A security system for sea cargo containers wherein each container is provided with a container security device comprising a processor, a radio, a memory, a battery and one or more sensors. When the containers are within range of each other, the container security devices communicate to form an ad hoc wireless sensor network. That network communicates with a communications infrastructure, such as satellites or GSM communications means, via a gateway that aggregates data originating from the various container security devices.

The present invention relates generally to the field of security and tracking. More particularly, the invention relates to marine asset security and tracking.
The worldwide ocean-going freight transportation infrastructure is vulnerable to terrorism. The open movement of containerized cargo presents an opportunity for terrorists to cause large-scale economic damage, for example, by smuggling a thermonuclear device or radioactive material for a "dirty bomb" into a target country in a shipping container. Consequently, there is a need to develop and deploy tracking and monitoring technologies at the container level to help secure the global supply chain and critical port facilities.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is charged with preventing terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States. With nearly 7 million containers arriving in the United States annually, CBP cannot inspect every container. The majority of containers are low value with very limited monitoring capability. The chain of custody starts with security at the factory and port. Thereafter, continuous container monitoring must ensure an unbroken chain of custody.
Homeland Defense initiatives are pushing the first line of defense from American soil to foreign soil. Securing loading docks in foreign countries which are a key component to reducing the vulnerabilities to supply chain. The Homeland Defense Container Security Initiative (CSI) was devised in response to fears that sea cargo containers bound for the U.S. could be used to facilitate a terrorist attack by providing direct access to a U.S. part. By posting officials at major foreign ports and requiring the advance transmission of manifest documentation, CBP can pre-screen and clear containers bound for the U.S. before they are even loaded onto the ship.
Other components of the CSI include: (a) the use of intelligence and automated information systems to identify and target high-risk containers; (2) the use of advanced and large-scale detection technology (such as container X-ray machines and radiation detectors) to assess more quickly and reliably those containers deemed to be high-risk; and (3) the use of "smarter" more secure containers with electronic tamper-proof seals that alert authorities to tampering while the container is in transit.
It is known to attach an integrated security sensor to the wall of a tamper-evident container and then arm that security sensor after the container has been packed and sealed. Systems are presently under development for monitoring and tracking such sensors during transit of the containers. A known container security device (CSD) has a GPS receiving antenna (for receiving GPS location data), a GPS module, a Globalstar satellite transmitting antenna (for sending GPS location reports automatically, e.g., six times daily) and a satellite modem (used to establish data transfers using a communications satellite as a relay).
One proposed system for tracking sea cargo employs palm-sized CSDs that fasten to the doorjamb of most standard maritime containers. The manufacturer of the cargo inside the container arms the CSD by transmitting a unique identifier code via a wireless device. The CSD automatically communicates its status to wireless readers located in the port of entry. These communications indicate where and when the container has been opened since it was initially sealed. Communication between the wireless readers and the CSDs and all data regarding the transactions is encrypted.
Another proposed system uses intelligent processing and wireless communications systems, enabling the monitoring authority to receive reports on the global location and condition of containers. Low-earth orbiting satellites and multi-band cellular and wireless LANs will be used for global data transmission. Such a system could notify the monitoring authority within minutes of a container experiencing an abnormal event, such as unauthorized entry, mishandling, environmental extremes, route deviation or unscheduled delay, regardless of the container's location.
One problem with conventional CSDs arises when containers are stacked on a ship or in port. The CSDs of only those containers at the top of the stack have a line-of-sight to orbiting satellites. Also CSDs in the field do not communicate with each other. There is also a limited interconnection to worldwide producers of data. The CSDs send to a central location (one way) at infrequent intervals (e.g., hours or days). In addition, limited alarm verification increases false alarms. A further drawback is that alarm correlation relies on manual interaction. It is difficult to achieve a continuous record of route and container security using conventional CSDs. A further impediment to implementation of the CSI is the high recurring costs of replacing the batteries of the CSDs, which often have inadequate battery life for long ocean voyages. The high cost of communications (e.g., satellite and telephone fees) limits worldwide shipment tracking; one-way data distribution limits interconnectivity; and stale, latent data limits reliable security assessment.
There is a need for an improved security system for use with cargo containers that addresses or solves at least some of the foregoing problems.

Mobile wireless mesh technology for shipping container security


In embodiments of the invention, there is provided an external fixation system comprising a first plate and a second plate and connectors therebetween. Some or all of the connectors may be adjustable in length or angular position or both. Angular adjustment may comprise a fixed amount of friction and an adjustable amount of friction, and the permitted angular deflection can vary around the perimeter of the angular joint. An adjustable-length connector may comprise a tiltable nut that can either engage or not engage a threaded rod to provide both coarse adjustment and fine adjustment. Tactile or audible feedback may be provided.

External Fixation Devices are utilized to stabilize bone fractures. Such devices can also be utilized to either compress or distract bones to the desired alignment and length, and can also be used for correction of deformity. Although such devices have been in use for some time, there remains opportunity for improvement in certain aspects such as ease of use and ease of adjustment during and after surgery.

Abstract: Other accessories may include: provisional alignment clamps to position parts of the patient's body; a K-wire alignment guide; a K-wire support post; a universal fixation bolt; a plurality of half-pins that can be used with a common support post or block; and a resilient retention device.


An analog input circuit may include a pair of differential transconductance input stages having input nodes connected in parallel and which are fed the analog input signal. One of the differential transconductance stages may have common mode compatibility toward the supply node at the highest potential, and the other stage may have common mode compatibility toward the supply node at the lowest potential. Furthermore, differential output currents of the transconductance input stages may be summed differentially on first and second input nodes of a differential converter stage, which converts the differential current signals to an amplified differential voltage output signal.

The present invention relates to the field of integrated circuits, and, more particularly, to an input circuit with common mode compatibility with respect to its supply nodes.
In various applications relating to analog signal processing, the common mode of the input signal may vary from the positive to the negative supply voltage such as, for example, with standard low voltage differential signals (LVDS) having variable voltages from 0 to 2.4V. For these applications, the input stages of the interface circuits should be able to accept a signal with such variations without significantly degrading the performance of the amplifier.
A typical application in which the circuit of the invention may be used is illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In the illustrated example, a digital signal, transmitted on an optical fiber, is received by a first integrated circuit IC1 installed on a printed circuit board. After having been processed, the signal is sent from the first integrated circuit IC1 by a transmission block Transmit Tx through the pins and the connecting metal tracks PCB tracks to a second integrated circuit IC2. The integrated circuit IC2 is installed on the same board and receives the signal by way of an input circuit thereof which amplifies the received analog signal to make it available at an appropriate level to logic circuitry CMOS logic.
While transmission of signals through the conducting tracks of the printed circuit board is commonly done in a differential mode according to standard LVDS, the input stage of the integrated circuit IC2 that receives the signal processed by the interfacing circuit IC1 may be single ended, as shown in FIG. 1A, or may have a differential output, as shown in FIG. 1B. If the input interfacing circuit IC1 is single ended, the output signal will have a certain average value Vavg. If the output is differential, the output signal will be centered on a certain common mode voltage Vcm.
Other circuits are commonly connected in cascade to the input interfacing circuit IC1, the first of which may be an analog gain circuit G. The gain circuit G is followed by a digital buffer stage which, in practice, may even be represented by a single circuit (e.g., an inverter) having a certain threshold voltage for discriminating zeroes and ones.
It will be appreciated that, for a correct interpretation of the signals that are fed to the block G, it is important that the amplitude of the signal corresponding to a logic value 1 remains above the threshold of discrimination. Further, the amplitude of the signal corresponding to a zero logic value should also remain below the threshold of discrimination for both single ended and differential signals.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of the signals output by the input interfacing circuit for the case of a single ended or a differential output circuit when the input signal is an analog signal corresponding to a, certain sequence of ones and zeroes. In practice, the output signal Vout (in the case of single ended output) or Vout+ minus Voutxe2x88x92 (in the case of differential output) will have a shape more or less rounded and with a voltage swing (i.e., the difference between the maximum and the minimum value) typically between 250-400 mV, as illustratively shown.
As also shown in the illustrated examples, in the case of a differential output there will be a certain common mode voltage Vcm, while in the case of single ended output there will be an average voltage Vavg, both corresponding to the average output voltage following a long sequence of alternated zeroes and ones (FIG. 2A). The switching threshold of the input stage G of the digital circuitry (FIGS. 1A and 1B) will be fixed to a value to correspond to the average value Vavg or to the common mode value Vcm. Therefore, a fundamental prerequisite of the input circuit is that the output signal be centered with respect to these values (Vavg or Vcm), as the threshold of discrimination of the input digital value is fixed as a function thereof.
In this way, the level of the output signal may be shifted with respect to the level of the input signal without loosing data because the output signal is kept centered independently from the succession of values of the input signal, as shown in the examples of FIG. 2B and at (a) in FIG. 3. If, because of the characteristics of the input circuit, the output signal is not kept centered with respect to its average value or its common mode value, as shown at (c) in FIG. 3, it may happen that a digital value 1 is erroneously read as a zero by the digital circuit connected in cascade to the input circuit (or vice-versa). This may happen because the signal may remain below (or above) the switching threshold if a sufficiently long sequence of zeroes (or ones) determines a shift of the working point of the output node. This shift is either toward ground in the case of a long sequence of zeroes, as shown at (c) in FIG. 3, or toward the supply voltage in the case of a long sequence of ones.
A known prior art design approach for the input circuit is illustrated in FIG. 4 which utilizes two operational amplifiers (op-amps), one of which has a common mode compatibility toward the supply voltage (Vdd) and the other toward ground (GND). The voltage outputs are both single ended and connected in common to provide for a single ended output of the entire circuit.
The design illustrated in FIG. 4 has certain drawbacks. First, the output is single ended and is obtained by short circuiting the outputs of the two distinct operational amplifiers, which may conflict with each other. This may slow down the system because the circuit has to work even when the two parts are in conflict. This happens because of an unbalanced common mode, either toward the supply voltage (Vdd) or toward ground (GND), which causes one of the two pairs of input transistors of the two distinct operational amplifiers to start turning off.
Furthermore, the output node Vout is a high impedance node having a high gain and, as a result, is relatively slow. The high impedance implies that in the presence of certain input sequences there is a likelihood of losing data in the case illustrated at (c) in FIG. 3. In fact, in an integrated circuit a high impedance output node has a parasitic series capacitance toward the substrate creating a pole at a low frequency. This practically integrates the output signal and centers it on a short-term average value, producing the result shown at (c) in FIG. 3.
Yet another drawback of the above-described prior art design is that two reference voltages are needed, namely VBP2 and VBN2. The generation of these voltages may require further silicon area for implementation.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an analog input circuit which provides full input common mode compatibility toward supplies rails and provides for a low impedance output, thus reducing the risk of losing data, and with a circuit configuration that is relatively simple and integrable in a reduced silicon area with respect to prior art circuits.
In accordance with the invention, an analog input circuit may include a pair of differential transconductance input stages having input nodes connected in parallel and which are fed the analog input signal. One of the differential transconductance stages may have common mode compatibility toward the supply node at the highest potential, and the other stage may have common mode compatibility toward the supply node at the lowest potential. Furthermore, differential output currents of the transconductance input stages may be summed differentially on first and second input nodes of a differential converter stage, which converts the differential current signals to an amplified differential voltage output signal.
The analog input circuit in accordance with the invention has a relatively low output impedance which provides high speed, as well as enhanced stability of the working point of the circuit.

Analog input circuit with common mode compatibility to both supply nodes


The invention concerns a diamond thrust bearing assembly for a downhole motor. The assembly (10) includes at least one set of opposing bearing rings (20, 22), each of which has an annular support element (24, 30) and a plurality of PCD compacts (48, 62) carried in circumferentially spaced relationship by the support element. The PCD compacts present opposing bearing surfaces (52, 66) with the bearing surfaces (66) of the compacts of one bearing ring in each set being circumferentially longer than the bearing surfaces (52) of the compacts of the other bearing ring of the set.

THIS invention relates to a diamond bearing assembly.
One application of the diamond bearing assembly of the invention is in a downhole motor as used in the drilling industry. Conventional thrust bearing assemblies as employed in downhole drilling motors use rolling element bearings or plain bearings. In the case of a plain bearing, steel thrust rings slide on elastomeric pads, and such bearings are usually arranged in stacks to take the imposed axial thrust. One disadvantage of stacked bearings of this kind is the fact that the bearing assembly has a considerable length, rendering it unsuitable for negotiating tight bends in directional drilling applications.
A further disadvantage, suffered both by roller bearings and plain bearings, arises from the fact that the bearing assembly is exposed in use to the drilling fluid or mud that powers the motor. The abrading action of the fluid on the bearing components wears them out rapidly, necessitating frequent replacement or refurbishment and considerable downtime.
For these reasons, it has been proposed to employ diamond compacts as thrust bearing components, since it is recognised that such components will generate relatively low frictional forces and have the ability to withstand high thrust loads.


The method includes providing a semiconductor chip having a first main face and a second main face opposite the first main face. The semiconductor chip includes an electrical device adjacent to the first main face. Material of the semiconductor chip is removed at the second main face except for a pre-defined portion so that a non-planar surface remains at the second main face.

There is an increasing market demand for smaller, lighter, more powerful electronic devices and electronic devices with higher power densities, especially for use in electrical converter devices for maximizing energy conversion efficiencies in, for example, solar or wind power stations. It has become increasingly important to minimize energy losses as caused by, for example, electrical resistances in these devices. The development of more compact semiconductor devices and those with increased functionality has led to thinner semiconductor chips and packaging technologies, such as wafer level packaging (WLP). The development of more compact semiconductor devices has in particular led to thinner electronic devices, in particular to thinner vertical power transistors. Typically, vertical power transistors have two contacts on one face and one contact on an opposing face and in the on stage, current flows from a source contact on one face to a drain contact on the other face. Therefore, the vertical power transistor exhibits an on resistance between the drain and source terminals so that manufacturing a thinner vertical power transistor is a possible way of decreasing the on resistance of the transistor.

Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device


High throughput methods are described for identifying combinations of transgenes that can be used to improve a phenotypic feature in an organism. Large populations of organisms (e.g., plants) containing different combinations of transgenes as well as different promoter-coding sequence combinations can be assessed using the methods.

The first generation of transgenic plant products has been successful because the transgenes are conferring traits, such as glyphosate herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, that make transgenic plants markedly different. Development of the second generation of transgenic traits has met with limited success despite significant efforts in the field. Similarly to plant breeding efforts, the second generation transgenic traits are often aimed at incrementally improving agronomic performance or product quality. For these transgenic phenotypes, high-level overexpression is often undesirable, so identification of potential transgene expressed sequences is followed by a search for their optimal promoters. Moreover, single transgenes often have substantial impact in specific germplasm or environmental conditions, but significantly diminished impact when tested in a different genetic background or environment. Traditionally, transgenes are evaluated in replicated plots, where field performance and phenotypes of plants with a transgene or stack of transgenes (i.e., a combination of transgenes) is carefully compared to that of nearby controls. This approach requires significant effort in phenotyping.

Methods and materials for high throughput testing of transgene combinations


A wireless communications system optimizes performance by dividing communications functionality between a wireless pacemaker and a wireless monitoring base station according to the design constraints imposed by the system elements. Typical design constraints include high frequency operation, low pacemaker power consumption, reasonable range, high data rate, minimal RF radiation of internal circuitry, small pacemaker antenna system, simple pacemaker RF circuit design, high reliability, low pacemaker cost, and use of existing pacemaker construction methodologies.

Most pacemaker designs utilize a metallic housing to isolate a pacemaker's contents from the implanted environment in which it is installed. The material selected must be inert to the patient and must protect the electronic circuitry from bodily fluids. Titanium is a typical housing material. Electrical leads for pacemaker signals must be connected to the pacemaker using electrical feed-throughs that preserve the environmental integrity of the housing. Since the housing is made of metal and tends to exhibit the properties of a Faraday cage, RF communications designs between a pacemaker and radios outside the patient's body have traditionally used low frequency, near field solutions that can traverse the housing. Also, since a pacemaker is battery powered, available transmitter power is limited. As such, near field solutions dramatically limit range, and since these solutions are also low frequency, data rates are limited. Any RF communications systems design utilizing implantable medical devices must consider average and peak power consumption, FCC constraints (or other regulatory constraints, such as frequency of operation, bandwidth, and radiated power), antenna performance, data rate, exposure of pacemaker circuitry to RF radiation (particularly low level ECG signals), size of antenna system and associated RF circuitry, reliability, and cost (both component and manufacturing).
To maximize range and data rate, it is desirable to use a high frequency solution. The challenge is to develop a high frequency design that has acceptable antenna performance, while minimizing size, power consumption, and radiation of pacemaker circuitry. Some existing high frequency designs use an external antenna which is attached to the outside of the pacemaker housing using some type of electrical feed-throughs to connect the RF circuitry inside the pacemaker housing to the external antenna.
The present invention leverages upon several different technologies to create an antenna design and RF system that is more optimal for implanted applications.


A safety apparatus adapted for retrofitting vertical enclosures is shown. The safety apparatus may include a support frame, a grate platform, and telescoping support legs adapted to fasten to an enclosure wall. The apparatus may also include a hinged hatch defining an opening configured to allow a person to be pulled through the platform.

The present invention generally relates to safety equipment, and more particularly, to a vertical enclosure safety apparatus.
Existing vertical enclosures, for example, man holes with a ladder system, include concrete slabs with port holes. The slabs are placed at intervals to catch a workman should he/she slip and fall. One reason for falling is that the slabs can trap noxious gases that overwhelm the workman while descending into the man hole. When falling onto a lower slab, a workman may be knocked unconscious or killed. Sometimes, the prone workman comes to a rest out of the line of sight of the port hole. During rescue of a workman, a lifeline may be tied to the workman so that he/she is pulled up. When the body is out of line of sight, raising of the workman may perilously encounter the unyielding concrete slabs from underneath with little visual guidance.
As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that can allow a prone person to be lifted out of an enclosure safely. There is also a need for an apparatus that can adaptively be retrofit into an existing enclosure. Additionally, it can be seen that a need exists for an apparatus that mitigates the trapping of noxious gases in an enclosure.


Methods and systems for creating patterns for an adult entertainment device are described. The method includes receiving a media play request initiated from a User Interface (UI) of media application installed on user device. The media play request includes selected media file. The UI includes plurality of pattern creation options. The method includes playing selected media file. The method includes facilitating creation of at least one pattern for media file while playing media file. The at least one pattern is created by user using at least one pattern creation option. The method further includes storing at least one pattern in corresponding at least one script file. The at least one pattern is transformed into corresponding intensity instruction signals. The intensity instruction signals are sent to adult entertainment device connected to user device to cause customization of adjustable parameters of adult entertainment device to be in synchronization with selected media file.

Teledildonic is a way of performing virtual sex using technology to replicate human sexual interactions. Currently, a variety of teledildonic devices are available in the market that can be used by a person for replicating physical sensations. These devices help couples in experiencing sexual pleasures even though they are physically distant apart.
The teledildonic devices offer various features, such as voice control, vibration control, intensity control etc., to users using the device. Although, these features help in controlling the working of the device as per the need of the user, but these changes need to be performed manually by the user while using the device which can be irritating for the user.
Further, the teledildonic devices operate based on the instructions received from applications managing the devices. These instructions are designed in such a way that they help in enhancing feeling of pleasure in the user using the teledildonic device. Though these instructions are defined based on the requirement of general public, few users may not like the way of the operation of the device as there are only few ways available for the operation of the device. Few users may be interested in experiencing something new, every time they use the device.
Hence, there is a need of techniques that enable a user of the teledildonic device to control the working of the teledildonic device based on their own sexual requirements.


A conveyor belt includes a plurality of modules arranged in succession and articulated with each other. First and second projections of the modules have mating profiles to allow the insertion of a connecting pin between adjacent modules. Each module includes housings for respective rolling balls projecting through a respective circular opening. The ratio between the diameter of at least one circumferential portion of the housing and the diameter of the respective rolling ball is between 0.8 and 0.6, while at least part of a rib is provided below, near the lower surface, with at least one respective projecting portion arranged for snap-fit insertion of the rolling ball into the respective housing seat.

As is known, a bulk object conveyor defines a moving surface for generic objects to be transported. Such a conveyor is generally provided with one or more movable and flexible conveyor belts. Each conveyor belt can in turn consist of a plurality of modular elements, also called "links", which are connected together to form a closed loop. This closed loop conveyor belt is designed to at least partially slide on a support structure which defines a straight or curved feeding direction of the moving surface.
The conveyor belt modular elements are mutually joined by means of an articulation system with rotoidal joints. Projections (the so-called "hinge rings") which interpenetrate and are held together by an articulation pin of each rotoidal joint are in fact provided at the opposite sides of each pair of contiguous modular elements. This articulation pin passes through a series of holes, made in the projections of the modular elements, which extend along a direction transverse and substantially perpendicular to the conveyor belt longitudinal moving direction.
Each modular element of the conveyor belt is provided with an upper surface, or transporting surface, on which the objects to be transported can be positioned. A plurality of rolling balls can project from this transporting surface, which are usually mounted idly inside respective housing seats obtained on each modular element. The objects to be transported actually lay on these rolling balls. The presence of the rolling balls on each modular element therefore allows the conveyor belt to more effectively move, deviate and/or direct the objects of different size and weight.
Examples of conveyor belts with modular elements provided with rolling balls are described, for example, in documents U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,990, WO 2004/078617 and EP 1591383, as well as in documents CN-A-110641903 and CN-U-207497482. Documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,679,043 and 5,238,099, instead, describe conveyor belts which are provided with rolling balls but which are continuous, that is they do not consist of mutually hinged modular elements.
Usually, conveyor belts with modular elements which are equipped with rolling balls are entirely made of plastic, so as to be easily washable, and are widely used both in the food industry, for transporting packaged and/or non-packaged edible products, and in the logistics, for transporting products usually packaged in corrugated cardboard boxes, and in distribution centres. However, a drawback of these conveyor belts with modular elements provided with rolling balls is due to the fact that food liquids, paper and cardboard residues from packaging and dirt can enter the interstices between the rolling balls and the respective housing seats during transportation of the products. These waste materials can impair the free rolling of the balls, up to the point of locking them within their respective housing seats.
Another drawback of these conveyor belts with modular elements provided with rolling balls is due to their lower structural resistance, in terms of both tensile strength and transversal flexibility, compared to similar conveyor belts with modular elements without rolling balls. If there are no rolling balls and, above all, the respective housing seats, each modular element is in fact usually manufactured starting from a solid, that is internally full plastic block. The presence of the housing seats, in the modular elements of the conveyor belts provided with rolling balls of known type, therefore weakens their respective structure, since these housing seats are obtained by removing part of the plastic material each modular element consists of.

Conveyor belt with articulated links provided with rolling balls


A compound with anti-drug resistant bacteria activity having the formula (I):

Drug-resistant bacteria refer to pathogenic bacteria with drug resistance. Bacterial drug resistance is the main manifestation of pathogen adaptability, and it is also an unavoidable problem in the clinic. In recent years, bacterial drug resistance has occurred worldwide. It is reported that the number of drug-resistant bacteria has been extremely high since the 1990s. People are greatly affected by the problem of bacterial resistance. One factor for the development of drug resistance is the high level of bacteria's own adaptability, which can cause bacteria to develop drug resistance through its genetic genes and mutation factors. In addition to the transformation and conjugation of different types of bacteria, bacteria can obtain drug resistance genes. The overuse of antibiotics is the main reason for the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. The problem of drug-resistant bacteria has become very prominent.
Solving the problem of bacterial resistance has become a top priority. Pleuromutilin (compound of formula II) is a tricyclic diterpenoid veterinary antibiotic produced in the 1950s from the higher fungi pleurotus pleurotsmutilus and pleurotspasseckerianus strains. It contains 8 chiral carbons and consists of a three-membered ring skeleton of 5-6-8 atoms and a side chain of glycolic acid. It can be used as a starting material or drug intermediate to synthesize antibacterial drugs.
2-[(Diphenylmethyl)thio]acetic acid (CAS:63547-22-8) (compound of formula IV) is a chemical intermediate, which can be used to prepare antibacterial drugs.
The invention modifies pleuromutilin through 2-[(diphenylmethyl)thio]acetic acid structure to obtain a pleuromutilin 2-[(diphenylmethyl)thio]acetic acid ester. Preliminary antibacterial activity experiment shows that the compound has excellent antibacterial activity and has high medical research and application value in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria.

Pleuromutilin 2-[(diphenylmethyl)thio] acetic acid ester with anti-drug resistant bacteria activity and a method of preparing the same

Abstract: (I) is disclosed. The methods of preparing the compound of formula (I) are also disclosed.

SHAANXI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


A process for making a material adapted for the production of composite parts by a process in which a thermoplastic or thermosetting matrix is diffused within said material. The material includes at least one sheet of unidirectional carbon fibers associated on at least one of its faces with at least one conductive component associated or integrated with a permeable layer in a thermoplastic material or in a mixture of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns the technical field of so-called "dry" reinforcement materials, adapted to the creation of composite parts in association with a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin which will be diffused within said materials to create the final composite part. Specifically, the invention relates to a new intermediate material based on unidirectional sheets of carbon fibre, combining satisfactory mechanical strength and electrical conductivity properties, adapted to the design of composite parts by subsequent injection or infusion of a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin, or of a mixture of such resins, and relates as well to a process for the fabrication of composite parts from such a material, and to the composite parts thus obtained.
2. Description of Related Art
The fabrication of composite parts or products, that is to say consisting of, first of all, one or more fibrous reinforcements or sheets, and second of all, a matrix primarily of the thermosetting ("resin") type, which may include thermoplastics, can for example be performed with a process called "direct" or "LCM" ("Liquid Composite Moulding" in English). A direct process is defined by the fact that one or several fibre reinforcements are prepared in a "dry" state (that is, without the final matrix), the resin or the matrix being prepared separately, for example by injection into the mould containing the reinforcement fibres ("RTM" process, Resin Transfer Moulding), by infusion through the thickness of the reinforcement fibres ("LRI" process, "Liquid Resin Infusion" in English or "RFI" process, "Resin Film Infusion"), or else by manual coating/impregnation with a roller or brush on each of the unit layers of fibrous reinforcement, applied successively on the mould.
For the RTM, LRI or RFI processes, it is generally first necessary to build a fibrous preform in the shape of the desired finished product, then to impregnate this preform with a resin. The resin is injected or infused by differential pressure at temperature, then once all the amount of necessary resin is contained in the preform, the assembly is brought to a higher temperature to complete the polymerization/crosslinking cycle and thus harden it.
Composite parts used in the automobile, aviation or naval industry are particularly subject to very strict requirements, notably in terms of their mechanical properties. To conserve fuel, the aviation industry has replaced many metallic materials with composite materials that are lighter. In addition, many hydraulic flight controls are replaced by electronic controls also in the interest of weight reduction.
The resin which is subsequently associated, in particular by injection or infusion, to the unidirectional reinforcement sheets during the creation of the part can be a thermosetting resin, an epoxy for example. To allow proper flow through a preform consisting of a stack of different layers of carbon fibres, the resin is most often very fluid, for example with a viscosity on the order of 50 to 200 mPa·s. at the infusion/injection temperature. The major inconvenience of this type of resin is its fragility after polymerization/crosslinking, which results in poor impact resistance of the fabricated composite parts.
In order to solve this problem, the documents of previous art proposed the association of the unidirectional layers of carbon fibres to intermediate layers based on resin, and notably to a web of thermoplastic fibres. Solutions such as these are notably described in patent applications or patents EP 1125728, U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,016, WO 00/58083, WO 2007/015706, WO 2006/121961 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,856. The addition of this intermediate layer of resin, such as a web, makes it possible to improve mechanical properties in the compression after impact (CAI) test commonly used to characterize the impact resistance of structures.
In the earlier patent applications WO 2010/046609 and WO 2010/061114, the applicant has also proposed particular intermediate materials comprising a sheet of unidirectional fibres, particularly carbon, associated by adhesion on each of its faces to a non-woven of thermoplastic fibres (also called non-woven), as well as their preparation process.
Such composite materials consist of layers of carbon and layers of thermosetting or thermoplastic material. The carbon fibre is electrically conductive, unlike the thermosetting or thermoplastic materials. The stack of these two materials is thus a stack of conductive materials and insulating materials. The transverse electrical conductivity is near-zero due to the presence of resin layers.
However, in order to dissipate the energy of lightning moving over the fuselage or the wings, and also to assure the function of return current, the transverse electrical conductivity of composite parts used in aviation must be high. Because fuel reserves are located in the wings of planes, it is essential to successfully dissipate the electrical energy and therefore to achieve good conductivity along the axis orthogonal to the surface of the part, called the z-axis. In aircraft structures, electrical conductivity has been provided until now by the material itself, which was mostly based on aluminium. Because the new aircraft models integrate more and more composite materials, mainly based on carbon, it has become essential to provide additional conductivity to assure the functions of return current and resistance to lightning. This conductivity is achieved currently on composite parts based on carbon fibres by the local use of metallic ribbons or rovings that bind the parts to each other. Such a solution greatly increases the weight and cost of the composite solution, and is therefore not satisfactory.
In order to provide materials having a good electrical conductivity, patent application U.S. 2003/0008125 provides for associating a sheet of unidirectional carbon fibres with a carbon non-woven and assuring their bonding with a thermoplastic layer. The thermoplastic layer is used to impregnate the carbon layers. The disclosed material, in particular because of the use of a non-porous thermoplastic layer and the lack of precision regarding the amount of thermoplastic resin present is not suitable for use in direct processes such as described above.
Patent application WO 99/21697 also provides for associating unidirectional carbon sheets with carbon non-wovens, but only in order to provide materials suitable for direct processes. For this, the association between the various layers is assured by a grid made of a polymerizable material, that is to say, thermosetting, so as to limit the amount of polymerizable material present to 6 to 12% by weight of the total weight of the material.

Process for making material with improved conductivity properties for the production of composite parts


The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for processing dough intermediates that are less developed, softer or which have enhanced water or moisture levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an improved dough transport module, that has one or more protuberances extending generally perpendicularly from a supporting surface which supports the dough intermediate for a sufficient interval of time during processing so as to eliminate the waste and loss of dough intermediates prior to processing or packaging steps.

None.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for handling loose dough intermediates, such as moisture enhanced, softer and/or less developed dough. The apparatus of the present invention reduces the fallout of the intermediates formed from this dough so as to avoid unintentional loss or waste and machine downtime occasioned by dough intermediates falling out of the processing line prior to packaging or further treatment or handling.
The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for processing dough intermediates that are less developed, softer or which have enhanced water or moisture levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an improved dough transport module, that is incorporated into a cutter bar configuration and that has one or more protuberances extending generally perpendicularly from a supporting surface which supports the dough intermediate for a sufficient interval of time during processing so as to eliminate the waste and loss of dough intermediates prior to processing or packaging steps.
The production of food products on a commercial scale presents constant challenges to the manufacturer in achieving economies and the consumer in obtaining acceptable products. The manufacturer attempts to extract processing efficiencies while at the same time achieving an end product that is suitable for consumers. The consumer on the other hand, looks for a food product that evokes a feeling of having created the product from xe2x80x9cscratchxe2x80x9d (through the appearance provided by the product, as well as the olfactory and organoleptic properties) but yet be easy to prepare and serve.
One of the problems for the manufacturer in meeting the challenges presented by these conflicting needs, aside from potential increases in costs due to improving ingredient quality, is usually related to the difficulties in preparing and processing the dough intermediates. That is, the dough and dough intermediates are typically more difficult to handle and can range from a stickier dough to a more xe2x80x9cloosexe2x80x9d dough or suffer from other problems from which conventional processing equipment cannot readily accommodate. While the dough intermediates needs to be retained in the processing apparatus, it also needs to release readily from the apparatus in order to complete the necessary manufacturing steps.
Another problem faced by the manufacturer is that fragile and deformable products such as dough and dough intermediates as well as the resulting finished product will show visible scars or distresses as a result of rough handling. As such, the manufacturer needs to treat such material gently so as not to create an aesthetically displeasing product.
In order to provide the consumer with more desirable and flavorful biscuits, such as one having improved texture, fluffiness and moisture, it has been found, for example, that it is necessary to change or increase the level of moisture in the dough. However, increasing the level of moisture typically causes difficulties in processing the dough intermediates as well as subsequently filling the dough cans or other packaging adapted to handle the dough. It is believed that this problem results from the dough having higher flowability, or being looser, due to the increased moisture level or water content, and as such can be more difficult to handle during processing.
It has been found that when using conventional dough handling equipment, the enhanced moisture dough, or loose dough has a tendency to fall or drop out of the dough processing equipment prematurely. The vibrations of the equipment cause the dough fill cups to empty as the cups advance through the various processing steps to the package filling equipment that will distribute the dough intermediates to the waiting dough packages.
Some of the drawbacks associated with processing doughs or dough intermediates that have premature fallout, such as those dough intermediates that are more loose than conventional dough products, include containers or packages that are not completely filled (as the dough fallouts before reaching the packaging station) deformation or irregularities in the dough intermediate or the final product produced from such intermediate (due to the addition of gripping appliances to hold the dough in position) and process or machine clogging and downtime to clean or adjust the apparatus.
Typically, dough and dough intermediates have a tendency to be increasingly sticky and as such there has been a regular and constant development to reduce the amount of contact (surface area of the equipment) between the dough processing apparatus and the dough itself in order to avoid cleaning and handling difficulties. It has been surprisingly been found that by increasing the surface area of the transport modules through at least the packaging stations, that enhanced dough or dough intermediates that have such increased moisture levels can reach the packaging and post forming processing areas without the problems associated with premature fallout of the dough or dough intermediates. However, such gripping devices cannot be overtly aggressive as the devices can distort the appearance of the dough product. In addition, increasing the size of the cups used in transporting the dough intermediates add an excessive amount of weight to the apparatus, causing additional wear and tear on the equipment.
What is therefore needed is an enhanced apparatus for handling softened, moisture enhanced or other difficult to handle dough that does not add additional complexity to the processing apparatus but still provides an efficient and effective apparatus to deliver the dough or dough intermediates to the packaging or other post formation treatment steps.
The present invention overcomes the foregoing drawbacks by placing a series of prearranged protuberances or extensions internally in a dough-processing module. The protuberances or extensions can be positioned at any point on the internal face of the walls of the modules, and extend perpendicularly from the walls to actively engage, but not detrimentally, the dough intermediates. The protuberances provide a temporary holding means to retain the moisture enhanced dough intermediate in the module for a sufficient amount of time to enable the plunger to remove the dough intermediate from the cup or module structure. The protuberances are placed in an area of the face of that is generally slightly away from the end edges of the device.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a dough intermediate transport module is described and comprises a substantially rigid outer frame. The rigid frame has a predetermined shape that corresponds to a prearranged configuration that aids in forming a finished dough product. The rigid frame further has an externally extending configuration and an internally arranged configuration. At least one protuberance is provided and extends substantially perpendicularly from the internally arranged configuration. The protuberance on the internally arranged configuration prevents a dough intermediate from falling out of the dough transport module prior to applying motive force to remove the dough intermediate from the dough transport module.
A still further embodiment of the present invention relates to dough intermediate transport module that has a plurality of generally planar surfaces. Each of the generally planar surfaces having first and second longitudinally extending side edges, first and second transversely extending end edges and first and second faces. The generally planar surfaces are connected one to another along one of the first and second longitudinally extending side edges to form a geometric configuration. At least one protuberance is provided and extends substantially perpendicularly from one of the first and second faces of one of the plurality of generally planar surfaces. The protuberance is disposed in an area of one of the first and second faces that is at least slightly away from one of the first and second transversely extending end edges and the protuberance aids in retaining a softened dough intermediate in the transport module during processing.
These and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

Transport module for handling softened dough intermediates


A customer premise equipment (CPE), a method for antenna control, and a computer-readable storage medium are provided in an implementation of the present disclosure. The CPE includes a millimeter-wave antenna, a radio frequency (RF) circuit, a driving module, and a processor. The processor is configured to perform the following. Control the driving module to drive, according to an interval stepping strategy, the millimeter-wave antenna to rotate to perform interval scan on multiple blocks, and correspondingly obtain network information measured in each of the blocks to obtain multiple pieces of network information measured. Determine a target block for the millimeter-wave antenna according to the multiple pieces of network information measured. Control, in the target block, the driving module to drive, according to a preset rotation stepping, the millimeter-wave antenna to rotate to obtain a target orientation. Control the millimeter-wave antenna to rotate to the target orientation.

With the development of wireless communication technology, network technology is also updated. For example, a fifth generation (5G) network was born, and theoretically, a peak transmission speed of the 5G network can reach 10 Gb/s or more, which is hundreds of times higher than a transmission speed of a fourth generation (4G) network. Therefore, a millimeter-wave frequency band with sufficient spectrum resources has become one of operating frequency bands of a network system (for example, a 5G communication system or a future public land mobile network (PLMN) system evolved after the 5G communication system).
Generally, a millimeter-wave antenna can be fixed in a CPE that is used for communication. The millimeter-wave antenna generally includes multiple antenna modules. The antenna modules are respectively fixed in different positions of the CPE, such that radiation directions of the antenna modules are different, and thus an alignment between the CPE and a base station can be improved. However, setting multiple antenna modules may result in high cost.

Customer premise equipment, method for antenna control, and computer-readable storage medium

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


Embodiments of the invention provided a driving circuit for powering a light-emitting diode (LED) light source. The driving circuit includes a rectifier, a filter capacitor, and a control circuit. The rectifier converts an AC voltage from an AC power source to a rectified AC voltage. The filter capacitor coupled to the rectifier filters the rectified AC voltage to provide a DC voltage. The control circuit controls power supplied to the LED light source. The control circuit enables a discharging current periodically to discharge the filter capacitor if a switch coupled between an AC power source and a rectifier is turned off and disables the discharging current if the control circuit determines that the switch is turned on.

In lighting application fields, an illuminating indicator in an illuminated switch can be used to indicate the position of the illuminated switch. FIG. 1 shows a conventional lighting circuit 100. An illuminated switch module 103 includes a switch 108, a current limiting resistor 104, and an indicator 106, e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED). The lighting circuit 100 uses an incandescent lamp 110 as a light source. The current limiting resistor 104 is coupled to the indicator 106 in series. The current limiting resistor 104 and the indicator 106 are coupled to the switch 108 in parallel. When the switch 108 is turned off, a current flows through the current limiting resistor 104, the indicator 106, and the incandescent lamp 110. Because the current is relatively small, the indicator 106 is on and the incandescent lamp 110 is off.
In recent years, more and more LED light sources are used instead of incandescent lamps. FIG. 2 shows a conventional LED driving circuit 200. Elements labeled the same as FIG. 1 have similar functions. The LED driving circuit 200 includes an illuminated switch module 103, an AC/DC converter (e.g., including a bridge rectifier 210 and a filter capacitor 212), a control circuit 214, a DC/DC converter 216, and a capacitor 218. The bridge rectifier 210 is operable for converting an AC voltage from an AC power source 102 to a rectified AC voltage. The filter capacitor 212 is coupled with the bridge rectifier 210 in parallel to filter the rectified AC voltage and to provide a first DC voltage VDC1. The control circuit 214, e.g., a chip, includes a control unit 222, a charging circuit 224, a switch 226, and a bias circuit 228. The control unit 222 is operable for generating a first control signal CTR1 to control the DC/DC converter 216 and generating a second control signal CTR2 to control the bias circuit 228. The bias circuit 228 receiving the second control signal CTR2 is operable for turning the switch 226 on and off. The DC/DC converter 216 controlled by the first control signal CTR1 converts the first DC voltage VDC1 to a second DC voltage VDC2 which is supplied to an LED string 220 and a third DC voltage VDC3 which is supplied to the control circuit 214 and the capacitor 218.
When the switch 108 is turned on, initially the DC/DC converter 216 is disabled and the capacitor 218 is charged by a current from the capacitor 212 and from the power source 102 via the charging circuit 224. A voltage VDD of the capacitor 218 is applied to the control circuit 214. When the voltage VDD of the capacitor 218 increases to a threshold voltage VDDON, the control unit 222 is enabled. The control unit 222 generates the first control signal CTR1 to enable the DC/DC converter 216 and generates the second control signal CTR2 to turn off the switch 226. Since the DC/DC converter 216 is enabled, the capacitor 218 is charged by the DC/DC converter 216, e.g., a transformer.
When the switch 108 is off, a current flows through the current limiting resistor 104, the indicator 106, and the bridge rectifier 210. The current through the indicator 106 is relatively small because the resistor 104 has a relatively large resistance. The gate voltage of the switch 226 increases as the voltage across the capacitor 212 increases. When the gate voltage of the switch 226 increases to the turn-on threshold, the switch 226 is turned on by the bias circuit 228, and thus a current from the resistor 104 and the capacitor 212 charges the capacitor 218 through the switch 226 and the charging circuit 224. The voltage across the capacitor 218 increases accordingly. When the voltage VDD is greater than the threshold voltage VDDON, the control unit 222 is enabled. The control unit 222 generates the first control signal CTR1 to enable the DC/DC converter 216 and generates the second control signal CTR2 to turn off the switch 226. Thus, the DC/DC converter 216 generates the second DC voltage VDC2 to the LED string 220 and the third DC voltage VDC3 to the capacitor 218 and the control circuit 214. The LED string 220 is powered on.
The voltage across the capacitor 218 and the capacitor 212 decreases due to a power consumption of the control circuit 214 and the LED string 220. When the voltage VDD is less than a voltage VDDOFF, the control unit 222 is disabled, and thus the control unit 222 stops generating the first control signal CTR1 and the second control signal CTR2. Therefore, the DC/DC converter 216 is disabled—it stops supplying the second DC voltage VDC2 to the LED string 220. The LED string 220 is powered off. Then, the next cycle begins—the capacitor 212 is charged again, the switch 226 is turned on again, the control unit 222 is enabled again. Consequently, when the switch 108 is off, the control unit 222 is enabled periodically and the LED string 220 is powered on periodically, which causes undesired flashes.

Driving circuit for powering LED light sources


A method of configuring infotainment applications in a motor vehicle is provided. A control unit is configurable via a configuration interface such that the functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application is changed based on first configuration data from a first configuration data server. A service center stationarily arranged at a distance from the motor vehicle has a second configuration data server and a second configuration data bank. The service center has a first modification interface by which configuration data of the second configuration data bank is modifiable using first access rights and a second Internet-based modification interface by which the configuration data is modifiable using second access rights differing from the first. Modifications of the configuration data are recognized and the configuration data of the first configuration data bank is changed by using the configuration data from the second configuration data bank.

The invention relates to a method of configuring infotainment applications in a motor vehicle.
From German Patent document DE 100 44 917 A1, a method is known for utilizing functions and performance characteristics in a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle is constructed with respect to the hardware for utilizing all functions with maximal performance characteristics, wherein, with respect to the software, functions can be blocked and/or performance characteristics can be limited, whereby a user of a motor vehicle can temporarily or durably request functions or performance characteristics which will then be temporarily or durably cleared with respect to the software.
From WO 02/17184 A1, a "Total Fleet Logistics" system is known. This system permits the implementation of a vehicle diagnosis, a vehicle monitoring, a vehicle configuration and a vehicle programming, for example, by a fleet operator via the Internet.
However, no satisfactory solutions for the configuration of infotainment applications in motor vehicles of a multi-vehicle fleet arrangement are known from the state of the art. As a rule, the methods known for this purpose are limited to written instructions of the fleet operator to the users of the individual fleet vehicles.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved method for the configuration of infotainment applications in the motor vehicles of a vehicle fleet.
This and other objects are achieved by a method of configuring infotainment applications in a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of (a) providing a motor vehicle having at least one infotainment application and having a control unit which participates in the at least one infotainment application, (b) providing a configuration interface of the control unit, by way of which the control unit can be configured such that the functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application is changed, (c) providing a first configuration data server, which is arranged at the motor vehicle, is separate from the control unit with respect to equipment and has a pertaining first configuration data bank for the vehicle-related storage of configuration data, (d) providing a service center stationarily arranged at a distance from the motor vehicle and having a second configuration data server arranged there and a second configuration data bank for the central storage of configuration data, (e) providing a wireless communication connection between the first and the second configuration data server, (f) providing a first modification interface by way of which configuration data of the second configuration data bank can be modified by means of first access rights, (g) providing a second Internet-based modification interface by way of which configuration data of the second configuration data bank can be modified by means of second access rights which differ from the first access rights, (h) recognizing modifications of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank, (i) changing of configuration data of the first configuration data bank by way of the wireless communication connection by use of configuration data from the second configuration data bank, and (j) changing the functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application by way of the configuration interface of the control unit by use of configuration data from the first configuration data bank.
On the part of the motor vehicle, the basis is a motor vehicle having at least one infotainment application and having a control unit which participates in the at least one infotainment application. In connection with a motor vehicle, the term "infotainment" should be understood as covering the areas of information, communication and entertainment. An infotainment application of a motor vehicle therefore represents applications in connection with navigation, telephone, telematics, radio, audio, video, email, Internet, as well as future further developments, supplements to and/or substitutions for such applications.
The control unit participating in the at least one infotainment application has a configuration interface by way of which it can be configured such that the functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application is changed. A change of the functional scope of the infotainment application may consist, for example, of the clearing of a navigation function, of the clearing of an Intranet service or of the clearing of a TV function also when the motor vehicle is being driven. A change of a basic setting of the infotainment application may consist, for example, of defining a home address for a navigation system, of parameterizing an email account or of configuring an intranet access.
Furthermore, on the part of the motor vehicle, a first configuration data server which, relative to the equipment, is separate from the control unit, is provided which has a pertaining first configuration data bank for the vehicle-related storage of configuration data.
At a distance from the motor vehicle, a second configuration data server is provided in a stationary manner at a service center and has a pertaining second configuration data bank for the central storage of configuration data. A wireless communication connection exists between the first and the second configuration data server.
The service center can be operated, for example, by a vehicle manufacturer or OEM (original equipment manufacturer) and/or may be spatially arranged at this vehicle manufacturer or OEM.
The configuration data of the second configuration databank can be configured by way of at least two different modification interfaces. A significant difference between the at least two modification interfaces consists of the access rights which are granted to a party accessing the second configuration data bank by way of the respective modification interface during the access. By way of a first modification interface, the configuration data of the second configuration data bank can be modified by using first access rights; by way of a second modification interface, the configuration data of the second configuration data bank can be modified by using second access rights which differ from the first access rights.
The first modification interface is preferably implemented in a manner not based on the Internet. It is preferably implemented in a hard-wired manner, and preferably access can only take place to the second configuration data bank by a very specific arithmetic and logic unit and/or by a limited number of arithmetic and logic units, for example, by all arithmetic and logic units in a local hard-wired network, by way of the first modification interface. As an alternative or in addition, the first modification interface is preferably only accessible if corresponding first access data are available and utilized. The first modification interface is therefore particularly suitable for modifications of the second configuration data bank by a vehicle manufacturer or OEM.
For reasons of completeness, it should be noted that the first modification interface, in principle, may also be implemented on an Internet-based manner—even if it is mainly provided for modifications of the second configuration data bank by a vehicle manufacturer or OEM and if the service center is spatially arranged at the vehicle manufacturer's or OEM.
The second modification interface is implemented based on the Internet. It is preferably implemented on the basis of web technologies and/or client/server technologies known per se. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, when corresponding second access data are available, a conventional PC connected with the Internet can access the second modification interface. The second modification interface is particularly suitable for modifications of the second configuration data bank by a fleet operator.
The first access rights and the second access rights can be defined in a disjunct fashion, i.e. such that a party accessing by way of the first modification interface can have access that differs completely from that of a party accessing by way of the second modification interface. However, there may also be a certain amount of intersecting or a certain overlapping of the access rights.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition, a third (also Internet-based) modification interface of the second configuration data bank is provided by way of which configuration data of the second configuration data bank can be modified by means of access rights which again differ from the first and second access rights. The third modification interface is therefore suitable for modifications of the second configuration data bank by the user of fleet vehicles and/or service providers and/or application providers. However, such a modification interface may also be reserved for one of the above-mentioned user groups, while the other user groups are provided with their own Internet-based modification interfaces with their own access rights. The third modification interface and possibly additional modification interfaces are also preferably secured by corresponding access data.
Possible modifications of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank are recognized either on the part of the service center and/or on the part of the motor vehicle communicating with the service center. It is, for example, possible to implement a recognition of modifications of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank such that, after an access by way of one of the modification interfaces, the configuration data are considered to be changed. However, it may, for example, also be checked whether actually changing accesses have been carried out and/or the data status can be compared with an earlier data status with respect to changes.
Regularly (for example, cyclically), at defined points-in-time and/or upon the recognition of a change of the data status of the configuration data of the second configuration data bank (i.e. to an extent "in response" to the recognition), configuration data of the first configuration bank are changed by way of the wireless communication connection between the first and the second configuration data server. This takes place by use of configuration data from the second configuration data bank, preferably only by use of previously changed configuration data from the second configuration bank. Correspondingly, preferably not all, but only selected, configuration data of the first configuration data bank are changed, particularly those configuration data of the first configuration data bank which have a content-related connection with previously changed configuration data of the second configuration data bank.
By means of the thus changed configuration data from the first configuration data bank, by way of the configuration interface of the control unit, finally the functional scope and/or a basic setting of the infotainment application is changed. This can also take place either regularly (for example, cyclically) at defined points-in-time and/or upon the recognition of a change of the data status of the configuration data of the first configuration data bank (i.e. to an extent, "in response" to the recognition).
Preferably, a basic setting of the infotainment application is changed, and the basic setting is a basic setting relating to the administration of personal information management data. Correspondingly, the infotainment application preferably is an application which, —at least among other things—administers personal information management data, such as an email client.
The term "personal information management data", which, in the meantime, has become established in technical circles, in this case, relates to electronically existing personal data, such as contacts, schedules, notes, documents, such as letters, faxes, SMS's, emails, RSS feeds as well as current correspondence, future further developments, supplements to and/or substitutions for such data.
In the described manner, such changes of the functional scope and/or basic setting of the infotainment application are preferably carried out which cannot be made by operating devices available in the motor vehicle, particularly not the "conventional operating devices" (push buttons, touchpad, keyboard, pressure/rotary controls, etc.) of the motor vehicle.
If required, implemented definitions of the functional scope and/or of the basic setting can, however, be indicated by means of operating devices available in the motor vehicle. If, for example, an email client is configured in the above-described manner, the settings (email server, account name, . . . ) for a vehicle occupant can be represented on a display unit but cannot be changed.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of the wireless communication connection between the motor vehicle and the service center, data, particularly so-called certificate signing requests or other configuration-relevant and authentication-relevant data can be stored or are stored at the second configuration data service by the first configuration data server.
Such certificate signing requests with respect to a locally generated secret code are preferably previously stored by a control unit at "its" configuration interface, i.e. at the configuration interface assigned to it, and or at the configuration data server.
In certain cases, the secret access code is generated in the vehicle and never leaves the vehicle. The vehicle generates a "certificate signing request" which contains the pertaining public code. This certificate signing request has to be signed by the "certificate authority" relevant with respect to a certain access authorization and has to be transmitted as a certificate back into the vehicle. By means of this certificate and the secret code, the vehicle application then obtains access to, for example, the business data.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Method for configuring infotainment applications in a motor vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


Luminaires intended to deliver maximal light flux to a playing field with improved uniformity, the invention provides primary reflector structures having shaped facets, the several reflectors being capable of maximizing lumen delivery onto the playing field when considered relative to economy of manufacture. In certain embodiments of the invention, a shielding device or flux manager is employed for producing target extinctions by management of flux to precisely pass flux nearby original arc and through a second bounce off the reflector structure to direct that flux back into the beam. A virtual arc is thus produced in proximity to the original arc with the virtual arc acting as a second source. The flux manager acts to reduce glare and "spill" light. Performance optimization is further provided in embodiments using the flux manager through additional use of a multi-faceted reflector insert which re-aims light which would have been incident on portions of the reflector structure and which light is blocked by the flux manager. The improved light distribution provided by the luminaires of the invention allow use of fewer luminaires for a given playing field lighting performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the lighting of stadia, playing fields and similar areas and particularly to lighting fixtures intended for such lighting applications and which utilize reflective surfaces in combination with illumination sources to produce desired work plane illumination levels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The field of sports lighting has evolved over time into a form of outdoor lighting having characteristics similar to outdoor area lighting yet peculiar to those requirements which come into play when lighting athletic playing fields. Uniformity of illuminance is of critical importance as is illumination level per se with these factors being joined by the everpresent need for optimum performance at the lowest possible cost. Advances in the art thus occur at least in part through development of luminaire configurations which effectively deliver a maximal amount of flux onto a playing area. In the sports light field in particular both vertical and horizontal illuminances must also be addressed as must illumination levels required for optimum video camera operation inter alia. Luminaire design also typically takes into account conventional arrangements of pole locations, mounting heights and aiming angles. Other objectives include consistent overlap of beam patterns in order to maximize system performance while minimizing costly applications engineering efforts usually associated with sports lighting systems. The prior art has long encompassed the mounting of discrete clusters of sportslighting luminaires at periodic locations about the perimeter of a playing area. Within these conventional system constraints, luminaire performance is evaluated not only as a single unit but also within these discrete clusters, the net distribution of each cluster being necessarily considered in performance evaluation. As is therefore to be appreciated, luminaire design in the sportslighting field is a complex matter dependent upon a variety of factors not the least of which is total system cost.
When considering cost, operational costs cannot be dismissed as inconsequential. Prior sportslighting systems which utilize less efficient light sources such as incandescent and mercury vapor must be improved in order to gain the benefits of greater efficiency with comparable light levels and desirable light quality which are to be gained from sources such as high pressure sodium and metal halide, as example Greatest luminaire flexibility is attained through luminaire design capable of using the widest variety of illumination sources to include high pressure sodium and metal halide and the like.
Examples of prior art lighting designed for the purposes to which the present invention are directed are disclosed by Lemons et al in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,864,476 and 5,313,379 and by Tickner in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,355,290 and 5,377,086. As is conventional in the art, these patents disclose the use of reflector structures intended to provide desired illumination levels on a work plane. Sportslighting luminaires of the prior art can also be seen in the TV Sportslighting luminaire manufactured by Lithonia Lighting, a division of National Service Industries, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., this luminaire including in its optical structure an anodized aluminum reflector capable of a range of beam spreads. The TV luminaire further includes a horizontal degree aiming scale and repositioning locator as well as a vertical aiming adjustment mechanism complete with degree aiming scale and a repositioning stop. While sportslighting luminaire devices such as the TV luminaire of Lithonia Lighting provide lighting capabilities of substantial utility and while other luminaire devices of the prior art also provide capabilities desirably useful in the sportslighting field, a need exists in the art for sportslighting luminaires capable of improved cost and energy efficiencies and which particularly provide performance capabilities allowing use of fewer luminaires within a given system arrangement.

Sporting field illuminating lighting fixtures having improved light distribution


A designated storage system receives a request to store data in the local storage as a backup copy. The designated storage system requests a file system in the computer system to store the backup copy as a file in the local storage and maintains a record describing storage locations for each of the one or more sets of contiguous available file system data blocks. The storage system may transmit the record to a management computer configured to track which of the computer systems has stored the backup copy. The storage system then requests the file system to delete the file, whereupon the file system removes the file descriptor and frees the one or more file system data blocks in order to satisfy the deletion request but does not delete the data stored in the one or more file system data blocks.

Software running on a computer system (i.e., a data source) may replicate data stored at the data source to other computer systems with unused disk storage (i.e., storage systems) for the purpose of backup and/or data distribution. Many information technology (IT) departments of corporations have data retention policies that require the periodic backing up of various data stored in employees' corporate-issued personal computers (e.g., documents, spreadsheets, email, etc.) as well as data stored in the data centers of such enterprises (e.g., company financials, back-end systems, etc.). Maintaining a sufficient amount of dedicated enterprise-grade storage to support such data retention policies can be a significant cost to a corporation. In the aggregate, unused portions of local storage in employees' corporate-issued personal computers and existing corporate servers, at any particular point in time, may comprise a significant amount of storage that simply lies fallow. While, in theory, such unused storage could alleviate the storage pressures of a corporation's data retention policies, obvious issues regarding (1) the reliability of such local storage, and (2) the possibility of using up local storage that was originally provided for a different purpose (e.g., for use by an employee to accomplish his job duties if in the employee's corporate-issued personal computer, etc.) deter corporations from trying to leverage such local storage to satisfy data retention policies.
In a different use case for replication of data, content distribution networks, such as a nation-wide television network, may include one or more clusters of video servers at a network operations center and a hierarchy of regional and local caching servers throughout the network to facilitate faster distribution of video data when requested by a consumer's media center computer system. In this use case, content distribution software running on the video servers may replicate video data out to the regional and local caching servers in anticipation of high demand in order to minimize bandwidth consumption across the network and also to reduce latency experienced by the end user at the moment when they request the video data. Such media center computer systems regularly include large local storage drives to store video data, which also present potentially significant amounts of available storage space (as well as similar issues with respect to utilizing that available storage space).

Low-cost backup and edge caching using unused disk blocks


A method for treating waste pickle liquor solution comprising the steps of (a) adding a flocculating agent to the pickle liquor solution; (b) allowing at least some of the silica in the pickle liquor to begin to flocculate; (c) again adding a flocculating agent to the pickle liquor solution; (d) allowing the floccules containing silica formed in step (b) to increase in size; and (e) physically separating floccules formed in step (d) from the pickle liquor solution.

The present invention relates to methods for treating waste pickle liquor solutions and, in particular, to methods for treating waste pickle liquor solutions to reduce silica concentrations therein.
In the manufacture of steel, surface scale formed during the rolling process is generally removed by means of a concentrated sulfuric or hydrochloric acid solution known as pickle liquor. The treatment of such waste pickle liquor can pose significant environmental challenges.
One of the materials which generally needs to be removed from waste pickle liquor consists of silica. Heretofore silica has been removed by chemical precipitation, but such chemical precipitation processes may be both expensive and time consuming.
It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to remove suspended and colloidal silica from waste pickle liquor by means of a less expensive physical separation process.


A voltage supply system and a power source that, in a voltage supply system in which a plurality of power sources (e.g., DC-DC converters) are connected in parallel, enable each power source to be set at a desired load ratio. The power source is used in a voltage supply system including a power source configured to output a voltage in a constant voltage mode on the basis of a first target voltage, and is connected in parallel to the constant voltage power source, the power source including a voltage generation unit configured to output a voltage switchably between a constant voltage mode based on a second target voltage greater than the first target voltage and a constant current mode based on a current limit value.

In an electric vehicle, etc., a voltage of a high-voltage battery (e.g., DC 300 V) is converted to a low voltage (e.g., DC 14 V) by a DC-DC converter, to be supplied to a load. In a case where a required current of the load which is the voltage supply destination is great, the current capacity might be insufficient with one DC-DC converter. As a measure therefor, it is conceivable that a plurality of DC-DC converters are used so as to be connected in parallel.
For example, in a case where a plurality of DC-DC converters that are the same products are used so as to be connected in parallel, if loads (operation conditions) on all the DC-DC converters can be equalized, the lives of the plurality of DC-DC converters can be equalized. However, in actuality, the individual DC-DC converters have variations in output voltages even though the DC-DC converters are the same products. When a DC voltage conversion system having a plurality of DC-DC converters connected in parallel is started, the DC-DC converter having the greatest output voltage among the plurality of DC-DC converters is started first. The other DC-DC converters cannot perform outputs because their output voltages are small. During this period, power is supplied to the load only from the DC-DC converter having the greatest output voltage. Then, when the DC-DC converter having the greatest output voltage has reached the own maximum allowable current so that the current is limited, the DC-DC converter having the second greatest output voltage is started. Thus, since the plurality of DC-DC converters connected in parallel have variations in output voltages, merely connecting the DC-DC converters in parallel cannot equalize their loads. Therefore, there is a problem that a specific DC-DC converter deteriorates earlier than the other DC-DC converters and the life of the DC voltage supply system depends on the life of the specific DC-DC converter.
For solving the above problem, Patent Literature 1 discloses a DC voltage conversion device that can increase the life by equalizing the lives of DC-DC converters connected in parallel. In the DC voltage conversion device, a target value for the output voltage of one of the plurality of DC-DC converters connected in parallel is set to be greater than those of the other DC-DC converters, and a current limit value for limiting the output current thereof is set to be half the maximum load current. With this configuration, the load is distributed among the plurality of DC-DC converters connected in parallel, whereby the lives of the DC-DC converters can be equalized.

Voltage supply system and power source constituting same


A method and system is presented in image-guided radiosurgery for determining the measure of similarity of two digital images, for example a 2D x-ray image and a 2D DRR synthesized from 3D scan data. A two-dimensional array of pixel values of a difference image may be formed by subtracting each pixel value of the second image from the corresponding pixel value of the first image. The pattern intensity function may be constructed by taking the summation of functions of the gradients of the difference image. The neighborhood R may be defined so as to allow the gradients of the difference image to be considered in at least one direction.

Radiosurgery is useful for treating tumors and other lesions by delivering a prescribed high dose of high-energy radiation to the target area while minimizing radiation exposure to the surrounding tissue. In radiosurgery, precisely focused beams of radiation (e.g. very intense x-ray beams) are delivered to a target region in order to destroy tumors or to treat the tumor for other purposes. The goal is to apply a lethal or other desired amount of radiation to one or more tumors, without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.
Conventional radiosurgery uses a rigid and invasive stereotactic frame to immobilize the patient prior to diagnostic CT or MRI scanning. The treatment planning is then conducted from the diagnostic images. The treatment planning software determines the number, intensity, and direction of the radiosurgical beams that should be cross-fired at the target, in order to ensure that a sufficient dose is administered throughout the tumor so as to destroy it, without damaging adjacent healthy tissue. Immobilization of patient is necessary in order to maintain the spatial relationship between the target and the radiation source that ensures accurate dose delivery. The frame is fixed on the patient during the whole treatment process, causing pain and inconvenience to the patient.
Image-guided radiosurgery allows the elimination of such invasive frame fixation, during treatment. In an image-guided radiosurgical process, the patient position and the relative alignment of the radiation beam with respect to the patient target is continuously adjusted. In order to ensure the delivery of the correct dose of radiation to the correct location, the patient (and target) position during treatment needs to be detected. This is accomplished by registering the x-ray image acquired at the treatment time with the diagnostic 3D scan data (e.g., CT, MRI, ultrasound, or PET scan data) obtained pre-operatively at the time of treatment planning. In the field of medical image registration, this problem is categorized as a 2D/3D registration.
In the 2D/3D registration process, similarity measures are useful for comparing the image intensities in the x-ray images and the DRR images, so that the change in patient position (and thus in target region position) that has occurred between the diagnostic scanning and the taking of real-time images can be accurately detected. Image-guided radiosurgery requires precise and fast positioning of the target at the treatment time. In practice, the accuracy should be below 1 mm, and the computation time should be on the order of a few seconds. Unfortunately, it is difficult to meet both requirements simultaneously. In order to optimize the 2D/3D registration process in image-guided radiosurgery, it is necessary to provide an accurate, robust, and efficient similarity measure method and system.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatus and method for determining measure of similarity between images


An electrical conductive member is configured to prevent a shape distortion in gap retaining members caused by that the gap retaining members are fitted to an end surface of an electric resistance adjusting layer, and to be able to maintain a gap between the electric residence adjusting layer and an image carrier for a long-term in a constant state with a high accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
Example embodiments relate to an electrical conductive member (a charging member, a developer earner, a transfer member, or the like) which is provided adjacent to an image carrier, such as a photoconductive drum, a process cartridge including the electrical conductive member and the image carrier formed as at least one unit, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like, which is provided with the electrical conductive member.
2. Description of Related Art
For recent years, in an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system such as a copying machine, a printer and a facsimile or the like, a so-called contact-type charging device, which makes a charge roller to contact onto a surface of a photoconductive drum, is commonly used as a charging device which charges equally the surface of the photoconductive drum (the image carrier), instead of a charging apparatus of a corona discharge system.
The contact-type charging device produces smaller amount of ozone and can be charged with a lower voltage in contrast to the charging device of the corona discharge system. However, there have been problems, one is that substance composing a charge roller exudes and adheres onto the surface of a photoconductive drum which abuts with the charge roller, so that the fact of so-called "traces of charge roller" occurs, and other one is that a charge roller abutting with the photoconductive drum vibrates by an application of an alternating voltage, and the fact of so-called "charging noise" is easy to occur in a system of applying the alternating voltage to the charge roller superimposedly.
In addition, as for the contact-type charging device, there have been problems, for examples, one is that a charging ability declines due to residual toner remaining on a surface of a photoconductive drum if the residual toner is transferred to a side of a charge roller after transferring a toner image onto a sheet, and other one is that an abutting portion of a charge roller onto a photoconductive roller has been permanently distorted in a situation after a long-term rest of rotating of a photoconductive drum.
Therefore, to solve the problem described above, a so-called a non-contact type charging device has been proposed, which makes a charge roller to close to a surface of the charge roller and to charge without any contact. (for reference, see JP A 2004-354477).
In a charge roller or a charging member as shown in FIG. 7 of JP A 2004-364477, a electrical resistance adjusting layer 22 is provided on a surface periphery of an electrical conductive supporter 21, which is an axial rod of the charge roller 20, and a set of ring-shaped gap retaining members abutting on both end sides of a photoconductive drum (not shown) are respectively provided on the both sides of the electrical resistance adjusting layer 22, so that a constant gap is retained between the charge roller (the electric resistance adjusting layer) and the photoconductive drum (not shown).
Meantime, as for the conventional charge roller (the charging member) shown in FIG. 7, the gap retaining members 23 are fitted into both end sides of the electrical conductive supporter 21 in such a way of making the ring-shaped gap retaining members 23 to abut with the both sides of the electrical resistance adjusting layer 22 provided on the surface periphery of the electrical conductive supporter.
Therefore, when the gap retaining members 23 are fitted to the both end sides of the electrical conductive supporter 21, if the gap retaining members 23 are in contact with end surfaces of the electrical resistance adjusting layer 22 as pressed thereon, the shapes of the gap retaining members 23 are distorted. Thus, a gap volume provided between the charge roller 20 (the electric resistance adjusting layer) and the photoconductive drum changes dramatically, so that there is a possibility of generating defective conductivity.

Electric conductive member, process cartridge and image forming apparatus


The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a sensor for a thermal, flow measuring device. The method includes, in such case, manufacturing a metal jacketing for a sensor core, introducing the sensor core into the metal jacketing and sintering the metal jacketing with introduced sensor core.

Thermal sensors for measuring mass flow are of essentially two different types. In one case, a temperature difference is kept constant between two sensors in a mass flow. In a second case, one or more active sensor elements inject an amount of heat into a mass flow, which amount of heat is registered downstream by one or more passive sensor elements; see, for example, disclosure document DE102009028848A1.
Sensors usually have a metal shell, which is in contact with the medium flowing through the measuring tube. The metal shell has a sensor element in its interior, wherein for the temperature measurement frequently the measuring of a temperature dependent resistance is relied on.
The state of the art includes sensors, in the case of which a sensor core is inserted into a shell, wherein the shell has a slightly greater inner diameter than the outer diameter of the sensor core. As a result, there are problems for establishing a sufficiently good thermal contact between the metal shell and the sensor core, whereby use of a potting compound is necessary.
A possibility for avoiding use of a potting compound involves pressing the metal sleeve against the sensor core using a high external pressure. In this way, a sufficiently good thermal contact can be manufactured. For example, disclosure document U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,365A discloses a sensor, in the case of which a metal shell is pressed onto a sensor core by hydroforming. However, there is in the case of this manufacturing method the danger that the compression forms non-uniformly during the pressing procedure and, thus, the sensor element is damaged due to non-uniform mechanical loading.

Method for manufacturing a sensor of a thermal, flow measuring device for measuring mass flow of a medium in a measuring tube