A hard drive which prevents data access operations on the hard drive upon power up until the user enters a password. When the computer system is powered up, the hard drive spins up and is tested, responding only to a limited set of commands that do not permit data storage or retrieval operations. The password is located on the hard disk itself to prevent bypassing the hard drive's security using a new computer environment. When the user enters the correct password, the hard drive unlocks and operates as a conventional hard drive. If the user chooses, the hard drive may be unlocked by either of two passwords, one defined by the user and the other by the manufacturer. To obtain access to data areas during a locked state, a wipe data command is provided which overwrites all user data on the drive and unlocks the drive.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to hard drives used with computer systems and more particularly to a method and apparatus for preventing access to the hard drive until a password is entered.
2. Description of the Related Art
The rising popularity of portable computers has corresponded to the extraordinary improvements in the field, as portable computer systems rapidly develop the capabilities and characteristics of desktop models. For example, LCD displays for portable computers have become more sophisticated and readable. Many portables now include floppy disk drives to allow improved versatility and capacity. Furthermore, hard disk units are becoming common, offering greater speed and capacity than floppy drives.
The integration of hard drives into portable computers provides the user with much greater memory than floppy disk drives. Hard drives offer considerably shorter access times to data and programs. Consequently, the information that is most important to the user is commonly stored on the hard drive where the user has ready access. Information on the hard disk, therefore, may be extremely confidential and valuable, and must be protected. Ordinarily, access to the system as a whole is protected by a password program that restricts access to those that enter a password.
Password programs commonly employ a power-on password stored in the computer's CMOS memory. When the computer system initially powers up and completes the self-test operations, the computer executes a power-on password program. The password is read from the CMOS and compared to the password entered by the user on the keyboard to determine whether the correct password has been given. If so, the user is allowed access to the system. If not, the system remains inaccessible until the correct password is entered. Many systems allow only a few attempts at entering a password, after which the system must be turned off and powered up again to make another attempt.
For conventional desktop models, password programs generally provide sufficient defense to unauthorized access. For portable computers, however, power-on password protection may not be enough. Unlike their desktop counterparts, portable computers are easily stolen. A portable computer may be equipped with power-on password protection, which will prevent unauthorized access to the information on the hard disk unit through the computer system, but the hard drive unit may be physically removed from the computer and installed in another system. Because the new system does not employ password protection, the hard drive becomes accessible to an unauthorized user, and the data vulnerable to theft and misuse.
To prevent unauthorized access of this sort, the data may be encrypted before it is placed on the hard disk. Encryption involves altering the standard data code into a secret code, which must be decoded when it is retrieved from memory before the data can be used. An unauthorized user may thus put the drive in another computer to gain access to the code on the hard disk, but the data will be meaningless if it is not decoded. Encryption, however, requires support hardware and software in the computer system to encode and decode the data. Encryption also reduces the computer system's performance due to the delay while the encryption mechanism encodes or decodes the data.


A process is disclosed for preparation of anhydrides containing additional carboxylic acid moieties and dianhydrides of disubstituted maleic anhydride compounds wherein the acid anhydrides and dianhydrides retain their alkene character. The resulting alkene compounds are useful as precursors for polyesters, thermally stable polyamide-imides and polyimides which are also disclosed, as well as a process for their preparation.

It is known to make anhydrides containing additional carboxylic acid moieties and dianhydrides of disubstituted maleic anhydrides by synthesis from simpler compounds. These are disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,596,867 and 4,638,072, which are hereby incorporated by reference. It is also known to make polyimides from dianhydrides and aromatic amines. This is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,634 (1965). British Patent Specification No. 570,858 discloses various processes for making fiber-forming polymers.
In reviewing these references it is clear that the preparation of anhydrides containing additional carboxylic acid moieties and dianhydrides of disubstituted maleic anhydrides by oxidation of substituted alkenes, i.e., diaryl maleic anhydrides, while retaining their alkene character, has not been contemplated in the prior art. Also, the prior art has not contemplated the preparation of disubstituted maleic anhydride compounds of the structure: ##STR1##
The general object of the invention is to provide novel compounds of maleic anhydride structure and novel derivatives of these compounds which are potentially difunctional in structure and to provide novel amide-imide polymers and polyimides. A more specific object of this invention is to provide amide-imide polymers, vinyl polymers, and polyimides from 2-(3',4'-phthalic anhydride)-3-phenyl maleic anhydride, 2,3-di(3-carboxyphenyl anhydride) maleic anhydride, and 1,4-)2,5-dicarboxy) phenylene bis-phenyl maleic anhydride.

Acid anhydrides and dianhydrides of disubstituted maleic anhydrides


A method for interfacing with a user of an enterprise intrusion detection system, the method comprises receiving at least one packet flow, each packet flow originating from a unique node in the intrusion detection system and comprising descriptive information and a plurality of packet headers. The descriptive information of a first subset of the received packet flows is communicated to a user based at least in part on a filtering ruleset. A second subset of the received packet flows is concealed from the user based at least in part on the filtering ruleset. In response to receiving a command from the user, the plurality of packet headers for at least one packet flow in the first subset is communicated to the user.

Intrusion detection systems are used by an enterprise to detect and identify unauthorized or unwanted use (commonly called an attack) of the enterprise's computer network, which normally comprises a large number of nodes and network operations centers (NOCs). In general, these enterprise intrusion detection systems scan incoming data for specific patterns in network traffic, audit trails, and other data sources to detect malicious activity. Due to the large quantity of data, conventional intrusion detection systems often use many analysts to evaluate network data with various tool implementations for identifying the patterns, such as finite state machines, simple pattern matching, or specialized algorithms.
Current enterprise intrusion detection systems (IDSs) often overwhelm analysts with data due to poor data aggregation, correlation, and presentation. To overcome this shortcoming, an enterprise using a traditional IDS is faced with decisions that weaken the effectiveness of the IDS and/or are expensive to implement. For example, the enterprise may limit the information collected by the IDS. In another example, intrusion signatures that occasionally produce false alerts may be removed from the IDS. Other changes include not reporting alerts of a lower priority level or reducing the number of nodes. If the enterprise is unwilling to reduce the effectiveness of its conventional IDS, then the enterprise normally must hire additional expensive analysts to view the desired information that is overwhelming the current staff.

Graphical user interface for an enterprise intrusion detection system


A method for legitimately unlocking a SIM card lock, using an unlocking server connected to a USSD gateway, is for unlocking a SIM card lock set by a telecommunications service provider to a mobile terminal of a subscriber. Upon receiving an unlocking request that is transmitted from the mobile terminal and through the USSD gateway and that includes subscriber data and a USSD code representing activation of the unlocking request, the unlocking server requests the telecommunications service provider to verify, with reference to the subscriber data, whether the subscriber has a right to unlock the SIM card lock. Upon receiving verification from the telecommunications service provider that the subscriber has the right to unlock, the unlocking server transmits an unlocking program and an unlocking password to the mobile terminal such that the mobile terminal may execute the unlocking program and load the unlocking password for unlocking the SIM card lock.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for unlocking a subscriber identity module (SIM) card lock, more particularly to a method, which is implemented through unstructured supplementary system data (USSD) and over-the-air (OTA) mechanisms, for unlocking a SIM card lock.
2. Description of the Related Art
Contracts are usually made with telecommunications service providers when mobile terminals, such as mobile phones, are sold. Aside from storing phone number and contract content in a SIM card provided thereby, the telecommunications service providers require mobile terminal manufacturers to perform SIM card locking upon mobile terminals such that the mobile terminals are operable only when correct SIM cards are inserted thereinto. For example, a mobile terminal may be locked for only accepting a SIM card having a specific International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) code. An IMSI code is usually presented as a 15 digit code, and is composed of a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), and a Mobile Station Identification Number (MSIN). The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) stipulates five ways to execute SIM card locking.
A simple SIM card lock may be unlocked by a subscriber entering an unlocking password supplied by the mobile terminal manufacturer to the telecommunications service provider. However, for current advanced mobile terminals, they must be connected to a computer and use a specific program to load the unlocking password for unlocking.
The aforesaid SIM card lock mechanism constrains usage of mobile terminals. For example, when a user is in an area not supported by the contracted telecommunications service provider, the user may not use local telecommunications services by inserting a SIM card purchased locally into the mobile terminal.
Even when the contract has expired, the telecommunications service provider may not unlock the SIM card lock actively, since the telecommunications service provider always desires subscribers to continue using telecommunications services provided thereby. Moreover, even though the telecommunications service provider is capable of unlocking the SIM card lock, such as by adopting unlocking techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,321,079 and 7,689,204, the subscribers are generally not allowed to unlock a SIM card lock with relative ease. Therefore, a method for legitimately unlocking a SIM card lock which is acceptable to the telecommunications service providers and which facilitates unlocking of SIM card locks by the subscribers is being sought.

Method for legitimately unlocking a SIM card lock, unlocking server, and unlocking system for a SIM card lock


A method for monitoring the pressure of motor vehicle tires is provided. In the method, a tire pressure value of the tire filling pressure and a tire temperature value are determined. While taking into account the tire temperature value, the determined tire pressure value is compared with a stored nominal value and the comparison result is used to determine whether the motor vehicle tire is at an incorrect tire pressure, in particular, a low tire pressure. If the tire pressure is incorrect when a characteristic change in the tire pressure occurs, the stored nominal value is replaced by a new nominal value, and the comparison result is used to determine the new nominal value of the determined tire pressure value.

The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the pressure of motor vehicle tires.
Various apparatuses and methods for monitoring the pressure of motor vehicle tires are known from modern vehicles or from the related art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,111 describes a tire pressure indicator in which the pressure data detected by a pressure sensor is compared with a predetermined operating pressure range. An abnormal state of the air pressure is indicated as a function of the comparison result.
German patent document DE 101 36 831 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for monitoring the pressure of pneumatic tires, and for detecting an abnormal state of the pressure and/or the temperature of the individual tires of the vehicle. The pressure and/or the temperature of the individual tires on the vehicle are/is monitored, and it is possible to distinguish between individual pneumatic tires on the vehicle, in order to verify which tire is in an abnormal state. It is also known from German patent document DE 101 36 831 A1 to have a monitoring apparatus controlled by operation of the vehicle key, or for the monitoring apparatus to be used to compare the present state of the tire with the state of the tire when the motor vehicle was started. If the difference between the air pressure values is greater than a predetermined value, the tire is classified as being in a slow leakage state.
German patent document DE 101 05 641 A1 discloses a tire pressure monitoring system which combines a direct measuring system including a pressure sensor with an indirect measuring system based on a wheel rotation speed sensor system. In the case of this tire pressure monitoring system, the indirect measuring system is calibrated by using the detected tire pressure values of the direct measuring system. There is no need for manual calibration of the direct measuring system, for example, by manually inputting tire pressure values and subsequent operation of a calibration key.
A method for monitoring the pressure of motor vehicle tires during which a tire pressure value indicative of the tire filling pressure is determined is known from modern motor vehicles. The determined tire pressure value is compared with a stored nominal value, and the comparison result is used to deduce whether the motor vehicle tire is at an incorrect tire pressure.
Against the background of this prior art, an object of the present invention is to specify a method for monitoring the pressure of motor vehicle tires, which is more reliable and can be carried out more easily and more conveniently for the driver.
This and other objects and advantages are achieved by the method according to the invention, in which a tire pressure value that describes the tire filling pressure is determined, in order to monitor the pressure of motor vehicle tires. The determined tire pressure value is compared with a stored nominal value. The comparison result is used to deduce whether the motor vehicle tire is at an incorrect tire pressure, in particular, a low tire pressure. In the case of a characteristic change in the tire pressure, the stored nominal value is replaced by a new nominal value, with the determined tire pressure value being used to determine the new nominal value. Various predetermined criteria can be checked in order to determine whether a characteristic change has occurred in the tire pressure. An advantage of the method according to the present invention is that it can be carried out fully automatically, while taking into account any change which may have occurred deliberately in the tire air pressure, for example, as a result of a tire being filled or as a result of a tire change. In particular, in a situation such as this, there is no need for initialization, the inputting of values or calibration by the driver. This means that the method according to the present invention is not only more reliable but is also more convenient.
In order to take account of the relationship between the tire pressure and the tire temperature or the temperature of the tire filling means, a tire temperature value can additionally be determined and can be used for correction or normalization of the tire pressure. In the same way, the nominal value can be normalized with respect to a temperature value, or can be stored as a temperature-dependent value. Overall, the method according to the present invention can be carried out in such a way that the tire temperature value or the tire temperature values are taken into account for all pressure values. In particular, all pressure values may be temperature-compensated.
In one refinement of the method according to the present invention, the determined tire pressure value is compared with a stored comparison pressure value, which was determined at an earlier time, with the tire temperature value being taken into account, to determine whether a characteristic change has occurred in the tire filling pressure. A characteristic change in the tire filling pressure occurs in particular when the difference between the determined tire pressure value and the stored comparison pressure value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
In another refinement of the method, a characteristic change in the tire filling pressure occurs when the difference between the determined tire pressure value and the stored comparison pressure value is greater than a predetermined threshold value for at least two wheels. This threshold value may be chosen to be relatively small, for example, between 0.1 bar and 0.4 bar. The pressure differences may be temperature-compensated.
In a further refinement of the method, a characteristic change in the tire filling pressure occurs only when the vehicle has been stopped or restarted between the time of the determined tire pressure value and the earlier time of storage of the stored comparison pressure value.
In one embodiment of the method, the determined tire pressure value is also subjected to a plausibility check, with a new nominal value being stored only when the determined tire pressure value is classified as being plausible.
In one refinement of this, a tire pressure value such as this is classified as being plausible only if the difference between this first tire pressure value and a further tire pressure value associated with the same vehicle axle and the opposite vehicle side is less than a predetermined threshold value, for example less than 0.4 bar.
Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for plausibility to check whether all of the determined tire pressure values are above a predetermined threshold value. By way of example, a tire pressure value is classified as being plausible only when all of the determined tire pressure values are greater than 1.6 bar.
In a further refinement, a tire pressure value is classified as being plausible only when the determined tire pressure value associated with the rear vehicle axle is greater than the mean value of the determined tire pressure values associated with the front vehicle axle, minus a predetermined constant, in which case, in particular, the constant may be equal to zero.
As a further criterion for plausibility of a determined tire pressure value, it is possible to check whether the difference between the determined tire temperature and an ambient temperature is less than a predetermined threshold value. By way of example, a tire pressure value is classified as plausible only when the difference between the determined tire temperature and a determined ambient temperature is less than 40° C.
The plausibility conditions described in the above paragraphs can additionally be linked to a time criterion. For example, a tire pressure value is classified as being plausible only when the respective plausibility conditions are satisfied at least for a time period associated with them, e.g., for at least five minutes. A characteristic change in the tire filling pressure occurs in particular when the tire filling pressure of one or more tires on the vehicle has been reset by the driver or by someone else, and/or the tires have been filled with air, or one or more wheels on the vehicle have been replaced. Other criteria which indicate such a deliberate change in the tire air pressure of a vehicle tire may be checked in addition to or as an alternative to the criteria mentioned above, and may be used as a decision criterion or plausibility criterion.
The method according to the present invention may be carried out in order to monitor the pressure of all of the vehicle tires. If the method is carried out for a plurality of vehicle tires, a separate nominal value may be associated with each tire individually, or with each tire pair arranged on one axle.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Method for monitoring the pressure of motor vehicle tires


Embodiments of the invention relate to a light guide plate, a method for fabricating the same and a backlight unit. The light guide plate comprises a low density region and a plurality of high density regions, wherein the plurality of high density regions are separately disposed on a light incident side of the light guide plate.

A backlight unit is for providing a light source for display devices such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs). As a LCD does not emit light itself, a light guide plate (LGP) is an important component of the backlight unit and functions to transform a line light source to a surface light source.
Conventional LGPs are made of materials such as Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Polycarbonate (PC), Styrene methyl methacrylate (MS) resin and Polystyrene (PS). The physical property, specifically the density and melting point, of the materials are respectively: PMMA, 1.15 g/cm3 and 160° C.; PC, 1.22 g/cm3 and 220° C.; MS, 1.12 g/cm3 and 160° C.; PS, 1.05 g/cm3 and 180° C. A convention edge-lit LGP 01 has a working state as illustrated in FIG. 1, in which a plurality of Light Emitting Diode (LED) 02 functions as the light source. Due to the limitation of the emission angle (a normal LED has an emission angle of about 120°), a triangular dark region 03 exists between two neighboring LEDs in which no light can reach. If the brightness of the dark region is too low, hotspots will occur, which would affect the picture quality.
The currently available solutions for the hotspot issue have obvious disadvantages. For example, a pitch between two neighboring LEDs may be adjusted by design to decrease the dark region. However, more LEDs will be needed when the distance between LEDs is decreased, which will increase the cost. The hotspot phenomenon may be alleviated by adjusting the brightness of the dark region through designing the pattern of the LGP, which can mitigate the hotspot but is difficult to realize. The hotspot phenomenon may also be solved by replacing the existing film material with a better film material, which will increase the cost.

Light guide plate, method for fabricating the same and backlight unit

BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A high reliability semiconductor device is provided which can prevent electromigration due to the deposition of metal ions originating from wires. The device includes: a flexible wiring board 11 including a base film 1 and multiple wires 9; a semiconductor chip 5 mounted to the flexible wiring board 11; and a sealing resin 6 disposed between the flexible wiring board 11 and the semiconductor chip 5 so as to at least partially in contact with the wires 9. The sealing resin 6 contains a metal ion binder mixed thereto.

COFs and TCPs are well-known examples of semiconductor devices carrying electronic components mounted on a wiring board. A COF, or chip on film, contains semiconductor elements mounted/joined onto a flexible wiring board. A TCP, or tape carrier package, contains semiconductor elements continuously joined to a flexible wiring board. The COF and TCP are chiefly applied to semiconductor devices containing a LCD (liquid crystal driver) IC.
Recent demand for LCDs with increased numbers of outputs is rapidly pushing the flexible wiring board for LCD ICs to finer wiring pattern pitches. Currently, the COF is more suited to fine-pitched wiring pattern than the TCP. Thus the COF is the popular choice for packaging of LCD ICs.
Now, a conventional fabrication method of a COF will be described in reference to FIG. 9.
First, the fabrication method of a flexible wiring board 50 is shown. A metal layer with a barrier function is formed by sputtering on a polyimide base component 51. Then, copper foil is formed by metalizing (copper plating). A photoresist is applied onto the copper foil and then cured. Thereafter, the photoresist is exposed and developed to form a pattern which matches the desired wiring pattern. The copper foil, along with the metal layer with a barrier function, is etched in accordance with the photoresist pattern. Removing the photoresist completes the transfer of the desired pattern. The process provides a wiring pattern barrier layer 52 and a copper conductor layer 53. The entire surface of the conductor pattern is plated uniformly with tin 58 to a thickness of 0.4 to 0.6 μm, to complete the fabrication of wires 59. Further, to provide protection to the wires 59, those parts of the surface of the wires 59 which have no relevance in connecting to the semiconductor chip are covered with solder resist 57. This completes the fabrication of the flexible wiring board 50.
The completed flexible wiring board 50 is joined to a semiconductor chip having gold bumps (protruding electrodes) 54. The joints are formed of eutectic AuSn between the tin plating 58 and the gold bumps 54. The joining step is called inner lead bonding (ILB).
After the ILB, the gap between the semiconductor chip 55 and the flexible wiring board 50 is filled with an underfill (i.e., thermosetting) sealing resin 56 to provide protection to the semiconductor chip 55. The sealing resin 56 is then thermally cured.
Thereafter, a final test as to electrical characteristics is conducted to complete the fabrication of the COF.
Demand has been growing recently for semiconductor devices with even more outputs. Accordingly, voltage on the wires 59 is on the rise, while the pitch for the wiring pattern is falling. However, the conventional semiconductor device cannot accommodate such high-voltage, low-pitch wires 59 and suffers electromigration between the wires 59. When a DC voltage is applied across adjacent wires at high humidity, the metal from which the wires are made can ionize and dissolve in electrochemical reaction. The wire material thus may deposit and grow where no wiring was initially provided. This phenomenon is termed electromigration. With a high voltage across one of the wires 59, the potential difference from an adjacent one of the wires 59 increases, which makes the wires 59 more prone to electromigration. Another factor is the spacing of the wires 59. As the pitches narrow down, the electric field strength of a wire 59 on an adjacent wire 59 increases, which makes electromigration more likely.
Electromigration results in metal ions depositing also between wires 59. The deposition short-circuits the wires 59, possibly leading to an isolation breakdown. The semiconductor device thus loses reliability. Accordingly, the prevention of electromigration over a long term is key to ensuring the reliability of the semiconductor device.
Occurrence of electromigration may be limited by several methods. One of them is to provide moisture prevention means preventing moisture from reaching the spacings between wires so as to prevent high degrees of humidity. The moisture prevention means may be provided, for example, by imparting moisture resistance to routes through which moisture can seep to the wiring. The possible routes include the base component of the flexible wiring board, the solder resist, and the sealing resin. However, all these members need be organic polymer materials permeable to water. It is difficult to completely stop moisture from reaching the spacings. Another technique is to apply a moisture resistant film. Such a film however requires a lot of labor and cost with only insufficient results in the limitation of electromigration.
A second method is to reduce contamination with chloride and other halogen ions which hastens the wiring material dissolving into metal ions. Halogen ions are however found in the material itself. It is difficult to completely remove halogen ions and like ionic impurities.
A third method is to reduce the electric field strength across the wiring so as to slow down the rate of the wiring material dissolving into metal ions. Nevertheless, narrowing connection pitches between the semiconductor chip and the flexible wiring board on which the chip sits and increasing application voltage across the wiring are inevitable to achieve high density packaging and high functionality of the semiconductor device. This in turn inevitably increases electric field strength across the wiring pattern.
Thus, electromigration cannot be prevented from occurring in the COF semiconductor device without significant cost, with the falling wiring pitches and high voltage application across the wiring. This presents an obstacle in developing semiconductor devices with high functionality.
Meanwhile, Japanese published patent application 11-144527/1999 (Tokukaihei 11-144527; published on May 28, 1999) discloses a conductive paste attaching electronic components onto the substrate. To prevent electromigration of silver ions, the conductive paste is mixed with a silver ion binder which forms a complex with silver ions. However, the conductive paste is not applicable to semiconductor wiring and falls short of addressing electromigration in wires.

Semiconductor device with reduced electromigration


A phase winding of a stator winding comprises one or more pairs of interconnected partial coil, each partial coil formed of sequentially connected U-shaped segment pairs, each pair comprising a large segment and small segment. Two segment legs, of the large and small segment respectively of such a pair, constitute first and second conductor layers of a first stator slot and have their tip portions mutually connected. The remaining two segment legs respectively constitute fourth and third conductor layers of a second slot that is distant by one pole pitch, and have their respective tip portions mutually connected.

1. Field of Application
The present invention relates to a 4-layer type of stator winding for a rotary electric machine, with the stator winding formed of respectively separate U-shaped segments, and with the ends of leg portions of the segments sequentially connected after the segments have been inserted within respective pairs of stator slots.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, types of rotary electric machines such as 3-phase alternators for motor vehicles have been proposed, in which the armature winding (assumed in the following to be a stator winding) has a multi-layer configuration, formed of a plurality of pre-formed U-shaped winding segments (sometimes referred to as "hairpin conductors"}. The legs of each segment are inserted into a pair of slots of the stator, such that a U-shaped portion of the segment (referred to in the following as the head portion) protrudes on one side of the stator and extends between the two slots, while two outer ends of the segment (referred to in the following as the leg ends) respectively protrude from these slots on the opposite side of the stator. Each leg end is shaped by being bent in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction (in general, after insertion into the slots) to enable connection to other segments. The part of a segment leg that is contained within a slot, as a conductor layer, will be referred to as the intra-slot portion.
Each leg end is connected to a leg end of a specific other segment, such that the segments are sequentially connected to form turns of the winding. Each intra-slot portion of a segment is located in a specific one of a plurality of layers, whose positions extend successively radially.
The assignee of the present invention has previously proposed (in Japanese patent publication number 2000-092766, referred to in the following as reference document 1) such a stator winding, having six conductor layers in each stator slot, and utilizing three sizes of segment, i.e., large, medium and small segments. However this has various disadvantages, such as the need to have a number of different types of segments, and complexity of establishing connections between the sets of six segment leg ends protruding from each slot, so that such a stator winding presents substantial manufacturing difficulties.
Based on that prior art, it would be readily possible to envisage a 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding, having only four conductor layers per slot, and having only two types of segment, i.e., large and small. The features of such a stator winding will be described referring first to FIG. 9. The aforementioned four layers will be referred to in the following as the first layer S1, second layer S2, third layer S3 and fourth layer S4 (the first layer S1 being at the most radially inward position, and the fourth layer S4 being at the most radially outward position). The aforementioned two types of segment are designated as a small segment 50 whose legs are respectively disposed in the second and third layer positions of two stator slots, and a large segment 51, whose legs are disposed in the first and fourth layer positions, respectively, of two slots. Each of the segments is rectangular in cross-section, thereby enabling a high degree of occupancy of each stator slot by the conductors, when the intra-slot portions are stacked in successive radially extending layers.
As shown, each of the leg ends of a segment is shaped by being bent appropriately for connection to a leg end of another segment.
This can be more readily understood from the partial oblique view of a completed stator winding shown in FIG. 12, showing the interconnections between the tip portions of pairs of leg ends of respective segments. In FIG. 12, the layer positions of the segment intra-slot portions that correspond to these tip portions are respectively indicated.
FIG. 10 is a conceptual winding diagram which illustrates the interconnection configuration of a set of segments which form one phase winding of this stator winding, with the numbers 8, 17, etc., being respective numbers of the stator slots containing the intra-slot portions of the segments (e.g., with slots 8 and 17 differing in circumferential position by nine slot pitches). In FIG. 10, and also in FIG. 11 described hereinafter, each set of conductors (intra-slot portions) shown corresponding to one slot are arranged in the drawing with the respective successive positions of these conductors, from the left to right sides, corresponding to their respective layer positions within the slot, that is to say with the leftmost conductor being in the first layer position and the rightmost conductor being in the fourth layer position.
The leg ends of one set of the large segments and one set of the small segments are successively connected in a wave-wound configuration to form a first of two circumferentially extending windings, referred to in the following as partial coils, which have mutually opposite winding directions, while a second set of the large segments and second set of the small segments are successively connected in a lap-wound configuration to form a second partial coil. The starting end of the lap-wound partial coil is designated as 601, while the starting end of the wave-wound partial coil is designated as 602.
The respective intra-slot portions of the small segment and large segment that are connected to the starting ends 601, 602 of the two partial coils constitute the first and second layers S1, S2 of the same slot, i.e., slot number 71, as shown. The respective intra-slot portions of the small segment and large segment that are connected to the terminating ends of the two partial coils constitute the third and fourth layers S3, S4 of slot number 8.
These two partial coils can be connected in parallel to form one of the three phase windings that constitute the stator winding.
In the case of Japanese patent publication number 2002-58189, referred to in the following as reference document 2, a multi-layer sequential segment connection stator winding is described which also utilizes three sizes of segment, as for reference document 1 above. A 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding could readily be envisaged based on reference document 2, in which a phase winding would be configured as illustrated in the conceptual winding diagram of FIG. 11. In this case, the conductors that are located in the layer positions 1 and 2 of the slots are interconnected to form two small partial coils that extend in mutually opposite directions, while similarly the conductors that are located in the layer positions 3 and 4 of the slots are also interconnected to form two small partial coils that extend in mutually opposite directions, so that there is a total of four small partial coils. Pairs of these small partial coils are connected in series to obtain two partial coils, and these can be connected in parallel to constitute one phase winding.
It should be noted that in the following, the term "4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding" is applicable also to a stator winding having a plurality of sets of four conductor layers in each stator slot, as will be made more apparent from embodiments of the invention described hereinafter (e.g., a configuration having layers that can be designated as S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, successively extending radially from S1 to S8).
Such a 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding configuration has the advantage of enabling a high occupancy factor for the conductors within each stator slot, so that the efficiency of utilizing the cross-sectional area within each slot can be maximized. In addition, efficient cooling of the leg ends of the segments is achieved. For these reasons, such a configuration enables a compact rotary electric machine to be produced which can be compact in size while having a having a high power rating.
However with a type of 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding that is described in or could readily be envisaged from the prior art, the arrangement of the leg ends of the segments, and operations to connect respective pairs of leg ends (e.g., by welding) is complex, so that manufacture is difficult. Furthermore due to the fact that there be a substantial difference in potential between conductors that are located at adjacent layer positions within the same slot, it is necessary to pay careful attention to providing sufficient electrical insulation between such adjacent conductors within each slot, if the rotary electric machine is to operate with high levels of voltage being developed in (or applied to) the stator winding.
In addition, since in that case there will also be a substantial potential difference between adjacent leg ends that belong to respectively different partial coils, it is necessary to take measures to prevent corona discharge from occurring between these. For that reason, it may be necessary to provide cylinders of an electrically insulating material (e.g., paper insulation) between sets of segment leg ends that correspond to respectively different adjacent layer positions. This is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, in which three cylinders of paper insulation 41 are disposed between each of adjacent sets of leg ends that respectively correspond to the four layer positions. Hence, the manufacturing difficulty is further increased. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, it may also necessary to provide a similar insulation arrangement on the other side of the stator when high-voltage operations is to be implemented, i.e., three insulation cylinders disposed between sets of segment head portions that respectively correspond to the four layer positions.
These problems arise both in the case of a stator having one slot per pole (i.e., with each pair of adjacent slots of the stator containing conductors that are of respectively different phase) and in the case of a stator winding in which sets of mutually adjacent slots each correspond to the same phase (as described in detail hereinafter), with such a set of adjacent slots being referred to herein as an "identical-phase slot set".
The above problems apply both for types of prior art 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding that could be envisaged from the prior art of reference document 1 or from the prior art of reference document 2.
Reference document 1 describes a 6-layer sequential segment connection stator winding stator winding in which the intra-slot portions of the large segments constitute the first and sixth conductor layers of each stator slot, the intra-slot portions of the small segments constitute the third and fourth layers, and the intra-slot portions of the intermediate-size segments constitute the second and fifth layers. Theoretically it would be possible to apply the principles described in reference document 1 to produce a 8-layer sequential segment connection stator winding, or a 10-layer sequential segment connection stator winding. However such configurations having more than 4 layers per slot each have the disadvantages (in addition to those described hereinabove of a 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding derived based on the prior art) that the axial length of the stator winding is increased, due to an increased degree of protrusion of the sequentially connected leg ends, and that it is necessary to use a greater number of different types of segment. Hence, such types of stator winding configuration are less practicable than a 4-layer sequential segment connection stator winding.

4-layer type of stator winding formed of sequentially connected segments located in respective slot pairs, and method of manufacture thereof


Context-based call routing is provided in a unified communication system by enabling subscribers to define a routing document, which is published by the communication system to callers who subscribe to a presence of the called party. Through publication of the context-based routing information, callers are enabled to make selections between call destination options as defined by the caller and provide a subject for the requested call. The call is then routed by the system according to the caller selection allowing efficient facilitation of the communication between the caller and the called party or their designees.

With the proliferation and development of various telecommunication technologies, getting a busy signal or no answer is becoming almost extinct. Many technologies allow calls to be forwarded to voicemail systems, other human parties, and so on, allowing callers to reach the called party eventually in one form or another.
A typical use of such systems is in service industry, where callers are first greeted by an automated system presenting questions and determining a proper destination for the call based on voice-recognized responses or Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) entries by the calling party.
Many such systems are, however, static—i.e. based on a set of predetermined rules that are not modified frequently or based on calling party. Thus, for the calling party the system offers a one-size-fits-all kind of blunt approach, which is not the most efficient method for addressing the calling party's needs. For the called party, conventional systems lack the flexibility to enable the called party to make himself/herself available to particular callers in an efficient and dynamic manner. Furthermore, such systems are typically geared toward voice-based communication methods and cannot take advantage of currently evolving multi-modal unified communications, which enable users to communicate via various modes with the help of comprehensive user interfaces.

Contextual call routing by calling party specified information through called party specified form


An optical absolute pressure sensor constituted by a body made of a substance having photoelastic properties and provided with at least one internal duct extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of said body, the pressure inside said duct being substantially zero and the ends thereof being closed in sealed manner. The invention also applies to a method of making the sensor, to apparatus for implementing the method, and to a sensor constituting the product of the method.

When such a body is subjected to a given pressure, anisotropic stresses are established which generate a birefringence effect by photoelasticity. The birefringence of an incident light ray (running longitudinally through the body) increases with pressure.
An article published in the periodical Optic Letters, Vol. 11, No. 5, May 1986, entitled "Side-hole fiber for fiber-optic pressure sensing" by M. H. Xie, Ph. Dabkiewicz, R. Ulrick, and K. Okamoto, describes a sensor used for measuring pressure and constituted by a glass optical fiber provided with longitudinal internal ducts. The variation in the birefringence of an incident light ray is measured, which birefringence increases with increasing pressure Pi inside the ducts. In a variant, a constant pressure is maintained inside the ducts and the pressure to be measured is applied to the outside of the fiber.
Because of the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the two component portions of such a prior sensor, namely its core (the central portion), and its optical cladding (its peripheral portion), the sensor is sensitive to temperature.
In addition, the sensor is sensitive only to relative pressure.
Further, since the polarizers disposed at each end of the optical fiber are not subjected to pressure, the sensor is subject to metrological disturbances.
All of these difficulties reduce the advantages of such a sensor and the fields in which it can be used.
A pressure sensor has also been described, for example in German patent publication No 34 05 026, particularly for measuring differential pressure, which comprises a light transparent cylindrical body sensitive to the pressure of a fluid, liquid or gas, which is admitted in longitudinally extending cavities within this body. The cavities are closed at either end of the cylindrical body by sealing plates. These plates may be glued to the transparent body. These plates may also be made out of metal and clamped together against the ends of the cylindrical body by means of bolts. Each of these plates mounts sealing elements around the cavity openings in each end of the cylindrical body.
As in the case of the optical fiber sensor mentioned above, this sensor is sensitive only to relative pressure.
In addition, the junction between the sealing plates and the transparent sensor body gives rises to differential thermal dilatations which generate parasitic stresses in the sensor body. Furthermore this junction is also a cause for a lack of long term stability of the sensor. An object of the invention is to provide an optical sensor of absolute pressure and suitable for substantially mitigating or even completely eliminating the above-mentioned drawbacks and undesirable effects.

Optical pressure sensor and a method and apparatus for making such a sensor


An indicator housing is arranged in operative communication to a plurality of sensor housings, each mounted to a backing plate of an associated vehicle, such that each sensor housing includes a sensor rod reciprocatingly and slidably projecting from the sensor housing, such that upon the respective tire relative to each sensor housing losing air pressure and bulging, deflection of the sensor rod is indicated within the vehicle through the indicator housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of invention relates to air pressure indicators, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved dashboard mounted tire pressure indicator apparatus wherein the same is in operative communication to sensor housings mounted to backing plates of an associated vehicle, including sensor rods projecting from the sensor housings to indicate loss of air or bulging of tires.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Air pressure sensor structure is available in the prior art indicated and exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,978,941; 4,887,067; 5,109,213; and 5,001,457.
The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing for a mechanical deflector arranged for operative communication with a respective vehicular tire to sense load deflection of the tire upon loss of air pressure and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

Dashboard mounted tire pressure indicator


The optical image properties of gelatin holograms are improved by reducing uneven shrinkage during chemical development. This is accomplished by introducing from 2 to 10 weight percent of a water soluble sizing agent into the gelatin. Suitable sizing agents include polyvinylpyrrolidone homopolymer and polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to holograms and the photosensitive emulsions that are present on holographic plates. More specifically, the invention relates to reducing the poor holographic image quality which results from uneven shrinkage of photosensitive gelatin during chemical development of the latent image contained in the gelatin.
2. Description of Related Art
Holograms are widely used for a variety of purposes including: helmet-mounted displays; eye protection reflectors for laser radiation; non-destructive structural testing of manufactured parts; and novelty displays. In fabricating a hologram, a holographic plate comprising a layer of photosensitive emulsion on a substrate is exposed to an electromagnetic wave interference pattern to record a latent image on the plate. The photosensitive emulsion is then developed by a series of chemical treatments to obtain the recorded latent image.
A photosensitive emulsion widely used in fabricating holograms is dichromated gelatin. A problem has been experienced with the use of dichromated gelatin as the photosensitive emulsion on holographic plates in that the chemical development of the latent image recorded in the gelatin results in uneven shrinkage of the gelatin, thereby producing a wavy surface on the holographic plate and a hologram of reduced optical image quality.
More specifically, when a holographic plate's coating of dichromated gelatin is exposed to interfering wave patterns of electromagnetic energy, the interference patterns induce energy into the gelatin. Where the interference pattern consists of constructively interfering waves, a greater amount of energy is imparted to the gelatin. Conversely, where destructively interfering patterns exist, a lesser amount of energy is imparted to the gelatin. The energy imparted to the gelatin initiates a chemical reaction which converts the ammonium dichromate to chromium ion and starts the polymerization of the gelatin. The degree of polymerization or cross-linking is proportional to the amount of energy imparted. Hence, in areas where constructively interfering wave patterns impart energy to the gelatin, the degree of cross-linking will be greater. And in areas where energy is imparted by destructively interfering wave patterns, the cross-linking will be less.
The existence of areas of varying degrees of cross-linking within the gelatin results in localized differences in the gelatin's molecular weight and refractive index: where cross-linking is greater, molecular weight and refractive index are greater; and where cross-linking is less, molecular weight and refractive index are less. When a holographic plate utilizing a dichromated gelatin photosensitive emulsion undergoes the chemical treatments required to develop a latent image recorded in the gelatin, the localized differences in molecular cross-linking and molecular weight result in uneven shrinkage of the gelatin. This in turn results in uneven lines in the interference pattern recorded in the gelatin and reduced optical image quality of the hologram.
The above-mentioned problem of uneven gel shrinkage is a particular problem in connection with slant holograms. The slant wave interference pattern in a slant hologram produces slanted layers in the gel having varying degrees of cross-linking. Variations in the shrinkage of the slanted layers during processing of the slant holograms produces wavy fringe patterns that adversely affect image quality.
In view of the above problems, there is a continuing need to provide improved photosensitive gels which can be developed according to conventional hologram processing procedures without problems of uneven shrinkage and the resulting poor image quality.

Photosensitive emulsion for holographic plates and method


An adjustable snow making tower including a vertical support pole anchored into the ground and having a support pipe coaxially received over this support pole for support of a snow tower for axial horizontal rotation on the support pole. A support arm is pivotally connected intermediate its opposite ends adjacent the upper end of this support pipe for pivotal movement substantially from horizontal to vertical. An elongated pipe snow making tower having air and water discharge nozzles at its upper end and air and water supply connections at its lower end, is supported adjacent its lower end to this support arm for pivotal movement therewith in a vertical plane. A lock mechanism is provided for temporary locking the support arm in any preselected vertical position between horizontal and vertical and a drive mechanism is also provided to assist in vertically raising or lowering the snow pipe tower together with a support arm about the support arm pivot. The support arm may also be utilized to pick up and support a snow-gun above ground for more effective use in addition to or in substitution of the elongated pipe snow making tower.

This invention relates generally to fluid sprinkling and more particularly to snow making towers for ski slopes.
The typical snow making system for ski resorts includes a plurality of snow making towers which are positioned along the ski slope. However, placement of manufactured snow on the ski slope proper, becomes very difficult under varying wind conditions. In order to compensate for this, some snow making towers may be rotated to direct the snow making spray, or a nozzle at the top of the snow tower may be rotated.
For example, FIG. 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,814,391 (Loomis) issued on Jun. 4, 1974 for Method and Apparatus for Making Snow, illustrates a snow tower wherein the tower includes two separated elongated pipes for respectively supplying water and air under pressure to a nozzle at the top thereof for mixing and ejecting the mixture for the manufacture of snow. The nozzle at the top of the tower may be rotated for directional placement of snow through the use of guidelines. The entire system is supported from a pole.
Unfortunately, this particular design is such that in order to effectively manipulate the nozzle, the guidelines must be positioned approximately as high as the tower itself where the guidelines extend from the support pole, and thus the snow tower and the support pole must be substantially equal in height thereby limiting the height of a snow tower usable with the crane type guidance mechanism illustrated. Also, the back pressure from the nozzle discharge is quite large and exceeds the weight of the gun itself, which requires excessively large support structure. Additionally, no convenient mechanism is provided to raise and lower the nozzle tier maintenance or repair.
This prior art structure also does not provide for the possible positioning of the nozzle directly above the support pole, or for aiming the nozzle behind the support pole.
My U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,103 which issued on Apr. 22, 1980 for Adjustable Snow Making Tower discloses the elongated pipe forming the tower as pivotally connected at its bottom to the support pole, so that the tower may be pivoted in a single vertical plane such that the tower may be positioned anywhere from tilting full forward to fully rearward such that the air and water discharge nozzles are even positioned on the back side of the pole. Most any intermediate position between these full forward and full back positions may also be selected In addition, to a very limited extent, the snow making tower can be rotated left or right to a small degree to further assist in positioning the snow placement.
This invention does permit the use of a snow tower conduit which is much taller than the support pole and it does permit greater adjustability in that the nozzles may be positioned at different places in front of the pole or even behind the support pole. However, this adjustable snow making tower and the adjustable snow making tower illustrated in FIG. 6 of Loomis, do not provide any means for swinging or manipulating the entire pipe tower such that it may be additionally rotated in a horizontal plane to wide extremes, even when the pipe tower is pivoted out from the support pole at a relatively large angle such as 45.degree. or more.
The adjustable snow making towers of the prior art, also require the use of a relatively tall support pole which must be anchored at its bottom end into the ground. Such poles are expensive and they require the use of expensive equipment and time consuming labor to raise them and anchor them into the ground.
Also, with portable snow-guns, as opposed to elongated tall snow making pipe towers, they cannot be taken full advantage of because of the fact that they cannot be easily elevated above ground for operation.
In addition, the snow making towers of the prior art cannot be readily and easily lowered to clean ice off of the tower or to replace nozzles or to remove the tower and transfer it to a new location.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an adjustable snow making tower wherein the elongated pipe tower or a snow-gun may not only be elevated and adjusted in a vertical plane at an angle relative to its support pole from between 0.degree., such that it is parallel with the support pole, all the way to the ground or horizontal for repair or maintenance of the nozzles at the top of the pole, but in addition, the entire pipe tower or snow-gun may be pivoted or rotated in a horizontal plane of 360.degree., no matter what vertical position the pipe tower or snow-gun is in relative to its support pole at the time. It is a further object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of the adjustable snow making towers of the prior art hereinbefore described.


An apparatus and a method for preparing dialysis fluid for use in extracorporeal blood treatment, wherein the apparatus includes a main line for the supply of water in the course of which each of an acid fluid and a basic fluid is fed at a particular dosage, wherein the dosage is set by a control and regulating unit as a function of at least one chemical and/or physical parameter of the water-fluid mixture and the parameter is detected by a measuring instrument wherein a first measuring instrument is arranged at a section of the main line located downstream of each of the feeding point for the acid fluid and the feeding point for the basic fluid and the control and regulating unit at least temporarily controls the feeding of the acid and basic fluids such that over a predetermined period of time or a predetermined interval only one from among the acid and basic fluids is fed into the main line.

In extracorporeal blood treatment, e.g. hemodialysis, hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration etc., an apparatus for preparing dialysis fluid is used which prepares the required dialysis fluid from the basic components of water, basic fluid and acid fluid. During the blood treatment of a patient the prepared dialysis fluid is passed through the dialysis-side chamber of a dialyzer through the semi-permeable membrane of which toxic substances and water are absorbed from the blood passed through the blood-side chamber of the dialyzer by diffusion (hemodialysis) or diffusion in combination with convection (hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration).
During the extracorporeal blood treatment, the dialysis fluid flushes the patient's blood to be treated in the dialyzer. The basic component of the dialysis fluid usually is a substrate containing sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) and the second component (SK) usually is a solution containing sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride (KCl), magnesium chloride (MgCl2), calcium chloride (CaCl2)), glucose (C6H12O6) and acetic acid (CH3COOH) and/or citric acid (C6H8O7).
For preparing and, respectively, for proportioning the dialysis fluid, usually metering pumps and conductivity probes are employed. A probe measures the conductivity of the NaHCO3 after addition thereof with a first metering pump (BICLF). After addition of the acid component with a further metering pump, another probe measures the conductivity of the entire dialysis fluid (ENDLF).
In the case of conductivity-controlled proportioning the amounts to be added are regulated by way of the conductivities measured. In the case of volumetric proportioning, the conductivity probes merely serve for checking as the proportioning is performed directly via the metering pump delivery rates. However, this requires the exact knowledge of the composition of the components used.

Method and apparatus for intermittent pulsating proportioning of a dialysis fluid mixture