An elasticized fabric unit comprising a pair of tape members spacedly provided, and a plurality of elastic strands fixed to the tape members at their opposite ends, and a garment incorporating the elasticized unit. The garment providing a sealed tight fit with the skin of a wearer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an elasticized unit, apparatus for making such units, garments incorporating the units, and methods for making such garments. Herein the elasticized unit means a unit containing a plurality of elastic strands providing a sealed tight fit so as to avoid the leakage of body excrement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In underwear, especially baby's diapers and female napkin, elasticity is essential for providing a sealed tight fit between the skin and the fabric. For securing the elasticity elastic strings are used around the leg or waist area of the wear, and the wearer fastens the string after he puts it on. Alternatively, when the wearer puts it on, the strings naturally tighten the skin. The strings are fixed to the garment in stitches or by melting or bonding. The fixing work is labor- and time-consuming, thereby leading to a high production cost.
To save cost the stitching method is generally avoided and the melting or bonding (with an adhesive) method is commonly adopted. Under the known methods a problem is that the fabric of the garment and the elastic material, such as strings, have different elasticity. In fixing elastic strings, the base material of the garment is stretched to its own full extent, and allowed to contract after the strings are fixed. However it is difficult to fix the elastic strings to the stretched fabric. To overcome the difficulty, experience and skill is required.
To facilitate the fixing work many proposals have been made but they are not satisfactory in efficiency and cost.
To explain the background of the present invention reference will be made to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view showing a known disposable diaper, partly broken to show the internal structure. The diaper 1 is made up of a permeable nonwoven sheet 2 and a sealing sheet (e.g. a plastic film) 3 overlaid with an absorbent sheet 4 having a smaller area than the sheets 2 and 3. The sheets 2 and 3 are thermally jointed to each other at their peripheries C. The reference numeral 10 denotes an elastic string provided in its stretched state along the opposite side margins of the sealing sheet 3.
The diaper shown in FIG. 3 is produced in the manner shown in FIG. 4:
The permeable sheet 2 is supplied onto the absorbent sheet 4 from a first roll 8, and the sealing sheet 3 is supplied to the under-surface of the absorbent sheet 4 from a second roll 9. These sheets 3 and 4 are pressed and laminated at 22 by a pair of rollers 14, 19. The reference numerals 15 and 16 denote nozzles through which an adhesive is preliminarily coated on the sheets 2 and 3. An elastic strand 10 is supplied from rollers 11, and adhered to the sheet 3 in its stretched state. The laminated sheet is appropriately trimmed, and finally cut to desired lengths at 17. In this way a disposable diaper shown in FIG. 3 is produced. The reference numeral 13 denotes a heater whereby the elastic strand is thermally cut.
In using this diaper the permeable sheet 2, especially a narrow portion (N), is kept in contact with the baby's crotch, and a wide portion (W) is kept in contact with his belly and back. The corners 5 and 5a, 6 and 6a of the diaper 1 are releasably fixed to each other by adhesive tapes.
In this way the sealed tight fit between the cloth and the skin of the baby is secured. In the method mentioned above the elastic strands 10 are arranged in the direction in which the sealing sheet 3 runs, thereby keeping the strands in their stretched state while the sheet 3 is running. This may be advantageous but when it is cut it often happens that the adhesive in the part 10a near the cut still remains too fluid to fix to the sheet. This part tends to become separated from the sheet during use. To avoid this problem a special kind of adhesive is used or the amount of the adhesive is increased. Nevertheless the bond between the sheet and the elastic strands becomes poor.
The leakage of body excretion also occurs through the waist area of the diaper, so that it is required for the cloth to fit the baby's belly and back areas. Normally the diaper is made so as to tighten the fabric around them but that part which keeps contact with the skin tends to become loose over a period of use, thereby causing a gap between the skin and the cloth. The loose diaper often occurs as a result of babies' action. The disposable diapers have the difficulties pointed out above, that is, one difficulty in the production, and the other in the maintenance of the sealed tight fit for the skin.


A memory controller and method are provided for controlling a memory device to process access requests issued by at least one master device, the memory device having a plurality of access regions. The memory controller has a pending access requests storage that buffers access requests that have been issued by a master device prior to those access requests being processed by the memory device. Access control circuitry then issues control commands to the plurality of access regions in order to control the memory device to process access requests retrieved from the pending access requests storage. A query structure is also provided that is configured to maintain, for each access region, information about the buffered access requests in the pending access requests storage, and the access control circuitry references the query structure when determining the control commands to be issued to the plurality of access regions. Such an approach enables significant performance and energy savings to be realized in control of the memory device, without requiring the contents of the pending access requests storage to be directly monitored by the access control circuitry.

The present invention relates to a memory controller and memory control method for controlling a memory device to process access requests issued by at least one master device.
In a data processing system, it is known to use a memory controller to control accesses to an associated memory device in order to process access requests issued by master devices within the system. Typically the memory controller will include some storage such as a queue for buffering pending access requests prior to those access requests being processed by the associated memory device.
When controlling the memory device, it is useful to review the pending access requests held within the memory controller's queue, since this can be used to influence the operation of the memory device with the aim of achieving performance improvements, energy savings, etc. For example, with an understanding of what pending access requests there are, it may be possible to place certain parts of the memory device into a low power state without affecting performance of those pending access requests. As another example, it may be more efficient to re-order certain access requests having regards to the mechanisms required to access particular parts of the memory device. For instance, many modern data processing systems use memory devices that have non-uniform access timing requirements, where a particular row needs to be enabled prior to being accessed, and accordingly it is more efficient to perform multiple accesses to the same row whilst that row is enabled, rather than continually switching between different rows.
One type of memory device that exhibits the above property is a memory device comprising a plurality of banks, with each bank comprising a plurality of rows, and with each row needing to be activated prior to that row being accessed. An example of such a memory device is a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) memory device. However, such non-uniform access timing characteristic are not restricted to DRAM devices and indeed many other types of memory devices have similar bank and row arrangements and associated access timing requirements, for example resistive RAM (ReRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), phase change RAM (PCRAM), etc.
From the above discussion, it will be appreciated that there may be various reasons why it would be useful to review the pending access requests in the memory controller's queue when controlling the memory device, whether that be for performing power control operations in respect of the memory device, performing scheduling operations for the pending access requests, or for some other reason. However, as systems become more and more complex, the number of pending access requests that may need to be managed by the memory controller increases, and as a result the associated queue structure for storing those pending access requests is becoming larger. There is hence a significant expense involved in reviewing the contents of the memory controller's pending access requests queue. In a high performance solution, the pending access request queue could be reviewed using some parallel access mechanism so that multiple pending access requests are reviewed in parallel. However, such an approach is complex and results in a significant power consumption, particularly as the size of the queue increases. If instead it were decided to perform the analysis of the contents of the pending access requests queue using a less power hungry, more serial, access mechanism, this will give rise to significant latency issues due to the large number of pending access requests to be reviewed.
It would accordingly be desirable to provide an improved mechanism for controlling the memory device whilst still being able to take account of the pending access requests awaiting processing.

Memory controller and method for controlling a memory device to process access requests issued by at least one master device


An apparatus and system for plasma processing a substrate using RF power includes a chamber having walls for housing an electrostatic chuck (ESC) and a top electrode. The top electrode is oriented opposite the ESC to define a processing region. An inner line with a tubular shaped wall is defined within and is spaced apart from the walls of the chamber and is oriented to surround the processing region. The tubular shaped wall extends a height between a top and a bottom. The tubular shaped wall has functional openings for substrate access and facilities access and dummy openings oriented to define symmetry for selected ones of the functional openings. A plurality of straps are connected to the bottom of the tubular shaped wall of the inner liner and are electrically coupled to a ground ring within the chamber to provide an RF power return path during plasma processing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processing of a semiconductor device, and more particularly to chamber design and systems used for etching of semiconductor devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the fabrication of semiconductor devices such as integrated circuits, memory cells, and the like, a series of manufacturing operations are performed to define features on substrates, such as semiconductor wafers. Some manufacturing operations, such as etching and deposition, include plasma processing operations that are performed in a plasma processing chamber in which a process gas is transformed into plasma comprising reactive constituents that can perform work on the substrate, when present and exposed thereto. During such plasma processing operations, the substrate is held on an electrostatic chuck and exposed to the plasma. The electrostatic chuck is defined to establish an electrostatic field that attracts the substrate to a supporting surface of the electrostatic chuck, thereby securing the substrate to the electrostatic chuck during plasma processing operations.
During plasma etching process, non-uniform etching can adversely impact device yields from the substrate. As the size of the critical dimension of features formed on the substrate shrinks with each new generation of devices and as the substrate size increases to facilitate production of higher number of devices, etch non-uniformity requirements become more stringent and it becomes more critical to provide improvements to increase device yield. Controlling etch non-uniformity is a goal to achieve in order to enable more advanced technology devices to be produced in a cost-effective manner.
It is in this context that embodiments of the invention arise.


A method and apparatus for closing a vascular wound includes a guidewire and/or other surgical implement extending from the wound. A hemostatic material is advanced over the surgical implement and into contact with an area of the blood vessel surrounding the wound. The surgical implement is removed. Blood soaks the hemostatic material, and blood clotting is facilitated by the hemostatic agent within the material. A sealing layer of adhesive can be applied to the hemostatic material, confining the blood flow to the material. Thus, the vascular puncture wound is sealed by natural blood clot formation.

In many medical procedures, it is necessary to locate an opening in tissue so that some form of treatment, diagnosis or revision, can be applied to that opening. For example, in order to perform transluminal balloon angioplasty, an opening must be created in an artery in order to insert a balloon. This opening must later be closed.
Transluminal balloon angioplasty is used in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease to increase or restore blood flow through a significantly narrowed artery in a limb; it is also used in the treatment of blockage of the coronary arteries. In fact, coronary angioplasty has emerged as a major viable alternative to bypass surgery for revascularization of stenotic and occluded coronary arteries. Unlike bypass surgery, angioplasty does not require general anesthesia, opening of the chest wall, use of a heart-lung machine, or transfusion of blood. Angioplasty is not only less invasive and less traumatic to the patient, it is also less expensive because of the shorter hospital stay and shorter recovery time.
Transluminal balloon angioplasty is performed by first inserting a hollow needle through the skin and surrounding tissues and into the patient's femoral artery. A guidewire is advanced through the hollow needle and into the artery, then along the patient's vasculature toward the site of the blocked blood vessel or heart valve to be treated. X-ray imaging is used to help move the guidewire through the vascular system and into position just past the stenosis to be treated. A balloon catheter is then threaded over the guidewire and advanced until the deflated balloon is within the stenosis. The balloon is then repeatedly inflated to widen the narrowed blood vessel. After the procedure is complete, the catheter and guidewire are withdrawn from the blood vessels and the patient.
Angiography, which is used to detect diseases that alter the appearance of blood vessels, is performed in a similar manner. A hollow needle is first inserted into the femoral artery and a guidewire is inserted through the needle and into the affected blood vessel. A catheter is threaded over the guidewire and into the blood vessel. X-ray imaging is used to guide the catheter to a desired position. Contrast medium is then injected, and a rapid sequence of x-ray pictures are taken so that blood flow along the affected vessel can be studied. The catheter and guidewire are later removed from the patient's body.
After the catheter used during angioplasty or angiography is removed, the puncture wound in the femoral artery must be closed and the bleeding through the puncture site in the artery stopped. Currently, ice packs and/or pressure are applied to the area surrounding the wound for a period lasting up to several hours in an attempt to stop the bleeding. There exists, however, a significant chance that the wound will reopen and begin bleeding again when the patient moves. Another possible complication is the development of a false aneurysm, which increases the risks of both infection and reopening.
Although efforts have been made to close the puncture wound using staples, clips, collagen plugs, and sutures, they have been unsuccessful, largely due to the inability to see the puncture wound in the femoral artery, and also because of the difficulty of controllably modifying the artery in the limited space provided.
Other wounds in the vasculature of a patient can also be difficult to see, and are thus difficult to locate, access and close. Thus, a device and method to facilitate locating and closing of such wounds in the vasculature of a patient would be extremely beneficial. A device having the ability to consistently and reliably locate, isolate and close the puncture wound would eliminate the prolonged bleeding currently associated with such wounds.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Vascular wound closure device and method


A digital camera having a color image sensor, an optical system, a rotatable first switch, and a second switch that switches between various modes. The second switch indicates an intermediate point corresponding to the photograph mode, a first point corresponding to the first setting mode, or a second point corresponding to the second setting mode. A first setting unit sets a first processing condition relating to a white balance of an image according to a rotation angle of the first switch in the first setting mode. A second setting unit sets a second processing condition relating to a data size of an image according to a rotation angle of the first switch in the second setting mode. Furthermore, a processing unit processes an output signal of the color image sensor according to a first processing condition and a second processing condition in the photograph mode.

The present invention relates to electronic equipment such as digital camera, in particular, relates to HMI (Human Machine Interface) of electronic equipment.
Generally, electronic equipment, in which an arbitrary function is selected from functions displayed on a screen by moving a cursor up, down, right, and left by operating a cross key, and a process according to the selected function is carried out, is known. (For example, refer to patent documents 1 and 2). A cross key is used in a multitude of electronic equipment because it can select a number of functions in one controller.
On the other hand, a digital camera which uses a cross key and an LCD (liquid crystal display) as an HMI (Human Machine Interface) to set an image size, a white balance, an aperture, an exposure, an ISO film speed is known (for example, refer to patent document 3). In a menu operation with a cross key and an LCD, a number of items can be set with few switches by combining operations such as a menu call, selection of an item, and decision.
However, there is a problem that power consumption is high in an HMI which uses an LCD. In addition, a screen of an LCD has a visibility problem in bright outdoors. In addition, a design which is unique to electronic equipment like a cross key and an LCD sometimes is avoided by an enthusiast of a film camera. In addition, in the menu operation with a cross key and an LCD, it is necessary to perform operations of a menu call, selection, decision in a predetermined order so that to change setting such as a white balance quickly so as not to miss a shutter chance takes getting used to.    Patent Document 1:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-327721.    Patent Document 2:
International Patent Publication No. WO98/51073.    Patent Document 3:
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-177758.


A support structure for a vertically arranged combination household appliance, more particularly a front loading dryer assembly arranged above a top loading washer assembly, includes vertical main support members, horizontal members and other members. The structure adequately supports both appliance assemblies of the combination appliance during transportation and usage, provides improved operating performance during off balance washer spin conditions or dryer tumbling, and maintains unitary appliance characteristics by being an integral part of the combination appliance design and by being located entirely interior to the appliance cabinetry.

This invention relates generally to domestic appliances and more particularly to a support structure for a combined washer/dryer appliance with a front loading dryer positioned above a top loading washer.
The vertical arrangement of washers and dryers is known in the art wherein substantially complete and independent washer and dryer appliances are stacked one above the other with various support elements carrying the load of the upper appliance. Such an arrangement is employed to conserve floor space and increase the ease of use of the appliances by positioning the openings of the two appliances closely adjacent to one another to reduce movement required by the operator while moving articles from one appliance to the other. Such a stacked arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,793,518.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,507,942, and 4,680,948 disclose external support brackets or carriers for stacking a front loading dryer above a top loading washer. These external support systems apparently rely on the lower appliance cabinet for structural support of the upper cabinet. The lower appliance cabinet must support operating and handling loads and can permanently deform when the machine is being moved about.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,732 discloses a structural assembly for stacking two appliances. This assembly transfers the upper appliance weight to supporting feet. The lower appliance is supported by separate and independent supporting feet.


Disclosed embodiments provide a framework rescheduling traffic for improved efficiency using a cellular network. A method includes receiving an uplink (UL) grant, wherein the UL grant schedules a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). A frequency resource for the PUSCH is allocated within an active UL Bandwidth Part (BWP) of a user equipment (UE). The frequency resource is allocated using a physical resource block (PRB) index of the active UL BWP. The method includes receiving an UL cancellation indication (CI) that indicates a UL resource in a reference UL resource, wherein the reference UL resource is allocated within a carrier including at least the active UL BWP. The frequency resource is allocated using a common resource block (CRB) index of the carrier. The method further includes determining whether the UL resource overlaps with the PUSCH and cancelling the PUSCH as a result of the UL resource overlapping with the PUSCH.

In a new radio (NR) system, multiple types of services may be supported in a cell, each with different latency and reliability requirements. When enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) and Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) services coexist in the same cell, it is possible that resources are already scheduled for transmission of eMBB traffic when URLLC traffic occurs. This scheduling issue can prioritize the eMBB traffic over the URLLC traffic, thus increasing the latency of the URLLC traffic. In this situation, to guarantee latency requirements for a URLLC service are met, resources scheduled for eMBB traffic need to be re-assigned for URLLC traffic. In Rel-15 NR, downlink pre-emption indication (PI) was specified for this purpose. The downlink (DL) PI is transmitted to the eMBB user equipment (UE), indicating that part of the resources of the scheduled transport blocks (TB) are used for transmission of another TB for URLLC, so that the eMBB UE can avoid using the "corrupted" bits for decoding the TB.

Method and apparatus for uplink cancellation indication


A novel receptor in the TNF family is provided: APRIL-R. Chimeric molecules and antibodies to APRIL-R and methods of use thereof are also provided.

Members of the tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines are involved in an ever expanding array of critical biological functions. Each member of the TNF family acts by binding to one or more members of a parallel family of receptor proteins. These receptors in turn signal intracellularly to induce a wide range of physiological or developmental responses. Many of the receptor signals influence cell fate, and often trigger terminal differentiation. Examples of cellular differentiation include proliferation, maturation, migration, and death.
TNF family members are Type II membrane bound proteins, having a short intracellular N-terminal domain, a transmembrane domain, and the C-terminal receptor binding domains lying outside the cell surface. In some cases the extracellular portion of the protein is cleaved off, creating a secreted form of the cytokine. While the membrane bound proteins act locally, presumably through cell contact mediated interaction with their receptors, the secreted forms have the potential to circulate or diffuse, and therefore can act at distant sites. Both membrane bound and secreted forms exist as trimers, and are thought to transduce their signal to receptors by facilitating receptor clustering.
The TNF receptor protein family is characterized by having one or more cysteine rich extracellular domains. Each cysteine rich region creates a disulfide-bonded core domain, which contributes to the three dimensional structure that forms the ligand binding pocket. The receptors are Type I membrane bound proteins, in which the extracellular domain is encoded by the N-terminus, followed by a transmembrane domain and a C-terminal intracellular domain. The intracellular domain is responsible for receptor signaling. Some receptors contain an intracellular "death domain", which can signal cell apoptosis, and these can be strong inducers of cell death. Another class of receptors can weakly induce cell death; these appear to lack a death domain. A third class of receptors do not induce cell death. All classes of receptors can signal cell proliferation or differentiation instead of death, depending on cell type or the occurrence of other signals.
A well studied example of the pluripotent nature of TNF family activity is the nominant member, TNF. TNF can exist as a membrane bound cytokine or can be cleaved and secreted. Both forms bind to the two TNF receptors, TNF-R55 and TNF-R75. Originally described on the basis on its' ability to directly kill tumor cells, TNF also controls a wide array of immune processes, including inducing acute inflammatory reactions, as well as maintaining lymphoid tissue homeostasis. Because of the dual role this cytokine can play in various pathological settings, both agonist and antagonist reagents have been developed as modifiers of disease. For example TNF and LTα (which also signals through the TNF receptors) have been used in treatment for cancers, especially those residing in peripheral sites, such as limb sarcomas. In this setting direct signaling by the cytokine through the receptor induces tumor cell death (Aggarwal and Natarajan, 1996. Eur Cytokine Netw 7:93-124).
In immunological settings, agents that block TNF receptor signaling (e.g., anti-TNF mAb, soluble TNF-R fusion proteins) have been used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. In these pathologies TNF acts to induce cell proliferation and effector function, thereby exacerbating autoimmune disease, and in this setting blocking TNF binding to its receptor(s) has therapeutic benefit (Beutler, 1999. J Rheumatol 26 Suppl 57:16-21).
A more recently discovered ligand/receptor system appears amenable to similar manipulations. Lymphotoxin beta (LTβ), a TNF family member which forms heterotrimers with LTα, bind to the LTβ-R. Some adenocarcinoma tumor cells which express LTβ-R can be killed or differentiated when treated with an agonistic anti-LTβ-R mAb (Browning et al., 1996. J Exp Med 183: 867-878). In immunological settings it has been shown that anti-LTβ mAb or soluble LTβ-R-Ig fusion protein can block the development of inflammatory bowel diseases, possibly by influencing dendritic cell and T cell interaction (Mackay et al., 1998. Gastroenterology 115:1464-1475).
The TRAIL system also has potential as a cancer therapy. TRAIL interacts with a number of membrane bound and soluble receptors. Two of these receptors, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL R2 (also called DR4 and DR5), transmit death inducing signals to tumor cells but not to normal cells, which express additional TRAIL receptors that do not induce death. These additional receptors are thought to function as decoys. The use of soluble TRAIL to kill tumor cells relies on the selective expression of decoy receptors on normal but tumor tissue (Gura, 1997. Science 277: 768).
Tumor cells themselves often express a variety of decoy receptors that block immune recognition or effector functions. Indeed some tumors overexpress TRAIL decoy receptors, apparently to avoid TRAIL mediated death (Sheikh et al., 1999. Oncogene 18: 4153-4159). This limits the utility of TRAIL as an anti-tumor agent in some settings. Similar observations have been made about a decoy receptor for FAS-L, which is overexpressed by lung and colon cancer cells (Pitti et al., 1998. Nature 396: 699-703), and for the IL-1 receptor antagonist (Mantovani et al., 1998. Ann. N Y Acad. Sci. 840: 338-351). Decoy receptors are also employed by viral genomes to protect infected host cells from host defense mechanisms.
APRIL (A Proliferation Inducing Ligand) is a new member of the TNF family of proteins. APRIL expression and functional studies suggest that this protein is utilized by tumor cells to induce rapid proliferation. Tumor cell lines treated with soluble APRIL protein or transfected with APRIL cDNA grow rapidly in vitro. APRIL transfected cells implanted into immunodeficient mice grow rapidly as tumors. Finally, human tumor cells, but not normal tissue, express high levels of APRIL messenger RNA. These observations suggest that APRIL binds to a receptor that is also expressed by tumor cells, setting up autocrine or paracrine tumor cell activation. In addition, it is possible that APRIL acts in other disease settings, such that activating or blocking the APRIL pathway would have additional utility. For example, underexpression or overexpression of APRIL may play a role in developmental defects, since development is often characterized by the carefully controlled balance between cell proliferation and cell death. Similarly, APRIL may act in cell proliferative diseases, such as those that occur in connection with some autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus) or in inflammatory diseases where cell populations expand rapidly (e.g., bacterial sepsis).
Based on the known utility of using agonists and antagonists of TNF and TNF receptor family members as disease modifiers, the APRIL pathway presents itself as an important target for drug development. This is particularly true for cancer therapy since tumor cells appear to produce and utilize APRIL to support their own growth, and are therefore unlikely to produce decoy receptors or other antagonists of the APRIL pathway. Thus the APRIL pathway is uniquely different from, for example, the TRAIL or FAS-L pathways, which can be thwarted by tumor decoy receptors.
Current treatments for cancer are inadequate for many tumor types, due to poor efficacy, low impact on survivorship, toxicity that causes severe side effects, or combinations thereof. Therefore there is a need to identify and develop additional methods for treating cancer growth which can provide efficacy without inducing severe side effects. Antagonists of the APRIL pathway, including anti-APRIL mAbs, anti-APRIL receptor mAbs, soluble APRIL receptor-Ig fusion proteins, natural antagonists, small molecule antagonists, and chemical, pharmaceutical, or other antagonists would thus be useful.
To this end we have identified B cell mediated protein (BCM or BCMA) as a receptor for APRIL.

Methods of treating a tumor that expresses APRIL by administering BCMA


A power connector for an electric motor is disclosed. The power connector includes a flange, a conductor rod, and an insulation sleeve. The conductor rod includes a first portion extending in a first direction from the flange and a second portion extending from the flange in a second direction, opposite the first direction. The second portion includes a lead wire connection end distal to the flange. The insulation sleeve covers the second portion from the flange to the lead wire connection end. The insulation sleeve includes a sleeve outer surface, and a sealing rib extending outward from the sleeve outer surface.

Electric motors convert electrical energy to mechanical energy to drive rotary machines, such as centrifugal gas compressors. The electric motor and the rotary machine can be assembled into a single housing. This integrated system may be more compact than a separate electric motor and rotary machine system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,698 issued to Lyons et al. on Oct. 9, 2001 discloses a hermetic compressor and electrical connector. A shell of the compressor defines an internal chamber and a motor positioned inside the shell within the chamber drives the compressor. The motor has a stator assembly including a winding. A hermetic terminal plug connects the winding to a power supply to energize the motor. The plug has an internal conductor pin electrically connected to a corresponding external conductor pin. The internal conductor pin protrudes into the internal chamber for connection to the winding and the external conductor pin extends away from the shell for connection to the power supply for energizing the motor. The compressor also includes a terminal block mounted on the stator assembly for supporting an end portion of the winding. The terminal block has a notch aligned with the internal conductor pin for receiving the internal conductor pin when the motor is positioned inside the shell. In this manner, the internal conductor pin is electrically connected to the end portion of the winding supported by the terminal block.
The present disclosure is directed toward overcoming one or more problems discovered by the inventors or that is known in the art.

Penetrator power connector for an integrated rotary machine


A computer-implemented method may include determining that a slot coupled to a peripheral component interconnect host bridge is occupied by an input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method may include determining one or more characteristics of the input/output adapter and determining whether the input/output adapter is capable of using additional memory based on the one or more characteristics of the input/output adapter. The computer-implemented method may also include allocating the additional memory for the input/output adapter in response to determining that the input/output adapter is capable of using the additional memory.

In a logically-partitioned computer system that uses a non-virtualized input/output (I/O) adapter, an address translation table may be allocated and assigned to an I/O adapter and to a logical partition. An operating system and applications executing in the logical partition may use the address translation table to enable the I/O adapter to perform I/O operations via direct memory access (DMA) to the memory of the logical partition.
In a computer system that uses a virtualized I/O adapter, the virtualized I/O adapter may provide multiple virtual I/O adapters to multiple logical partitions to enable the multiple logical partitions to access the virtual functions. An address translation table that is designed for use with a non-virtualized hardware I/O adapter may be unsuitable for use with a virtualized I/O adapter. Virtualized I/O adapters may be implemented in many different ways, such as a single root input/output virtualized (SR-IOV) adapter, a multi root I/O virtualized (MR-IOV) adapter, another type of adapter that may be virtualized by a software virtualization intermediary in a hypervisor or virtual I/O hosting operating system (OS) logical partition, or any combination thereof.

Dynamic allocation of a direct memory address window

International Business Machines Corporation


A rotor for a rotating electrical machine suppresses demagnetization of permanent magnets without deteriorating motor characteristics, is low-cost, and is highly reliable. The rotor has a plurality of rotor cores that are stacked together, a plurality of permanent magnets axially divided by the rotor cores and circumferentially arranged on each of the rotor cores, to circumferentially form magnetic irregularities, and a rotor blank made of nonmagnetic material arranged between those of the rotor cores that are adjacent to each other.

In recent years, permanent magnets have keenly been studied and developed to provide permanent magnets having high magnetic energy product for promoting compactness and high output of rotating electrical machines. In particular, rotating electrical machines for vehicles such as hybrid cars are strongly required to suppress exhaust gas, reduce fuel consumption, and improve efficiency. They are also required to reduce installation spaces, fit in limited spaces, and provide high torque and high output. To achieve them, rotating electrical machines of high energy density that need large current and magnetomotive force are expected. Realizing such rotating electrical machines, however, involves various problems.
For example, a rotating electrical machine with a rotor in which permanent magnets of high magnetic energy product are embedded produces large electromagnetic exciting force to cause vibration and noise. A rotating electrical machine for a hybrid vehicle is particularly required to realize quietness in a cabin and reduce noise to the outside. These issues must be solved.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-51897 (Patent Document 1) describes a rotor for a reluctance-type rotating electrical machine that achieves an effect similar to a skew effect, to reduce torque ripples, vibration, and noise. This rotor for a reluctance-type rotating electrical machine includes a rotor core formed by laminating many annular core materials whose outer circumferential parts are provided with alternating magnetic irregularities, an inner circumferential part of the rotor core being provided with an axially extending key, and a rotary shaft inserted into the inner circumferential part of the rotor core and having a key groove on an outer circumferential part thereof. The rotor core is divided into a plurality of blocks. At least among three of the blocks, the core materials that form one block are structured such that the magnetic irregularities are shifted by a predetermined angle toward one of a rotation direction and counter rotation direction with respect to a center line passing through the key. On each end of this block, the core materials of each adjacent block are formed such that the magnetic irregularities are shifted by a predetermined angle toward the other of the rotation direction and counter rotation direction with respect to the center line passing through the key.
FIG. 15 is a diametrical sectional view of the rotor described in the Patent Document 1. In an outer circumferential part of a block 3, a pair of magnet insertion holes 5 each substantially having a rectangular shape is formed such that a distance between the holes 5 gradually extends toward an outer circumference. Permanent magnets 6 are inserted into the magnet insertion holes 5 and are fixed thereto with an adhesive or a filler. In the vicinity of the outer circumference of the block 3, a hollow 7 is formed between the pair of permanent magnets 6. The hollow 7 is substantially triangular with two sides being in parallel with the pair of permanent magnets 6 and one side extending along the outer circumference.
In the block 3, a section including a pair of the magnet insertion holes 5, a pair of the permanent magnets 6, and the hollow 7 is a magnetic recess (q-axis, inter-pole section) 8 where magnetic flux hardly passes and a section between adjacent magnetic recesses 8 is a magnetic projection (d-axis, pole section) 9 where magnetic flux easily passes. The magnetic recesses 8 and magnetic projections 9 are alternately formed at intervals of predetermined angles. On an inner circumference of the block 3, two axially extending keys 30 and 31 are formed at intervals of 180 degrees.
In the block 3, a center line Lo passing through the centers of the keys 30 and 31 passes thorough the magnetic projections 9. The center line Lo deviates by an angle of Δθ from a center line Loa passing through the centers of the magnetic projections 9. Namely, the center line Loa is present at a position shifted from the center line Lo by the angle Δθ in a direction (clockwise direction) opposite to a rotation direction X. The center line Loa and a center line Lb that is adjacent to the center line Loa and passes through the centers of the magnetic recesses 8 form a predetermined angle of θ.
FIG. 16 is a partial top view of the rotor described in the Patent Document 1. The rotor has the rotor core formed by laminating many annular core materials such as silicon steel plates. The rotor core is divided into four blocks 3 and 4 having an equal thickness, the four blocks being stacked together. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the blocks 3 and 4 have center lines Lb and Lc having linear loci that are zigzagged without forming a prior-art-like straight line. As a result, the rotor provides an effect similar to a skew effect provided by a rotor for a squirrel-cage induction motor. Deviations of the center lines Lb and Lc must be ±0 (equally shifted in "+" and "−" directions).
The rotor is arranged in a stator which is not illustrated and around which a stator coil is wound, to thereby form the rotating electrical machine. In the rotating electrical machine, the rotor has the magnetic recess (q-axis) that hardly passes magnetic flux and the magnetic projection (d-axis) that easily passes magnetic flux. Spaces above the magnetic recess and projection accumulate different amounts of magnetic energy when a current is passed through the stator coil and the magnetic energy variation generates reluctance torque. The rotor also has the permanent magnets 6. Magnetic attraction and repulsion between the permanent magnets 6 and the magnetic poles of the stator generate torque. As a result, the rotor rotates in the stator.
At this time, magnetic flux at ends of each permanent magnet embedded in the rotor similarly acts with respect to the stator coil. Namely, with respect to a current passing through the stator coil, the magnetic flux at ends of each permanent magnet acts to cancel, in terms of direction and amount, an action of leakage flux of the permanent magnet, thereby suppressing axial vibration.
In this way, according to the rotor for a reluctance-type rotating electrical machine described in the Patent Document 1, a locus of a center line passing through magnetic recesses in at least one block is shifted from that of each adjacent block, to provide an effect similar to the skew effect of a rotor for a squirrel-cage induction motor and reduce torque ripples, vibration, and noise.
However, the rotating electrical machine that is compact and provides high output and high energy density has other problems in addition to the above-mentioned vibration and noise. The rotating electrical machine needs large current and magnetomotive force to provide high torque and high output. The large current passing through the armature coil applies an armature reactive magnetic field to the permanent magnets, thereby causing a problem of demagnetization of the permanent magnets.
FIG. 17 is an external view illustrating a rotor for a permanent-magnet rotating electrical machine according to the related art. The rotor 1 has a rotor core 2 and permanent magnets 6. The rotor core 2 has easy axes of magnetization and hard axes of magnetization. To create magnetic irregularities, the rotor core 2 is formed by laminating electromagnetic steel plates having permanent magnet embedding holes in which the permanent magnets 6 are embedded along the easy axes of magnetization. The permanent magnets 6 arranged in the permanent magnet embedding holes are magnetized to cancel magnetic flux of armature current passing through adjacent inter-pole sections. Namely, the two permanent magnets 6 on each side of a pole section have the same magnetization direction and the two permanent magnets 6 on each side of an inter-pole section have opposite magnetic directions with respect to a circumferential direction of the rotor 1.
The rotor core 2 described in the Patent Document 1 and illustrated in FIG. 17 is divided into a plurality (two in FIG. 17) of blocks that are stacked together. The rotor core 2 divided into the blocks has magnetic poles 17 that are shifted from each other, and with the bound stepped skew, reduces torque ripples, vibration, and noise. As illustrated in FIG. 17, a divisional skew plane 16 indicates a divisional plane of the rotor core 2 consisting of the stacked blocks.
FIG. 18 is an axially sectioned perspective view of the rotor for a permanent-magnet rotating electrical machine according to the related art. As illustrated in FIG. 18, end faces of the permanent magnet 6 are in contact with the rotor core 2. Accordingly, a demagnetizing field from the rotor core 2 due to an armature reaction acts on the end faces and corners of the permanent magnet 6. These locations are vulnerable to demagnetization, and therefore, cause demagnetization of the permanent magnet 6. FIG. 19 is a magnetic flux density distribution of the permanent magnet 6 of the permanent-magnet rotating electrical machine according to the related art. As illustrated in FIG. 19, the permanent magnet 6 has a demagnetization location 18 on an end face thereof.
A rotating electrical machine without skew also has problems mentioned below. FIG. 20 is an axial sectional view of a rotor for a permanent-magnet rotating electrical machine according to a related art. A rotor core 2 without skew is axially divided to avoid eddy current and secure strength. As illustrated in FIG. 20, a permanent magnet 6 is axially divided. If the permanent magnet 6 is magnetized in advance (premagnetized magnet), the permanent magnet 6 produces a gap 15 because it axially repulses at the divisional plane when assembled.
FIG. 21 is an enlarged axial section illustrating the rotor for a permanent-magnet rotating electrical machine according to the related art. If the rotating electrical machine is operated with the gap 15 produced between the two permanent magnets 6, the rotor core 2 applies demagnetizing field flux 26 due to an armature reaction to an end face (demagnetization occurring location 27) of the permanent magnet 6 that is vulnerable to demagnetization. The end face (demagnetization occurring location 27) of the permanent magnet 6 facing the gap 15 easily causes demagnetization.
FIG. 22 is a view illustrating a permanent magnet demagnetization state of the permanent-magnet rotating electrical machine according to the related art. Demagnetization locations 28 are locations on the permanent magnet 6 that are vulnerable to demagnetization.
To prevent demagnetization, there is an idea of thickening the magnets. The material cost of the permanent magnets occupies 30% to 40% of the cost of the rotating electrical machine, and therefore, the quantity of the permanent magnets must be minimized in terms of cost.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-51897

Toshiba Industrial Products Manufacturing Corporation


The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for locating luminaires within a lighting system where multiple luminaires are located on a grid of DC power rails. The AC signal generator connects to each DC power rail and transmits an AC signal along each DC power rail in turn to luminaires that each compute their distance from the generator based upon the AC signal. The AC signal generator may similarly transmit and receive data communications with luminaires across DC power rails.

Digital lighting technologies, i.e. illumination based on semiconductor light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), offer a viable alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID, and incandescent lamps. Functional advantages and benefits of LEDs include high energy conversion and optical efficiency, durability, lower operating costs, and many others. Recent advances in LED technology have provided efficient and robust full-spectrum lighting sources that enable a variety of lighting effects in many applications.
Traditional lighting installations, particularly in office spaces and other similar environments, have typically adopted a simple point-to-point connection methodology, where power is supplied to each luminaire via a dedicated, but essentially "free floating", power cable. These power cables, which, in many regions, carry a high AC voltage, for example, 240V, typically hop from luminaire to luminaire, in a generally ad hoc manner, until all lamps are included in the system. In addition, each luminaire often requires the installation of a separate switch cable that connects each lamp or fitting to a dedicated control switch or bank of switches.
In a typical office lighting installation, luminaires are usually placed in a rectangular grid pattern, however, the cable routing above the ceiling, needed to supply these luminaire grids are by contrast very often quite irregular in their placement. In many cases the placement and routing of the power cables is left to the discretion of individual installers.
To help address this situation, a standard is being developed within an alliance called "EMerge," an open industry association developing standards leading to the rapid adoption of DC power distribution in commercial buildings. The EMerge standard proposes the use of safe, low voltage (24V dc) power distribution and a more structured power supply scheme based on the use of rigid bus bars running above the ceiling. This system facilitates simplified and safe removal, connection, or re-location of lights in a lighting system. Also, because the bus bar system can be organized in a grid structure above the ceiling, it may be more suitable for connection with a luminaire grid that it provides power to. An example of a section of the proposed EMerge power supply bus bar, and the connectors needed to supply power to individual luminaires, and other devices in an office ceiling, are shown in FIG. 1.
Since the EMerge standard has been designed to make it easier for users to move and reconfigure lighting installations on-the-fly, it is desirable to ensure that luminaires can be easily associated and disassociated with control switches. To that end, EMerge proposes the use of wireless communications systems (currently ZigBee), rather than physical wires, to connect luminaires with user operated control points, for example, wall switches.
While traditional point-to-point style wiring strategies have very little impact on day-to-day use of office lighting installations, they present significant drawbacks regarding installing and commissioning lighting systems. Further, the point-to-point cabling used for an initial system may not be suitable for future modifications.
A major difficulty with commissioning any new lighting system is how to accurately map luminaires with control units or switches. For example, routing the wiring between a particular switch on the wall to the luminaire it controls in the ceiling. Traditionally the whole commissioning process is completely manual. The installer needs to first associate luminaires in the ceiling with luminaires indicated in a lighting plan and ensure that said luminaire is hard wired to whichever switch has also been indicated on the plan as being the control point for that lamp. In the case of traditionally wired systems this process is slow and laborious. Situations become more difficult when it becomes desirable to control traditionally wired luminaries by wireless means. In this case it becomes necessary for the installation engineer to record the unique wireless identifier (ID number) associated with each luminaire and to transfer that information to the lighting plan. When wireless lighting controls, such as switches, are then installed, it similarly becomes necessary to transfer the switch ID details to the lighting plan. The next step in the process is typically to manually create a binding table somewhere in the control system to associate switches with luminaires. Finally, the system needs to be tested to ensure that the desired binding have been allocated correctly.
Therefore, it is desirable to simplify the controller-luminaire mapping process. For example, the luminaire and control point mapping process could be automated, if the physical location of every luminaire in the ceiling was provided to the system.
Currently, many conventional technical solutions for locating objects employ wireless technologies, such as ZigBee or WiFi. Within this general category of solutions, the two most common systems to be found are either signal strength based or time of flight based.
Radio location systems that use signal strength as the basis for their measurement, for example those produced by AeroScout and Ekahau, are generally relatively easy to implement at modest cost, but have rather poor intrinsic accuracy, varying by perhaps five meters from of the true location. Accuracy can be improved with a technique known as finger printing, which involves measuring the signal strength at every point in a room in advance. However, the process is laborious to carry out and the resulting finger print profile may change with minor alterations within the room, for example moving furniture.
Location systems based on time of flight, such as those, for example, developed by UbiSense of Cambridge, United Kingdom, can achieve much greater accuracy than signal strength based alternatives, however, they are complex and expensive to implement, and can still suffer from accuracy or reliability problems due to propagation effects such as multipath or fading. EMerge supports wireless communication with each luminaire on the DC grid. Such communication may be used to control functions of each luminaire, for example, on/off state, intensity and color selection. However, it may be costly and cumbersome to equip each luminaire with a wireless transceiver and to configure wireless communication with each luminaire.
Thus, there is a need in the art to simply and cost effectively obtain and monitor the location of luminaires in a lighting system. Further there is a need for simpler and more cost effective control communication with luminaires in a lighting system.

Method and system for localisation on a DC lighting and power grid


A BS tuner (16a, 16b, 16c, 16d) comprises an AFC down-converter (80, 80a). The down-converter (80, 80a) comprises an oscillator (84, 85) and a mixer (86). The AFC down-converter (80, 80a) mixes a second IF signal with an oscillation signal output from the oscillator (84, 85). Consequently, a third IF signal having a frequency lower than the frequency of the second IF signal is obtained. At the time of receiving a MUSE signal, a counter circuit (46) counts the third IF signal. The frequency of the second IF signal is adjusted based on the result of counting by the counter circuit (46).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for and a method of receiving broadcasting, and more particularly, to an apparatus for and a method of receiving satellite broadcasting in which an automatic frequency control operation can be precisely performed.
2. Description of the Background Art
In satellite broadcasting which is currently carried out in Japan, a video signal of the NTSC (National Television System Committee) standard is FM-modulated, to be transmitted as an FM video signal of 12 GHz band.
On the receiving side, this FM video signal of 12 GHz band is converted into a first intermediate frequency signal of 1 GHz band, and further down-converted into a second intermediate frequency signal of a frequency band including 134.26 MHz and 402.78 MHz. Thereafter, the second intermediate frequency signal is FM-demodulated so that a video signal is output.
The oscillation frequency of a local oscillator for down-conversion is satisfactorily controlled by an AFC circuit (automatic frequency control circuit). A plurality of circuits constitute an AFC loop, to perform an AFC operation. Ordinary AFC utilizes the fact that the level of a direct current signal in a synchronizing signal portion of the video signal output from an FM demodulator corresponds to the frequency of the second intermediate frequency signal. Thus, in the ordinary AFC, this level of the direct current signal is detected and the result of this detection is fed back, thereby to control the oscillation frequency of the local oscillator (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,417,279).
However, the direct current signal has the disadvantage of being affected by a drift or the like. Therefore, a technique is considered in which the frequency of the second intermediate frequency signal (referred to as second IF signal hereinafter) is counted and data obtained by this counting is fed back, to control the frequency of the local oscillator.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this example will be briefly described.
In FIG. 1, a BS (broadcasting satellite) antenna 10 comprises an antenna portion 11 and a first converter 12. The antenna portion 11 is, for example, a parabolic antenna or a plane antenna. The first converter 12 comprises an oscillator 13 and a mixer 14. In the first converter 12, a satellite broadcasting signal (FM video signal) of 12 GHz band received by the antenna portion 11 is mixed with an output of the oscillator 13 by the mixer 14. Consequently, an FM video signal (first intermediate frequency signal) (referred to as first IF signal hereinafter) of approximately 1 GHz band is output. Fluctuations in the frequency of the first IF signal is allowed to +1.5 MHz. The fluctuations are corrected by an AFC operation.
A BS tuner 16 comprises a second down-converter 18, a PLL (phase locked loop) circuit 30, a microcomputer 32 for channel selection, an FM demodulating block 34, a counter circuit 46, an output processing block 64, and a synchronizing separator circuit 68.
The second down-converter 18 converts a first IF signal into a second IF signal suitable for multichannel, for example, of 402.78 MHz band. The second down-converter 18 comprises amplifiers 20 and 24 for automatic gain control, a mixer 22, a variable oscillator 26, and a prescaler 28 for dividing the frequency into 1/2.
The PLL circuit 30, together with the variable oscillator 26 and the prescaler 28, constitutes a PLL. The microcomputer 32 switches a frequency dividing ratio of a program divider contained in the PLL circuit 30 to switch a receiving channel, and performs the AFC operation. Meanwhile, a general PLL is well-known, which is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open Gazette No. 77533/1985.
The FM demodulating block 34 comprises a second IF filter 36, an amplifier 38, a PLL type FM demodulator 40, an AGC detector 42 for generating an AGC voltage, and a 1/256 frequency divider 44 made of ECL.
The counter circuit 46 directly counts an output signal of the 1/256 frequency divider 44. Resetting and counting operations of the counter circuit 46 is controlled by the microcomputer 32. Count data obtained by the counter circuit 46 is applied to the microcomputer 32.
The output processing block 64 comprises a sound DPSK signal demodulator 48, a PCM decoder 50, a sound output circuit 52, an encoder 54 for digital equipment output, a buffer amplifier 56, a low-pass filter/de-emphasis circuit 58, a disversal circuit 60 for removing a triangular wave, and an output amplifier 62.
The PCM decoder 50 is, for example, TM4218N made by Toshiba Corporation, which comprises a terminal 50a from which an NSYNC signal is output at the time of receiving a sound PCM signal in NTSC broadcasting. The sound output circuit 52 comprises a D/A converter for converting digital signals into analog signals and a low-pass filter.
Furthermore, the BS tuner 16 comprises a group 66 of output terminals. The group 66 of output terminals comprises terminals 66a and 66b for sound output, output terminals 66c and 66d of the DAT optical cable connector specifications, an output terminal 66e for a bit stream, an output terminal 66f for a subscription broadcasting decoder, and a video signal output terminal 66g.
The synchronizing separator circuit 68 extracts a vertical synchronizing signal V.sub.D, to output the same to the microcomputer 32.
Description is made of an operation of the above described BS tuner 16.
In the BS tuner 16, the counter circuit 46 is operated in a predetermined time period, and count data obtained by the counter circuit 46 is input to the microcomputer 32. The microcomputer 32 compares the count data with predetermined reference data, thereby to detect deviation in the frequency of the second IF signal. The microcomputer 32 changes the frequency dividing ratio of the program divider included in the PLL circuit 30 so as to correct the deviation.
The microcomputer 32 determines a predetermined period during which a counting operation is performed by the counter circuit 46 based on the vertical synchronizing signal V.sub.D. This predetermined period is shown in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 2, (a) indicates an output of the PLL type FM demodulator 40, (b) indicates an output of the synchronizing separator circuit 68, (c) indicates a clear signal c1 output from the microcomputer 32 to the counter circuit 46, and (d) indicates a gate signal gate output from the microcomputer 32 for designating the period during which the counting operation is performed by the counter circuit 46.
When the vertical synchronizing signal V.sub.D is input to the microcomputer 32 from the synchronizing separator circuit 68, the microcomputer 32 outputs the clear signal c1. At the same time, the microcomputer 32 outputs the gate signal gate in a vertical synchronization blanking period A (for 1024.mu. seconds), to allow the counting operation of the counter circuit 46. Thereafter, the microcomputer 32 ceases output of the gate signal gate in a period B and then, outputs the gate signal gate again in a period C of 1024.mu. seconds. The microcomputer 32 reads the count data obtained by the counter circuit 46 in the subsequent period D. In order to remove the effect of a triangular wave which is an energy diffusion signal, the microcomputer 32 compares a value obtained by adding four results of counting in a two frame period and dividing the result of the addition by 4 with the value of reference data at the time of receiving NTSC broadcasting, to detect deviation in the frequency of the second IF signal. The microcomputer 32 adjusts the frequency dividing ratio of the PLL circuit 30 based on the deviation. In the above described manner, the AFC operation is performed.
The reason why the counter circuit 46 is operated in a period of is that average value AFC for transmission is employed as a system of controlling the frequency of a main carrier in the case of NTSC broadcasting. In addition, the value of the period B in (d) in FIG. 2 is changed for each field to, for example, 6 m seconds, 4 m seconds, 6 m seconds and 8 m seconds, so that the value of the frequency in each portion on a screen is detected. Consequently, fluctuations caused by variation in brightness are prevented.
The microcomputer 32 controls the PLL circuit 30 for each two frame period, to perform an average value AFC operation. When the PLL circuit 30 is controlled for each field, the previous four results of counting may be averaged and the average value may be compared with the value of the reference data, to perform the AFC operation.
Furthermore, although in the above described example, four results of counting in a four field (two frame) period are averaged, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the same. For example, results of counting in a four, six or eight frame period may be averaged.
NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) has developed a MUSE (Multiple Sub-Nyquist Sampling Encoding) system as a system of transmitting a high-definition television signal. This MUSE system uses a MUSE signal obtained by converting a high-definition television signal using a technique for bandwidth compression. In the above described BS tuner, if a satellite broadcasting signal obtained by FM-modulating the MUSE signal is to be received, the number of fields respectively having count values to be averaged, which is different from that in the NTSC system, is determined to the cycle of an energy diffusion signal for the MUSE signal.
Additionally, if and when the MUSE signal is received, a period during which the counter circuit 46 is operated is changed to a clamp level period in the MUSE signal. The MUSE signal is described in an article by Yuichi Ninomiya in Nippon Hoso Kyokai entitled "Transmission System MUSE in High-Definition Television Broadcasting" in Nikkei Electronics published by Nikkei McGraw-Hill Company, No. 433, Nov. 2, 1987, pp. 189-212, which is a well-known technique.
However, the clamp level period in the MUSE signal is 23.mu. seconds, which is very much shorter than a blanking period (1024.mu. seconds) in an NTSC broadcasting signal. A period during which a counter circuit is operated in the clamp level period in the MUSE signal is even shorter, i.e., 15 to 17.mu. seconds. Therefore, it is difficult to perform the AFC operation with high precision by the result of counting in this period.
More specifically, at the time of receiving MUSE broadcasting, detecting precision of the displacement "deviation" of the second IF signal per counting in the counter circuit is 17 MHz. With such detecting precision, the AFC operation can not be performed.
It is considered that the second IF signal is directly counted by the counter circuit 46 without employing the 1/256 frequency divider 44. However, it is difficult to fabricate a high-speed counter circuit capable of counting a second IF signal of 402.78 MHz even using ECL (emitter coupled logic). Even using the ECL, only the frequency divider 44 for simply dividing the frequency as shown in FIG. 1 can be achieved.
Additionally, it is also difficult to count a signal obtained by frequency-dividing the second IF signal into 1/2 to 1/4 by the frequency divider using the ECL. In addition, if the second IF signal is further frequency-divided, detecting precision per counting is too low, so that a practical problem occurs. The reason is that the amount of fluctuations in the frequency of the second IF signal is simultaneously frequency-divided if the second IF signal is frequency-divided by the frequency divider. Even if the signal frequency-divided into 1/2 or 1/4 can be counted, detecting precision per counting in this case is approximately 130 KHz or approximately 260 KHz.
Therefore, it is considered that the ordinary keyed AFC operation is performed at the time of receiving MUSE broadcasting. FIG. 3 illustrates a BS tuner 16 in which the average AFC operation is performed at the time of receiving NTSC broadcasting and the ordinary keyed AFC operation is performed at the time of receiving MUSE broadcasting.
The BS tuner 16 shown in FIG. 3 further comprises a buffer 72 for a MUSE signal, a sample-and-hold circuit 76 and an A/D converter 78. A MUSE decoder 70 is connected to an output terminal 72a receiving an output of the buffer 72. The MUSE decoder 70 outputs a high definition television signal as well as outputs a keyed AFC pulse signal representing a clamp level period only at the time of inputting a MUSE signal.
The keyed AFC pulse signal P is applied to a keyed AFC pulse signal input terminal (high definition television broadcasting terminal) 74. The sample-and-hold circuit 76 samples the keyed AFC pulse signal P applied to the input terminal 74. The A/D converter 78 converts a value sampled by the sample-and-hold circuit 76 into a digital value.
At the time of receiving MUSE broadcasting, a microcomputer 32 compares a digital value obtained by the A/D converter 78 with the value of reference data used at the time of receiving a MUSE signal, to detect the difference therebetween. The microcomputer 32 controls a PLL circuit 30 based on the difference. In the above described manner, an AFC operation is performed.
However, in the BS tuner 16 shown in FIG. 3, an analog signal is sampled and held at the time of receiving MUSE broadcasting. Therefore, the level of the analog signal sampled and held is affected by the temperature or the like. Consequently, it is impossible to achieve high precision and high response of the BS tuner.

Apparatus for and method of improving the AFC of a television broadcast satellite receiver


The invention relates to conveyor belts, which have a laminate consisting of: i) a textile ply (1) with a first ply surface (11) and with a second ply surface (12); ii) a first synthetic material ply (2), which adheres to the first ply surface (11), is made of a thermoplastic material having a creep resistance vk of no greater than 0.005 at 30° C., and which contains at least 70% by weight of a thermoplastic having a creep resistance vk of no greater than 0.005 at 30° C.; and iii) a second synthetic material ply (3), which adheres to the second ply surface (12), is made of a thermoplastic material having a creep resistance vk of no greater than 0.005 at 30° C., and which contains at least 70% by weight of a thermoplastic having a creep resistance vk of no greater than 0.005 at 30° C., with the provision that the quotient rv of formula (I):

The present invention relates to the field of conveyor belts which are reinforced with a textile ply.
Known conveyor belts are principally divided into two groups: conveyor belts without textile reinforcement and conveyor belts that are reinforced at least with a piece of flat textile material.
Conveyor belts without textile reinforcement consist of a homogenous, relatively thick sheet of a thermoplastic plastic. This plastic must meet the required surface properties as well as also transmit the tractive forces acting in the belt. In a special version, a flat textile material is laminated on the running side of the belt. This helps with transmitting the tractive forces. Conveyor belts without textile reinforcement on the one hand have the advantage that they are able to be cleaned well thanks to the entirely pore free surface. Neither can lint or loose fibres lead to contamination. These advantages are however no longer applicable as soon as a flat textile material is applied on the running side. The method for implementing end-to-end joints is very simple and demands only a few technical tools. On the other hand they have the disadvantage that with increasing length of service they elongate and therefore have to be shortened again and again and joined end-to-end anew. This behaviour arises through the creeping of the thermoplastic under the constant tensile stress. Frequently an insufficient flatness of the belts is observed, in particular in the region of the end-to-end joint.
In the case of conveyor belts without textile reinforcement, to produce the end-to-end joint both ends are cut perpendicularly to the direction of travel, or at a slight angle from perpendicular, e.g. of 75°. The ends are abutted and coalesced together with heat and pressure or welded together with a filler filament of thermoplastic plastic.
Conveyor belts with reinforcement with a flat textile material comprise at least a fabric ply, which can be arranged on the running side, in the inside or on the conveying side of the conveyor belt. The ply or the plies of fabric also have the task to absorb the forces that the conveyor belt has to transmit. The reinforced fabric plies are coated on one side or both sides with thermoplastic plastic. These coatings cater for the required surface properties (friction factor, abrasion resistance) and produce a closed, easy to clean surface. Conveyor belts with textile reinforcements also have the advantage that despite the constant tensile stress that they are exposed to, they elongate only very slightly. They are characterised by a good flatness, also in the region of the end-to-end joint. It enables thin, and correspondingly flexible conveyor belts with high resistance to tearing, to be made. The fabric reinforcements on the conveying side or the running side have disadvantageous effects on the cleaning properties: the pores in the fabric which arise after some period of service, fill up with contaminants, which can only be removed with difficulty. In the area of foodstuffs conveyance this frequently forms a medium for undesired or dangerous microorganisms and fungi. If the belt is damaged by mechanical influences on the edge or on the backside, the reinforcement fabric layers begin to wear slightly or to fray. Fibres or fibre residues that have worked their way out of the bonded material may contaminate the conveyed good, and may compromise the function of the belt.
In order to make fabric reinforced conveyor belts endless, so called finger end-to-end joints are made: The two ends of the belt are cut out zigzag shaped, the zigzags pushed into each other, and the thermoplastic layers are welded by means of temperature and pressure. The points of the zigzags are thereby formed so that their flanks typically are at an angle, measured in the clockwise direction or anti-clockwise direction, of 170° to 175° to the middle line of the conveyor belt. It is generally assumed in the art that finger end-to-end joints are required in fabric reinforced conveyor belts. Firstly the tensile load decreases per unit length of the end-to-end joint, since the zigzags with their steep flanks increase the effective total length of the end-to-end joint. They should secondly lead to interlocking of the threads of the flat woven textile material and thereby bring about only a small decrease of the tensile strength at the end-to-end joint. (See e.g. EP-A-0 240 861, page 4, lines 31-33). Thirdly making the end-to-end joint as a finger end-to-end joint impedes the fulling or milling parallel to the end-to-end joint when the belt bends around rollers, and transforms it into a fulling or milling nearly perpendicular to the flanks of the zigzags of the end-to-end joint, which slows down the material fatigue in the end-to-end joint. According to the knowledge of the applicant, all manufacturers of fabric reinforced conveyor belts, process belts or transport belts still today use the finger end-to-end joint method to produce the end-to-end joint. The method of the finger end-to-end joint requires however relatively elaborate and expensive tools.
The object of the present invention is to develop a conveyor belt, which can be made endless by simple means. The conveyor belt should not elongate in operation, so that it neither has to be retightened nor shortened, and it should lie flat when tightened or untightened, having no corrugations or warping.

Abstract: r      v        =                                        V            B                                          ρ            T                                    G          T                    -      1        ,wherein VB represents the surface volume of the laminate, ρT represents the density, and GT represents the weight per unit area of the textile ply (1), results in a value ranging from 5 to 25. These conveyor belts can be joined to form endless conveyor belts via butt end connections.


An apparatus and system are provided for crest factor reduction (CFR). Preferably, a peak from the wideband signal is detected. A gain from the magnitude of the peak and a threshold can then be calculated. Based on this information, each carrier's contribution to the peak can be approximated, and a cancellation pulse coefficient for each carrier from its contribution to the peak can be calculated. A base cancellation pulse can be calculated from the cancellation pulse coefficients for each carrier, and a cancellation pulse can be calculated from the base cancellation pulse and the gain, which can then be applied to the wideband signal.

In a radio frequency (RF) system, the efficiency of a power amplifier can be an important aspect of the function of the system. To assist in improving the efficiency of a power amplifier in an RF system, the baseband signal can be clipped to reduce the peak-to-average ratio (PAR) before modulation to the RF band. The process of clipping the baseband is generally referred to as crest factor reduction (CFR). A simple clipping algorithm can be sufficient for some applications, but it does generate a noise floor across the frequency.
In some applications, such as wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), a higher adjacent channel leakage ratio (ALCR) compared to the in-band signal noise floor is employed. For example, a WCDMA system usually requires 65 dB ALCR and −25 dB error vector magnitude (EVM). One way to achieve this is through the use of a cancellation pulse (CP) algorithm that can accurately achieve the desired PAR and ALCR requirements.
For CP-based systems, though, "superpeak" situations can occur. In a multi-carrier narrowband signal, a closely spaced group of signals can appear as a "superpeak." Looking to FIG. 1A as an example, a base CP with a bandwidth of 1.25 MHz and a sampling frequency of 61.44 MHz is shown, where CP0 denotes the CP with a center frequency at 0 and CP6 denotes the CP with a center frequency at 7.5 MHz. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 1B, a "superpeak" that receives contributions from CP0 and CP6 can be seen.
These "superpeaks" can further result in "peak re-growth," where peaks re-grow even after a cancellation algorithm is applied. The new peaks resulting from the re-growth can be larger in amplitude than the original peak. A peak re-growth condition is illustrated in FIG. 1C. Assuming that there are three carriers at −7.5 MHz, 0 Hz, and 7.5 MHz and that the peak is only contributed by the third carrier (7.5 MHz), the output of CP-based CFR includes peaks that are above the threshold.
Some examples of prior art systems are: Lashkarian et al., "Crest Factor Reduction in Multi-Carrier WCDMA Transmitters," 2005 IEEE 16th International Symposium on Personal, Indoor, and Mobile Communications, Vol. 1, pp. 321-325, Sep. 11-15, 2005; U.S. Patent Pre-Grant Publication No. 2004/0052314; and Sperlich et al., "Power Amplifier Linearization with Digital Predistortion, and Crest Factor Reduction," IEEE MTT-S Int. Microwave Symposium Dig., Vol. 2, pp. 669-672, 2004.

Method and system for crest factor reduction


A flexible, stackable container for storing a quantity of a product includes a sealed package that is formed from a single sheet of film having oppositely disposed lateral edges. The package includes a first panel and outwardly extending corner seals that border more than two sides of the first panel, a second panel disposed opposite the first panel and having an end seal, and four lateral sides disposed between the first and second panels. The second panel is formed by tucking portions of the lateral sides proximate the lateral edges inwardly and sealing portions of the film proximate the lateral edges together to form an end seal, the end seal being folded over towards an outer surface of the package.

Vertical form, fill, and seal (VFFS) packaging machines are commonly used in the snack food industry for forming, filling and sealing bags of nuts, chips, crackers and other products. Such packaging machines take a packaging film from a sheet roll and form the film into a vertical tube around a product delivery cylinder. One disadvantage of these packages is that the resulting filled package is not rigid enough to allow the stacking of one package on top of another in a display.
Another disadvantage to these packages is that they do not retain their shape after the package is opened, and a portion of the contents removed.
There are rigid packages and canisters that are stackable and do retain their shape after opening. However, these rigid packages that may overcome these disadvantages have their own disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the packages are often composed of composite material that is costly to produce. Another disadvantage is that rigid composite packages are often not recyclable. The ability to recycle a product container is increasingly becoming a demand from companies that produce and/or sell consumable products as well as a demand from consumers that are environmentally conscious. A demand also exists for containers that, if not recyclable, minimize the waste transported to a landfill. Once in the landfill, a demand also exists for materials that are degradable or biodegradable to further reduce the amount of material contained in the landfill.
Yet another disadvantage of many non-flexible and/or rigid containers is the shape of the container. Many product containers have cross sections that are round. In the market place where shelf space is at a premium, round containers require more shelf space than a square or rectangular container holding the same amount of product. Similarly, shipping round or other irregularly shaped containers requires more space than shipping square or rectangular containers that are more efficiently packed together in the transport containers. Moreover, round containers do not display graphics as well as containers having flatter sides. The graphics wrap around the curved surfaces of the containers, and the containers must be in order to fully view and read the graphical information. Inefficiency in shipping and displaying packaged products adds to the overall cost of the product. Additionally, inefficiency in packing round or irregularly shaped containers increases the number of shipping containers and vehicles, ships and planes required to transport the shipping containers. This adds to the cost of the product, but more importantly, results in the increased emission of environmentally damaging pollutants.
Another disadvantage to shipping many non-flexible containers is the weight of the container as compared to the weight of a flexible container manufactured to hold a like amount of product. Increased weight adds to shipping costs as well as adds to the amount of material that, if not recyclable, ends up in a landfill. Additionally, the material cost for the non-flexible containers is usually greater than the material cost for flexible containers.
It would, therefore, be desirable to provide a container that overcomes these and other disadvantages.
While the method and device described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and the claims.

Flexible, stackable container used for storing a quantity of product and method for manufacturing same


The invention concerns a method for measuring the Brillouin shift distribution in optical fiber, comprising the launch of an optical pump signal from one end of the measurement fiber and an optical probe signal from the other end of the fiber, including: measuring frequency and phase components over a predeterminable number of frequency shifts between the optical carrier of the probe signal and the optical carrier of the pump signal and obtaining the corresponding transfer functions; and claborating the transfer functions in order to reconstruct the Brillouin shift distribution along the measurement fiber.

As described, for example, by J. Dakin and B. Culshaw in "optical fiber sensors", Artech House, Boston, 1997, the sensors distributed in the optical fiber which are based on the effect of Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), have gained in last years an important role in different field of application, as for example in the field of structure monitoring or in the field of environment monitoring. Such a success is due mostly to the unique possibility that these sensors offer to carry out measurements of the physical quantity of interest (temperature and/or strain), with continuity and over long distances. Such sensors therefore proves as indispensable instruments whenever one requires a high number of measurement points, which have to be spatially distributed over long distances. In such cases, the use of sensors based on the SBS effect allow using an only optical fiber as sensing element, which provides simultaneously an amount of information which is comparable with that obtainable using hundreds or thousands of point-like sensors. The advantages reside in the low cost, and in the immunity to the electromagnetic interferences of the optical fiber used as element that is sensible to the quantity of interest.
As described for example in G. P. Agrawal, "Non-linear fiber optics", Academic Press, Boston, 1989, the SBS effect origins from the interaction, along the optical fiber, between two counter-propagating optical waves with carrier frequencies that differ of a quantity ν, and of an acoustic wave at ν frequency. The acoustic wave at issue is generated directly by the two optical waves, by means of a process of electrostriction connected to the nature of the material of which the optical fiber is constituted (silica glass). More precisely, the interferential pattern generated by the spatial superposition of the two optical waves along the fiber generates, within the same optical fiber, zones of high field intensity, which compress due to the electrostriction effect. The last consists in the strain of a dielectric immersed in an electrical field.
The alternation of zones of higher and lower density is able to activate the generation of a coherent acoustic wave, provided that a condition of resonance between the propagation speed of the acoustic waves in the fiber and the speed of the interferential pattern movement along the fiber is verified. Since this last speed depends essentially on the frequency shift between the two counter-propagating optical waves along the fiber, the intensity of the generated acoustic wave will depend indeed on such a ν shift. The value of the frequency shift between the two optical signals for which one has the maximum intensity of the generated acoustic wave is called "Brillouin frequency shift". The magnitude of such a shift is linked, as mentioned above, to the speed with which the acoustic waves propagate along the medium (the optical fiber in our case of interest), and is therefore a characteristic parameter of the fiber. Once supposed that the resonance condition of the frequency shift between the two optical signals is satisfied, the acoustic wave so generated acts as a "scattering" element with respect to the optical radiation at higher frequency, which is called pump radiation. The scattering of the pump wave, caused by the acoustic wave generated by electrostriction (the Brillouin stimulated scattering), produces a transfer of power from the pump wave the to the optical wave at lower frequency, that is called probe wave.
Therefore, after all, the stimulated Brillouin scattering will result in a transfer of energy from the pump wave to the probe wave, which will be all the stronger the closer the frequency shift between the pump wave and the probe wave is to the Brillouin shift of the optical fiber. Since the Brillouin shift depends on the elastic characteristics of the material (density and elasticity modulus), it will depend on the temperature conditions and strain to which the same fiber is subjected. This dependency enables to use the measurement systems of the Brillouin shift within temperature and strain sensors.
The use of suitable interrogation techniques allows effectuating the distributed measurements, i.e. to spatially resolve along the fiber the whole Brillouin shift distribution. The most common technique is based on the use of a pulsed pump signal, and of a continuous wave (CW) probe signal. The principle is similar to that of reflectometry in the time domain: one acquires in the time domain the probe signal received by one end of the fiber, starting from the launching instant of the pump impulse, the last being launched from the same end. In such a way, being known the speed of propagation of the pump impulse along the fiber, it is possible to correlate the arrival instant of the probe signal with the position of the fiber in which that signal has interacted with the pump impulse. By measuring the probe signal amplification as a function of the time and frequency shift between the pump wave and the probe wave, it is possible to derive the Brillouin shift value for each position along the fiber. The spatial resolution of the measurement depends essentially on the time duration of the used pump impulse: the longer is the impulse, the smaller will be the resolution with which the Brillouin shift along the measurement fiber is measured.
The poor signal-to-noise ratio associated to such measurement type, which essentially depends on the weak coupling between the pump light and the probe light, has driven towards the introduction of alternative detection techniques. A detection method which is very efficient is the one that operates in the frequency domain, and is described for example in D. Garus, T. Gogolla, K. Krebber, F. Schliep, "Brillouin optical-fiber frequency-domain analysis for distributed temperature and strain measurements", J. Lightwave Technol., 15, 654-662 (1997). In such a type of interrogation technique, called BOFDA (Brillouin Optical Frequency-Domain Analysis), the measurement of the Brillouin shift is effectuated by launching in the fiber a continuous wave (CW) probe signal on one side, and a pump signal on the other side whose intensity is constituted by a CW component with a superposed sinusoidal component at a certain frequency. This technique comprises the measurement of the sinusoidal component at the same frequency, induced on the probe signal coming out from the fiber. Such a component must be measured in phase and modulus, with varying modulation frequency. In the end, what is measured is a complex transfer function, which represents the SBS interaction in the fiber between the pump light and the probe light, for a certain value of the frequency shift between the optical carriers of these two signals. In first approximation, such as transfer function can be correlated to the impulsive response of the system by a simple Fourier transform relationship. Therefore, once the data in the frequency domain are acquired, the last can be anti-transformed and then elaborated so as to derive the Brillouin shift distribution along the fiber.
A possible measurement setup which implements the BOFDA technique is represented in FIG. 1. As clear from the figure, the pump signal is intensity modulated at the frequency f by means of the optical modulator of intensity IM. The acquisition of the AC component at frequency f , which is present on the probe signal at the output of the fiber, is carried out by means of a vectorial network analyzer, which uses the intensity of the modulated pump signal as a reference. The optical/electric conversion of the signals is carried out by means of two photodiodes PD1 and PD2. On the basis of these two signals, the analyzer calculates modulus and the phase of the transfer function at modulation frequency f. Once carried out the measurement of the complex transfer function for a suitable range of frequencies f, such measurement is repeated several time with varying shift between the optical carrier of the pump signal and the optical carrier of the probe signal, so as to obtain a certain number of transfer functions suitable for the reconstruction of the Brillouin shift distribution along the measurement fiber.
The main advantage offered by the BOFDA technique, with respect to the traditional measurement techniques which operate in the time domain, consists in the fact that the measurements are carried out in the synchronous modality, and this will result in a better signal-to-noise ratio. However, the highest spatial resolution which is obtainable by means of the BOFDA technique is connected to the bandwidth with which the measurements in the frequency domain are acquired. By virtue of the necessity to obtain an always higher spatial resolution, it is appropriated to have the possibility of operating with the most possible large bandwidth. For example, the spatial resolution of a meter requires a functioning bandwidth, both of the network analyzer used for the calculation of the transfer function and the photodiodes used for the optical/electrical conversion of the signals, of around 100 MHz. The use of wide-band instrumentation, on one hand, will result in a higher cost of the apparatus which implements the measurement technique, and, on the other hand, the use of large-band photodiodes entails a higher quantity of noise in the measured data.

Method for measuring the brillouin shift distribution along an optical fiber based on the optical demodulation of the signals, and relevant apparatus