, therefore, in the case of any tension force of the brake which is to be set.
The simple design of the lever system, in conjunction with its special properties, makes it possible in this case to adapt the step-up characteristic to the caliper rigidity variable as a function of wear.
This is implemented preferably in that the lever arm generating the tension force is held variably in its angular position in relation to the force direction of the tension force.
Thus, in turn, preferably an angular position of the other lever leading with respect to the angular position of one lever arm is set. This lead angle is increased proportionally to the brake lining wear preferably by the action of the wear adjustment system present in the brake. In this way, the increasing rigidity of the brake caliper is compensated by a continuous increase in the step-up ratio and an adapted progression of the step-up.
The invention also provides a disc brake having a caliper which straddles a brake disc, for example, in a frame-like manner, there being arranged as an energy accumulator in the caliper an accumulator spring, which is supported with one of its ends via a support bearing on the inside of the caliper or of a spring pot in the region facing away from the brake disc, the end which faces the brake disc or the front region of the accumulator spring being articulated at a joint as an articulation point, preferably on a brake lever pivotable by an adjusting mechanism. This type of construction makes it possible to have a structurally perfectly cost-effective and simple implementation of the brake device according to the invention as a disc brake.

Brake device having an elastic energy accumulator

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


In a sample holder (9) for decomposition or analysis of sample material by heating the sample material in a heating appliance (1) such as a microwave oven, comprising a receiving part (11) having a filling opening (15) for the sample material, a lid (14) to close the receiving part (11) and a valve (16) in the upper part of the sample holder (9) that comprises a valve seat and a valve member that bears, counter to its direction of closure, against an elastically yielding thrust piece (31), the cross-section of the thrust piece (31) in the plane running in the direction of closure of the valve (16) is shaped as a plate spring.

In a sample holder of this kind one or more materials are simultaneously subjected, for the purpose of decomposition or analysis, to chemical treatment in which heat may be supplied to promote the reaction. An example of a sample material to be investigated is sewage sludge that is to be decomposed with highly aggressive acids. To accelerate the decomposition, i.e. the chemical process, it is usual to heat the sample material with the addition of acids or other decomposition agents by heating the sample holder with the sample material and the decomposition agent in a heating appliance, preferably by subjecting it to microwave radiation in a microwave oven.
The heating can result in a large excess pressure in the sample holder. To prevent damage to or explosion of the sample holder a valve is provided in an outlet opening that automatically opens if a predetermined internal pressure is exceeded.
In German patent application 38 39 901 a sample holder of the above-mentioned kind is described that comprises a bottom container part with a pot-shaped cylindrical lid that can be screwed in an inverted position on to the pot-shaped cylindrical bottom container part. In this arrangement the valve forms an integral part of a valve body that can be screwed on to a connecting piece that is located centrally on the lid and incorporates the outlet opening. The valve is situated in an outlet passage that passes through the valve body and includes a conical valve seat against which a valve member having a corresponding conical head can be prestressed from above by an amount such that when the internal pressure in the sample holder reaches a predetermined value the valve member lifts off under this internal pressure and frees the outlet opening. The valve member can move vertically in a plug that can be screwed from above into an open-topped recess in the valve body. The prestressing of the valve member is done through a thrust piece of elastic material, preferably silicone, that is located between the valve member and the plug. The plug can be screwed into the valve body in the manner of a press screw, by means of a turning member at its upper end, until the elastic thrust piece is compressed, thereby producing the prestressing force. The depth to which the plug is screwed in, and thus the prestressing force, can be determined by means of indicating marks on the valve body and/or on the turning member.
This known arrangement has proved to be practicable and useful. However, it is complicated and expensive to manufacture, since a special valve housing has to be made and fitted. The valve housing seated on the lid, or the valve body, also increases the height of the sample holder. Screwing the additional valve housing or valve body on and off is also regarded as a time-consuming operation. Apart from this, screw threads on the top and bottom parts of the container are expensive and make manipulation slow and difficult. Furthermore thick walls are necessary, leading to long cooling times and increased material requirements and weight. There is also a risk of damage to the sample holder by distortion and ageing, particularly in the region of the screw threads and with long decomposition times.
The heating of the sample material in the sample holder is preferably done in a microwave oven, in which several sample holders can be heated at the same time. To ensure uniformity of heating a rotary stand is provided in the oven on which the sample holders can be rotated about a vertical axis.
To provide resistance to the corrosive acids that can be generated in the course of the decomposition and to make microwave heating possible a chemically inert material that is transparent to microwaves is required. For this purpose a heat-resistant and chemically inert plastic material is very suitable.
In an arrangement known from DE-B-36 20 381, having a pot-shaped receiving part with a lid in the form of a disc resting-on its rim, the valve member is formed by the lid itself and a flat bearing disc of aluminum is arranged on the lid. To use a sample holder with a valve constructed in this way for the decomposition of sample material requires not only a stand in the oven but also a retaining means extending over the sample holder to hold the lid in its closed position. For this purpose a base plate is provided beneath the sample holder and a retaining plate that extends over it, the retaining plate having a press screw arranged to be screwed into it from above and coaxially with the sample holder so that its lower end presses vertically against the bearing disc and thus holds the valve in its closed position. Under excess internal pressure in the sample holder the lid can distort slightly and rock about the press screw. Oscillatory bending upwards of the lid will clearly occur in some position at its periphery. DE-B-36 20 381 does not say whether or not the bearing disc participates in this movement of the lid. It must be assumed that the aluminum bearing disc will likewise bend upwards and outwards under the increased internal pressure at some position on the periphery, so that the lid follows this movement and the excess pressure can blow off through the resulting gap. The internal pressure will obviously always seek out the weakest peripheral position on the lid and/or the bearing disc. At any rate, what will happen is a very indefinite opening, since both in the case of one lid in this peripheral region and also when there is more than one lid (simultaneous heating of several sample holders) blowing off will occur at different internal pressures as a result of differences in the bending strength of the lid or lids. This is undesirable, since at uncontrolled different internal pressures different decomposition reactions can occur and thus falsify the results of the decomposition or the analysis. With this known arrangement there is also the danger that the aluminum bearing disc may be permanently deformed either on screwing up the press screw or by the internal pressure, thus impairing the functioning of the sample holder through premature opening or making it unusable. A further disadvantage is that this known arrangement is not suitable for heating in a microwave oven.

Sample holder for decomposition of analysis of sample materials


In a method or a device for forming an electric control signal for an injection impulse of a position-controlled fuel injector, particularly of a common-rail or pump-nozzle injection system, the course of the electric control signal can be selected freely in regard to the pulse edges (injection rate changes Q), the holding period (Δt) and the injection rate (Q). This offers the advantage that the combustion process can be better optimized with respect to low emissions, low consumption and for meeting tightened legal regulations.

Fuel injectors are already known which are for example equipped with a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator has the characteristic that on the one hand it can convert an electric signal very quickly into a mechanical lifting movement. In addition, the piezoelectric actuator has the characteristic that, in the event of a mechanical compressive load, it emits an electric signal so that it at the same time can be used as a sensor for recording the prevailing pressure in the fuel injector or in the injection system.
Assisted by the mechanical lifting movement of the actuator, a nozzle needle is controlled by means of which injection holes within a nozzle unit can be opened wide or less wide. By recording the current pressure or the dynamic change in the fuel injector, it is possible to decide on the lifting movement of the nozzle needle. In this way, the nozzle needle can in the case of a corresponding forming of an electric control signal be controlled to a specific, predetermined position.
However, known electronic management systems for controlling combustion engines are not in the position to achieve a low-emission and low-consumption operation of the internal combustion engine to a sufficient extent with the assistance of a position-controlled fuel injector.
In addition, it is also known that the mixture-forming process within a cylinder of the internal combustion engine can essentially be influenced by the exchange of gas as well as the fuel injection volume and by the course of the injection rate. Until now, this problem was solved by the fuel injector used, because of constructional measures, having corresponding hydraulic-mechanical features. However, these measures do not suffice to meet all the requirements for future combustion requirements, in particular also with respect to planned legal regulations.
A further problem also consists in that the exact recording of the actually injected fuel quantity as well as the point in time of the injection has only been able to be resolved unsatisfactorily thus far. In particular, problems arise because the fuel injectors used are manufactured with an inevitable manufacturing tolerance, so that the problem of accurately recording of the fuel quantity actually injected has thus far only been resolved in an unsatisfactory manner.

Method and device for forming an electric control signal for an injection impulse


A dew point temperature sensor detects and sends the dew point temperature of the supply air to a dry area, as a supply air dew point temperature, to a controller. The controller has a speed of rotation of the regenerating side fan (the regenerating air flow rate) to control, and determines a control value (the regenerating air flow rate) that causes the supply air dew point temperature to go to a target dew point temperature, and determines a supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value in accordance with this control value (where if the control value is in the direction of reducing the regenerating air flow rate, the supply air processing pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value is increased). Note that what is controlled is the speed of rotation of the desiccant rotors, or the exit temperatures of the air heated by the hot water coils.

Conventionally desiccant air-conditioning systems that use desiccant rotors have been used as air conditioners for maintaining low humidity levels in cold storage warehouses, battery factories, and the like (See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2006-308229 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2001-241693).
A desiccant rotor has a structure that is formed into a disk shape such that air can pass through in the direction of thickness thereof. A solid adsorbent material that has a porous inorganic compound as its primary constituent is provided on the surface of the desiccant rotor. A solid adhesive agent such as, for example, a silica gel, zeolite, a polymer adhesive agent, or the like, that is able to adsorb moisture, with pore diameters between about 0.1 and 20 nm, is used as the porous inorganic compound. Moreover, the desiccant rotor is driven by a motor, to rotate around a central axis, to continuously adsorb moisture from the air on the processing side and desorb moisture to the air on the regenerating side.
FIG. 17 shows a schematic of a conventional desiccant air-conditioning system that uses a desiccant rotor. In the figure, 100 is an air-conditioning device (a desiccant air conditioner) that generates air of a constant temperature with low humidity, and 200 is a dry area (an air-conditioned space) that receives the supply of constant-temperature/low-humidity air from the desiccant air conditioner 100. The desiccant air conditioner 100 is structured with a rotary moisture removing device 100A, as a moisture removing mechanism, and an air temperature adjusting device 100B, for adjusting the temperature of the air from which the moisture has been removed by the rotary moisture removing device 100A, disposed in a line.
The rotary moisture removing device 100A has a regenerating side fan 1 for producing an airflow on the regenerating side; a processing side fan 2 for producing an airflow on the processing side; a first desiccant rotor (a desiccant rotor for processing outside air) 3 that is disposed bridging the downstream side of a flow path L1 for the air on the regenerating side and the upstream side of a flow path L2 for the air on the processing side; a second desiccant rotor (a desiccant rotor for processing supply air) 4 that is disposed bridging the upstream side of the flow path L1 for the air on the regenerating side and the downstream side of the flow path L2 for the air on the processing side; a first cold water coil (a pre-cooling coil for processing the outside air) 5 for cooling the air on the processing side prior to moisture adsorption by the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air; a second cold water coil (a pre-cooling coil for processing the supply air) 6 for cooling the air prior to adsorption of moisture by the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air; a first hot water coil 7 for heating the air on the regenerating side prior to moisture desorption by the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air; and a second hot water coil 7 for heating the air on the regenerating side prior to moisture desorption by the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air. The air temperature adjusting device 100B comprises a cold water coil 9 and a hot water coil 10. The cold water coil 9 and the hot water coil 10 are disposed lined up in the flow path L2 for the air on the processing side that is sent from the rotary moisture removing device 100A to the dry area 200.
Note that M1 is a motor for rotating the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air; M2 is a motor for rotating the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air; S1 is a temperature sensor for measuring the exit temperature of the air that is cooled by the pre-cooling coil 5 for processing the outside air as the pre-cooling coil exit temperature ts1pv for processing the outside air; S2 is a temperature sensor for measuring the exit temperature of the air that is cooled by the pre-cooling coil 6 for processing the supply air, as the pre-cooling coil exit temperature ts2pv for processing the supply air; S3 is a temperature sensor for measuring the exit temperature of the air that is heated by the first hot water coil 7 as the hot water coil exit temperature tr1pv; S4 is a temperature sensor for measuring the exit temperature of the air that is heated by the second hot water coil 8, as the hot water coil exit temperature tr2pv; and S5 is a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the air (supply air) SA from the air temperature adjusting device 100B to the dry area 200, as the supply air temperature tspv.
The pre-cooling coil 5 for processing the outside air, in the rotary moisture removing device 100A, is provided with cold water CW through a cold water valve 11, and the pre-cooling coil 6 for processing the supply air is provided with cold water CW through a cold water valve 12. Moreover, a controller 13 is provided for the pre-cooling coil 5 for processing the outside air, and a controller 14 is provided for the pre-cooling coil 6 for processing the supply air. The controller 13 controls the degree of opening of the cold water valve 11 so that the pre-cooling coil exit temperature ts1pv for processing the outside air, measured by the temperature sensor S1, will go to a setting temperature (a pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value for processing the outside air) ts1sp. The controller 14 controls the degree of opening of the cold water valve 12 so that the pre-cooling coil exit temperature ts2pv for processing the supply air, measured by the temperature sensor S2, will go to a setting temperature (a pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value for processing the supply air) ts2sp.
The first hot water coil 7 of the rotary moisture removing device 100A is supplied with hot water HW through a hot water valve 15, and the second hot water coil 8 is supplied with hot water HW through a hot water valve 16. Moreover, a controller 17 is provided for first hot water coil 7, and a controller 18 is provided for the second hot water coil 8. The controller 17 controls the degree of opening of the hot water valve 15 so that the hot water coil exit temperature tr1pv, measured by the temperature sensor S3, will go to a setting temperature (hot water coil exit temperature setting value) tr1sp. The controller 18 controls the degree of opening of the hot water valve 16 so that the hot water coil exit temperature tr2pv, measured by the temperature sensor S4, will go to a setting temperature (hot water coil exit temperature setting value) tr2sp.
The cold water coil 9, in the air temperature adjusting device 100B, is provided with cold water CW through a cold water valve 19, and the hot water coil 10 is provided with hot water HW through a hot water valve 20. A controller 21 is provided for the cold water coil 9 and the hot water coil 10. The controller 21 controls the degree of opening of the cold water valve 19 and the hot water valve 20 so that the supply air temperature tspv, measured by the temperature sensor S5, will go to a setting temperature (a supply air temperature setting value) tssp.
In this desiccant air conditioning system, the outside air OA that is drawn in as air prior to processing is cooled, by the pre-cooling coil 5 for processing the outside air, to produce air at the setting temperature ts1sp, which is sent to the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air. When this air passes through the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air, moisture that is included in this air is adsorbed (moisture adsorption) by the solid adsorbing agent of the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air. Given this, the air, after moisture adsorption by the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air, is cooled again by the pre-cooling coil 6 for processing the supply air, to produce air of the setting temperature ts2sp, which is sent to the desiccant rotor 4 for processing of the supply air. When this air passes through the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air, moisture that is included in this air is adsorbed (moisture adsorption) by the solid adsorbing agent of the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air. Given this, the air after moisture adsorption by the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air, that is, the air from which moisture has been removed by the rotary moisture removing device 100A, is sent to the air temperature adjusting device 100B, where the temperature is adjusted to produce supply air SA of the setting temperature tssp, which is supplied to the dry area 200.
On the other hand, on the regenerating side, outside air OA, as air on the regenerating side, is drawn in and sent to the hot water coil 8, and heated. This causes the temperature of the outside air OA to increase to the setting temperature tr2sp, reducing the relative humidity. At this time, the outside air OA is brought to a high temperature, in excess of 100° C. Given this, the outside air OA that is at the high temperature, wherein the relative humidity has been reduced, is sent, as air for regenerating, to the desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air.
The desiccant rotor 4 for processing the supply air rotates, so that the solid adsorbing agent that adsorbs the water content from the air on the processing side is heated when it faces the air for regenerating. Doing so causes the water content to be desorbed from the solid adsorbing agent, desorbing the moisture into the air for regenerating. The air for regenerating that has absorbed the water content from the solid adsorbing agent is again heated by the hot water coil 7 to become air at the setting temperature tr1sp, and is sent, as air for regenerating, to the desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air.
The desiccant rotor 3 for processing the outside air rotates, so that the solid adsorbing agent that adsorbs the water content from the air on the processing side is heated when it faces the air for regenerating. Doing so causes the water content to be desorbed from the solid adsorbing agent, desorbing the moisture into the air for regenerating. The air for regenerating that has absorbed the water content from the solid adsorbing agent is exhausted as exhaust air EA.
In this way, in the desiccant air conditioning system illustrated in FIG. 17, while the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 are rotated at a constant rotational speed and the speeds of rotation of the regenerating side fan 1 and the processing side fan 2 are held constant (the rated rotational speeds), the pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value ts1sp for processing the outside air, the pre-cooling coil exit temperature setting value ts2sp for processing the supply air, the hot water coil exit temperature setting value tr1sp, and the hot water coil exit temperature setting value tr2sp are each held constant, and the adsorption of moisture from the air on the processing side and the desorption of moisture to the air on the regenerating side are performed continuously in the desiccant rotors 3 and 4, to continuously provide supply air SA (constant-temperature/low-humidity air) SA from the desiccant air conditioner 100 to the dry area 200.
However, in the desiccant air conditioning system set forth above, the volumes of the air to the regenerating side of the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 are set so as to be constant, based on the peak times for the amount of moisture adsorption on the processing side of the desiccant rotors 3 and 4, so as to be able to desorb the water content that is adsorbed at the peak times, and thus the energy consumption in the hot water coils 7 and 8 is terrible, and the operating costs are large.
That is, when the amount of water content included in the air on the processing side, drawn into the rotary moisture removing device 100A, is small, the amount of moisture that is adsorbed onto the solid adsorbing agents of the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 is small. Consequently, the water content that is desorbed from the solid adsorbing agent of the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 is small on the regenerating side as well. Nevertheless, the amount of air on the regenerating side that is supplied to the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 is a constant amount of air based on the peak times for the amount of moisture adsorption on the processing side. Because of this, the amount of air for regeneration that is supplied to the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 is greater than necessary, and, to that extent, energy is consumed wastefully in the hot water coils 7 and 8.
Given this, the present applicant conceived of adding an inverter INV1 to the regenerating side fan 1, as illustrated in FIG. 18, and detecting the dew point temperature of the supply air SA to the dry area 200 through a dew point temperature sensor 22, to apply, to a controlling device 23, the dew point temperature (the supply dew point temperature) tdpv of the supply air SA that is detected by the dew point temperature sensor 22, to control the rotational speed of the regenerating side fan 1 so that the supply air dew point temperature tdpv will be caused, by the controlling device 23, to go to a target dew point temperature tdsp. Doing this causes the amount of air for regeneration that is supplied to the desiccant rotors 3 and 4 (the regenerating air flow rate) to be adjusted so that the supply air dew point temperature tdpv will always be the target dew point temperature tdsp, making it possible to reduce the amount of energy consumed in the hot water coils 7 and 8.
For example, if the supply air dew point temperature tdpv were less than the target dew point temperature tdsp, then the rotational speed of the regenerating side fan 1 would be reduced, to reduce the regenerating air flow rate. When the regenerating air flow rate is reduced, then the temperatures of the regenerating air from the hot water coils 7 and 8 increase. In this case, control is performed so as to maintain the temperatures of the regenerating air at the setting temperatures tr1sp and tr2sp, and thus the amount of hot water HW supplied to the hot water coils 7 and 8 would be reduced, reducing the energy consumed by the hot water coils 7 and 8.
Note that while in FIG. 18 that which is controlled is the rotational speed of the regenerating side fan 1 (the regenerating air flow rate); however, one may also consider controlling instead the rotational speeds of the desiccant rotors 3 and 4, or controlling the exit temperatures of the air heated by the hot water coils 7 and 8. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication 2003-262376, the humidity within the room is detected and the heating temperature on the regenerating side is controlled based on the humidity that is detected.
However, even though it is possible to reduce the energy consumption by constraining a control value for that which is being controlled in a system wherein the regenerating air flow rate is controlled in this way, or wherein the rotational speeds of the desiccant rotors are controlled in this way, or wherein the exit temperatures of the hot water coils are controlled in this way, it cannot be said that the reduction in energy consumption is adequate, and it is desirable to achieve even greater energy conservation.
The present invention is to solve such a problem, and the object thereof is to provide a desiccant air conditioning system, and operating method thereof, able to achieve further energy conservation through reducing energy consumed in the pre-cooling coil for processing supply air, while maintaining the target dew point temperature in the air-conditioned space.

Desiccant air-conditioning system and operating method thereof


A vehicle fan motor for an electric fan assembly includes a motor housing, a motor assembly enclosed in the motor housing, and a universal mounting arrangement radially and outwardly extended from the motor housing for securely mounting the motor housing to the electric fan assembly. The universal mounting arrangement contains first through sixth alignment holes radially and spacedly provided on a circumferential side of the motor housing. Therefore, the motor housing is adapted for securely mounting to the electric fan assembly having three mounting holes when the first, third and fifth alignment holes of the universal mounting arrangement are coaxially aligned with the three mounting holes respectively, and the motor housing is adapted for securely mounting to the electric fan assembly having four mounting holes when the first, second, fourth and sixth alignment holes of the universal mounting arrangement are coaxially aligned with the four mounting holes respectively.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle electric fan motor, and more particularly to a vehicle electric fan motor with universal mount, which is adapted to mount to an electric fan with either three-hole or four-hole structure so as to securely mount the fan motor to the electric fan while being cost effective.
2. Description of Related Arts
A cooling system for vehicle generally comprises an electric fan and fan motor driving the electric fan to operate such that the electric fan generates a flow of fresh air for cooling the engine of the vehicle.
A conventional fan motor comprises a motor housing having a front casing and a rear cover sealedly covering to the front casing, a motor assembly received in the motor housing and a mounting unit securely mounted the motor housing to the electric fan, wherein a driving shaft is extended from the motor assembly to couple with the electric fan through the front casing of the motor housing to drive the electric fan to rotate.
Accordingly, there are two types of electric fan, which are three-hole structural electric fan and four-hole structural electric fan. The three-hole structural electric fan contains three mounting holes for the fan motor mounting thereto. The mounting unit comprises three hole-planes integrally and outwardly extended from the rear cover of the motor housing to align with the three mounting holes of the electric fan respectively such that a plurality of mounting elements, such as screws, are securely affixed the motor housing to the electric fan through the mounting holes and the hole-planes. Likewise, the four-hole structural electric fan contains four mounting holes for the fan motor mounting thereto. The mounting unit comprises four hole-planes integrally and outwardly extended from the rear cover of the motor housing to align with the four mounting holes of the electric fan respectively such that the mounting elements are securely affixed the motor housing to the electric fan through the mounting holes and the hole-planes.
However, such electric fan has several drawbacks. When one of the electric fan and the fan motor must be replaced due to the malfunction thereof, the machinist must find the corresponding parts to match the electric fan with the fan motor. In other words, if the three-hole structural electric fan is malfunctioned, a new three-hole structural electric fan is required to be substituted in order to match with the three-hole mounting unit of the fan motor. Also, the machinist may merely keep both three-hole fan motor and four-hole fan motor in stock because the three-hole fan motor only fits for the three-hole structural electric fan and the four-hole fan motor only fits for the four-hole structural electric fan. In other words, they are unique and are not interchangeably use.
Furthermore, due to the vibration of the electric fan, one of the hole-planes may easily be broken through the respective mounting element. Since the hole-plane is integrally extended from the rear cover of the motor housing, the broken hole-plane may cause the fan motor detaching from the electric fan. In other words, one of the hole-planes is broken, the rear cover may disengage with the front casing that the motor assembly will expose to outside and the driving shaft may misalign with the electric fan as well. Therefore, the tiny hole-plane becomes the essential component of the cooling system of the vehicle that the broken hole-plane may cause the entire cooling system malfunctioning.

Vehicle electric fan motor with universal mount


The disclosure relates to systems and methods for iterative reconstruction. Raw data detected from a plurality of angles by an imaging device may be obtained. A first seed image may be generated by performing a filtered back projection on the raw data. A first air mask may be determined by performing a minimum value back projection (BP) on the raw data. One or more images may be reconstructed by performing an iterative reconstruction based on the first seed image, the first air mask, and the raw data.

Non-invasive imaging technologies can obtain image data of internal structures of a subject without performing an invasive procedure on the subject. The imaging technologies such as computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exploit various physical principles to acquire image data and provide images of the subject. One of image reconstruction approaches is iterative reconstruction. Iterative reconstruction refers to a technique that forms an image by repeatedly adjusting an existing estimate according to the quality of a match between measured data and simulated measurements from a current estimate of the image. However, the iterative reconstruction technique is generally computationally intensive and time consuming. Slow reconstruction speed is one of the greatest challenges of iterative reconstruction. Thus, it is desirable to accelerate the iterative reconstruction.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Systems and methods for iterative reconstruction

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.


The present invention provides 3-aryloxy-3-substituted propanamines capable of inhibiting the uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine.

During the past decade, the relationship between monoamine uptake and a variety of diseases and conditions has been appreciated and investigated. For example, the hydrochloride salt of fluoxetine (dl-N-methyl-.gamma.-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]benzenepropanamine) is a selective serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) uptake inhibitor presently undergoing clinical evaluation for the treatment of depression, anxiety, appetite suppression, and other disorders. Similarly, tomoxetine hydrochloride ((-)-N-methyl-.delta.-(2-methylphenoxy)benzenepropanamine hydrochloride) is a selective inhibitor of norepinephrine uptake being investigated clinically for its antidepressant activity. These compounds are among many taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,018,895, 4,194,009, and 4,314,081 as being potent but selective blockers of the uptake of a particular monoamine.