A radio resource configuration method and device are disclosed. The radio resource configuration method includes: after a piece of user equipment UE establishes a connection with a base station according to a system bandwidth in a broadcast message, determining, by the base station for the UE, resource configuration used for communication between the UE and the base station, where the resource configuration includes at least one of a resource allocation bandwidth, a channel state information CSI pilot bandwidth, and a CSI measurement bandwidth, where the resource allocation bandwidth is a bandwidth used to generate resource block allocation information in downlink control information; and sending, by the base station to the UE by using dedicated signaling or a common message, the resource configuration determined for the UE and used for communication between the UE and the base station.

In existing wireless communications standards such as the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), a network side broadcasts a system bandwidth, namely, a spectrum resource, used by a current cell; and a piece of user equipment (UE) communicates with the network side within the notified system bandwidth.
Specifically, from establishment of a radio resource control (RRC) protocol link to actual service transmission, all spectrum resources, of the UE, used for data receiving and transmission are limited within the system bandwidth broadcast by a system, and these spectrum resources need to satisfy a limited number of standard bandwidth values that are defined by a standard. In addition, to implement downlink dynamic adaptation, the UE needs to measure downlink reference signals, and feeds back a measurement result to the network side, where these downlink reference signals for measuring channel state information are all transmitted based on a limited number of standard bandwidths, and a measurement manner used on the side of the UE is also based on the several standard bandwidths.
However, an actual available bandwidth is different from the system bandwidth to some extent in an actual situation. For example, in many scenarios such as frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC), a non-standard spectrum, and a capability difference between UEs, there is a case in which an actual available bandwidth is inconsistent with the system bandwidth.
The configuration manner in the prior art in which the network side limits all working spectrums of the UE within the system bandwidth cannot effectively and fully use a radio resource.

Radio resource configuration method and device


Systems and methods are provided for rendering content for presentation in a portion of a user interface based on context-independent data and a template that is selected based on context information associated with the user interface. The template may be selected from among a number of different templates based at least in part on a template selection data structure that associates each template with one or more combinations of contextual attributes associated with the context of the user interface. The content for inclusion in at least a portion of the user interface may then be rendered using the selected template and at least a portion of the context-independent data.

For a large individual website or other large host of network-accessible content, there may be a huge variety of user interface configurations or page configurations that may be presented to users depending on various contextual factors. For example, page content for a given page request from a client device may be dynamically assembled by a server to include content from a variety of sources based on certain base content that the user is requesting to view, as well as additional information that may be relevant to the user or customized to the user. For example, if a user is requesting to view information about an item for potential purchase, the responsive page generated for display may include not only information about the item itself, but also personalized recommendations of other items that may be of interest to the user, estimated delivery time for that particular item to be delivered to the particular user, etc.
In existing websites, it is common for variations in the manner in which particular content is displayed in different contexts or on different types of user interfaces to be accomplished via inefficient code that may not be centrally managed. For example, item delivery estimate information may be presented in different portions of various webpages and application user interfaces (which may be optimized for mobile display device, desktop computer display, etc.) in different contexts (including a page that first displays item information to a user, a page presented after the user adds an item to an electronic shopping cart, etc.). The content rendering logic and instructions for each of these contexts may reside in different network locations and may be separately maintained by development teams, which may lead to scalability problems and inconsistent viewing experiences across different contexts.

Consistent context-dependent rendering of user interface data


An emergency vision apparatus for providing an operator visual access to information during a smoke emergency, comprises an enclosure made of airtight material having spaced apart front and rear panels, the front panel being transparent, the front panel including fasteners for attachment to an instrument panel; an image capture device attached to said rear panel, the image capture device being oriented to view the instrument panel through the transparent front panel; an image viewing device for being disposed in front of one of the operator's eyes, the image viewing device being operably associated with the image capture device; and a support structure to support said viewing lens in front of one of the operator's eyes.

When cockpits are invaded by continuous, dense, blinding smoke that turn airplanes into unguided missiles, the results are well known to be catastrophic and fatal for passengers and crew. None create an unsafe condition faster than a pilot blinded by continuous, opaque smoke. And none occur as frequently as smoke in the cockpit. According to the Air Line Pilots Association, airliners make an unscheduled or emergency landing due to smoke in the cockpit on an average of once per day.
What is true for a cockpit is equally true for any operator station where the operator's ability to see the instrument panel when smoke invades the operator's station depends on the safe operation or orderly shutdown of critical processes, such as occur in a nuclear power station, submarine and similar operator stations.
The present invention is related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,832,287; 5,318,250; 5,202,796; 5,947,415; and 6,082,673.
Prior art emergency vision assurance systems use inflatable enclosures with viewing panels at opposite ends of the enclosures to gap the distance between the pilot's face mask and the windshield or the instrument panel to allow the pilot access to visual information to help him operate an aircraft in the event of smoke in the cockpit.

Electro-optical emergency vision apparatus


An antenna for reception and transmission of signals within an enclosure. The antenna includes a first lead for connection to a printed circuit board and a second lead. A plurality of vertical members extend in parallel to one another and spaced a predetermined distance apart. Each vertical member has a first end and a second end. A plurality of horizontal members is provided. Each horizontal member extends alternately between first ends of a pair of adjacent vertical members and second ends of a next pair of adjacent vertical members forming a connection between said first lead and said second lead.

Many devices operate within a constrained or compact enclosure from which a user may need to obtain information regarding the operation of the device. Without the ability to obtain information directly from the device inside the enclosure, it is necessary to have the information transmitted to the user or at times to transmit data to the device. It is also desirable for the user to be able to monitor and/or control the operation of the device from a remote location. Without remote monitoring capability, a user may not have the ability to monitor and/or control the operation of the device.
Conventional methods of monitoring activity within such a constrained or compact enclosure have only allowed for the use of a chip antenna or a physically short antenna that is not tuned to a desired frequency.
An advantageous antenna would be formed as one of a dipole or monopole and be raised away from a printed circuit board allowing for improved transmission and reception of signals over conventional chip antennas.
Advantageously, the antenna would be able to receive and transmit signals from within the enclosure enabling a user to securely and remotely query the status of a device within the enclosure, for example, a property entrance-door deadbolt lock, a set top box, a gateway, etc., using, for example, a cell phone that can be located substantially anywhere in the world without a need to subscribe to a commercial security service. A remotely situated user using conventional Application software (Apps) for Windows, Android, or iOS is able to receive the status or operational parameters of the device, for example by detecting when a deadbolt lock is engaged in a door frame or when it is retracted from the door frame based on a queried command, detecting a status of a set top box or remotely programming the set top box to record a program, etc. The queried command may be applied by wireless communication via a Graphical User Interface installed on a Smartphone or Personal Computer such as a Laptop, Desktop, or Notepad that may be located in the vicinity of the device or at a remote location that may be far from the device. Additionally, the sensor may be used in a variety of Home Automation applications. The sensor has a unique advantage of being lower in cost and providing better performance than chip antennas and also allows for use in very small spaces.
In a further advantageous feature, the antenna can be employed in any Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth application. Further, the antenna can be employed in any number of devices where it would operate in a constrained enclosure such as a set-top box or gateway. In a further exemplary use, when used with a deadbolt sensor, the antenna can be used to receive command signals for remotely locking and unlocking, e.g. activating and deactivating, the deadbolt lock.
For example, when operating with a device in an enclosure, the antenna may be connected to a wireless transceiver/transmitter. Responsive to output signals such as from a sensor, the wireless transceiver/transmitter may periodically transmit a first wireless signal via the antenna conforming to a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol that may contain information derived from the output signal. A BLE-ZigBee bridge device responsive to the BLE wireless signal may periodically store information related to the device. The bridge device may additionally be responsive to a second wireless signal conforming to the ZigBee protocol containing a request for information. The bridge device may transmit stored information using a third wireless signal conforming to the ZigBee protocol at a power level that is higher than a power level of the first wireless signal. The third wireless signal may be applied to a gateway device that conveys the stored information via the antenna to, for example, a remote user via, for example, a wide area network such as the Internet.
Advantageously, the antenna, the sensor, the BLE wireless transceiver and a battery that energizes the BLE wireless transceiver are installed together as a single unit that is inserted into a compact enclosure. They may also be displaced together, during operation, as a single unit in the enclosure.
Advantageously, reliability of the device may be improved by informing the user of any malfunction by providing error detection capability that includes redundancy, transmitting a signal indicative of the error detection using the antenna. The antenna improves the transmission and reception of signals by the device by increasing the transmission range, allowing for operation as either a monopole or dipole, minimizing interference from a printed circuit board and allowing for tuning to a desired frequency.


The present invention relates to a power factor correction circuit, that can include: an inductor current detector that generates a sampling voltage signal, and sinusoidal half-wave current and voltage signals based on the sampling voltage signal; a mediate signal generator generating slope voltage and clock signals in response to the sinusoidal half-wave voltage signal, where a frequency of each varies with the sinusoidal half-wave voltage signal; a current modulation circuit receiving the sinusoidal half-wave current signal and a voltage feedback signal representative of a power stage output voltage to generate a regulation signal that is compared against the slope voltage signal to generate a modulation signal; and a logic/driving circuit receiving the modulation and clock signals, and generating a controlling signal that controls a power switch with variable frequency to maintain the inductor current in phase with the sinusoidal half-wave voltage signal and the power stage output voltage constant.

A conventional AC/DC power supply may include an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter, a rectifier, a power factor correction circuit, and a power stage. With reference to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram of a conventional AC/DC power supply is shown. In this example, an AC supply is filtered by EMI filter 11 to eliminate electromagnetic interference, and then rectified by full-bridge rectifier 12. An output voltage of full-bridge rectifier 12 may be corrected by power factor correction circuit 13, and then sent to drive load 14 during normal operation. However, the drawbacks of this approach include increased printed circuit board (PCB) size and cost due to use of the EMI filter arranged in front of the full-bridge rectifier.

Power factor correction circuit with frequency jittering

Silergy Semiconductor Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd


Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system, and computer program product for ensuring the veracity of a mobile application for deployment in a distributed computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for ensuring the veracity of a mobile application for deployment in a distributed computing environment is provided. The method includes detecting a mobile application being uploaded for deployment to a mobile computing device in the distributed computing environment, creating and then storing a fingerprint for the uploaded mobile application, calculating an offset value according to the fingerprint for the uploaded mobile application, and storing the offset value for the uploaded mobile application. The method further includes, prior to deploying the uploaded mobile application to the mobile computing device, validating the offset value for the uploaded mobile application to determine that the uploaded mobile application is an unaltered version of the uploaded mobile application.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer program deployment and, more particularly, to mobile application deployment to pervasive computing devices in a distributed computing environment.
Description of the Related Art
Integral to the successful implementation of a computer software development project is the ultimate deployment of a fully functioning computing system. Early forms of computing systems involved a single computer program executing in the memory of a single computer. The rise of computer networks in general industry resulted in the expansion of the traditional computing system from the single computer to a client-server architected computing system in which many different computing clients, individually executing a computer program, access program data through one or more coupled host servers. The explosion of Internet computing has further complicated matters resulting in complex computing arrangements, in which logic for a computing system resides and executes across a multiplicity of end user computing devices and remote servers.
The accessibility of the Internet has facilitated the growth and popularity of distributed computing models. In a distributed computing model, substantial processing can be pushed to host servers geographically closest to the end user. One or more controllers determine when program logic or data is best served from a particular remote server for the benefit of a particular end user or class of end users. Given the complexity of the distributed computing architecture, deploying an application into a distributed architecture can be equally as complicated—particularly where access policies determine whether or not an individual end user or class of end users is permitted to deploy a given application onto a given computing device.
The problem of application deployment into a distributed computing environment is most prevalent in a distributed computing environment supporting a multiplicity of pervasive end user mobile devices such personal digital assistants and smart phones. At present, the most popular methodology for application deployment to pervasive devices mimics the ad hoc distribution model. In the ad hoc distribution model, individual end users connect to a remote server providing a menu of applications available for deployment over the Internet to respective pervasive mobile devices. However, there is no way to ensure that the application an individual end user has downloaded and installed to a pervasive end user mobile device is the same application governed by access policies.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Mobile application deployment for distributed computing environments


A hands-free wearable lighting device is a device utilized to provide illumination to the user's surroundings while being worn. At least one multicolor light-emitting diode (LED) is positioned within an LED compartment located on a housing. A control unit, a brightness adjustment switch, and a color adjustment switch allow the user to alter the light of the at least one multicolor LED. A necklace allows the housing to be worn around the user's neck in order to provide hands-free illumination. The user may utilize the device as a handheld light by grasping the device via a finger tab. Additionally, the user may utilize a prop stand to direct the light from the at least one multicolor LED in a desired direction. The device may include a laser diode as well in order to allow the device to emit a laser in addition to regular illumination.

More adequate illumination is often desirable during various activities including reading in an upright seating position, working in a cramped space, and while exercising outdoors. Conventional lighting devices such as flashlights, lanterns, and similar devices must be held during use and prevent the user from freely utilizing his or her hands. In addition, such devices are impractical during certain activities such as reading or exercising outdoors. In these types of situations, hands-free illumination is most practical as the user is then free to use his or her hands as needed.
The present invention is a hands-free wearable lighting device that provides illumination to the user's ambient surroundings. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention is worn around the user's neck and provides illumination in front of the user. The positioning and orientation of the present invention is adjustable in order to direct the provided illumination in the desired manner by the user. The present invention may additionally be utilized as a handheld lighting device as needed.


In one embodiment, a method includes: obtaining a power loss value for a cable that couples a device to a power source, where the power loss value is indicative of an amount of power lost through the cable during power transmission from the power source to the device; and determining, based at least in part on the power loss value for the cable, a power budget value indicative of an amount of power received by the device from the power source.

The ongoing development, maintenance, and expansion of data networks often involves incorporating additional functionality into and enabling greater connectivity with previously deployed equipment, in addition to deploying new networking equipment. The transmission media by which devices are connected may allow for the communication of data between devices and, in some instances, also allow for the transmission of power between devices. The simplification of using the same cable (and input/output ports) for transmission of both data and power between devices may enhance the user experience.
Powering devices via a transmission media rather than an independent power source presents a number of challenges. For example, the amount of power received via a transmission media which also carries data may be significantly less than the amount of power that may be drawn from a dedicated power source such as a wall outlet. Thus, a device that draws power via such a transmission medium may have a reduced power budget and may not be able to perform the same number of functions as an independently powered device within that power budget or may not be able to provide the same level of performance of performed functions that an independently powered device may provide.
In accordance with common practice various features shown in the drawings may not be drawn to scale, as the dimensions of various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Moreover, the drawings may not depict all of the aspects and/or variants of a given system, method or apparatus admitted by the specification. Finally, like reference numerals are used to denote like features throughout the figures.


A well sealing device using an internal propellant charge to drive slip segments outwardly against a well casing. A pin shears, releasing the device from its wire line prior to final setting of the slip segments.

In the development or production of gas or oil wells it frequently becomes necessary to seal or plug the well casing at a desired depth. This sealing or plugging forms a barrier in the well bore to isolate upper and lower sections of the bore from each other. After the plugging has taken place, a pressure differential across the plug can exist and can vary from a few pounds per square inch to several thousand pounds per square inch. It is common for such plugs or sealing devices to be run into the well bore or casing on a wireline and then expanded or locked into place by means of generating a high pressure gas within the plug, or by generating a high pressure gas in a tool used to stroke the plug. Generation of the high pressure gas can be typically by the burning of a propellant, either in the plug itself or in a separate, but attached, firing chamber.
Currently known sealing devices typically use a series of concentric cylinders or chambers which move axially relative to one another to drive slip segments outwardly against the well casing. A feature commonly found in such devices is an element such as a shear pin which can shear to release the sealing device from the wireline after sealing has taken place. It is typical among such known devices to either shear the shear pin by jerking upwardly on the wireline after setting the sealing device or to shear the shear pin after setting of the sealing device by means of upsetting the shear pin structure through continued expansion of the propellant gas after setting of the sealing device is accomplished. Regardless of which of these two methods is used, it is a common occurrence to have a bridging plug or sealing device which does not set and seal tightly against the well casing and in which the shear pin has failed to shear, leaving the partially set sealing device attached to the wireline. It can then be very difficult to retrieve the wireline or the sealing device from the casing, and such removal can involve considerable expense to the operator.
It would be desirable to design a well sealing device which insures positive release from the wireline and which at the same time insures positive sealing against the well casing.


An X-ray sensitive coating (22) for a flat panel direct conversion X-ray detector for medical or industrial imaging. A composite particle-in-binder (PIB) material (22) may contain X-ray photoconductive particles (23) such as PbO (lead monoxide) in a binder of polyimide (23). This PIB material may be prepared in precursor paste form, and applied as a coating (22) onto a thin film transistor array (26) having a storage capacitor (31) at each pixel (30). The coating (22) is cured, and an electrically conducting layer (34) is applied to the exposed surface of the coating (22), to provide a bias voltage. X-ray photons striking the photoconductive particles (23) cause localized electrical conduction proportional to the number of photons. This charges respective capacitors (31) that provide image data input to a computer.

X-ray sensitive coatings for direct conversion X-ray imaging have been made of various photoconductor materials that normally behave as insulators, but upon impingement of X-ray photons directly form an electrical charge without use of intermediary converting materials. A thin film transistor (TFT) array provides electrical charge signals from each of a plurality of pixels to a computer. Prior photoconductor materials and binders used in detectors for direct conversion X-ray imaging have suffered from various disadvantages. Amorphous selenium (a-Se) has relatively low stopping power for X-rays having energy levels approximately above 30 kVp, and in addition incurs incremental costs due to vacuum vapor deposition of Se. HgI2 particle-in-binder (PIB) materials tend to be highly reactive and chemically unstable. Epoxy binders are generally not compatible with PbO, due to polar hydroxyl groups present on the surface of typical PbO particles. Epoxy binders are also unstable against radiation damage, and allow high leakage currents. Organic semiconductor binders allow leakage currents that are orders of magnitude too high for practical applications, especially for medical imaging.

Particle-in-binder X-ray sensitive coating using polyimide binder


Water soluble analytical agents for chlorine analysis of water are delivered into a sample from a support that is beneficially moved in the sample to assist delivery and mixing. Beneficially, an immediate photometric analysis of free chlorine is provided, and variability of measurements is reduced. Advantageously, the analysis is a touch-free chlorine analysis.

Chlorine analysis has wide commercial applicability, and is useful for testing drinking water, pool and spa water, aquarium water, industrial and environmental water, and for other types of water testing. Medical applicability includes testing of equipment such as dialysis equipment to confirm removal of chlorine and chloramine contaminants. Chlorine can be present in water as free available chlorine and as combined available chlorine. Both forms can be determined together as total available chlorine. Combined available chlorine exists as monochloramine, dichloramine and other chloro derivatives. If monochloramine is present in a sample, its interference with free chlorine analysis is dependent on sample temperature, relative concentration of monochloramine to free chlorine, and the time required to perform the analysis.
Quantitative methods for chlorine analysis that rely upon the evaluation of sample color are described in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th Edition, 1995 (4500-Cl), and include a DPD calorimetric method. According to the DPD colorimetric method (4500-Cl G) for free chlorine, 0.5 ml of a phosphate buffer solution and 0.5 ml of a DPD indicator solution are added to a photometer cell, 10 ml of a sample is added to the photometer cell and mixed to provide the sample with an appropriate pH and promote the color reaction, and the sample color is read immediately using appropriate photometric equipment. An immediate reading is desirable for free chlorine because of monochloramine interference and color complex degradation, which are reduced or avoided by taking the reading within one minute, especially within 30 to 45 seconds, of combining the sample and the analytical agents. As can be deduced, the less time to perform a free chlorine analysis, the more accurate the analysis should be.
The DPD indicator solution is prepared by dissolving an appropriate amount of DPD oxalate, DPD sulfate pentahydrate or anhydrous DPD sulfate in water containing sulfuric acid and disodium EDTA. In the case of the anhydrous sulfate, 0.5 ml of the DPD indicator solution contains 0.00055 g of the DPD salt.
For accurate results, pH control is essential to minimize interferences. Too low a pH may enhance monochloramine interference with free chlorine analysis. According to this US EPA accepted, DPD colorimetric standard method, the phosphate buffer solution is prepared using an about 2:1 weight ratio of potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous to sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, with disodium EDTA, in an amount sufficient to provide a typical 10 ml sample with a pH in the range of about 6.2 to 6.5. The EDTA additive may advantageously overcome one or more test interferences.
For total chlorine, about 0.1 g of potassium iodide may after the free chlorine analysis, be added to the sample, and after 2 minutes, the sample color is photometrically analyzed. US EPA accepted method 330.5 for total chlorine in natural and treated waters, corresponds to the foregoing total chlorine analysis except that potassium iodide is added with the DPD indicator and phosphate buffer solutions. Method 330.5 specifies the use of DPD oxalate or sulfate, and measurement after 2 minutes.
The photometric equipment is appropriately calibrated in advance. A spectrophotometer for use at a wavelength of 515 nm and providing a 1 cm or longer light path, or a filter photometer with a wavelength measurement range of 490 to 530 nm, and a 1 cm or longer light path may be used.
In the photometric analysis art, after a BLANK reading, a photometer cell is often removed from a photometer for the addition of the analytical agents to the cell, and thereafter is re-inserted in the photometer for the actual reading. To minimize variability of measurements, a user is therefore instructed to re-insert the photometer cell so that the cell has the same orientation. Otherwise, variability in the geometry and quality of the cell glass can cause variability of measurements. Furthermore, the exterior of a photometric cell should be free of smudges or fingerprints or a water drop to ensure an accurate reading.
Commercially available, prior art technology that is based upon DPD colorimetric methodology, includes powder "pillows" (carboxylate salt, DPD salt, and sodium phosphate dibasic mixed together), and evacuated reagent ampoules with frangible tips. This prior art technology provides the analytical agents as a mixture, and specifies photometric analysis of free chlorine within one minute after combining the analytical agents and sample. For total chlorine analysis, KI reagent is also used.
Another prior art colorimetric technology for water testing in which DPD is used for chlorine analysis, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,820 to Brayton. That patented technology is based upon a closed system. As explained by Brayton, a problem with powder "pillows" is that while a "pillow" contains the precise amount of reagent needed, reagent after opening the "pillow", can be a safety hazard through hand contact or dust inhalation, or can be partially spilled with resultant possible test error.
The commercially available, prior art evacuated glass ampoules contain a pre-measured mixture of the analytical agents. In use, the ampoule tip is broken off. Contact with a broken ampoule tip can result in injury.
Other commercially available, prior art colorimetric technology is based upon crushable DPD tablets. Certain brands of these tablets include a mixture of a DPD salt and boric acid. A problem with DPD tablets, as well as with DPD powder, is that not all solids may dissolve within the specified allowed time. Moreover, incomplete solids dissolution can be expected to be worse when a sample is cold, with any cloudiness from undissolved solids potentially enhanced in the winter. As indicated, if additional time for complete solids dissolution is allowed, color complex degradation and/or monochloramine interference may result in loss of precision. Undissolved solids can lead not only to a concern about the accuracy of test results but also to lack of reproducibility. Also, DPD tablets need to be crushed, and crushing the tablets introduces an extra and time-consuming step.
As illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,613 to Rosicky and U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,031 to Fisher et al, prior art reagent delivery devices that include a support such as an inert plastic strip or the like, and that release analytical agents for calorimetric analysis of chlorine are known. The sufficiently rigid support of such devices may be used to stir the sample, and thereafter the sample color is calorimetrically analyzed.
Rosicky teaches away from the use of DPD for chlorine analysis, for reasons of toxicity and allergenicity, and describes the combination of p-ethyl-oxyethylamino-aniline (EOAA) and non-ionic high molecular weight propyleneglycol ethyoxylates (PGE 8300 in particular) as an impregnant for filter paper fixed to a support, or as a coating on a support. The ethoxylates are described as a dispersing agent and protectant against oxidation, and as non-reactive with chlorine. Rosicky teaches a 20-40% w/v loading of PGE 8300 in an impregnating or coating solution, and visual comparison of the sample color with a color scale.
For chlorine analysis, Fisher et al (Example 6) teach the use of polyvinyl alcohol as a water soluble embedding polymer for DPD sulfate, and a waiting time of 10 minutes, instead of an immediate reading. The polyvinyl alcohol embedding polymer dissolves in the sample and releases the DPD sulfate. Thus, it appears that DPD release is retarded by the embedding polymer. In Example 6, Fischer et al disclose photometric analysis of the sample color, but do not disclose a phosphate buffer system.
Despite the foregoing advances, there continues to be a need for touch-free chlorine analysis of water that will advantageously minimize manipulations and reduce variability of measurements. Beneficially, the touch-free chlorine analysis will provide quick free chlorine analysis, thereby reducing monochloramine interference with free chorine analysis. Advantageously, the touch free-chlorine analysis will be based upon an accepted standard method for compliance testing, and in particular provide for immediate spectrophotometric analysis of free chlorine. Advantageously, there will no longer be concerns about powder spillage, or about whether adequate solids dissolution has taken place or whether undissolved solids from incomplete solids dissolution may interfere.

Reagent delivery and photometric chlorine analysis


A system (100) and method to control rheology of ceramic pre-cursor batch during extrusion is described herein. An extrusion system (100) comprises an extruder (122) with an input port (144) configured to feed ceramic pre-cursor batch into a first section (120) of an extruder barrel and a discharge port configured to extrude a ceramic pre-cursor extrudate (172) out of the extruder barrel downstream of the input port (144). A liquid injector (210) is configured to inject liquid into the ceramic pre-cursor batch. A sensor (106) is configured to detect a rheology characteristic of the ceramic pre-cursor batch. A controller (108) is configured (i) to receive the rheology characteristic from the sensor (106), (ii) compare the rheology characteristic to a predetermined rheology value of the ceramic pre-cursor batch, and (iii) generate a command based on the comparison. A liquid regulator (110) is configured to receive the command and adjust liquid flow to the liquid injector (210) based on the command.

After-treatment of exhaust gas from internal combustion engines may use catalysts supported on high-surface area substrates and, in the case of diesel engines and some gasoline direct injection engines, a catalyzed filter for the removal of carbon soot particles. Porous ceramic flow-through honeycomb substrates and wall-flow honeycomb filters may be used in these applications.
The manufacture of ceramic honeycomb structures may be accomplished by the process of plasticizing ceramic powder batch mixtures, extruding the mixtures through honeycomb extrusion dies to form honeycomb extrudate, and drying and firing the extrudate to produce ceramic honeycombs of high strength and thermal durability. The ceramic honeycombs thus produced are widely used as ceramic catalyst supports in motor vehicle exhaust systems, and as catalyst supports and wall-flow particulate filters for the removal of soot and other particulates from diesel engine exhausts.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not form any part of the prior art nor what the prior art may suggest to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Apparatus and methods of ceramic pre-cursor batch rheology control


The invention relates to a colored glass composition for producing glazings for use, e.g., as automobile sunroofs. The colored glass according to the invention is a soda-lime-silica glass comprising, as coloring agents, 1.4 to 4% iron oxide expressed as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 and 0 to 0.05% cobalt oxide, with the cobalt oxide exceeding about 0.02% when the Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 is below about 2% and, optionally, selenium and chromium oxide, whereby the sum of the CoO+Se+Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 is preferably less than about 0.24% by weight. The glass of the invention has a total light transmission factor under illuminant A equal to or below approximately 20% and a total energy transmission factor equal to or below approximately 12% for a thickness of 3.85 mm.

Now, more than ever before, automobile designers are incorporating into their designs glazings formed of colored glass which have both a functional purpose and an attractive appearance. This tendency is confirmed by the ever increasing glazed surface of new automobile models compared with older types.
As a result, the greenhouse effect is an important factor which must be taken into account in determining the air conditioning requirements for such automobiles. This is more particularly true in the case of cars equipped with glass sunroofs. In an attempt to reduce this greenhouse effect, numerous unsuccessful attempts have previously been made by those skilled in the art to produce colored glass compositions having the low light and energy transmission properties offered by the glasses of the present invention.

Colored glass compositions and glazings produced therewith


The present invention is intended to provide a laminated optical film achieving both a high proportion of void space (porosity) and superior abrasion resistance. The laminated optical film of the present invention includes: a void-provided layer; a resin film; and a cover layer, wherein the void-provided layer is formed on the resin film, the cover layer is formed directly on the void-provided layer, and the void-provided layer has a contact angle with water of 90° or more and a proportion of void space of 30 vol % or more.

Disposing two substrates at a regular spacing forms an air layer which is a void space between the substrates. The air layer formed between the substrates serves as a low refractive layer that reflects light entirely, for example. Thus, for example, in the case of an optical film, components such as a prism, a polarizing film, and a polarizing plate are disposed at regular spacings to provide air layers each of which serves as a low refractive index layer between the components. Forming air layers in such a manner, however, requires disposing the components at regular spacings, which prevents the components from being stacked sequentially and causes time and trouble in production. Combining optical elements thorough a spacer (frame) or the like for maintaining an air layer increases the thickness of the whole film, which goes against the need for a thin and lightweight film.
For solving such problems, there are attempts of application of a layer with void spaces (hereinafter, also referred to as a "void-provided layer") having a low refractive index as a substitute for an air layer which is a void space between the components (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).

Laminated optical film, method of producing laminated optical film, optical element, and image display


Alternaria disease on plant leaves and stems is controlled by inoculating the plants with an effective amount of a biologically pure culture of a Pseudomonas cepacia strain. Ps. cepacia strain AMMD is a particularly effective biocontrol agent which inhibits leaf and stem blight caused by Alternaria panax in ginseng plants.

Farm crops are continually plagued by a variety of pests which can stunt or damage crop growth or even completely destroy the crop. Some of the pests are in the form of weeds which grow similarly to the desired plant and compete for the nutrients provided by soil and water. Other pests are in the form of pathogens such as fungi and bacteria which are found in association with many plants.
One of the more serious problems associated with fungal pathogens in plants is root rot. For example, pea root rot caused by the fungus Aphanomyces euteiches is a serious problem in pea-growing areas, particularly in Wisconsin and other Great Lake states. The Aphanomyces fungus infects not only peas, but also snap beans and alfalfa, accounting for 10 to 15% losses in yield. In extreme cases, some fields, where the fungus population has been built up over the period of several years, have become essentially useless for these crops.
Despite efforts to develop fungicides and commercially acceptable pea cultivars with resistance to this pathogen, there is presently no commercially available product capable of controlling Aphanomyces. Currently, the best way to avoid the disease loss is to avoid planting susceptible crops in soils with a high population of the Aphanomyces fungus. Unfortunately, the fungus can survive for many years in field soil and a long rotational time to other crops is not practical. As a result, there is a need to find an alternative disease control strategy to eliminate root rot caused by Aphanomyces and possibly other fungi.
A second serious problem of fungal pathogens is blight, such as the leaf and stem blight of American and Chinese ginseng caused by the Alternaria panax fungus. The ginseng plant is a perennial grown from seed which takes at least 3 to 4 years to reach marketable size. Between growing seasons, the ginseng plants are covered with straw mulch on which Alternaria spores can survive. Although A. panax-induced leaf and stem blight typically does not kill the entire ginseng plant, it can lead to reduced ginseng root growth. To minimize Alternaria damage, ginseng growers currently treat their crops with an EBDC fungicide (mancozeb). Unfortunately, the fungicide breakdown products are highly carcinogenic and use of the fungicide is slated for elimination. At present, ginseng growers must obtain permission annually to use the fungicide. Yet, its use is necessary since it has been estimated that 80% to 100% of all ginseng plants would suffer Alternaria blight without effective fungal control.
Related Alternaria species similarly affect other plants, such as crucifers, potatoes, and tomatoes, and cause similar problems for commercial growers. In particular, early blight of potatoes caused by A. solani is an extremely serious problem for potato growers in humid climates. Likewise, in regions that grow plants for oils, such as rapeseed and canola, A. brassicae and A. brassicicola endemic.
There is increasing interest in the use of living organisms to control such root and foliar diseases. Microscopic organisms are present in soil in populations of approximately 1 billion per cubic inch of soil. Some of the microorganisms cause disease and some are beneficial. The beneficial microorganisms are of major interest. It has long been known in agriculture that certain of these microbial inoculants can be used to facilitate the growth of certain plant species or to assist the plants in suppressing particular pathogenic organisms. For example, it has been a common practice to inoculate soybeans and other legumes at planting with bacterial cultures of the genus Rhizobium so that nitrogen-fixing nodules will form as a result of the plant-bacterium symbiosis.
Reference is now made to U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,584 to Lumsden, et al. which discloses a particular species of Pseudomonas cepacia which is effective in controlling Pythium diseases of cucumber and peas. The term "biocontrol agent", as used herein, refers to a living organism which controls diseases.

Biological inoculant effective against alternaria


A method for collapsing a microbubble includes applying stimulation to the microbubble during the gradual decrease of the its size. As a result, the microbubble floating in a solution that decreases in size due to the natural dissolution of a gas contained in the microbubble and disappears after a while, has the speed of its size decrease enhanced and causes the microbubble to disappear.

Bubbles having a diameter of 50 μm or less (microbubbles) are known to have properties different from those of normal bubbles, but the properties of the microbubbles have not yet been well understood. For that reason, various microbubble generators under development recently only generate microbubbles of a gas in aqueous solution, and there is almost no invention that makes the most of the potential properties of microbubbles. An example of the traditional technology using microbubbles is the method described in JP-A-2002-143885 of accelerating the biological activity, metabolism, and consequently growth of organisms. However, although the invention has significant advantages in the field of cultivation of fish and shellfish, it does not disclose or suggest anything about collapsing microbubbles.
An example of the technology using the collapsing phenomenon of bubbles is a method of irradiating an ultrasonic wave in aqueous solutions. However, the method is extremely low in efficiency because the bubbles for collapsing are generated by cavitational action of the ultrasonic wave itself, and has a problem of difficulty in commercialization because of its restricted functions. Since cavitation bubbles contain steam and are present only for an extremely limited period of microseconds, the method had problems that it was not possible to use the effect of another kind of gas as the main content and the effect of the electric charge formed at the gas-liquid interface of the bubbles.


An apparatus and method for detecting concatenation of payload data for an communication circuit is disclosed, wherein the payload data is dispersed over a first integrated circuit and one or more subsequent integrated circuits. The method and apparatus include determining whether each of the one or more subsequent integrated circuits have all channels therein designated as concatenation slaves, and communicating the determination to the first integrated circuit, the determination indicating that the one or more subsequent integrated circuits. According to an embodiment, the method and apparatus further include coupling the first integrated circuits to the one or more subsequent integrated circuits. The apparatus and method further include detecting concatenation on a first integrated circuit of the one or more integrated circuits, assigning one or more bi-directional ports coupled to the first integrated circuit as an input port, assigning each bi-directional port coupled to the one or more subsequent integrated circuits as output ports, and if any one integrated circuit among the subsequent integrated circuits includes a channel therein designated as a slave channel, providing an active high signal to the output port, the active high signal coupled to the input port of the first integrated circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data communications, and, more particularly, efficiency in data communication circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data communications network is the interconnection of two or more communicating entities (i.e., data sources and/or sinks) over one or more data links. A data communications network allows communication between multiple communicating entities over one or more data communications links. High bandwidth applications supported by these networks include streaming video, streaming audio, and large aggregations of voice traffic. In the future, these demands are certain to increase. To meet such demands, an increasingly popular alternative is the use of lightwave communications carried over fiber optic cables. The use of lightwave communications provides several benefits, including high bandwidth, ease of installation, and capacity for future growth.
The synchronous optical network (SONET) protocol is among those protocols designed to employ an optical infrastructure and is widely employed in voice and data communications networks. SONET is a physical transmission vehicle capable of transmission speeds in the multi-gigabit range, and is defined by a set of electrical as well as optical standards.
In some networks, network nodes store data which they use for proper operation. In SONET, data between adjacent nodes are transmitted in modules called STS""s (synchronous transport signals). Each STS is transmitted on a link at regular time intervals (for example, 125 microseconds). See Bellcore Generic Requirements document GR-253-CORE (Issue 2, December 1995) incorporated herein by reference. An STS-1 is a Synchronous Transport Signal-level 1 is the basic module in SONET and is defined as a specific sequence of 810 bytes (6480 bits) including overhead bytes and an envelope capacity for transporting payloads. In general, the higher-level signals, the STS-N signals, are lower-level modules that are multiplexed together and converted to an OC-N or STS-N signal. An STS-N frame is a sequence of Nxc3x97810 bytes wherein N is a predetermined number. An STS-N is formed by byte-interleaving of STS-1 and STS-M modules, wherein M is less than N.
In some systems, such as certain ISDN and ATM systems, multiple STS-1 payloads are transported as super rate payloads. To accommodate such a payload an STS-Nc module is formed by linking N constituent STS-1s together in fixed phase alignment. The payload is then mapped into a single STS-Nc Synchronous Payload Envelope (SPE) for transport. Network equipment supporting the multiplexing, switching or transport of STS-Nc SPES treat an STS-Nc SPE as a single entity. When an STS-Nc SPE is treated as a single entity, concatenation indicators are present in the second through the Nth STS payload pointers which show that the STS-1s in the STS-Nc are linked together. The concatenation indicators do not, however, indicate when a concatenated STS-Nc is spread across multiple ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Moreover, typically ASIC devices have limited pin availability compounding the problem.
It is desirable to have a system and method for detecting a concatenated STS-Nc that is spread across multiple ASICs.
Accordingly a system and method for detecting concatenation of payload data in a communication circuit, wherein the payload data is dispersed over a first integrated circuit and one or more subsequent integrated circuits, includes determining whether each of the one or more subsequent integrated circuits have all channels therein designated as concatenation slaves, and communicating the determination to the first integrated circuit, the determination indicating that the one or more subsequent integrated circuits are concatenation slaves. According to an embodiment, the method includes coupling the first integrated circuits to the one or more subsequent integrated circuits. The method further includes detecting concatenation on a first integrated circuit of the one or more integrated circuits, assigning one or more bi-directional ports coupled to the first integrated circuit as an input port, assigning each bi-directional port coupled to the one or more subsequent integrated circuits as an output port, and if any one integrated circuit among the subsequent integrated circuits includes a channel therein designated as a slave channel, providing an active high signal to the output port, the active high signal coupled to the input port of the first integrated circuit.
In one embodiment, the concatenation detection includes coupling the integrated circuits with a wire. The wire is further coupled to a pull up resistor to enable an active low signal and a tri stated signal. In another embodiment, the integrated circuits are disposed on an ASIC.
The foregoing is a summary and thus contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below.

Concatenation detection across multiple chips


An electrical-test apparatus is provided, which includes a MEMS array. In an example, the MEMS array comprises a plurality of tester interconnect structures cantilevered from first terminals on a first side of a substrate. The tester interconnect structures may have a first diameter. In an example, the MEMS array comprises a plurality of through-substrate vias that extend through the substrate, the vias having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. In an example, individual ones of the vias electrically couple individual ones of the tester interconnect structures to corresponding ones of second terminals on a second side of the substrate.

Tester interconnect solutions (e.g., test probes, test contacts, etc.) are a fundamental requirement for testing semiconductor devices at wafer or package level. These interconnects usually have to be compressible, provide adequate amount of force to achieve stable and repeatable electrical contact, and be able to repeat testing over several hundred thousand to millions of cycles. As semiconductor bump or pad pitch decreases at the wafer and package level and as a number of interconnects increases, the challenge of manufacturing such interconnects with existing technology may become prohibitive. For example, usually, interconnects used in test manufacturing are built using a serial one-interconnect-at-a-time approach, where the interconnects are assembled on a substrate one at a time, which may result in increased time and cost to manufacture, and decreased accuracy.

High density and fine pitch interconnect structures in an electric test apparatus


A system and methods for reducing map search area requirements in a navigation system are disclosed. The system includes a vehicle, an imaging device onboard the vehicle configured to generate an image scan, receive at least one image responsive to the image scan, and a processing device configured to receive and store the at least one image. The system further includes a navigation system onboard the vehicle configured to store an image of a map, and a learning network associated with the navigation system and configured to divide the image of the map into a plurality of map subsections, recognize each one of a plurality of images of different landmarks on the map, generate a set of classifications for each map subsection, and associate each classification of the set of classifications with at least one landmark of the different landmarks on the map.

Vision-Inertial Navigation Systems (VINS) combine information from camera images (vision aiding) with information from inertial sensors (inertial aiding) to determine a vehicle's position, velocity and attitude. These systems provide a promising alternative to traditional GPS-INS systems, which are vulnerable to interference and jamming. Existing VINS can be separated into two categories: 1) systems that operate without pre-existing maps, such as optical flow, visual odometry and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems; and 2) systems that compare pre-existing maps to real-time imagery. The present disclosure refers to the latter type.
A key limitation of existing VINS is that they require clear, unobstructed views of environments that contain landmarks suitable for navigation purposes. Consequently, for airborne applications, during a time period while a vehicle with VINS is passing over cloud cover or featureless terrain (e.g., water), navigation errors increase over time without vision aiding (e.g., referred to as free-inertial error growth). Therefore, when the vehicle again reaches a suitably visible environment (e.g., clouds cleared or landfall made), the VINS has to re-localize itself by performing a search over a large area. Such a search involves comparing a real-time image from an onboard camera to a large area on a pre-existing map stored in the VINS. Depending on the length of time that the VINS has traveled during the outage period, and the quality of the sensor information provided by the vehicle's Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), the map area that must be searched can be exceptionally large (e.g., up to thousands of square kilometers). As such, a significant problem that arises with existing VINS is that the process of searching such a large area of the map requires a substantial amount of computing resources. Consequently, such a search can take up a significant amount of time for an onboard processor to complete, which is an impractical result especially for airborne applications. Therefore, the need exists for a technique that can be utilized to significantly reduce the map area that must be searched by a VINS after an outage period has occurred, and thus enable the VINS to substantially reduce the recovery period and processing time required after experiencing a significant period of free-inertial drift.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification, there is a need in the art for methods for reducing the map search area requirements in a vision-aided navigation system.

System and methods for reducing the map search space requirements in a vision-inertial navigation system


A method of replacing slot armor and slot liners in radial slots of generator rotors comprising: (a) removing a winding from respective radial slots in the generator rotor; (b) removing existing slot armors and slot liners from each of the radial slots in the generator rotor; (c) installing a pair of L-shaped slot armor components in each radial slot, each L-shaped armor component constructed of a powder-coated metal; and (d) installing a winding in the radial slots, wherein the L-shaped slot armor components substantially fill any space between the winding and adjacent walls of the radial slots.

This invention relates to electrical insulation or slot armor located between copper winding and radial slot walls in the body of a generator rotor.
When retrofitting or rewinding medium-sized generator rotors, older insulation, such as relatively thick asbestos, is removed from the radial slots in the generator rotor. When new and relatively thinner insulation, or slot armor, is added during the rewind process, additional space remains between the insulation and the walls of the radial slots. Typically, this additional space has been filled with metal slot liners glued into position within the radial slots so that the new slot armor and the slot liners substantially completely fill the space previously occupied by the old relatively thick insulation. Not only is this a time consuming and labor intensive effort, but the relatively rigid non-metallic slot armor is often broken during the assembly process.

Method of replacing slot armor and slot liners in a generator rotor


A balancing apparatus comprises a shaft on which a wheel may be mounted drivably for rotation. Electrical sensors are coupled to the shaft and issue sensor output signals when forces are acting on the wheel. A computer calculates the unbalance data from the sensor output signals in combination with specific wheel data and displays the result. The wheel at rest is made vibrate and the specific wheel data are calculated from the sensor output signals issued by the sensors on vibration of the wheel, the sensor output signals being compared to sample signals being specific for each particular type of wheel and having been stored together with the specific wheel data. In case of identity of the sensor output signals with the sample signals the specific wheel data are made available for calculating the unbalance data. The sensor output signals issued when the wheel is driven, are transformed into an unbalance frequency spectrum and the unbalance data are calculated from the unbalance frequency spectrum.

The invention relates to a method for balancing a wheel of a vehicle or the like with the aid of a balancing apparatus comprising a shaft on which a wheel is adapted to be mounted rotatably and drivably, electrical sensors being coupled to the shaft and issuing sensor output signals when forces are acting on the wheel, and a computer calculating the unbalance data from the sensor output signals in combination with specific wheel data, as well as to an apparatus for carrying out the method.
From the German publication No. DE-OS 3629059 a method and an apparatus of the above-cited kind are known. For calculating the specific wheel data, two reference weights are mounted spaced from one another at an angular distance at the rim, and the forces being exerted on the sensors when the wheel is rotated are measured. Subsequently, the reference weights are removed and the forces are measured again. The two measurement results are mutually correlated for obtaining the unbalance data. This method presupposes two measuring operations and and twice installing the reference weights at the respective positions. Therefore, the measurement of the unbalance is intricate and the accuracy thereof depends on the exactness with which the reference weights have been installed.

Method and apparatus for balancing a wheel of a vehicle or the like


A gaming chip system for evaluating a collection of gaming chips, represents different gaming chips and assigns monetary values to each of the different gaming chips. A display displays the assigned monetary value of each gaming chip. The total value of a collection of chips is evaluated by counting the number of chips for each type, and calculating the monetary value of each gaming chip type using the assigned monetary value.

The present invention relates to gaming and in particular to handling and evaluating gaming chips.
The invention is primarily intended for use on casino floors with table games which involve the use of a mixture of different types of gaming chip. Typically, each different type of gaming chip is pre-assigned a certain monetary value and the chips are distinguished by shape and/or colour. However, it is also known to use chips which are assigned to a particular player and are given a certain value at the start of the game. Thus a player may elect to use chips of a particular colour and shape and have a particular value assigned to them. He may also chose to change the value during the game. It is often necessary between or during the course of such games to have a quick and easy way of evaluating the use of the gaming chips.


Compositions and methods are provided including a transporter peptide derived from the loop2 domain of the neuronally-derived lynx1 protein which can be conjugated to an effector agent to form a transporter-effector complex for transport of the therapeutic effector agent to a target that is found across the blood brain barrier.

Diminished cognitive abilities are associated with many disease states (e.g., Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), depression, schizophrenia, and behavioral disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)). These disease states have been consistently among the most detrimental to quality of life. In the past decades, the cholinergic system, especially the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, have been shown to be of critical importance for normal cognition. Yet despite many efforts, no nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-based cognitive enhancement therapy has been brought to market. Indeed, to date, no effective therapy has been developed to alleviate cognitive decline.
While no effective therapy has yet been developed, many therapeutic compounds showing potential to alleviate cognitive decline have been identified. For example, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have great promise due to their exquisite specificity and low toxicity and immunogenicity profiles. Yet challenges remain with the delivery of these intracranial therapeutics, which include overcoming stability issues in the extracellular and intracellular environments, and devising a method for in vivo delivery to specific target cells. Recent studies have indicated that a peptide from the rabies virus glycoprotein (RVG29) successfully delivered intact and functional siRNAs across the blood brain barrier (BBB) by binding to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Similarly, loop 2 of Ophiophagus hannah toxin b (KC2S) has been reported to bind neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and enhance intracranial drug delivery. However, the use of rabies-derived or toxin-derived peptides poses safety concerns and possible risks irrespective of their ability to cross the BBB. Indeed, the greatest hurdle is safe and efficient intracranial delivery of the therapeutic agent to the relevant target in the brain.

Compositions and methods for transport across the blood brain barrier


A method for forming FinFETs with reduced series resistance includes providing an intermediate semiconductor structure comprising a semiconductor substrate, a fin disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a gate disposed over a first portion of the fin, and a first sidewall spacer disposed over the fin and adjacent to the gate, increasing epitaxially the thickness of a second portion of the fin disposed outside the gate and the first sidewall spacer, and forming a second sidewall spacer disposed over the second portion of the fin and adjacent to the first sidewall spacer. A thickness of the second portion of the fin disposed under the second spacer is equal to or greater than a thickness of the first portion of the fin disposed under the gate.

Conventionally, FinFET fabrication employs implants such as halo and extension implants which result in the fin surface being amorpharized, i.e., converted from a crystalline material into an amorphous one. Clean up steps following the implants attack the amorpharized fin surface making the fin thinner, particularly for multi-Vt flow devices which employ many halo and extension implants. The reduced thickness fin, particularly the portion disposed under spacers or sidewalls disposed adjacent to the sides of the gate, increases resistance which degrades the device performance.
There is a need for improved methods for forming FinFETs with reduced series resistance.

Methods for forming FinFETs with reduced series resistance


A vehicular sensing system, a vehicle and a method of performing one or both of vehicular mapping and navigating operations using the sensing system. The sensing system is secured to a roof or other suitable location on the vehicle and includes one or more sensors configured to acquire at least one of vehicular mapping and navigational data, a retractable mounting structure to move the sensor or sensors between a deployed and stowed position, and an aerodynamic spoiler, air dam or deflector. The body of the spoiler acts as a housing with a recess formed in its upper surface such that upon placement of the spoiler on the roof, the recess provides a location within the spoiler to permit storage of the mounting structure and sensors when they are in their deployed (non data-acquisition) mode of operation. The size and placement of the mounting structure and sensors is such that they do not detract from the aerodynamic or aesthetic qualities of the spoiler.

Sensors such as lidar (light detection and ranging user laser light) can be used by vehicles to provide detailed 3D spatial information for the identification of objects near the vehicle, as well as the use of such information in the service of systems for vehicular mapping, navigation and autonomous operations. In order to be effective, these devices (which tend to be somewhat bulky) must be placed on locations on the vehicle that promote a wide and relatively unencumbered range of detection or field-of-view; such locations include the roof, hood or the like. Unfortunately, such placement can be both aerodynamically and aesthetically objectionable.
Accordingly, a need exists for alternative devices and methods for promoting the acquisition of mapping and navigation data for—among other things—autonomous vehicle operation without the drawbacks of conventional sensors and sensor-actuation componentry.

Vehicles with aerodynamic spoiler and retractable sensing systems

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.


A low noise, multiple output power supply circuit featuring a plurality of efficient linear regulators comprises a transformer having a primary circuit with a primary transformer input winding and a plurality of secondary circuits. Each secondary circuit has a secondary transformer output winding having the same number of turns of secondary windings. A saturable reactor core is placed in series with at least one selected output winding of at least one selected secondary circuit to subtract a small amount of average voltage, volt-seconds, from the output voltage of the selected output winding to allow different rectified DC voltages to be obtained from different output windings which have the same number of turns.

The present invention relates generally to a low-noise multi-output power supply circuit and a method of designing a low-noise multi-output power supply circuit featuring efficient linear regulators. The power supply circuit and method provides a small saturable reactor core placed in series with selected AC output windings of the multi-output power supply to subtract a small amount of average voltage (volt-seconds) from each of the selected windings. This allows different rectified DC voltages to be obtained from different secondary windings even though the different secondary windings have the same number of turns (a single turn in most cases).
To achieve high efficiency in a multi-output, low-noise power supply that employs a multiple number of linear regulators, it is desirable that the voltage dropped across each linear regulating element be as small as possible. Due to the high frequency and low output voltages required, only a single secondary turn (or in some cases 2 turns) is normally needed. This results in high xe2x80x9cgranularityxe2x80x9d so that slightly different output voltages cannot be obtained. For example, if the number of secondary turns is increased from 1 to 2, the output voltage doubles, often requiring a very large increase in the voltage drop across the linear regulator and hence a very large increase in the linear regulator power dissipation.
On the other hand, there needs to be at least a few hundred millivolts voltage drop across each linear regulator so that the regulator can do its job. If one power supply secondary output voltage is regulated in a conventional feedback fashion (without a linear regulator), then the other output voltages (which may be required to be regulated to the same level) will not have a sufficient xe2x80x9coverheadxe2x80x9d voltage to operate properly. It would be desirable to obtain slightly different transformer secondary output voltages without changing the number of transformer turns. This would allow all of the linear regulators to operate with a minimum overhead voltage and therefore operate with high efficiency.
Multiple output voltage, low noise power supplies have typically employed individual primary circuits and transformers, one for each different output voltage power supply. Alternatively, one transformer with multiple secondary windings has been used and the granularity has been accepted, along with the high overhead voltage and high inefficiencies associated with this approach. Both of these approaches lead to increased complexity and costs. Tight magnetic coupling between the transformer secondaries along with coupling of the output filter inductor windings typically cannot be achieved to the degree necessary to meet the voltage regulation requirements for multiple high power outputs.
A low-noise multi-output power supply circuit and method of design thereof features efficient linear regulators, and provides a small saturable reactor core placed in series with selected AC output windings of the multi-output power supply to subtract a small amount of average voltage (volt-seconds) from each of the selected windings. This allows different rectified DC voltages to be obtained from different secondary windings even though the different secondary windings have the same number of turns (a single turn in most cases). This overcomes the xe2x80x9cgranularityxe2x80x9d problem of having a low number of turns on the secondary windings (e.g., going from 1 to 2 turns doubles the output voltage), and reduces the voltage drop across the series regulating element of each linear regulator used in the low-noise, low-voltage outputs and thereby increases their efficiency. Different cross-sectional area reactor cores subtract different amounts of voltage since they introduce different amounts of delay in the reactor core saturation time and hence a different amount of voltage xe2x80x9choldoffxe2x80x9d to the output circuits. Using this technique, a single primary power circuit can be used to supply multiple linear regulators with minimum overhead voltages which are not constrained by the granularity imposed by the low number of turns in the secondaries, to provide an inexpensive, efficient, multiple output, low noise, and relatively high voltage power supply.
A low-noise multi-output power supply circuit and method of design thereof features efficient linear regulators and uses a single primary circuit that provides a minimum overhead voltage to all linear regulators (resulting in high efficiency). Saturable reactors, which do not require another separate winding for control, reduce the average voltage supplied to the regulators, each of which is set using an appropriate cross-sectional core area, providing an effective fractional transformer turn variation using a saturable core, and resulting in a reduction in the granularity limitations normally encountered in multiple secondary turns with a low number of secondary turns.

Low-noise multi-output power supply circuit featuring efficient linear regulators and method of design


A method of uplink transmission from a mobile device having multiple antennas to a base station having multiple antennas includes transmitting in an open-loop single-user MIMO mode when the mobile device is at high speed, transmitting in a closed-loop single-user MIMO mode when the mobile device is at low speed, and, upon request, transmitting in a multi-user collaborative MIMO mode. The method also includes controlling uplink transmissions in a selected one of the open-loop single-user MIMO, the closed-loop single-user MIMO and the multi-user collaborative MIMO modes. Uplink transmissions from the mobile device may be transmitted using multiple antennas of the mobile device. Upon request, the mobile device may switch to transmitting in multi-user collaborative MIMO mode with a subset of the multiple antennas.

The Draft IEEE 802.16m system Description document, IEEE 802.16m-08/003r1, dated Apr. 15, 2008, provides that the IEEE 802.16m amendment to the IEEE 802.16 standard is intended to "provide performance improvements necessary to support future advanced series and applications . . . " As additional background to the present application, the IEEE 802.16 standard is incorporated herein by reference.
Known wireless communications schemes may involve the use of a single antenna or multiple antennas on a transmitter and/or receiver. A multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system has multiple communication channels that are used between a plurality of antennas at a transmitter and a receiver. Accordingly, in a MIMO system a transmitting device will have N antennas, and a receiving device will have M antennas. Space-time coding controls what data is transmitted from each of the N antennas. A space-time encoding function at the transmitter processes data to be transmitted and creates unique information to transmit from the N antennas. Each of the M antennas will receive signals transmitted from each of the N antennas. A space-time decoding function at the receiving device will process the information sent from the N antennas to recover the data.
It has been recognized that as compared to with older, conventional technology, a MIMO wireless communication system provides an improvement in range and capacity of a connection between a client (e.g. a mobile communications device) and an access point (e.g. a base station). This in turn, is understood to typically result in, among other things, more reliable signal quality, a larger bandwidth connection and increased overall system throughput.
In practice, integrating multiple receive antennas at a client, especially small client devices such as mobile communications devices, has been a challenge for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, reduction in the size of each antenna to fit in a space-constrained environment and obtaining sufficient operational bandwidth from the small antennas. Other problems include undesirable interaction between antennas that are physically located near each other. For these reasons, and others, mobile communications devices typically only supported a single antenna.
Consequently, while communications between certain components of wireless communication systems may have employed MIMO modes/techniques (e.g. between base stations and relays, where the base station and relay may have multiple transmit antennas), little emphasis was placed on developing or employing MIMO modes in uplink transmissions (i.e. transmissions from a mobile communications device to a base station) due to the relative unavailability of multiple (i.e. more than one) transmit antennas at mobile communications devices.
However, with recent technological advances, mobile communications devices with multiple antennas have become available. Therefore, the use of MIMO techniques/modes in uplink communications has become desirable, as it is expected to result in, among other things, increased data transmission rates from mobile communications devices. This is turn is expected to provide improved user experience.

Uplink MIMO transmission from mobile communications devices


An internal magnetic shield includes a pair of opposing long side walls (1), a pair of opposing short side walls (2), and an opening (3) enclosed by these side walls in the center. The short side walls (2) are provided with notches (4) having a substantially home-plate shape. This configuration can reduce mislanding of an electron beam on the entire screen and easily balance the amount of mislanding due to geomagnetism in the tube-axis direction and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the tube axis. As a result, a cathode ray tube capable of displaying images without displacement and unevenness of colors can be provided.

The present invention relates to an internal magnetic shield provided in a cathode ray tube to reduce mislanding of an electron beam due to an external magnetic field such as geomagnetism, and to a cathode ray tube including the same.
FIG. 11 shows a conventional cathode ray tube used in television receivers, computer displays, or the like. An electron beam 81 released from an electron gun 80 is deflected in vertical and horizontal directions by a deflection yoke 82 to scan the entire screen, so that images are reproduced. In this case, when the cathode ray tube is affected by an external magnetic field such as geomagnetism, the path of the electron beam 81 is distorted. Therefore, the electron beam 81 does not reach the desired position on a phosphor screen 84 formed on a front panel 83, resulting in mislanding. To deal with this problem, the cathode ray tube includes an internal magnetic shield 85 that provides a shield against geomagnetism or the like.
As shown in FIG. 12, the internal magnetic shield generally includes a pair of opposing long side walls 86, a pair of opposing short side walls 87, and an opening 88 formed in the center, or substantially V-shaped notches 89 formed on the short side walls 87 as shown in FIG. 13. Such V-shaped notches 89 are disclosed in JP 53 (1978)-15061 A, JP 7 (1995)-192643 A, JP 5 (1993)-159713A, or the like.
When a cathode ray tube, including the internal magnetic shield without notches on the short side walls 87 or with substantially V-shaped notches, is affected by an external magnetic field such as geomagnetism, the amount of mislanding tends to be larger in the periphery of the screen than in the center thereof. In particular, mislanding occurs significantly at the corners, i.e., edges, of the screen. Thus, the conventional internal magnetic shields cause non-uniform mislanding throughout the screen, so that the improvement of mislanding at the corners of the screen has been necessary, particularly for a cathode ray tube that requires high definition.
It is not preferable that the amount of mislanding varies depending on the direction in which the cathode ray tube is oriented. To avoid this, it is preferable that the amount of mislanding due to geomagnetism in the tube-axis direction is substantially the same as that of mislanding due to geomagnetism in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the tube axis. However, it is difficult to reduce the amount of mislanding throughout the screen while achieving the balance between two mislandings by geomagnetism in different directions.
Therefore, with the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an internal magnetic shield that can reduce mislanding of a deflected electron beam by an external magnetic field such as geomagnetism and prevent the displacement and unevenness of colors on the entire screen. It is another object of the present invention to provide an internal magnetic shield that easily can balance the amount of mislanding due to geomagnetism in the tube-axis direction and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the tube axis while reducing mislanding throughout the screen. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cathode ray tube that can display favorable images with reduced displacement and unevenness of colors on the entire screen by including the above internal magnetic shield.
To achieve the above objects, a first internal magnetic shield for a cathode ray tube of the present invention includes a pair of opposing long side walls, a pair of opposing short side walls, and an opening enclosed by these side walls in the center. At least one pair of the long and short side walls are provided with notches having a substantially home-plate shape.
A second internal magnetic shield for a cathode ray tube of the present invention includes a pair of opposing long side walls, a pair of opposing short side walls, and an opening enclosed by these side walls in the center. At least one pair of the long and short side walls are provided with notches. Each of the notches is formed by at least two pairs of opposing cutting edges with different orientations.
The above first and second internal magnetic shields can reduce mislanding of a deflected electron beam by an external magnetic field such as geomagnetism and prevent the displacement and unevenness of colors on the entire screen. Moreover, they easily can balance the amount of mislanding due to geomagnetism in the tube-axis direction and in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the tube axis while reducing mislanding throughout the screen.
A cathode ray tube of the present invention includes an envelope having a front panel and an funnel, a phosphor screen formed on the inner surface of the front panel, a color selection electrode arranged to face the phosphor screen, an electron gun placed in the funnel, and an internal magnetic shield placed between the color selection electrode and the electron gun. The internal magnetic shield is the magnetic shield according to the above first or second internal magnetic shield.
The above cathode ray tube can display favorable images with reduced displacement and unevenness of colors on the entire screen, regardless of the direction in which the cathode ray tube is oriented.

Inner magnetic shield and cathode-ray tube

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Embodiments of the present invention include a computational forecasting system that includes an identity of a dependent variable of interest and identities of a plurality of candidate indicators along with historical data or stored references to historical data, forecast-problem parameters stored in an electronic memory of the one or more electronic computers, an independent-variable selection component that generates correlations to the dependent variable of interest and lag times for the candidate indicators, and uses the generated correlations and lag times to select a number of the candidate indicators as a set of independent variables, and a model-generation component that, using a regression method, generates forecast models for the dependent variable of interest until a model that meets an acceptance criterion or criteria is obtained.

Computational forecasting systems are important and widely used tools in finance, business, commerce, governmental agencies, research organizations, and other institutions. There are myriad different reasons why organizations need to predict, as accurately as possible, future trends and events. As one example, a construction firm may need to predict, well in advance of undertaking actual construction, future demand for new housing and commercial buildings in order to acquire necessary employees, find and acquire property, undertake necessary license applications, and arrange for acquisition of needed supplies and materials. Although undertaking such activities can be based on intuitive guesses with regard to general economic trends, such intuitive guesses are often inaccurate, leading to unnecessarily large supplies-and-materials inventories and overstaffing, when the guesses prove to have overestimated demand, and inefficient and expensive last-minute hiring and deal making, when the guesses have underestimated demand. In both cases, the expenses incurred by the construction company may significantly exceed optimal expenses that would have been obtained with accurate prediction of construction demand.
Many different types of forecasting systems and methods have been developed, over the years, including highly complex and sophisticated financial forecasting systems, business demand forecasting systems, and many other computational forecasting methods and systems. While current methods appear to have justified the expenses incurred in developing and purchasing them, there remains a great demand in many of the above-mentioned types of organizations for new and different computational forecasting methods and systems.

System and method for constructing forecast models

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A water splash preventing apparatus for a vehicle is provided, where the water splash preventing apparatus is disposed on a mudguard of the vehicle to prevent water splash. The water splash preventing apparatus includes a porous panel and a plurality of pockets, where the porous panel has a plurality of apertures and allows water to enter the aperture. The plurality of pockets are disposed in the porous panel to allow water to drop to an open space thereunder. Here, water splashed from a tire passes through the aperture and then drops down by colliding with an inner side of the mudguard and simultaneously bouncing off the pocket.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water splash preventing apparatus for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a water splash preventing apparatus that can improve safety for nearby vehicles by inhibiting water splash from tires in the rain.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Generally, rain water or mud splashed from the tires of trucks driving in the rain can pose a significant safety threat to passenger vehicles or trucks driving nearby.
As shown in FIG. 10 (RELATED ART), trucks typically are equipped with a mudguard 100 and a balance 110 of a vehicle body that primarily block rain water or mud, but these structures are minimum deterrents, that is, they are not enough to stop water from being dispersed into small particles.
In Europe, regulations on apparatuses that can be used to prevent water splashed from tires from impacting other vehicles have been established due to concern about potential damage caused by water splashed by large trucks during the rain. In China, the establishment of similar regulations is underway.
Generally, when large trucks drive on a wet road surface, each tire splashes water in the tangential direction of the respective tire. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, water hits the mudguard, the balance and the lower part of the vehicle body, becoming a spray form. Thus, the mudguard that surrounds the tire or the flat surface of the vehicle body becomes the cause of water spray. The water spray from tires can be mixed with ground dust, thus tainting the side view minors, disturbing the driver's rear view, and potentially endangering the safety of the driver's own vehicle when changing lanes or overtaking other vehicles. Also, water splashed from the front and rear tires of large trucks blocks the view of passenger vehicles and other trucks located in back of the large truck and puts their safety in danger.
Thus, a water splash preventing apparatus had been designated by regulation in Europe. Such apparatuses are installed on the mudguards or balances to block the splashed water or mud from being dispersed to the outside of a vehicle. For example, as water splashed from tires collides with the water splash preventing apparatus disposed on the inner side of the mudguard, its energy gets reduced, and water and air become separated from each other. The separated water returns to the ground along the inner side of the water splash preventing apparatus without forming a spray. The regulation requires the amount of returned water to be 70% or more of the splashed water. According to multiple tests, it is shown that the application of the water splash preventing apparatus can secure a clear rear viewing angle and a sufficient safety of nearby vehicles.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2012-0090217, Korean Patent No. 1996-0015717, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-032761, European Patent Application Publication No. 0899185, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 02-256574, and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 03-128775 disclose various types of water splash preventing apparatuses.
However, conventional water splash preventing apparatuses are not economically feasible due to high cost, and performance may not be as high as desired due to low water recovery rate and insufficient spray inhibition effect.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Water splash preventing apparatus for vehicle


A controller chip for controlling a motor device includes a first input port, a first output port, a controller, and a signal processing circuit. The first input port is arranged to receive a motor control input. The first output port is arranged to generate a motor control output. The controller is arranged to generate an output signal according to an input signal, and has a second input port for receiving the input signal and a second output port for outputting the output signal. The input signal is derived from the motor control input, and the motor control output is derived from the output signal. The signal processing circuit has a target interconnection configuration selected from a plurality of candidate interconnection configurations each including an interconnection between the first input port and the second input port and an interconnection between the first output port and the second output port.

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to driving a motor device, and more particularly, to a controller chip with signal swapping capability for controlling a motor device and related method thereof.
Motor devices are widely used in a variety of electronic apparatuses. A controller chip is therefore designed to control the operation of a motor device. However, different manufactures of motor devices may have different definitions of the signal inputs, and different manufactures of controller chips may have different definitions of signal outputs. For example, a motor device may operate under the control of a differential input signal pair including a positive control signal and a negative control signal. Therefore, a controller chip is required to have a first pin intended for outputting the positive control signal and a second pin intended for outputting the negative control signal. In a case where the definition of signal outputs of the controller chip is consistent with the definition of the signal inputs of the motor device, the motor device would rotate in a correct rotational direction as desired. However, in another case where the definition of signal outputs of the controller chip is inconsistent with the definition of the signal inputs of the motor device, the motor device would not rotate in a correct rotational direction due to an incorrect polarity setting of the control signals. One conventional solution is to apply jumpers to a printed circuit board (PCB) for adequately modifying the wiring between the controller chip and the motor device. Another conventional design is to redesign the PCB layout for transmitting motor control signals with the correct polarity setting to the motor device.
The above-mentioned solutions require complicated modifications made to signal traces of the PCB and are by no means cost-effective. Thus, there is a need for an innovative controller chip design which can easily change the polarity setting of control signals sent to the motor device and thus requires no additional modification made to the signal traces routed on the PCB.

Controller chip with signal swapping capability for controlling motor device and related method thereof