An inverter system (1) for a photovoltaic solar installation for generating an AC voltage from a DC voltage of a solar generator (2) is provided which includes an additional energy storage device (38) which is arranged in an energy transfer path that can be activated when needed. A control arrangement (31, 39) for monitoring and controlling the operation of the inverter system (1) is designed to detect short-term energy peaks of the insolation at the solar generator and, upon a presence of insolation peaks, to activate the energy transfer path (36) in order to cause a transfer of energy from the solar generator (2) to the energy storage device (38). Also a method for the operation of an inverter system for a photovoltaic solar installation for the utilization of insolation peaks at the solar generator is disclosed.

The invention resides in a solar converter for a photovoltaic solar system and an operating method therefore, in particular a solar inverter with a corresponding operating method for an extended insolation value range.
Converter systems for photovoltaic solar plants for connection to a solar energy generator and to convert the DC voltage of the solar generator to a single or multiphase AC voltage are known in various configurations. In a common configuration they include an intermediate circuit, which is to be connected to the solar generator and one or several capacitors for storing energy, possibly a voltage amplifier arranged between the solar generator and the intermediate circuit to bring the voltage of the solar generator to a required higher level, as well as an inverter which is connected to the intermediate circuit and whose output can be connected to an AC voltage network for supplying energy to one or more consumers for supplying energy thereto. Generally electronic converter arrangements with semi- or full bridge circuits are used which include controllable semiconductor switching elements and which can be controlled by a controller and a control arrangement at high frequency so as to generate an output AC current which, with respect to its phase and amplitude, is adapted to a semi-shaped 50 Hz or 60 Hz network voltage. Configurations of solar inverter systems and corresponding operating methods are, for example, described in DE 102 21 592 A1 DE 100 20 537 A1 and DE 10 2005 024 465 A1.
Solar generators for photovoltaic installations include generally several solar modules arranged in series and, if appropriate, parallel circuits, whose solar cells convert incoming light of the sun directly to electrical energy. The inverter then uses this energy to generate the AC current suitable for the network or the consumer. The inverter needs to operate with high efficiency in order to achieve a high yield. These factors are extremely important in view the relatively high investment expenses for the installation and the operation of a photovoltaic plant. Modern inverter systems may achieve an overall efficiency of up to 98% or even more when operating at rated conditions.
In order to achieve the highest possible yield, the solar generator is operated at the so-called Maximum Power Point (MPP) which is that point of the current-voltage-diagram of the solar generator where the highest energy output can be achieved that is where the product of current and voltage is at a maximum. The MPP operating point is not constant, but depends on the light radiation density, the temperature and the type of the solar cells or, respectively, the solar generators.
MPP operating point is adjusted in a solar inverter often by a so-called MPP-tracker which controls the voltage of the solar generator to the needed value. To this end, the MPP-tracker varies, for example, the current withdrawn by a small amount, calculates the respective product of current and voltage and adjusts the current value toward a higher energy output. As a result, the correct energy output adaptation can be provided even with changing insolation conditions at the solar generator.
However, the converters are usually not designed for the whole light radiation range. Often inverters are used which have a design performance which is about 10% below the maximum energy output of the solar generator. The reasons herefor are that smaller converters are less expensive and have a substantially higher efficiency under partial load conditions. With the light radiation values as prevalent in central Europe, a partial load operation in the area of about 10% to 80% of the rated solar generator output is obtained. Therefore the inverters are designed conventionally only for radiation energy values of up to about 1000 w/m2.
However, weather conditions where the insolation values are higher so that the solar generator produces energy, which the conventionally dimensioned inverter can not accommodate, will also occur. For example, with low ambient temperatures and cloud formations, for short periods, enhanced by reflections on the clouds, high insolation values of up to 1400 w/m2 or more can occur which cause maximum peak energy outputs of the solar generator. A study of G. Wirth, M. Zehner, B. Giesler: "Sizing and Operational Experience with MWp-PV-Systems-Lessons Learned for System Design Tasks", 2009 estimates the energy of these radiation peaks which are in the range of 1000 to 1400 W/m2 to be up to 8% of the annual energy yield.
Generally with such an excess insolation yield, exceeding the performance limit of the converter, the MPP operating point is moved toward a higher voltage. However, because the under-dimensioned inverter can not accommodate the excess energy yield, it keeps the operating point at values corresponding to its performance maximum whenever the maximum energy yield exceeds the capacity of the inverter. As a result, part of the energy the solar generator could deliver is not utilized and is lost.
In order to avoid this, the above-mentioned study of G. Wirth et. al., recommends not to under-dimension the inverter relative to the solar generator, as it is common practice, but rather to over-dimension it, for example to 110% inverter capacity in relation to 100% solar generator energy output. Such a set-up however has several disadvantages: First, as mentioned earlier, the inverter becomes more expensive with increasing size and capacity. Second, under normal operation with partial load, for example at 10% of the generator rated energy output, the conversion efficiency is detrimentally affected. Finally, a network or consumer which could accept the peak energies is often not available.
Based hereon, it is an object of the present invention to provide a solar inverter system and an operating method which overcomes the disadvantages of the known inverter systems and to better utilize the performance peaks of the light radiation. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a inverter system which is suitable for an extended insolation value range without the disadvantages of an inverter over dimensioning. Advantageously, the overall efficiency of the inverter should be increased with varying insolation conditions.

Solar inverter for an extended insolation range and operating method


In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method is disclosed that comprises receiving at a base station an indication of a first resource allocation in each of one or more neighbor base stations, and transmitting to at least one associated user equipment a message comprising a second indication of whether the first resource allocations of the one or more neighbor base stations are a subset of a second resource allocation of the base station.

As part of normal operation, a user equipment (UE) may need to collect a variety of measurements of the neighbor cells and their base stations within its reception range on a regular basis to help support operations such as handoff and tuning of signals, among others. According to certain protocols, such measurements are to be performed on specially designated reference signals. Thus it is advantageous for the UE to have more accurate information on the neighbor cell resource allocations and from the therein implied reference symbol locations to obtain improved acquisition of measurements.

Method and apparatus for signaling neighbor cell transmission frame allocations


Wind turbine comprising a generator section with a generator rotor and a generator stator. A first air gap is defined between a first surface of the generator rotor and the stator, and magnets and electro conductive windings are provided at opposite sides of the first air gap to create a magnetic field over the first air gap during operation. The wind turbine comprises distance measurement means arranged to measure the radial length of a second air gap defined between a second surface of the generator rotor and a stationary part of the generator section. The second air gap is located at a radial distance from the first air gap at a position where there is no interference of a magnetic field generated by the magnets over the first air gap, and the length of the second air gap corresponds directly to the length of the first air gap. This enables accurate measurement and monitoring of the air gap length. A method for monitoring the gap length between a rotor and a stator of a wind turbine generator is also disclosed.

The discussion below is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Aspects of the present invention relate to a wind turbine comprising a generator with a generator rotor and a stator, with a gap between the stator and the generator rotor and with magnets and electro-conductive windings at opposite sides of the gap. Aspects of the invention also relate to a method of monitoring the length of the gap, particularly during operation of the wind turbine.
Generally, a wind turbine generator includes a rotor having two or three blades, although turbines with one blade or four or more blades also exist. The rotor is typically mounted to a shaft within a nacelle on top of a tower. The blades, attached to a rotatable hub, transform mechanical wind energy into a mechanical rotational torque that drives the generator rotor of a generator. The generator rotor can be coupled to the rotor through a gearbox or the coupling can be gearless, as in so-called direct-drive wind turbines. The generator converts the rotational mechanical energy to electrical energy, which is fed into a utility grid.
Generators typically comprise a generator rotor and a stator which are separated by a cylindrical air gap. During operation, a magnetic field, generated by a plurality of magnets, passes through a portion of the air gap. The magnets can, e.g., be permanent magnets, wound magnets mounted on the rotor, and/or currents induced in the rotor iron. The effective transmission of the magnetic field through the air gap is at least partly dependent on the length of the air gap. In this context, the length of the air gap is the radial distance between the rotor surface and the stator surface.
In operation, loads on the rotor are introduced by wind force via the blades. Such loads can deflect the generator rotor in such a way that the air gap length is changed or becomes nonuniform. If the radial air gap length becomes too small, the rotor and stator components can hit resulting in severe damage to the generator.
EP 1 870 566 A1 discloses a wind turbine with a generator comprising a stator and a rotor. The air gap between the stator and the rotor is measured by a number of sensors and adjusted by blade pitch control. During operation of the wind turbine, strong magnetic flux occurs in the air gap. This hinders accurate and reliable measurement of the air gap length. Moreover, since the sensors are located near the air gap, the sensors cannot be easily replaced.

Wind turbine and method for monitoring the gap length between a rotor and a stator of the wind turbine generator


Wire bond pad and solder ball or controlled collapse chip connections C4 are combined on a planar surface of a an integrated circuit device to provide a die. Known good die (KGD) testing is optionally performed using wire bond connections or stress tolerant solder ball connections. The KGD testing is conducted after the integrated circuit dies are diced from a wafer. Solder ball or C4 array connections which withstand thermal stress are used to KGD test the die prior to final use of the wire bond pad connections to an end use device. Alternatively, wire bond pads are used to test the die while maintaining the solder ball or C4 array in a pristine condition for bonding to a final end product device. Both testing with the solder ball C4 array contacts and with the wire bond connections provides metallurgical connections for the KGD test. The solder ball or C4 array is connected to the wire bond pads and either connection can be used to burn-in test the die.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to known good integrated circuit semiconductor devices in general, and more specifically to improved known good die (KGD) integrated circuit semiconductor devices having metallurgical test only contacts, and metallurgical contacts for providing connections to an end use device. This invention may optionally utilize wire bond technology, flip-chip controlled collapse chip connect technology, here in after C4, solder ball connections and ball grid array technologies.
2. The Prior Art
The description of known good die (KGD) has been described as the equivalent quality and reliability of the comparable packaged part. In essence a "die" is really a chip, but it is only referred to in this way when discussing physical parameters and manufacturing issues. KGD has also been defined as testing beyond conventional wafer probing. As methods for KGD assurance testing have improved, the art has and will continue to seek even better KGD devices. The testing for KGD should succeed as closely as possible to providing evaluation of die performance life span. In production of an improved KGD, not only electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit device, but also mechanical characteristics should be considered. Usually mechanical stresses on the integrated circuit device are produced by thermal stresses and may be taken into account when the integrated circuit device is being tested to determine if it qualifies as a KGD.
If an integrated circuit die, or integrated circuit device is defective prior to incorporation into an end use device such as a multi chip module (MCM) or other device, the result is expensive. The end use device will have to be either scrapped entirely, or reworked by substituting a good integrated circuit at a considerable expense. When many chips or dies are used in a multi chip module, the probability of a bad module increases dramatically as the number of dies increases. In prior art KGD testing of devices where there is no testing for electrical and thermal stress, the probability of a bad die or integrated circuit device is significant when MCM devices with a large number of dies are being made. For this reason, testing for the KGD integrated circuit should be as complete as possible and should address the problem of thermal stress and mechanical stresses as well as electrical problems. When the integrated circuit is installed in the end use device, confidence in its KGD qualification should be as high as possible.
It is known in the art to test integrated circuits having ball-type contacts (control collapse chip connection (C4)) contacts where the die is pressed or forced into a test fixture. The C4 balls are forced into contact with fixture surfaces or edges, which provide contact. Next, the die is tested electrically. However, this approach to limited KGD testing does not provide for a metallurgical bond between the die and the test fixture, and by forcing the die into a position, does not permit the die to naturally respond to conditions of thermal stress. Therefore, force holding of a die in a fixture does not provide the most complete KGD performance life span test. This testing also causes contact between a test fixture and solder balls such as C4 connections, which leaves the balls in a less than pristine condition. Contact with the test fixture can distort the balls, cause scratches, or otherwise change their characteristics which may ultimately effect solderability. The failure to maintain contacts in a pristine condition is a serious problem with this force-contact testing.
Complete burn-in testing is known in the art as a simulated life stress to assure survival of a packaged part. A certain percentage will fail early in their life. The burn-in test involves a temperature and electrical stress to eliminate the weak parts. The complete burn-in testing, however, has been done only at a packaged part level (die/complete device level), not at a KGD, wafer or other lower level prior to incorporation into an end use packaged part device. A KGD test should approach as closely as possible a complete burn-in test of the packaged part, but this is not possible because the packaging step includes untested connections to the KGD.
In prior art devices for testing dies, there has been no die developed which is capable of both KGD test procedures on either wire bond pads or solder ball array contacts, and then use of the remaining set of contacts for connection to an end use device. Therefore, the prior art does not permit manufacture of dies which can be used for either solder ball array connection or wire bond pad connection to an end use device after known good integrated circuit or KGD testing on the alternate set of contacts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,763 to Lam shows a chip or die having solder interconnect pads which are for connection to an end use device or package. Around the periphery of the die are bond pads which are not initially connected to the interconnect pads when the die is first made. Testing is conducted by connecting the interconnect pads to the peripheral bond pads and the peripheral bond pads to test device terminals by a test by a test in a tape by a technique known as tape-automated-bonding. After testing, the leads between the peripheral bond pads and the test device are severed. Connection to an end use device is then made from the interconnect pad through a portion of the test lead with a solder ball or known flip-chip techniques.
It is known in the art to construct dies which are designed for use of a wire bond type pads to test the chip, and then use of tape-automated-bonding (TAB) to install the chip on an end use device. It is also known to use tape automated bonds (TAB) as a test array where after testing, the TAB contacts are severed. The art also has examples of using one set of contacts for testing, wherein the test contacts are subsequently removed from the die prior to installation of the die on an end use device.
One type of electrical and mechanical connection of an integrated circuit chip (die) to a package is called "flip-chip" or "controlled collapse chip connection" (C4) and is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,401,126, to Lewis F. Miller, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,040 to Lewis F. Miller. C4 involves forming solder balls on the surface of the chip that connect signal terminals of the chip with corresponding connections on the package, where the solder balls provide both electrical contact and mechanical support between the chip and the end use device. A disadvantage and difficulty with known C4 interconnections is that they do not allow testing prior to committing the chip to the end use device, other than wafer probe testing which does not allow testing with all the signal terminals metallurgically connected, or more complete KGD testing which can be performed with a soldered bond pad connection. Still further, wafer probe testing of the C4 solder balls undesirably disturbs their pristine condition because of the undesirable probe contact.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,127 to Bergeron et al., hereby incorporated by reference, shows the use of controlled collapse chip connection (C4) type solder ball connections in combination with wire bond pads. The C4 technology is used only for non-stress KGD testing the die prior to final connection to an end use device using wire bond technology. The solder balls are located away from the neutral point and will be highly stressed. The reference to C4 therefore does not teach that the connections are laid out and designed for thermal and mechanical stress. Not all C4 contacts are designed for thermal stress and Bergeron et al. is a good example. These C4 connections are not in an array designed for stress tolerance which can withstand thermal stress because they are limited in number and placed away from the chip center.
There is no provision in Bergeron for use of wire bond technology to test a die which will be optionally connected to a an end use device by solder ball C4 array. The test electrical connectors are placed entirely in a plane above the wire bond pads and are not required to be removed after testing of the die. The solder ball test balls protrude above the level of the wire bond pad which allows testing between the die and a test device without affecting the surface of the wire bond pad. The solder balls and the wire bond pads are not on the same planar surface. In another aspect, the disclosure provides that the wire bond die has a wire bond pad disposed at an upper surface of the die. This procedure eliminates probe testing on the wire bond pad and gives metallurgical ball test connections. Wafer dicing may be done before or after testing and there is no need for removal of the added test elements. The subsequent electrical connection, however, is always by wire bond connection.
The testing disclosed in Bergeron cannot withstand more than a few thermal cycles because the stresses will cause breaking of the solder metallurgical joints. The Bergeron type of connections may provide for only 40 joints. In contrast, some stress tolerant solder ball array contacts have up to or more than 400 joints, are located close to the chip center and may be designed for specific thermal stress and mechanical characteristics.
It is also known in the prior art to use redundant C4 connections where one centrally located set is used for the final connection to the end use device, and the other set is used for testing. However, this is not a reliable KGD performance life span alternative, because the C4 array used in testing the final end product has to be mechanically strong as well as electrically correct. The test set of (C)4 connections cannot be used to stress tolerant test an integrated circuit because it will fail within ten cycles because of lack of mechanical strength available for the C4 test connections which are necessarily at the periphery. This is because the stresses increase as on moves out from the center of a C4 array. This heretofore known C4 testing has been used only for electrical testing. Mere use of C4 peripheral balls in place of wire bond pads will not work for KGD testing of a centrally located flip-chip C4 array. The reason is that if only C4 ball contacts are used around the periphery of the chip, instead of pads, these C4 ball contacts will experience very high thermal stress, because they are away from the center contact. Such a peripheral array of balls will quickly deteriorate and break under a few cycles of thermal stress.
In addition to the above discussed prior art, it should be noted that wafer level testing of dies is well known. This type of testing, however, uses probe cards which upon contact with bond pads or solder balls may cause damage to the pads or balls which will effect later bonding to a module or packaging. This type of testing does not provide for a good metallurgical contact and cannot provide a KGD test where thermal and mechanical stress are accounted for at the die, integrated circuit or wafer level.

Method and apparatus for evaluating a known good die using both wire bond and flip-chip interconnects


A flying apparatus having a thrust directing wing is disclosed. The flying apparatus can include a wing that receives a thrust flow from a thrust flow generator, and selectively redirect the flow in at least one of a plurality of directions. The wing can redirect the thrust flow so as to generate vertical thrust, forward thrust, and combinations thereof. The thrust flow generator can include a gas turbine engine, which can include two rotating shafts and a common burner, with each shaft coupling a compressor with a turbine.

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of aircraft and other flying devices and systems, and more particularly, to an improved vertical takeoff and landing flying apparatus, optionally for use by an individual operator.
Powered flight is a ubiquitous part of modern life. The development of air travel has enabled millions to conveniently travel great distances in a timely and affordable manner. Various types of aircraft, from small private planes to large commercial aircraft, provide an extensive range of choice to the modern day air traveler. Where space for takeoff and landing is constrained, helicopters can be used.
While there are a wide range of air travel choices available today, existing options suffer from significant disadvantages for individuals traveling by air, particularly in terms of their convenience and affordability. Traditional fixed wing aircraft are widely used to great effect, but commercial air travel generally requires getting to the airport sufficiently prior to the departure of the flight. Recently, enhanced security measures at airports established to combat possible terrorism has unfortunately resulted in increased inconvenience for air travelers. Existing private or individual air travel options suffer from a variety of limitations. For example, while personal jet packs provide vertical takeoff and landing capability for demonstrations, air shows, sporting events and the like, their relatively short maximum flight times (typically less than 1 minute) and range limit their use. Accordingly, there may be a need for an improved flying apparatus with vertical takeoff and landing capability that can be used by an individual person.


Described is a preferred injectable, extended release formulation which includes a growth hormone or a growth hormone releasing factor in a carrier including a biocompatible hydrophobic vehicle and an amount of polyglycerol ester effective to extend release of the growth hormone or growth hormone releasing factor in an animal. Other preferred embodiments provide methods for making a composition for treating an animal with a growth hormone or growth hormone releasing factor, and methods for administering these substances to an animal.

This invention relates generally to the administration of bioactive substances to animals. More particularly, this invention relates to injectable compositions and methods for extended release of macromolecules such as growth hormones and growth hormone releasing factors in animals.
In recent years, major efforts have been made to discover cost-efficient ways to treat animals with growth hormones, growth hormone releasing factors and other bioactive substances over extended periods of time. The achievement of effective extended release (also commonly referred to as "sustained" or "prolonged" or "controlled" release) compositions and methods has been central in these efforts. These compositions and methods are designed to deliver effective amounts of bioactive substance over extended periods of time following administration. This reduces labor costs by reducing the number of administration procedures during an overall treatment regimen. Extended release of the substance also allows for treatment in situations where it would otherwise be impracticable, for instance during range feeding of animals raised for consumption. Further, effective extended release avoids large fluctuations in plasma levels of the bioactive substance, initially too high and then rapidly too low, which occur upon injection of standard, non-extended release formulations.
There has remained a need for improved injectable compositions and methods which provide extended release of growth hormone-related substances such as growth hormones and growth hormone releasing factors in animals. The compositions preferably are easily formulated using readily available materials, and the preferred preparative procedures should not be potentially damaging to the active materials.

Injectable extended release formulations and methods


A method for managing the temperature of a battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle includes recording a temperature value at which the cooling or heating of the battery is triggered. The method further includes, for two consecutive values in a predefined sequence of states of charge: a step of comparing a real gradient to a reference gradient of the battery temperature; and a step of modifying, depending on the comparison, the value of the trigger temperature, or the value of the power output by cooling or heating the battery; and also includes applying the modified trigger temperature or output power for the following two consecutive values of the state of charge of the battery in the predefined sequence.

The present invention relates to the field of thermal regulation of a battery for a motor vehicle, in particular a rechargeable electric or hybrid vehicle (PHEV for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), of which the batteries can be charged by hooking up to an external energy source at different types of charging points, usually connected to a conventional electrical network.
For this type of vehicle, the performance of a battery is very sensitive to the usage temperature thereof. The usage temperature of a battery is dependent on the external temperature, but also on other parameters, such as the driving of the driver, for example.
At low temperature, a battery is weak. In other words, during a charge phase, the charge time of said battery is longer and it charges less energy; and during a discharge phase, the autonomy of the battery is lower and the performance of said battery is reduced (in this case, a battery has in particular low power absorption capacities in the case of regenerative braking).
At high temperature, the battery demonstrates an improved performance compared with that at low temperature (improved charge time, more stored energy, improved recovery of energy), but at the detriment to its service life, which is reduced.
It is therefore important to manage the transfers of heat, in other words the thermal properties of a battery, in order to be able to use said battery in its optimal zone of operation.
In order to manage the thermal properties of a battery, the current prior art solutions consist of using temperature thresholds that are constant over time for the triggering and stopping of the cooling/heating. For example, the cooling can be triggered on the basis of a temperature of the battery greater than 28° C., and this cooling can be stopped as soon as the temperature of the battery reaches 15° C.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,615 is also known and discloses a method for managing the temperature of a battery of an electric vehicle, in which the temperature thresholds that make it possible to determine whether it is necessary to cool or to heat the battery vary with the state of charge thereof. A disadvantage of this solution is that the thresholds are constant over time, i.e. are independent of the driving manner. Consequently, they may lead to an overconsumption when the driver adopts a gentle driving manner and may lead to an overheating when the driver adopts a harsh driving manner.

Method for managing the temperature of a battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle


Systems and methods of media stream generation based on categories of user expression are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving input selecting at least one category from a plurality of categories of expression. Each of the plurality of categories is descriptive of a type of expression made by users as media content is presented. The method includes selecting a group of segments of the media content. Each of the segments of media content in the group is associated with the selected category. The method further includes generating a stream of media content that includes each of the segments of media content.

Television has historically been primarily a one-way communication medium. Television content has traditionally been determined by content providers based on aggregated user viewing statistics, such as Nielsen ratings, and TV has been delivered to broadcast viewers via satellite, cable or airway broadcasts. More recently, content providers have also provided content via interactive television signals using packet-switched networks that may enable viewers to respond to, or interact with, the content. However, even interactive television systems are used to distribute media content selected by content providers.
Communications service providers are expanding into new markets and new types of services and the ability to deliver a high-quality television offering has become increasingly important. Many service providers are transitioning from their prior role of access providers to entertainment experience providers. In addition, many service providers now deliver an increased range of video, voice, and data services to devices, both inside and outside the home. However, television viewers that desire to view particular types or categories of television content may become dissatisfied with distributed content that is limited by content providers.

Media stream generation based on a category of user expression


An exhaust gas cooler may include a plurality of stacked disc pairs. A first flow chamber for a coolant flow may be disposed between two discs of at least a first disc pair of the plurality of disc pairs. A second flow chamber for an exhaust gas flow may be disposed between two second disc pairs of the plurality of disc pairs arranged mutually adjacent with respect to one another. The plurality of stacked disc pairs may include at least one coolant inlet and at least one coolant outlet. The first disc pair may include a plurality of coolant inlets and a plurality of coolant outlets surrounding an edge of the first disc pair to facilitate peripheral edge cooling.

From DE 10 2009 012 493 A1 a generic exhaust gas cooler having stacked disc pairs is known, wherein a first flow chamber through which coolant can flow is formed between two discs of at least one first disc pair or of multiple first disc pairs, and wherein a second flow chamber through which exhaust gas can flow is formed between two mutually adjacent second disc pairs. Furthermore, in addition a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet and an inlet and an outlet are provided for the gas which is to be cooled. A first flow path, which is formed at least in certain areas by etching at least of one surface of a disc of a disc pair, leads here through the first flow chamber. By the etching, optimized flow path geometries are to be able to be produced in a simple manner.
A disadvantage in all the exhaust gas coolers known from the prior art are their comparatively high temperature thermal stresses on an outer side, which lead there to high temperature expansions and hence to a great load.


The disclosure provides methods and apparatus relating to synchronization sequence detection in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, a method is provided in a user equipment for a wireless communication network. A plurality of base stations are operative in the wireless communication network. The method comprises: detecting one or more parameters of synchronization sequence, SS, blocks transmitted by a second base station of the plurality of base stations; and reporting the detected one or more parameters of SS blocks transmitted by the second base station to a first base station of the plurality of base stations.

In Long Term Evolution (LTE), until Release 13, all reference signals that the user equipment (UE) uses for channel state information (CSI) calculation (e.g. cell-specific reference signals, CRSs, and CSI reference signals, CSI-RS), were non-precoded such that the UE is able to measure the raw channel and calculate feedback including a preferred precoding matrix based on that. As the number of Tx antennas increases, the amount of feedback becomes larger. In Release-10, when support for 8Tx closed loop precoding was introduced, a double codebook approach was introduced where the UE first selects a wideband coarse precoder and then per subband a second codeword. Another possible approach is that the network node beamforms a reference signal and the UE calculates feedback on top of that. This approach was adopted in Rel-13, while a further option for FD-MIMO (full-dimension multiple-input-multiple-output, where the antenna system can form a beam along any horizontal or vertical direction) was also defined as described in the next section.
Rel-13 FD-MIMO specification in LTE supports an enhanced CSI-RS reporting called Class B for beamformed CSI-RS. Therein, an LTE RRC_CONNECTED UE can be configured with K beams (where 8>K>1) where it can be 1, 2, 4 or 8 antenna ports for each beam. For CSI feedback purposes (i.e. precoding matrix indicator, PMI, rank indicator, RI and channel quality indicator, CQI) there is a CSI-RS Resource Indicator per CSI-RS. The UE reports the CSI-RS index (CRI) to indicate the preferred beam where the CRI is wideband, RI/CQI/PMI is based on legacy codebook (i.e. Rel-12) and CRI reporting period is an integer multiple of the RI. For Rel-14 eFD-MIMO (i.e. enhanced FD-MIMO), aperiodic CSI-RS was introduced with two different sub-flavors. The CRS-RS resources are configured for the UE as in Rel-13 and the set of K CSI-RS resources is configured to work as aperiodic or semipersistent. The UE waits for media access control (MAC) control element (CE) activation for N out of K CSI-RS resources (where N≤K). For aperiodic CSI-RS, the UE waits for, in addition to the MAC CE, a downlink control information (DCI) activation of the CSI-RS resource before reporting. For semi-persistent CSI-RS, the UE considers the CSI-RS activated after receiving the MAC CE.
FIG. 1 shows the transmission of beamformed reference signals (e.g. CSI-RS) from a transmission point to a wireless terminal device. The transmission point may be a radio-access network node, such as an eNodeB or a gNodeB, or a remote radio head associated with such a radio-access network node.
Efforts are on-going to develop and standardize communications networks and protocols intended to meet the requirements set out for the fifth generation (5G) of wireless systems, as defined by the Next Generation Mobile Networks Alliance. In the new system (also known as "New Radio" or "NR"), all reference signals may be beamformed.
In NR, the synchronization sequences (NR-PSS/NR-SSS) and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) which includes demodulation reference signal (DMRS) constitutes a so-called SS Block. An RRC_CONNECTED UE trying to access a target cell should assume that the SS Block may be transmitted in the form of repetitive bursts of SS Block transmissions (denoted "SS Burst"), wherein such a burst consists of a number of SS Block transmissions following close after each other in time. Furthermore, a set of SS Bursts may be grouped together (denoted "SS Burst Set"), where the SS Bursts in the SS Burst Sets are assumed to have some relation to each other. Both SS Bursts and SS Burst Sets have their respective given periodicity. In the single beam scenarios, the network could configure time-repetition within one SS Burst in a wide beam. In multi-beam scenarios, at least some of these signals and physical channels (e.g. SS Block) would be transmitted in multiple beams, which could be done in different manners depending on network implementation, as shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 2 shows different configurations of an SS Burst Set. Top: Time-repetition within one SS Burst in a wide beam. Middle: Beam-sweeping of a small number of beams using only one SS Burst in the SS Burst Set. Bottom: Beam-sweeping of a larger number of beams using more than one SS Burst in the SS Burst Set to form a complete sweep.
Which of these three alternatives to implement may be left as a network vendor choice. That choice depends on a tradeoff between i) the overhead caused by transmitting periodic and always on narrow beam sweepings vs. ii) the delays and signaling needed to configure the UE to find a narrow beam for the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The implementation shown in the upper figure prioritizes i), while the implementation shown in the bottom figure prioritizes ii). The figure in the middle case is an intermediate case, where a sweeping of wide beams is used. In that case the number of beams to cover the cell is reduced, but in some cases an additional refinement is needed for narrow gain beamforming of PDSCH.
It is likely that network vendors will provide cell coverage with a low number of beams for the IDLE mode coverage which could imply a fairly low number of SS Blocks per Burst Set. Hence, once the UE accesses a cell using a random-access procedure, either via state transition to CONNECTED or via handovers, further beam management procedures need to be configured and DL beams to be used for the transmission of PDCCH/PDSCH may need to be further refined.
For that purpose, RAN1 is defining in NR a CSI-RS framework for the so called beam management and CSI acquisition procedures or transmission point (TRP) recognition in same cell ID scenarios. The same cell ID scenario is equivalent to one of the LTE CoMP scenarios where concept of transmission point TP was introduced. A TP/TRP is basically a remote radio head (RRH) and all RRHs have same cell ID within one cell area. This means that they all send the same CRS (in LTE) or SS bursts (in NR) and therefore CSI-RS is the only means for the UE to separate a TP/TRP.
One relevant assumption for NR compared to LTE is the fact that in LTE, the synchronization signals PSS/SSS that the UE is supposed to find during cell search are always transmitted in a unique part of a given frequency carrier, more precisely the center of the carrier frequency. Hence, by configuring the UE with a measurement object, MO, which is associated to a given carrier frequency the UE immediately knows that it should search for cells in the center of the configured carrier. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, a measurement object is a logical object defining one or more measurements to be carried out by a UE. For example, the measurement object may define one or more of: one or more radio resources on which measurements are to be made (e.g., frequencies, time slots, etc), and one or more types of measurement to be carried out (e.g., serving cells, neighbouring cells, etc). A UE may be configured with one or more such measurement objects.
However, in NR, it has been agreed that for a given carrier frequency the network has the possibility to transmit in multiple frequency locations, different from LTE. It could also be possible, although not yet agreed, that even multiple instances of SS Burst or SS burst sets are transmitted in the same carrier in different frequency locations, instead of the center frequency, or the frequency position is different between different carriers.
One problem addressed by embodiments of the disclosure is that the radio access node configuring the measurements (e.g. the serving radio access node) does not know the time and frequency position of the SS burst set in order to be able to configure UEs with SS burst timing information.
This is particularly problematic if the UE needs to search, find and measure on cells which do not share the time and frequency position of SS bursts with the serving radio access node.

Methods and apparatus relating to synchronization sequence detection in a wireless communication network


A customer-use terminal unit 20 managed by a customer transmits exchange instructing information, which instructs an exchange of valuable points obtained by the customer for communication points used for receiving on-line services, to a central unit 10 that manages the communication points (S202). The central unit 10 transmits valuable point request information according to the received exchange instructing information to a cooperate-use terminal unit 30 that manages the valuable points (S204). The cooperate-use terminal unit 30 transmits valuable points corresponding to the received valuable point request information to the central unit 10 (S206). The central unit 10 exchanges the received valuable points for communication points according to a predetermined exchange rate (S209). Accordingly, it is possible to achieve point management capable of reducing the loss of valuable points given to the customer as a reward for consumption activity, due to the expiration of the term of validity of the valuable points, and improving the frequency in use of on-line services.

The present invention relates to a point managing method for managing various points such as communication points used for receiving on-line services, a point managing system that employs the method, a central unit for use in the system, and a recording medium on which a program for realizing the device is recorded.
With the development of communication networks such as the Internet, businesses that provide various services, such as giving communication points used for charged or free on-line services to customers and providing on-line games and on-line shopping according to the given points, have been increasing.
Moreover, various service providers and various retail shops, which give valuable points as rewards for using transportation facilities, such as an air line, and for consumption activity, such as purchasing products, and provide various products and services in exchange for the valuable points when the amount of given valuable points reaches a predetermined value, are popularized.
However, when the amount of points given as a reward for consumption activity does not reach the predetermined value that gives a chance to exchange the points for products and services, these points are useless and the term of validity of the points sometimes expires before exchanging the points for products and services.
Since the services of giving valuable points as a reward for consumption activity are provided by many service providers and retail shops, there is a circumstance that the consumers have difficulty in remembering which service providers and retail shops they use as customers (members). In such a circumstance, there is a possibility that the expiry date of the valuable points passes before the consumers notice the given valuable points.
Furthermore, there is such a problem that the service providers and retail shops have disadvantages from the viewpoint of the taxation system because the valuable points that are not exchanged for products and services are counted as profits on the account books.
Besides, there are objectives to be achieved by a business entity which provides various services according to communication points that the number of customers must be increased and the frequency in use of services must be improved.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main object of the present invention is to provide a point managing system which enables a customer to effectively use valuable points without considering the term of validity by exchanging the valuable points for communication points by a preset exchange rate according to an instruction from the customer, enables a business entity that provides various services in exchange for communication points to obtain new customers and achieve an improvement in the frequency in use of services, and prevents service providers and retail shops that manage the valuable points from having disadvantages from the viewpoint of the taxation system; a point managing system employing the method; a central unit for use in the system; and a recording medium on which a program for realizing the device is recorded.
Another object is to provide a point managing method, point managing system, central unit and recording medium capable of confirming the status of obtained valuable points and exchanging the valuable points for communication points by transmitting identification information such as a membership number given from a business entity who provides valuable points to a central unit managed by a service provider who manages communication points, and thereby unitarily managing the valuable points so that valuable points do not fall into oblivion.
A point managing method according to the first invention, which is a method for managing points among a first business entity, a second business entity who cooperates with the first business entity and customers of the first and second business entities, the first business entity managing communication points used for on-line services, the second business entity managing valuable points given to customers as a reward for consumption activity, the method comprising the steps of: instructing the first business entity by the customer to exchange valuable points for communication points; requesting the second business entity by the first business entity to send valuable points given to the customer, according to the instruction; sending requested valuable points by the second business entity to the first business entity; and exchanging received valuable points for communication points by the first business entity, according to a preset exchange rate.
The point managing method according to the first invention enables the customer to extend the substantial term of validity of valuable points whose expiry date is approaching by exchanging the valuable points for communication points by a preset exchange rate according to the instruction from the customer and enables the customer to effectively use various valuable points of small values which are useless as individuals by adding up these valuable points for a single communication point, thereby accelerating the spread of communication points. Hence, the first business entity can obtain new customers and achieve an improvement in the frequency in use of services. Moreover, by introducing a business mode in which the charge of services calculated according to the exchange rate is paid from the second business entity to the first business entity, the second business entity can limit profits derived from the expiration of the term of validity of valuable points on an account book and consequently can never have disadvantages from the viewpoint of the taxation system.
A point managing system according to the second invention, which is a point managing system comprising a central unit for managing communication points used for on-line services, a cooperate-use terminal unit that is connected to the central unit and manages valuable points representing a reward for consumption activity, and a customer-use terminal unit that is connected to the central unit, wherein the customer-use terminal unit comprises a controller capable of performing the operation of transmitting to the central unit exchange instructing information instructing an exchange of valuable points for communication points, the central unit comprises: a communication point database that records information related to communication points; an exchange database that records information related to an exchange rate between communication points and valuable points; and a controller capable of performing the operation of transmitting to the cooperate-use terminal unit valuable point request information requesting valuable points corresponding to the customer-use terminal unit according to received exchange instructing information; and the cooperate-use terminal unit comprises: a valuable point database that records information related to valuable points; a controller capable of performing the following operations: transmitting to the central unit valuable points corresponding to received valuable point request information; and updating the valuable point database according to the transmitted valuable points; and the controller of the central unit further capable of performing following operations: exchanging received valuable points for communication points according to an exchange rate recorded in the exchange database; and updating the communication point database according to the exchanged communication points.
The point managing system according to the second invention enables the customer to extend the substantial term of validity of valuable points whose expiry date is approaching by exchanging the valuable points for communication points by a preset exchange rate according to the exchange instructing information received from the customer-use terminal unit and enables the customer to effectively use various valuable points of small values which are useless as individuals by adding up these valuable points for a single communication point, thereby accelerating the spread of communication points. Hence, the first business entity who manages the central unit can obtain new customers and achieve an improvement in the frequency in use of services. Moreover, by introducing a business mode in which the charge of services calculated according to the exchange rate is paid to the first business entity from the second business entity who manages the cooperate-use terminal unit, the second business entity can limit profits derived from the expiration of the term of validity of valuable points on an account book and consequently can never have disadvantages from the viewpoint of the taxation system.
A point managing system according to the third invention is characterized in the system of the second invention that: the controller of the customer-use terminal unit further capable of performing following operations: accepting input of first identification information related to customers and second identification information that is different from the first identification information; and transmitting the first and second identification information to the central unit; the controller of the central unit further capable of performing the following operations: authenticating the customer-use terminal unit based on received first identification information; and transmitting received second identification information to the cooperate-use terminal unit; the valuable point database provided in the cooperate-use terminal unit stores valuable points recorded to correspond to the second identification information, and the controller of the cooperate-use terminal unit further capable of performing the operation of extracting from the valuable point database valuable points to be transmitted to the central unit, according to received second identification information.
In the point managing system according to the third invention, by performing authentication based on the first identification information such as an ID number and a password given to a customer from the first business entity to ensure safety and then transmitting to the central unit the second identification information such as a membership number given to the customer from the second business entity, it is possible to confirm the status of obtained valuable points corresponding to the second identification information and exchange the valuable points for communication points. It is therefore possible to unitarily mange the valuable points through the central unit, improve the convenience of the customer, and prevent the valuable points from falling into oblivion.
A central unit according to the fourth invention, which is connected to a cooperate-use terminal unit for managing valuable points representing a reward for consumption activity and a customer-use terminal unit, for managing communication points used for on-line services, comprising: a communication point database that records information related to communication points; an exchange database that records information related to an exchange rate between communication points and valuable points; and a controller, coupled to the communication point database and said exchange database, and capable of performing the following operations: when exchange instructing information instructing an exchange of valuable points for communication points is received, for transmitting to the cooperate-use terminal unit valuable point request information requesting valuable points corresponding to the customer-use terminal unit according to the received exchange instructing information; when valuable points corresponding to the transmitted valuable point information are received, for exchanging the received valuable points for communication points according to an exchange rate recorded in the exchange database; and updating the communication point database according to the exchanged communication points.
The central unit according to the fourth invention enables the customer to extend the substantial term of validity of valuable points whose expiry date is approaching by exchanging valuable points for communication points by a preset exchange rate according to the exchange instructing information received from the customer-use terminal unit and enables the customer to effectively use various valuable points of small values which are useless as individuals by adding up these valuable points for a single communication point, thereby accelerating the spread of communication points. Hence, the first business entity who manages the central unit can obtain new customers and achieve an improvement in the frequency in use of services. Moreover, by introducing a business mode in which the charge of services calculated according to the exchange rate is paid to the first business entity from the second business entity who manages the cooperate-use terminal unit, the second business entity can limit profits derived from the expiration of the term of validity of valuable points on an account book and consequently can never have disadvantages from the viewpoint of the taxation system.
A computer readable recording medium according to the fifth invention, which is a computer readable recording medium including thereon a recorded computer program for causing a computer having communication means to manage communication points used for on-line services, comprising: computer readable program code means, when exchange instructing information instructing an exchange of valuable points representing a reward for consumption activity for communication points is received, for causing a computer to transmit valuable point request information requesting valuable points to the communication means corresponding to the requested valuable points, according to the exchange instructing information; and computer readable program code means, when valuable points corresponding to the transmitted valuable point request information are received, for causing a computer to exchange the received valuable points for communication points according to a preset exchange rate.
The computer readable recording medium according to the fifth invention can extend the substantial term of validity of valuable points whose expiry date is approaching by exchanging the valuable points for communication points by a preset exchange rate according to the exchange instructing information by the execution of the recorded program on the computer and enables an effective use of various valuable points of small values which are useless as individuals by adding up these valuable points for a single communication point, thereby accelerating the spread of communication points. Hence, the first business entity who manages the central unit can obtain new customers and achieve an improvement in the frequency in use of services. Moreover, by introducing a business mode in which the charge of services calculated according to the exchange rate is paid to the first business entity from the second business entity who manages the communication device, the second business entity can limit profits derived from the expiration of the term of validity of valuable points on an account book and consequently can never have disadvantages from the viewpoint of the taxation system.

Value points exchanging managing method among first and second business entities where value points available to on-line customer obtaining goods or services


A torque detector includes a permanent magnet, a pair of magnetic yokes, and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic yokes include a first magnetic yoke and a second magnetic yoke. The first magnetic yoke has a first ring and a plurality of first teeth extending from the first ring in an axial direction. The second magnetic yoke has a second ring and a plurality of second teeth extending from the second ring in the axial direction. The first teeth extend in the axial direction beyond the second ring of the second magnetic yoke. The second teeth extend in the axial direction beyond the first ring of the first magnetic yoke.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a torque detector including magnetic yokes, and an electric power steering system including the torque detector.
2. Description of the Related Art
With reference to FIG. 15, the configuration of a conventional torque detector 200 will be described below. The torque detector 200 includes a permanent magnet 210, a pair of magnetic yokes 220 (220A, 220B), and a magnetic sensor 230. The permanent magnet 210 is magnetized such that the north poles and the south poles are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction. The magnetic yokes 220 are disposed so as to surround the permanent magnet 210. The first magnetic yoke 220A has a first ring 221 having an annular shape, and a plurality of first teeth 222. The second magnetic yoke 220B has a second ring 223 having an annular shape, and a plurality of second teeth 224. The magnetic sensor 230 is located between the first ring 221 and the second ring 223. The magnetic sensor 230 detects a magnetic flux density between the first ring 221 and the second ring 223. Japanese Patent No. 4561748 describes an example of a conventional torque detector.
If the area in which the permanent magnet and the teeth of each magnetic yoke are opposed to each other (hereinafter, referred to as "opposing area between the permanent magnet and the teeth of the magnetic yoke") is increased, the amount of magnetic flux transferred between the permanent magnet and the teeth is increased and thus the density of magnetic flux passing through the magnetic sensor is increased. As a result, the accuracy of detection by the torque detector is enhanced. In the conventional torque detector 200, the opposing area between the permanent magnet 210 and the teeth 222, 223 can be increased by setting the width HR of each of the teeth 222, 224 to a larger value.
However, if the width HR of each of the teeth 222, 224 is set to a larger value, the gaps between the teeth 222 and the teeth 224 that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction may become excessively narrower, and, as a result, the amount of magnetic flux leakage between the first teeth 222 and the second teeth 224 is increased. Thus, there are limits to increasing the opposing area between the permanent magnet and the teeth of the magnetic yokes by increasing the width of each of the teeth of the magnetic yokes.

Torque detector and electric power steering system including the torque detector


A bicycle brake disc assembly has a brake disc and a hub body that has a portion for connection to the brake disc. The hub body includes a radially outer portion provided with a plurality of stops arranged at different axial distances from an axial end of the hub body. The brake disc includes a central portion provided with an opening for at least partially receiving the connection portion of the hub body and for securing the brake disc to the hub body. The brake disc also has a protuberance configured to selectively contact one of said stops of the hub body.

As known, it is now common in bicycles to use disc brakes. Such brakes are indeed often preferred to other kinds of conventional brakes because they ensure a high braking force and they are less subject to problems caused by debris, such as mud or water.
Typically, a disc brake comprises a brake caliper fixed on the frame of the bicycle and a brake disc assembly comprising a brake disc mounted on a hub of a wheel. Inside the brake caliper there are two or four opposite brake pads. The brake disc rotates inside the space defined between the opposite pads. By actuating the brake lever, the pads are brought towards the brake disc, generating friction on the brake disc.
The coupling of the brake disc with the hub has the function of transferring the forces generated between the brake pads and the brake disc to the hub, so as to create a resistant torque on the hub of the wheel and obtain braking.
For this purpose, the brake disc is locked on the hub by bolts or by a shape fitting between the outer surface of the hub and the inner surface of a hole in the central portion of the brake disc.
In order to ensure that the brake disc is arranged between the space available between the pads of the brake caliper, the latter is provided with adjusters that allow an axial displacement of the caliper body with respect to the frame of the bicycle (and thus with respect to the brake disc).
In the case in which it is necessary to replace the wheel of the bicycle or to replace the brake disc, it is necessary to act on the adjusters of the brake caliper to ensure the centering of the brake disc between the pads.
Indeed, the machining tolerances and above all the clearances created in the mounting step of the brake disc on the hub are such that two nominally identical wheels have slight differences in the axial position of the brake disc with respect to a fixed reference (the frame of the bicycle).
Such slight differences in the axial position of the brake disc require action on the adjusters of the brake caliper to center the brake disc between the pads.
The Applicant has noted that the necessary adjustment of the adjusters of the brake caliper involves a time to change the wheel that is incompatible, for example, with the requirements of speed of wheel change during a cycling race.
The Applicant has further noted that the prolonged and continuous actuation of the adjusters of the brake caliper, especially if carried out by non-experts, can cause them to be damaged and consequently malfunction.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 9,267,560 B2 describes a bicycle brake disc assembly comprising a mechanism for adjusting the axial position of the brake disc with respect to the hub. The adjustment mechanism comprises an elastic element, such as a spring, active between the brake disc and the hub of the wheel. The brake disc is locked in a predetermined axial position by locking members, active on the hub and on the brake disc, counteracting the action of the elastic element. By selecting the axial position in which to activate the locking members it is possible to select the axial position of the brake disc.
The Applicant has perceived that it would be advantageous to have a simple and cost-effective brake disc assembly allowing a wheel change without having to intervene on the adjusters of the brake caliper.


The application discloses a method implemented by a first base station, including: obtaining, first receive power information, where the first receive power information is receive power information of receiving a signal transmitted by user equipment served by a second base station; determining, according to the first receive power information, a relationship between the user equipment and a coverage area of the first base station; and notifying the second base station of the relationship. Thus, when user equipment approaches a network covered by a first base station, a second base station may know a relationship between the user equipment and the coverage area of the first base station, so as to perform a network handover for the user equipment or establish a wireless connection between the user equipment and the first base station. The embodiments of the present invention further provide a corresponding base station.

In a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless communications system, it becomes a mainstream trend for telecommunication operation to deploy a wireless local area network (WLAN) around an evolved NodeB (eNB) (or a mobile base station node B, a base station BS, a base transceiver station BTS, a wireless access point AP, and the like). In this communications system, LTE supports high-speed data transmission, and can resolve an issue of access in a case of high-speed movement, while the WLAN is suitable for low-speed access and supports a low-speed movement service. Therefore, the LTE and the WLAN need to coordinate. In a process that the LTE and the WALAN coordinate, user equipment (UE) needs to perform a network handover between the WLAN and an LTE base station.
At present, because an LTE base station cannot determine whether user equipment enters a coverage area of a neighboring network (for example, a WLAN) and cannot automatically perform a network handover for the user equipment, the user equipment still needs to perform a network handover between the WLAN and the LTE base station in a manner of manually selecting a network standard. For example, user equipment enters a supported range of a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network, and a user selects a WiFi network by using a network standard selection menu, so that the user equipment accesses the WiFi network. For another example, user equipment enters a service range of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and a user selects a GSM network by using a network standard selection menu, so that the user equipment accesses the GSM network. Apparently, how a base station serving user equipment obtains a location relationship between the user equipment and a coverage area of a neighboring network (for example, a WLAN) to select in time a network that is available for a handover for the user equipment is a problem that urgently needs to be resolved at present.

Method for detecting a terminal by a base station, base station, and network entity


An aspect of the present invention relates to a susceptor comprising a counterbored groove receiving a semiconductor wafer in the course of manufacturing an epitaxial wafer by vapor phase growing an epitaxial layer on a surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein a lateral wall of the counterbored groove is comprised of at least one flat portion and at least one protruding portion being higher than the flat portion, and a height of the flat portion is equal to or greater than a thickness of the semiconductor wafer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a susceptor and a vapor phase growth apparatus, and more particularly, to a susceptor permitting the manufacturing of an epitaxial wafer comprising an epitaxial layer of uniform thickness, and to a vapor phase growth apparatus comprising the susceptor.
The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an epitaxial wafer employing the above susceptor.
2. Discussion of the Background of the Invention
The reduction of crystal defects in semiconductors, particularly crystal defects on or near the surface, has been gaining importance in recent years with the high level of integration of semiconductor devices. Thus, the demand is increasing for epitaxial wafers obtained by vapor phase growth of epitaxial films of good crystallinity on the surfaces of substrate wafers.
An epitaxial wafer is normally manufactured by feeding a starting material gas onto the surface of a substrate wafer while the substrate wafer is being supported by a susceptor to induce vapor phase growth of an epitaxial layer. A susceptor having a counterbored groove receiving the wafer is generally employed. Such susceptor is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2003-12397, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The use rate in the surface when manufacturing semiconductor devices from epitaxial wafers has tended to increase with the level of integration in recent years. However, when a conventional susceptor such as the susceptor described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2003-12397 is employed to vapor phase grow an epitaxial film on a substrate wafer, depending on the orientation of the crystal axis, a phenomenon has tended to occur whereby the thickness along the perimeter portion of the epitaxial film has differed from the thickness at the center portion thereof. The perimeter portions of such epitaxial wafers cannot be used to fabricate devices, making it difficult to raise the use rate in the surface.

Susceptor, vapor phase growth apparatus, and method of manufacturing epitaxial wafer


A compound represented by the following formula is provided:

Additive compositions capable of changing the viscosity of various liquids are of considerable interest for a number of commercial and industrial applications. Dense CO2, such as supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), is of particular interest as a solvent in chemical processing. scCO2 is non-flammable, relatively non-toxic, and naturally abundant. Similarly, as naturally occurring elements of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) are also of interest. High pressure hydrocarbon mixtures (for example, methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane) are commonly injected after primary production and many years of waterflooding to enhance oil production from subterranean layers of porous sandstone or carbonate rock.
Current fracturing and oil recovery techniques employ large amounts of water and/or scCO2 to extract oil from geological formations. Aqueous fracturing and extraction methods are most common and require significant treatment and/or disposal of large quantities of produced water. Fracturing and oil recovery methods based on scCO2 have several advantages including higher solubility of oil in scCO2, which increases extraction efficiency, as well as a substantial decrease in the amount of aqueous waste which needs to be treated. Unfortunately the low viscosity of scCO2 (˜20× less than water) results in fingering, where the scCO2 tends to find the path of least resistance resulting in poor overall oil recovery. The low viscosity of dense CO2 as a fracturing fluid results in small fractures and difficulty in the transport of proppant particles into the fractures.
While it has been recognized that a dense CO2 thickener could be a desirable solution for reducing the mobility of dense CO2, thickening dense CO2 is a difficult task as dense CO2 is a poor solvent for most organic thickener molecules. Additives, such as high molecular weight polymers and associating polymers, have been synthesized. However, such products did not achieve both solubility in dense CO2, in the absence of high volume of co-solvents, and thickening of dense CO2 by altering the viscosity of dense CO2.
Accordingly, there is a need to develop viscosifiers of dense CO2 and NGLs, which could be used to improve oil recovery performance and/or reduce the need to treat or dispose of large quantities of produced water.

Compositions for, solutions for, and methods of use of siloxane based aromatic trisureas as viscosifiers

Abstract: Also provided is a solution including a compound disclosed herein, a volume of dense carbon dioxide (CO2), and a co-solvent, where the solution has an increased viscosity greater than the viscosity of dense CO2. Methods of increasing the viscosity of dense CO2 and natural gas liquids (NGLs) by, for example, dissolving a compound disclosed herein to form a solution, are also provided.


An apparatus is disclosed for mutual interlocking of two switches, in particular circuit breakers. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes two plungers which each engage in one of the two switches and can be moved in the plunger longitudinal direction, wherein, when one switch is being switched on, the plunger which engages in this switch is moved by pivoting of a control disk from its nil-point position to its opening position. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a blocking device which blocks pivoting of the other control disk by moving the plunger to its opening position. In order to achieve a maintenance-free apparatus, in at least one embodiment it is proposed that at least one blocking element of the blocking device is moved by the plunger when this plunger is being moved to its opening position, such that pivoting of the other control disk with respect to the other plunger, which is located in the nil-point position, is blocked.

Mutual interlocks are known in particular as accessories for circuit-breaker configurations with, for example, two switches arranged alongside one another. The interface between a circuit breaker and an interlock is in this case frequently formed by a control-disk/plunger mechanism. The control disk may be integrated in a switch-internal drive shaft; the interlock is driven, and the switch is prevented from being switched on, via this drive shaft. In this case, the plunger enters the circuit breaker and forms the connecting element between the switch-internal control disk and the switch-external interlock. A blocking device with two plungers is used for mutual interlocking of the two switches. When a circuit breaker is switched on, its plunger is moved by the control disk from its nil-point position to its opening position. At the same time, the other plunger is moved, for example by positive coupling, from its nil-point position to its interlocking position. When the plunger has reached the interlocking position, the associated circuit breaker is blocked, that is to say it is no longer possible to switch the circuit breaker on. For correct operation of the interlock, it is necessary for the contact surfaces of the control disk and the plunger to each be located at precisely predetermined positions. Any discrepancy is possible only within tight tolerances, which leads to considerable sensitivity to manufacturing tolerances and wear. The positions of the control disk and plunger must in each case be readjusted for correction.
The "floating" nil-point position is responsible for the tight tolerances. Although this is defined by the control-disk/plunger mechanism, there is, however, no physically usable reference for this. When the mechanism is in the rest state, then the plunger is in each case held in the nil-point position by the interlock. If parts and components of the interlock do not correspond to their nominal value (shape and position tolerances, wear), then this influences the position of the plunger, that is to say it deviates from its nil-point position.

Apparatus for mutual interlocking of two switches, in particular circuit breakers


A flexible, draw-formed laminate for a safety glazing comprising a transparent, thermoplastic carrier film which is shrink-stable during laminating formation of such safety glazing bonded to at least one layer of plasticized polyvinyl butyral, such film having a greater tensile modulus than that of the layer of plasticized polyvinyl butyral. The carrier film is preferably flexible polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate having one or more functional performance coatings or layers on its surface such as a multi-layered solar radiation control stack.

This invention relates to a laminate for a safety glazing and more particularly to a laminate which is shrink-stable during formation of such a glazing.
It is known to use an energy absorbing interlayer of plasticized polyvinyl butyral (PVB) with one or more rigid layers such as glass in a safety glazing. Such a glazing is usually prepared by interposing the PVB layer between glass sheets while eliminating air from between the engaging surfaces and then subjecting the assembly to elevated temperature and pressure in an autoclave to fusion bond the PVB and glass and form an optically clear structure. These glazings are used in windows such as the front, side and rear windows in motor vehicles, particularly windshields, where the interlayer can absorb a blow from the head of an occupant without penetration of the windshield.
In recent years additional sophisticated features are appearing in such windows to enhance performance. These include special, layered metal/dielectric stacks for solar radiation control which may be electrically conductive for defrosting, defogging, etc; holographic layers as solar reflecting mirrors and in head-up displays to facilitate viewing instruments on the vehicle dashboard while looking straight ahead; photochromic and electrochromic layers which controllably change color on exposure to solar radiation or application of a voltage; layered protective antilacerative structures on the inboard side of a conventional three layer glass/PVB sheet/glass laminate to minimize lacerations from sharp edges of broken glass; special plastic layers in bilayer structures replacing one glass layer of such a three layer glass laminate, and similar, functional performance-enhancing layers and coatings. These performance layers are usually deposited on or adhered to a carrier layer which is different from the low modulus, elastomeric PVB which is unsuitable as a carrier. For use in safety glazings a carrier layer should have good clarity, be relatively uniform in thickness and strong having high modulus to facilitate ease of handling and processing during association with the performance layer(s). Frequently biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate is used as noted, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,736.
Concurrent with these performance advances, window shapes are appearing having severely curved and angled configurations serving, for example, to minimize aerodynamic drag and enhance ability to see from within the vehicle. When forming a safety glazing of such complex curvature having a PVB layer and a carrier layer of the type referred to, problems occur with the carrier layer. More specifically, when planar plastic layers on or between rigid sheet(s) such as glass having the desired complex curvature are heated to bond the PVB to the rigid sheet(s), the flat carrier layer cannot perfectly conform to the complex curvature without stretching, in the absence of which it forms wrinkles, folds or pleats (collectively "wrinkles"), usually, though not necessarily, in one or more sections near the periphery of the glazing laminate. These visually apparent wrinkles are an optical defect in the safety glazing. Wrinkling is not encountered with conventional safety glazings using only plasticized PVB which readily flows between the rigid sheets and evens out in thickness during autoclave laminating.
To avoid wrinkling, published European Application No. 0304898 discloses forcing a planar collection of plastic layers secured to each other against and adhesively pres bonding them to a curved glass layer followed by autoclave bonding of the assembly to form the safety glazing. This approach combines plastic film forming with glass bonding and handling which are quite different operations usually found separated in the safety glazing industry where film manufacture and supply is by a plastic fabricator and glazing manufacture by a glass laminator.
It would be desirable to provide a layered plastic prelaminate which could be interchangeably used in the same way as a single layer of plasticized PVB in conventional autoclave laminating to provide a safety glazing with enhanced properties where unsightly wrinkling is avoided.


The present invention relates to a method for filling a multitube catalytic reactor and to a set of inserts suited to implementing this method.

Multitube catalytic reactors may comprise several tens of thousands of tubes, which constitute as many reaction compartments. Because the catalyst becomes deactivated over time, it is necessary periodically to replace the catalyst, i.e. to empty the tubes and fill the tubes with fresh catalyst.
This is a complex operation which may take several weeks to complete properly, representing a significant cost to the operator. It is therefore desirable for the method of filling the reactor to be as rapid as possible.
One of the main constraints on the operation is the need to meter precisely the quantity of catalyst (generally in granular form) in each reaction tube. Any heterogeneity between the filling of the various tubes in fact leads to a difference in pressure drop between reactor compartments, hence reducing efficiency. It also makes it possible to avoid any preferred passage of reaction gas or any bypassing of catalyst in the tube.
Document EP 0 963 785 describes a filling device for introducing granular catalyst into reaction tubes. The device is fixed to the inlet of the tubes and channels a stream of catalysts introduced into the tubes.
Document EP 1 654 054 describes filling sleeves that allow controls on the height of the catalyst inside the reaction tubes.
However, catalytic reactors often contain two or even three layers of different catalysts. These layers need to be placed in the reaction tubes in a precise order and with well-defined layer thicknesses. Now, the prior art does not allow satisfactory management of the filling of a multitube reactor with several catalysts, notably when, in order to speed up the filling process, it is desirable to fill the various catalysts simultaneously on a reactor scale.
There is therefore a need to develop a method for filling a reactor with a plurality of catalysts that is more effective and/or more rapid than in the prior art.

Method for filling a multitube catalytic reactor

Abstract: The method of the invention is based on the use of inserts of different types allowing superposed layers of catalysts to be placed in the reaction compartments. The heads of the inserts are visually distinct according to the type of insert, making it possible to avoid filling errors and thus allowing the various layers of catalyst to be filled reliably and simultaneously on a reactor scale.


Method for decoupling and/or coupling of transport elements to a drive mechanism, in particular a drive mechanism (2) with a mainly continuously moving drive element (3). The decoupling and/or coupling is done by the coupling element (4) provided onto the transport element (1) which can work in conjunction with the drive mechanism (2). The speed of the coupling element (4) is gradually reduced prior to the decoupling, and gradually increased after the coupling respectively.

The present invention concerns a method and device for the decoupling and/or coupling and/or keeping coupled of transport elements to a drive mechanism.
In particular the invention concerns a method for the decoupling and/or coupling and/or keeping coupled of transport elements to a drive mechanism which has a mainly continuously moving drive element, such as an endless chain, whereby the decoupling and/or coupling and/or keeping coupled is done by means of a coupling element provided onto the transport element which acts onto the drive element.
The invention mainly aims at distribution systems to automatically distribute goods and such in work rooms, such as shop floors, whereby the transport elements consist of trolleys which are loaded in specific places, which are subsequently coupled to the drive element and are detached at the place of destination of the drive element.
In the known devices, the trolleys are coupled to the chain by means of a pin. Since the chain moves at a constant speed, this is disadvantageous in that it is rather difficult to decouple a trolley and in that the trolley jolts away as it is coupled, whereby both the coupling pin and the chain are heavily loaded.

Method and device for the decoupling/coupling of transport elements to a drive mechanism

Elektriciteit Voor Goederenbehandeling Marine En Industrie in het verkort Egemin, naamloze vennootschap


To provide a method of analyzing a lipid component in serum which comprises: a first total acid concentration measurement step of electrochemically measuring the total acid concentration in a serum-containing analyte solution in the presence of a water-soluble quinone derivative; a fatty acid production step of allowing a lipid component in the serum to react with one or more kinds of enzymes which specifically act on the lipid component to produce a fatty acid; a second total acid concentration measurement step of electrochemically measuring the total acid concentration in the serum-containing analyte solution in the presence of the water-soluble quinone derivative; and a lipid component concentration calculation step of calculating the serum concentration of the lipid component based on the total acid concentration measured in the first total acid concentration measurement step and the total acid concentration measured in the second total acid measurement step.

Among methods of detection of a lipid component in serum, enzymatic methods are well known. Many of the generally used enzymatic lipid component detection methods involve a color reaction of generated species with three or four different enzymes along with many reagents for the quantification of a lipid component. For example, for the analysis of the serum concentration of a lipid component such as cholesterol fatty acid esters, glycerin fatty acid esters or phospholipids, it has been known to use enzymatic reactions to quantify a concentration of free fatty acids produced from the lipid component in the serum (see, e.g., Patent Literature 1).
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the steps for measuring a lipid component in serum by use of the method disclosed by Patent Literature 1. As depicted in FIG. 1, the method requires four steps: first step 11 which measures the total acid concentration in a serum-containing analyte solution, before the production of fatty acid and organic acid from a lipid component); second step 12 which produces fatty acid(s) and organic acid(s) by using an enzyme which specifically acts on the lipid component in serum; third step 13 which measures the total acid concentration in serum by providing a quinone derivative into the analyte solution which contains the fatty acid(s) and organic acid(s) obtained in second step 12; and fourth step 14 which calculates the serum concentration of the lipid component based on the measured values in first step 11 and third step 13.
Citation List
    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-89595

Method and device for analyzing lipid component contained in serum


An apparatus for calibrating a laser projection device can be used to establish the deviation of known measurement points from an approved digital model or reference condition. The apparatus includes a target having a reflective portion and a mask surrounding the reflective portion. The mask includes a material that changes appearance when excited by a laser. This target eliminates or minimizes user subjectivity in laser projection calibration.

Laser projection technology is in widespread use as a manufacturing aid to determine the presence or absence of features in a manufactured article. Laser projection can be useful on a factory floor to support precision assembly and manufacturing. Its usefulness, however, is contingent on accurate calibrating and positioning of the laser beam. Calibration is typically subject to an operator's determination as to whether or not the beam is at a desired location. Calibration thus can be influenced by operator bias.

Apparatus and methods for calibrating a laser projection device


Provided is a convertible software application management system for a shared data-access layer in a distributed structure system linked to a database for customizable data processing at least in the transportation, home healthcare, hotel, e-commerce, delivery, and other goods and/or service industries. Provided is a dispatching service provider (DSP) application for dispatching objects of service companies to provide an efficient mobile app to promote a cooperative relationship between a DSP and service companies using white label apps and a streamlined/efficient dispatching system. Customers only need to download or utilize a single mobile app to access service providers from a plurality of service companies, white label companies, and/or a DSP, all using the same dispatch software. This increases the likelihood of a customer to find suitable service providers for his/her needs and allows service entities to reach additional customers and maintain their brands without the need for a plurality of mobile applications.

Booking a trip or requesting other services through mobile applications (apps) is a well-known process that is becoming increasingly more popular. High demand within regional markets has motivated car service companies and other service-related businesses to look for companies that promise apps with a short development-to-market time-line. As a result, such businesses often work with outside software development agencies that sell out-of-the-box solutions, also known as "white label" apps. In today's digital world, white label often refers to a product or software app whose development and branding can be customized according to the particular requirements and branding needs of a reseller.
Conventionally, there have been two approaches to building white label apps. First, a company would maintain its original back-end codebase but change the front-end of the app to give a different appearance which matches or complies with the reseller's branding needs. Second, a company would create a multi-user or multi-tenant app (i.e., where the app instance would remain the same for each tenant, but each tenant would receive its own app with a slightly different set of features). Typically, this multi-user model is used for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) (i.e., a software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts apps and makes them available to customers over the Internet) and can be more complex to build and maintain. Irrespective of the approach used to develop the white label app, such white label service or dispatching apps often come in packages that include at least an app for service providers and/or an app for customers.
In most cases, white label apps have limited customization. In other words, white label apps tend to include a set of core features that can only be partially customized, such as labelling, color schemes, etc. (i.e., with respect to the front-end of the app). At the same time, white label apps often have a very basic set of features that are optimal for an average app of their type, and therefore, will not suffice for a company requiring complex business logic. On the customer side, it is often inconvenient to download a plurality of different dispatching apps, and/or to download a single dispatching app with access to only one service company having a limited number of service providers (i.e., a driver, home aid, etc.) who may or may not be available or able to meet the user's needs for a particular service request. Even if the customer (i.e., a passenger, a patient, etc.) downloads multiple apps, he/she may need to separately contact multiple service companies through these multiple apps in order to find suitable service. Moreover, a plurality of apps can take up space on smartphones, shorten battery life, and potentially cause confusion for the customer. In particular, space on the display screen of a mobile phone is a limited resource which is often filled with too many apps. Users frequently have to swipe their screen to a new blank screen or a partially filled screen in order to fit more apps. When a mobile phone has a number of different applications, the user often has to locate and start each application, and then needs to navigate various functionalities and figure out how they work, which can be time consuming. The inability of customers to quickly and efficiently have regular access to a number of private entities, and the need to download a plurality of apps, complete many registrations, navigate multiple apps, and/or repeatedly input user information for access thereto, is a technical problem in the mobile application and mobile e-commerce and on-line e-commerce industries. Improved and simplified user interfaces and functionalities which allow for quicker and more efficient data access are needed in the art.
In an on-line e-commerce context, one of the problems a small or mid-sized business entity encounters when contracting with a marketing company to market the business entity's brand on, for example, a popular online purchasing site, is that the marketing company is typically most interested in marketing its own brand or the brand of the entity which owns the online purchasing site. The business entity's logo may be inconspicuously listed in small font and/or displayed at the bottom of a long list of other businesses providing the same goods. In certain situations, the business entity's goods may be conspicuously displayed (e.g., an enlarged picture of a chair), but the business entity's brand/logo or name may be in small font and the marketing company's logo or the logo of the entity which owns the online purchasing site may be enlarged or otherwise conspicuous. Consumers who purchase, for example, the business entity's goods through the online purchasing site may not know or remember that they are purchasing goods from the business entity, and the business entity may be less likely to retain the consumer as a future customer, even if the customer likes the product. In future transactions, the consumer may, for example, go to the purchasing site, do an additional search for the good, and make a selection from another business entity. As a result, small and mid-sized companies are often taken advantage of by large companies in that they are unable to build their direct customer base, and must instead rely on business through the larger company's online website. Technology is needed in the art by which smaller companies can gain a better footing in the market through establishing direct and ongoing connections with online consumers who are satisfied with their products and services.
It will therefore be appreciated that an improved system and method is needed in the art to address these deficiencies.

System and method for a convertible user application