A device control system, method, and apparatus are provided. The system includes a control device and at least two battle game devices. The control device is configured to: establish a connection to a first battle game device, and send a control instruction to the first battle game device during a battle game according to a received external control operation. The first battle game device is configured to battle according to the control instruction. The second battle game device is configured to: obtain a relative position of the first battle game device during the battle game, and automatically battle according to the relative position.

With the development of remote control technologies, people can use wireless remote controllers to control battle game devices to play a battle game. The battle game devices may be smart battle toy cars, smart battle toy planes, and the like.
When a battle game is performed between the battle game devices, players use the wireless remote controllers to separately control their battle game devices, and instructs the battle game devices to move or launch attacks. For example, a player instructs the wireless remote controller to send an attack instruction to the corresponding the battle game device by pressing a specified push-button on the wireless remote controller. After receiving the attack instruction, the battle game device simulates an attack by transmitting an infrared ray. After receiving the infrared ray, another battle game device automatically simulates an attacked status, and performs an action such as tip-over or stopping.
However, the existing technology has the following problem: when a battle game is performed between the battle game devices, at least two players are needed to separately control their battle game devices. When the quantity of players is less than 2, the battle game cannot be performed.

Device control system, method, and apparatus, and control device

TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED


Compositions comprising an acrylamide polymer emulsion and a nonionic surfactant suitable for use as friction reducers for hydraulic fracturing are disclosed. The nonionic surfactants include aralkylated phenol ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, amidoamine ethoxylates, linear or branched alcohol EO/PO alkoxylates, ethoxylated alcohols, alkylphenol ethoxylates, and EO-capped poly(oxypropylene) block copolymers. Improved hydraulic fracturing processes in which an acrylamide polymer emulsion is used as a friction reducer are also described. In these processes, the surfactant is included in the composition with the acrylamide polymer friction reducer, or it is introduced separately into the process. The performance of low-cost polyacrylamide friction reducers can be boosted with a small proportion of certain readily available nonionic surfactants. The inventive compositions are effective in high-salinity environments, and their performance can sometimes exceed that of more-expensive salt-tolerant friction reducers, thereby reducing fresh water demand and enabling greater utilization of produced water.

Hydraulic fracturing is used to stimulate the production of oil and gas from a portion of a subterranean formation or reservoir. Fresh water, "produced" water from a formation, or some combination thereof is injected into the formation at high flow rates to create or enhance fractures in the formation. "Proppants" such as silicas are included to keep fractures open enough to allow oil, gas, and produced water to be recovered.
Injecting water at high rates creates friction. To reduce the energy and horsepower requirements for hydraulic fracturing by as much as 80%, friction reducers are added to the injected water, and such processes are known as "slickwater fracturing." Acrylamide polymers such as partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide ("HPAM") are well known friction reducers for slickwater fracturing.
High concentrations of monovalent and divalent cations in the untreated or produced water commonly used for hydraulic fracturing adversely affect the performance of traditional friction reducers. A variety of acrylamide-based polymer products that incorporate anionic or cationic monomers have been developed to cover a range of fluid conditions, particularly "total dissolved solids" (TDS) content. Generally, these alternatives to HPAM add cost.
To overcome the problem of reduced effectiveness of friction reducers with produced water, salt-tolerant friction reducer systems have been developed. See, e.g., L. Xu et al., SPE-184508-MS, "Case Study: A Two-Part Salt-Tolerant Friction Reducer System Enables the Reuse of Produced Water in Hydraulic Fracturing," presented at the SPE International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry, Montgomery, Tex., 3-5 Apr. 2017. As the paper explains, it is desirable to identify new friction reducers that can handle produced water with up to 300,000 ppm of TDS. The solution proposed in the paper uses a water-in-oil cationic polymer and surfactant inverter. Unfortunately, as indicated above, the salt-tolerant friction reducers developed to address high salinity conditions are more expensive than traditional friction reducers.
Friction reducers are introduced either as aqueous solutions or, more often, as water-in-oil emulsions (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,067,508 and 9,708,562). The emulsions consist of polymer molecules partially solubilized in water droplets that form the discontinuous phase of the emulsion. The water droplets are emulsified in a continuous hydrocarbon phase. In some cases, the emulsions are "dewatered," leaving behind mostly the acrylamide polymer and hydrocarbon base. Combining the emulsion with a large proportion of water inverts the emulsion and releases the water-soluble, friction-reducing acrylamide polymer. An "inverting surfactant" is often included in water-in-oil emulsions used in oilfield and other applications. U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,714, for instance, describes alkoxylated castor oils, tridecyl alcohol ethoxylates, and nonylphenol ethoxylates as inverting surfactants for the polyacrylamide water-in-oil emulsions used for flocculation in a wastewater treatment process.
In other approaches to enhancing friction reduction, introduction of certain anionic or cationic surfactants has been suggested (see, e.g., U.S. Publ. No. 2017/0096597, which provides results with sodium decyl sulfate or cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in combination with partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide or other acrylamide polymers). In another approach (U.S. Pat. No. 9,365,764), a slickwater fracturing fluid comprises base water with up to 300,000 ppm TDS, a viscosifier, a scale inhibitor, and a surfactant composition that includes a dibasic ester, a nonionic surfactant, and a terpene. In yet another approach to making improved friction reducers, the water-in-oil emulsion used as a friction reducer is prepared in the presence of an ammonium salt to incorporate at least about 3 wt. % of the salt in the emulsion (U.S. Pat. No. 9,315,722); this technique would not necessarily be useful with commercially available friction reducers.
The industry would benefit from the availability of improved, economical ways to enhance the effectiveness of friction reducers for hydraulic fracturing processes. A preferred approach would use a small proportion of easily synthesized or commercially available materials. Ideally, the friction reducers would perform well in high-salinity environments in which the performance of conventional acrylamide polymers is known to suffer.

Friction reducer for hydraulic fracturing


A vacuum chamber for processing a substrate includes: a chamber body; and a chamber lid combined with the chamber body, wherein the chamber lid comprises: a frame having a plurality of openings; and a plurality of plates combined with the plurality of openings.

In general, a fabrication process for a semiconductor device such as a flat panel display device and a solar cell includes repetition of a step of depositing a thin film, a photolithographic step of patterning a photoresist (PR) layer and a step of etching the thin film for a pattern. The deposition step and the etch step may be performed in a chamber of an apparatus having a reaction space separated from exterior. For example, a cluster type apparatus including a load-lock chamber, a transfer chamber and a process chamber may be used for the deposition step and the etch step, and the load-lock chamber, the transfer chamber and the process chamber may have a vacuum state during the deposition step and the etch step. Specifically, since a substrate is inputted from an exterior having an atmospheric state into the load-lock chamber and the substrate is transferred from the load-lock chamber to the transfer chamber having a vacuum state, the load-lock chamber alternately have the atmospheric state and the vacuum state.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a cluster type apparatus according to the related art.
In FIG. 1, a cluster type apparatus 10 includes a substrate loader/unloader 18, a load-lock chamber 12, a transfer chamber 14 and a plurality of process chambers 16. A plurality of substrates 20 are inputted into the substrate loader/unloader 18 for a process, and the plurality of substrates 20 are outputted from the substrate loader/unloader 18 after finishing the process. The load-lock chamber 12 is disposed between the substrate loader/unloader 18 and the transfer chamber 14. Accordingly, the plurality of substrates 20 are transferred from the substrate loader/unloader 18 to the transfer chamber 14 through the load-lock chamber 12. The substrate loader/unloader 18 includes a first robot 24 for transferring the plurality of substrates 20 from the substrate loader/unloader 18 to the load-lock chamber 12, and the transfer chamber 14 includes a second robot 22 for transferring the plurality of substrates 20 from the load-lock chamber 12 to the plurality of process chambers 16.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a load-lock chamber of a cluster type apparatus according to the related art.
In FIG. 2, a load-lock chamber 12 includes a chamber body 28 and a chamber lid 29. The chamber body 28 includes first to fourth sidewalls 30, 32, 34 and 36. The first and second sidewalls 30 and 32 have first and second slot valves 31 and 33, respectively, for substrate transfer, and the third and fourth sidewalls 34 and 35 are disposed between the first and second sidewalls 30 and 32. As a result, the substrate 20 (of FIG. 1) is inputted from the substrate loader/unloader 18 (of FIG. 1) to the load-lock chamber 12 through the first slot valve 31, and the substrate 20 is outputted from the load-lock chamber 12 to the transfer chamber 14 (of FIG. 1) through the second slot valve 33. Each of third and fourth sidewalls 36 and 38 has a view port 38 for inspecting the inside of the load-lock chamber 12. The view port 38 may be opened for inspection and may be closed after inspection. The chamber body 28 and the chamber lid 29 may be formed of a metallic material such as aluminum (Al).
Further, a diffuser 40 is formed on one of the third and fourth sidewalls 36 and 38. The load-lock chamber 12 of a vacuum state is ventilated by a gas injected through the diffuser 40 to have an atmospheric state. For example, a nitrogen gas (N2) may be diffused into the load-lock chamber 12 through the diffuser 40. A vacuum pump (not shown) is connected to the load-lock chamber 12 for obtaining the vacuum state. In addition, a plurality of substrate supporters 42 spaced apart from each other are formed in the load-lock chamber 12. The substrate 20 is loaded on the plurality of substrate supporters 42 and arms of the second robot 22 of the transfer chamber 14 are inserted into the spaces between the substrate supporters 42. Accordingly, the substrate 20 is transferred from the load-lock chamber 12 to the transfer chamber 14 using the second robot 22 through the second slot valve 33. The plurality of substrate supporters 42 may include a heating means (not shown) for heating up the substrate 20.
The load-lock chamber 12 is evacuated for conversion from the atmospheric state to the vacuum state and is ventilated for conversion from the vacuum state to the atmospheric state. Accordingly, evacuation and ventilation are repeatedly performed for the load-lock chamber 12. In addition, the substrate 20 is heated up to have a process temperature in the load-lock chamber 12. Since the load-lock chamber 12 is formed of a metallic material such as aluminum (Al) having a relatively low strength, the chamber body 28 and the chamber lid 29 of the load-lock chamber 12 may be deformed due to the repetition of evacuation and ventilation under a relatively high temperature. As a result, the lifetime of the load-lock chamber 12 is reduced.

Vacuum chamber for processing substrate and apparatus including the same


A tunable SAW resonator circuit is disclosed. The tunable SAW resonator circuit includes a SAW resonator having a Q, a resistor coupled to the SAW resonator to reduce the Q, and a tuning component coupled to the SAW resonator to tune the SAW resonator. A method to tune the SAW resonator is also disclosed. The SAW resonator may be tuned by applying a control signal to the tuning component.

A Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) is an acoustic wave that propagates along the surface of a substrate. This principle has been commonly employed in SAW resonators. A SAW resonator is constructed with interdigital transducers (IDT) that provide a conversion medium between electric signals and surface waves. The SAW resonator is often constructed with an input IDT that generates a SAW from an electric signal, and an output IDT that detects the SAW traveling along the surface of the substrate. The frequency of the SAW resonator is based on the physical layout of the IDT and the velocity of the acoustic wave. The velocity of the acoustic wave is a function of the substrate material.
SAW resonators are inherently high Q components, and therefore, make excellent, compact size, band pass filters for wireless communication devices. Their primary drawback, however, is their inability to be tuned by means of an external voltage variable capacitor. As a result, multi-band wireless handsets using SAW resonators typically require a separate channel for each operating band. Each channel includes transmit and receive filters coupled to a duplexer. Various switches are also needed to switch the selected channel to the antenna. As the number of desired bands increase, the cost and complexity of realizing a multi-band wireless handset with SAW resonators becomes prohibitive. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a frequency agile SAW resonator. In wireless applications, frequency agile SAW resonators will enable wireless handsets to operate at multiple bands using a single channel. This will reduce power consumption, extend battery life, and reduce the size and cost of the wireless handset.

Tunable surface acoustic wave resonators


A method includes receiving summary messages summarizing respective aggregated traffic metadata packets output from the at least one traffic management device and an engine. Each summary message identifies an origination pair having a traffic management device and an aggregation engine and a sequence number. The method further includes tracking per subinterval of a series of sub-intervals, highest and lowest sequence numbers and a count of summary messages received for each unique origination pair from the beginning of the subinterval. The method further includes accumulating, per interval, accumulated highest and lowest sequence numbers and an accumulated count of summary messages for each unique origination pair from the beginning of the interval and for all previous subintervals for tracking dropped aggregated traffic metadata packets for the interval. The method further includes estimating a number of dropped aggregated traffic metadata packets for the interval based on the accumulated highest and lowest sequence numbers and the count of summary messages.

It is useful for operators of communication networks to be alerted when aggregated traffic metadata packets (e.g., NetFlow packets or the equivalent) aggregated by a traffic management device (e.g., a router) and sent to a collecting device (hereafter called a collector) are dropped. Aggregated traffic metadata packets may be dropped for numerous reasons, such as network congestion or network outages. When aggregated traffic metadata packets are dropped due to network congestion, it is commonly referred to as 'dropped flow' or 'flow is being dropped'. For communication network systems that process aggregated traffic metadata packets, dropped flow can be detected by tracking monotonically increasing sequence numbers that appear in each aggregated traffic metadata packet. These sequence numbers can be inserted by one or more aggregation engines included in each traffic management device.
Determining if aggregated traffic metadata packets are being dropped is often complex. Aggregated traffic metadata packets are not guaranteed to arrive at a collector in the order that they were transmitted. A jump greater than one in sequence numbers of aggregated traffic metadata packets output by a given aggregation engine of a traffic management device (referred to as an origination pair) can be due to tardy aggregated traffic metadata packets, and therefore does not necessarily imply that an aggregated traffic metadata packet has been dropped.
In fact, in some methods of aggregation used by traffic management devices, aggregating traffic metadata packets can contain more than one record of metadata, with the sequence number of each aggregated traffic metadata packet being incremented by the number of records contained in the previous aggregated traffic metadata packet. In an effort to parallelize work over different CPU cores, complexity can increase when aggregated traffic metadata packets from a single origination pair are distributed to several cooperating collector processes for processing. A single collector process is likely to not see all the aggregated traffic metadata packets from a given origination pair. For instance, a collector process may become so overloaded that it is unable to properly process aggregated traffic metadata packets or summary messages summarizing aggregated traffic metadata packets. When this overload condition occurs, aggregated traffic metadata packets or the corresponding summary messages can be dropped, even after the aggregated traffic metadata packets have arrived at the collector. Although aggregated traffic metadata packets or their summary messages that are dropped after the aggregated traffic metadata packets have been accepted by the collector are not considered dropped aggregated traffic metadata packets, it is very useful to know when such an event has occurred.

System and method for detecting dropped aggregated traffic metadata packets


An abradable seal is provided to improve turbine performance by physically reducing the clearance between a flange portion of the nozzle and an opposed angel wing/seal plate member of the bucket. The provision of an abradable seal also mitigates angel wing/seal plate tooth or fin wear by providing for abradable contact without metal to metal hard rub.

The present invention generally relates to rotary machines such as steam and gas turbines and, more particularly, is concerned with a rotary machine having a seal assembly to control clearance between the shank portion of rotating rotor blades or "buckets" and a radially inner end of a stationary nozzle of the rotary machine.
Steam and gas turbines are used, among other purposes, to power electric generators. Gas turbines are also used, among other purposes, to propel aircraft and ships. A steam turbine has a steam path which typically includes in serial-flow relation, a steam inlet, a turbine, and a steam outlet. A gas turbine has a gas path which typically includes, in serial-flow relation, an air intake or inlet, a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, and a gas outlet or exhaust nozzle. Compressor and turbine sections include at least one circumferential row of rotating buckets. The free ends or tips of the rotating buckets are surrounded by a stator casing. The base or shank portion of the rotating buckets are flanked on upstream and downstream ends by the inner shrouds of stationary blades disposed respectively upstream and downstream of the moving blades.
The efficiency of the turbine depends in part on the radial clearance or gap between the rotor bucket shank portion angel wing tip(s) (seal plate fins), and a sealing structure of the adjacent stationary assembly. If the clearance is too large, excessive valuable cooling air will leak through the gap between the bucket shank and the inner shroud of the stationary blade, decreasing the turbine's efficiency. If the clearance is too small, the angel wing tip(s) will strike the sealing structure of the adjacent stator portions during certain turbine operating conditions.
In this regard, it is known that there are clearance changes during periods of acceleration or deceleration due to changing centrifugal forces on the buckets, due to turbine rotor vibration, and due to relative thermal growth between the rotating rotor and the stationary assembly. During periods of differential centrifugal force, rotor vibration, and thermal growth, the clearance changes can result in severe rubbing of, e.g., the moving bucket tips against the stationary seal structures. Increasing the tip to seal clearance gap reduces the damage due to metal to metal rubbing, but the increase in clearance results in efficiency loss.

Angel wing abradable seal and sealing method


A loading dock shelter with head pad assembly and hinge gap closure wherein reinforced side wing assemblies seal corner/hinge areas, as a truck/trailer backs into the loading dock, to thereby form a protective weather seal for the dock. Respective side wings for right and left portions of the shelter are cantilevered to set the wings outwardly of the door of the dock, when the dock is in use, thereby filling the gap between door jamb and truck/trailer open doors. Each attached side wing is thus extended outwardly to seal the gap between trailer and dock shelter. The semi-flexible nature of the wings permits each one to set itself against the inside of vehicular open doors, notwithstanding possible off-center positioning of the vehicle. This head pad assembly is so conformed that its effective life is extended over the norm.

In the loading and off-loading of trucks, more specifically, tractor-trailer trucks, it is desirable to simultaneously seal the area between vehicle, terminal dock and/or shelter, against inclement weather. Likewise, it is important to provide such a combined dock seal and shelter as will be able to withstand substantial wind, weather and vehicular abuse. Accordingly, the present invention is adapted to provide at a given warehouse or building dock, a protective unit that presents a weather-resistant seal between truck/trailer and dock when the rear doors of the truck/trailer are open and parallel to sides of the vehicle. It is desirable then, that such a dock shelter not only permit complete and unobstructed trailer access, but also provide outstanding weather protection. The shelter herein is mounted along the outer perimeter of the door opening of the warehouse or terminal building. The present unit is sufficiently versatile to accommodate a truck/trailer which is out of position relative to dock center, as defined by the building construction. The dock center is determined by bumpers and dock sills which are operatively disposed, adjacent the door opening of the building.

Truck/trailer gap fill closure for storage terminal dock


Aviator harness fittings are pneutically actuated by a central device including a pressurized gas cartridge. A firing pin may mechanically pierce the cartridge or automatic ballistic actuation of the firing pin may be accomplished by SEA WARS gas-generating devices when the latter contacts sea water. The ballistic actuation of the present invention requires two separate SEA WAR gas-generating devices to fire simultaneously thereby minimizing the chance of false actuation.

Modern combat aviators are provided with harnesses to which parachutes and survival gear are attached. After bail-out and subsequent landing, the harness must be quickly removed to minimize the chance of injury to the aviator. At times, the aviator will land on firm terrain and other times in the sea. When sea landings are involved, it is possible that harness retention will cause the aviator to become incorrectly oriented, thereby presenting the ever-present danger of drowning. This is especially true in the event that the aviator has lost consciousness and is unable to mechanically actuate the harness release mechanism.
Harness release mechanisms must satisfy two basic design criteria. First, they must securely retain the aviator in the harness during normal flight conditions. The second requirement is for quick release after a parachute landing. Many of the prior art approaches have been successful with either one or the other but not both. Further, an attempt to accommodate land and sea landings as well as automatic release in the sea tends to create an unreliable and rather cumbersome mechanism.


The invention relates to alarm systems using wired and wireless transmission systems. A method for transmitting a signal from wired security sensors and/or fire annunciators is proposed, the method comprising wire-connecting the security sensor and/or fire annunciator to an input from a set of inputs of a signal transmission device, which comprises an analogue-to-digital converter that is coupled to a controller and a power supply unit. Each of the set of inputs of the signal transmission device is associated with an input zone from a set of the input zones. Information regarding the input zones and the inputs of the signal transmission device associated therewith is stored within a storage device that is coupled to the controller. The controller periodically receives wired connection resistance parameters for each input zone, and the received wired connection resistance parameters of the input zone are compared with predefined resistance parameters of this input zone, which are stored within said storage device. A status is assigned for each input zone depending on results of comparison of the received resistance parameters with the predefined resistance parameters, including an “alarm” status for the input zone that has the wired connection resistance parameters, which differ from the predefined resistance parameters. The controller forms a data packet comprising information regarding a status of each input zone, for which the wired connection of the security sensors and/or fire annunciators has been performed, as well as an information regarding an operation status of the signal transmission device. The formed data packet is sent via a radio module, which is coupled to the controller, to a central station that is configured at least to inform regarding a receipt of the “alarm” status. Also, a signal transmission device for implementation of the above-described method is proposed.

Wireless alarm systems are known, which comprise security sensors and fire annunciators disposed at an object to be protected (a room, a building, a territory etc.) and to a central station. A wireless data exchange is performed between the security sensors and fire annunciators from one side and the central station from another side by means of an encrypted radio protocol. To this end, each of the security sensors, fire annunciators and the central station are equipped with radio modules. These radio modules are configured to receive and transmit radio data packets within working slots of a single radio frequency or at several radio frequencies. In order to perform the data exchange, the security sensors and the fire annunciators are periodically called over by the central station to receive their status (ping verification with a predefined frequency). This status includes data, according to which a failure of the security sensors and the fire annunciators is determined. The central station forms a data packet that includes a status data of the security sensors and of the fire annunciators as well as a status data of the central station, and sends the formed packet to a security guard console or a user device via known wireless data communication protocols, such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and other similar ones. In such a way, an operational performance of the security sensors and fire annunciators is controlled and the security guard or the user is informed in case of their activation or failure. An example of such system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,492,068B1 dated Nov. 26, 2019. When using the described alarm system at objects, which already comprise wired security sensors or fire annunciators (devices having a wired output, hereinafter referred to as the wired devices), a problem with their connection to a wireless central station arises. The same problem arises at objects, wherein the data exchange via a radio channel is limited or absent. It may be caused by a presence of radio interferences, a reduced radio transparency of walls of the building, etc. Such problem is resolved by using a wireless module with an input being connected to a wired output of the security sensors or fire annunciators followed by data exchange between wired security sensors or fire annunciators via the radio channel. Such wireless modules are produced by the company AJAX (https://ajax.systems/products/transmitter/). By means of these two modules, the wired security sensors or fire annunciators are transformed into wireless devices and are completely integrated into the wireless alarm system. At the same time, functions of such sensors are expanded due to the transmission of such data, which could not be received from the wired device, to the central station. However, another problem arises when using the wireless modules. For example, the object has 50 wired security sensors and/or fire annunciators disposed thereon. Their connection to the central station requires 50 wireless modules. It significantly complicates the system as well as its mounting and maintenance. It is difficult to reveal a reason for absence of the signal whether it is a damage of the security sensor (fire annunciator) or their wireless module. Also, a problem with powering a large number of various devices arises. During the operation process of such system, the 50 wireless modules "clog" a radio ether with numerous data packets sent to the central station. A time limitation for the device presence in the radio ether may exist at some objects. Thus, a transmission of a large number of "small" data packets, which are periodically transmitted to the central station, is not acceptable.

Method and a device for signal transmission from wired security sensors and/or fire annunciators


A dead front fuse mounting assembly for use in high voltage enclosures, utilizes a shock absorber assisted door design to reduce impact forces which occur when such assemblies are improperly opened. Secondly the interior of the fuse compartment is closed to entry by foreign objects by an insulating door which moves concomitantly with the fuse mounting assembly and is locked in a closed position when the assembly is in its open position.

It is current practice to mount power fuses used in conjunction with power distribution circuits within a metal enclosure having hinged access doors. In such structures, fuses and other live electrical components may be mounted behind a dead front wall which isolates the human operator from these components when they are energized. Such devices in the prior art are represented by the disclosure in U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,357 wherein a fuse isolating wall is provided inside a metal housing structure and is located immediately behind the housing doors. Fuse panels are hingedly mounted to the isolating wall and constitute parts thereof so that a fuse mounted or fuse mounting insulating structure secured to the interior of each fuse panel is isolated from access by an operator so long as the panel is in its normal position forming a part of the insulating wall. Conducting means preferably in the form of a bushing having a conventional bushing well extends through the fuse panel and is interconnected with one terminal of the fuse on the inside of the fuse panel while a part of the conducting structure extends outside the fuse panel and is arranged for disjointable engagement with connecting means such as a circuit elbow connector. The fuse panel is held in its normal position as a part of an isolating wall by latch means and such latch means is held in its latching position by an interlock movably mounted on the fuse panel. Portions of the interlock operating lever are interposed between the fuse panel and the disjointable connector. When it is desired to replace a fuse, the disjointable connecting means is removed from its associated conductor and the interlock operating lever is moved to its latch releasing position following which an operating rod is used to engage the latch and to rotate it to its unlatched condition. The fuse panel is then swung out of its position as a part of the isolating wall and may then be removed therefrom to a convenient location for the replacement of the fuse. Thereafter the procedure is reversed to reinsert the replacement fuse into the circuit.
One problem inherent with this type system is that the human operator may be required to use a 10 to 14 foot long "hook stick" to open or close the mounting assembly. A force of above 50 lbs. may be required to lift the assembly to begin movement thereof to a closed position, thus requiring considerable strength from an operator using a "hook stick". Conversely, when opening the assembly, if the "hook stick" slips for any reason the door and fuse can slam down to the open position causing severe damage or destruction to the mounting plate and high voltage fuse. This is particularly hazardous when glass tube current limiting fuses are used.
Another problem is isolation of the components within the fuse compartment when the fuse mounting door is open. Prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,827,374 and 4,463,227 have each dealt with the problem, however neither has provided a totally satisfactory solution. Consequently there remains a need for an assembly that controls the descent of a fuse mounting plate as it is opened and a mechanism for simultaneously isolating the fuse mounting assembly from the fuse compartment.


The HBP Free-POSS compounds of Formula I are superior to prior HB polymers and linear polymers in space and electronic applications because they have better resistance to electrons, protons and atomic oxygen, have superior out-gassing performance, and are transparent. They are used as coatings, films, adhesives, sealants and elastomers.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to hyperbranched polymers containing POSS as a branching monomer or backbone monomer component. These HB-POSS polymers are useful in coatings, films, adhesives and sealants.
2. Description of Related Art
The hyperbranched polymers described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,172 are hyperbranched polycarbosiloxanes. These polymers are made in an Ax/By polymerization in U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,298. No hyperbranched polysiloxanes were taught. None of these hyperbranched polymers contain POSS.
Hyperbranched polymers have been crosslinked to fabricate crosslinked networks in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,646,089; 6,995,215; and 7,446,155. None of these hyperbranched polymers or networks contains POSS.
Some hyperbranched polysiloxanes are reported in the literature (e.g., P. Dvornic, M. J. Owen, 'Silicon-Containing Dendritic Polymers', Springer, 2009, pg 414), but none containing POSS.
Using POSS as the core of a dendrimer is known (e.g., P. Dvornic, M. J. Owen, 'Silicon-Containing Dendritic Polymers', Chapter 7 'Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane Dendrimers', Springer, 2009). No use of the POSS elsewhere in a dendrimer was described.
POSS used as a pendant group on dendritic polysiloxanes are known [e.g., M. Seino, et al., Macromolecules 39, 8892 (2006)].
Dendritic polymers with terminal POSS groups are known [e.g., Chang, Y., et al., Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 41(23), 3726-3735 (2003)].
The use of POSS as a monomer in an Ax/By polymerization reaction has been described by: 1) Kolel-Veetil, et al., J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym. Chem. 46(7), 2581-2587 (2008) where vinyl-terminated carboranylenesiloxane (B2) was reacted with octasilane POSS (A8) in a Karstedt catalyzed hydrosilylation to give a dendritic network containing POSS and carborane clusters. This is a network, not a free/soluble hyperbranched polymer; and 2) Wada, K., et al., Chem. Commun. 95-97 (2005) where a low generation dendrimer (not a hyperbranched polymer) was made using octakis(dimethylsiloxy)silsesquioxane and alkenylsilyl-functionalized silsesquioxane disilanols were reacted to produce a second generation dendritic molecule.
The current industry standard space solar cell adhesive, Dow Corning 93-500 (a PDMS) is prone to UV-induced darkening (with decrease in transmission) and has poor proton resistance relative to materials with phenyl content, and poor atomic oxygen resistance relative to materials with POSS content.
ENTECH POSS modified DC-93-500 has better atomic oxygen resistance than DC-93-500 but no improvement in proton resistance (see B. Wells, H. Brandhorst, T. Isaacs-Smith, "Radiation tolerant POSS solar cell cover glass replacement material", 5th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit (IECEC), 25-27 Jun. 2007, St. Louis, Mo., AIAA 2007-4733).
Hybrid Plastics Firequench PM1257 POSS phenyl-containing resin has good proton resistance but poor UV resistance, poor adhesion and a tendency to crack at low temperatures (see H. Brandhorst, T. Isaacs-Smith, B. Wells, "POSS® coatings as replacements for solar cell cover glasses", 4th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit (IECEC), 26-29 Jun. 2006, San Diego, Calif., AIAA 2006-4138).
POSS-modified methacrylate, POSS-modified polyimide (e.g., Hybrid Plastics POSSImiClear® and POSSImiDur®) and POSS-modified epoxy resins have also been evaluated for resistance to space radiation. Although they showed better resistance than the corresponding materials without POSS, none of them demonstrated better resistance to proton radiation than did the PM1287 resin. In addition, both the POSS-modified methacrylate and the POSS-modified polyimide resins have adsorption cut-off wavelengths above 400 nm, which limits their use in multi-junction solar cell applications (see B. Wells, H. Brandhorst, T. Isaacs-Smith, "Radiation tolerant POSS solar cell cover glass replacement material", 5th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference and Exhibit (IECEC), 25-27 Jun. 2007, St. Louis, Mo., AIAA 2007-4733).
Clearly, as all these prior linear polymers, HB polymers and POSS polymers have property drawbacks, it would be advantageous to have a more useful HB-POSS polymer for the desired properties as provided by this invention.

Hyperbranched polymers containing polyhedral oligosilsequioxane branching units


Embodiments of methods of provisioning an electronic circuit enable security of sensitive data in a design and manufacturing process that includes multiple parties. In an illustrative embodiment, a method of provisioning an electronic circuit includes generating at least one secret value, embedding the at least one secret value into the electronic circuit, programming into the electronic circuit a private key derivation function that derives the private key from the at least one secret value and a trust anchor, and programming into the electronic circuit a public key generation function that generates a public key matching the private key. The method can further include receiving for execution trust anchor-authenticated logic that contacts a predetermined actor of the plurality of distinct actors and communicates to the predetermined actor a message signed with the private key.

Cryptography can be used in data processing, information processing, computing system, or the like to secure operations and/or functions. Examples of cryptographic systems include secure email systems, smartcards, point of sales terminals, network routers, and the like including methods such as digital signatures, cryptographic hash functions, key management techniques, and the like. Cryptographic systems include cryptographic primitives of various levels of complexity.
Typical cryptographic systems include algorithms for key generation, encryption, and decryption. Ciphers refer to a pair of algorithms, one for encryption and one for decryption.
Cryptographic systems commonly use a key generation algorithm and often exploit public key techniques and/or symmetric key techniques.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Secure provisioning in an untrusted environment


A medical toilet bed system including a bed frame defining a bed frame aperture and a cover coupled to the bed frame and operable to translate from an open position exposing the bed frame aperture and a closed position substantially sealing the bed frame aperture. The medical toilet bed system also includes a medical toilet configured to be disposed underneath the bed frame having a toilet seat defining a toilet seat aperture configured to substantially align with the bed frame aperture, a toilet bowl coupled to the toilet seat, and an expandable lifting member coupled to the toilet bowl. The medical toilet bed system also includes an elongated medical toilet railing disposed a distance below the bed frame and above a ground surface for receiving the medical toilet thereon.

It is well known that individuals with certain injuries and/or disabilities are unable to ambulate, or have limited mobility, restricting such individuals from being able to physically ambulate to a restroom. Some individuals may require assistance, or may be bed ridden and physically unable, to ambulate to the restroom even with assistance. Mobile devices, such as bed pans, may be brought to the individual by a caretaker, e.g., a nurse, nursing assisting, etc. This is not only embarrassing for the individual but also requires clean up by the caretaker. In addition, such mobile devices are prone to spilling and odor, and may be uncomfortable for the user.
Devices that may be attached to a standard toilet are well-known. For example, raised toilet seat risers, i.e., medical seat risers, and safety rails may be coupled to the standard toilet. Unfortunately, these devices can be cumbersome to install and may be hazardous for users. More specifically, although some individuals may be encouraged to get out of bed and visit the restroom, e.g., as part of a physical therapy regimen, such encouragement is often desirable for some only when a caretaker is present, especially for those who are at risk of falling when ambulating without assistance.
Patient hoists/lifts are known to assist individuals with getting up and/or being transferred from one location to another, such as from a patient bed to a bathroom. Unfortunately, patient lifts have their drawbacks. Many mechanical lifting aids are difficult to implement safely. Some manufacturers of mechanical lifts require that two caregivers be present when using the lift, which can be inconvenient, because hospitals and patient care facilities often implement a one patient-to-one caregiver personnel distribution. Additionally, transferring a patient using a lift can take up to 3 to 6 minutes, which is often longer than moving a patient manually. Use of mechanical lifts may also require specialized training of staff to use the lift safely. Some patients also find use of a lift to be embarrassing or less dignified. Patients may desire the ability to use the bathroom without the assistance of another individual. In addition, mechanical lifts have a weight limit at which there may be a possibility that the lift will break, which is particularly problematic for significantly overweight patients.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.


Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing one or more services in a communication session such as a call or other media exchange independent of supporting network technologies. According to one embodiment, a system for providing one or more services in a communication session can comprise a communication network and an application dispatcher communicatively coupled with the communication network. The application dispatcher can be adapted to determine one or more components for providing at least one service in the communication session and direct the communication session to the one or more components. According to one embodiment, determining the one or more components and directing the communication session to the one or more components can be performed independent of supporting network technologies.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods and systems for providing one or more services within a call or other communication session and more particularly to an abstract application dispatcher.
Various types of services or telephony processing features can be provided within a communication session. For example, in a communication session such as a telephone call, call forwarding, call blocking, caller ID, queuing, queue management, legal intercept, group hunting, parallel or sequential calls, forking, emergency calling, and other services can be provided. In addition, any call can involve additional logic that determines what telephony feature/function to apply next and how. In other environments and with different types of sessions, other services and suites of services can be provided. One example of providing a collection of services is chaining of services in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). In another example (e.g., Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)), various types of Service Capability Interaction Managers (SCIMs) have been developed as specified by Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP/2) for IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). In yet another example of such services, various types of routing services can be provided in a communication session supported on a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network. One example of providing such routing services is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/383,024 filed May 12, 2006 by Maes and entitled "SIP Routing Customization." In another example, it is also possible to perform routing as described in Java Specification Request (JSR) 289 published by the Java Community Process.
However, these systems are highly dependent on and related to the protocols and technologies supporting the communication session. For example, routing services as typically provided in SIP cannot be easily provided in a PSTN and, conversely, softswitch/PSTN switch routing is quite different from SIP. Similarly, service chaining as provided by switches on a PSTN or IN network is not performed as easily or in the same way in a SIP network. Furthermore, there is not an effective, efficient way to combine different types of services typically offered in different types of networks. Hence, there is a need for improved methods and systems for providing one or more services in a communication session independent of supporting network technologies while providing these capabilities, mechanism, or programming or management approaches to networks where they are typically not available, not common, or not used the same way.


An endoscope apparatus includes: an optical adapter provided with a discrimination capacitor; and an endoscope configured to be detachably provided with the optical adapter at a distal end portion of the endoscope, and configured to include a reference capacitor which is arranged to be connected in series to the discrimination capacitor in a state where the optical adapter is mounted, a DC power supply which is connected in series to the reference capacitor, and a control circuit which calculates a capacitance of the discrimination capacitor on the basis of a voltage value at a connection point between the discrimination capacitor and the reference capacitor, so as to discriminate the kind of the optical adapter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an endoscope apparatus, and more particularly to an endoscope apparatus configured by mounting an optical adapter, having illumination means, at a distal end of an insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been widely used an endoscope apparatus which is capable of observing an organ, and the like, in a body cavity by inserting a thin and long insertion portion into the body cavity, and performing various medical treatment by using a treatment tool inserted in a treatment tool channel as required. Also in the industrial field, industrial endoscope apparatuses have been widely used for observing and inspecting damage, corrosion, and the like, in the inside of a boiler, a turbine, an engine, a chemical plant, and the like.
As the endoscope apparatus used as described above, there is an electronic endoscope apparatus in which an image pickup device, such as a CCD, for photo-electrically converting an optical image into an image signal, is arranged at the distal end portion of the insertion portion. In the electronic endoscope apparatus, observation can be performed by such a way that a video signal is generated in an image processing portion from an image signal of an observation image formed on the image pickup device, and the generated video signal is outputted to a monitor so as to display an endoscopic image on a screen.
Further, in particular, in the industrial endoscope apparatus, a plurality of kinds of optical adapters are prepared so as to enable the observation to be performed in correspondence with inspection points. Also, the optical adapters are configured so as to be able to be detachably mounted to the distal end portion of the insertion portion of the endoscope apparatus as required. In this way, in the endoscope apparatus using the plurality of kinds of optical adapters, specifications of drive, control, and the like, are changed according to the optical adapter, and hence it is important to accurately discriminate the kind of the optical adapter mounted to the endoscope apparatus.
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-212335, as the endoscope apparatus provided with exchange type optical adapters, there is proposed, for example, an endoscope apparatus configured in such a manner that an EEPROM storing intrinsic control information corresponding to the kind of each optical adapter is incorporated in the optical adapter, and that when the optical adapter is mounted to the distal end portion of the insertion portion, the endoscope apparatus side reads the control information written in the EEPROM and controls the optical adapter on the basis of the control information.
Further, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-191990, there is also proposed an endoscope apparatus configured in such a manner that intrinsic control information corresponding to the kind of each optical adapter is stored in an RFID tag incorporated in the optical adapter, and that when the optical adapter is mounted to the distal end portion of the insertion portion, the endoscope apparatus side reads the control information written in the RFID tag and controls the optical adapter on the basis of the control information.
Further, there is also generally known an endoscope apparatus configured in such a manner that that a resistance of 1Ω, 10 kΩ or the like which can be easily discriminated is mounted in the optical adapter, and that when the optical adapter is mounted to the endoscope apparatus, the kind of the optical adapter is discriminated by measuring a value of the resistance or measuring a voltage divided between the resistance and a reference resistance in the endoscope main body, and thereby the optical adapter is controlled.


A method is disclosed of monitoring an environmental condition associated with a container with a set of electronic components including attaching a moisture recorder to the container, the moisture recorder comprising a sensing element responsive to atmospheric moisture content, a memory storage device, and a processor electrically coupled to the sensing element and the memory storage device, the processor being configured to periodically receive information from the sensing element indicative of atmospheric moisture content and to store data in the memory storage device based on the received information.

Manufacturers often handle a large number of electronic components when assembling electronic devices. These electronic components can be susceptible to damage, especially during printed circuit board manufacturing processes, as a result of prolonged exposure to environments having high ambient moisture content. Ambient moisture can penetrate the bodies of moisture sensitive components and become trapped. During certain manufacturing processes, such as reflow, these electronic components are exposed to high temperatures. The high temperatures can cause the trapped moisture to expand and can damage the electronic components.
To minimize the occurrence of such damage, electronic components can be baked at elevated temperatures to remove at least some of the trapped moisture prior to reflow or exposure to other high temperatures.
In one broad aspect, a method is disclosed of monitoring an environmental condition associated with a container containing a set of electronic components. The method includes attaching a moisture recorder to the container, the moisture recorder having a sensing element responsive to atmospheric moisture content, a memory storage device, and a processor electrically coupled to the sensing element and to the memory storage device. The processor is configured to periodically receive information from the sensing element indicative of atmospheric moisture content and to store data in the memory storage device based on the received information.
In second broad aspect, a method is disclosed of evaluating a set of identical electronic components prior to installing the components into electronic assemblies. The method includes collecting data indicative of an environmental condition associated with the electronic components during multiple consecutive periods of time prior to installing the electronic components from the set into the electronic assemblies, storing the collected data and evaluating whether the electronic components are suitable for installation based on an estimated cumulative effect of exposure to the environmental condition based on the stored data.
In another broad aspect, a container of electronic components to be installed into electronic assemblies is disclosed that includes a storage device containing a set of electronic to components and an environmental condition recorder coupled to the storage device and associated with the set of electronic components. The environmental condition recorder includes sensing elements responsive to an ambient environmental condition, a processor and an associated memory storage device. The processor is configured to receive data from the sensing elements indicative of the ambient environmental condition during multiple, successive periods of time, to cumulatively and accessibly store the data in the associated memory storage device and to evaluate whether the electronic components are suitable for installation based on a cumulative effect of exposure to the ambient environmental condition.
In yet another broad aspect, a system is disclosed for evaluating a set of identical electronic components prior to installing the components into electronic assemblies. The system includes a storage device containing a set of identical electronic components, an environmental condition recorder coupled to the storage device and associated with the set of identical electronic components and a remote device comprising a processor and a memory storage unit. The environmental condition recorder is configured to collect data indicative of an environmental condition over multiple, successive periods of time and the processor is configured to receive the collected data from the environmental condition recorder and to evaluate whether the electronic components are suitable for installation based on the collected data.
In another broad aspect an article is disclosed that includes a computer-readable medium that stores computer executable instructions for causing a computer system to evaluate whether a set of electronic components are suitable for installation based on received time-based data representative of ambient moisture content associated with the set of electronic components.
In some implementations one or more of the following advantages may be present. The frequency of electronic component damage due to the expansion of trapped moisture during reflow and other manufacturing processes can be minimized. This can result in improved reliability of both electronic components and electronic assemblies.
An increase of available component historical data can enable users to make better informed decisions regarding whether to dry out electronic components prior to reflow. Consequently, the frequency of unnecessary baking can be decreased.
A better understanding of quality control management techniques can be developed and a subsequent manufacturing cost savings can be realized through improvements in manufacturing process efficiency.
Additionally, the collecting and interpreting of environmental data associated with electronic components prior to installation into an electronic assembly can be simplified.
Other features and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings and the claims.

Method and apparatus for evaluating a set of electronic components


A planar pattern (11), having a plurality of apertures of the same size (Wx×Wy), is determined by a two-dimensional layout determination tool (10), and a three-dimensional structure, having a depth d and an undercut amount Uc for making the phase of the transmitted light be shifted by 180 degrees with every even-numbered aperture, is determined by a three-dimensional structure determination tool (20). Simulation of transmitted light is executed for a structural body having the planar pattern (11) and the three-dimensional structure (21) by a three-dimensional simulator (30) to determine the light intensity deviation D of transmitted light for an odd-numbered aperture without a trench and an even-numbered aperture with a trench. At a two-dimensional simulator (40), simulations using a two-dimensional model prepared based on this deviation D are performed to determine a correction amount δ for making the deviation D zero and obtain a new planar pattern (12). The work load spent on designing a trench-type, Levenson-type phase shift mask can be lightened and the working time for the designing process can be shortened.

Semiconductor devices are being made higher in density from year to year and the integrated circuit patterns formed on semiconductor wafers are becoming even finer. Exposure using a photomask is normally performed in forming an integrated circuit pattern on a semiconductor wafer, and the pattern on a photomask inevitably becomes finer as the pattern to be exposed becomes finer. Especially since the latter half of the 1990's, technical developments are actively being made towards forming fine shapes of sizes shorter than the light source wavelength of an exposure tool on a semiconductor wafer.
Generally in forming a fine pattern of a size near or no more than an exposure tool's light source wavelength on a semiconductor wafer, the diffraction phenomenon of light cannot be ignored. Specifically, in a case where a pair of mutually adjacent apertures are formed as a photo mask pattern, the lights transmitted through the pair of apertures diffract and interfere with each other, causing exposure even at parts that are supposed to be shielded from light. Thus with a photomask on which a fine pattern is formed, measures must be devised in consideration of the diffraction phenomenon of light. A phase shift mask is known as a type of photomask with which such a measure is taken. The basic principle of a phase shift mask is that a structure, with which the phases of the light transmitted through a pair of adjacently disposed apertures will be opposite each other, is employed to cancel out the interference of light. As a method of shifting the phase of light that is transmitted through one of the apertures by 180 degrees with respect to the phase of light that is transmitted through the other aperture, a method of forming a trench in the substrate that makes up the photomask has been proposed. For example, Laid-open Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-40624 discloses a trench-type, Levenson-type phase shift mask as a typical example of such a phase shift mask.
As mentioned above, with a phase shift mask, since the shape of a fine pattern must be determined in consideration of the diffraction phenomenon of light, the design work is complicated. Especially with a trench-type, Levenson-type phase shift mask, in which a trench is formed in a substrate, since the part at which the trench is formed takes on a three-dimensional structure, two-dimensional analysis is insufficient and the need to perform three-dimensional analysis arises. Much labor and time were thus required to design a single phase shift mask.
An object of this invention is thus to provide a designing method and device for phase shift mask which enable the work load to be lightened and the working time to be shortened.

Designing method and device for phase shift mask


A tuner section is provided on one surface of a multilayered substrate, and a demodulating section on another surface of the multilayered substrate. The multilayered substrate further includes: an analog GND layer connected to the tuner section; a digital GND layer connected to the demodulating section; a shield GND layer which is provided between the analog GND layer and the digital GND layer; and insulation layers each provided (i) between the analog GND layer and shield GND layer, or (ii) between the digital GND layer and shield GND layer so as to electrically disconnect the shield GND layer from the analog GND layer and the digital GND layer. This allows the tuner section and the demodulating section to be respectively arranged on different surfaces of the substrate, for the purpose of downsizing of the receiving device, and yet allows the tuner section from being influenced by a harmonic signal generated in the demodulating section.

Conventionally, information to be transmitted (such as image data, audio data, etc.) is converted into a digital signal, and the digital signal is then modulated into a high-frequency carrier wave (carrier frequency) to obtain a high-frequency digitally modulated signal which is transmitted to a receiving device via a space or a transmission path.
In this case, frequency bands of the modulated carrier wave are determined at a predetermined interval on the basis of each information piece to be transmitted, and a plurality of information pieces are respectively allotted to the plurality of frequency bands.
On the receiving device side, the frequency bands are continuously received, and only a particular high-frequency digitally modulated signal is extracted by a tuner section (analog section). The extracted particular high frequency digitally modulated signal is converted into a digital signal by an AD converter. The digital signal is then demodulated into a digital signal corresponding to the digital signals yet to be modulated, through a digital signal processing performed by a demodulating section (digital section).
An input level of the signal handled by the tuner section is not constant. This is because the tuner section extracts the particular high-frequency signal amongst digitally modulated high-frequency signals of the frequency bands. Accordingly, it is required that the tuner section be capable of appropriately receiving even if the input level is remarkably low. This necessitates reduction of influence of noise radiated from inside or outside the receiving device. Furthermore, downsizing of the receiving device is also required for the purpose of use in a mobile communications terminal such as a mobile phone.
Patent document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 14015/1993 (Tokukaihei 5-14015; published on Jan. 22, 1993)) discloses a high-frequency SMD module having a shielded high-frequency circuit, in which module: (i) a shield layer made of a GND pattern is set inside a multilayered substrate; (ii) a high-frequency circuit is mounted on a side, of the GND pattern, which is closer to the surface of the multilayered substrate; and (iii) the high-frequency circuit is provided thereon with a shield cap, and is connected to the GND pattern. Further, a resistor constituting the high-frequency circuit is set in the form of printed resistor, on the bottom-face side of the multilayered substrate, for the purpose of downsizing the receiving device.
Further, Patent document 2 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 197662/1998 (Tokukaihei 10-197662; published on Jul. 31, 1998)) discloses a receiving device, aimed at downsizing by: (i) arranging, on one surface of a circuit wiring board, a receiving antenna section and a receiving circuit digital circuit section; (ii) arranging, on another surface of the circuit wiring board, a receiving circuit analog circuit section: and (iii) interposing an electromagnetic shield layer in the circuit wiring board.
Furthermore, in the field of printed circuit board, Patent document 3 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 353895/2000 (Tokukai 2000-353895; published on Dec. 19, 2000)) discloses a printed circuit board including: a digital circuit-use GND layer arranged on the entire surface of an internal layer of a substrate; and an analog circuit-use GND layer which is arranged in an internal layer of an analog signal processing section, and which is adjacent to the digital circuit use GND layer.
Here, the technology of Patent document 1 enables downsizing of the apparatus in the width direction by an amount of setting the resistor constituting the high-frequency circuit, on the bottom surface side of the multilayered substrate. However, there is a limit to an amount that can be reduced by this method.
Further, in the downsizing method of Patent document 2, the receiving circuit analog circuit section and the receiving circuit digital circuit section are not sufficiently isolated from each other. Therefore, harmonic signals generated by ON/OFF of signals output from the receiving circuit digital circuit section influences the receiving circuit analog circuit section.
More specifically, the amplitude of the output signal of the receiving circuit digital circuit section is considerably large for a voltage of the signal input to the receiving circuit analog circuit section. On this account, the harmonic signals are generated with the ON/OFF of the output signal. Although the circuit wiring board of Patent document 2 has therein the electromagnetic shield layer, a voltage of harmonic signal component (harmonic signal voltage) is generated when a harmonic signal current flows in a parasitic inductance occurring in the electromagnetic shield layer. As such, the electric potential of the electromagnetic shield layer is not 0V, but a value to which the harmonic signal voltage is added. This variation in the electric potential of the electromagnetic shield layer influences the tuner section.
One approach to solve this problem is to combine the technologies of Patent documents 2 and 3: i.e. to make the electromagnetic shield layer of Patent document 2 a multilayered structure having an analog GND and a digital GND, as is disclosed in Patent document 3.
This however causes the following problem. Namely, the analog GND and the digital GND are bonded due to a parasitic capacitance between the both GNDs, and the electric potential of the analog GND varies thereby influencing the receiving circuit analog circuit section.
This point is described in further detail. The parasitic capacitance between the both GNDs varies depending on the materials of the substrate, and the thickness of the insulation layer. However, it is sufficiently possible that a capacitance of approximately 100 pF is generated in some cases. In a case where the frequency handled by the receiving device is several hundred MHz, the impedance for a capacitance of 100 pF is of the order of several Ω. This is almost the same as connecting the analog GND and the digital GND in the substrate at several Ω.
As such, the harmonic signal current of the harmonic signal flowing in a buffer, which outputs output signals of the receiving circuit digital circuit section, partially flows into the analog GND side via the digital GND and the parasitic capacitance.
Further, each of the analog GND and the digital GND is lead to a terminal electrode for providing connection with a GND outside the receiving device. A parasitic capacitance is also generated there.
A voltage of harmonic signal component (harmonic signal voltage) is generated when a harmonic signal current flows in a parasitic inductance of the analog GND. As such, the electric potential of the analog GND is not 0V, but is a value to which the harmonic signal voltage is added. This variation in the electric potential of the GND influences the receiving circuit analog circuit section.
As described, an arrangement of a tuner section (analog section) and a demodulating section (digital section) in a close distance to each other, for the purpose of downsizing the receiving device, causes a problem that the tuner section which handles minute signal input is largely influenced by the harmonic signal generated by the demodulating section which handles signals of a large amplitude. Accordingly, in order to receive minute signals, the parasitic capacitance between the analog GND and the digital GND needs to be increased as much as possible.


A switched-mode power supply device including a charger connected on one side to a direct current electrical network, or rectified alternating current electrical network, a power reserve connected to a second side of the charger, and DC-DC output converters delivering regulated output voltages. The output converters are connected by an input to the first side of the charger. The charger is a current bidirectional, voltage unidirectional converter which, in a first phase, enables the power reserve to be recharged and maintained charged from the network, where the output converters are powered by the network and, in a second phase, in the presence of a power brown-out of the network, enables the power reserve to be discharged to power the output converters. A reverse blocking module is connected to the first side of the charger to disconnect the charger and the output converters from the network during the second phase.

The invention relates to a switched-mode power supply device which can be used notably in an aircraft, for example an airplane, and an aircraft including at least one such device.
The technical field of the invention is that of switched-mode power supply devices and that of the protection of the electrical devices which they power against network power brown-outs or the presence of a supply voltage below a threshold. Below this threshold the switched-mode power supply device no longer operates satisfactorily. In the remainder of the description, the term brown-out will be used, but this also encompasses a network supply voltage below the threshold.
A switched-mode power supply device is considered, which receives at its input a direct current voltage deriving from a direct current voltage network or, by extension, resulting from the rectification of an alternating current voltage deriving from an alternating current network, where the network is subject to a risk of brown-out. The goal of the invention is to enable this power supply device to continue to operate satisfactorily, i.e. to continue to supply its output voltages, during a network brown-out, when it is deprived of its energy source for a short time, or when it is powered by a voltage which is too low. In the case of a longer disconnection, the power source eventually ceases to operate, but with a certain delay, which can enable a powered device to stop under optimum conditions.
Most known solutions consist in incorporating an electrical power reserve, generally a capacitor, in the power supply device. This power reserve is charged and kept charged when a network voltage is present, in normal operation. It is used as an energy source, and is discharged to allow the power supply device to operate during a brown-out, when the network no longer supplies energy, either because it can no longer supply current, or because its voltage has fallen too low to be able to be used by the power supply device.
The invention concerns cases in which this power reserve is charged by a dedicated DC-DC converter called a charger, providing certainty that the quantity of stored energy does not depend on the value of the network voltage. The power supply device includes, in general in addition to the charger and the power reserve, DC-DC converters called output converters, the role of which is to deliver direct output voltages, where these output voltages are regulated and take on desired values: for example: +5 V; +3.3 V; +/−15 V, where these values are common in the field of aeronautics.
Depending on the way in which the charger and the power reserve are connected, the structure of the power reserve may be a "series" or "parallel" structure.
In a series structure, illustrated in FIG. 1, the charger 10 is connected by one input to a direct current power supply network RC. It is traversed by the full input power supplied by the network RC. It is connected by one output to a power reserve 11. Several output DC-DC converters 12 are connected by one input to the terminals of the power reserve 11. In the remainder of the description the term "several" means at least two. Output converters 12 supply at their output regulated output voltages VS.
After having traversed the charger 10, this input power is used, firstly, to charge the power reserve 11 and, secondly, by the output converters 12.
Such a series structure has the following advantages:
The inputs of the output converters 12 are subject to a direct current voltage which is regulated during normal operation, independently of the fluctuations of the network.
The output converters 12 are permanently connected to the power reserve 11. They are therefore not disrupted at the start of the brown-out, when they cease to use the energy of the network RC, and start using that of the power reserve 11. The same applies at the end of the brown-out.
Conversely:
The charger 10 permanently causes losses, including during normal operation.
To use the energy stored in the power reserve 11 satisfactorily, the output converters 12 must be able to operate with a voltage at their input which is much lower than that which is present during normal operation.
In a parallel structure, illustrated in FIG. 2, the charger 10 is shunt connected with the network RC. The power reserve 11 is connected to an output of the charger 10. The charger 10 takes only the power required to charge the power reserve 11. A switch 15 with two inputs and one output is present. Its output is connected to an input of the output converters 12. One of its inputs is connected to a node which is common to the output of the charger 10 and the power reserve 11. Its other input is connected to the network RC.
In a first position, the switch 15 connects the input of the output converters 12 to the power reserve 11; in a second position it connects the input of the output converters 12 to the network RC.
The output converters 12 are powered, in normal operation, by the network RC, i.e. upstream from the charger 10. The switch 15 is in the second position.
In the presence of a brown-out, the output converters 12 are powered by the power reserve 11. The switch 15 is in the first position.
It is preferable to install a parallel bypass capacitor 19 connected at the input of the output converters 12; it enables a sufficient voltage to be maintained at the input of the output converters 12 during operation of the switch 15.
Such a parallel structure has the following advantage. The charger 10 generates significant losses only during the period of initial charging of the power reserve 11.
Conversely, at the start of a brown-out, when the energy originating from the network RC ceases to be used, and instead that of the power reserve 11 is used, the output converters 12 must be disconnected from the network RC, and connected to the power reserve 11 using the switch 15. The same applies at the end of the brown-out. This leads to difficulties with, notably, the following risks: interrupted operation of the output converters 12, current peaks at the time of the connection between portions of circuits including capacitors charged at different voltages, oscillations, discharge of the power reserve 11 to the network RC, untimely oscillations of a decision-making logic intended to control the switch 15.
To use the energy stored in the power reserve 11 satisfactorily, the output converters 12 must be capable of operating across a wide input voltage range.
The output converters 12 experience at their inputs the variations of the network voltage RC in normal operation.

Switched-mode power supply device and aircraft including at least one such device


Examples described herein include systems and methods for dynamically determining enrollment requirements and enrolling a user device into a management system. The systems and methods can differ based on the type and version of operating system executing on the user device. With some operating systems, enrollment can be completed through a single application that performs other functionality, such providing single-sign-on access to enterprise resources. With other operating systems, enrollment can be completed by pausing the first application and requiring installation of an agent application to complete enrollment. The determination of how and when to enroll a user device can be done automatically and can be based on an organizational group to which the user belongs.

Enterprises increasingly rely on management systems—such as an Enterprise Mobility Management ("EMM") or Mobile Device Management ("MDM") system—to manage the mobile devices of their employees. These systems can competently manage both enterprise-owned and user-owner devices. But in order to manage a device, that device must first be enrolled with the management system. The enrollment process can be inefficient, leading to productivity losses or even discouraging employees from enrolling at all.
One example inefficiency of some management systems is the lack of fine control over when enrollment is required. For example, a device assigned to a Research Engineer probably needs the security provided by immediately enrolling in the management system, while a device assigned to a sales intern may not need that level of security from day one. But current management systems are blind to these differences when it comes to the timing of enrollment, applying blanket requirements to different groups having distinct security needs.
Another inefficiency of some management systems is the requirement of a dedicated application, such as an agent application, that must be downloaded to a device to perform enrollment. Injecting this application into the enrollment process slows the enrollment process, decreases employee productivity, and can discourage some employees from enrolling at all. While these dedicated applications may have been necessary for older operating systems executed by mobile devices, newer operating systems can potentially perform enrollment without such application. But the current management systems lack the ability to recognize these distinctions or take advantage of them.
As a result, a need exists for improved systems and methods of adaptively providing device enrollment into an EMM or MDM system. More specifically, needs exist for these systems and methods to adaptively select enrollment workflows based on information specific to the device and its user, and perform enrollment directly from an application that increases, rather than decreases, employee productivity.


A screening machine of the type used to separate or classify mixtures of solid particles of different sizes includes a fixed base and a perforate screen deck mounted for movement relative to the base during a screening operation. Leaf springs connect the tail end of the screen deck to the fixed base so that the leaf springs support the tail end of screen deck for movement relative to the base. The leaf springs are oriented horizontally to avoid introducing vertical movement to the screen deck as it moves to and from the head and tail ends. The leaf springs are offset or deflected when the machine is at rest or in the neutral mid-point of its stroke. This arrangement advantageously utilizes the bias of the leaf springs to accelerate, assist or enhance movement of the screen deck during portions of its stroke and likewise to decelerate, hinder or retard the movement during other portions of its stroke. With an appropriate offset, an increase in the effectiveness of the screening process (i.e., fewer defective particles passing through the screen deck) while a decrease in the screening time is attained.

This invention relates generally to screening machines of the type used to separate or classify mixtures of particles of different sizes. More particularly, the invention relates to a mechanism and method for supporting and moving a screen deck within the screening machine.
In screening machines of the type described, a screen is mounted in what is often called a xe2x80x9cscreen deckxe2x80x9d which includes a supporting peripheral frame around the perimeter of the screen. The screen deck may include one or more screens and the screen(s) may be woven, an aperture plate or another design. Typically associated with this screen deck are other material handling elements which are moved with the screen and form walls or partitions above or below the screen for containing the liquid and/or particulate materials adjacent to the screen and directing them to appropriate outlets. These elements may comprise a top cover and a pan beneath the screen. In the case of screening machines with multiple screens or deck units, spacer pans or frames are provided between the multiple screens.
The screen deck is releasably mounted to a carrier, frame, table or box to which vibratory motion is imparted, typically by one or more eccentric motors or other means of excitation. The carrier, frame, table or box and associated screen deck are referred to herein as a xe2x80x9cscreen boxxe2x80x9d. The screen box may be moved in oscillatory, vibratory, gyratory, gyratory reciprocating, fully gyratory, rotary or another type of motion or combinations thereof, all of which are herein collectively referred to as xe2x80x9cvibratoryxe2x80x9d motion or variations of that term.
Screening machines of this type are used for a wide variety of applications. For example, in a plastics factory, a granular material is often produced as an intermediate product prior to being processed into the end product. The plastic granulate particles are often referred to as xe2x80x9cpelletsxe2x80x9d and have a specific size and shape. The uniformity of the pellets make it possible to accurately meter the quantity to be fed to the machine which produces the end product. The precise metering is very important for reducing the amount of waste. Therefore, the pellet manufacturer attempts to produce granular material which is absolutely uniform with regard to shape and size. However, in many cases and for various reasons, defective pellets are unavoidable, even if it is only in small quantities. This defective granular material can be of various types. For example, a number of individual pellets may be stuck together (three or four particle groups, etc.), pellets which are much longer than a desired size (over lengths or xe2x80x9clongsxe2x80x9d) or pellet strands in which the individual pellets are partly but not completely cut (bead chains) are commonly manufactured. The irregular pellets to be screened and separated from acceptable particles can have a wide variety of shapes (straight particles with many times the length of normal particles such as the longs, twisted partly cut strands, etc.). All these defective pellets make accurate metering impossible, and therefore lead to a significant waste quantity for final processing.
The problem of prevention or subsequent separation of waste particles not only occurs in the production of plastic pellets but is also encountered wherever a heap of uniformly shaped and sized particles or material is to be produced by a corresponding manufacturing process, e.g. molding, compacting or cutting, whereby they can also be an end product and not an intermediate product as is the case with plastics (e.g. activated carbon pressed articles, granulated foodstuffs, etc.).
Since defective granulate particles cannot generally be prevented in the various manufacturing processes, the problem of optimum separation of these waste particles which, if not separated, signify a reduction in the value of the finished or intermediate product, exists.
Prior attempts to separate the waste particles by screening processes of various types have been only marginally successful. Commonly, prior methods have failed because the longs or straight shaped particles corresponding to the desired cross-section, but having many times the desired length, are placed on end by the screening movement and then drop vertically through the sieve opening, i.e. are not held back. One source of such problems in the screening operations is vertical or movement of the screen in a direction perpendicular to the screen. Movement of the screen in such an out-of-plane direction tends to up-end the pellets and provides them the opportunity for proper orientation to pass through the screen. As such, longs or long pellets are not separated out.
A less intense screening movement, i.e. a lower amplitude of vibration admittedly prevents the long, straight shaped pellets from being vertically positioned, but the screen surface then becomes clogged within a short period of operation by near-mesh sized material or defective granulate. The longer that the defective particles remain atop the screen, the more likely they will have an opportunity to pass through or clog the screen. The partly cut, three-dimensionally curved strands (bead chains) also hook themselves into the sieve openings, making it necessary to manually remove such defective granulate every so often. These problems also occur if oblong perforated plates or long mesh sieve netting are used. The use of step sieves (step perforated plates) does not ensure the trouble-free separation of defective granular material from the heap.
The problem is therefore to find an improved method and associated system which reliably and cost-effectively permits the separation of waste particles, minimizes the time the defective pellets are on the screen, and reduces, if not eliminates, out-of-plane or vertical movement of the screen.
The above-described and other problems with prior art screening machines and associated methods have been resolved by this invention. Presently preferred embodiments of this invention include a screening machine with a fixed base and a perforate screen deck mounted for movement relative to the base during a screening operation. The screen deck includes a head end, a tail end and a longitudinal axis extending between the head and tail ends. An inlet is provided to discharge particulate matter to be screened onto the perforate screen deck near the head end. A pair of outlets are located near the tail end of the screen deck, with one of the outlets discharging defective particulate matter that remains atop the perforate screen deck and the other outlet discharging acceptable particulate matter that passes through the perforate screen deck. A collection pan is located below the screen deck to collect the particulate material that passes through the screen deck prior to being discharged through the second outlet.
A drive motor is coupled to the screen deck near the head end to impart two-dimensional vibratory motion within a plane to the screen deck to promote separation of the particulate material by the screen deck. The vibratory motion is defined in part by longitudinal movement of the screen deck in a direction generally parallel with the longitudinal axis toward and away from the head end.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a mounting assembly for the screen deck includes at least one leaf spring connecting the tail end of the screen deck to the fixed base so that the leaf spring supports the tail end of screen deck for movement relative to the base. The leaf spring(s) are oriented horizontally to avoid introducing vertical movement to the screen deck as it moves to and from the head and tail ends. Since the leaf spring(s) are oriented horizontally, the only motion of the screen deck at the tail or discharge end is longitudinally, general linear motion while the motion at the head end is vibratory motion within the two-dimensional plane.
In one preferred embodiment, each outer end of each leaf spring is bolted or otherwise secured to a mounting bracket affixed to one of the side walls of the screen deck. Each such mounting bracket includes a plate that extends parallel to the side wall of the screen deck and a tab that extends outwardly from the plate and away from the side wall. The inner central portion of each leaf spring is bolted or otherwise secured to a tab extending upwardly from the base of the machine. Preferably, the tab is fixed and does not move, deflect or bend during operation of the machine so that the screen deck moves in a longitudinal direction, i.e., between the head and tail ends, during a screening operation.
In another embodiment, the mounting assembly includes preferably four leaf springs, but at least two leaf springs. The springs are assembled into a spring pack for supporting the tail end of the screen deck on the base. The springs in the leaf pack are generally parallel, and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the screen deck when the springs are not flexed. The central portion of the two inner springs are secured to the tab extending upwardly from the base. The central portions of the two outer springs are each secured to the bottom of the screen deck. The corresponding outer ends of all the leaf springs are secured to each other in a spaced arrangement to maintain the parallel relationship of the unflexed springs. One of the principle advantages of this mounting assembly is that the significant tension and compression forces of the flexing springs are not transferred to the base and the screen deck. The generally symmetrical design of the spring pack provides support for all the loads present, including the weight of the screen deck as well as bending/flexing and twisting/torsional motion of the springs throughout the stroke of the screen deck. As a result, stress on the mounting brackets is reduced to likewise reduce fatigue failures possible with other designs.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the leaf springs are offset or deflected when the machine is in the neutral mid-point of its stroke. This arrangement advantageously utilizes the resulting bias of the leaf springs to accelerate, assist or enhance movement of the screen deck during portions of its stroke and likewise to decelerate, hinder or retard the movement during other portions of its stroke. In one embodiment, the leaf springs are initially deflected or offset by spacers positioned between the outer ends of the springs and the tabs extending outwardly from the mounting brackets. Alternatively, the springs can be mounted to the screen deck in an offset, flexed or deflected position.
With an appropriate offset, the leaf springs promote a slow advance of the screen deck toward the tail end and a quicker return movement toward the head end that works on the inertia of the material being processed on the screen deck. With such an arrangement, the time that the longs or defective pellets are on top of the screen deck is reduced, thereby minimizing the opportunities for them to pass through the screen deck along with the properly sized pellets. The biased arrangement of the leaf springs also increases the effectiveness of the screening process (i.e., fewer defective pellets passing through the screen deck) while decreasing the screening time. The amount of offset, and the direction of the offset, is determined by the application, machine specifications or other parameters to achieve desired results.
Therefore, according to this invention, the effectiveness of the screening operation is increased and the speed with which the screening operation is accomplished is likewise increased due in large part to the leaf spring mounting arrangement for the screen deck and the biased loading of the springs relative to the stroke of the screen deck.

Screening machine with acceleration modification