A method for setting up a medical network for carrying out at least one medical function is disclosed. The medical network comprises network nodes and the network nodes are set up for communicating with one another by an initialization step, wherein the network nodes exchange initialization information that includes information characterizing the network nodes and a self-organization step where the network nodes define their role distribution. A work step where the network carries out the medical function and the two network nodes interact in the role of distribution defined in the self-organization step.

Both in the clinical sector and in private health care, there is a need for systems and networks which are able to monitor the complex interplay of individual body functions of a patient and, if appropriate, to influence body functions in a targeted manner. By way of example, this can involve care of chronically ill patients, such as diabetes patients, for example. High-risk patients can also be cared for in this way, for example high-risk patients who are known to be at increased risk of infarct. Generally, it should be pointed out that the term "patient" used in the context of the present invention does not necessarily restrict the target group circle to ill human or animal patients, however, rather that, in principle, healthy target groups can also be cared for by means of the devices proposed below. Generally, therefore, the term "patient" can be at least substantially equated with the term "user".
In many cases, the communication between the individual components of the system presents a challenge in complex medical systems. Medical communication systems are known from various prior art documents. By way of example U.S. Pat. No. 7,161,484 B2 describes a system for monitoring medical parameters of a patient comprising at least one sensor for detecting at least one predetermined medical parameter. Furthermore, a transmission means for transmitting the medical parameters detected by the sensor is provided, wherein the transmission is sent to a remotely arranged server. U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,511 B1 describes a device and a method for frequently measuring the concentration of an analyte in a biological system. In this case, use is made of a monitoring system comprising at least two components in order to facilitate the data collection and the displaying of the data. In US 2007/0027367 A1, a personal area network for receiving, storing, processing, displaying and communicating physiological data is disclosed, which uses an open architecture and which may comprise a personal server, such as a cellular phone. The open architecture allows additional sensors to join the network, without rendering the personal server irrelevant.
Wireless communication in relatively close proximity to patients takes place nowadays predominantly by means of radio systems which utilize the entire electromagnetic field and usually operate in the far field. In the case of far field communication, the distance between a receiver and a transmitter antenna is greater than double the wavelength of the radio carrier frequency chosen. At 2.45 GHz, this is approximately 0.3 m. Diverse radio technologies are standardized under IEEE 802.11 and related standards. In this case, principal features are that an ISM frequency (Industry Science Medical, for example 2.45 GHz) is used and that with a limited transmission power of approximately 100 mW, for example, distances of approximately 1-10 m are bridged. ISM frequencies are generally accessible frequency bands, i.e. frequency bands not allocated by organizations or governments in accordance with strict rules. The only ISM frequency band that can currently be used without restrictions throughout the world whilst observing the presently applicable standards is the 2.45 GHz band.
Furthermore, systems are available that use only the magnetic field component. Only distances within the antenna near field can thereby be bridged, owing to physical conditions. Such systems are in use as RFID systems (Radio Frequency Identification, also called Transponders) or as NFC systems (Near Field Communication). RFID systems are distinguished by the fact that a so-called reader induces data and energy in a so-called transponder. The transponder modifies the data, if appropriate, and returns them to the reader again. The transponder is generally only active if it is situated in the influencing field of the energy of the reader. NFC works using the same structures and protocols as RFID, but in this case the transponder also comprises its own energy source, such that only the communication is activated by the reader, but the application can remain active even outside the influence of the reader. This is advantageous particularly in the case of distributed, continuously measuring sensor systems.
Communication systems which utilize only the electric field component of the electromagnetic field have also been known for some time. Owing to the breakdown strength of air, which is approximately 1000 V/mm, the electric field component can transmit at most only approximately 1/90 000 of the energy of the magnetic field (See e.g. K. Küfmüller et al.: Theoretische Elektrotechnik: Eine Einfürung, 10. Auflage, Springer Verlag, Berlin, S. 333. Therefore, the remote action component is in many cases limited to a direct touching contact.
However, it has been found here that a human body is relatively well suited to conducting dielectric displacement currents. The transmission of items of information is therefore possible without the latter leaving the conducting body over a wide area. Such networks which operate in the near-field range and utilize the human body for transmitting signals are known, in particular, in the field of applications for personal information and communication, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,717 B1, from T. G. Zimmerman: "Personal Area Networks (PAN): Near-Field Intra-Body Communication", master's thesis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, September 1995, or from M. S. Wegmüller: "Intra-Body Communication for Biomedical Sensor Networks", dissertation, ETH Zürich, 2007, where such networks are also referred to as PAN (Personal Area Network). Such networks use electric fields as a communication medium between transmitters which are arranged on persons.
Systems which utilize the human body for communicating signals are also known from the medical sector. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,719 B1, for example, describes a system which can be used for long-term medical monitoring of a patient, for example an astronaut. In that case, an autonomous sensor unit is arranged on a person's body, said sensor unit having electrodes. These electrodes are arranged on the skin by means of an adhesive strip. Furthermore, a transmitter and receiver worn on the body is provided, which serves as a central unit.
In the field of diabetes diagnostics, in particular, previous developments have generally concentrated on the detection of a small number of individual parameters with direct diagnostic reference. By way of example, glucose from arterial blood or from the interstitium is measured. In this case, a treating physician is generally consulted as a control entity. Said physician also defines the therapeutic measures. Further diagnostic measurement variables or else personal experience and knowledge-based rules are included in this case.
As a result of the development of sensor technology, extended in-vivo diagnostics have become possible nowadays, for example as a result of the possibility of continuously measuring glucose concentrations. As a result of further miniaturization, the detection of various parameters in the blood, for example electrolytes, blood gases, chemical parameters or the like, stress parameters (for example diverse hormones), but also physio-physical parameters (e.g. blood pressure, heart rate, fat content, weight, temperature), becomes possible instantaneously or continuously. Such a system is described in WO 2004/039256 A2, for example.
Over and above these physically and/or chemically measurable variables, diagnosis and therapy are in many cases also influenced by personal factors such as well-being, stress and external influences such as, for example, the weather, time changes or the like, but also events such as eating, periods of sleep, sport or the like. Examples of systems which take account of such factors are described in US 2007/0238934 A1 or in US 2009/0131759 A1. From an overall assessment of the diagnostic values, therapy plans can then be created and implemented.
Suitable actuators make it possible nowadays to a limited extent to implement said therapy plans automatically, in a temporally coordinated manner. Examples of such actuators are an insulin pump, a medicament dispenser, triggering of physiological stimuli or the like.
Diagnostic systems of the type described above therefore consist of numerous complex individual modules with differing handling, start-up, calibration or similar requirements. Precisely in the field of patient self-diagnostics, therefore, it is often the case that simple and hence fault-tolerant start-up and control of the systems and subsystems by the user still do not exist. The construction of diagnostic systems and networks is additionally made more difficult by lack of interoperability or a complicated method of identification and assignment of system components. It is often necessary to manually input long series of numbers, parameters or items of time information, which can lead to a susceptibility of the systems to faults. Moreover, owing to hitherto substantially lacking sensor technology, the inclusion of extracorporeal events, such as eating, sleeping, sport or stress, for example, is generally possible only by manual inputting by the person respectively concerned. This may be associated with the corresponding inputting errors and also errors in the time reference. If a correct temporal assignment is not provided, this can give rise to large diagnostic errors, and the latter in turn to therapy errors.
If a plurality of sensors and/or actuators are intended to be combined to form a common system and are networked, then it is furthermore almost no longer possible for the layperson to coordinate these systems. Operating errors with serious consequences should be expected.
In WO 2007/096810 A1, a body area network ("BAN") is disclosed, comprising a plurality of devices, each device comprising means for detecting other similar communication devices. A method for setting up the BAN is disclosed, wherein a first sensor device is switched on and searches for other sensor devices by using a request. Since it is the first sensor device, there is no other sensor device responding to the request, and first sensor device is switched to a wait mode. Once a second sensor device is added and switched on, the second sensor device sends a request, which is answered by the first sensor by creating a BAN. The first sensor and a RF device included by this first sensor automatically takes over the role of the coordinator of the BAN.
The setup and method disclosed by WO 2007/096810 A1, however, has some significant shortcomings. Firstly, the role distribution of the setup is fixed in an arbitrary way in that the device, which accidentally is attached to the body first, automatically takes over the role of the coordinator of the network, independent from its physical nature, its hardware and software resources and independent from its requirements in terms of the type of data generated by the device. Since the roles in this network are pre-determined, a situation might easily occur in which the device least suitable for being the coordinator takes over this coordinator role of the network.
Similarly, EP 1 676 525 A1 discloses a medical device communications network comprising a plurality of medical devices having wireless communication circuits. A master wireless communications circuit may be comprised, which may receive medical device information from a plurality of slave wireless communication circuits. The devices exchange device identification codes. The network is set up to thereby monitor that appropriate instruments are matched with appropriate devices.
WO 2008/015627 A1 discloses a system comprising a plurality of network components and a network management device. The components are adapted to communicate by wireless short-range communication. The network management device comprises a body-coupled communication interface and is adapted to configure the plurality of network components by means of the interfaces to form a network and to avoid conflicts between the network components.
Again, as in WO 2007/096810 A1, the networks disclosed by EP 1 676 525 A1 and by WO 2008/015627 A1 have the technical shortcoming that the roles of the network devices are predetermined. Thus, in case there is a master device or management device, the role of this device as a network master is known from the beginning and remains unchanged during operation of the network. The network does not exhibit any flexibility regarding the fact that other devices may be added which might be more suited for taking over the role of the master device. Further, the fixed role-distribution generally is unable to react to changing needs and requirements within the network, such as to a situation in which a network node is added which requires a more time-critical data handling or which requires a modification of the allocation of hardware resources within the network.


A spin-stabilized projectile has a collar around the middle of its spun fuselage, longitudinally spanning a center of mass of the projectile. The collar includes lift-producing aerodynamic surfaces. Positioning the collar relative to the spinning fuselage produces a direct lift force on the projectile that may be used to steer the projectile. Since the projectile is constantly spinning, the positioning may be accomplished by a brake, such as a magnetic brake or a fiction brake, that allows the collar to be positioned substantially fixed relative to inertial space, with the collar not rotating with the fuselage about a longitudinal axis of the projectile. Since the lift force is applied close to the center of mass of the projectile, the steering occurs with no substantial change in the angle of attack of the projectile.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of projectiles.
2. Description of the Related Art
The effectiveness of a projectile may be limited by a variety of constraints. Two such constraints are range and accuracy. For instance, an artillery-fired projectile may have a limited range relating to a maximum muzzle velocity for a given combination of projectile, barrel, and propellant. Frequently, targets beyond this limited range cannot be effectively reached. Additionally, an artillery-fired projectile may have a fixed trajectory upon firing. As a consequence, an unguided projectile that is not accurately aligned upon firing may miss its intended target. Other factors can reduce the accuracy of the unguided projectile, such as atmospheric conditions, variations in the aerodynamic properties of a given projectile, and/or the like.
Limited range and accuracy may have a number of effects in combat situations. Limited range may require engaging the enemy at a close proximity. Poor accuracy may require engaging the enemy for an extended duration with multiple rounds. In these scenarios, the parameters of the artillery-fired projectile may increase the cost of operations, yet provide a weapon system having a low effectiveness. This may adversely affect the logistics burden of the system and the lives of combatants who must experience longer times to service combat targets.
Existing systems for modifying the trajectory of a projectile include systems having actuatable control surfaces configured to steer the projectile. While these systems may serve to guide the projectile, such systems may also add substantial complexity and weight to the projectile, and the inherent drag of the aerodynamic controls may reduce the range of the projectile.


A system for protecting identify of network devices (102, 104, and 106) in a network environment. The system includes an apparatus having an interface to the network for completing connections to destination devices (152, 154, and 156) on the public side of the network. The apparatus includes a masking element (140) for associating at least one masking identifier with a communication from the network device and masking the identifier of the network device from the destination device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to network communication systems. In particular, this invention relates to protecting the identity of the users of a network system.
2. Related Art
As global computer networks, such as the Internet, continue to grow globally at a rapid pace, an increasing number of people and businesses from around the world are accessing these networks for both business and personal activities. As a result, networks such as the Internet have become a virtual community where people communicate with each other by sending and receiving electronic, voice and image messages for both business and pleasure. These communications may include sharing ideas and information, sending personal and business messages back and forth, researching information, expressing opinions and ideas both personal and political, and conducting business negotiations and transactions (generally known as "electronic commerce" or "e-commerce"). In response to this new electronic activity, businesses and certain individuals attempt to identify and track individual Internet users for numerous purposes, including but not limited to, advertising, market research, customizing information for Internet sites (i.e., "websites"), snooping and eavesdropping on communications, as well as fraud and other malicious activities. Many of these attempts may constitute threats to the individual privacy of users of these networks because they attempt to gain personal information about the user and the user's activities online (generally referred to as "online activities"), often without the user's consent or knowledge.
These threats acquire information about the user by logging or tracking a user's Internet Protocol ("IP") address (the electronic address that specifically identifies a user's computer to the network) or by installing programs or files on the user's computer such as "cookies," ActiveX™ applications, JavaScript™ files, spyware, or hostile programs such as viruses. These threats allow an outside user, be it a business or an individual entity, to perform such tasks as identifying the user, obtaining the user's personal information that is stored on his/her computer (including names, addresses, private financial files, and/or other confidential, private and/or sensitive information), as well as tracking the user's activities on the Internet, including recording every website visited or every e-mail sent or received by the user. Malicious programs such as viruses may also be installed on the user's computer that can modify, erase or destroy the user's operating system or personal files.
Unfortunately, many people that utilize the Internet do not understand how networks such as the Internet function nor do they generally appreciate the number and types of threats that they may experience once they connect (i.e., "log-on") to the Internet. With respect to the threat of an outside user acquiring information about the user by logging or tracking the user's IP address, this threat arises because when the user surfs the Internet, his computer may make a direct, unprotected and unsecure connection to the server where the requested information is stored. For that server to send Web content back to the user, it must know the user's computer's IP address. Once an IP address is obtained by an outside user, that IP address can be used to obtain additional information such as the user's domain name, the part of the world the user is located in, the name of the user's Internet Service Provider ("ISP"), and additional details about the user's corporate network.
Obtaining this additional information may be referred to, in general, as "Internet Counter-Intelligence." Possible risks associated with Internet Counter-Intelligence techniques directed against the user may include possible exposure of the user's operations, future development plans or intentions, unintentional exposure of confidential client information or research, as well as subjecting the user to an influx of spam e-mail or hacker attacks initiated by automated counter-probes. In addition, the outside user may alter the content returned to the user based on the user's IP address, providing different, even misleading, content to the user based on the geographical source of the query.
Enterprise Web administrators have a number of analytical tools at their disposal that give them the ability to not only detect and analyze inbound traffic to their websites, but also to perform many of these Internet Counter Intelligence techniques. These tools are commonly referred to in the Information Technology ("IT") industry as "Web Analytics." Web Analytics employs tools and services that can gather user data from the Web server logs or collect it directly from the users' browsers. These services are particularly adept at providing a global view of visitor activity on multiple enterprise sites. Performing Web Analytics makes it possible to track visitor activity, including the geographic locations of visitors to a website. The addition of a browser plug-in gives these Web administrators the ability to see link and element viewer activity when visitors view individual Web pages on their sites. Web Analytics can also analyze the surfing behavior of visitors to a website, tracking the pages within the site that are most frequently accessed, and the files that are downloaded. The result of the information that is collected is provided in the form of tables, charts, and graphs. It is this aspect of the functionality of Web Analytics that can identify specific IP addresses and domain names, which in turn can be used to prevent access from locations that are deemed a competitive threat.
Past approaches at protecting users connected to the Internet include using "firewalls" to block certain types of threats, virus protection programs for detecting malicious programs, and spyware and cookie-file-removal software. These approaches, however, do not protect a user's identity; nor do they protect against malicious users intercepting data between the client and the server because these approaches may attempt to disinfect a user from intruders after the fact. Approaches in the past at protecting the user's identity have included allowing a user to connect to an intermediate server (sometimes referred to as a "proxy server") connected to the Internet that extracted off the user's IP information and substituted in its place the IP address of the intermediate server, thus creating an anonymous user that could then continue to surf the Net without worrying that his IP information would be used to identify him.
These past approaches do not protect a user's identity as soon as the user connects to the Internet because connected websites are able to read and identify the user's IP address among other things. A need therefore exists to protect the identity of the user immediately upon connecting to the Internet (i.e., known as "surfing the web" or "surfing the Net"). Thus there is a need for a privacy management approach that solves the problems recited above and allows Internet users to easily maintain their privacy.

System for protecting identity in a network environment


A load balanced coolant fitting for allowing an inlet structure and an op support structure to be mounted relative to each other to communicate coolant fluid from the inlet structure to the optic support structure in such a way as to minimize vibration and jitter caused by the flowing of a coolant to be imparted to the optic structure.

In the past, coolant fittings on cooled high power optics have been a major source of mirror figure distortion loading and flow induced vibrations which cause poor laser performance in beam quality and power. Therefore, there is a need for a coolant fitting that overcomes these disadvantages.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a coolant fitting for mounting between two structures to allow for slight misalignments of the structures and still have a sealable fitting and a fitting that is balanced from pressures exerted thereon by flow therethrough.
Another object of this invention is to provide a coolant fitting that has reduced flow induced vibration jitter forces.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a fitting that has internally balanced fluid turning loads and internally balanced momentum loads.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a coolant fitting that has minimized installation loads and loads due to misalignment.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a fitting that lends itself to an evacuation system that lends itself to safeguards against leakage in a high vacuum system and also minimizes distortion due to thermal loading.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will be obvious to those skilled in this art.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A temperature regulator includes at least one electrically conductive carbon foam element. The foam element includes at least two locations adapted for receiving electrical connectors thereto for heating a fluid, such as engine oil. A combustion engine includes an engine block and at least one carbon foam element, the foam element extending into the engine block or disposed in thermal contact with at least one engine fluid.

This invention relates to techniques and systems for controlling the temperature of fluids. More particularly, this invention relates to devices for controlling the temperature of fluids used with internal combustion engines.
Thermal control of engine lubricating oil and other fluid temperatures can provide significant advantages. For example, it is generally helpful to preheat engine oil prior to startup to reduce engine wear during this period. Preheated engine oil can also reduce high emission levels that are generally produced at startup due to low initial engine operating temperatures.
In addition, under steady state conditions, it is desirable to limit lubricating oil temperatures as resulting lower peak engine temperatures are known to enhance the longevity of the oil and the various engine components. Lower peak oil temperature permits oil to perform its lubricating function more effectively.
Automotive engines are now generally required-to run hotter than in the past in order to meet the goals of improved fuel economy and lower emissions. With the incorporation of an oil cooler, oil temperatures can be reduced. This permits the lubricating oil and resulting engine operating temperature to be run at a lower, more optimal temperature level. In some cases for certain large vehicles, such as class 7-8 trucks, part of the water cooling system is used for oil cooling. However, these cooling systems can add significant weight, cost, and complexity to the vehicle.
Particularly for larger vehicles such as trucks, it is advantageous to maintain a lower, more consistent oil temperature because this allows the oil to better carry soot to the oil filter. Achieving improved oil stability permits the use of lighter weight oils, which are known to generally result in improved fuel economy.
Furthermore, when higher levels of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) are introduced back into the engine for further combustion in order to reduce harmful emissions and increase gas mileage, the resulting oil temperature is estimated to increase approximately 20xc2x0 F. EGR is also known to introduce more soot into oil, thus decreasing oil life by exacerbating oil breakdown. Oil breakdown allows soot to aggregate, producing larger particles which can lead to oil filtration problems. Thus, improved thermal management systems are needed for engine fluids, such as engine oil.
The present invention provides carbon foam based thermal regulators, systems and methods thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the thermal regulator is adapted to provide both heating and heat exchanging. The heating feature is helpful at engine startup, while the heat exchange feature can be used to reduce engine oil and overall engine operating temperatures.
A temperature regulator includes at least one carbon foam element, the foam element for electrically heating fluids. Two locations on the carbon foam element are adapted for receiving electrical connectors thereto. The carbon foam element can provide an electrical resistivity of between 1 to 500 xcexcohmxc2x7meter at 25xc2x0 C. The carbon foam element can be used to heat liquids, such as oil, ethylene glycol, brake fluid, transmission fluid and power steering fluid.
In a preferred embominent, at least a portion of the carbon foam is thermally and electrically conductive. In this embodiment, the carbon foam element can be thermally connected to an active cooling device. The active cooling device can be a heat exchanger having a shell side and a tube side, wherein the shell side comprises the thermally conductive carbon foam element. The carbon foam element can comprise graphite foam and provide a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mxc2x7K.
The electrically conductive carbon foam element may be disposed in an oil container, and may include a flanged portion. A thermostat can be included for triggering heating of the carbon foam element when the temperature is below a predetermined minimum temperature and for terminating the heating when the temperature is at or above a predetermined maximum temperature.
In another embodiment, a combustion engine includes an engine block and at least one carbon foam element, the foam element extending into the engine block or disposed in thermal contact with at least one engine fluid. When the carbon foam element is disposed in the engine block, the carbon foam element can include at least two locations each adapted for receiving electrical connectors thereto. The carbon foam element can be used to provide passive cooling or active cooling. In the active cooling embodiment, the carbon foam element is thermally connected to the active cooling device, such as a heat exchanger having a shell side and a tube side, wherein the shell side comprises a graphite foam element, the graphite foam has a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mxc2x7K.
A method for controlling the temperature of fluids includes the steps of providing at least one electrically conductive carbon foam element, the electrically conductive foam element being thermally connected to a fluid, and heating the fluid by dissipating electrical current across the electrically conductive foam element. The heating can be initiated when the fluid is at a temperature below a first predetermined temperature, and terminate when the fluid is at a temperature above a predetermined maximum temperature. The method can also include the step of cooling the fluid after the fluid reaches a predetermined cooling temperature.
The fluid can include other states of matter associated therewith, such as particulates and semi-solid matter, such as states that can be present during injection molding or the pulling of fibers. The method can also include the step of controlling the viscosity of fluids.
A temperature regulation system includes a temperature regulator including at least one electrically conductive carbon foam element, the electrically conductive foam element for electrically heating fluids, and a structure for applying a potential difference across the electrically conductive carbon foam element. The electrically conductive carbon foam element can be adapted to heat fluids, such as oil, ethylene glycol, brake fluid, transmission fluid and power steering fluid. The electrically conductive carbon foam element can also provide cooling to fluids.
A method for operating a combustion engine includes the steps of providing at least one electrically conductive carbon foam element, the foam element thermally connected to an engine fluid, and at least one of heating the engine by dissipating electrical current across the electrically conductive carbon foam element when the engine is at a temperature below a predetermined minimum operating temperature and cooling the engine if the engine temperature is at or above a maximum operating temperature. The cooling comprises radiating heat through a thermally conductive carbon foam element. The heating can be terminated when the fluid heating step results in the temperature being above a predetermined shutoff temperature.
The thermally conductive carbon foam element can be graphite foam and can extend into the engine block. The graphite foam can provide a thermal conductivity of at least 50 W/mxc2x7K.
A heat spreader includes at least one thermally conductive carbon foam element, the carbon foam element adapted to be placed in thermal contact with a region to be cooled. The foam element draws heat from the region to be cooled and distributes the heat across its volume. The region for cooling can be included in a medical application, food process equipment or an engine.

Carbon or graphite foam as a heating element and system thereof


An optical navigation device that regulates the brightness of an adjustable light source, and a method thereof, are described. Light from the light source is emitted onto a surface and reflected from the surface to a sensor. The light received by the sensor is used to measure movement of the optical navigation device relative to the surface. A light-sensitive device also receives light from the light source. The brightness of the light source can be adjusted according to the amount of light received at the light-sensitive device.

An optical navigation device, such as an optical mouse, conventionally uses a light-emitting diode (LED) to broadcast light onto a surface. The light is reflected off the surface to a sensor. The reflection of the light produces a pattern that is captured by the sensor. The sensor can include, for example, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager array. As an optical navigation device is moved relative to the surface (or vice versa), successive images (frames) are rapidly captured and compared to measure the amount of movement. The difference between successive images indicates the amount of movement. Optical navigation devices such as those described herein operate at frame rates of 1500 frames per second or more. Thus, relatively small amounts of movement can be detected and measured.
The amount of time needed by the optical navigation device (specifically, the sensor/imager) to capture an image is referred to as the exposure time. For example, on a difficult surface such as a dark surface, a longer exposure time may be needed to capture images at a resolution that is high enough to discern movement of the optical navigation device. Conventional devices use the "squal" (surface quality) value to determine exposure time. A squal value can be calculated for each frame. When the squal value decreases, the exposure time is increased.
A problem with conventional optical navigation devices is that the LED light source can degrade over time. The amount of light emitted by the LED, referred to herein as the brightness of the LED, can decrease with time. The reduction in brightness can cause a reduction in the squal value and hence an increase in the exposure time.
As exposure time is increased, frames are captured less frequently, which has a deleterious effect on the tracking performance of the optical navigation device. With longer exposure times, some movements may not be detected or the movement of a cursor may appear less smooth, for example.
The impact of a longer exposure time on tracking performance may be noticeable on a good surface, but it is especially noticeable on a difficult surface. That is, the exposure time may already be increased to cope with a difficult surface, and the decrease in LED performance can lead to a further increase in exposure time and a greater impact on tracking performance.
In summary, the performance of an optical navigation device can be diminished by degradation of the LED. Small movements of the device may not be detected. Movement of the cursor on a display screen may be more jumpy in appearance. As the LED degrades, the user can become less satisfied with the performance of the optical navigation device and may be forced into the purchase of a new device. Therefore, an optical navigation device that addresses the problems caused by LED degradation would be advantageous.

Regulating a light source in an optical navigation device

Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte Ltd


A borided titanium article can include a titanium mass having titanium monoboride whiskers infiltrating inward from a surface of the titanium mass to form an integral surface hardened region. The titanium mass can be almost any titanium based metal or alloy such as high purity titanium, commercial grade titanium, α-titanium alloy, α+β titanium alloy, β-titanium alloy, titanium composite, and combinations thereof. Borided titanium articles can be formed by methods which include providing a titanium mass, contacting a surface of the titanium mass with a boron source medium, and heating the titanium mass and boron source medium to a temperature from about 700° C. to about 1600° C. The boron source medium can include a boron source and an activator selected to provide growth of titanium monoboride whiskers.

Titanium and titanium alloys are useful for a wide variety of structural and engineering applications. Titanium and its alloys are generally characterized by low density, high stiffness, high strength, and good corrosion resistance. The aerospace industry is currently the predominant consumer of titanium and its alloys. Further, recent interest in using titanium has begun to increase in other industries such as the chemical, petrochemical, and medical industries. However, when compared to current hard metal alternatives, titanium and its alloys suffer from lower surface hardness, wear resistance, corrosion resistance, lower oxidation resistance, galling, and seizure of surfaces when in mechanical contact.
A number of methods have been developed to improve the surface properties of titanium and its alloys. For example, titanium surfaces can be coated with titanium nitride and titanium carbide using a number of known technologies such as ion implantation, laser gas nitriding, electron-beam surface alloying, and physical and chemical deposition. Further, boron alloying of titanium surfaces has been accomplished by techniques such as laser irradiation and electron-beam irradiation. Several of these methods have produced titanium having significantly improved surface properties. However, such methods frequently involve substantial equipment expense and extended production times which make the finished product relatively expensive. Additionally, several of these methods have limitations as to achievable coating thicknesses. Further, laser and electron beam methods also result in melting of surface regions of titanium which leads to oxidation of the metal, coarsening of surface structure and poor properties. Frequently, these methods also result in monolithic coating structures on titanium surfaces which tend to crack and spall under applied stresses.
For this and other reasons, the need remains for methods and materials which can improve the surface properties of titanium and its alloys, which have decreased manufacturing costs and improved resistance to wear and oxidation.

Titanium boride coatings on titanium surfaces and associated methods


A method and system are disclosed for improving the efficiency of a battery supplied power supply system. More particularly, a method and system is provided for improving the voltage regulation efficiency for a system in which the input voltage that is to be regulated may vary widely. In the techniques disclosed, the voltage supply that is utilized for the drive control circuitry of the voltage regulators is varied in relation to variations in the input voltage. Thus in one embodiment, the voltage supply that is utilized for the circuitry that drives a control terminal of the output transistor of the regulation circuitry may be varied in relation to variations in the input voltage. For example, an inverse relationship may be established between the input voltage level and the voltage level that is used for the gate drive circuitry that controls the gates of regulator output transistors.

Battery supported power supplies are used for a variety of applications. Often a battery power supply must be regulated prior to being utilized in a system. For example, an exemplary system that utilizes voltage regulators in a battery supported power system 100 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, an AC power source may be obtained from an AC adaptor 110 which may be coupled, for example, to the public AC power grid. A battery 120 is also provided to provide a battery power source. As is known in the art, switches 112, 114, and 1116 and charger regulator 130 may be provided to select AC power from the AC adapter 110 or battery power from the battery 120 to provide the power for the supply rail Vin 125. As is also known, the switches may also be controlled to provide charging of the battery. For example, AC and battery supplied power systems are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/058,781, filed Feb. 16, 2005 entitled "Systems and Methods for Integration of Charger Regulation Within a Battery System" by Luo et al., the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in FIG. 1, the power supply rail Vin 125 may be provided to a number of voltage regulators 140. In typical applications the rail Vin 125 may range from 9-20 volts. For example, when the AC adaptor 110 is being utilized the nominal input voltage level of Vin 125 may be 19.5V. However when the power supply system is supported by the battery, the minimum input voltage level may be as low as 9V. The voltage regulators 140 convert the voltage level of the rail Vin 125 to the necessary voltages required by battery supported power system 100 loads such as processor, chipsets, double data rate (DDR) memory and graphics cards. For example as shown in FIG. 1 the voltage regulators 140 are used to provide a number of regulated power supply rails ranging from 0.9-5V. The number, types, and output voltage levels of the regulators shown in FIG. 1 are merely exemplary and may vary depending upon a user's application and needs. One exemplary type of regulator in which the method introduced in this disclosure can be used is a general switching voltage regulator where Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) is used as power control switch. In one exemplary embodiment the voltage regulators may be "Buck" voltage regulators. Buck or "step-down" voltage regulators are regulators that are generally known to have an output voltage that is lower than an input voltage. Exemplary voltage regulators use controllers such as the Intersil ISL88550A, Maxim MAX8743 and the Texas Instrument TPS51116. The exemplary voltage regulators have a common feature that two auxiliary +5V power supply voltages are needed to support drive circuitry and control circuitry operations in the controller. Of these two power supply voltages, a +5V supply voltage called VCC or AVDD is the one after a RC filter. It will be recognized however that the concepts described herein are relevant to a wide range of other regulator types and that the regulators discussed herein are merely exemplary.
As shown in FIG. 1, the voltage regulators may receive power supply inputs in addition to the power circuitry input Vin rail that is being regulated. Thus, for example, as shown a Vdd supply input 142 may be utilized and a Vcc supply input 144 filtered by a RC filter after Vdd may also be utilized. As shown in more detail with regard to FIG. 2, the Vdd supply input 142 may act as a power supply for the MOSFET gate drive circuitry and the Vcc supply input 144 may act as a power supply for the analog and/or digital control circuitry within the regulator.
FIG. 2 shows an exemplary application for regulator 140. As shown in FIG. 2 the regulator 140 may include a regulator integrated circuit 210, power MOSFETs 220 and 222 and a regulator system output 230. Power supply rails Vin 125, Vdd 142, and Vcc 144 are provided to the regulator integrated circuit 210 as shown. The MOSFETs 220 and 222 are controlled be gate driver outputs 221 and 223 respectively. The source of MOSFET 220 and drain of MOSFET 222 are also coupled to the regulator integrated circuit 210 at the LX pin 225 as shown. The OUT pin 226 senses the output voltage to determine if the regulator operates normally, otherwise a protection action may be taken by the control circuitry inside the controller. The FB pin 228 provides feedback to the control unit through a voltage divider (not shown). The control unit will compare the feedback signal with a preset reference voltage to determine the on-time duration for the high side switching MOSFET 220 and the low side MOSFET. The exemplary voltage regulator 140 may use, for example, a MAXIM MAX8550 voltage regulator integrated circuit. As shown in FIG. 2, drive circuitry 240 may be provided to provide the gate driver output voltages. Control unit 250 may provide the control signals for controlling the drive unit 240 appropriately in response to the signals on the OUT 226 AND FB 228 pins. The Vdd supply 142 may be provided as a supply for the drive unit 240 and the Vcc supply 144 after a RC filter on Vdd may be provided as a supply for the control unit 250.
The power efficiency of the regulator 140 is dependent (among other things) upon the MOSFET conduction loss. In particular, the drain-source resistance Rds(on) of MOSFET 222 can greatly impact the over all efficiency of the overall power supply system and corresponding impact the battery life of the battery utilized in such systems. It would be desirable to provide techniques that improve the efficiency of power supply systems, in particular the voltage regulation efficiency.
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery supported power supply system may be utilized to generate a variety of system output voltages such as CPU voltage rails, system voltage rails, chipset voltage rails, memory voltage rails, graphics card voltage rails, etc. Such output voltages are often used in information handling systems. As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.

Method and apparatus for extending battery life by adaptive control of regulators


An auxiliary operating device for manually operating a normally motor-operated closure between open and closed positions, the device comprising a shaft, a driving member mounted to the shaft and displaceable between an idle position and an operational position wherein the driving member is operatively coupled to the closure. The device further comprises a manual actuator for first displacing the driving member from its idle position to its operational position and then driving the driving member in order to displace the closure. The actuator can be advantageously mounted at either end portions of the shaft irrespectively of the position of the driving member on the shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the operation of a closure normally operated by a motor and, more particularly, to an auxiliary device for allowing manual operation of the closure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the art of closures operated by way of electric motors to provide each system with an auxiliary operating device to permit manual operation of the closure in the event, for instance, of a failure of the electric motor.
Canadian Patent No. 2,112,350 issued on Feb. 22, 2000 in the name of Manaras et al. discloses such an auxiliary closure operating device which is mounted on a motor driving an output shaft adapted to open and close a closure, such as a garage door. The auxiliary operating device comprises a shaft mounted for rotational and axial movements within an elongated surrounding sleeve supported on the motor. A first gear is mounted at a first end of the shaft for rotation therewith. In its idle position, the first gear is engaged by a locking finger in order to prevent rotational movement of the shaft. A pulley is mounted for free rotation at the opposed end of the shaft and is engaged with a manual chain. A disc is mounted to the hub of the pulley for engaging a cam member fixedly mounted to the shaft adjacent the pulley. The initial rotational movement induced to the pulley via the manual operation of the chain causes the disc to displace along the cam member so as to push the latter away from the pulley, thereby causing the shaft, which is locked against rotation due to the engagement of the locking finger with the first gear, to slide axially within the sleeve. At one point, the first gear will disengage from the locking finger and will mesh with a second gear secured to the output shaft, thereby allowing the shaft to rotate with the cam member in order to drive the output shaft. At the same time, the disc will engage a stopper on the cam member such that further rotation of the pulley will be transmitted as a torque to the cam member, thereby causing the rotation of the shaft and of the first gear and, thus, of the second gear and of the motor's output shaft.
Canadian Patent Application No. 2,297,220 published on Mar. 15, 2001 discloses a more compact auxiliary operating device wherein the manually actuated pulley is directly mounted on the shaft normally driven by the motor. The pulley has an axially extending hub fitted with a roller mounted on a radially extending idle axle. The roller travels on a cam surface of a cam mounted on the normally motor-driven shaft. The action of the roller on the cam causes the cam to move axially on the shaft towards a spring pin extending radially from the shaft. The engagement of the cam with the spring pin permits to transmit a torque from the pulley to the shaft via the cam.
One problem with the two above-described auxiliary operating devices resides in the lack of flexibility that they offer during installation. For instance, if the device has been configured to be installed on the right side of a closure and that once on site the technician realized that the device can only be mounted on the left side of the closure, then the device must be completely disassembled and reconfigured to permit the installation thereof on the left side of the closure.

Auxiliary operating device for allowing manual operation of a closure normally driven by a motor


An arrangement for a brake lining, method for actuating the brake lining and the brake lining itself are a partially lined disc brake of a rail vehicle that has a lining support and multiple group elements arranged on the lining support. Each of the group elements consists of a support plate and multiple lining elements arranged on the support plate, and lining elements with at least two friction surfaces of differing sizes are arranged on each support plate. The lining elements are arranged such that their total surface area at least approximates a ring sector, and at least two different first and second group elements are arranged on the lining support.

A brake lining of the generic type is described in EP 0 784 761 B1. In the case of the brake lining which is described therein, a very uniform input of heat into the brake disk of a disk brake is achieved by way of a division of the overall lining area into a plurality of small lining elements and by way of a statically determined transmission of a brake application force of a caliper lever of a disk brake of a rail vehicle to the lining elements.
Here, the force of the caliper lever is distributed uniformly to respective halves of a lining carrier, on which the lining elements are secured, by a lining holder, on which the brake lining is secured.
Here, that force of the caliper lever which acts on a half of this type of the lining carrier is supported via in each case three carrier plates which are mounted on the lining carrier. Here, the force is distributed in such a way that all the carrier plates are loaded uniformly. Each of the carrier plates in turn divides the force which is exerted by the caliper lever, once again in a uniform manner, to the lining elements which are mounted on a carrier plate of this type.
An arrangement of this type of a carrier plate with lining elements which are held thereon via spherical bearings will be called a group element in the following text.
The group elements and also the three lining elements of a group element of this type lie on different orbital path diameters in relation to the brake disk, against which the lining elements bear in the case of a braking operation.
As a result of the positioning of the lining elements on different orbital path cross sections, the sliding velocity of the lining elements on the brake disk is also of different magnitude.
Owing to the different sliding velocities, in the case of an identical surface pressure of the lining elements, wear of the lining elements at a different speed and therefore an oblique position of the carrier plate and even of the entire lining holder can occur.
Here, the mounting of the lining elements on the carrier plate is designed in such a way that they lie on the brake disk with a surface pressure which is constant over the surface area.
Since, however, the local sliding velocity is not constant over the element surface area, each of the lining elements is also prone to oblique wear.
If the oblique wear is too great within a lining element or else within a group element, this can lead to single-sided contact of the lining elements on the carrier plate or the carrier plates on the lining carrier. As a result, the desired uniform distribution of force is impaired, as a result of which the contact pattern of the brake lining deteriorates.
Here, the performance of a disk brake is limited, inter alia, by the surface temperature which occurs on the friction face of the brake disk. In this way, hot cracks which grow at an excessive surface temperature occur, which hot cracks can reach impermissible sizes and can make a replacement of the brake disk necessary as a result.
The greater the fluctuations in the surface temperature on the brake disk, the lower the thermal energy which a brake disk can absorb without damage during a braking operation. Accordingly, a brake lining of optimum design introduces the thermal energy into the brake disk uniformly over the entire friction face, without producing relatively great temperature differences (for example, hotspots) on the surface.
In order to comply with the abovementioned requirements, the brake linings of rail vehicles, in particular of high speed trains, are of very complicated construction, with the result that they, as a wear part, cause a considerable proportion of the operating costs of rail vehicles of this type.
The wear of a brake lining is, inter alia, substantially dependent on the surface pressure between the brake lining and the brake disk and on the sliding velocity of the brake disk on the friction linings.ν′˜Pα·νβ,
where
v′ is the wear speed
P is the surface pressure
v is the sliding velocity, and
α, β are material parameters
[Saumweber, Gerum: "Grundlagen der Schienenfahrzeugbremse" [Foundations of the rail vehicle brake], Hestra-Verlag]
For the abovementioned reasons, oblique wear of the brake linings often occurs during operation of rail vehicles of this type. Therefore, the brake linings often have to be replaced, without it being possible to completely utilize the existing wear volume of the brake linings

Brake lining for a partially lined disc brake, arrangement of a brake lining on a lining holder, and method for actuating a brake lining held on a lining holder

KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEM FÜR SCHIENENFAHRZEUGE GMBH


A method for manufacturing a waveguide-type semiconductor device includes the steps of forming an epitaxial structure including a waveguide mesa and a device mesa; forming a mask for selective growth on the epitaxial structure; growing a semiconductor region on an end surface of the device mesa by using the mask for selective growth, the semiconductor region including a side portion having a layer shape and a protruding wall portion; forming an ohmic electrode on a top surface of the device mesa; forming a resin layer on the device mesa and the semiconductor region; forming a resin mask having an opening on the ohmic electrode; forming an electric conductor connecting the ohmic electrode to an electrode pad, the electric conductor passing over the protruding wall portion while making contact with a surface of the resin mask; and removing the resin mask after forming the electric conductor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a waveguide-type semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-127333) discloses a semiconductor photoreceiver formed on a substrate. The semiconductor photoreceiver has a suitable structure for high-speed operation. The semiconductor photoreceiver includes a light-detecting portion formed on the substrate. The light-detecting portion includes an absorption layer that is composed of a semiconductor. The absorption layer receives light and generates a carrier in accordance with the intensity of the light. The semiconductor photoreceiver also includes a waveguide formed on the substrate that is integrated with the light-detecting portion. The waveguide is optically coupled to the light-detecting portion. Light propagating through the waveguide is input to the absorption layer of the light-detecting portion. The light-detecting portion of the semiconductor photoreceiver has a mesa structure having side surfaces that are covered with a semi-insulating semiconductor layer. The mesa structure of the light-detecting portion includes the absorption layer, a p-type layer, and a cap layer. In addition, the light-detecting portion has an electrode formed on the mesa structure. An electric field is applied to the absorption layer of the light-detecting portion through the electrode.
In the semiconductor photoreceiver disclosed in Patent Document 1, a semiconductor layer composed of semi-insulating InP is formed on the side surfaces of the mesa structure of the light-detecting portion.

Method for manufacturing waveguide-type semiconductor device


An apparatus and method is disclosed for simulating an “in use” condition in a telephone line, so that incoming calls will get a busy signal and, therefore, will not ring all telephones on that line.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to control of incoming telephone calls, and more particularly, to simulating "in use" signals to prevent incoming calls from ringing telephones connected to the same line.
2. Background
It may be desirable to prevent incoming telephone calls, from time to time, from ringing the telephone. Simply disconnecting the telephone does not provide an adequate solution for this purpose.
The prior art provides a variety of mechanical solutions as well as complex electrical systems.
See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,584 which discloses a do-not-disturb adapter (including a rotating cam) for telephone receivers. Pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/379,301, Publication number US 2004/0174970 A1 discloses another mechanical telephone line isolation device. U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,839 discloses a timed telephone ring silencer device.
I have invented an inexpensive electrical apparatus and method for simulating an "in use" signal to prevent incoming calls from ringing telephones connected to the same line. I provide a timing controller means for setting and resetting time intervals; which is repeatable, which provides for "do-not-disturb" and which can be easily switched on and off.

Apparatus and method of simulating telephone “in use” signals in a line in a telephone ring system


An alpha-beta titanium-base alloy having a good combination of strength and ductility with a relatively low cost composition. The composition, in percent by weight, is 5.5 to 6.5 aluminum, 1.5 to 2.2 iron, 0.07 to 0.13 silicon and balance titanium. The alloy may have oxygen restricted in an amount up to 0.25%. The alloy may be hot-worked solely at a temperature above the beta transus temperature of the alloy to result in low-cost processing with improved product yields. The hot-working may include forging, which may be conducted at a temperature of 25.degree. to 450.degree. F. above the beta transus temperature of the alloy. The hot-working may also include hot-rolling, which also may be conducted at a temperature of 25.degree. to 450.degree. F. above the beta transus temperature of the alloy.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an alpha-beta titanium-base alloy having a good combination of strength and ductility, achieved with a relatively low-cost alloy composition. The invention further relates to a method for hot-working the alloy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Titanium-base alloys have been widely used in aerospace applications, primarily because of their favorable strength to weight ratio at both ambient temperature and at moderately elevated temperatures up to about 1000.degree. F. In this application, the higher cost of the titanium alloy compared to steel or other alloys is offset by the economic advantages resulting from the weight saving in the manufacture of aircraft. This relatively high cost of titanium-base alloys compared to other alloys has, however, severely limited the use of titanium-base alloys in applications where weight saving is not critical, such as the automobile industry. In automotive applications, however, utilization of titanium-base alloys would lead to increased fuel efficiency to correspondingly lower the operating cost of motor vehicles. In this regard, two conventional titanium-base alloys, namely Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo, have been used in automotive engines designed for racing cars with excellent results. Specifically, the former alloy has been used in these applications for connecting rods and intake valves, and the latter alloy has been used for exhaust valves. In these applications, however, efficiency and performance are of primary concern with material costs being secondary.
Some of the factors that result in the higher cost of titanium-base alloys, such as the cost of the base metal, cannot at present be substantially changed. Factors that are subject to beneficial change from the cost standpoint are the cost of the alloying elements. Specifically, with the conventional Ti-6Al-4V alloy, the vanadium adds significantly to the overall cost of the alloy. Specifically, at present vanadium (a beta stabilizer) costs approximately $13.50 per pound and thus adds about 50.cent. per pound to the cost of the alloy. Consequently, if a less expensive beta stabilizing element could be used, such as iron, which costs about 50.cent. per pound, this would add only about 2.cent. per pound to the alloy if present in an amount equivalent to vanadium. In addition to the relatively high cost of vanadium, this is an element that is only obtainable from foreign sources.
Another factor that is significant in lowering the overall cost of titanium-base alloys is improved yield from ingot to final mill product. This may be achieved by improvements in mill processing, such as by reducing the energy and time requirements for mill processing or by an alloy composition that is more tolerant to current processing from the standpoint of material losses from surface and end cracking during mill processing, such as forging, rolling and the like. From the standpoint of increased yield from more efficient mill processing, an alloy composition that may be processed from ingot to final mill product at temperatures entirely within the beta-phase region of the alloy would provide increased yield because of the higher ductility and lower flow stresses existent at these temperatures. Consequently, processing could be achieved with less energy being used for the conversion operations, such as forging and hot-rolling. Currently, alpha-beta titanium-base alloys typically receive substantial hot-working at temperatures within their alpha-beta phase region. At these temperatures, during hot-working significant surface cracking and resulting higher conditioning losses result.

All beta processing of alpha-beta titanium alloy


An apparatus for refrigeration system control includes a plurality of circuits, each circuit having at least one refrigeration case and an electronic evaporator pressure regulator in communication with each circuit. Each electronic evaporator pressure regulator controls a temperature of one of the circuits. A sensor in communication with each circuit measures a parameter from the circuit. A controller associated with each electronic evaporator pressure regulator controls the respective electronic evaporator pressure regulator based upon measured parameters from each of the circuits.

A conventional refrigeration system may include a rack of multiple compressors connected to several refrigeration circuits. A refrigeration circuit is defined generally as a physically plumbed series of cases operating at the generally same pressure and/or temperature. For example, in a grocery store, separate refrigeration circuits may exist for frozen food, meats and dairy, with each circuit having one or more cases operating at similar temperature ranges, and the circuits operating in different temperature ranges. The temperature differences between the circuits are typically achieved by using mechanical evaporator pressure regulators (EPR) valves or other valves located in series with each circuit. Each EPR valve regulates the pressure for all the cases in a given circuit. The pressure at which the EPR valve controls the circuit is typically set during system installation, or recalibrated during maintenance, using a mechanical pilot screw disposed in the valve. The circuit pressure is selected based on a pressure drop between the cases on the circuit, the rack suction pressure, and case temperature requirements.
The multiple compressors are connected in parallel using a common suction header and a common discharge header to form a compressor rack. The suction pressure for the compressor rack is determined by modulating each of the compressors between an ON state and an OFF state in a controlled fashion. The suction pressure set point for the compressor rack is generally set to a value that can meet the lowest evaporator circuit requirement. In other words, the circuit that operates at the lowest temperature generally controls the suction pressure set point, which is fixed to meet the refrigeration capacity requirements of that lowest temperature.
Case temperature requirements generally change throughout the year due to ever-changing outside temperature conditions. For example, in the winter, there is generally a lower case load, which may require a higher suction pressure set point. Conversely, in the summer, there is generally a higher load, which may require a lower suction pressure set point. Cost savings from efficiency gains may be realized by seasonally adjusting EPR valves to tailor the output of the refrigeration system to that which is required to meet the seasonal case load. By changing the EPR valves, the suction pressure set point of the compressor rack is adjusted to effect refrigeration system output. Because adjustments to the EPR valves typically require a refrigeration technician, such adjustments are seldom performed on-site due to cost and time constraints.
Electronic EPR valves, such as those disclosed in Assignee's U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,360,553; 6,449,968; 6,601,398; and 6,578,374, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, do not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages. The EPR valves provide adaptive adjustment of the evaporator pressure for each circuit, resulting in a more accurate and stable case temperature, but require a separate driver for each EPR valve.

Evaporator pressure regulator control and diagnostics


In an electric vehicle inverter apparatus 100, a vehicle control controller 15 detects a switch open signal output from a collision detector 16 when the collision detector 16 is caused by a collision between electric vehicles to operate. Then, an inverter main circuit connection switch 10 of a high-voltage battery unit 8 is put into an open state. Thus, the direct-current power supply from a high-voltage battery 12 to a DC bus portion is interrupted. In addition, electric charges charged into a main circuit capacitor 7 are discharged by a forced discharge circuit portion 22b.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a protection circuit and method for an inverter apparatus which is an electric vehicle semiconductor power conversion apparatus mounted in an electric car, a hybrid car, or the like.
2. Related Art
An electric vehicle inverter apparatus is connected to a high-voltage battery unit that incorporates an inrush current suppression function and a high-voltage interrupting function and that has a voltage of hundreds of volts (V). Even when the high-voltage battery unit is disconnected therefrom, a high voltage remains in a main circuit capacitor. Countermeasures for preventing occurrence of electric shock during maintenance and in impact accidents are important from the viewpoint of safety enhancement. As one of the countermeasures, a discharge resistance or a discharge circuit has hitherto been installed in a high-voltage portion of the inverter apparatus.
FIG. 11 illustrates a discharge circuit according to Conventional Example 1 of an electric motor driving apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1.
<Operation of Discharge Circuit Disclosed in Patent Document 1>
<<At Start-Up of Motor>>
As illustrated in FIG. 11, when a direct-current (DC) brushless motor M starts up (i.e., a power supply circuit is in an on-state), a controller 62 puts the contacts of a power supply relay Ry1 into an open state (off-state), and brings those of a charge relay Ry2 into a closed state (on-state), respectively. In addition, the controller 62 puts the contacts of a normally-closed type relay Ry3 into an open state (off-state). In this condition, electric current flowing in a discharge resistor R1 is interrupted by the contacts of the normally-closed type relay Ry3. Accordingly, electric charges are stored in a smoothing capacitor C through a charge resistor R2. That is, the smoothing capacitor C is charged. At that time, the charge resistor R2 is interposed between a power supply and the smoothing capacitor C. Thus, inrush current is prevented from flowing into the smoothing capacitor C.
<<During Operation of Motor>>
The controller 62 puts the contacts of the power supply relay Ry1 into a closed state (on-state) and brings those of the charge relay Ry2 into an open state (off-state). Consequently, the DC brushless motor M is operated by an inverter 61 of the power supply circuit at a predetermined rotational speed in a stable operation state.
<<At Stoppage of Motor>>
On the other hand, when the DC brushless motor M is stopped (i.e., the power supply circuit is in an off-state), the controller 62 puts the contacts of the power supply relay Ry1 and those of the charge relay Ry2 into an open state (off-state). In addition, the controller 62 brings the normally-closed type relay Ry3 into a closed state (on-state). In this state, electric charges stored in the smoothing capacitor C flow through the charge resistor R1 and the normally-closed type relay Ry3. Consequently, the smoothing capacitor C is discharged.
FIG. 12 illustrates a discharge circuit according to Conventional Example 2 of a power supply apparatus for a DC-DC converter or the like disclosed in Patent Document 2.
<Configuration of Discharge Circuit Disclosed in Patent Document 2>
<<Discharge Current Control Portion DL>>
As illustrated in FIG. 12, a discharge current control portion DL is constituted by a series circuit of a discharge resistor R1 and a switching element Q1. The on/off control of an electric current path between an output terminal Out and a ground point switching element Q1 is performed by turning on and off the switching element Q1. Thus, the on/off control of electric current flowing in the discharge resistor R1 can be performed.
<<Charge Storage Portion CS>>
An electric charge storage portion CS is constituted by a diode D11 serving as a rectifying element, and a capacitor C11 serving as a charge storage means. The anode of a diode D11 is connected to an output terminal Out, while the cathode of the diode D11 is connected to one of the electrodes of the capacitor C11 so that the other electrode of the capacitor C11 is connected to the ground point. The connection point between the diode D11 and the capacitor C11 is connected to a discharge control portion DC as a charge storage portion output terminal CST. With this circuit configuration, a voltage substantially the same as an output voltage can be maintained at the charge storage portion output terminal CST which is one of the terminals of the capacitor C11. Thus, this voltage is supplied to the discharge control portion DC as a control portion power supply voltage.
<<Discharge Control Portion DC>>
The discharge control portion DC is constituted by a series circuit of a transistor Q12, and resistors R16 and R17 connected between the charge storage portion output terminal CST and a ground point, and resistors R18 and R19 for performing the on/off control of the transistor Q12 by applying a bias to an input terminal (base electrode in this case) of the transistor Q12. One of the terminals of the resistor R18 is connected to the charge storage portion output terminal CST. The connection point between the resistors R18 and R19 is connected to the input terminal of the transistor Q12. The resistor R19 is connected to an input voltage detection portion ID. An input detection signal output from the input voltage detection portion ID is applied to the input terminal of the transistor Q12 as an input signal.
<<Input Voltage Detection Portion ID>>
FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram illustrating the input voltage detection portion ID shown in FIG. 12. As illustrated in FIG. 13, a series circuit of resistors R21 and R22, a series circuit of a resistor R23 and a zener diode ZD21, a power supply terminal of an operational amplifier AMP, and a series circuit of a resistor R25 and a transistor Q21 are connected between an input terminal In and a ground point. In addition, an output terminal of the operational amplifier AMP and one of the terminals of a resistor R24 connected to the input terminal In at the other terminal thereof are connected to the input terminal of the transistor Q21. The connection point between the resistors R21 and R22 is connected to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP, while the connection point between the resistor R23 and the zener diode ZD21 is connected to the positive input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP.
<<Operation 1 of Input Voltage Detection Portion ID: Output of Logical H Signal in Steady State>>
In a steady state, the voltage of the input terminal In is an input voltage itself and has a logical HIGH level. At that time, a zener diode ZD21 is tuned on. A voltage at the positive input terminal of an operational amplifier AMP is the zener voltage of the zener diode ZD21. On the other hand, a voltage obtained by voltage division with the resistors R21 and R22 is applied to the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP. This voltage is set to be higher than the zener voltage. When the potential at the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP is higher than that at the positive input terminal thereof, the output of the operational amplifier AMP is at a logical LOW level. Thus, the transistor Q21 is turned off. No current flows in a resistor R25 because the transistor Q21 is off. The input voltage detection portion ID outputs a signal, whose level is a logical HIGH level, to the discharge control portion DC as an input detection signal. That is, in a steady state, a signal whose level is a logical HIGH level is output from the input voltage detection portion ID.
<<Operation 2 of Input Voltage Detection Portion ID: Output of Logical L Signal at Trailing Edge Time>>
At a trailing edge time, in a case where the voltage at the input terminal In is lowered to be equal to or lower than the zener voltage of the zener diode ZD21, the potential at the positive input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP is the voltage at the input terminal In. On the other hand, the potential at the negative input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP is lower than the voltage at the input terminal In, because the voltage at the input terminal In is subjected to voltage division through the resistors R21 and R22. When the potential at the positive input terminal of the operational amplifier AMP is higher than that at the negative input terminal thereof, the output of the operational amplifier AMP has a logical HIGH level. Thus, the transistor Q21 is turned on. Electric current flows in the resistor R25, because the transistor Q21 is on. The input voltage detection portion ID outputs a signal, whose level is a logical LOW level, to the discharge control portion DC as an input detection signal. That is, at a trailing edge time, a signal whose level is a logical LOW level is output from the input voltage detection portion ID.
<Operation of Discharge Circuit Disclosed in Patent Document 2>
In a steady state in which the output voltage at the output terminal Out is maintained at a rated voltage, the input voltage to the input terminal In is substantially equal to the rated voltage. Thus, the input voltage detection portion ID outputs a signal whose level is a logical HIGH level (or off-signal (hereinafter represented by a logical level)) as an input detection signal to a terminal of the resistor R19, which is the input terminal of the discharge control portion DC. Because the transistor Q12 is turned off by inputting a logical HIGH level signal to the discharge control portion DC, an output of the discharge control portion DC is a logical LOW level signal (signal having a level equal to ground potential, or no signal). Accordingly, the input terminal of the switching element Q1 is at a ground level. Thus, the switching element Q1 is turned off. No discharge current flows in the discharge resistor R1. That is, in a steady state, the discharge current control portion DL feeds no discharge current.
That is, the discharge circuit according to Conventional Example 2 in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 performs the on/off control of the switching element Q1 of the discharge current control portion DL and the discharge control via the discharge resistor R1, based on a control portion power supply voltage and an input detection signal, by detecting an input voltage with an input voltage detection portion ID connected to an input terminal, and by outputting to the discharge control portion DC an input detection signal according to the input voltage.
Referring next to FIG. 14, there is shown a discharge circuit according to Conventional Example 3.
<<Discharge Circuit according to Conventional Example 3>>
As illustrated in FIG. 14, the discharge circuit is configured so that when a discharge command signal FD1 is input to a photocoupler 36 of an insulation circuit, a gate drive PNP transistor 42 is turned on, that a gate drive voltage Vc1 is applied to a gate of a power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) 40 via resistors 43 and 41, that thus, the power MOSFET 40 is turned on, and that a discharge operation is performed via a discharge resistor 39. The gate power supply circuit portion 30 has a resistor 31 connected to the positive terminal P of a high-voltage capacitor, a zener diode 33 which generates the gate drive voltage Vc1 and is connected to the negative terminal N of the high-voltage capacitor, and an electrolytic capacitor 34 which stores electric charges corresponding to a voltage developed across the zener diode 33 and supplies a gate drive power supply voltage.
<<Discharge Circuit according to Conventional Example 4>>
FIG. 15 illustrates a discharge circuit according to Conventional Example 4 in a case where an overheat protection circuit for a discharge circuit is added to the discharge circuit illustrated in FIG. 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 15, the discharge circuit is featured in that a forced discharge circuit portion 22a is provided with an overheat protection portion 28 for protecting a discharge resistor 39 from being overheated, so that the overheat protection portion 28 is disposed between the connection point of a gate resistor 41 of a power MOSFET 40 and the collector of a gate drive PNP transistor 42 and the negative terminal N of a high-voltage capacitor. A discharge current is detected by the voltage drop across a detection resistor 51. When an NPN transistor 47 is turned on by applying a voltage to the base of the NPN transistor 47, the base of a PNP transistor 46 is connected to a voltage of 0V of the gate power supply circuit portion 30. At that time, the emitter-collector junction of the PNP transistor 46 conducts to apply a base drive voltage to the base of the NPN transistor 47. Thus, the NPN transistor 47 maintains an on-state. In addition, the gate voltage of the power MOSFET 40 is dropped to 0V. Consequently, the power MOSFET 40 is turned off, and the discharge current is interrupted.
An operation of turning off the gate voltage is continued in the aforementioned manner. Accordingly, the discharge resistor 39 is protected from being overheated by performing a discharge operation in a high-voltage applied state.    [Patent Document 1] JP-A-6-276610 (page 4, and FIG. 1)    [Patent Document 2] JP-A-2003-235241 (Pages 6 to 7, and FIGS. 2 and 4)<Drawbacks of Conventional Discharge Circuit>
However, the high-voltage discharge circuit of the aforementioned conventional electric vehicle inverter apparatus is configured to constantly perform discharge. Accordingly, the discharge resistor is large in size. The deterioration of the mountability of the inverter apparatus to a vehicle and the increase in the manufacturing cost thereof occur due to the increase in the required space and the weight thereof.
In a case where the method of cooling the inverter apparatus is implemented by the air-cooling of the discharge resistor, when an electric vehicle runs at low speed, the cooling capability is reduced. Thus, at worst, the discharge resistor may be put into a burnout state. Consequently, it is indispensably necessary to install the inverter apparatus at a water-cooling portion of the vehicle. However, the conventional discharge circuit has a problem that accordingly, the mountability of the inverter apparatus to a vehicle is more deteriorated.
<<Drawbacks of Discharge Circuit according to Patent Document 1>>
In the discharge circuit of the configuration according to Conventional Example 1 illustrated in FIG. 11, which is disclosed in Patent Document 1, the normally closed type relay Ry3 is turned on after the power supply relay Ry1 and the charge relay Ry2 are opened. Thus, the high voltage of the smoothing capacitor C is discharged with the discharge resistor R1. At that time, in a case where an on-failure occurs in an excitation operation transistor of the power supply relay Ry1 or the charge relay Ry2, the excitation state of the power supply relay Ry1 or Ry2 is maintained. Thus, a high-voltage power supply Vdc remains connected to the discharge resistor R1. Consequently, the discharge circuit according to Patent Document 1 has a problem that the overheat destruction of the discharge resistor R1 is caused. The discharge circuit according to Patent Document 1 has another problem that in a case where the power supply relay Ry1 or the charge relay Ry2 is normally opened, even when the DC brushless motor M performs a regeneration operation or continues rotation, electric current continues to constantly flow in the discharge resistor R1, so that the discharge resistor R1 overheats.
<<Drawbacks of Discharge Circuit according to Patent Document 2>>
In the discharge circuit of the configuration according to Conventional Example 2 illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, which is disclosed in Patent Document 2, the input voltage and the output voltage are uninsulated from each other. A zero-volt line is shared by the input-terminal side and the output-terminal side. Thus, the discharge control is performed at the output side using input voltage detection information. On the other hand, in the inverter apparatus having the high voltage portion, the circuit control portion and the detection control portion are operated by the power supply circuit using a low-voltage battery, and thus cannot be configured to have the same potential as that of the high voltage portion. Consequently, the inverter apparatus provided with the high voltage portion using the discharge circuit according to Patent Document 2 has a problem that an insulation circuit is indispensably required.
<<Drawbacks of Discharge Circuit according to Conventional Example 3>>
The discharge circuit of the configuration according to Conventional Example 3 illustrated in FIG. 14 has the following problems. That is, there is a fear of occurrence of a state, in which a discharge operation is not completed, according to the signal state of the discharge command signal FD1, due to, e.g., chattering or the interruption of the low-voltage battery.
In addition, when a discharge signal is input in a high-voltage applied state, electric current constantly flows in the discharge resistor, so that the discharge resistor is overheated.
Additionally, in the gate power supply circuit portion 30 of the forced discharge circuit portion 22 in FIG. 14, the resistance value of the resistor 31 is set at high value, because the gate power supply voltage is low. Thus, when the inverter apparatus starts up, it takes long time until the apparatus reaches a gate power supply voltage at which a discharge operation can be performed.
<<Drawbacks of Discharge Circuit according to Conventional Example 4>>
In the discharge circuit of the configuration according to Conventional Example 4 illustrated in FIG. 15, the overheat protection circuit portion 28 is added to the circuit illustrated in FIG. 14 in order to prevent occurrence of the problem of overheat of the discharge resistor 39 illustrated in FIG. 14. Although the gate drive potential can be set at 0V and the discharge operation can be stopped when the overheat protection circuit portion 28 is disposed at such an installation position, the following defects may occur.
That is, because the power supply impedance of the gate power supply circuit portion 30 is high, the voltage of the storage electrolytic capacitor 34 is instantly dropped to 0V. During that, the gate drive PNP transistor 42 may be turned off. Thus, an amount of electric current flowing through the emitter-collector junction of the PNP transistor 46 is 0. The base current of the NPN transistor 47 is 0, so that the NPN transistor 47 is turned off, and that a latched state is canceled. In a case where the terminal voltage Vpn of a main circuit capacitor 7 remains in a high voltage state, and where a discharge command signal FD1 is input, when the storage electrolytic capacitor 34 is charged by the diode 38 via the resistor 31 to a level close to a zener voltage of the zener diode 33 for generating a gate power supply voltage, the PNP transistor 42 is turned on again. Thus, the power MOSFET 40 is turned on. Consequently, a discharge operation is started again. Discharge current flows therefrom via the discharge resistor 39. However, while the high-voltage applied state is continued, the overheat state occurs again. The discharge operation and an operation of stopping the discharge for overheat protection are intermittently repeated. Accordingly, there is a fear that the discharge resistor 39 may finally reach an overheat condition and a burnout state.

Electric vehicle inverter apparatus and protection method therefor


Methods and systems for transmitting and receiving data, such as, for example, entertainment data, are presented. In one example, a data file is segmented into a plurality of data modules. A header is generated for each of the data modules, with the header including a module identifier for the data module associated with the header. An indication of a number of the plurality of data modules associated with the data file, and at least one multicast address from which the plurality of modules may be received via a multicast transmission, are generated and transmitted. The data modules with their associated headers are transmitted over a communication network in the multicast transmission.

Data file retrieval over a communication network, such as over a wide-area network (WAN) (e.g., the Internet), is typically accomplished via a point-to-point data transfer from a source device or system of the data (e.g., a server) to a destination device of system for the data (e.g., a client). Typically, to initiate such a data transmission, a destination device requests the data from the source device, causing the source device to create an internal execution process to manage the transmission, with that process consuming some amount of memory and processing resources in the source device. As a result, if a high number of requests for the data file are received at the source device from multiple destination devices within a short period of time, many processes may be active simultaneously or concurrently in the source device, possibly causing a depletion of memory and processor resources therein. Further, processing of additional requests may be delayed until at least some of the requested data transmissions currently being processed have been completed due to limits in the amount of memory and processor resources available at the source device. Accordingly, the response time of at least some requests for the data file is likely to be impacted negatively.


A tree treatment capsule is inserted into a bore formed in a tree and has several volumes from which various fluids used to treat the tree are sequentially discharged. The capsule includes a plastic container having a shank portion, with a first internal cavity having an end opening and containing a first chemical agent, and a head element integrally formed with the shank portion at a location remote from the end opening. The shank portion includes a circumferential recess formed therein, and a plastic plug is provided for sealingly closing the internal cavity. The plastic plug has an outer external diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the end opening, and has another internal cavity formed therein containing a second chemical agent. The plug is partially insertable into the end opening so that a tight fit between the plug and the end opening is provided. The shank portion is broken to release the first chemical agent immediately as an impact force is applied to the head element and moves the head element towards the plastic plug. The plastic plug has another internal cavity formed therein containing a second chemical agent. The end plug is gradually broken down to release the second chemical agent after the first chemical agent has been released.

The present invention relates to a tree treatment capsule for feeding one or more chemical agent or agents into plants and, more particularly, to a capsule for delivering at least one chemical agent in stages to the phloem layer of a tree. Such chemical agents could be herbicides or any other tree destroying agents if the treatment is designed to kill the tree, but are more likely to be periodically or sequentially applied fertilizers, fungicides or other medicants or nutrients, since this particular treatment is most suitable for curing the tree from diseases or nutrient deficiencies. The medicants or nutrients are applied automatically by the invention to the tree at different times. The chemical agent contained in an internal cavity of the capsule may be used to treat the tree in one season of the year while the chemical agent contained in another internal cavity may be used to treat the tree in a subsequent season. The capsule, in other words, has volumes or cavities from which the chemical agents are sequentially discharged.

Tree treatment capsule with volumes for sequentially discharging fluid


A bulk material system generally consisting of a container having an upper wall, a vertical wall and an opening in the vertical wall; a support frame detachably mountable on the upper and vertical walls of the container; a hopper mounted on the support frame; a material conveying conduit mounted on the frame having an inlet communicating with an outlet of the hopper for receiving material therefrom and an end portion with an outlet insertable through the vertical wall opening of the container when the frame is detachably mounted on the container; and a conduit supported on the support frame having an outlet communicating with the material conveying conduit and an inlet communicable with a source of gas under pressure, function to supply gas under pressure to the material conveying conduit for pneumatically conveying material fed from the hopper into the material conveying conduit, therethrough, into the container.

Bulk materials commonly used in various manufacturing processes typically are transported in intermodal containers mountable on flat beds of motor vehicles, railway cars and ship holds for shipping. Because of the poor flow characteristics of many of such materials, pneumatic conveying methods commonly are employed for loading such materials into containers. The use of such methods, however, requires not only the handling of large volumes of air for conveying the materials but the venting of such air and the removal of airborne particles of such material entrained in the vented air so as not to pollute or contaminate the working environment. Typically, equipment used for such loading operations are located at fixed sites not always readily accessible to the containers to be loaded. Accordingly, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a system for handling bulk materials consisting of a transportable container and an apparatus for loading such material into such a container which is portable and therefore readily relocatable to accommodate containers situated at different locations.

Bulk material handling system and portable loading apparatus thereof


The disclosure is related to controlling a transmit power of an uplink sounding reference signal.

The present disclosure relates to controlling a transmit power of an uplink sounding reference signal.
In a coordinated multi-point transmission/reception system (CoMP system), at least two of transmission and reception points cooperate with each other to transmit signals. Such a CoMP system measures an uplink channel state for uplink frequency-dependent schedule and measures an uplink/downlink channel for downlink beam-forming using channel reciprocity. In order to measure the uplink channel state and the uplink/downlink channel, transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) is required.

Controlling transmit power of uplink sounding reference signal