A virtual network storage system includes at least two network storage devices which connect to same SAN. At least one network storage device includes a device management unit for maintaining the mapping relationship between the global volume and the local volume of each network storage device, and for redirecting the access from the global volume to the network storage device which the global volume management unit of the global volume is located. At least one network storage device includes a global volume management unit for executing the access operation to the global volume according to the mapping relationship. A network storage device and virtual method are applied to the virtual network storage system. With the increasing of the network device, the ability of processing the access to the global volume is increased, and then the performance bottleneck caused by virtually operating to the network storage system.

Network storage devices supporting Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) have gradually come into the recognition of users in the market. In the low to middle end market, a network storage device, usually provided with a physical storage medium, is a device integrated with functions and storage medium. Such a network storage device generally has a capacity below about 10 TB (Tera-Byte). With the increase of user's requirements, a plurality of such network storage devices are needed to form a larger storage space.
To enable an accessing client to utilize the plurality of network storage devices contiguously by using a same access address, the network storage devices need to be virtualized. FIG. 1 illustrates a commonly used structure of a virtualized iSCSI network storage system and the accessing clients thereof in the prior art. As shown in FIG. 1, a storage server is connected to an exchange which connects the accessing clients and network storage devices.
In FIG. 1, a local volume management unit in a network storage device utilizes a local volume to represent a physical storage medium in the network storage device, and provides an access function to the local volume. The local volume may be either a physical volume or a logical volume, depending on the functions of the network storage device and the specific configurations of a user. The storage server performs an in-band virtualization to the network storage devices, manages the local volumes of all of the network storage devices in a centralized manner, and maps the local volumes into a global volume so that the local volumes may be accessed by the clients via one IP address. The global volume is a logical volume. The access to the global volume by an accessing client is done via the storage server. The storage server decomposes the access to the global volume into accesses to the local volumes of one or more network storage devices, and combines the results of the accesses to the local volumes returned from the one or more network storage devices to form a result of the access to the global volume.
However, with the increasingly enlargement of the storage space required and the increase of the network storage devices in the network storage system, the processing capability and connection bandwidth of the storage server may become a bottleneck of the whole network storage system since the storage server alone is responsible for all the read and write operations, thereby decreasing the efficiency of the access to the network storage system.

Virtual network storage system, network storage device and virtual method


A railroad signaling method includes measuring a track current on a first track section, measuring a local voltage on the railroad line wires, determining whether a magnitude of the track current meets or exceeds a threshold value independent of the local voltage, and determining whether the track current and the local voltage are nominally in phase with one another in a manner that is independent of the track current measuring step. A first signal is provided only if the magnitude is determined to meet or exceed the threshold and the track current and local voltage are determined to be nominally in phase. The first signal is an indication that a train is not present in the track section, that the track section does not have a broken rail, and that the insulated joints that bound the track section do not include a fault condition. An associated relay arrangement is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to signaling system for railroads, and in particular to an electronic vital relay used to detect the presence of a train or a broken rail in particular track sections and/or track fault conditions between track sections.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Railroad systems, such as electrified railroad systems that employ power frequently track circuits, utilize signaling systems to provide signals for train operators and to control the operation of railroad crossing gates and warning lights. In such systems, each track circuit is bounded by insulated joints so that the presence of a train can be defined to a unique section of track. Railroad signaling systems use what is termed a vital relay or track relay to detect the presence of a train or a broken rail in particular track sections and/or track fault conditions between track sections (i.e., a fault in the insulated joint connecting two track sections). The signaling system only permits trains to pass and/or crossing gate and warning light systems to be in an off condition when the relay is in an operated condition. The relay will drop out of an operated condition if a train or a broken rail is in the particular track section being controlled or if there is otherwise a fault on the system which prevents an accurate detection of the presence of a train.
A typical use of a vital relay in a track circuit is shown in FIG. 1. As seen in FIG. 1, a track section T of a stretch of electrified railroad is shown with its rails 1 and 2 illustrated by conventional single line symbols. The rails of section T are electronically insulated from the rails of the adjoining sections by the insulated joints 3, also illustrated by conventional symbols. In order to provide a return circuit for the propulsion current, impedance bond windings 4 are connected across rails 1 and 2 at each end of section T and the associated ends of the adjoining sections. The center taps of each associated pair of bond windings 4 are connected by a lead 5 to provide a conventional circuit path through section T for propulsion current.
The signaling system for this stretch of railroad is based on continuous train detection using a track circuit for each track section such as section T. Signaling energy for the track circuits is provided from a central source S having a frequency of, for example, 50, 60 Hz or 100 Hz, and is distributed along the stretch of railroad by the line wires 6 and 7. Energy is supplied across the rails of section T at the left or transmitting end through a track transformer 8 from the line wires 6 and 7. Even though AC energy is used, the supply connections are such that the instantaneous polarity of the rails on each side of the insulated joints 3 are opposite, as indicated by the polarity markings at the rails 1 and 2. The supply connections include a selected resistor 11 which limits the current flow when a train shunts the rails 1 and 2 at the transmitting end. At the other or receiving end of section T, a vital relay circuit 12 is connected across the rails 1 and 2 through a track transformer 13 and a control coil 14 (alternatively, they may be directly connected) and to the line wires 6 and 7 through a local coil 15. As discussed above, the vital relay circuit 12 detects the presence of a train or a broken rail and/or an insulated joint track fault condition in the section T, which detection is in turn used by the signaling system to provide signals for train operators.
As will be appreciated, if a train is not present and no rail is broken in the section T, a substantial amount of current will be present in the control coil 14. However, if a train is present in the section T, it will shunt the rails 1 and 2, thereby resulting in little or no current in the control coil 14. Similarly, there will be little or no current in the control coil 14 if a rail is broken in the section T. In addition, if the insulating joints 3 are intact, the current in the control coil 14 and the current in the local coil 15 will be substantially in phase. However, if a fault condition develops at the insulating joints 3, the current in the control coil 14 and the current in the local coil 15 will be out of phase. These principles are utilized by vital relays to detect the presence of trains and fault conditions in track sections.
A common type of vital relay in use in electrified railroad systems is what is known as a vane relay. A vane relay operates by a principle similar to that of a watt-hour meter. A vane relay includes a vane positioned in the magnetic gap between two coils (i.e., the control coil 14 and the local coil 15). The vane is responsive to the product of: (i) the current in the control coil, (ii) the current in the local coil, and (iii) the cosine of the angular difference of the current in the two coils. Maximum torque in a first direction is produced in the vane if current of a certain magnitude is present and the angular difference is zero (cosine of 0°=1), and maximum torque is produced in a second, opposite direction if current of a certain magnitude is present and the angular difference is 180° (cosine of 180°=−1). In addition, as the level of current decreases, the level of torque in either direction will decrease. The vane is fitted with a ladder structure so that a multiplicity of electrical contacts will close only when the vane rotates with sufficient torque in the first direction, which proves that the current in the two windings is nominally in phase and the current is of sufficient magnitude, i.e., there is not a train or a broken rail in the track section and there is no insulated joint fault condition. Just as important for railway train detection purposes, the contacts will not close if the phase relationship is reversed (indicates a fault at insulating joints 3), regardless of the magnitude of the product of current and angular difference, or if the current in one of the windings is not of sufficient magnitude (i.e., substantially zero) (indicates the presence of a train or broken rail).
The problem with vane relays is that, as an electromechanical device with moving parts, they require considerable preventive maintenance to assure reliable operation. In addition, because vane relays are a product based device, the control current required to close the contacts is inversely effected by the local voltage. If local voltage regulation is poor, safety or reliable operation can be impacted. For example, if the local voltage decreases, track current decreases proportionally, but the control current required to maintain the track relay energized is increased. In such a situation, the potential exists for the track relay to drop and falsely indicate that the track circuit is occupied. Alternatively, at increased local voltage, the rail current is greater, but the current that is required to maintain the track relay energized is decreased. This increases the risk of the track relay's failure to drop in the presence of a broken rail.


A packet processing system including an encapsulator engine, and a packet pre-processor coupled to the encapsulator engine. The packet pre-processor calculates a variation between an input data rate and a pre-determined output data rate. The input data rate is based on a number of data read requests. The packet pre-processor compensates for the variation by modifying the number of data read requests.

The Internet may be described in a simplified manner as a collection of computer systems that are interconnected by networks (e.g., transmission lines, switches and routers) to enable the transfer of data among the computer systems. Data is typically transmitted in networks along a data path in the form of data packets. An important characteristic of a data path is bit width. Bit width is the number of bits manipulated or passed contemporaneously on the data path. The bit width of a data path determines its bandwidth along with clock speed. Bandwidth is a measure of how fast data flows on the data path. In digital systems, bandwidth may be expressed as data speed in bits per second (bps).
Other important parameters associated with a data path are the type of network and protocol used to transmit data on the data path. Computer systems communicate with each other using a variety of networks such an Internet Protocol (IP) network and a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET). SONET is the United States standard for synchronous data transmission on optical media. The international equivalent of SONET is synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH). Together, they ensure standards so that digital networks can interconnect internationally and that existing conventional transmission systems can take advantage of optical media.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional architecture of a line card, used in a network communication device that includes a link layer device and a framer. The link layer device typically includes components such as a network processor, a network co-processor, memory, datapath switching element (DSE), network search engine (NSE), and a clock management block. The network processor and/or a framer usually performs packet processing functions. Packet processing functions may involve tasks such as packet pre-classification or classification, protocol conversion, quality of service assurance, service policing, provisioning, and subscriber management functions. The framer is used to transport data such as ATM (asynchronous-transfer-mode) cells, IP packets, and newer protocols, such as GFP (generic framing procedure) over SONET (synchronous optical network)/SDH (synchronous packet processing system hierarchy) links. On the port side, the framer may support optical-networking protocols for both SONET/SDH and direct data-over-fiber networks. The framer is coupled to the physical layer port such as a SONET device, which is coupled to a network medium such as optics. On the system side, the framer interfaces to the link-layer device usually through standard buses, for example, the Universal Test and Operation Physical interface device for ATM (UTOPIA) or Packet Over SONET-physical layer (POS-PHY) buses.

Method of maximizing bandwidth efficiency in a protocol processor


Vehicle disk brake designed as a service brake and as a parking- or immobilizing brake, having a brake anchor plate, which is to be fastened to the chassis of a motor vehicle by at least one screw bolt and in which two guide bolts are accommodated in order to guide a brake caliper displaceably relative to the brake anchor plate, and having a hydraulic chamber, in which a brake piston is accommodated in order to bring friction linings into and out of frictional engagement with a brake disk. A separately manipulable assembly is built onto the vehicle disk brake and has an electric motor as well as an electronic control and power device in order, independently of a hydraulic actuation of the brake piston, to actuate the brake piston via a rotary-to-linear motion converter in the sense of bringing the friction linings into and out of engagement with the brake disk. In order to create the extra space required by the use of a smart actuator for the parking brake unit in the internal wheel contour of compact vehicles, modifications to existing and tried-and-tested components are undertaken, which simultaneously improve the accessibility for maintenance purposes.

A vehicle disk brake has a brake anchor plate, which is to be fastened to the chassis of a vehicle, and a caliper or frame, which is held by the brake anchor plate and in which are accommodated friction linings that are pressed against a rotating brake disk.
Brakes of this type are generally known. The friction linings, consisting of supporting plate and friction layer, are conventionally guided axially in relation to the brake disk by means of bolts fastened to the brake anchor plate. "Axially" in the case of disk brakes generally means: in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the brake disk. "Radially" accordingly means a direction at right angles to an axial direction in the above sense. The brake anchor plate is in turn fastened to the wheel bearing.
The prior art of such vehicle brakes in the form of disk brakes is represented for example by the following documents: DE 1 238 284, DE 1 505 491, and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,468 A, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in entirety, DE 1 575 920, DE 2 804 808, and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,106 A, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in entirety, DE 2 845 404, DE 41 15 064 and DE 4 416 815, DE 101 13 347 A1, DE 41 15 064 A1 and DE 2211013 A, EP 0 729 871 A1, and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,189 A, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in entirety.
In such vehicle disk brakes the friction lining is pressed by means of a brake piston by hydraulic pressure against a brake disk in order to brake the rotation thereof. For this purpose, hydraulic pressure is introduced under pressure into a hydraulic chamber, one boundary wall of which is formed by the brake piston. The pressure in the hydraulic chamber then leads to the displacement of the brake piston and hence of the friction lining in the direction of the brake disk.
In order that such a vehicle disk brake may be used not only as a service brake but also as an immobilizing brake—also known as parking brake, it is equipped with an additional actuator, which in the stationary state of the vehicle brings and keeps the friction linings in engagement with the brake disk. In this case, increasing use is being made of electric parking brakes that may be operated with so-called smart actuators. Here, as a rule by a smart actuator is meant an assembly that comprises an electric motor, optionally with a gear that reduces the rotational speed (and hence increases the torque) as well as an associated electronic control and power device. This assembly is mostly supplied by means of a LIN-, CAN-, or MOST bus, or in some other way with (immobilize, release, hold, etc.) control signals. However, because of the additional electronic components, the size of this assembly may be larger than that of a conventional actuator having an electric motor, the driving circuits of which are disposed spatially remote from it.
The vehicle disk brake for optimum space utilization is to be fitted as precisely as possible into the internal wheel contour. The available space is limited in this case by the additional parking brake unit. An added factor is that the parking brake unit built onto the brake caliper restricts access to the guide bolts for the brake linings and/or for the fastening bolts of the vehicle disk brake on the chassis. This makes assembly/disassembly more difficult. These circumstances arise in a particularly pronounced manner in compact vehicles with their smaller wheel diameters (for example 14 inches-17 inches). For this reason, in this category of vehicle it has previously hardly been possible to fit the electric parking brake and provide the gain in comfort associated therewith, for example during a hill start.


It is provided a storage system for inputting and outputting data in accordance with a request from a host computer, comprising: at least one processor for processing data requested to be input or output; a plurality of transfer controllers for transferring data between memories in the storage system; and at least one transfer sequencer for requesting a data transfer to the plurality of transfer controllers in accordance with an instruction from the processor. The processor transmits a series of data transfer requests to the at least one transfer sequencer. The at least one transfer sequencer requests a data transfer to each of the plurality of transfer controllers based on the series of data transfer requests. The each transfer controller transfers data between the memories in accordance with an instruction from the at least one transfer sequencer.

A storage system is configured on a plurality of separate substrates each having a buffer memory or a cache memory mounted thereon. Data are transferred between these memories by a DMA controller. Thus, a microprocessor has transmitted a transfer request to the DMA controller for controlling the respective transfers for each data transfer between the memories. This has increased a load on the microprocessor.
When a data transfer in response to a transfer request from the microprocessor is completed, the DMA controller transmits a completion notification to the microprocessor as a requestor. Every time receiving the completion notification, the microprocessor switches a process for processing the completion notification. Thus, the load on the microprocessor has been increased due to this switching overhead.
As such a DMA transfer technology, for example JP 2002-41445 A discloses a DMA controller in which a data transfer controller includes a start command receiving unit and a data transfer request receiving unit for holding the type of a transfer included in a data transfer request for each priority, and the data transfer controller only receives reservation of a request by the data transfer request receiving unit and does not perform a data transfer process. Further, the DMA controller directly holds the types of transfer partners in reservation registers provided for respective priorities and executes a control to transfer data in order from the reservation register having the highest priority until there is no more registered reservation.

Storage system and data transfer control method


The embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a device, and a system for forwarding a packet. The method includes: receiving an IPv6 packet sent by a gateway, and obtaining a flow label of the IPv6 packet, where the flow label of the IPv6 packet is corresponding to a link identity of customer premise equipment in one-to-one correspondence; decapsulating the IPv6 packet; performing network address translation on a decapsulated packet according to the flow label; and forwarding the decapsulated packet according to a translated network address. When multiple links between the gateway and an AFTR are corresponding to the same tunnel for network address translation, in the case that IP addresses of terminal users are overlapping or are the same, different terminal users can be distinguished, so that a terminal user that sends a packet can receive feedback, thus improving customer satisfaction.

The IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6, Internet Protocol Version 6) is considered as a core of the next generation Internet, which attracts attentions and gets promotion of governments and telecommunication operators of all countries.
In a process of IPv6 evolution, evolution solutions, such as dual-stack+NAT (network address translation), 6RD (IPv6 rapid deployment), and DS-LITE (dual-stack lite) mainly exist, where the DS-LITE solution is mainly directed to middle and later periods of the IPv6 evolution, that is, an IPv4 isolated island crosses over an IPv6 network to access the IPv4 Internet. For an IPv4 uplink packet, in the DS-LITE solution, a tunnel (IPv4 over IPv6) to an AFTR (Address Family Transition Router) is generally initiated on a CPE (customer premise equipment), and the tunnel is terminated in the AFTR, and IPv4 to IPv4 NAT, an uplink packet is forwarded to an IPv4 network.
A current network generally conforms to a networking manner. For example, a terminal or customer premise equipment accesses a BNG (broadband network gateway) by adopting a PPPOE (point to point protocol over Ethernet, point to point protocol over Ethernet), and the BNG performs authentication and charging on an AAA server (authentication, authorization, and accounting server) by adopting a Radius (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service, remote authentication dial in user service) protocol. In this networking manner, generally, only one or a few DS-LITE tunnels are established between one BNG and the AFTR.
In an implementation process of the present invention, the inventor finds that the prior art has at least the following problem. In the IPv6 evolution in the prior art, when multiple links between a gateway and an address family transition router AFTR are corresponding to the same tunnel for network address translation, after receiving a packet sent by the gateway, the AFTR needs to distinguish customer premise equipment according to an IP address of the customer premise equipment; if IP addresses of the customer premise equipment are overlapping or are the same, the address family transition router cannot distinguish different terminal users, so that a terminal user that sends a packet cannot receive feedback.

Method, device, and system for forwarding packet


An inflatable/deflatable compression device, such as, a sleeve or cuff for use in simulating blood circulation in the limbs. The compression device is designed for use with a source of cyclical fluid pressure to provide alternating inflation and deflation cycles of the device. The compression device has at least one inflatable/deflatable fluid chamber. A safety bleed hole fluidly couples the interior of the fluid chamber to the exterior so that fluid pressure will be released from the at least one fluid chamber in the event that the source of cyclical inflating and deflating fluid pressures does not cycle to its deflating mode.

The present invention relates to compression devices in general, and more particularly, to an inflatable/deflatable cuff or sleeve for simulating blood circulation in the limbs of patients.
The use of cycling pressure applied to the limbs of a patient is old in the art. Representative examples of such cuffs or sleeves are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,692 issued Jul. 9, 1968 to T. E. Spielberg for "Variable Pressure Casing And Method Of Using For Therapeutic Purposes" and U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,221 issued Aug. 26, 1975 to James E. Nicholson, et al for "Pressure Cycle For Stimulating Blood Circulation In The Limbs". Other example of such devices are found in U.S. Class 128, Subclass 24R.
The compression devices work on a cyclical application of positive and negative fluid pressure to a cuff or sleeve which has at least one fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is connected to a source of fliud that is under alternating relative positive and negative pressures so that a cyclical inflation/deflation sequence is established in the pressure cuff or sleeve. The alternating inflation and deflation cycles provide a stimulation of the blood in the limb positioned within the cuff or sleeve. Typical fluid pressures in the cuff or sleeve range in the order of 40-45 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
If the sorce of cyclical positive and negative fluid pressures fails to apply negative pressure at the end of an inflation cycle so that the cuff or sleeve remains inflated, the inflated cuff or sleeve produces a deleterious effect upon the patient.
It is, accordingly, a general object of the invention to provide a safety device for inflatable/deflatable pressure cuffs or sleeves.
It is a specific object of the invention to provide a safety pressure release that operates automatically in the event that the cuff or sleeve does not enter into the deflation portion of its cycle.
It is a feature of the invention that the compression cuff or sleeve with the safety device can be used with existing fluid pressure systems.

Compression device with a safety pressure release


A rocker arm of the cam follower type has a rocker arm body formed of a metal matrix composite material comprising a lightweight metal, preferably aluminum, having ceramic material mixed therein. The rocker arm may take the form of a "slider" arm which included a pad for slideably engaging a cam on a rotating cam shaft for pivotally moving the rocker arm to operate an associated valve. For a slider rocker arm, the cam engaging pad comprises a wear resistant ceramic material which may be integrally formed into the rocker arm or otherwise secured thereto after forming. Alternately, the rocker arm may take the form of a "roller" rocker arm wherein a roller formed of a first ceramic material is rotatably mounted on an axle formed of a second ceramic material and mounted between sidewalls of the rocker arm body. One or both ceramic materials may be porous and self-lubricating when impregnated with a solid or liquid lubricant. A variety of hardening techniques, coatings and inserts may be provided as required.

The present invention relates generally to valve operating rocker arms for internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to an improved lightweight rocker arm of the cam follower type.
As a consequence of fuel shortages and concern for the environment, the trend in the automotive industry for many years has been to reduce the fuel consumption of and the generation of pollutants by modern automobiles. To accomplish these goals, the sizes and weights of automobiles have been generally reduced and the engines made more efficient. With higher engine efficiencies, typically due to more accurate control both of fuel input and ignition, engines can also be reduced in size to further contribute to weight reduction. In addition to engine size, the engine components can themselves be reduced in weight with such weight reductions also contributing to engine performance, particularly where components of the movable valve system are affected.
To this end, aluminum alloy rocker arms have been used in the prior art as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,147,074 and Japan No. 62-38810. To help ensure light weight, sliding surfaces of the disclosed rocker arms are formed as small inserts of steel alloy or a composite layer where infra-metallic compound particles are scattered in the aluminum alloy matrix, respectively. Cam follower rocker arms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,614,171 and 4,697,473 wherein machined metal cam rollers are preferably supported for rotation within the rocker arms by needle bearings. The former cam follower rocker arm is formed to ensure proper lubrication of the arm while the later is formed to present a low profile and reduced friction such that, among other benefits, the weight of the rocker arm can be reduced.
While the known structures contribute to the provision of light weight, efficiency and high performance of modern engines, there is a continuing need for improvements in the automotive industry to further enhance engine performance and efficiency, and to further reduce the weight of engines and engine components.


Systems and methods may provide for receiving a plurality of signals from a software module associated with a shared resource such as, for example, an unordered access view (UAV). The plurality of signals may include a first signal that indicates whether a draw call accesses the shared resource, a second signal that indicates whether a boundary of the draw call has been reached, and a third signal that indicates whether the draw call has a coherency requirement. Additionally, a workload corresponding to the draw call may be selectively dispatched in a shader invocation based on the plurality of signals.

Graphics pipelines may facilitate the visual output of content on computing systems. In one example, the graphics pipeline is represented as a series of stages including various "shader" stages (e.g., vortex, hull, domain, geometry and/or pixel shader stages) that establish the position, hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast of the pixels, vertices, and/or textures used to construct a final image. An unordered access view (UAV) may be used by the shader stages to buffer/store intermediate surface information prior to the transfer of final images to a render target that is output via a display/screen.
During operation, a given shader stage might write to and/or read from the UAV via one or more draw calls. Because the UAV may be shared among multiple shader stages, concerns over read-after-write (RAW) hazards associated with "consumer" draw calls from one shader stage accessing information in the UAV prior to completion of "producer" draw calls from another shader stage. To protect against such hazards, conventional solutions may use a software module running on a central processing unit (CPU) at the application programming interface (API) level to flush out the entire graphics pipeline when a draw call dependency is detected. Such an approach may insert relatively large "bubbles" into the pipeline and in turn have a negative impact on efficiency, performance, power consumption and/or battery life.

Efficient hardware mechanism to ensure shared resource data coherency across draw calls


A screw measuring apparatus comprising: an internal-dimension measuring unit for obtaining internal-dimension information Dw of a female screw placed on a coordinate measuring machine when the stylus-tip sphere having the diameter selected according to the pitch of the female screw is butted against the screw groove of the female screw; and an effective-diameter calculating unit for obtaining effective-diameter information De of the female screw from the internal-dimension information Dw obtained by the internal-dimension measuring unit, diameter information 2r of the stylus-tip sphere, and thread angle information α and pitch information P of the female screw, by using an effective-diameter calculation expression De=Dw+2r×cosec(α/2)−(P/2)×cot(α/2).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to screw measuring methods, screw measuring probes, and screw measuring apparatuses using the screw measuring probes, and more particularly, to an improvement of an automatic method (mechanism) for measuring the effective diameter of a female screw.
2. Prior Art
Screws have been conventionally used to clamp various components. Since screws largely affect the quality and life time of the entire product in which the screws are used, it is very important to inspect them to maintain the quality thereof in a manufacturing process for machining them precisely. In screw inspection, characteristic values of the shape of each screw are measured, such as the effective depth, the pitch, the effective diameter, the thread angle, and the threading length.
For example, the three-wire method is often used to measure the effective diameter of a male screw. In the three-wire method, a three-wire gauge is applied to the groove of the male screw, the external dimension is measured with a micrometer, and the effective diameter of the male screw is obtained from the measured external dimension.
Since the three-wire method is a manual measurement method, skill in handling a three-wire gauge is required. Because micrometer readings may differ from operator to operator, it is difficult to maintain measurement precision and the efficiency of the measurement work.
Therefore, simplified measurement has been demanded in the field of screw measurement. To satisfy such a demand, a measurement method of measuring the dimensions of various shape characteristics of screws by the use of a three-dimensional measurement machine has been proposed (such as that disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-82952).
In the method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-82952, a three-dimensional measurement machine subjects a screw to profiling measurement using a probe and applies data processing to the results of the profiling measurement to obtain the dimensions of various shape characteristics of the screw. To obtain the effective diameter of a female screw, a virtual circle is applied to the shape data obtained from the profiling measurement and then, the three-wire method is used.
Even with the method described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-82952, the accuracy of an effective diameter obtained in automatic measurement needs to be further improved, and in particular, it is difficult to measure the effective diameter of a female screw automatically.
Conventionally, there is no suitable conventional technology to solve this issue. Although a three-dimensional measurement machine has been used to measure the effective diameter of a female screw, an appropriate machine for automatic measurement of the effective diameter of a female screw has not been developed.

Screw measuring method, screw measuring probe, and screw measuring apparatus using the screw measuring probe


A memory device can include a plurality of physical blocks that each include a number of memory elements programmable between at least two different impedance states, the memory elements being subject to degradation in performance; and bias circuits configured to applying healing electrical conditions to at least one spare physical block that does not contain valid data; wherein the healing electrical conditions are different from write operation electrical conditions, and reverse degradation of the memory elements of the at least one spare physical block.

Conventional conductive bridging random access memory (CBRAMs) devices can include memory elements programmable between different resistance levels. "Fresh" CBRAM devices (i.e., those which have just been manufactured) can be subject to an initial "forming" step, placing the memory elements into an initial state, which provides for good write performance.
However, as elements are repeatedly programmed and erased (e.g., subject to write operations), memory elements can degrade in performance, suffering from shorter data retention times and/or unacceptable write responses (e.g., resistance values are not within a desired range).

Memory devices, circuits and, methods that apply different electrical conditions in access operations


A display device includes: a first display panel; a first flexible substrate on which a first driver IC outputting a driving signal to the first display panel is mounted; a second flexible substrate being apart from the first flexible substrate, at least a part of the second flexible substrate overlapping the first flexible substrate; and an insulating material disposed between the first flexible substrate and the second flexible substrate. The first flexible substrate is connected to the first display panel so that the first driver IC is on a side of the second flexible substrate. The insulating material is disposed between the first driver IC and the second flexible substrate.

A display device includes liquid crystal display device. A flexible print circuit board on which driver ICs are mounted is connected to the display device. The driver ICs output drive signals in order to display an image.
A technology, in which two display panels overlap each other is conventionally proposed to improve contrast of a liquid crystal display device (for example, see WO 2007/040158). For example, WO 2007/040158 discloses that a color image is displayed on a first display panel, and a monochrome image is displayed on a second display panel, thereby improving contrast.

PANASONIC LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY CO., LTD.


An active matrix substrate includes a transparent substrate, pairs each having an n-type thin-film transistor and a p-type thin-film transistor formed on the transparent substrate, gate bus lines and source bus lines connected to the n-type and p-type transistors for controlling the n-type and p-type transistors, and pixel-corresponding electrodes controlled by the transistor pairs respectively. Drains of an n-type transistor and a p-type transistor in each of the pairs are connected to each other via a related pixel corresponding electrode. First pulses are applied to gates of the n-type transistors. Second pulses are applied to gates of the p-type transistors. There is provided a difference in phase between the first pulses and the second pulses.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display, an image sensor, or other devices using an active matrix substrate. This invention also relates to a method of driving an active matrix substrate, and a method of fabricating an active matrix substrate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Japanese published unexamined patent application 63-82177 discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus using an active matrix substrate. The active matrix substrate has a matrix array of gate electrodes and source electrodes. Each of intersections of the gate electrodes and the source electrodes is provided with a pair of p-type and n-type thin-film transistors (TFTs) for controlling a liquid crystal display element corresponding to a pixel. In the display apparatus of Japanese patent application 63-82177, each pair of p-type and n-type TFTs are activated by drive signals having opposite polarities to prevent or reduce a drop in a drive voltage. In addition, off-timings of gate pulses applied to the p-type and n-type TFTs are made coincident to prevent the occurrence of noise induced via parasitic capacitances.
Japanese published unexamined patent application 2-178632 also discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus using an active matrix substrate. The active matrix substrate has a matrix array of gate electrodes and source electrodes. Each of intersections of the gate electrodes and the source electrodes is provided with a pair of p-type and n-type thin-film transistors (TFTs) for controlling a liquid crystal display element corresponding to a pixel. In the display apparatus of Japanese patent application 2-178632, drain electrodes of p-type and n-type TFTs in each pair are electrically connected to each other, and there are provided additional (supplemental) capacitors between the drain electrodes and the gate electrodes. In the display apparatus of Japanese patent application 2-178632, it is necessary to make coincident off-timings of gate pulses applied to the p-type and n-type TFTs.

Active matrix substrate device and related method

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An apparatus, a method and a non-transitory computer readable medium is provided. The apparatus includes: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing computer program instructions configured, working with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: detecting bending of a flexible auto-stereoscopic display comprising a parallax barrier arrangement; and compensating for movement of the parallax barrier arrangement, caused by the bending of the flexible auto-stereoscopic display, by adjusting one or more characteristics of the flexible auto-stereoscopic display in dependence upon the bending of the flexible auto-stereoscopic display.

A stereoscopic display is configured to convey a stereoscopic image (that is, a three dimensional image) to a viewer. Some stereoscopic displays require a viewer to wear special glasses (such as polarized glasses or active shutter glasses) in order to obtain the stereoscopic effect.
An auto-stereoscopic display is configured to convey a stereoscopic image to a viewer without requiring the viewer to wear special glasses to view the displayed stereoscopic image.
Some forms of auto-stereoscopic display include a parallax barrier arrangement. The parallax barrier arrangement controls which parts of the display can be seen by each eye of the viewer from a particular position. Each eye sees a different image, which results in a stereoscopic effect for the viewer.

Flexible auto-stereoscopic display control and adjustment of the parallel barrier arrangement based on bending of the display


A system includes a database that stores an expert knowledgebase, and one or more servers configured to implement an expert system. The one or more servers receive sensor data associated with sensors from automobile maintenance systems associated with respective ones of multiple automobiles, and analyze the sensor data, using the expert system and the expert knowledgebase, to diagnose whether the multiple automobiles require maintenance and/or repair. The one or more servers send, via a network, results of the analysis of the sensor data to service stations for scheduling maintenance and/or repair of the multiple automobiles.

A traditional automobile diagnostic system typically involves a serviceman plugging an electronic diagnostic system into an automobile, and the serviceman then reading diagnostic codes that relate to the automobile defect from the diagnostic system. The serviceman then searches for appropriate parts and/or components in a manual based on the diagnostic code obtained from the diagnostic system. The serviceman may then replace the parts and/or components obtained from the manual in the automobile.

Automated automobile maintenance using a centralized expert system


Methods and apparatus for ablating a target tissue are discussed. Such methods and apparatus include those that simplify tissue ablation. For example, a tissue ablation device having an actuator, such as a trigger mechanism, coupled to a power source and an electrode is discussed. A single step of engaging the actuator causes the electrode to be introduced into the target tissue and causes energy to be delivered from the power supply to the tissue via the electrode. Devices that include an electrode actuator for causing the electrode to be introduced into the target tissue and a fluid actuator for causing the fluid to flow to the target tissue are also discussed. Methods of causing the electrode to be introduced into the target tissue and fluid to flow to the target tissue with a single step and more than one step are also discussed.

In recent history, tissue ablation procedures have employed a "dry" electrode. Dry electrode tissue ablation systems, such as TUNA systems, typically have needle electrodes coupled to a trigger mechanism for deploying the needles. The needles are coupled to a power generator. A manual switch is typically engaged to complete a circuit allowing ablative energy to flow from the power generator to the tissue via the needles. Thus, for a typical tissue ablation device to deliver ablative energy to a tissue, an end use of the device performs at least two separate steps: 1) engaging a trigger mechanism to deploy needles and 2) engaging a switch to supply ablative energy from the power generator to the tissue via the needles. More simplified systems have not been described.
Rather, more complex systems in the form of "wet" electrode systems have been proposed. While more complex, wet electrode systems have been proposed to address some shortcomings of dry electrode systems. More particularly, the amount of power delivered and speed of lesion formation in dry electrode approaches is limited by high impedance at the electrode-tissue interface. To minimize this issue, it has been proposed to pump saline through the electrode to create a "wet" electrode. Saline increases the conductivity of the tissue to be treated, allowing for increased efficiency of tissue ablation. However, proposed wet electrode tissue ablation systems may require additional controls and equipment for delivering the saline, making wet electrode tissue ablation, such as TUNA, more complex to perform than traditional dry electrode tissue ablation.

Tuna device with integrated saline reservoir


A flexplate comprising a single integral body portion having a generally circular shape. One or more borings are formed in the body portion for receiving an end of a crankshaft of the engine on a first side of the body portion and for receiving a torque converter of an unrelated transmission on a second side of the body portion. Apertures may be formed in the body portion and positioned on the flexplate for alignment with corresponding apertures on a flange mounted to the end of the crankshaft and apertures on the torque converter.

This invention relates generally to automatic transmission systems of motor vehicles, and more particularly automobiles. More specifically, this invention pertains to the coupling of an engine to a transmission that is unrelated to the engine.
Most automobiles manufactured today include automatic transmissions that have replaced the traditional manual transmissions. An automatic transmission typically includes a torque converter in place of the clutch of the manual transmission. A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling between the engine and the transmission to allow the engine to run somewhat independent of the transmission. The torque converter enables the engine to continue to operate while the engine idles or the automobile is stopped.
A flexplate, also occasionally referred to as a flywheel, connects the torque converter to an engine crankshaft. A typical coupling arrangement of a flexplate 14, engine crankshaft 12 and torque converter 10 is shown in FIG. 1A. The flexplate 14 is placed on the end of the crankshaft 12 whereby a hub 15 on the end of the crankshaft 12 extends through a centered boring on the flexplate 14. Flexplate 14 is bolted to the crankshaft 12 using bolts 21 threaded into apertures on a flange 22 disposed on the end of the crankshaft 12. The torque converter 10 has a hub 16 that is inserted into the hub 15 on the crankshaft 12, and the torque converter 10 is bolted to the flexplate 14. The flexplate 14 is secured to both the crankshaft 12 and the torque converter 10 so the torque converter 10 rotates at substantially the same rate of speed as the flexplate and crankshaft. In addition, a gear section, or ring gear on the flexplate engages a starter to initiate rotation of the flexplate when the engine is started.
In racing applications or after-market modifications of automobiles, an engine produced by a particular manufacturer is often times coupled to a transmission produced by another manufacturer, or an engine and transmission are matched whereby the transmission cannot be directly coupled to the engine. In such circumstances, the components, namely the torque converter, crankshaft and/or flexplate, do not match one another for purposes of installation or operation. The traditional methods of coupling the transmission to the engine include providing a flexplate from either the engine or transmission. In addition, one or more adaptor components such as spacers, mounting hubs, tubular standoffs etc., are provided, and sometimes original parts are re-tooled in order to mate the transmission to the engine.
An example of a prior art adaptor assembly for coupling a transmission to an engine is illustrated in FIG. 1B. In this example, a flexplate 14 from the engine 13 and various adaptors or spacers couple a transmission 11 and torque converter 10 to the engine 13 and engine crankshaft 12. The crankshaft 12 has a pilot hub 15 and flange 22 for respectively aligning and mounting the flexplate 14 to the end of the crankshaft 12. The torque converter 10 and transmission 11 are unrelated to the engine 13 and engine crankshaft 12 as they are produced from a manufacturer other than the manufacturer of the engine 13. Accordingly, the torque converter 10 cannot be mated with the engine crankshaft 12 or secured to the flexplate 14 without adaptors. In this example, the torque converter hub 16 is too small in diameter to properly mate with the hub 15 on the crankshaft 12.
Accordingly, a hub adaptor 17 is mounted to the flexplate 14 and crankshaft 12 using crankshaft bolts 17A, for receiving the torque converter 10. In some adaptor kits, the adaptor hub 17 may be purchased in an assembled fashion, whereby the hub adaptor 17 is already bolted or welded to the flexplate 14. The hub adaptor 17 displaces the transmission 11 and torque converter 10 aft of the vehicle in which the transmission 11 and engine 13 will be mounted. Therefore, spacers 20A, 20B and bolts 21A, 21B must be used to respectively mount the torque converter 10 to the flexplate 14 and the transmission bell housing 18 to the engine 13. Moreover, adaptor 20B between the bell housing 18 and engine 13 accounts for the misalignment of apertures on the bell housing 18 with respect to apertures on the engine 13.
The adaptor systems or kits, as shown in FIG. 1 and described above, have various components that must be properly aligned and bolted together. Assembling such a system can be time consuming and difficult. The components can be lost during assembly or misaligned when assembled. In as much as the components are bolted to one another or to the transmission and engines, as the automobile engine runs the bolts often loosen and sometimes break.
Alignment, true running, and squareness of the engine/transmission assembly are important in production vehicles; however, as the performance demands increase, accuracy becomes increasingly critical. Heavy loads and higher engine speeds exaggerate all problems associated with alignment issues. Unchecked, these problems result in failed engines and transmissions due to excessive forces created during operation.
Each part of a motor vehicle engine and transmission must have an allowable machining tolerance on its size. When multiple parts are assembled together, all of the sizes, misalignments, and non-squareness tolerances (errors) start to add up. Even with precision machining and assembly, more parts translate to more opportunities for more misalignments.
To further aggravate the problem, whenever parts are bolted together, additional clearances must be designed in to provide clearance for the fasteners to fit. When more parts are bolted together individually, or when sandwiched between a single set of bolts, each bolt joint becomes susceptible to movement between the faces of the bolted parts due to vibration, cyclic loading, or even temperature variations. Once parts start to chafe or the bolt tightness begins to loosen, the bolt faces of the parts rapidly begin to wear and become even looser allowing misalignment or even wobbling and unbalance. The whole system can quickly and catastrophically fail at that point.
In an attempt to solve bolting/clamping problems with multiple part connections, welding is sometimes employed. Welding creates it own set of characteristic problems. The two most common problems are distortion and weld induced residual stresses. Since welding is the act of melting metal in multiple parts together, as the melted areas start to cool, they shrink and distort which warps, twists, and bends the previously straight parts making squared and aligned finished products virtually impossible. The second problem is that welding changes the metallurgical properties of the parts and differing cooling rates of the parts create residual stresses, which limit the amount of load that can be applied to the parts before they break.

Engine and transmission coupling system and method


Apparatus for digitally recording and analyzing electrocardial and other bioelectric signals, includes a port for connecting an external measuring device; first and second differential input channels for receiving a data signal from the measuring device and for amplifying and filtering the data signal; a compression circuit for compressing the data signal from the input channels so that the compressed data signal includes only changes in amplitudes at particular points, along with a measure of elapsed time since a previous change in amplitude at the particular points, thereby omitting redundant points of the data signal; a random access memory for storing the compressed data signal; a microprocessor for controlling the storage of the compressed data signal in the memory; a power management circuit for turning power to the apparatus ON and OFF at predetermined intervals; and a position switch for indicating the position of a person wearing the apparatus relative to a vertical position.

1. Field of the Invention
Many monitoring situations, both health and task-related, require continuous recording of vital signals in ambulatory subjects. This recording is performed in many different ways, such as with electrocardiography (ECG) and the like. For example, electrocardiographic testing during exercise remains the primary initial screening for coronary artery disease. Another diagnostic purpose of some ECG recordings is the detection of low amplitude signals occurring within the ST segment, known as late ventricular potentials (LVPs). Since these potentials may be precursors of sudden cardiac death, monitoring patients for extended periods is of diagnostic importance. Another application is the recording of heart rate for use as an indicator of the autonomic nervous system. In other applications, it is important to physiologically monitor healthy persons engaged in sensitive tasks such as aircraft piloting.
ECG signals contain information in a frequency band ranging from 0.05 Hz to at least 500 Hz. At the low frequency end, the most important portion of the ECG is the ST segment, the slope and height of which can indicate coronary perfusion. The high frequency end of the ECG spectrum may represent signals originating from discrete regions of the myocardium, the electrical conduction patterns of which are abnormal or distinct from the surrounding tissue.
In addition to the diagnostic information contained in specific frequency bands, there are also specific amplitude ranges that contain distinct diagnostic information. The low amplitude range, within approximately .+-.200 microvolts of the isoelectric line, contains information regarding acute ischemia, as recorded in the ST segment. Low amplitude signals also comprise the major portions of the P and T waves. Much of the diagnostic information from low amplitude signals is based on the simple presence or absence of the possible waves, and their direction with respect to the baseline. The precise shapes and sizes of the low amplitude waves are also important, and comprise the remainder of the information contained in the low amplitude signals. The highest amplitude signals of the ECG, that is, the R waves, are generally one log unit greater in amplitude than the low range, and represent the excitation of the bulk of the ventricle. The overall shape, size, and direction of the R wave provides information regarding the nature of ventricular excitation. Small amplitude signals that may be superimposed on the R wave may be of diagnostic value, but are generally not considered in standard ECG recordings.
For some diagnostic purposes, interval measurements are the primary goal. For example, heart rate variability measurements apply advanced mathematical analyses to a sequence of consecutive heart-beat intervals. The analysis depends on the sequential estimation of intervals between sinus-node activations, that correspond approximately to the occurrence of the P wave of the ECG. Since the P wave is often difficult to reliably detect, the much larger R wave is generally used as the fiducial marker of sinus node activation. The accuracy of R-R interval measurements is dependent on the method used to detect R waves. Relatively small errors in the measurement, especially if they are non-random, can be magnified by powerful mathematical analyses such as spectral analysis, leading to inaccurate diagnoses.
Another diagnostic purpose that relies heavily on interval measurement is the detection of late ventricular potentials (LVPs). The primary goal of this procedure is to detect the presence or absence of small high frequency signals following the QRS wave, and within the ST segment. Since LVPs have a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of less than one, averaging techniques are generally used to detect them. Since averaging must generally be used, it is important to accurately measure the occurrence of the R wave as a fiducial marker, and to measure the duration of the LVPs.
The ideal monitoring system should record and store the true signals as they change, within the entire relevant ranges of frequency and amplitude. Signal fidelity is thus of paramount importance, and it is the goal of all recording systems. However, practical recording systems, especially those that must continuously record from mobile subjects, all suffer technical limitations and therefore sacrifice some signal fidelity.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Until recently, the main options for continuous mobile recordings were either Holter monitors using magnetic tape, or radio-frequency telemetry. The disadvantages of the Holter method include its relative bulk, distortion from tape artifacts, inflexibility, and the necessity for reading and analyzing the tape using a specialized computer. Telemetry can be less bulky, but requires the proximity of a receiver-recorder.
The primary technical hurdle that must be overcome for silicon data recorders is adequate compression of data, without loss of significant information. Real-time continuous (24 hour) recording of signals on present-day silicon requires substantial data compression. For example, with 4 megabytes of silicon memory, an upper data rate of approximately 200 bits per second for each of 2 ECG channels can be stored. Since the sample rate recommended by the American Heart Association for ECG is 250 samples per second (8 bits per sample), a data compression factor of 10:1 would be required.
Several data compression techniques have been developed specifically for the ECG. These techniques are all based on mathematical algorithms that operate on data samples obtained at fixed sampling rates by a conventional analog to digital converter. Each data compression method can be quantified by two numbers, the compression ratio (CR) consisting of the number of incoming bits divided by the number of bits stored, and the percent root distortion (PRD), a measure of the amount of signal distortion caused by the compression. CR is monotonically related to PRD. Published values of CR range from 3 to 10, with PRD values ranging from 1 to 20, for various algorithms. Since the CR is relatively fixed for a given algorithm, a necessary strategy is to set the data sampling rate as low as possible in order to reduce the total amount of data.
Standard analog to digital conversion uses a signal level approximator which stores the current signal amplitude. This amplitude is read and stored at fixed intervals.
Data compression algorithms operate by identifying certain samples in the stored data array that are "redundant" and hence can be discarded. For electrocardiographic type signals, a sample is considered redundant if the possible amplitude values of the quantized signal are not equally probable. The redundant point need not be stored, since its value can be predicted (with some uncertainty) by the proximal points.
In general, the algorithms include two stages: compression and reconstruction. Compression is achieved by scanning each data sample and deciding, in comparison with adjacent samples using pre-defined criteria, whether or not the sample is redundant. The redundant points are thrown away without possibility of recovery, and thus the process is irreversible. The reconstruction stage uses a separate algorithm to interpolate samples back into the sample array, when it is being sent to an output device, such as a printer. The fidelity of the reconstructed signal is thus algorithm-dependent, and distortions are a necessary by-product. Algorithms differ with respect to the specific criteria used.
The amount of compression achieved (and the corresponding distortion) by a given algorithm can be controlled by parameter adjustment. It is important that the CR be sufficiently large to store the desired time epoch of the signal, and that the PRD is small enough to ensure adequate reconstruction. Since the algorithms operate from an automatic computer program, the CR and PRD values may not be entirely predictable, and therefore it is useful to monitor these values periodically during data collection. This is done by comparison of segments of reconstructed signals with the original data, while making necessary parameter adjustments.
A secondary type of data compression is used in some systems that involves beat classification. In this method, the waveform of each incoming cardiac cycle is compared with reference cycles, and if there are no significant differences, the beat is classified as the corresponding reference type. Thus, the only data stored for that cycle is the beat type and its time of occurrence.
Existing digital data storage apparatus use algorithms of the type listed above. They therefore suffer major disadvantages. One disadvantage is processing overhead, representing several instruction cycles per data point as data are either stored or discarded. Thus, considerable CPU time is devoted to the sampling and compressing of the data, while other real time processing tasks, such as analysis, are neglected. A second disadvantage is signal distortion, mainly in loss of high frequency signal components. This effect results from sampling rates that are set too low in order reduce the total data input rate prior to compression. For example, the commonly used sampling rate of 250 Hz necessitates anti-alias filtering with a cutoff of 125 Hz. Thus, potentially valuable higher frequency components are lost. A third disadvantage is that the algorithms require continual feedback and adjustment during data collection for effective operation. A fourth disadvantage is that standard compression methods will remove data points that are indistinguishable from noise in real time. Thus, the likelihood that small signals such as LVPs can be recorded with prior art is small.
Apparatus and methods related to the present invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,238 to Shu & Squires, U.S. Pat. No. 4,193,393, U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,165 to Hollister et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,624,263 to Slavin.


Embodiments of the invention allow relatively simple circuits to provide a coding device capable of coding longer bit-length data suitably for disk apparatus and a decoding device capable of decoding the data coded by the coding device. In one embodiment, a coding device comprises: a coder which, based on an M bits code string, produces an (M+1) bits coded string where each of the plural bits which may appear in the M bits code string is limited in run length; a preprocessor which produces an M bits code string by removing (N−M) bits respectively from predefined (N−M) positions of an incoming N bits code string and outputs the M bits code string to the coder; and a postprocessor which produces and outputs an (N+1) bits code string by inserting the (N−M) bits, which are removed by the preprocessor, into predefined (N−M) respective insertion positions of the (M+1) bits coded string output from the coder.

The present invention relates to a coding device and decoding device for use in hard disk and other storage apparatus.
Recently, the so-called PRML (Partial Response Maximum Likelihood) system is widely used for recording and reproducing in magnetic disk and other storage apparatus. In the PRML system, a partial response (PR) channel is combined with Viterbi coding.
The reproduction circuit is assumed as a channel with, for example, the Partial Response Class 4 (PR4) transfer function. The PR4 is expressed by G(D)=(1−D)(1+D) wherein D is the delay operator. For higher density recording, it is known that higher order partial responses such as Enhanced Partial Response Class 4 (EPR4) of G(D)=(1−D)(1+D)2, Enhanced EPR4 of G(D)=(1−D)(1+D)3 and MEEPR4 (Modified Enhanced EPR4) of G(D)=(1−D)2(5+4D+2D2) are suitable.
Thus, in magnetic recording, a binary code is converted to a three-, five- or seven-duration-correlated signal. The binary code composed of bit "1" and "0" is reproduced from this three-, five- or seven-duration-correlated signal sequence through Viterbi decoding.
In the magnetic disk apparatus, recorded data is reproduced by this PRML method from the signal read from the magnetic recording medium by the magnetic head which moves on the magnetic recording medium. The data sampling timing is also obtained from the read signal.
In this case, if long bit stream of "0" or "1" consecutive data bits come, the voltage of the read signal becomes at around 0 V, making it difficult to pick up the sampling timing.
Therefore, before recording is performed in most magnetic disk apparatus, conversion is made to a code where the maximum run length of "0" is constrained. As such codes, 8/9 GCR and 16/17 GCR codes have been known widely. In the case of Viterbi decoding, however, the decoding error probability is subject to the inter-symbol distances of the recorded code. It is therefore preferable to construct a code with both short run lengths and long inter-symbol distances. In this regard, the above-cited GCR codes are not appropriate.
Although it is generally difficult to construct a short run length and long inter-symbol distance code, it is found possible to encode 16 bits of data to 17 bits so as to constrain the maximum run lengths of "1" and "0" to 3 and 10 respectively. This code is called a 16/17 QMTR (Quasi-Maximum Transition Run) code. See Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 11-243345).
In a disk apparatus using this 16/17 QMTR, the data to be recorded is given error correction code and the resultant code sequence including the error correction code is divided into strings of 16 bits each. Each 16-bit long code string is converted to 17-bit coded data by the 16/17 QMTR coding for recording.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


An actuating device for transferring a control force of an engaging/disengaging device to a double clutch for coupling a drive shaft to two transmission input shafts is described. The actuating device includes at least two first pistons corresponding to the first clutch, each having a first pressure surface, at least two second pistons corresponding to the second clutch, each having a second pressure surface. The first and second pistons are disposed parallel to an axis of the engaging disengaging device and within a graduated circle concentric to the axis. The actuating device also includes a plurality of elongatable piston guideways, each receiving one of the first and second pistons. The first pressure surfaces are couplable to each other and the second pressure surfaces couplable to each other.

Actuating devices for the alternating coupling of the particular clutch of a drive shaft to a transmission input shaft are already known from DE 34 46 460 C2, one clutch including a disc spring being disengaged in each case by one control mechanism including an annular piston coaxial to the clutch axis and connected to the relevant disc spring. The two annular pistons are radially offset from one another in the housing.
Another possibility for engaging a drive shaft with a transmission input shaft via alternate coupling of the particular clutch of a double clutch and thereby improving the hysteresis properties of the aforementioned device is described in DE 199 53 091 C1. The hydraulic surface of the two annular pistons lying coaxial to the clutch axis, as described in DE 34 46 460 C2, is in this case replaced by a plurality of subsurfaces, which are derived from the pressure surfaces of rod-shaped single pistons. When actuated, pressure fluid is applied to these single pistons, referred to here as servomotors. Three servomotors having their axes positioned parallel to the clutch axis are assigned to each clutch. All 6 servomotors lie on a graduated circle coaxial to the clutch axis, the 3 control pistons assigned to a clutch being in each case positioned 120° in relation to each other and pressure being constantly applied synchronously to them in the operating state.
However, a disadvantage of these devices is that the application of pressure to a piston or to a piston system (made up of three pistons) is never centrical for each individual piston so that pressure is only applied to each eccentrically. This results in the pistons being tilted in relation to their bearing surface in the cylinder, causing increased friction and finally wear of the pistons and their bearing surfaces.
Furthermore, the length of the pistons is adapted to the corresponding bearing surface and accordingly to the length of the cylinders, which has a negative influence on the weight of the engaging/disengaging device.
Moreover, the three pistons in DE 199 53 091 C1 are not mechanically connected to one another so that in the case of pressure forces of varying strength, each piston is extended a varying distance. This results in the bearing tilting and thus colliding with the housing. Another disadvantage is the direct connection of the three pistons with the particular bearing. This causes a concentrated loading of the bearing and thus reduces the life of the bearing.

Actuating device for transferring a control piston force of an engaging/disengaging device to a double clutch

Luk Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG


A continuously working press is disclosed which includes first and second flexible, endless steel belts which are guided around a press table and a press ram via drive drums and return drums and which are supported on a plurality of roller bars. Each of two entry systems has an entry area which extends from an entry tangent to a starting point of a high pressure area and which is divided into a roller bar orientation area, a curved precompression area for the material to be pressed, and a straight compression area. The last third of the roller bar orientation area and all of the precompression area of each of the entry systems have a radius of curvature R.sub.E which is between one and two times radius of curvature of the return drums R.sub.U. A plurality of computer-controlled hydraulic supporting members support the first and second entry systems and apply a pressure to the material to be pressed. The applied pressure increases constantly from 0 bar at the entry tangent up to a maximum pressure HP.sub.max at the high pressure area. The hydraulic supporting members provide a servo-hydraulically adjustable force profile having a variable compression angle, with the applied pressure increasing constantly from 0 to HP.sub.max /4 from the start of the roller bar orientation area up to the end of the first one quarter of the precompression area.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a continuously working press which includes a press ram, a press table spaced apart from the press ram with an adjustable press gap being formed therebetween, drive drums and return drums, and first and second flexible, endless steel belts which are guided around the press table and the press ram via the drive drums and the return drums.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
It has been technologically proved that the best physical data, such as transverse tensile strength and bending strength for substances such as chipboards, are obtained when rapid pressure build-up occurs upon contact with the material to be pressed. That is, with the start of pressing, this material to be pressed is immediately compressed at a very high pressure up to the maximum applied pressure. This provides a very uniform and rapid heat transfer from outside to inside within the chip structure. Furthermore, in the course of the effective heat transfer under immediate action of pressure, preliminary hardening of the cover layer is no longer possible. Since preliminary hardening requires more sanding of material, these favorable technological conditions also provide the best economic preconditions by requiring less sanding of material. These requirements are intended to be met by providing continuously working presses which, in their entry area comprising the area following the entry gap predetermined by the return drums for the press belts, can set a pressure variation curve which can be adapted to the particular press tasks and operating conditions. The entry gap is normally set in a stationary position in a wedge shape with a cross-section decreasing in the entry direction, the intention being able to adjust the device to exert more or less pressure over its length on the material to be pressed as the material enters the press. In the press according to German Offenlegungsschrift 2,205,575, which is provided with a rolling-bearing chain, pressure pieces are arranged in the press gap between the rolling-bearing entrance and the return drums for the press belts. In the relevant area, these pressure pieces exert a selectively adjustable pressure on the material to be pressed. As a result, these pressure pieces set the entry gap more or less wide. In this embodiment, the steel belt is merely returned in the front area. This is then followed by a virtually pressureless sliding section and only then by the actual rolling-bearing entrance, where the pressure is gradually raised from 0 up to the maximum applied pressure.
Of disadvantage here is the fact that, after the first contact of the material to be pressed under pressure action by the return drums and the pressure bodies, the pressure is relieved twice, so that there is the risk of the initially hardened and embrittled cover layer being damaged by transverse cracks due to the slightest expansion (breathing) of the chip mat and thus of the overall strength of the finished chipboard being reduced.
The fact that the roller bars, although inserted orthogonally in the entry area, lose their predetermined synchronous running with identical spacing between one another in the compression build-up area due to defective chip fillings, given as an example in chipboard manufacture, can be cited as a further disadvantage. This can lead to individual roller bars running up against one another and thus to their destruction.

Continuously working press having entry systems for applying a variable pressure prior to a material being pressed

Maschinenfabrik J. Dieffenbacher GmbH & Co.


Provided are a one-way clutch and a rotary damper device equipped with the one-way clutch, in which size reduction can be achieved. A claw of a slide member has a retreat surface that abuts against an internal tooth of an outer member when the outer member turns toward one side with respect to an inner member and an engagement surface that abuts against the internal tooth when the outer member turns toward the other side with respect to the inner member. When the internal tooth and the retreat surface abut against each other, the slide member slides in a sliding direction, thus causing the claw to retreat from the internal tooth, and the outer member turns independently of the inner member. When the internal tooth and the engagement surface abut against each other, the internal tooth and the engagement surface are engaged, and the outer member and the inner member integrally turn.

Conventionally, there is known a rotary damper that is provided at an opening/closing of a door or the like and is used to relieve an impact by slowly operating the door or the like biased in one of the opening and closing directions. In such a rotary damper, in order to generate a damping force only for turning in one direction, a rotary damper device equipped with a one-way clutch may be configured in combination with a one-way clutch.
For example, in a rotary damper device equipped with a one-way clutch described in Patent Literature 1, the one-way clutch is combined with the rotary damper device. The one-way clutch has an inner member coupled to a rotor shaft of a rotary damper and turns integrally with the rotor shaft, an outer member that accommodates the inner member such that the inner member can relatively turn, and a pair of planetary gears interposed between the inner member and the outer member.
In this one-way clutch, the planetary gear meshes with an inner gear formed on an inner peripheral surface of the outer member, and is accommodated in a recess formed in the inner member. The recess of the inner member includes a first wall which is disposed on one side in a turning direction of the inner member with respect to the planetary gear, and extends outward in a radial direction of the inner member, and a second wall which is disposed on the other side in the turning direction of the inner member with respect to the planetary gear, whose length extending outward in the radial direction of the inner member is about half of that of the first wall, and which has a corner at the extended end.
When the outer member turns toward one side (forward direction) with respect to the inner member, the planetary gear turned by the inner gear of the outer member abuts against the first wall, and idles while sliding on the first wall. In this case, since the first wall extends to the outside in the radial direction from a location where a tooth tip of the planetary gear abuts, the planetary gear idles on the first wall without meshing with an outer end of the first wall. As a result, even if the outer member turns, the inner member does not turn.
In contrast, when the outer member turns toward the other side (backward direction) with respect to the inner member, the planetary gear turned by the inner gear of the outer member moves toward the second wall, meshes with the corner of the second wall, and cannot turn. As a result, the inner member is engaged with the outer member via the planetary gear and turns integrally with the outer member.

One-way clutch and rotary damper device equipped with one-way clutch


A biological signal analyzing device configured to generate a first detection image or a second detection image is provided. The biological signal analyzing device includes a light-incident surface, a light-emitting surface and a plurality of optical-resonance structures. The sample is placed near the light incident surface, and receives a first light through the sample. The light resonance structures are configured to process the first light and generate a second and third light. The second light emits from the light emitting surface, and adapted to form the first detection image corresponding to the sample, and the third light emits from the light incident surface, and adapted to form the second detection image corresponding to the sample. The optical resonance structures vary their thickness along the first direction or vary the width along the second direction. A biological sensing apparatus, a sensing method and a fabrication method are also provided.

As the technology develops, the application of optical detection devices for biological samples has always been one of the topics of research, wherein the guided-mode resonance of light is also a key topic in application technology. Since the guided-mode resonance can reflect specific wavelength which changes with the refractive index of the light transmitting medium, by making use of the characteristic, the concentration of the unknown biological sample can be calculated based on the refractive index. And if antibody is immobilized to the surface, the composition of the unknown biological sample can be further analyzed by this method.
However, in order to achieve high resolution optical wavelength analysis, the accuracy of the optical device used to generate the guided-mode resonance also needs to be improved. Optical device with high resolution is not only difficult to fabricate but also reduces the spectrum that can be detected per unit area. While providing a wide range of wavelength detection effects, it is inevitable to fabricate optical device with larger area accompanied by a wide range of sensing device, the production costs and difficulty will increase in all aspects. Therefore, how to enhance accuracy and increase measurement range of wavelength at the same time has been one of the crucial problems that need to be solved for optical detection devices applying guided-mode resonance.

Biological signal analyzing device, biological sensing apparatus, sensing method and fabrication method of biological signal analyzing device


A method and system for rating a data communication session between a network and a wireless device is disclosed. According to an exemplary aspect of the method, the method monitors a series of events, namely, a setup event, a begin event and an end event, which take place during a communication session. The monitoring of such events is accomplished by a data rating application which resides on the wireless device. By monitoring such events, the data rating application is then able to rate the communication session using a number of rating methods. The rating method selected includes both how to meter the data transmitted during a data communication session and determine the rate to be applied to each metered increment. Examples of methods used to meter the data include time and volume. Different rating methods which can be used to rate the communication session include, for example, application, data utilization, source of data, data type, class of service, quality of service and transmission efficiency.

The present invention generally relates to a method and system for data rating for wireless devices, and in particular, to mobile or cellular phones and radio phones that are capable of moving from one transmission station to another in a communication network.
More specifically, the method and system of the present invention allows rating of a data communication session to be performed within the wireless device, such as a mobile phone. As a result, by accomplishing the rating within each mobile phone, the communication traffic between a mobile phone and the service provider is reduced thereby expanding the traffic handling capacity of the service provider. A system for rating and billing a voice communication session within a mobile phone is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,100 (the ""100 Patent), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,915 B1 (the ""915 Patent).
Advanced data communication services in the mobile telephony environment are becoming a reality. Short Message Service (SMS), Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), 1xc3x97, 1xc3x97RTT, short range radio frequency protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11.b) etc. are all examples of technologies that may be used to implement wireless data communication.
Wireless device users are demanding improved data services, and data carriers are hurriedly trying to develop solutions that would satisfy the demands of such users. However, traditional network-based billing systems are ill equipped to deal with some data carriers"" current business practices or methods for billing for data services other than monthly subscription.
For example, monitoring and keeping track of data packets accurately for billing purposes at the network level is not a simple task, especially when such monitoring must be done in real time as required by prepaid and limited use services. When data packets are sent to a destination, they are usually routed via several nodes and networks before they reach their final destination. Traversing several networks presents a problem from a monitoring perspective because different networks and their respective equipment very often handle data packets differently.
Furthermore, typical network-based billing systems are generally equipped to deal with call detail records (CDRs). Such billing systems are usually dimensioned to be able to accommodate 3 or 4 CDRs per user per day. With the use of packet data, each packet generates its own detail record, referred to here as usage detail records (UDRs). A UDR is necessary because in packet switching communications each packet is transmitted to its destination separately via different routing paths. As a result, a UDR is needed for each packet in order to keep track of the status of such packet. The proliferation of a large amount of UDRs presents a capacity problem for many existing billing systems. For instance, a 30-minute session of GPRS may generate 10,000 UDRs or more at several serving nodes, an amount of UDRs which existing billing systems are not equipped to handle and for which purpose it may not be cost effective to upgrade.
Moreover, there is an additional challenge to billing data transmissions, particularly for GPRS. Most of the network equipment required to enable and implement GPRS reside at a base station controller (BSC), while the billing systems reside at a mobile switching center (MSC). The billing systems, accustomed to connecting to one or several MSCs, must now accommodate potentially hundreds of BSCs.
In the packet data environment, the network on many occasions may need to resend the same packet more than once, and possibly through alternate transmission paths. Since multiple UDRs may be generated for the same packet, network-based billing systems can only generate accurate billing on a per packet basis by gathering all of the UDR""s from all of the serving nodes and reconciling them to determine successful delivery. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a cost effective method and system that is capable of rating packet data accurately without the complications and capacity burden inherent in traditional network-based billing systems.
A method and system for rating a data communication session between a network and a wireless device is disclosed. The rating of the data communication session is accomplished by a data rating application that resides in the wireless device, avoiding the complications and capacity burden inherent in traditional network-based billing systems. In an exemplary embodiment, the method uses a number of factors to determine how to rate a data communication session, i.e., the data communication session is rated based on one of a number of rating methods. Examples of such factors include: the application on the wireless devices using the data, data utilization, the source of the data being transmitted to the wireless device, the class of service, the quality of service and transmission efficiency. Typically, the rating method selected includes both how to meter the data and determine the rate to be applied to each metered increment. Examples of methods to meter the data include time (i.e. duration of the data communication session) and volume (e.g. kilobytes or number of packets). In an exemplary embodiment, the method monitors a series of events, namely, a setup event, a begin event and an end event, which take place during a data communication session. By monitoring such events, the data rating application is then able to determine when to evaluate the factors needed to determine how to rate the data communication session as well as, when to begin, and when to end, metering the data communication session. The data rating application is then able to apply the applicable rate to the metered data.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a system for rating a data communication session is provided. The system comprises: a wireless device capable of communicating with a network to establish the data communication session; a data rating application residing on the wireless device; wherein the data rating application is configured to detect a number of factors and/or events which take place during the course of conducting the data communication session between the network and the wireless device; wherein the data rating application is further configured to initiate one of a number of rating methods to rate the data communication session based on the detected factors and/or events.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a method for rating a data communication session between a wireless device and a network is provided. The method comprises: installing a data rating application on the wireless device; causing the data rating application to detect a number of factors and/or events which take place during the course of conducting the data communication session between the wireless device and the network; upon detecting one or more of the factors and/or events, causing the data rating application to initiate one of a number of rating methods; upon initiating one of the number of rating method, causing the data rating application to calculate charges for the data communication session based on the initiated rating method.
Reference to the remaining portions of the specification, including the drawings and claims, will realize other features and advantages of the present invention. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to accompanying drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

Method and system for data rating for wireless devices