In an injection molding system, a molded part transport apparatus and a worker share an area to perform cooperative work. When a molded part check mode is valid, conforming product identification inspection of a molded part is performed in an area where the worker works, and molded part sorting means sorts the molded part on the basis of a result of the inspection. As a result, the conforming product identification inspection of the molded part can be performed and the molded part can be sorted with the safety of the worker is maintained.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an injection molding system, and particularly to an injection molding system including an apparatus that acts in cooperation with a worker.
Description of the Related Art
In some cases, a molded part removal apparatus is installed along with an injection molding machine to remove a molded part and runners left in an opened mold after the molded part is molded in the injection molding machine. The molded part and runners removed by the molded part removal apparatus are then transported by the molded part removal apparatus itself, a molded part transport apparatus, or any other apparatus to a work area where a worker inspects the molded part. The molded part then undergoes good/no good evaluation on the basis of a result of the inspection and is sorted by molded part sorting means.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-349762 discloses a technology of a molded part removal apparatus that is mounted on an injection molding machine and removes a molded part when a mold in the molding machine is opened, and the molded part removal apparatus is so installed that an action space occupied by the molded part removal apparatus does not overlap with an operation space that a worker enters to operate an operation section of the molding machine. To this end, partitioning means for separating the action space and the operation space from each other, such as a safety fence, is provided, and a buffer area is set.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-40626 discloses a technology of a human cooperation robot system that allows a robot and a person to share an area for cooperation work, and when the value detected with a force sensor disposed in the robot or in a work apparatus at the front end of the robot exceeds a predetermined value, the robot is brought to a halt or the action of the robot is so controlled that the value detected with the force sensor decreases.
In the related art and the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-349762, the molded part removal apparatus itself or a transport apparatus, such as a conveyer, transports a molded part and runners to a work area where a worker works. To assure the safety of the worker in this process, it is necessary to provide a safety fence that separates the action area where the molded part removal apparatus or the transport apparatus operates from the work area where the worker works, resulting in an increase in the overall area of the injection molding system in some cases.
As for the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2012-40626, the document describes that a person and a robot work in a cooperative manner but disclose no specific cooperative work.


An Nth order linear differential microphone array (LDMA) with a steerable beamformer may be constructed by specifying a target beampattern for the LDMA at a steering angle θ. An Nth order polynomial associated with the target beampattern may then be generated. A relationship between the nulls of the polynomial and the steering angle θ is determined and then a value of one of the nulls is determined based on N−1 assigned values for the other nulls and the determined relationship between the nulls of the polynomial and the steering angle θ. The steerable beamformer may be generated based on the determined null value and the N−1 assigned null values. The N−1 assigned null values may be associated with the N−1 nulls of the polynomial that are of less than Nth order and the determined null value may be associated with the null of the polynomial that is of Nth order.

A differential microphone array (DMA) uses signal processing techniques to obtain a directional response to a source sound signal based on differentials of pairs of the source signals received by microphones of the array. DMAs may contain an array of microphone sensors that are responsive to the spatial derivatives of the acoustic pressure field generated by the sound source. The microphones of the DMA may be arranged on a common planar platform according to the microphone array's geometry (e.g., linear, circular, or other array geometries).
The DMA may be communicatively coupled to a processing device (e.g., a digital signal processor (DSP) or a central processing unit (CPU)) that includes circuits programmed to implement a beamformer to calculate an estimate of the sound source. A beamformer is a spatial filter that uses the multiple versions of the sound signal captured by the microphones in the microphone array to identify the sound source according to certain optimization rules. A beampattern reflects the sensitivity of the beamformer to a plane wave impinging on the DMA from a particular angular direction. DMAs combined with proper beamforming algorithms have been widely used in speech based communication and human-machine interface systems to extract the speech signals of interest from unwanted signals, e.g., noise and interference.

Linear differential microphone arrays with steerable beamformers


A contact center is described along with various methods and mechanisms for administering the same. The contact center proposed herein provides the ability to, among other things, selectively interrupt a contact center agent in an AUXILIARY state. This enables the contact center to accommodate sudden influxes of work items without substantially increasing customer wait time.

Agents of a typical contact center have several states that are available to them. For instance, if an agent is logged in to the system but is at lunch or doing some other non-work activity they can be in an AUXILIARY state, which may also be referred to as an AUX state. Another state that is available to an agent is the BUSY state. This state signifies that the agent is currently handling a call from a customer and is not available to receive any other calls for that reason. A third state that the agent can occupy is the AVAILABLE state. When an agent has no current customers they are helping but is ready to help someone they will be in the AVAILABLE state. A fourth state that exists to call agents is the AFTER CALL WORK (ACW) state. This state lets the call controller or work assignment engine know that the agent is not on the phone with a customer but is doing work related activities for a customer. All of these states enable an agent to notify the work assignment engine of their availability or lack thereof, which in turn allows the work assignment engine to direct calls/contacts from customers to agents.
Each of the four states identified above are available to agents when they are logged into the system. Accordingly, each of the four above-identified states may be considered sub-states of a logged-in state. It should also be appreciated, that agents may have a logged-out state, which signifies that they are not logged into the contact center system.
Currently, the work assignment engine does not consider agents in the AUXILIARY state ("AUX agents") when making a contact routing decision. Thus, when the contact center experiences a sudden influx of contacts, the customers will either experience extended wait times or backup agents will have to be brought into the pool of available agents, thereby increasing the costs associated with servicing the contact.
Current work assignment engine logic dictates that only agents in the AVAILABLE state be considered during a contact routing decision. Agents in other states are generally not considered. This can greatly reduce the efficiency of the contact center operation, especially during high-traffic periods where reserve agents may be required. The utilization of reserve agents to address fluctuations in traffic is not always possible or sufficient.


The present invention provides a method of generating magnetic reference patterns on a disk or other magnetic media. This involves writing a first magnetic reference pattern to the disk with a servo writer. The disk may then be transferred to a hard disk drive. Control circuitry within the hard disk drive may recognize the first magnetic reference pattern and then position a RW head within the hard disk drive based on the first magnetic reference pattern. As the RW drive is accurately positioned based on the first magnetic reference pattern a second magnetic reference pattern may be written to the disk using the RW head. The RW head location is determined based on the velocity and phase between the read-write head and servo setter marks contained within the first magnetic reference pattern.

The structure and operation of hard disk drives is generally known. Hard disk drives include, generally, a case, a hard disk having magnetically alterable properties, and a read/write mechanism including Read/Write (RW) heads operable to write data to the hard disk by locally alerting the magnetic properties of the hard disk and to read data from the hard disk by reading local magnetic properties of the hard disk. The hard disk may include multiple platters, each platter being a planar disk.
All information stored on the hard disk is recorded in tracks, which are concentric circles organized on the surface of the platters. FIG. 1 depicts a pattern of radially-spaced concentric data tracks 12 within a disk 10. Data stored on the disks may be accessed by moving RW heads radially as driven by a head actuator to the radial location of the track containing the data. The track-based organization of data on the hard disk(s) allows for easy access to any part of the disk, which is why hard disk drives are called "random access" storage devices.
Since each track typically holds many thousands of bytes of data, the tracks are further divided into smaller units called sectors. This reduces the amount of space wasted by small files. Each sector holds 512 bytes of user data, plus as many as a few dozen additional bytes used for internal drive control and for error detection and correction.
Typically, these tracks and sectors are created during the low level formatting of the disk. This low level formatting process creates the physical structures (tracks, sectors, control information) on the disk. Normally, this step begins with the hard disk platters containing no information. Newer disks use many complex internal structures, including zoned bit recording to put more sectors on the outer tracks than the inner ones, and embedded servo data to control the head actuator. Newer disks also transparently map out bad sectors. Due to this complexity, all modern hard disks are low-level formatted at the factory for the life of the drive.
This low level formatting is usually performed using external servo writers that write the physical structures to disk 10 during manufacturing. Accurate positioning of the physical structures is achieved within the external servo writer by accurately controlling the RW head position within the external servo writer. External servo writers, because of the high degree of positioning accuracy required, have become an expensive processing bottleneck during the hard disk drive manufacturing.
Self servo writing (SSW) attempts to overcome this expensive and time-consuming bottleneck. External servo writers write a first magnetic reference pattern (servo pattern) on the surface of the disk. The disk may then be assembled into a hard disk drive, where the LLF is initially performed within the hard disk drive. In SSW, the LLF is completed within the hard disk drive without using additional external hardware. The LLF uses the servo pattern written by the external servo writer to create the physical structures on the disk.
During most SSW processes, the position of the RW heads may drift from their targeted position. This drift may introduce a position error following completion of the SSW process. Further, since the position of each subsequent radial track may depend on the position of the previously written track, this position error can accumulate during the SSW process. Therefore, the accumulation of positioning errors should be addressed such that the position errors accumulated during the SSW process may be reduced or eliminated.

Read write (RW) head position control for self servo writing process


An object of the present invention is to provide a recordable optical recording medium whose characteristics do not deteriorate when recording is conducted in a high-temperature environment. The present invention provides a recordable optical recording medium comprising a substrate as well as at least a reflection layer, recording layer, and light transmission layer provided on the substrate, wherein the recording layer of said optical recording medium contains (a) an azo metal complex dye and (b) another dye whose decomposition temperature is 240° C. to 360° C.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a recordable optical recording medium of LTH (Low to High) recording type, having a recording layer that contains organic dye and capable of recording and playing back data using light of 300 nm to 500 nm in wavelength. To be specific, the present invention relates to a recordable optical recording medium of LTH (Low to High) recording type, having a recording layer that contains organic dye and being capable of recording and playing back data using light of 300 nm to 500 nm in wavelength, wherein said recordable optical recording medium permits a light transmission layer of one-layer configuration and whose characteristics do not deteriorate when recording is conducted in a high-temperature environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
LTH-type BD-R discs with a conventional recording layer that uses organic dye material have a cover layer of two-layer structure (the number of layers excludes a hardcoat layer). One of these layers is a cover layer made of hard material to resist scratching, as with HTL-type BD-R discs whose recording layer uses inorganic material; while the other layer is a cover layer that uses soft (low in elastic modulus (20 MPa or less)) material (acrylic resin or pressure-sensitive adhesive) for the purpose of accepting deformation caused by heat generation and expansion of dye when recording is conducted, maintaining a deformed state, and ensuring sufficient characteristics with Δnd. To realize low-cost organic BD-Rs, however, it is desirable to have a cover layer of one-layer configuration made of hard material, as with inorganic BD-Rs. An azo metal complex having a specific molecular structure is proposed as an organic dye material for recordable optical recording media having such cover layer of one-layer configuration (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2010-33639 and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2010-143184). One feature of this dye is that it is subject to less deformation when recording is conducted and consequently achieves a cover layer of one-layer configuration. However, a slight deformation still occurs during recording even when this dye is used. Since the cover layer is hard, deformation that occurs during recording is not local deformation of the recording pit, but it covers a wide range including the land and even adjacent pits. When recording is conducted in a high-temperature environment, the elastic modulus of the cover layer drops and therefore the amount of deformation increases, which causes a layer separation to occur easily. As explained above, it is difficult for the aforementioned recordable optical recording medium of Blu-ray Disc type, whose recording layer is formed using an azo metal complex of specific molecular structure and which has a light transmission layer (cover layer) of one-layer configuration, to fully absorb and accept deformation of the recording layer and adjacent layer when data is recorded in a high-temperature environment. This has been the cause of deteriorating recording and playback characteristics as the recording layer and adjacent layer separate partially due to the residual stress generated when the recording pit is formed.


A turbine ring sector made of ceramic matrix composite material has a portion forming an annular base with an inner face for defining the inner face of a turbine ring when the ring sector is mounted on a ring support structure and an outer face from which there extends an attachment portion for attaching the ring sector to the ring support structure, the ring sector further including inter-sector faces, each for facing a neighboring ring sector when the ring sector is mounted on the ring support structure; wherein the inter-sector faces are coated in an environmental barrier that is doped with an electrically-conductive compound and that presents at least one slot.

The present invention relates to a turbine ring sector made of ceramic matrix composite material, to a turbine ring assembly intended in particular for use in a turbine engine, and to a method of fabricating such a ring sector.
With turbine ring assemblies made entirely out of metal, it is necessary to cool all of the elements of the assembly, and in particular the turbine ring, which is subjected to the hottest streams. Such cooling has a significant impact on the performance of the engine, since the stream used for cooling is taken from the main stream through the engine. Also, using metal for the turbine ring limits the potential for increasing temperature within the turbine, even though that would serve to improve the performance of aeroengines.
In an attempt to solve those problems, it has been envisaged to make turbine ring sectors out of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material in order to avoid using a metal material.
CMC materials present good mechanical properties, making them suitable for constituting structural elements, and advantageously they conserve those properties at high temperatures. Using CMC materials has advantageously made it possible to reduce the cooling stream that needs to be delivered in operation, and thus to improve the performance of turbine engines. Also, the use of CMC materials serves advantageously to reduce the weight of turbine engines and to reduce the effect of expansion when hot, as encountered with metal parts.
In the operating conditions of aviation turbine engines, characterized in particular by high temperatures and an environment that is corrosive, CMC materials can become degraded. In order to protect the portions of the ring sectors that are exposed to the stream of corrosive hot air through the turbine, it is known to coat such parts with an environmental barrier (or an environmental barrier "coating" (EBC)). For example, there are known multi-layer environmental barriers of the Si/Mullite/BSAS type (where BSAS is barium and strontium aluminosilicate), or indeed those including a silicon bonding layer and a layer of a rare earth silicate (e.g. Y2Si2O7). In known manner, environmental barriers may be deposited by thermal spraying methods, by physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods, or by depositing slurries (e.g. by dip coating or by spray coating).
In each ring sector, the faces between sectors ("inter-sector" faces) generally include slots that receive sealing tongues, serving to prevent gas leaking to the outside of the flow passage for the gas stream through the turbine. These slots, which constitute shapes that are said to be "blind", can be formed by conventional machining methods.
Nevertheless, it would be desirable to simplify forming slots in the inter-sector faces of the ring sectors.

Turbine ring sector having an environmental barrier doped with an electrically-conductive element


A wind-power electricity generating apparatus includes a base, a cover and an electricity generating set. The cover is pivotally coupled to a lateral side of the base and can be lifted open or covered onto the base. A wind collecting surface is formed inside the cover, and a penetrating hole penetrating the cover is disposed at the center of the wind collecting surface. The electricity generating set includes a vane wheel and an electricity generator at a side of the vane wheel, and the vane wheel and the electricity generator are foldably disposed in the penetrating hole of the cover. The kinetic energy produced by rotating the vane wheel is used for driving the electricity generator to generate electric energy. The present invention greatly reduces the storage volume and facilitates users to carry the apparatus. In addition, the apparatus of the invention does not occupy much space for its storage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wind-power electricity generating apparatus, and more particularly to a portable wind-power electricity generating apparatus that can be folded to reduce the overall volume significantly and facilitate users to carry the apparatus.
2. Description of Prior Art
Since oil resources are extracted and used extensively, its stock is running increasingly short, and its price is going up constantly, and a large quantity of exhaust gas such as carbon dioxide produced by the use of oil destroys the ozonosphere and causes a greenhouse effect. Based on these reasons, alternative energy sources including solar energy, hydroelectric power, wind-power electricity generation, and various different solutions are provided, and thus finding an alternative solution obviously becomes an important subject for researchers and developers in the related industry.
A traditional wind-power electricity generating apparatus as disclosed in R.O.C. Pat. No. M250048 includes a base, a frame erected from the base, a plurality of partitions disposed in the frame, and a plurality of wind collecting partitions disposed inside the frame. Each wind collecting partition has an air inlet provided for airflow to flow inside and an air outlet provided for airflow to flow outside, and each wind collecting partition further has a vane wheel driven and rotated by the airflow that enters into each wind collecting partition for converting wind power into mechanical energy. An electricity generator is connected to each vane wheel for converting the mechanical energy transmitted by the plurality of vane wheels into an electric energy output.
However, such traditional wind-power electricity generating apparatus still has the following problems in its actual application. Since the traditional apparatus is a large fixed wind-power electricity generating apparatus, not only incurring a high price, but also requiring a complicated circuit layout and a procedure for connecting and fixing each conducting wire, therefore its application is complicated and inconvenient. Furthermore, the traditional apparatus does not come with a movable and foldable structure, and thus the apparatus cannot be integrated with the leisure industry closely related to our life, which is one of the major factors adversely affecting its practicability and economic effect. Since the structure of the traditional apparatus does not substantially reduce the overall volume for storage, the traditional apparatus occupies a significant volume of the available space and greatly limits its scope of applicability. All of the aforementioned drawbacks demand immediate attentions and required further improvements.

Folding portable wind-power electricity generating apparatus


A method for throttling a bus, e.g. a memory bus, may be used to compensate for potential inaccuracy of feedback information received for monitored characteristics, e.g. temperature, reported by sensors configured in monitored devices, e.g. memory devices, accessed through the bus. For example, in case of a memory bus, a memory controller may be configured to throttle the memory bus in a way that maximizes system performance while ensuring that the memory devices keep operating within their thermal limits. Readings obtained from the memory, or from close proximity to the memory, may indicate whether the temperature of the memory has crossed over one or more designated trip points, and one or more algorithms may be executed to perform throttling according to the readings and based on fixed and dynamic throttling modes. The memory controller may infer temperature changes taking place in the memory devices when successive readings are indicating that the temperature of the memory device has remained over a given trip point. Based on these inferences, the memory controller may then change the manner in which the bus is throttled.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of memory controller design and, more particularly, to the design of a temperature throttling mechanism for safe and efficient memory operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many digital systems, especially those that include high-performance, high-speed circuits, are prone to operational variances due to temperature effects. Devices that monitor temperature and voltage are often included as part of such systems in order to maintain the integrity of the system components. Personal computers (PC), signal processors and high-speed graphics adapters, among others, typically benefit from such temperature monitoring circuits. For example, a central processor unit (CPU) that typically "runs hot" as its operating temperature reaches high levels may require a temperature sensor in the PC to insure that it doesn't malfunction or break due to thermal problems.
Often, integrated circuit (IC) solutions designed to measure temperature in a system will monitor the voltage across a diode (or multiple diodes) at different current densities to extract a temperature value. This method generally involves amplifying (or gaining up) a small voltage generated on the diode(s), and then subtracting voltage from the amplified temperature-dependent voltage in order to center the amplified (gained) value for conversion by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In other words, temperature-to-digital conversion for IC-based temperature measuring solutions is often accomplished by measuring a difference in voltage across the terminals of typically identical diodes when different current densities are forced through the PN junctions of the diodes. The resulting change in the base-emitter voltage between the diodes (ΔVBE) is generally proportional to temperature. While temperature sensors have predominantly been configured on the CPU and/or discrete temperature sending modules, more recently they have begun to be included in other critical system components such as, for example, system memory, which in many systems comprises double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR SDRAM, or DDR for short).
Typically, especially in today's ever-faster systems, if left unchecked, memory devices (e.g. DDR) may start running above their maximum operating temperatures, resulting in potential memory-related reliability issues. One procedure to correct for, or to prevent this problem has been to throttle the memory bus to ensure that the memory devices keep operating within their thermal limits. Memory throttling generally provides a solution to cool the memory devices by reducing memory traffic allowed on the memory bus, thereby reducing the power consumed by the memory devices, which leads to reduced thermal output.
While in many cases, semiconductor-based temperature sensing methods are employed to obtain readings corresponding to temperature values, there may be cases when the obtained readings, while related to temperature, do not directly correspond to actual temperature values. For example, signals extracted from temperature sensors configured in memory devices may be used to provide an indication of certain temperature levels having been crossed, without returning actual temperature values. In such cases, an intelligent bus throttling method may be required to maximize system performance while ensuring that the accessed memory devices operate within their specified thermal limits.
Other corresponding issues related to the prior art will become apparent to one skilled in the art after comparing such prior art with the present invention as described herein.

Temperature throttling mechanism for DDR3 memory


The present disclosure relates to data sending methods, terminal devices, access network devices, and systems. One example method includes receiving, by a first terminal device, first resource configuration information from an access network device, where the first resource configuration information indicates a time-frequency resource for sending first data and at least one of frequency domain configuration information or time domain configuration information of the time-frequency resource, sending, by the first terminal device, first control information to a second terminal device, where the first control information indicates the time-frequency resource and at least one of the frequency domain configuration information or the time domain configuration information of the time-frequency resource, and sending, by the first terminal device, the first data to the second terminal device on the time-frequency resource.

Device-to-device (D2D) communication, machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, or vehicle-to-infrastructure/network (V21/N) communication is a technology for terminal devices to directly communicate with each other, that is, direct communication. V2V, V2P, and V21/N are collectively referred to as V2X, that is, communication between a vehicle and everything.
Using V2X communication as an example, in an LTE V2X standard R14 formulated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the V2X communication includes mode 3 (Mode 3) and mode 4 (Mode 4). In mode 3, a terminal device performs control information and data communication with another terminal device on a time-frequency resource allocated by an access network device. In mode 4, a terminal device autonomously selects a time-frequency resource and performs control information and data communication with another terminal device on the selected time-frequency resource. In the existing mode 3 and mode 4, a minimum unit, in time domain, of either the time-frequency resource allocated by an access network or the time-frequency resource autonomously selected by the terminal device is fixed, for example, is 1 millisecond; and a minimum unit in frequency domain is also fixed, for example, is 15 kHz. In other words, the minimum units, in time domain and frequency domain, of a time-frequency resource used for V2X communication are both fixed, resulting in a lack of flexibility.
Therefore, a more flexible data transmission method is urgently needed in the industry.

Feedback information transmission method, terminal device, and access network device


Attention is paid on the phenomenon that substantially no direct sun light or no reflected light from surrounding objects is applied, to a vehicle bottom side and tire travel surfaces and the vehicle bottom side and the tire travel surfaces have lower luminance values than all the other portions including the shades of trees or buildings along the road in an on-vehicle camera image. Luminance threshold specifying unit (13) analyzes an image luminance histogram and specifies the upper limit of the pixel luminance which can be assumed as a region of the vehicle bottom side. Vehicle assumed region extracting unit (15) assumes that the pixel position having a luminance value not greater than the upper limit is the region of the vehicle bottom side and sets a vehicle assumed region, thereby verifying presence/absence of a vehicle in the vicinity.

Conventionally, some devices capable of detecting a vehicle being in peripheral of the vehicle itself by using an on-vehicle camera and notifying the driver of the presence thereof, have been disclosed. As a typical algorithm of a vehicle detection technology for detecting a peripheral vehicle from an image captured by the on-vehicle camera, a method using pattern matching, with which the features of the vehicle previously set in an image format or a vector format are compared with various partial regions in the image and the presence or absence of the vehicle is determined, is known.
In such a method, however, if checking for the entire region of the image is performed even when there are numerous shapes and sizes of the features of vehicles, large amounts of calculation for checking are needed. Therefore, it has been difficult to detect a vehicle in real time.
In view of this, a vehicle detection technology has been known, and with this method, an assumed region which is assumed to be corresponding to a vehicle in an image is detected by using an algorithm having less calculation amount and pattern matching is applied for only this assumed region.
As algorithms for detecting the assumed region used in the foregoing vehicle detection technology, an algorithm for extracting a pair of vertical edges corresponding to both sides of a vehicle from the image and detecting an assumed region based on that, an algorithm for extracting a black region from the image and detecting an assumed region based on the shape thereof, and an algorithm for extracting a portion where the luminance variation is large in the longitudinal direction from the image and detecting an assumed region based on a variance value of a pixel value within a local region set so as to include the portion, are cited.
As the algorithm for extracting a pair of vertical edges, Patent document 1 discloses a method for detecting a vehicle by verifying how much a pair of vertical edge line segments and horizontal edge line segments existing therebetween satisfies a reference relating to a vehicle respectively. Further, Non-patent document 1 discloses the method for determining whether it is a vehicle or not by voting for positions in a Hough space corresponding to the center position of a pair of vertical edge line segments and inputting the image of the partial region near the position getting a lot of votes into a neutral network discriminator.
As the algorithm for extracting a black region, Patent documents 2 and 3 disclose a method for binarizing a monochrome image, after expanding the black region of the monochrome image so as to divide into a black region and a white region, and determining whether or not the black region corresponds to a vehicle based on the area, the barycenter position, the aspect ratio and the like of the black region after a denoising processing.
As the algorithm for extracting a portion in which luminance variation is large in the longitudinal direction, Patent document 4 discloses the method for detecting a longitudinal axis coordinate that a pixel value indicating luminance changes drastically in a longitudinal direction, and determining that, if a variance value of a pixel value within a partial region set so as to include the longitudinal axis coordinate is larger than a reference value, the partial region corresponds to a vehicle. Patent document 4 described that this method is capable of discriminating a shadow of the vehicle from shadows of trees and the like by being based on the variance value in the partial region.    Non-patent document 1: "Vehicle Detection Technology Using Method of Feature Space Projection of Edge Pair", VIEW 2005, Proceedings of Vision Engineering Workshop, by The Japan Society for Precision Engineering p. 160-165    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3072730    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H09-016751    Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No, H09-128548    Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent No. 3069952

Vehicle detection device, vehicle detection method, and vehicle detection program


One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for processing a search request message received over a network includes computing a threshold value in accordance with the search request message and returning at least one search result to a user in response to the search request message, if a rank of the at least one search result at least meets the threshold value.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network 100 of nodes (e.g., computing devices) interacting in a peer-to-peer (P2P) manner. Generally, a requesting node 101 sends a search message 105 (e.g., containing keywords relating to data that the requesting node 101 wishes to locate) to at least one intermediate node 111 in communication with the requesting node 101 via a peer connection. The intermediate node 111 receives the search message 105 and forwards the search message 105 to at least one additional node 111. Eventually, the search message 105 reaches at least one responding node 103 having the requested data (in some cases, the first intermediate node 111 to which the search message 105 is forwarded will also be a responding node 103). At least one responding node 103 then sends a response message 107 back to the requesting node 101, e.g., via the intermediate nodes 111. The requesting node 101 then requests the relevant data from a responding node 103 by connecting directly to the responding node 103, e.g., via direct connection 109.
Searches such as that described, while helpful in locating content for which a user is searching, often tend to flood the network with redundant and/or irrelevant data. For example, if an initial search does not produce the desired responses, the time to live (TTL) of the search message may be increased, and the search re-issued. The repeated searches are sent to the same initial nodes to which the initial search was sent; accordingly, many of the results received by the requesting node are duplicates. Network traffic is thus unnecessarily increased, while the results may be no better than those produced by the initial search. Some P2P networks attempt to reduce traffic by limiting the number of search results; however, this may prevent results that better match the search request from reaching the requesting node.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for managing peer-to-peer search results.

Method and apparatus for managing peer-to-peer search results

International Business Machines Corporation


A method, apparatus and system for combining non-visible data and visible data for a projector enabled to project visible images and non-visible images are provided. Visible bits representative of the visible images to be projected by the projector in a visible light spectrum are received; non-visible bits representative of the non-visible images to be projected by the projector in a non-visible light spectrum are received; a portion of the visible bits are replaced with at least a portion of the non-visible bits in video data such that the visible images and the non-visible images can be co-projected by the projector upon processing the video data.

In recent years digital projection systems have become common in simulation and visualization environments. These projection systems are often derived from those optimized for human-visible light projection. However, there are applications, such as night vision (NVIS) applications, where projection of images in non-visible spectra is desirable. Such non-visible images are generally viewable through the use of special equipment. An example of a non-visible image is an image projected using infrared (IR) light and hence, in these instances, the non-visible images are viewable in the simulation/visualization environment through the use of NVIS goggles and/or IR image detectors.
In some IR image projection systems, the visible and IR images are projected using two separate projectors, with associated image alignment problems. Another approach is to derive the IR images from the visible images in a single projector by filtering the projected visible images via a moveable filter placed between the light modulator and the projection lens. However, in these systems, the IR image is proportional to the intensity of a given visible color, for example the red component of the visible image. However, this approach is deficient in that not all IR reflectors/radiators inherently reflect and/or radiate red light (e.g. black surfaces). Hence, in a simulation/visualization environment, either the IR images are not properly simulated, or the red component of the visible images is too intense in regions where non-red IR reflectors/radiators are being simulated.

Method, system and apparatus for projecting visible and non-visible images


A cooking heating apparatus has a vapor sensor for sensing the state of heating of food in a heating chamber, thus performing automatic control of the heating operation. An auxiliary exhaust opening for allowing vapor from the heated food to be introduced to the vapor sensor is formed in a region where the flow of the vapor is not influenced by a main flow of air supplied into the heating chamber and flowing towards a main exhaust opening. The vapor sensor is disposed so as to be exposed to the vapor introduced through the auxiliary exhaust opening. The condition of the vapor is therefore sensed quickly without being influenced by the main flow of air.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating apparatus which is capable of sensing, by means of a vapor sensor, the state of gas or vapor generated from a heated substance in accordance with the state of heating, so as to automatically determine the timing of completion of heating of the substance, thereby optimizing the heating operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known heating apparatus for heating a material in a heating chamber has a sensor capable of sensing a change in the state of vapor generated from the heated material. In this known heating apparatus, air is introduced from the heating chamber and is then returned into the heating chamber through a return air passage. The sensor is disposed in this return air passage.
This type of heating apparatus is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication Nos 59-191813 and 58-127017. In the apparatus disclosed in these publications, a sensor is provided, rather than an exhaust passage for ventilating the heating chamber, in a return passage through which air that has been extracted from the heating chamber through an extracting passage is returned to the heating chamber. According to this arrangement, the vapor generated from the heated material is sensed substantially in the same heated state as that of the heated material without being cooled. This arrangement, however, has a drawback in that sensing errors may occur.
Namely, if the position of the opening of the return passage opening to the heating chamber is not precisely determined in relation to the opening for introducing air from the heating chamber to the outside, the vapor generated by the heated material is undesirably mixed with chilled air from an air supply opening before the vapor is introduced into the heating chamber from the return passage, resulting in that the temperature of the vapor is lowered to impede the automatic control of the heating operation.
Problems are encountered even when the opening of the return passage is precisely located. The vapor is recycled between the heating chamber and the return passage. In the beginning period of the vapor generation, the sensing of the vapor by the sensor is conducted relatively easily because the concentration of the vapor is increased. However, when the quantity of the vapor is decreased due to the stopping of heating or when the heating has been suspended to prepare for the next heating cycle, detections of the change in the heating state tend to be delayed due to stagnation of the vapor.

Oven with an exhaust opening for collecting vapors to control material heating

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A method of measuring a molten metal liquid pool volume and in particular molten titanium liquid pools, including the steps of (a) generating an ultrasonic wave at the surface of the molten metal liquid pool, (b) shining a light on the surface of a molten metal liquid pool, (c) detecting a change in the frequency of light, (d) detecting an ultrasonic wave echo at the surface of the molten metal liquid pool, and (e) computing the volume of the molten metal liquid.

The present invention relates to a method of measuring the volume of molten metal liquid pools and in particular noncontacting laser ultrasonic generation and detection at the surface to measure the volume of molten titanium liquid pools.
Currently, vacuum arc remelting is used to produce much of the nation's titanium from Kroll process sponge. However, the process provides only a limited means of removing oxynitride and carbide inclusions from the melt, which can become stress intensifiers in the ingot. An improved quality of the melted product will result in less scrap, and provide industry with the ability to recycle scrap into high value products. The most important aspect, is the capability to produce superior ingots with the potential for designing turbine engines and the like incorporating titanium to be lighter and more efficient.
Plasma and Electron beam hearth melting have the potential to eliminate these stress-intensifying inclusions by increasing the residence time of the molten titanium in the hearth so that the oxynitrides dissolve and the carbides settle out of the melt. These new processes have caused a critical need for an accurate means to measure the volume of the molten metal during hearth melting processes.
At the high operating temperatures of the titanium hearth (1650.degree. c) existing contacting sensors are not practical, and are also a source of melt contamination. Therefore, a noncontacting sensor method using ultrasound wave echo was developed to determine the depth of the titanium melt, which required only melt surface access.
Several types of optical laser-based ultrasonic detectors have been developed for noncontacting measurement of surface motion due to ultrasonic waves. In some cases these devices have been employed at high temperatures to record material properties during heating. However, the majority of these systems depend on phase sensitive detection of the light and require polished surfaces and strict alignment for adequate signal-to-noise ratio, and thus are not suitable for plasma and electron beam hearth melting processes.
It is therefore an object of this novel method to provide a noncontacting means to accurately measure the volume of a molten metal liquid, and further another object of this novel method is to provide a means to accurately measure the volume of molten metal liquid pools without causing a source of melt contamination.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the method will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the novel method. The objects and advantages of the method may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
To achieve the foregoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the novel method of measuring a molten liquid pool volume may comprise the steps of (a). generating an ultrasonic wave echo at the surface of the molten liquid pool; (b). shining a on the surface of the pool; (c). detecting the change in frequency of the light; (d). detecting the ultrasonic wave echo as it reflects at the surface of the pool, after it reflects off the bottom of the molten metal liquid pool; and e). computing the volume of the molten liquid pool by using the frequency change in the light and the time elapsed for the ultrasonic wave echo to reflect off the bottom of the molten metal liquid pool, and return to the surface of the pool.

Method of measuring a liquid pool volume

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


Method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for managing a task of a project in an integrated development environment. The task typically includes a plurality of events. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a set of data from a project management tool, the set of data including an identifier corresponding to the task. A process of the task associated with the identifier is then managed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to integrated development environments. More particularly, the present invention relates to managing projects in integrated development environments.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an Integrated Development Environment (IDE), computer developers or programmers use a program editor to write computer programs and develop software applications in the form of source code. The source code is conventionally written in a high-level programming language, e.g., C++, Java, Pascal, and the like. To run such computer programs in a computer system, a compiler program must convert the source code into executable code or object code.
Most projects in the IDE could be viewed as broken down into tasks, such as, debugging, documentation, or testing. Each task is typically assigned to a developer to complete the task. As with other working environments, a project manager is typically assigned to oversee the completion of the entire project. His responsibility includes, among other things, identifying which tasks are critical (i.e., in a critical path or behind schedule), which developers are assigned to which tasks, and how much time has been invested in each task.
Often times, the project manager uses tools, such as a project management tool, to assist the project manager in managing his project. A project management tool is a software application that assists the project manager to manage his projects. More specifically, the tool allows the project manager to keep track of the tasks within a project. Current project management tools, however, require the project manager to manually input the data relating to the tasks. Manually inputting these data from day to day can often be a cumbersome task.
A need therefore exists for an improved method and apparatus for managing projects in integrated development environments.

Integrated project management and development environment for determining the time expended on project tasks


A semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication method for designing and fabricating semiconductor circuit elements on a semiconductor substrate for a LSI, which comprises the steps of: drawing a semiconductor circuit diagram by arranging standard cells for the semiconductor circuit elements and wiring among the standard cells by using a standard cell design method; describing circuit description net statements based on the semiconductor circuit diagram; arranging and wiring the standard cells to one another; converting the standard cells into symbolic cells with a one-to-one correspondence to generate a symbolic cell layout; generating a stick diagram in accordance with the symbolic cell layout; changing the dimensions of each transistor in the symbolic cell, overlapping contact areas, vias among them, and wires between adjacent transistors in the symbolic cells as a common area, where possible, shortening the length of wire in the transistor, and changing the sliding of the contact area, the vias, and the wire of the transistor to obtain the minimum area for the transistor; forming a mask pattern in accordance with the arranging and wiring of the symbolic cells obtained by the above steps; and forming the semiconductor circuit elements and wiring among the semiconductor circuit elements on the semiconductor substrate by using the mask pattern.

1. Field of the invention
This invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication method and, more particularly to a semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication method by which a semiconductor integrated circuit with a high degree of integration almost equal to that of a semiconductor integrated circuit fabricated by using a manual design method can be designed, and with a design time and design labor by a designer equal to those required for a semiconductor integrated circuit obtained by using a standard cell design method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, there are three methods for the design of large scale integrated (LSI) circuits. The first method is called a full-custom design method in which transistors and other circuit elements are designed on a semiconductor substrate for every LSI design. By this method a physical mask layout with a very small area can be designed for a LSI with a high performance. However, with this design method much time is required to design the LSI. This is a problem.
The second design method is called a gate array design method in which many transistor elements and the like are preliminarily formed in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate as a wafer. In this case, various block functions have already been designed and registered in a library as basic cells each having a predetermined configuration. A designer combines the basic cells and designs only the wiring among the basic cells while referring to the basic cells in the library, then exposes the basic cells on the actual wafer through a mask to obtain a required chip. By using the gate array design method, a designer can design an LSI having a required function in a short time.
The third design method is called a standard design method, and is midway between the full-custom design method and the gate array design method in design time and cost. In this case, an optimum arrangement of elements such as transistors and wiring has already been determined in a cell. A designer combines cells to obtain a LSI with a required function while referring to the cells stored in a library. A designer can design an LSI using the standard cell method faster than by the full-custom method. However, in this case, a wafer for each LSI must be formed because the cell arrangement on a semiconductor substrate is different for each LSI design. The standard cell method takes much time as compared to the gate array method. However, the standard cell method is commonly used as-the most simple and convenient method.
Recently, a combination of the three design methods described above has been widely used for design of a LSI. For example, one part of a chip is designed using the full-custom design method, and another part in the same chip using the standard cell design method. This combination design method can be used to efficiently design an LSI.
Generally, a pattern in a cell cannot be changed when the cell is arranged and wired to other cells in the standard cell design method. Therefore when many cells are arranged to form a circuit having a required function, the same pattern is formed between adjacent cells. On the other hand, when the full-custom design method is used, the pattern between adjacent cells is not the same. This way, the degree of integration in a chip can be decreased when the standard cell design method is applied to a design for a LSI because there are many dead areas in the chip.
In addition, the conventional standard cells are designed with the idea that only standard cells are arranged on a chip. For example, the lead of a standard cell is changed by the amount of fan-in or fan-out. However, in general, the dimensions of an output driver for each standard cell are designed larger because various combinations of the standard cells are used for an LSI design. The gate length for each transistor in a LSI designed by the standard cell design method is large. However, a designer can easily design an LSI by using the standard cell design method.
For example, one half portion of a chip is designed by the standard cell design method. A maximum total wiring length among the standard cells in the half portion is the same as half of the total wiring length obtained when all chips are designed by the standard cell design method. In addition, the lead on the half portion is the same as half the total lead of the chip. In this case, the quality of the standard cells in the half portion exceeds the required quality level. These standard cells have over quality. This problem is also caused when the standard cells are used in different sized chips.

Semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication method


In a first aspect, the invention is directed to a window regulator for a vehicle window on a sliding vehicle door. The window regulator includes a ratchet that is positionable in a first position and a second position and a pawl that is positionable in a ratchet release position and a ratchet locking position. The position of the ratchet determines the position of a door interlock member for controlling whether the vehicle door is fully openable or not. The window regulator includes a mechanism for separating the ratchet and pawl from each other prior to movement of at least one of the ratchet and pawl from one of its associated positions to the other of its associated positions. The mechanism preferably separates the ratchet and pawl from each other prior to movement of each of the ratchet and pawl from one of its associated positions to the other of its associated positions.

Some vehicles with sliding doors, such as minivans, currently provide windows that raise and lower on the sliding doors. This presents a potential danger to occupants, however, in the event that a sliding door, with its window open, is opened while a part of an occupant's body (eg. their head or arm) extends out through the open window aperture. As the door slides back along the vehicle body, the part of the occupant's body can get trapped between the sliding door window frame and the rear edge of the door aperture on the vehicle body. In order to avoid such a scenario, devices have been proposed that prevent the sliding door from opening beyond a certain point if its window is open more than a selected amount. Such devices include sensing devices which sense whether the sliding door window is open more than a selected amount. These sensing devices are sometimes undesirably loud, however, and suffer from operating problems when their constituent components freeze together in cold climates.
It would be advantageous to provide a sensing device for detecting whether the sliding door window is open beyond a selected amount, which operates relatively quietly and which is relatively less prone to problems in the event that the components are frozen together.


A decorative laminate that contains at least three layers that include a surface layer, a backing layer and a color layer positioned between the surface and backing layers. The surface layer or backing layer or both are made of flame retardant engineering thermoplastic materials.

Increased fuel economy is becoming increasingly important in all areas of transportation, driving the need for lighter weight designs with the associated difficulties in maintaining or even improving the strength and structural integrity of previous designs. Weight reduction is particularly important in vehicles for mass transportation such as trains and commercial airliners. To maintain, supplement and enhance the strength of light weight panels for flooring and sidewalls of commercial airliners, it is beneficial or even necessary that all components of the assembly contribute to the structural integrity and impact resistance of the final design. Thus, while decorative components used in the interior of an airliner cabin, such as decorative laminates, have typically performed exclusively or primarily an aesthetic role, it is increasingly important that they be designed to maintain, supplement or enhance the strength and durability of the panels and surfaces that they cover. The ability of the decorative laminate to increase strength and durability must be achieved while maintaining strict requirements for flame retardancy in the areas of heat release, smoke generation and emission of potentially harmful products on combustion.
One commercially available product, Aerfilm LHR from Schneller, Inc. is a low-heat-release, low-smoke and low-toxic-gas, engineered thin-film decorative laminate for covering flat and three-dimensional panels. It is relatively lightweight and economical, and provides superior texture retention and stain resistance. It has a typical areal density of 250 g/m2. Typical tear strength is 1.49 N in the machine direction of lamination and 1.65 N in the transverse direction. Typical tensile strength for Aerfilm LHR is 127 N/25 mm in direction of lamination and 124 N/25 mm in the transverse direction. Aerfilm LHR produces a 2 minute total heat release of 43.9 Kw·min/m2, peak heat release rate of 43.2 Kw/m2 and a Ds 4 min of 82.6 when measured according to the ABD0031 in the same manner as Example 1 of the present disclosure.
Another commercially available product, Aertrim LW from Schneller, Inc., is a low heat release, low smoke and low toxic gas decorative laminate that provides enhanced durability. The high stability and durability of this product is attributable to the fact that this product contains a glass reinforced backing layer. Therefore, this product can only maintain two-dimensional formability and is therefore used, for example, in relatively flat laminate panels. The glass backed layer also adds greater weight to the laminate.

Decorative laminates incorporating flame retardant engineering thermoplastic films


An absorber device for electromagnetic sensor systems has at least one aperture. Each aperture is able to be opened and closed by an aperture closure. The absorber device is designed in such a way that when the aperture is open, electromagnetic waves incoming through the aperture do not then leave the absorber device, and when the aperture is closed, electromagnetic waves impinging on the aperture are reflected.

The present invention relates to an absorber device for a light signal installation or light system installation and to an absorber device assistance system for a vehicle.
To control road traffic it is customary practice to use light signal installations, light system installations or traffic light installations. In this case, it is known to use traffic lights as signal transmitters. Traffic lights order specific behavior for the road users by virtue of their emitting controlled luminous signals or light signals. A standard European light signal installation controls traffic with the aid of the three signal colors red, amber and green. In this case, these light signals of the traffic lights are directed to the respective driver of a vehicle. However, the use of traffic lights is unsafe and thus not suitable not least in the course of the introduction of autonomous driving or at least partly autonomous driving modes (e.g. the vehicle moves autonomously only in specific situations or on specific roads) using sensor systems. It is indeed known to provide a driver assistance system which detects the signal colors of the respective traffic lights with the aid of a camera and displays them to the driver of the vehicle by way of a suitable display unit in the vehicle. However, on account of the risk of misinterpretation (e.g. the signal color cannot be identified on account of difficult visibility conditions), the use of camera-based or optical systems for evaluating the respective light signal of the traffic lights is unsafe and thus a potential hazard for road traffic. In other words, the probability of failure of the optical systems is dependent on atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, present-day computer systems are able to identify signal installations as such only to a very limited extent. Such a procedure is thus unsuitable, particularly with regard to autonomous driving.
The object of the invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages and to demonstrate a solution that enables a vehicle to reliably identify the signals of the light signal installation without human assistance or human assessment.
This object is achieved according to the invention by means of the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments.
The object mentioned above is achieved by an absorber device for electromagnetic sensor systems, wherein the absorber device has at least one aperture, each of which is able to be opened and closed by way of an aperture closure. The absorber device is embodied in such a way that in each case:                when the aperture is open, electromagnetic waves arriving through the aperture do not leave the absorber device again; and        when the aperture is closed, electromagnetic waves impinging thereon are reflected.
The term electromagnetic sensor systems encompasses sensor systems which, by emitting signals or waves and by detecting the signals or waves reflected or backscattered from the atmosphere, are able to create a model of the surroundings or parts of a model of the surroundings of a vehicle.
The geometry and the surface material of the absorber device are such that they reflect, backscatter or absorb the signals or waves of the electromagnetic sensor systems. In other words, the electromagnetic sensor systems can identify the absorber device as an object. By way of example, the absorber device can be embodied in the form of a cone, a cylinder, a rectangle, or some other suitable geometry.
The absorber device comprises at least one aperture. Each aperture or opening is an opening through which the signals or waves of the electromagnetic sensor systems can penetrate. Each of the apertures is able to be opened and closed by way of an aperture closure. Each aperture can be able to be opened and closed by means of a dedicated, highly reliable mechanism. Dependable or highly reliable mechanisms are known from the prior art; by way of example, consideration is given to a spring system and to the use of an electromagnet as actuator. In addition or as an alternative thereto, intelligent glass or smart glass can also be used in order to regulate the transparency of the aperture. Smart glass is a tintable glazing or comprises tintable glazings, the light transmissivity of which varies as a result of the application of an electrical voltage or heating.
If the respective aperture is closed, the signals or waves of the electromagnetic sensor systems are also reflected in the region of the respective aperture and the backscattered signals or waves are received again by the respective sensor system. In other words, the sensor system cannot differentiate the respectively closed aperture from the housing of the absorber device or the aperture appears significantly "brighter" than the housing.
If a respective aperture is open, the absorber device is embodied in such a way that the signals or waves of the electromagnetic sensor systems penetrate into the interior of the absorber device through the aperture, but cannot leave the interior of the absorber device again. Similar systems are known as radiation calorimeters e.g. from solar technology.
As a result, the electromagnetic sensor system is able to differentiate the respective aperture in the open state unambiguously from the housing of the absorber device.
Advantageously, signal states of a traffic light can thus be mapped by the absorber device in a reliable manner for electromagnetic sensor systems.
By way of example, the following signal states of an absorber device having two apertures can reproduce the luminous signals of a traffic light:
Traffic lightAbsorber deviceRed:Both apertures are closed;Amber:One aperture is open and therespective other aperture is closed;Green:Both apertures are open.of example, an absorber device having only one aperture is also conceivable, by means of which only the luminous signals red (aperture closed) and green (aperture open) are mapped, wherein for example the luminous signal amber can also be assigned to the luminous signal red (aperture closed).
Electromagnetic sensor systems operate with electromagnetic wavelengths that can be used reliably over a very wide atmospheric interference range. In other words, electromagnetic sensor systems can be used independently of the weather. Existing traffic light installations can be extended in a simple manner by absorber systems, the signal state of which can be detected dependably and reliably by electromagnetic sensor systems. This is of major importance, particularly for autonomous driving. However, conventional driver assistance systems that display traffic light signals to the user by way of an output unit in the vehicle can also benefit from the reliable identifiability of the signal states by way of electromagnetic sensor systems. If the vehicle is equipped with at least two technologically different electromagnetic sensor systems (e.g. radar and lidar) and both independently of one another can read the absorber system described, the traffic light signal can be read by a sensor system with diversity. The likelihood of traffic lights being read erroneously decreases very quickly as a result.
Preferably, the absorber device comprises a frequency-absorbing material applied in such a way that the electromagnetic waves are absorbed by the frequency-absorbing material in each case when they penetrate through the open aperture.
The frequency-absorbing material is a material that absorbs the signals or waves of the electromagnetic sensor system. The use of coats of paint or coatings of plastics or rubber for protection against radar identification, for example, is known from the prior art.
By way of example, the frequency-absorbing material can comprise a frequency-absorbing paint, e.g. a radar-absorbing paint. Furthermore or as an alternative thereto, the frequency-absorbing material can comprise some other frequency-absorbing coating such as e.g. foam and/or rubber and/or self-adhesive absorber films, etc. These are also known from the prior art.
Preferably, the absorber device comprises at least one reflector applied in such a way that the electromagnetic waves are reflected by the reflector in each case when they penetrate through the open aperture in such a way that they do not leave the absorber device again.
The absorber device can comprise at least one reflector applied such that the electromagnetic waves or signals of the electromagnetic sensor system that penetrate into the interior of the absorber device through an open aperture cannot leave the absorber device again.
In accordance with a second aspect, the object is achieved by means of a light signal installation comprising at least one absorber device according to the invention.
In particular, any already existing light system installation known from the prior art, in addition to conventional traffic lights, can be extended in each case by an absorber device mentioned above for the reliable identification and processing of signal states by electromagnetic sensor systems.
In accordance with a third aspect, the object is achieved by means of an assistance system for a vehicle, comprising:
a detection unit comprising an electromagnetic sensor system for detecting an actual signal state of an absorber device; and
a vehicle control unit, which is communicatively and/or electrically connected to the detection unit and which is configured to take account of the detected actual signal state of the absorber device in the assistance function.
The assistance system can be a driver assistance system for a vehicle that is known from the prior art, the system, for the user, detecting the current signal state of conventional traffic lights with the aid of optical systems and outputting it by way of a suitable output device in the vehicle, e.g. the head-up display.
The driver assistance system can be replaced by the detection unit and/or extended by the detection unit comprising an electromagnetic sensor system.
Furthermore or as an alternative thereto, the assistance system can be an assistance system which is embodied and/or configured to carry out at least one autonomous driving mode for the vehicle. In other words, any vehicle with such an assistance system can drive autonomously. Such assistance systems are known from the prior art. This assistance system also comprises the detection unit comprising an electromagnetic sensor system. The electromagnetic sensor system can be used for other suitable purposes—such as e.g. for continuously generating a model of the surroundings of the vehicle.
The detection unit is configured, using the electromagnetic sensor system, to detect an actual signal state of an absorber device as described above, which corresponds to the current signal of the corresponding conventional traffic lights.
The assistance system additionally comprises a vehicle control unit, which is communicatively and/or electrically connected to the detection unit. The vehicle control unit is configured to take account of the detected actual signal state of the absorber device in the assistance function.
In the example of the driver assistance system, the signal state can be output robustly and in a fail-safe manner. In the example of autonomous driving, the autonomous driving mode, robustly and in a fail-safe manner, can detect signal states of already installed light system installations by virtue of the latter being extended by absorber devices.
Preferably, the assistance function comprises the partly autonomous or autonomous intervention:                in the drive (longitudinal dynamics); and/or        in the control (transverse dynamics); and/or        in signaling units; and/or        in communication units (e.g. Car-to-Car or communication between a vehicle and other vehicles, or Car-to-X or communication between vehicles and the surroundings) of the vehicle.
Preferably, the electromagnetic sensor system comprises:                at least one radar sensor; and/or        at least one lidar sensor; and/or        at least one sonar sensor; and/or        at least one camera system.
In accordance with a third aspect, the object is achieved by a vehicle comprising an assistance system according to the invention.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be clarified from a study of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. It is evident that—although embodiments are described separately—individual features therefrom can be combined to form additional embodiments.

Absorber device for displaying signals of conventional light system installations and assistance system for a vehicle

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


Disclosed is a pump system comprising a pump and a sensor. The pump comprises a pump casing defining a pump chamber, an inlet for receipt of flowable material into the chamber, an outlet for discharge of flowable material from the chamber, and an impeller disposed within the pump chamber to accelerate flowable material within the pump chamber. The pump also comprises a transition region extending between an inner peripheral surface of the pump chamber and an inner peripheral surface of the outlet, the transition region configured in use to divert flowable material accelerated by the impeller to the outlet. The vibration sensor is mounted to the pump casing and arranged in use to detect vibration of the transition region.

Pumps used in various operations, such as minerals processing, chemical, oil and gas, power generation etc. experience constant changes in their condition. This may be in the form of e.g. fluctuations in performance and/or degradation of various components of the pumps.
In regards to performance fluctuations, these may be caused by internal changes to the pump or external (e.g. environmental) changes. Such changes may require modification of various operating parameters of the pump to ensure that the performance of the pump is maintained within a suitable range. For example, a change in the consistency of material being processed by the pump may require an adjustment of flow rate.
Often such pumps operate in highly destructive conditions, whereby components of the pumps may be worn away or pitted due to e.g. cavitation. The degradation of one component can lead to imbalances in the pump that results in accelerated degradation.
Both performance and life of a pump can have a direct impact on the costs of running an operation. If a pump fails it can result in the shutdown of an entire process. Similarly, pumps running at sub-optimal performance levels can result in an inefficient process that consumes more energy than required. As such, there is a need to monitor these conditions of a pump.
One known method of doing this is to have an operator observe the pump in person. The operator may view and listen to the pump, and may take various measurements of parameters of the pump. Based on experience working with such pump, the operator may be able to provide an estimate of how the pump is performing, and whether the pump, or one of its components, requires replacement.
Such a method of monitoring pumps relies on the operator's experience, and may ignore many operating parameters of the pumps that are not readily available for measurement by the operator. This may lead to inaccuracies in the estimates made by the operator.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.


A portion of an anode lead frame 3 of a solid electrolytic capacitor 1 is bent to form a protruding portion 4 that protrudes toward an anode lead 20. The protruding portion 4 includes a first horizontal portion 41 positioned higher than and substantially parallel to the anode lead 20, a second horizontal portion 40 contacting the anode lead 20, a sloping portion 42 linking the inner end of the first horizontal portion 41 with the outer end of the second horizontal portion 40, and an auxiliary bent portion 43 bent upward from the inner end of the second horizontal portion 40 and substantially symmetrical with the sloping portion 42. A contact surface 46 of the second horizontal portion 40 with the anode lead 20 is formed flat, and a surface 47 of the second horizontal portion 40 on the opposite side to the contact surface 46 is formed with a rounded curvature.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a solid electrolytic capacitor that includes a lead frame, and a method for manufacturing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a solid electrolytic capacitor (1) having the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is known (see Japanese Patent No. 3157722). The solid electrolytic capacitor (1) includes a capacitor element (2) with a thin wire-like anode lead (20) protruding therefrom. An anode lead frame (3) is resistance welded to the anode lead (20), and a cathode lead frame (30) is attached to the peripheral surface of the capacitor element (2) by a conductive adhesive (26). The capacitor element (2) and base ends of both lead frames (3) and (30) are covered with a synthetic resin housing (5), while portions of the lead frames (3) and (30) that protrude outside the housing (5) are bent downward along the peripheral surface of the housing (5), and then horizontally along the base of the housing (5).
When forming the solid electrolytic capacitor (1), the capacitor element (2) with the lead frames (3) and (30) attached is deployed in a space (91) between removable upper and lower dies (9) and (90), as shown in FIG. 9. After injecting resin into the space (91), the dies (9) and (90) are removed to form the housing (5) covering the capacitor element (2). Tapered surfaces (5a) (see FIG. 8) are formed on lower side portions of the housing (5) due to the removal of the dies. The lead frames (3) and (30) are then bent downward along the peripheral surface of the housing (5).
The capacitor element (2) is obtained by sequentially forming a dielectric oxide film (21), a solid electrolytic layer (22) made of a conductive polymer, and carbon and silver paste layers (23) on the surface of an anode body (24) composed of a sintered valve metal such as tantalum to cover the anode body (24), as shown in FIG. 10. The anode lead (20) is made of a valve metal, and protrudes from the center of the anode body (24).
As shown in FIG. 8, the anode lead frame (3) forms a step portion (7) within the housing (5). The step portion (7) includes a first horizontal portion (41) positioned higher than and substantially parallel to the anode lead (20), and a second horizontal portion (40) contacting the anode lead (20). The anode lead frame (3) is bent from the end of the first horizontal portion (41) along the outside of the housing (5) to form a vertical portion (35).
Due to variation in length of the anode lead (20), the leading end (20a) of the anode lead (20) sometimes comes in close proximity to an intersection X between an extended surface of the anode lead (20) and the housing (5).
By positioning the upper end of the vertical portion (35) above the second horizontal portion (40) by the height of the step portion (7), room is provided between the intersection X and the vertical portion (35) by an amount equal to the horizontal distance of the tapered portion (5a) corresponding to the height of the step portion (7). Damage to the leading end of the anode lead (20) due to the vertical portion (35) contacting the leading end of the anode lead (20) when bending the anode lead frame (3) along the housing (5) to form the vertical portion (35) is thereby prevented.
The applicant was aware of the following problems with the above configuration in need of resolution.
Springback sometimes occurs because of the step portion (7) being formed by bending the metal anode lead frame (3). Here, springback indicates the deformation of the step portion (7) in such a way that the angle of bend widens after the metal has been bent, as shown by the angles Y and Z magnified in FIG. 11. Consequently, the anode lead (20) of the capacitor element (2) is attached to the second horizontal portion (40) of the anode lead frame (3) at an angle, as shown in FIG. 12, possibly causing variation in the size of the contact area between the anode lead (20) of the capacitor element (2) and the anode lead frame (3).
Also, if the anode lead (20) is welded to the second horizontal portion (40), as shown in FIG. 13, the capacitor element (2) welded at an angle pushes the cathode lead frame (30) upward, possibly resulting in the cathode lead frame (30) jutting out from the housing (5) and affecting the appearance of the solid electrolytic capacitor (1). Variation in the bonding strength of the capacitor element (2) occurs as a result, and reliability is brought into question.
Also, the following problems occur if the positional relation between the anode lead (20) and the anode lead frame (3) is out of alignment when the capacitor element (2) is attached to the cathode lead frame (30). The substantial contact area between the anode lead (20) and the anode lead frame (3) is narrowed because of the anode lead (20) and the anode lead frame (3) not being parallel. This results in problems such as weak bonding strength and increased ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance).
Further, if the second horizontal portion (40) is formed on a large scale with a die when mass producing the anode lead frame (3), the second horizontal portion (40) becomes rounded due to wearing of the die, possibly reducing the contact area with the anode lead (20).
There are also calls for further reductions in the size and increases in the capacity of capacitors of this type.

Solid electrolytic capacitor and method for manufacturing the same

Furukawa Precision Engineering Co., Ltd.


This braking control device feeds by pressure a braking fluid from a master cylinder to a wheel cylinder, to generate a braking force in a wheel. The braking control device is provided with an input rod; an output rod; first and second electric motors; and first and second racks forming a differential mechanism. When the outputs of the first and second electric motors are controlled, the operation power of the input rod and the displacement of the output rod are controlled independently of each other. Here, in the second rack, the movement, in a backward direction, in response to decrease of a master cylinder fluid pressure is limited within a range of a predetermined displacement by means of two stoppers.

Patent Literature 1 describes "a brake system for a vehicle including a braking operation member (10); a first piston-cylinder unit (12), the first piston-cylinder unit (12) being arranged with the braking operation member (10) so that a first piston (14) of the first piston-cylinder unit (12) is displaceable by the braking operation member (10) operated by at least a defined minimum operation amount and a first inner pressure of the piston-cylinder unit (12) increases; at least one wheel brake cylinder, the at least one wheel brake cylinder being hydraulically connected to the first piston-cylinder unit (12) so that a brake pressure of the at least one wheel brake cylinder can be increased by the increased first inner pressure in the first piston-cylinder unit (12); and a first brake booster (24); the brake system for the vehicle including a second piston-cylinder unit (26), the second piston-cylinder unit (26) being arranged with the first brake booster (24) so that a second piston (28) of the second piston-cylinder unit (26) is displaceable by the first brake booster (24) and a second inner pressure of the second piston-cylinder unit (26) is increased, and the second piston-cylinder unit (26) being hydraulically connected with at least one wheel brake cylinder so that a brake pressure of the at least one wheel brake cylinder is increased by the increased second inner pressure in the second piston-cylinder unit (26).
Patent Literature 1 describes a braking control device configured by two piston-cylinder units, which are driven by two electric motors, to perform braking in cooperation with a regenerative brake. Since such a device includes two piston-cylinder units, miniaturization of the entire device is difficult. Therefore, it is desired that the braking control device be miniaturized and the failsafe be further ensured.


Provided are a method for authenticating a user terminal in an interface server, and an interface server and a user terminal using the same. The method includes receiving authentication request information from an application service providing server in order to request the interface server to authenticate the user terminal receiving an application service provided from the application service providing server, authenticating the user terminal according to the authenticating request information using an authentication method selected by the interface server or a user of the user terminal, and transmitting authentication response information including an authentication result of performing the authentication method to the application service providing server. The interface server provides an interface for a network to the application service providing server.

Due to the development of a communication system, various types of networks have been realized. An environment including multiple types of networks is referred to as a multi-network environment. In the multi-network environment, a user terminal may access one of networks such as a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, and a World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network.
Hereinafter, the WiMAX network will be exemplary described as one of the representative communication networks. The WiMAX network provides a communication service that enables a user to access the Internet at a high speed and to receive data or multimedia contents not only in an indoor place but also at the outside and even during travelling using various types of user terminals such as a personal computer, a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a handset, and a smart phone. Such a WiMAX service enables a user to use the Internet even in the outdoor place such as streets, parks, and vehicles in travelling unlike a high speed internet service that enables a user to use the Internet only at an indoor place with an internet cable is installed such as home, a school, and an office.
A WiMAX forum has been established by communication service providers, communication equipments manufacturers, and semiconductor manufacturers in order to secure comparability among equipment employing a WiMAX technology. The WiMAX forum uses an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.16 of a wide band wireless access technology as a fundamental technology. The WiMAX forum has been trying to advance a related technology from a stationary standard 802.16d to a mobile standard 802.16e.
The WiMAX network is a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) technology based on IEEE 802.16 standard. In general, the WiMAX network includes an access service network (ASN) and a connectivity service network (CSN). The access service network (ASN) includes a user terminal such as a mobile station (MS) which is a client, a base station (BS), and an access service network gateway (ASN-GW). The connectivity service network (CSN) includes logical entities such as a policy function (PF) entity, an authentication authorization and accounting (AAA) server, and an application function (AF) entity.
Hereinafter, a logical structure of a WiMAX network will be described.
The mobile station (MS) is referred to as a WiMAX terminal that accesses the ASN through a wireless link. An IEEE 802.16D/E standard WMAN access technology is mainly used at a wireless side of a WiMAX network.
The ASN guarantees establishing connection between a WiMAX terminal and a WiMAX base station (BS). The ASN manages wireless resources, finds a network, selects an optimal a network service provider (NSP) for a WiMAX subscriber, operates as a proxy server for controlling authentication authorization and accounting (AAA) of a WiMAX subscriber in a proxy mobile intern protocol (MIP), and accesses an application through a WiMAX terminal.
The CSN allocates an Internet protocol (IP) address for a session of a WiMAX subscriber, provides access for Internet, operates as an AAA proxy or an AAA server, performs a policy and controls access based on the subscribing data of a subscriber, supports establishing a tunnel between the ASN and the CSN, generates an invoice for a WiMAX subscriber, supports a policy of a WiMAX service through an operator, supports forming a loaming tunnel between CSNs, supports mobility between ASNs, provides a location based service, provides an end-to-end service, and supports various WiMAX services such as multimedia broadcast service and a multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS).
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a network system according to the related art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the network system according to the related art includes a user terminal 110, a communication system 120, an Internet network 130, and an application service provider 140.
The user terminal 110 is any devices that can access a network including a communication system. For example, the user terminal 110 may be a notebook computer, a personal computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a hand set, or a personal multimedia player (PMP).
The communication system 120 includes a base station 121 or a radio access station (RAS) for controlling connection of a physical communication channel, an Access Service Network Gate Way (ASN-GW) 122 or Base Station Controller/Serving GPRS Supporting Node (BSC/SGSN) for controlling Medium Access Control (MAC) of an access network, Connectivity Service Network (CSN) 123 or Packet Data Service Node/Gateway GPRS Support Node (PDSN/GGSN) for controlling connection of a network layer. The communication system 120 may further include a location information server (LIS), a device capability server, a user profile server, a quality of service server (QoS), and a billing server.
The application service provider 140 has servers for providing a predetermined service to the user terminal 110. The application service provider 140 may include an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) server for providing an Internet based television programs to a user terminal 110 accessing the Internet network 130, a contents server for providing music/video contents in real time, a search engine server for providing a result of a search inquiry in response to a request of the user terminal 110, an advertisement server for providing advertisement, and a service server 139 for providing services.
Hereinafter, an operation of a network system according to the related art will be described. For example, the network system according to the related art performs following operations when a user of a user terminal 110 requests a map service from the application service provider 140.
The user of the user terminal 110 is located at an area A. The user terminal 110 requests a map service to an application service provider 140 through a communication system 120 and an internet network 130. The application service provider 140 provides a web page (or a web site) as the map service to the user terminal 110.
The application service provider 140 provides an initial map image of a predetermined area which is initially selected in a map service server regardless of a current location of a user terminal 110. When the user requests a map image of a certain area after sending the initial map image of the predetermined area, the application service provider 140 provides a map image of a corresponding area to a user.
If the application service provider 140 provides a map image of a current location of a user terminal when the user terminal 110 access a server of the application service provider 140 providing the map service, the application service provider can provide a personalized map service to a user. In this way, the user may be provided with a better service. In order to provide such a personalized service, the application service provider 140 needs personal information. Therefore, there has been a demand for a method of receiving personal information such as location information of the user terminal 110 when the application service provider 140 provides a personalized service to the user terminal 110.
When the application service provider 140 requests the personal information such as location information of the user terminal 110 to the communication system 120 after accessing the communication system 120, it is required to establish an interface and to perform mutual authentication among the application service provider 140, the user terminal 110, and the communication system 120.

Method for user terminal authentication of interface server and interface server and user terminal thereof