An improved jig assembly for a die in the form of a supporting body member having a cavity receiving a die and wedge secured against vertical, back-and-forth and sideways movements with respect to the body member.

The present invention relates to a jig and in particular to a holder for dies used in the drilling and threading of self-tapping screws.
Screws or fasteners having the capability of drilling a pilot hole and forming threads in a workpiece without the need to predrill are well known. Such screws and the dies by which they are made are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,395,603; 3,517,542; and 4,836,730. According to these patents a pair of dies are used to forge and drill the point into a desired configuration. Each of the dies is held in a jig comprising a solid parallelepiped body ground at its bottom to fit the die set pocket of the forming machine and is provided at its upper edge with a U-shaped cavity in one corner. The die is set up against one wall of the cavity, and a pair of wedges (one wide and one narrow) are inserted between the die and the other wall. The wedges are formed with mating inclined surfaces and with flat surfaces which abut up against the die and the face of the cavity wall, respectively. The abutting vertical surface of the die is formed with a laterally extending detent which fits within a conforming recess made in the abutting face of the narrow wedge. When the wedges are put in place the narrow wedge is arranged so that the horizontal projection fits within the recess of the die but is otherwise loose. The larger wedge is then placed in position and is screwed or bolted to the base. In this manner the wedges are secured tightly, one with the other, against the die, which prevents any vertical movement and ostensibly fixes the die in place.
The foregoing assembly does not, however, provide for security against movement of the die or even the locking wedges in a horizontal or sideways direction within the cavity. Such security, however, is necessary in order to maintain the die head extending from the base of the jig body to allow the screw blanks to be inserted for cutting. During high speed operation of the cutting apparatus, frequent downtime is required in order to reset the die wedges and the die to ensure for such security.
A further disadvantage of the known jig lies in the fact that it requires two wedges which have to be milled and ground to absolute tolerances to ensure the perfect fit. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that the jig is weakened by the need to thin the cavity walls in order to provide room for the two wedges.
It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a holder for dies used in the formation of self-tapping screws which provide the necessary security against movement of the die and is more effective and has a longer life for use in the mass production of self-tapping screws. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a die which is simpler to manufacture, simpler to assemble, and which does not exhibit any of the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The foregoing objects and numerous advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following disclosure.


A serverless function execution system enables fast, efficient and flexible deployment and execution of serverless functions. User commands are received from external messaging systems that cause functions to be executed. A serverless function associated with the user command is determined and the serverless function is executed in an isolation container at a function computation server. A response from the execution of the serverless function is sent to the external messaging system.

In the recent decade, online cloud-based office collaboration and messaging service communication platforms have become a popular way for corporate employees to communicate. These platforms are typically centered around a core messaging system that allows individual users to communicate directly to each other or in channels containing a group of users. Some popular existing messaging service communication platforms include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Cisco's Webex, WeChat and MatterMost.
Many of the aforementioned communication platforms include the ability to create custom commands in the messaging platform that call out to an API (application programming interface), passing the custom command executed as input. The API callout endpoint is most typically represented as a REST (REpresentational State Transfer) HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) URI (Uniform Resource Identifier).
Software running on a server and listening for API calls to the given HTTPS URI can then receive a custom command when typed in the messaging platform as a textual message. The software receiving the message can examine the custom command received and execute a custom operation based on the contents of the command by executing software code.
A set of custom commands can be bundled as an "app". In Slack, for example, such an app is known as a "Slack app". Apps can be installed into one or more sets of communication channels, allowing the users of the channels to execute custom server code by typing custom commands.
Developers typically implement custom command APIs by adding code to a server process that runs on a network connected computer and that listens for incoming networking API requests. Server code can be developed in any of a variety of computer languages including Golang, Java, Python or JavaScript, to name a few. The tools used to develop the server code are external and separate from the messaging service communication platforms themselves.
The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section. Similarly, issues identified with respect to one or more approaches should not assume to have been recognized in any prior art on the basis of this section, unless otherwise indicated.

Managing and executing serverless function command sets in a messaging service


A system for adaptively positioning nulls in the pattern of an antenna utilizing an auxiliary antenna in conjunction with a correlation receiver to determine the gain in amplitude and phase of the antenna pattern at the location of the interfering source. This gain is then utilized with the known gain at the peak of the main lobe of the antenna to compute coefficients of sinusoidal perturbation functions applied to the phase function of the antenna to establish a null in the direction of the interfering source.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of phased array antennas, and more particularly to phased array antennas capable of adaptively positioning nulls at desired angular locations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Antennas which automatically respond to an interference environment, in real time, by steering nulls to and reducing sidelobe levels in the directions of the interference, while retaining the desired main beam characteristics are known in the prior art. These systems usually comprise an array of antenna elements and a real time adaptive receiver-processor which adjusts its element weights toward some optimization of output signal-to-noise ratio in accordance with the selected feedback control algorithm. Generally, the adjustments include both amplitude and phase. Techniques exist, however, for reducing sidelobes and providing nulls in prescribed directions with phased array antennas using phase control only. Utilizing these techniques in a multiple jammer environment with a real antenna, for which sidelobe performance is primarily governed by electrical and mechanical tolerances, is a problem of considerable magnitude. Under these conditions, the determination and implementation of the required phase perturbations is an extremely time consuming process that renders such antennas impractical for many applications.
One antenna of the prior art uses multiple auxiliary antenna apertures which are generally distinct from the main antenna aperture. Jamming signals received by the auxiliary antenna apertures are fed into the received channels of the principal aperture by digital or analog Applebaum loops containing amplifiers with electrically controllable gain and phase. Nulling is accomplished by iteratively solving a co-variance matrix having dimensions proportionate to the number of auxiliary antennas. Convergence is rapid and cancellation is effected if the number of jammers N.sub.J does not exceed the number of canceller antenna loops M.sub.L. In this system, the performance degrades substantially when N.sub.J is greater than M.sub.L. Consequently, the cost effectiveness of this approach is extremely sensitive to the jamming threat, since this dictates the number of loops needed. Each loop requires additional antenna real estate and replication of significant portions of the radar receiver.
The jammer-canceller loop limitation is effectively eliminated in a fully adaptive array, the basic theory of which is well known. A full adaptive array utilizes correlation techniques and feedback control to apply amplitude and phase weights commensurate with the radiation environment to each array element to achieve minimum interference. An excessively large number of phase and amplitude variables must be determined, however, for a fully adaptive large array having thousands of elements. Determination of these variables must be accomplished for a relatively small number of conditions to be satisfied, i.e., nulls to be established. To provide the phase and amplitude weights in real time for such adaptive array antennas, large data strains must be processed. With current technology, the hardware required for such processing is of prohibitive complexity.
In an article entitled "Adaptive Sidelobe Nulling Using Digitally Controlled Phase Shifters" appearing in the IEEE Transactions, Antennas and Propagation, Volume AP-24, No. 5, September 1976, Baird & Rassweiler, addressed this fundamental complexity issue when they recognized that adaptive nulling could be effected by phase control only. This technique provides adaptive nulling by trimming the phase shifters which are used to scan and collimate the surveillance beams in accordance with the sensed interference environment. To reduce the quantity of sensing hardware required, a quasi random search routine, based on a priori knowledge of approximate interfering source locations is implemented. This routine includes interative switching of the smaller phase shifter bits and measurement of incident jamming signals. The convergence of the radiation pattern to effect significant jammer suppression is consequently relatively slow and heavily dependent on a number of jammers and the switching speed of the phase shifters.

Phased array antenna method and system for adaptively positioning nulls


A toner composition comprised of semicrystalline polyester resin particles, especially polyhydroxyalkanoates, copolymers thereof, or blends, and pigment particles. Processes for the preparation of the semicrystalline polyester resins by ring opening polymerization of a monomer in the presence of a catalyst is also illustrated.

This invention is generally directed to toner and developer compositions, and more specifically the present invention is directed to toner compositions, including magnetic, single component, two component, and colored toner compositions comprised of polyesters. In one embodiment of the present invention, the toner compositions are comprised of biodegradable semicrystalline polyesters, including specifically, for example, polyhydroxyalkanoates, copolymers thereof, or blends, that is, a uniform mixture whose component parts are substantially indistinquishable thereof, and pigment particles. There is also provided in accordance with the present invention positively charged toner compositions comprised of biodegradable, that is particles that degrade, for example, under environmental conditions present in streams, landfill sites, and the like, semicrystalline polyester resin particles, pigment particles, and charge enhancing additives. Furthermore, there is provided in accordance with the present invention toner compositions comprised of biodegradable semicrystalline polyester resin particles, and optional additives, especially surface additives such as metal salts of fatty acids including zinc stearate, and colloidal silica particles such as the Aerosils. In addition, the present invention is directed to developer compositions comprised of the aforementioned toners, and carrier particles. Furthermore, in another embodiment of the present invention there are provided single component toner compositions comprised of biodegradable semicrystalline polyester resin particles, magnetic components such as magnetites, optional charge enhancing additives, and optional surface additives. The toner and developer compositions of the present invention are useful in electrostatographic imaging and printing systems, including the Xerox Corporation 1075.TM., 1065.TM., 9700.TM., and the like. The polyester toner resin compositions of the present invention are biodegradable, therefore there is enabled the facile and efficient deinking thereof, for example, from papers with developed images containing the aforementioned toners. It is believed that the semicrystalline polyester resin particles are degraded by, for example, enzymatic attack thereof by, for example, enzymes present in ground soil, and by aqueous hydrolysis. Specific semicrystalline polyesters that may be selected for the toners of the present invention, and processes for the preparation thereof are disclosed, for example, in Macromolecules (1987), 20, 3086, entitled "Synthesis of Crystalline Beta-Hydroxybutyrate/Beta-h,Hydroxyvalerate Copolyesters by Coordination Polymerization Of Beta-Lactones", and Biomaterials, 8, 289 to 295, (1987) "Polymers For Biodegradable Medical Devices", the disclosures of which are totally incorporated herein by reference. These processes, which generate synthetic products, are substantially different than the biological processes described in ICI European Patent Publication Nos. 0,052,459 and 0,069,497, the disclosures of which are totally incorporated herein by reference.
There is also provided in accordance with the present invention processes for the preparation of biodegradable semicrystalline polyesters, and processes for the preparation of toner compositions comprised of the aforementioned polyesters.
Toner compositions comprised of resin particles including styrene acrylates, styrene methacrylates, styrene butadienes, and polyesters, such as those illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,000, are known. Also, toner compositions containing metal salts of fatty acids are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,374, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Also, it is known that the aforementioned toner compositions with metal salts of fatty acids can be selected for electrostatic imaging methods wherein blade cleaning of the photoreceptor is accomplished, reference U.S. Pat. No. 3,635,704, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, there are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,045, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, three component developer compositions comprising toner particles, a friction reducing material, and a finely divided nonsmearable abrasive material, reference column 4, beginning at line 31. Examples of friction reducing materials include saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, fatty acids preferably of from 8 to 35 carbon atoms, or metal salts of such fatty acids; fatty alcohols corresponding to said acids; mono and polyhydric alcohol esters of said acids and corresponding amides; polyethylene glycols and methoxy-polyethylene glycols; terephthalic acids; and the like, reference column 7, lines 13 to 43.
Other references of interest which disclose toner compositions with various resins, such as amides and the like, include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,072,521; 4,073,649 and 4,076,641. Furthermore, references of background interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,165,420; 3,236,776; 4,145,300; 4,271,249; 4,556,624; 4,557,991 and 4,604,338.
Moreover, toner and developer compositions containing charge enhancing additives, especially additives which impart a positive charge to the toner resin, are well known. Thus, for example, there is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,935 the use of certain quaternary ammonium salts as charge control agents for electrostatic toner compositions. There is also described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,521 reversal developer compositions comprised of toner resin particles coated with finely divided colloidal silica. According to the disclosure of this patent, the development of images on negatively charged surfaces is accomplished by applying a developer composition having a positively charged triboelectric relationship with respect to the colloidal silica. Further, there is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,390, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, developer and toner compositions having incorporated therein as charge enhancing additives organic sulfate and sulfonate compositions; and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,298,672, the disclosure of which is totally incorporated herein by reference, positively charged toner compositions containing resin particles and pigment particles, and as a charge enhancing additive alkyl pyridinium compounds, inclusive of cetyl pyridinium chloride. Other prior art disclosing positively charged toner compositions with charge enhancing additives include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,944,493; 4,007,293; 4,079,014 and 4,394,430. Many of the aforementioned charge additives can be selected as an optional component for the toner compositions of the present invention as indicated herein.
As a result of a patentability search there were located U.S. Pat. Nos. (1) 3,654,865 which discloses gelatin toners; (2) 4,013,572 and 4,186,003 wherein photogradable toners are described; and (3) 4,105,572 which illustrates water soluble or solubilizable toner resins.
Although the above described toner and developer compositions are useful for their intended purposes, there is a need for improved compositions. More specifically, there is a need for biodegradable toner resin compositions, including single component, and colored toner compositions. There is also a need for biodegradable toner resin compositions comprised of semicrystalline bacterial polyesters, and semicrystalline polyesters obtained with the process of the present invention illustrated herein. In addition, there is a need for toner and developer compositions with semicrystalline polyesters that can be selected for electrophotographic imaging and printing processes. There is also a need for biodegradable toner compositions comprised of biodegradable semicrystalline polyesters that possess many other advantages including a blocking temperature of from about 80.degree. to 180.degree. C., and a minimum fix temperature of from about 200.degree. to about 400.degree. F., and preferably from about 300.degree. to about 350.degree. F. (fuser set temperature). Moreover there is a need for toner polymer resins with superior miscibility with pigments, such as carbon black, acceptable melt rheology characteristics, and which polymers can be readily extrudable. Additionally, there is a need for polymer toner resins that are biodegradable, chemically and/or biologically, thereby enabling deinking thereof. There is also a need for toners with semicrystalline polyesters, which toners provide excellent image quality with low background deposits are of superior fix and permanence. There is also a need for toners with lower fuser energy requirements as compared to, for example, several presently known toner compositions. Moreover, there is a need for an efficient economical synthetic process for the preparation of semicrystalline polyesters. Furthermore, there is a need for encapsulated toners comprised of the cores of biodegradable polyesters illustrated herein.

Toner and developer compositions containing biodegradable semicrystalline polyesters


An adaptive antenna apparatus comprises M receiving circuits, and N antenna elements, N being larger than M. The N antenna elements constitute a plurality of sets of partial array antennas each including M antenna elements among the N antenna elements, and a straight line passing through feeding points of two of the antenna elements included in any one of the partial array antennas has a different direction from a further straight line passing through feeding points of two of the antenna elements included in any one of the other partial array antennas. A control means adaptively controls the receiving circuits to adjust at least one of an amplitude and a phase of each radio frequency signal, and adaptively controls an antenna switching means to connect the antenna elements included in one of the plurality of sets of partial array antennas to their corresponding receiving circuits.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adaptive antenna apparatus including a plurality of sets of partial array antennas having different directivities, and in particular, to an adaptive antenna apparatus for use in a communication apparatus, typically including a mobile phone, and to a radio communication apparatus using such an adaptive antenna apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable radio communication apparatuses such as mobile phones have rapidly miniaturized and become thinner. Further, the mobile radio communication apparatuses have developed into data terminal equipment that are not only used as conventional telephone sets, but for example, send and receive emails, and are used for browsing web pages of the WWW (World Wide Web). Since amounts of information to be handled increase from those of conventional audio and text information to those of pictures and movies, it is necessary to further improve the communication quality. Under such circumstances, it has been suggested to apply to the mobile terminal apparatus, an adaptive antenna apparatus which has so far been used mainly to enhance the performance of base station antennas.
For example, an antenna apparatus described in Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 11-284424 includes: a conductive housing; three antenna elements mounted at different locations of the conductive housing; a transmitting and receiving circuit mounted on the conductive housing and performing transmission and reception; and an amplitude and phase adjusting circuit connected to the antenna elements and the transmitting and receiving circuit and adjusting an amplitude and phase of each antenna element signal to reduce a radiation power in a direction of a user. This antenna apparatus is intended to solve problems including the waste of power which is converted into heat in a human head upon transmission without contributing to communication, the deterioration of reception characteristics due to mutual interference between delayed waves, etc. Accordingly, upon transmission, the antenna apparatus reduces the power to be radiated in the direction of the human head and thus can efficiently radiate signals transmitted to the antenna elements into space, and upon reception, the antenna apparatus has no directivity in the side of the mobile terminal toward the human body and thus can increase antenna directivity in directions other than that of the human body; and therefore, the antenna apparatus has an improved operational effect, i.e., an improvement of efficiency.
In addition, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 10-242739, for example, proposes a configuration of an antenna apparatus in which in order to eliminate delayed waves which become interference waves, directional nulls are steered in the directions of delayed waves. This antenna apparatus has the following configuration of a mobile communication base station, to prevent the interferences of delayed waves, and to reduce the number of antenna elements for implementing pencil beams by using an array configuration. The antenna apparatus is configured as a base station antenna apparatus for mobile communication covering a strip-shaped area. In the antenna apparatus, a plurality of antenna elements, the number of which is between two and five, are linearly arranged so as to be orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped area, and each distance between the antenna elements is set to a value between one wavelength and three wavelengths. In addition, an amplitude and phase adjuster, which changes the amplitude and phase of an input signal inputted from each antenna element through a frequency converter, is provided to each antenna input. Furthermore, an amplitude and phase calculating unit calculates the amplitude and phase of each antenna input signal so as to minimize an error between a signal which is known in advance by a receiving side and a combined signal of signals received by the respective antenna elements, and adjusts each amplitude and phase adjuster such that each amplitude and phase adjuster outputs a signal of each antenna element with the amplitude and phase calculated by the amplitude and phase calculating unit.
As a diversity of antennas having a plurality of antenna elements, there are antenna apparatuses such as those disclosed in Japanese patent laid-open publications Nos. 7-74687, 6-132940, 9-214409 and 6-502981.
According to such prior art antenna apparatuses, in general, since a plurality of antenna elements are arranged parallel to one another on a straight line, there is a problem that it is difficult to control the beams and nulls in the direction of the straight line passing through the antenna elements. This problem is particularly remarkable when the number of antenna elements is two.
FIG. 48 is a plan view showing a prior art array antenna apparatus, including two half-wavelength dipole antennas 31 and 32 arranged parallel to each other. FIGS. 49 to 52 are diagrams showing simulation results for the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48. The array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48 includes the dipole antenna elements 31 and 32 each having an element length of λ/2 when the wavelength of a radio signal to be transmitted and received is λ, and the dipole antenna elements 31 and 32 are provided so as to be parallel to each other and separated by a distance of λ/2. The dipole antenna element 31 has, at its middle, a feeding point Q01, and includes element portions 31a and 31b each having an element length of λ/4, such that the feeding point Q01 is positioned between the element portions 31a and 31b. The dipole antenna element 32 also has, at its middle, a feeding point Q02, and includes element portions 32a and 32b each having an element length of λ/4, such that the feeding point Q02 is positioned between the element portions 32a and 32b. The following description is made using a coordinate system having x, y and z axes, as shown in FIG. 48. Here, a direction from back to front of the drawing is defined as a positive direction on the x-axis.
FIGS. 49 to 52 are diagrams each showing an example of a radiation pattern in a horizontal-plane (x-y plane) of the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48 which is adaptively controlled when a desired wave with a certain azimuth angle and an interference wave with a certain azimuth angle are incoming to the array antenna apparatus. As incoming waves, one desired wave and one interference wave arrives with an interval of 40 degrees between these waves. Each of FIGS. 49 to 52 shows the case in which an average angle of arrival (i.e., a center angle between the desired wave and the interference wave) is 0, 45, 90 or 135 degrees. Specifically, FIG. 49 shows the case in which the desired wave with the azimuth angle of 20 degrees and the interference wave with the azimuth angle of −20 degrees are incoming to the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48, FIG. 50 shows the case in which the desired wave with the azimuth angle of 65 degrees and the interference wave with the azimuth angle of 25 degrees are incoming to the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48, FIG. 51 shows the case in which the desired wave with the azimuth angle of 110 degrees and the interference wave with the azimuth angle of 70 degrees are incoming to the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48, and FIG. 52 shows the case in which the desired wave with the azimuth angle of 155 degrees and the interference wave with the azimuth angle of 115 degrees are incoming to the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48. Each radiation pattern shows a vertically polarized component. The interference wave signal is uncorrelated with the desired wave signal, an initial value of a signal to noise ratio (SNR) is 20 dB, and an initial value of a signal to interference ratio (SIR) is 0 dB, i.e., a desired wave and an interference wave have the same signal level. Both the desired wave signal and the interference wave signal are QPSK signals.
The results of signal to interference plus noise ratios (SINR) after adaptive control are shown below.
TABLE 1Average Angle of ArrivalSINRBER(a)0 degree16.9 dB1.2 × 10−12(b)45 degrees16.9 dB1.5 × 10−12(c)90 degrees−0.3 dB1.6 × 10−1(d)135 degrees 16.9 dB1.2 × 10−12
It can be seen that when the average angles of arrival are 0, 45 and 135 degrees, the SINR is sufficiently improved by performing the adaptive control for steering a null in the direction of the interference wave, however, when an average angle of arrival is 90 degrees, a desired wave signal and an interference wave signal have almost the same signal level and thus the SINR is not improved. This results from the fact that in a linear array, the control of beams and nulls in an array direction is limited. Thus, in the case of the array antenna apparatus of FIG. 48, it can be seen that since a plurality of antenna elements are arranged so as to be aligned on the y axis, the beam and the null cannot be controlled on the incoming wave and the interference wave from the direction of y-axis (i.e., the direction of 90 degrees), as shown in FIG. 51.
As described above, a plurality of antenna elements of the prior art antenna apparatuses are generally arranged parallel to one another on a straight line, and thus there is a problem that it is difficult to control beams and nulls on the straight line passing through the antenna elements.

Adaptive antenna apparatus including a plurality sets of partial array antennas having different directivities


Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for allowing independent control of a formant position and inharmonic content in sound synthesis. In one aspect, this allows continuous shifting of the formant across a spectrum without producing any inharmonic spectral content. In a second aspect, this also makes it possible to generate sound with a defined inharmonic content amount and still move a formant position without changing the inharmonic content amount or to continuously change the amount of inharmonic content without significantly changing the formant position. The disclosed technology uses multiple modulators that are applied to a carrier signal by a weighted sum of their outputs.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to sound synthesis.
2. Introduction
Frequency Modulation Synthesis and Phase Modulation Synthesis—both commonly referred to as "FM Synthesis"—are well known and widely used. John Chowning first described the technique in his article "The Synthesis of Complex Audio Spectra by the Means of Frequency Modulation" in 1973. In one form, this type of modulation synthesis consists of two sine oscillators—one is called a "Carrier" and one a "Modulator". An output signal of the modulator changes the phase or frequency of the carrier, and the carrier's output signal is used as an audio signal.
The spectral content of such an FM configuration is controlled by the carrier frequency, the modulator frequency and the modulation intensity or amplitude. If carrier and modulator frequency are both integer multiplies of a common fundamental frequency, then the spectrum will be purely harmonic. Otherwise the spectrum will also have inharmonic content. Inharmonicity refers to an amount of inharmonic content in a spectrum.
The ratio between carrier and modulator frequency has a strong impact on the frequency range that is most prominent. Continuously changing the modulator frequency by sweeping a formant through frequencies leads to wide areas of inharmonic sounds and only small regions of mostly harmonic results because, under current technology, the modulator/carrier frequency ratio and amount of inharmonic content in a spectrum are linked.

Sound synthesis with decoupled formant and inharmonicity


A mechanical joint assembly for a steel catenary riser (SCR) is disclosed. The lower section of the mechanical joint assembly is comprised of steel or alternate high strength components, rather than elastomers to absorb the high loads and increase life of the unit. The lower mechanical joint assembly provides for reduction of bending moments and resulting fatigue stresses at the SCR top by removing resistance to movement in all angular directions, providing increased lateral and in-plane angles to provide increased construction tolerances for the pipeline approach corridor. Pipeline approach angle increase is accommodated by providing dual orthogonal trunnions in addition to an axial swivel. The upper mechanical joint assembly, acting without riser tension loads, allows for the use of either flexible high-pressure pipe or swivel arrangements to accommodate angular flexure before the rigid deck piping. As a system, the mechanical joint assembly provides for upstream and downstream valving for safety and maintenance without decreasing the fatigue life of SCR""s.

The invention relates to an SCR Top Connector Assembly for the articulating connection of a conduit, such as an offshore flowline or pipeline used in the petroleum industry, to a foundation subjected to differential motions of the conduit and structure. More particularly, this invention relates to a subsea pipeline with significant unsupported length, termed a xe2x80x9csteel catenary riserxe2x80x9d (SCR), which would utilize the SCR Top Connector Assembly to connect the SCR to a fixed or floating structure, including several parts that work together to provide fluid communication from the SCR to the platform piping system, to allow dynamic and relative motions of the SCR and the structure.
In the offshore oil and gas sector, recent developments in deeper water depths have demonstrated the need for improved solutions for the economic attachment of a flowline, or pipeline, to a structure, whether fixed or floating. Initial development utilized flexible pipe from the seabed to the floating platform; however, many operators have begun to favor the potential safety and savings offered by the use of steel catenary riser (SCR) configurations, wherein the pipeline is suspended for some distance off the seabed and connected to the structure, or floating platform.
The prior art assembly of SCR flexible joints greatly limit the approach corridors of flowlines due to the degree of dynamic angular movement that can be accommodated. Manufacturing and installation tolerances offshore in deep water leave little dynamic allowance in the prior art once the static offset of floating vessels are included. The angular limits of the prior art assembly pose difficulties for the design and construction engineers of offshore pipelines to ensure that the installation tolerances, fabrication tolerances, and operational conditions will not exceed the limits of the flexible joint and potentially lead to failure of the SCR. If the limits of the flexible joint are exceeded, all flexibility is lost and the SCR is exposed to very large bending moments resulting in dramatically and unpredictably shortened fatigue life, thereby leading to possible failure of the SCR below the flexible joint near the platform. Failure of an SCR in petroleum gas service or an SCR connector component without a viable safety shutdown valve would pose a very high risk of fire and loss of life as the gas in the pipeline (extending frequently 60 miles from the host platform) would be released at the base of the manned structure which contains sources of ignition. Although a gas leak may be more hazardous, failure of a SCR in petroleum liquid service would lead to a fairly large oil spill in open water since much of the oil in the pipeline would be siphoned out of the pipeline by the low pressure wake of the SCR falling to the seabed. Additionally, the oil would be expelled by expanding gases within the oil, as well as normal molecular diffusion.
It is an object of this invention to have features which greatly increase safety over present art by eliminating a risk of gas leakage at an offshore platform by allowing the use of normal and proven safety valves. This reduces the potential for fire, and eliminates potential oil leakage into seawater when used with oil lines. Current SCR flexible joints utilize elastomeric and metal laminations, which provide pressure containment. The same elastomeric materials serving as seals must absorb the full SCR vertical reactions while repeatedly being deflected under high vertical loads. The vertical loads can reach 100 tons due to the suspended riser weight, motions of the SCR subjected to continual environmental loading, and relative platform movements. Under cyclic loading, the elastomeric elements containing the fluids, under various conditions of temperature and pressure, may likely become a path for gas or oil leakage which would result in oil contamination of the surrounding seawater or leakage of gas at the base of the offshore platform. This would cause a gas plume and a risk of sinking the floating vessel or risk of fire to the structure overhead. If a semi-submersible were to sink at a corner, it would likely lose tendons and capsize. The industry considers systems with moving elastomeric parts to have maintenance or replacement requirements at some point in time and therefore leakage considerations are valid considerations with elastomers subjected to high cyclic compressive and shear loads acting as the sole safety barrier under pressure. Although platform piping valves can be closed on the platform side in the present art flexible joint, it is presently not considered possible to provide a safety block valve below the prior art flexible connector due to the high axial loads and high bending moments at the top of the SCR. These loads would be extremely taxing to the integrity of the valve and would not be a reliable safety feature.
A lower block valve, though not practical with present (prior art) equipment, would prevent elastomer leakage from causing the entire pipeline or SCR from back-flowing gas into the platform creating an uncontrollable hazard to life of platform personnel. In fact, the bending moments and related stresses are so high in the top section of the SCR, below the flexible connector, that specially fabricated tapered xe2x80x98stressxe2x80x99 joints are required to minimize the stress concentration factors in these installations. The stress intensification values are primarily due to the high bending moments resulting from the flexural high stiffness of the prior art SCR Top Connector to which the SCR is connected. The high bending moments are primarily a result of the high rotational stiffness of the laminated elastomeric elements being deflected laterally in shear while under high compression loads.
The replacement, or leakage failure correction, of the elastomers within the prior art assemblies is essentially impossible by the platform crew or by means that can be flown offshore to the site, or otherwise be effected in a short duration to reduce a prolonged platform hazard. It is a further object of this invention to eliminate elastomers from the multiple role duties of high load absorption, flexural cycling, and high-pressure containment of petroleum liquids and gases.
To correct fluid leakage of the prior art assemblies, it is necessary to remove the SCR and its associated pipeline from service by shutting in the platform and purging the section in order to provide a safe repair environment. It is also necessary to employ the use of costly offshore deepwater service equipment with sufficient lifting capacity to remove and re-attach a new assembly since the elements are not able to be replaced by the platform crew in a timely fashion in the prior art assemblies.
Prior art is described in part by the following patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 3,692,337 Flexible Coupling, Mischel; Howard T., San Diego, Calif. Sep. 19, 1972.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,526 Flexible Supportive Joint for Subsea Riser Flotation, Watkins; Bruce J., Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Apr. 27, 1976.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,695 Flexible Joint for Facilitating Bending of Tubular, Snider; David A., Hurst, Tex. Aug. 11, 1998.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,977 Flexible/Rigid Riser System, Moses; Charles J., Alvarado, Tex. Apr. 1, 1997.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,586 Elastomeric Riser Tensioner System, Arlt, III; Edward J., Arlington, Tex. May 13, 1997.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,266 Laminated Bearing with Plural Modulus Layer, Finney August 1978.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,662 TLP Marine Riser Tensioner, Peppel July 1988
It is a further object of the present invention to minimize the potential for fire risk and loss of life; oil spills, uncontrolled and extended leakage, high maintenance costs and pipeline/platform downtime duration.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system with automatic shut-in safety block valve capability on each side of any non-metallic elements which may be subject to leakage.
It is a further object of the present invention to increase the allowable dynamic displacement angles to reduce the chance of bottoming out and causing premature SCR fatigue failure.
It is an additional object of the present invention to minimize the high stress levels which occur at the base of the prior art flex joint to eliminate the needs for specially fabricated tapered stress joints and provide extended fatigue service life of the SCR by reducing the top section fatigue moments.
It is yet another object of this invention to isolate the high loads due to the suspended risers from acting on flexible or elastomeric elements.
It is also an object of this invention to use load isolated swivels which convert pendular motions to rotary motion and allow system use when pressure and diameter restrictions prevent the safe use of flexible pipe.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide external means of dynamic high-frequency damping.
It is also an additional object of the present invention to allow essentially unlimited pipeline approach angle to the pre-installed attachment of steel catenary risers on platforms.
The present invention includes a mechanical joint assembly in which the load-absorbing base is composed of steel or alternate high strength components, providing a higher level of safety and spill prevention than is offered by prior art. The present invention further provides for the use of valving upstream and downstream of the only non-metallic maintenance item(s) without decreasing fatigue life. The present invention also reduces bending moments and resulting fatigue stresses at the SCR top by removing resistance to movement in all angular directions, with increased lateral angles to provide increased construction tolerances for the pipeline approach corridor. The present invention allows the use of increased angles of in-plane dynamic motion with elimination of large vertical SCR supported weight reactions from acting on elastomeric components.
The safety requirement, of preventing uncontrolled back feeding of the pipeline or SCR and thus averting fire and loss of life, is achieved by absorbing all reactions of the SCR prior to subjecting elastomers to pressure containment requirements. By isolating the high loads, downstream and upstream, remote or manual-operated, shut-off valves can be provided to fully isolate any leak within a short section without sacrifice of the system fatigue life. Preventing any block valve from absorbing the high SCR environmental reactions minimizes the chance of valve leakage or malfunction.
The long service outage and high maintenance costs are eliminated by providing the above noted block valves, limiting possible maintenance items to simple diver replacement components without the need for any offshore service vessels.
The present invention therefore separates the design requirements of high load control and that of allowable motion and flexure. The separation point may involve several means, which are described herein along with more specific details of the preferred embodiments.
In the preferred embodiment, increasing the allowance for the pipeline approach angles is accommodated in the lower base by providing dual orthogonal trunnions in addition to an axial swivel to compensate for installation rotational misalignment. A comparison can be made between the present invention and that of the prior art: when the normal construction tolerances are subtracted from the systems three to four times greater allowable dynamic angles are achieved by the proposed system than when compared to the prior art. This increase greatly reduces the chance of exceeding the flexure rates associates with high stress levels when pressure limits are exceeded.
Doubling the load carrying capacity is achieved in the present invention by providing a robust design with heavy cross sections and gradual section transitions in the base to minimize stress levels and, stress intensification factors, thereby providing improved fatigue resistance and load handling.
Elimination of specially prepared tapered stress joints is achieved by the omission of elements which resist the angular motion of the SCR by high-bending moments, as is in the case of the prior art assembly, and the substitution of either low friction, higher-paired pivot systems, bearings, bushings, low-friction coatings, or ultra smooth surfaces. Systems above the base are provided to absorb the angular rotation without tensile loading and with low rotational stiffness.
The Top Connector Assembly may include an optional damping system to curtail high frequency motion. The damping system is subjected to the high SCR reactions and may be maintained, or replaced, without shut-in of the system by a diver and small platform-mounted equipment. Because the fluid medium for damping may be seawater, or other benign fluids, failure of the system in any way does not constitute an emergency. The maintenance could include only the installation of a new damper.
The benefits afforded by the objects of this invention, as defined, clearly address safety concerns of the prior art devices and increase the operational limits and reliability by allowing greater SCR motions with less constraint while eliminating present concerns of installation tolerances. These features in turn allow for measurably larger SCR storm-induced dynamic movement angles with safety.
The assembly of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is composed of several principal parts which make up the load absorbing base and the flexible assembly:
(A) A pressure carrying body which is attached to the uppermost portion of the SCR riser. This component incorporates a pair of male trunnions, which are structurally connected to the pressure containment body and located at opposite sides of the pressure-carrying body, which is an extension of the SCR pipe. The trunnions include features of higher paired rolling motion that provide essentially frictionless motion. Alternate arrangements when friction is less significant due to light SCR reactions include bearings, or lubricated bushings for the trunnions. Rotary motion of the pressure containment body is provided by interior coatings or other means to prevent locked-in torsional stresses during installation;
(B) A trunnion adapter, which consists of a female trunnion on the interior surface, which mates with the pressure containment body and additionally contains a second xe2x80x9couterxe2x80x9d male trunnion pair, as described above, located on the outer surface and on an orthogonal plane (a perpendicular plane) to the interior trunnions;
(C) A foundation receptacle that is attached to a foundation of the structure and accepts the outer surface trunnion pair of the second part. The trunnions act in the principle of a universal joint and allows movement in any angle;
(D) Rounded-knife edge pivot, bearings, or bushings may be utilized to provide for rotation of the trunnions to reduce the friction to the degree required for the application;
(E) An optional damper, which can be utilized to absorb high frequency motions and prevent resonance of an undesirable mode due to dynamic excitation of the environment may be included in the assembly as a system approach solution;
(F) A series of swivels converting pendular to rotational motion, flexible pipe, or other means of the prior art, is incorporated into the assembly above the load absorbing base to provide flexure. The load requirements for the swivels and/or flexible pipe are significantly lower because the external loads have been absorbed by the trunnion assembly and associated components;
(G) The swivel or flexible pipe assembly may be preferentially protected at each end with automatic or manual valving at the upstream and downstream ends for automatic and manual shut-in safety without compromising the fatigue life of the system.


In an electric power transmission device in which a primary side power transmission coil (L1) and a secondary side power receiving coil (L2) are magnetically coupled, and electric power is transmitted from the primary side power transmission coil (L1) to the secondary side power receiving coil (L2) via a non-contact and out of touch, a capacitor (C1) is connected to the primary side power transmission coil (L1) in series, a voltage to be supplied to the primary side power transmission coil (L1) is converted into AC voltage and stepped up, and a series resonance circuit (7) including a mutual inductance (M) by the secondary side power receiving coil (L2) is formed; wherein a resonance point of the series resonance circuit (7) including the mutual inductance (M) by the secondary side power receiving coil (L2) is set to a frequency higher than a resonance point of a primary side series resonance circuit (6) which is composed of the primary side power transmission coil (L1) and the capacitor (C1), whereby a high electric power transmission efficiency of practical level can be obtained and thus reduction in size and weight and electric power saving can be easily realized with the high electric power transmission efficiency.

In such sort of an electric power transmission device, a primary side power transmission coil and a secondary side power receiving coil are magnetically coupled and electric power is transmitted from the primary side power transmission coil to the secondary side power receiving coil via non-contact and out of touch. As described above, there is a large problem in that the electric power transmission device utilizing electromagnetic induction must improve electric power transmission efficiency and transmission electric power and reduce electric power consumption. Techniques to solve such problems have been proposed. For example, International Publication No. 98/34319 discloses a technique in which a primary coil and a secondary coil use a cored coil and a capacitor is connected to the secondary coil in parallel to form a parallel resonance circuit; and since a frequency higher than a frequency of oscillation signal of the primary coil side is chosen as a resonant frequency of the secondary coil side, a capacitance can be reduced and a coupling coefficient between the primary coil and the secondary coil can be apparently increased, and therefore electric power transmission efficiency can be improved. In addition, there is disclosed another technique in which the presence or absence of a load is indirectly detected by a parameter variation in current or voltage generated in the primary coil; and electric power is continuously supplied to the primary coil in a complete operation mode when loading, and electric power is intermittently supplied to the primary coil in an intermittent operation mode for each predetermined timing during predetermined time when no-loading, thereby reducing electric power consumption.

Electric power transmission device and electric power transmission method


Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to build a storage architecture for graph data are disclosed herein. Disclosed example apparatus include a neighbor identifier to identify respective sets of neighboring vertices of a graph. The neighboring vertices included in the respective sets are adjacent to respective ones of a plurality of vertices of the graph and respective sets of neighboring vertices are represented as respective lists of neighboring vertex identifiers. The apparatus also includes an element creator to create, in a cache memory, an array of elements that are unpopulated. The array elements have lengths equal to a length of a cache line. In addition, the apparatus includes an element populater to populate the elements with neighboring vertex identifiers. Each of the elements store neighboring vertex identifiers of respective ones of the list of neighboring vertex identifiers.

In recent years, graph analysis applications are getting more attention as a way to analyze big data sets and internal relationships between the data elements of big data sets. Graphs are commonly represented using adjacency lists. One adjacency list is created per graph vertex and each graph adjacency list identifies all of the vertices connected to the graph vertex. A storage-efficient data structure often used to hold adjacency lists, referred to as a compressed sparse row (CSR) representation, includes the adjacency lists concatenated in a single, large array. As there are no empty elements in the array, the CSR representation is a compact way to store the adjacency lists as compared to storing a full adjacency matrix.
The figures are not to scale. In general, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts.

Storage architectures for graph analysis applications


An image sensing apparatus having a camera shake correction function of moving an optical axis of an image sensing device, the apparatus comprises an optical axis moving amount acquisition unit configured to acquire a moving amount of the optical axis at the time of shooting; a dust pixel determination unit configured to scan image data acquired by pre-shooting, during which the camera shake correction function is disabled, and determine a dust pixel corresponding to dust that is adhered to the image sensing device; a dust correction data generation unit configured to generate dust correction data based on information about the dust pixel that has been determined by the dust pixel determination unit; and a holding unit configured to hold the moving amount of the optical axis acquired by the optical axis moving amount acquisition unit and the dust correction data generated by the dust correction data generation unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image sensing apparatus using image sensors such as CCDs or CMOS sensors, an image processing apparatus, a control method, and a computer-readable medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, many image sensing apparatus are available on the market, such as digital cameras and digital video cameras that generate image signals with image sensors, such as CCDs, and record generated image signals as data. However, in digital cameras, foreign substances such as dust and dirt (hereinafter simply referred to as "dust") may adhere to the image sensor, the surface of image-sensor cover glass or an optical filter, for example, that is fixed to the image sensor, or optical systems (hereinafter collectively referred to as "image-sensor optical components"). Such adherence of dust to image-sensor optical components causes the problem where the quality of shot images degrades, such as a case where light is blocked by dust, resulting in a portion that is not shot. Particularly, lens-exchangeable digital cameras have the problem whereby dust can easily enter the camera when lenses are exchanged.
Such dust on an image sensor usually adheres not to the surface of the image sensor but to the surface of the cover glass or an optical filter and, accordingly, images are formed in different states depending on the aperture value of the shooting lens and the distance from the pupil position. In other words, a lens at almost full aperture causes blurring and is thus little affected by adherence of minute dust, whereas a lens with a high aperture value, in contrast, forms clear images and is thus influenced by adherence of minute dust.
Thus, a method for obscuring dust is known in which an image that captures only dust on the image sensor is prepared in advance by, for example, shooting a white wall with a small lens aperture, and is used in combination with an ordinary shot image (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-222231). With this method, however, the user always needs to be aware of the association between the image that was shot for dust detection and related real shot images. A conceivable example is that dust positions are acquired by shooting a white wall, for example, and then held in the digital camera so that a list of dust positions and sizes are attached to image data that is obtained by ordinary shooting. For example, a separate image processing apparatus may be prepared and used to analyze dust positions in image data based on attached dust positions and to correct analyzed regions with surrounding pixels, thereby obscuring dust.
Another known method is analyzing multiple shot images and identifying unchanged minute regions as dust regions (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-72629).
Aside from the above-described dust problem, another problem also arises that, since image data obtained by a digital camera is easily displayed at different magnifications on computers, camera shake is getting more noticeable with year-over-year accelerating reductions in pixel pitches of image sensors. In conjunction with this, lens- or sensor-shift optical camera shake correction systems are becoming increasingly popular, but in cases where shooting is performed while applying optical camera shake correction, the optical axis will shift at every shooting. Thus, shot dust positions are not always constant. In addition, since the direction and speed of camera shake minutely vary during exposure, it is difficult to take into account the proper amount of optical axis shift even though the amount of camera shake is stored at the instant when the shutter is released, for example. The aforementioned conventional dust reduction processing accordingly does not include approaches to cases where the optical axis shifts during exposure and does not solve the problems satisfactorily.

Image sensing apparatus, image processing apparatus, control method, and computer-readable medium


A riflescope aiming system that includes a telescopic sight, a multiple-zero-point elevation turret and a ballistics reference system. The multiple-zero-point elevation turret includes a rotatable indicator carrier and a plurality of indicator pins secured to the indicator carrier, each indicator pin corresponding to a predetermined target distance. The ballistics reference system is operably coupled to the objective housing of the telescopic sight and displays ballistics data indicia.

Many firearms, such as rifles, are equipped with optical sights, which use optics that provide the user with an image of an aligned aiming point or pattern, commonly known as a reticle, superimposed at the same focus as the target.
When shooting at long distances, shooters must adjust their aim to take into account the downward acceleration of the projectile imparted by gravity, which is often referred to as "bullet drop." This is typically done by adjusting the angular position of the riflescope relative to the rifle barrel using an elevation turret.
A zero point for a riflescope is determined when "sighting" a rifle at a known distance by adjusting the angular position of the riflescope relative to the rifle barrel, via the elevation turret, until the impact point of the bullet matches the point on the target coincident with the optical center of the riflescope reticle. For targets at distances greater than the distance used for establishing the riflescope's zero point, the elevation turret is used to adjust the angular position of the scope with respect to the rifle barrel to compensate for the greater amount of bullet drop.
The vast majority of hunting riflescopes have a single elevation zero point that is set to a single distance or elevation, e.g., 200 yards. Unless the riflescope's turret can be adjusted to match further distances beyond a single zero point, it is impossible to accurately and swiftly predict where a bullet will impact at middle to long distances without additional rapid adjustment aids.
Recently, riflescopes have been developed that include a turret with multiple indicators, each representing a zero point for various distances. Thus, a shooter can select an index indicator that corresponds to the distance of his target to adjust his riflescope to the proper elevation. One example of this type of riflescope is disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0289239 to Menges et al. (hereinafter referred to as Menges).
Menges discloses a riflescope turret with an inner coupling device surrounded by annular stacking indexing elements. Since the indexing elements stack on top of one another, the number of indexing elements that can be used is limited by their thickness with respect to the height of the coupler. As disclosed, a maximum of four indexing elements can be used, which limits resolution and accuracy potential.
The number of available zero points or stops corresponds to the turret's elevation resolution; therefore, fewer zero stops correspond to larger distances between zero stop set points, which in turn results in a larger margin of error for distances between zero stops. For example, if a shooter wanted to calibrate his riflescope for a range of 100 to 500 yards and had three available zero stops, he could set the zero stops at 100, 300, and 500 yards, respectively. However, if five zero stops were available, he could set them at 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, respectively. In practice, for example, a target at 400 yards could be perfectly sighted for the system with five zero stops, whereas the shooter with the three zero stop system would have to set the turret at 300 yards and make manual adjustments to compensate for the remaining 100 yards.
A further limitation of modern riflescopes with multiple zero points, including Menges, is a limited rotational range of the turret, which limits the amount of elevation change available, and to a certain extent, elevation change resolution. The rotational or angular range of a turret may be expressed in "minutes of angle" or MOA, or other angular measurement systems. Rotating the turret adjusts the angular position of the riflescope relative to the rifle barrel. The greater the target distance, the more MOA the turret must be rotated to compensate for the greater amount of bullet drop. The Menges turret has twelve MOA per 360° of rotation of the turret and the turret is limited to one rotation, therefore limiting the range and/or resolution of the turret.
An even further limitation with modern riflescopes, including Menges, is the perceptibility of the indicators. Since each indicator zero point corresponds to a specific rotational angle of the turret, the width of the indicator zero point is limited by the arc length of the MOA resolution, and by the height of the indicator index. Riflescopes such as Menges, and others such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,550 to Leatherwood, that use annular indicator indexes necessarily have very small indicator zero points, which may in the form of small colored dots or tabs, because the height of each annular index is limited by the overall turret height and the number of additional indices.
Moreover, existing color coded indicators on turret could be more visible and pronounced. Existing color coding may be a pin viewed from a slot or an arrow positioned partially up the turret. Improvements on such visibility are warranted.
An additional problem with current riflescopes is caused by the myriad distinctions between individual characteristics of ammunition, rifles, and atmospheric conditions. Ammunition and rifles each vary by brand and even by model within a given brand with respect to shot characteristics and manufacturing tolerances. Likewise, atmospheric conditions significantly vary depending on geographic location. For example, rifles used in northern Minnesota are subject to very different atmospheric conditions than those used in Afghanistan. In aggregate, there are countless possible combinations of parameters that have a direct effect on a given rifle's accuracy at various ranges, thereby increasing the complexity of ballistic calculations as well as the time needed to make those calculations.


An expansion mechanism for use in a meter box or a meter yoke. The mechanism composed of two principal elements includes a body having an at least partially threaded axial body opening passing therethrough and a bushing having a nut with a threaded female portion into which the meter threads and a threaded male portion adapted to thread into the threaded body opening. A cup having a cup opening passing therethrough is secured to an annular rim on the interior of the body and is provided with a tubular surface axially aligned with the bushing and body. The cup is provided with a sleeve having an O-ring sealer that continuously provides a seal between the tubular surface and the bushing so that the seal is maintained in any relative axial position between the body and the bushing.

This invention relates to meter boxes and meter yokes. It more particularly relates to expansion mechanisms for mounting fluid meters in meter boxes and meter yokes.
In the past, the expansion mechanisms for liquid meters were manufactured of brass or bronze and included a cast brass or bronze body machined thereafter. These brass expansion mechanisms were mass produced at a very low cost. As a result, they were often considered expendible and the fact that they were wanting in any one of several respects was discounted due to their low cost. In situations where it was anticipated that these expansion mechanisms would fail for one reason or another, the general attitude of the art was to use them and plan to replace them when they failed.
One major shortcoming of these conventional expansion mechanism constructions was the fact that the metal was subject to being attacked or reduced by electrolytic action with resulting failure. While there are many situations where it is known that electrolytic action will or may be encountered and troublesome and oftentimes expensive efforts or steps can be made to overcome such actions, there are many other situations where it is not expected. Further, the magnitude of such action and the part or parts of the expansion mechanism construction that will be attacked by it are seldom determinable. Thus, the effective life of the expansion mechanism and meter can seldom, if ever, be determined.
Another major shortcoming of the brass expansion mechanism is that the cast portion thereof is frequently replete with holes and cavities as a result of impurities and the like in the metal. Such defects in the casting are seldom visible and frequently and unexpectedly result in ruptures, leaks and the like when the expansion mechanisms are in use.
Another shortcoming is the fact that brass and bronze have a relatively high coefficient of friction with water and certain other fluids. As a result, brass or bronze plug expansion mechanisms create a substantial resistance to fluid flow through them. These expansion mechanisms also have a number of separate parts in which cracks and crevices are defined and in which foreign matters can lodge.
Also, the arrangement used to hold the cup of the expansion mechanism to the main body was not sufficient to avoid the loss of the cup and also at the same time to prevent leaks between the main body and the cup.
Further, the main body of conventional mechanisms has a hand wheel in a star shape that makes it difficult to turn inside of a meter box in which there is limited space available between the walls of the box and the diameter of the hand wheel. Thus, frequently the person who installs the meter does not have enough clearance to turn the wheel sufficiently, and a seal is not thereby effected at the end of the fitting and leaking occurs.
In my prior designs, now recently patented, these deficiencies of the previous prior art were overcome. However, there were two additional shortcomings inherent in my prior designs.
First, there were too many parts that would be used to make up a complete working expansion mechanism. For instance, the cup and gasket were each a separate element that would bring additional costs to the manufacturing process and would require stocking of these separate elements for maintenance purposes.
Second, the seal derived from my prior expansion mechanisms required the gasket to be deformed by rotating the hand wheel until the top of gasket abutted the under surface of the annular rim. Until this contact occurred, there would be an insufficient seal that would permit leaking. Such a construction limited my prior design to full sealing contact only when the hand wheel was fully adjusted to bring about this sealing contact. Any unadjusted position therefore would be without full sealing contact.

Meter box or meter yoke expansion mechanism


A seat slide structure is provided for supporting a vehicle occupant seat on a vehicle. An elongate channel is provided having a cylindrical guideway and an elongate slot. A generally cylindrical slide tube is coaxially received in the guideway with a planar support coupled to the tube and extending via this slot out through the channel member. Ring bearing means are provided within the channel member between the channel member and the slide tube to locate the slide tube coaxially slidable within the guideway End caps are provided coaxially about each end of the channel member and serve to couple the channel member to the vehicle floor with improved resistance to failure under stress load conditions.

In the past, many structures have been provided to support a vehicle occupant seat and to permit it to be slid forwardly and rearwardly as desired to be locked in different positions to accommodate occupants, particularly drivers of different height and size.
The automotive industry has conventionally adopted mechanisms such as those illustrated in the present inventor's U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,527,767 4,563,044 4,572,469; 4,580,755; 4,588,234; 4,438,898 and 4,487,459. Such mechanisms teach typical seat slides having upper and lower U-shaped tracks with special bearing assemblies typified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,187. These mechanisms suffer the disadvantages that they are relatively costly, are relatively heavy and may suffer from failure under collision conditions which would entail the seat structure breaking loose from the vehicle floor.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,371 to Dall teaches a seat track mechanism in which a sheet metal support is coupled to the vehicle floor. The support extends from the floor as a planar panel and ends as a formed support tube of cylindrical shape. A split tubular member is disposed coaxially about the support tube and carries brackets for mounting to a vehicle seat. Bearings are provided about the support tube so that the split tubular member is slidable longitudinally on the tube support coaxially therealong. Dall teaches a complex locking system to lock the split tubular member relative to the support tube.
The seat track mechanism of Dall suffers a number of disadvantages. In use of Dall, the occupant seat itself needs to have a support beam to extend longitudinally along top of the split tubular member. This support beam increases the overall weight of the seat system. The mechanism of Dall will disadvantageously become detached from the vehicle seat under failure loading conditions as occur in collisions. Under high loads, the split tube member will readily spread to disengage from about the support tube, whereby the seat will become detached from the vehicle. The locking system has a significant number of parts, is complex, heavy and difficult to assemble.


The act of heating water within a contained vessel that is common to most buildings, whether residential or commercial or located in recreational vehicles, mobile homes, aircraft, ships or marine pleasure craft, causes calcium carbonate to precipitate out and settle to the bottom of a heating or fluid containing vessel. The use of ultrasonic transmission within the vessel will agitate the water held within, preventing the normally stagnant hot water from producing calcium carbonate. Other benefits are the cleaning properties of ultrasonic transmission. Thus the internal parts of hot water heaters will enjoy a longer life. This benefit of agitation will also be found when applied to vessels that contain fluids that share similar problems as hot water heaters.

The present invention relates to a method for continuous internal agitation of fluid within fluid containing vessels. More specifically, the invention is directed at providing a method for decreasing the build-up of sediment common in fluid containing vessels due to the heating of the fluid, and, thus, maintaining the most efficient operation of the vessel and increasing the duration of the vessel""s purpose.
In the past, there have been problems of premature hot water heater failure and reduced energy efficiency of the heater due to calcium sediment build-up. Water heater sediment is a common problem contributing to inefficiency and shortened longevity of water heaters. Both natural gas (xe2x80x9cgas-firedxe2x80x9d) and electric water heaters are plagued from problems caused directly by calcium build-up. More specifically, heating water causes calcium carbonate to precipitate out and settle to the bottom of a water heater. Sediment build-up can reduce the holding capacity of a hot water heater or other fluid containing vessel, and can get into the circulating lines as well as causing problems with the check valves and circulating pump.
Within a gas-fired heater the build-up of a sediment layer inside the tank prevents the rapid transfer of heat to the water from the gas flame. Another problem with a gas-fired heater caused by sediment build-up is the production of gas bubbles forming under a layer of sediment, causing thumping and popping noises as the gas bubbles escape from under the sediment layer.
Electric water heaters are also subject to sediment build-up in the bottom of the fluid containing vessel, but they do not suffer from the problems of noise that is found within gas-fired water heaters. However, electric heaters"" accumulation of calcium build-up reduces the heat transfer rate, lowering the efficiency of the heater. Eventually the calcium build-up on the heating elements will cause a failure due to localized overheating of the element.
Hot water heater manufacturers recommend draining a few quarts of water from the tank every month to aid in preventing the build-up of calcium sediment in the tank. However, following such prevention procedures neither ensures that calcium build-up will not be problematic to the functioning and efficiency of the hot water heater, nor does it eliminate the source of the calcium sediment build-up, stagnate water producing calcium carbonate. Previous attempts for preventing the build-up of sediment were in the form of a cold-water delivery tube that would agitate the incoming cold water through openings cut into the length of the tube.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide method for continuous internal agitation of fluid within hot water heaters and other fluid containing vessels susceptible to calcium sediment build-up that is capable of significantly reducing or eliminating the build-up of calcium sediment. It would be further desirable to provide a method which is systematically regular, if not constant, in preventing any sediment from collecting in the hot water heater tank or other fluid containing vessel.
Additionally, ultrasonic agitation would provide a method which is systematically regular, or constant, in preventing sediment build-up and is a proven technology and has enjoyed successful use in many industries. Contaminants are either dissolved or displaced by the mechanical process of ultrasonic agitation. Ultrasonic agitation results in a dual benefit when used in electric hot water heaters, preventing sediment build-up and cleaning the electrical heating elements within a hot water heater. Ultrasonic transmission causes a phenomenon known as cavitation. Cavitation is the rapid formation and collapse of vapor pockets in an ultrasonic activated liquid in regions of very low pressure. Cavitation xe2x80x9cbubblesxe2x80x9d and ultrasonic micro-agitation work to dissolve soluble contaminants and displace insoluble particles. This occurs without causing damage to the surfaces in contact with the water within the tank.
The difficulties, limitations and desires suggested in the preceding are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are among many which demonstrate that prior art systems and methods for internal agitation of fluid containing vessels will admit to worthwhile improvement.
It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide an efficient method of maintaining a clean internal environment to any hot water heater or a vessel containing a fluid that is prone to contamination.
It is another general object of the invention to provide a method that will prolong the useful life of a hot water heater or fluid-containing vessel.
It is another general object of the invention to provide a method that will prevent the build-up of sediment in a hot water heater tank and prevent the sediment from entering the circulation lines, circulation pump and check valves.
To achieve at least some of the foregoing objects, the subject invention provides a method for continuous internal agitation of hot water heaters and other fluid containing vessels. The present invention consists of ultrasonic transmitting and cycle timing circuit equipment adapted to the liquid filled vessel. In the case of a hot water heater, which is the typical embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer is to be immersed into the tank. For application when the present invention is not a part of a newly manufactured heater or fluid vessel the embodiment will demonstrate methods that will affix the ultrasonic device to a typical hot water heater tank.
Further, the invention is capable of being applied in all fluid containing vessels that will benefit from ultrasonic agitation. The subject invention can find application within the liquid cooling system of an internal combustion engine, which is most commonly found in automobile or truck engines. The subject invention can be applied to a liquid cooling system, which is a fluid-containing closed system, comprising a radiator, an engine water jacket, a liquid reservoir or overflow tank, a water pump, hoses, and a heater core. Sediment build-up in liquid cooling systems of internal combustion engines can result in higher engine temperatures, which can lead to overheating and engine failure. When the subject invention is applied to a liquid cooling system of an internal combustion engine it will be able to provide a clean internal environment, allowing optimum performance of the cooling system and preventing overheating and engine failure.
Preventing sediment build-up allows the fluid containing vessel to be more efficient and prevents damage to the vessel and related components, such as circulating lines, pumps, and valves. The mechanical vibrations caused by the transducer prevent sediment from forming and building-up in the vessel. The duration of a fluid containing vessel can be extended, and common problems of sediment entering other fluid circulating pipes, hoses and devices is significantly reduced.

Method for continuous internal agitation of fluid within hot water heaters or other fluid containing vessels


A time slice video providing server includes a video transmission unit configured to transmit, to a user device, any video requested to be played from among multiple videos recorded by multiple cameras; a request unit configured to receive, from the user device, a request to generate a time slice video of a subject shown in the transmitted video; a coordinate extraction unit configured to extract center coordinates of the selected subject based on coordinate information of the subject and positional relationship information of the multiple cameras; a field of view selection unit configured to select a field of views for the multiple videos based on the extracted center coordinates; a field of view correction unit configured to correct each of the selected field of views based on a positional relationship between each of the selected field of views and a video region shown in a corresponding one of the multiple videos; and a time slice video providing unit configured to extract images from the respective multiple videos according to the corrected field of views, generate a time slice video using the extracted images, and provide the generated time slice video to the user device.

Time slice techniques refer to imaging technologies by which multiple cameras face a subject from various angles and simultaneously take photos of the subject, and the photos are digitally connected, thereby making a standstill image of the subject appear as if it was captured with a movie camera. A time slice shows the subject in 3D while also an appearance that transcends time and space.
In recent years, time slice videos have become a staple during sports broadcasts, particularly more high-profile events such as playoff or championship games or matches. By providing a multi-view detailed image, it is now possible to analyze and comment in detail about aspects of the game being broadcast. However, for lower-profile broadcast events, e.g., regular season games or events or non-championship-level matches, lower-quality time slice videos are often produced due to fewer video resources and because a point during the action at which time slice techniques are to be applied need to be pre-selected by a time slice video producer. Thus, since events occur randomly in a sporting event, it has been difficult to predict a point in the action at which a notable event will occur for which application of time-slice techniques would be preferred.


A semiconductor module arrangement includes a housing and at least one pair of semiconductor substrates arranged inside the housing. Each pair of semiconductor substrates includes first and second semiconductor substrates. The first semiconductor substrate includes a first dielectric insulation layer arranged between a first metallization layer and a third metallization layer, and a second dielectric insulation layer arranged between the third metallization layer and a second metallization layer. The second semiconductor substrate includes a first dielectric insulation layer arranged between a first metallization layer and a third metallization layer, and a second dielectric insulation layer arranged between the third metallization layer and a second metallization layer. The third metallization layer of the first semiconductor substrate is electrically coupled to a first electrical potential, and the third metallization layer of the second semiconductor substrate is electrically coupled to a second electrical potential that is opposite to the first electrical potential.

Power semiconductor module arrangements often include at least one semiconductor substrate arranged in a housing. A semiconductor arrangement including a plurality of controllable semiconductor elements (e.g., two transistor elements in a half-bridge configuration) is arranged on the at least one substrate. Each substrate usually comprises a substrate layer (e.g., a ceramic layer), a first metallization layer deposited on a first side of the substrate layer and a second metallization layer deposited on a second side of the substrate layer. The controllable semiconductor elements are mounted, for example, on the first metallization layer. The second metallization layer may optionally be attached to a base plate. The controllable semiconductor devices are usually mounted to the semiconductor substrate by soldering or sintering techniques.
There is a need for a semiconductor module arrangement with satisfactory electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) facilitating characteristics which is easy to manufacture without the need for additive manufacturing steps, and which meets the requirements on insulation voltage even for high reverse voltage classes.


A device utilizing a quartz crystal resonator with an orientation substantially equal to 21.93.degree./34.10.degree.. The crystal resonator is capable of vibrating simultaneously in two thickness modes, namely the B-mode and the C-mode. Because of the nature of the difference between the B- and C-modes, the B-mode may be used as an indication of the resonator temperature in order to compensate the C-mode frequency signal. A digital technique for temperature compensation by using the crystal itself as a sensor and a feedback loop varies the heater on the surface of the crystal. The temperature sensor compensation system contains a quartz resonator with a heater affixed thereon. The resonator is arranged as part of the oscillator to generate both B-mode and C-mode frequency signals. The C-mode signal is used as a time standard or frequency reference. Initially, the frequency of the B-mode is counted. The count is started at the same time the frequency count of the C-mode is initiated. The C-mode is then counted to a predetermined frequency value. When the predetermined count is reached for the C-mode, a signal is issued to stop the count of the B-mode frequency. The eight least significant bits of the resultant B-mode count are passed to a D-to-A converter and then used to control a switching regulator which, in turn, alters the temperature of the heater disposed on the crystal resonator. This change in temperature alters the B-mode frequency and, thus, provides a feedback loop to stabilize the C-mode frequency signal.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and circuit for controlling an output of a dual-mode oscillator, the frequencies of which are produced by an SC-cut quartz crystal generating a B-mode signal and a C-mode signal.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Within the last decade, a new quartz crystal orientation known as the "SC-cut" has been developed. The SC-cut retains most of the mood qualities of the previous AT cut, such as low frequency-temperature coefficient, and it eliminates some of the bad qualities of the AT cut, such as temperature shock sensitivity. See "A Temperature Compensated SC-cut Quartz Crystal Oscillator" by Edward K. Miguel, 36th Annual Frequency Control Symposium (1982), pages 576 through 585.
Such crystals have found application in the development of dual-mode oscillators. For example, see "Dual-mode Operation of Temperature and Stress Compensated Crystals" by Kusters et al, pages 389 through 397. Whereas SC-cut crystals provide advantages over prior crystal orientations, they still require operation in a controlled temperature environment over a narrow temperature range in order to achieve good frequency stability.
Therefore, it would be considered desirable to develop a method and circuit for controlling the frequency of the output of a dual-mode crystal oscillator and, more particularly, for controlling the temperature of the dual-mode crystal oscillator so as to control the frequency of the output thereof.
The following patents are considered to be representative of the prior art relative to dual-mode oscillators: U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,280 [Kusters et al (Kusters '280)] and U.S. Pat. No. 4,215,308 [Kusters (Kusters '308)]. See, in particular, columns 2 and 3 of the Kusters '280 patent for a lengthy discussion of the prior art, said discussion incorporated by reference herein.
The Kusters '280 patent relates to a method and apparatus utilizing a quartz crystal resonator with an orientation substantially equal to 21.93.degree./33.93.degree. vibrating simultaneously in two thickness modes to accurately measure temperature and unknown frequencies or to provide a stable frequency signal source. By combining the quartz crystal resonator with either digital or analog compensation, the frequency-temperature deviation of one of the crystal mode frequencies is used as an internal thermometer and the second crystal mode frequency as a reference frequency signal. The frequency signal for the thermometer function is utilized by the compensation network to correct the measurements made with, or to stabilize, the frequency of the reference frequency signal. Additionally, the analog or digital compensation is accomplished by means of either a curve-fitting routine or an interpolation look-up table routine.
The Kusters '308 patent relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining an accurate measure of the frequency of an applied signal by generating a pair of independent frequency signals wherein one of the independent frequency signals has a frequency value which is indicative of the operating temperature of the counter. The counter has two modes of operation: (1) a calibration mode and (2) a measurement mode.
In the calibration mode, an accurate signal having a pre-selected frequency value is applied to the counter. The frequency of this signal is measured with reference to the other of the pair of independent frequency signals and this measured value is then algebraically combined with a prestored value that is equivalent to the pre-selected frequency of the applied signals. The combined value represents the necessary normalized correction factor for any measured frequency when the counter is at the corresponding temperature. The value of one of the independent frequency signals in this mode serves as a pointer to the memory location where this correction factor is to be stored. This procedure is then repeated several times as the temperature environment of the counter varies.
In the measurement mode, an unknown signal is applied to the counter, its frequency value is measured against the other of the independent frequency signals, the value of the one of the independent frequency signals is utilized as a pointer to the necessary correction factor at the then operating temperature of the counter, the measured frequency value is corrected algebraically with this correction factor, and the final result outputted for further use by the user.

Temperature compensated crystal resonator found in a dual-mode oscillator


A hair styling tool includes a body, a cylinder extending from the body, the cylinder rotatable relative to the body, a motor for rotating the cylinder, a heater to heat the cylinder, and a styling arm pivotally attached to the body. The hair styling tool may have a generally clam shell configuration, wherein the styling arm is movable between an open position in which the styling arm is distant the cylinder and a closed position in which the styling arm is proximate to the cylinder, such as contacting the cylinder. The styling arm may also include a brush head with fixed or retractable bristles and/or a smoothing plate.

Brushing hair pulls oil from the scalp region and spreads it throughout the hair, adding body and sheen to the hair and keeping the hair healthy. To add even more body or to style hair in particular shapes, many people blow dry their hair as they brush it. When simultaneously blow drying and brushing hair, desirable results are achieved by pulling the bristles of a hair brush through the hair while heat, such as in the form of hot air, is applied directly to the hair. One method of brushing involves partially rotating the brush so that the bristles move through the hair. A user can usually rotate a brush about one half turn manually and, after each half turn, the user pulls the brush from the hair. The brush is then replaced in a new location, usually adjacent to the preceding location, and the process is repeated. Various brushes have been developed as an improved hair brushing means. Exemplary embodiments of such a brush are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,635 to Marino, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Accomplishing rotation evenly over all regions of the scalp is difficult because it is unnatural for a user to rotate his or her hand to the necessary positions. Specifically, blow drying one's own hair requires reaching around the head with the arms raised and providing the proper twist or rotation to the brush is very difficult in that position. Coordinating brush movement while aiming the dryer adds to the difficulty. Barbers and hair stylists can accomplish these positions more easily because they can move relative to a person's head.
In addition to brushing hair, it is often desirable to style one's hair in a particular manner, such as curling straight hair or straightening curly hair. Usually, a separate apparatus in addition to a brush is necessary to curl, straighten, or otherwise style the hair.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Hair styling tool with rotatable cylinder


A battery includes a shell, a core and a protection component received in the shell. The core includes a first electrode tab connected to a first current collector and a second electrode tab connected to a second current collector of the core. The protection component includes two insulating layers and a conducting layer disposed between two insulating layers. The conducting layer defines a first end electrically connected to the first electrode tab and a second end configured as a free end, and an outmost current collector of the core is configured by the second current collector.

In recent years, with gradual exhaustion of non-renewable resources, such as oil, and increasingly severe environmental damages, more and more attentions are paid on new energy vehicles. As the key role of the new energy vehicle, power battery has obtained increasingly higher attention nowadays.
However, during running of the power battery, there are many uncontrollable and extremely bad situations which may cause short circuit inside the battery. The short circuit may produce a lot of heat, which may damage the battery or harm the users, thus reduce the safety and reliability of the power battery. Accordingly, a safe and reliable battery is in need in this field.