A screw conveyor to convey powdery material, in particular cement. The screw conveyor comprises:                a transfer screw; and        a trough containing the transfer screw; the trough being provided with an inlet section and an outlet section of the powdery material.

It is well known in the art that such sliding products (cements, limes, fillers, etc.) are normally contained in silos that are internally provided with one or more devices (such as one or more compressed air jets) for fluidizing with a gas the powdery product even before its entry into the trough of the screw conveyor.
Therefore, the term "aeration" refers here to the properties of certain materials composed of fine particles (such as, e.g. cements, limes, fillers, etc.) in whose mass the particles are separated by means of the absorption and the distribution of fluidizing air.
For those reasons, the density of the materials during use is reduced, and the particulate/gas mixture temporarily exhibits some of its fluid properties.
Usually, the greater the aeration, the greater the fluidity of the aerated mass.
Moreover, it is already known that the chance that such an aerated material has quasi-fluid behaviours is inversely proportional to the size of the particles forming the material mass.
In some embodiments, the blowing of fluidizing air into the material may go together with mechanical or pneumatic vibrations induced in the material mass to obtain a quasi-fluid behaviour.
Moreover, it is well known that, beside air, other gases may be used to give appreciable fluidity to the powdery material such as, e.g. nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. However, it has been found that the efficiency of the system increases by limiting as much as possible the turbulence within the quasi-fluid.
In this regard, it has been experimentally found that the turbulence is directly proportional to the discrete jumps of the conveyor screw pitch; in this sense, also the welding of single screw stretches represents discrete jumps with a consequent loss of efficiency of the conveyor device.
Therefore, there is a need for studies aiming to the making of conveyor screws (also known as "Archimedes screws") designed to convey aerated powdery materials with an optimal power consumption, which is significantly lower than that of current devices.
Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is the reduction of the power absorbed by the device when conveying the material through a series of structural approaches.
Normally, in prior art embodiments, the entire screw conveyor has the same pitch at any point.
However, a recent thorough study of mechanical and fluid-dynamic phenomena occurring within the screw conveyor has shown the importance of dividing the screw conveyor into screw portions with different functional characteristics with the aim of maximizing the efficiency of each screw portion.
Therefore, screw conveyors have been created that are divided into screw portions, arranged in series, with different geometric characteristics; each screw portion having a constant pitch other than the one of the previous screw portion and the one of the next screw portion.
In such newly conceived embodiments, the different screw portions have different pitches to perform particular functions such as extracting, compacting and conveying the material.
For example, EP-A2-0 816 938 (MITA INDUSTRIAL Co. LTD) discloses a solution involving the use of different screw portions with different pitches, arranged in series. However, each screw portion has the same pitch at any point.
However, in spite of some positive aspects, these solutions do not solve the problem of minimizing the power consumption to convey powdery material and maximizing the filling of the spires.
It has also been noted that if transfer screws made according to the teaching of EP-A2-0 816 938 (MITA INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD) are sloping at a certain angle (e.g. to lift the powdery material from the ground to the floor of a building) they show a low efficiency (power loss) in conveying the powdery material.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,487 (KIPPER) discloses a transfer screw to convey a fibrous waste material deriving, e.g. from sugar cane processing.
The screw conveyor described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,487 (KIPPER) includes a transfer screw and a trough containing the transfer screw. The screw pitches vary according to a law of continuous variation.
However, the screw conveyor described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,487 (KIPPER) is not suitable for being installed in a complex plant to convey an aerated powdery material, e.g. a mixture of powdery cement and air (or any other suitable gas). In particular, this screw conveyor is not suitable because it does not allow an optimal filling of the spires of the transfer screw during the filling step, on the one hand, and during the accelerating and launching step, on the other.
Therefore, the technical solution proposed by the present invention intends to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

Screw conveyor to convey powdery material, in particular cement or the like

Abstract: The screw conveyor is characterized in that the screw comprises:                at least a first screw portion having a first law of continuous variation of the pitches of the screw, which can be graphically represented by means of a first function having in at least one stretch a first derivative other than zero; and        at least a second screw portion having a second law of continuous variation of the pitches of the screw, which can be graphically represented by a second function having in at least one stretch a first derivative other than zero. The first law of continuous variation of the pitches is different from the second law of continuous variation of the pitches.


A circuit includes a switching power converter and a load current management circuit. The switching power converter provides a first current that varies between a first current value and a second current value in response to a dimming control signal. The load current management circuit provides a second current that varies between the second current value and a third current value in response to the dimming control signal. The second current varies in accordance with the first current. For example, the second current increases as the first current decreases and the second current decreases as the first current increases. In one example, the second current value corresponds to a required minimum load current for the power converter to regulate an output voltage.

Electronic devices use power to operate. A switched mode power converter is commonly used to power such electronic devices due to its high efficiency, small size, and low weight. Conventional wall sockets provide a high voltage alternating current. A switching power converter converts a high voltage alternating current (ac) input to provide a regulated direct current (dc) output using an energy transfer element. Switching power converters typically include a power converter controller. The power converter controller provides output regulation by sensing the output and controlling the regulated dc output using a closed loop. During operation, a switch is utilized to provide the desired output by varying the duty cycle (typically the ratio of the on time of the switch to the total switching period) of the switch in a switched mode power converter (also referred as a switching power supply or a switched mode power supply).
In lighting applications, LED lamps are quickly replacing traditional incandescent lamps due in part to the lower power consumption and longer lifetime of LED lamps. In general, LED lamps require a regulated power converter to provide a regulated current and voltage from the ac power line. LEDs are generally current driven devices and the brightness of an LED lamp is proportional to the amount of current provided to the LED lamp. In general, the more current flowing through the LED lamp corresponds to a brighter LED lamp. As such, dimming may be accomplished by varying the amount of current provided the LED lamp.
As noted above, power converters may use a controller to provide output regulation to an electrical device (such as an LED lamp) by sensing and controlling the output of the power converter in a closed loop. More specifically, the controller is coupled to a sensor that provides feedback information about the output of the power converter in order to regulate the output quantity delivered to the LED lamp (also referred to as a load). The controller regulates the output quantity delivered to the load by controlling a switch to turn on and off in response to the feedback information from the sensor to transfer energy pulses to the power converter output from a source of input power such as a power line. For LED lamps, the power converter regulates the output current to the LED lamp. For dimming applications, a dimming control signal representative of how much the power converter should dim the LED lamp is provided to the power converter. As mentioned above, dimming may be accomplished by varying the amount of current provided the LED lamp. As such, the dimming control signal can modify the feedback information to subsequently lower the output current delivered to an LED lamp and thus dim the LED lamp.


The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions for the treatment of overweight or obese individuals. In particular, the invention relates to reducing adiposity of an overweight or obese individual. The present invention provides a method for reducing adiposity or treating obesity in an individual, the method comprising inhibiting TCPTP and/or PTP1B in the hypothalamus of the individual, thereby reducing adiposity or treating obesity in the individual.

The recent identification of both classical brown adipose tissue (BAT) and brown-like or beige adipocytes in white fat depots in adult humans, has heralded a new era in adipose tissue biology with a focus on energy homeostasis. In particular, the capacity of brown/beige adipocytes to utilise lipids and glucose as a fuel source, and to expend the energy as heat, accompanied by their decreased abundance in older and overweight individuals, has garnered interest in promoting brown and beige fat thermogenesis to combat the obesity epidemic.
Brown and beige adipocytes arise from distinct precursors, with brown adipocytes arising prenatally from Myf5+ Pax7+ precursors in the embryonic mesoderm and beige adipocytes arising from distinct Myf5− precursors present in white fat depots. Brown and activated beige adipocytes contain a high density of mitochondria with high amounts of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), allowing for the uncoupling of fatty acid oxidation and glucose oxidation from ATP production to generate heat and prevent hypothermia. Although Ucp-1 and other thermogenic genes are present in brown adipocytes under basal/unstimulated conditions, beige adipocytes only express Ucp-1 in response to β-adrenergic agonists and stimuli such as cold. Since fully activated brown and beige adipocytes exhibit comparable levels of UCP-1 and thermogenic activity, the process of beige adipocyte activation among white adipocytes can be referred to as white adipose tissue (WAT) browning. Unless subjected to persistent cold exposure WAT browning in rodents occurs predominantly in inguinal fat, a major subcutaneous depot. In adult humans, beige adipocytes have been detected in the supraclavicular depot, as well as in the supraspinal, pericardial and neck regions. Strikingly, beige adipocytes lose UCP-1 when stimuli such as cold are removed, and function as white adipocytes. Moreover, such cells can subsequently re-instate Ucp-1 expression and their thermogenic program when re-exposed to cold.
Although the heat produced by brown and beige adipocytes is essential for the survival of small mammals in cold environments, clothing and adequate shelter in modern humans have largely diminished the need for cold-induced brown and beige thermogenesis. Beyond cold-induced thermogenesis, activated brown and beige adipocytes can contribute to energy homeostasis, with their genetic ablation promoting, and their activation protecting from the development of obesity. However, the extent to which brown and beige adipocytes normally influence energy balance remains unclear.
One school of thought suggests that for body weight to remain stable over time, changes in food intake must be matched by commensurate changes in energy expenditure. This concept of 'diet-induced thermogenesis' originated from observations that rats fed a cafeteria diet put on less weight than expected (based on calories consumed) and that this was accompanied by BAT hypertrophy and thermogenesis. Although diet-induced thermogenesis typically refers to the diet-recruited increase in metabolic capacity over time, several studies have shown that a single bout of feeding can acutely increase BAT activation and thermogenesis. Conversely, food restriction in rats was associated with a reduced metabolic rate and BAT inactivation. These findings aligned with observations that overfeeding or food restriction, resulting in increased or decreased weight gain in humans respectively, were matched by commensurate changes in energy expenditure opposing the change in body weight. Precisely how feeding/overfeeding versus fasting influence thermogenesis and energy expenditure remains unclear. Moreover, it remains unknown to what extent, if any, WAT browning contributes to the alterations in energy expenditure associated with feeding.
There is a need for new and/or improved treatments for treating overweight and obese individuals, particularly treatments for reducing adiposity of those individuals.
Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Methods and compositions for the treatment of obesity


A technique enables improvements in hydraulic fracturing treatments on heterogeneous reservoirs. Based on data obtained for a given reservoir, a fracturing treatment material is used to create complex fractures, which, while interacting with the interfaces and planes of weakness in the reservoir, develop fracture connectors, e.g. step-overs, which often grow for short distances along these planes of weakness. The technique further comprises closing or sealing at least one of the fracture connectors to enable reinitiation of fracturing from the truncated branches, and to subsequently develop additional connectors. As a result, the overall fracturing becomes more complex (more branches and more surface area per unit reservoir volume is created), which leads to an increase in the effective fracture area and improved fluid flow through the reservoir.

Exploitation of oil and gas reserves can be improved by increasing fracture area during hydraulic fracturing to enhance hydrocarbon production. Many fracturing techniques have been employed to fracture one or more rock formation of a given reservoir to improve the conductivity and flow of hydrocarbon fluids to a wellbore. In many types of rock formations, however, existing fracture techniques are limited in providing an optimal effective fracture area. As a result, well production and recovery of hydrocarbon fluids within the reservoir are restricted.


A gearbox for a rotary wing aircraft including a sump, a primary lubricant reservoir fluidically connected to the sump, one or more primary lubricant jets fluidically connected to the primary lubricant reservoir, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir fluidically connected to the sump, one or more auxiliary lubricant jets fluidically connected to the auxiliary lubricant reservoir, and at least one valve selectively fluidically connecting the sump and the primary lubricant reservoir based on a first lubricant pressure and the sump and the auxiliary lubricant reservoir based on a second lubricant pressure at the at least one valve.

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of aviation lubrication systems and, more particularly, to a gearbox lubrication system for an aircraft.
Various aircraft include a propulsion system coupled to a number of blades. In a fixed wing aircraft, the blades provide a forward momentum. In a rotary wing aircraft, the blades or rotors provide lift in addition to forward momentum. In many instances, the blades are connected to the propulsion system through a gearbox. Typically, the gearbox will include a lubrication system that distributes a lubricant onto various components. Loss of lubricant could result in a failure of the gearbox and, ultimately, a loss of momentum and/or lift that may lead to an unplanned landing.


In a multi-sectional plug rotating and positioning structure, a power connector includes a casing, a plug having a pivotal axle pivotally coupled to the casing and a rotating route, a gear disposed on the pivotal axle and driven by the pivotal axle and having a plurality of gear tooth portions, a limit plate positioned in the casing, and a latch portion extended from the limit plate and corresponding to the gear tooth portions. The latch portion of the plug is coupled to the gear tooth portion to define a limit relation in the rotating route. The plug can be rotated with respect to the casing to reduce volume and facilitate carrying the product. The gear of the pivotal axle is latched to the limit plate, so that the plug gives a multi-sectional positioning effect in the rotating route to provide hand feels for rotation and positioning.

As electronic industry blooms and science and technology advances, an electronic product tends to be developed with a compact size, easy-to-carry and convenient-to-use design.
In the early stage, a traditional structural design of a power connector for electronic products such as a transformer usually comes with a plug fixed at a predetermined position of a casing and the direction of inserting the plug cannot be changed. Furthermore, the overall size of the product cannot be reduced, and users cannot carry or store the power connector easily. With the consideration of compact size and convenience of use, a power connector with a rotary plug becomes a key point for the design of power connectors.
Referring to R.O.C. Patent Publication No. 568433, a traditional power connector with a rotary plug is disclosed. The power connector includes a casing, an embedding base disposed at a closed end of the casing, a plug structure disposed in the embedding base for fixing an insert terminal into a rotary body and driving the rotary body to rotate and change the insert direction or reduce the volume for an easy storage, a conducting wire soldered at a distal end of the insert terminal in the casing, so as to provide the function of rotating the plug structure as well as electrically connecting the conducting wire with a circuit board. The patented invention also discloses another rotating structure of a plug. Similarly, an embedding base of a casing has a plug structure comprised of two insert terminals, two conducting plates, a transversal rod, a support member and a spring. The two insert terminals and the two conducting plates are riveted together and embedded on both sides of the transversal rod, and the transversal rod is positioned in the embedding base by a support member, and an end of a spring is installed into an accommodating hole of the casing, and another end of the spring is installed into a blind hole in the support member for achieving the rotation of the plug and the tightness of the rotation.
These prior arts can achieve the function of rotating the plug with respect to the power connector and the plug can rotate with respect to the casing and such arrangement has improvements over the traditional design of a fixed plug structure, these improvements include the advantages of a reduced volume of the product and an easy carry of the product. Users can use the rotating power connector to adjust the insert angle depending on different insert spaces, but the plug does come with a multi-sectional positioning effect and cannot fix the plug with the power connector at different angles. The power connector may be moved freely or even loosened, when an external force is exerted onto the plug, and thus the prior arts require further improvements.

Multi-sectional plug rotating and positioning structure of a power connector


The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for storing data and a method and an apparatus for recovering data, where the method of recovering data may include: reading partial check data and partial data corresponding to to-be-recovered data from prestored data, where the partial check data is obtained by coding entire data of the to-be-stored data based on a partial generator matrix, the partial generator matrix is obtained by dividing a row of an entire generator matrix and rows of the partial generator matrix which are obtained by dividing include a zero element; and recovering the to-be-recovered data based on the read partial check data and partial data. The examples of the present disclosure can reduce read data volume during data recovery and further reduce I/O consumption substantially.

At present, with the rapid development of information technology industry, more and more manufacturers choose to deploy a distributed system in products in consideration of aspects such as costs, reliability and so on. Therefore, the distributed system is developed quickly.
In the architecture of an existing distributed system, a file may be divided into a plurality of data blocks for storage. To ensure robustness and fault recovery capability of the system, a data block generally has a plurality of copies that are respectively stored in different physical positions. However, a fault tolerance method of the above plurality of copies requires more storage devices to be configured, thereby resulting in the increase of costs of storage devices. Taking three copies as an example, the fault tolerance method of the above plurality of copies will increase storage redundancy by 200% and storage cost by 200%.
Compared with the fault tolerance method of a plurality of copies, a Reed-Solomon (RS) method may generate a corresponding check block based on a designated data block and recover an invalid data block based on a valid data block and a check block when the data block is invalid. Thus, higher data reliability can be obtained with smaller data redundancy. For example, when the sizes of a designated data block and its corresponding check block are 100M and 30M respectively, the above RS method may realize storage reliability of three copies by using 30% redundancy.
However, during recovery of invalid data blocks, the above RS method usually needs to read all valid data blocks and check blocks, that is, the above RS method cannot effectively utilize Input/Output (I/O) during data recovery. Usually, the RS method of 30% redundancy needs to read data of 100M during data recovery, which results in ten times I/O consumption.

Method and apparatus for storing data and method and apparatus for recovering data

BEIJING SANKUAI ONLINE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD


A network provider implements network slicing. Network instances are instantiated on a communication network that are configured to provide a configured set of services that are accessible to a controlled set of devices. When a first device is either registered or authenticated with the communication network or has entered a service area, a service profile is identified and analyzed. In response to determining that the service profile matches a configured set of services for one of the instantiated network instances, the first device is enabled to access the matching instantiated network instance.

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has defined specifications for communications devices covering technologies such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G. 3GPP has defined some specifications for network slicing in 5G networks. Network slicing enables the multiplexing of virtualized and independent logical networks on a physical network infrastructure, and isolates groups of network functions from other network functions. Network slicing allows the network infrastructure to host multiple logical networks that appear and operate as independent networks to a connected user.

Provisioning of network slicing in a communication system


A headliner is provided for controlling a temperature of a head of a patient. A cap is provided which fits securely over the head of the patient. A fluid pathway is routed through the cap with a fluid space adapted to receive heat transfer fluid therein and route the heat transfer fluid between an inlet and an outlet on the cap. The inlet and outlet are each coupled to a cooler for the heat transfer fluid and the heat transfer fluid is circulated through the cap and the cooler such that heat is drawn from the head of the patient. An air bladder is optionally provided outboard of the fluid space which is filled with pressurized gas to increase contact between the fluid space and the head of the patient. A neck brace is integrated with the cap portion of the headliner, particularly for treatment of head trauma.

Brain function can experience impairment of a temporary or permanent nature as a result of various different brain injuries. Such brain injuries can include stroke, where blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked. Also, head trauma can cause brain injury. Other sources of brain injury can include heat stroke, where an excessively high temperature is experienced by the brain, aneurysms, and other bleeding disorders, as well as other deleterious brain injury phenomena.
One common feature in treating and successfully recovering from brain injury is the concept that time is critical in treating brain injury. In particular, when brain cells die, the associated function provided by those brain cells is more apt to be lost by the patient. When a sufficient number of brain cells have died, such function is lost, and the potential for the function returning decreases as more and more brain cells die. Hence, it is imperative that the therapy indicated in response to the brain injury be executed as soon as possible after the brain injury occurs to minimize such deleterious effects.
An interesting phenomena has been observed by those who study brain injury relating to the brain cell survival rate as a function of time when brain temperature is reduced. In particular, drowning victims in exceptionally cold water have in some cases been submerged and deprived of oxygen for tens of minutes. While such a time period would ordinarily cause such extensive brain cell loss that significant brain function loss would occur, it has been observed that brain function has in many cases been restored completely, or nearly completely. Based on these observations, it has been determined that by cooling the patient's head, an effect similar to "slowing down the clock" can be achieved. Accordingly, a need exists for extending this observed benefit from accidental occurrences to intentional use of this effect in the beneficial treatment of brain injury, and particularly stroke and head trauma.


A process cartridge detachably installable in an image forming apparatus including a first sub-unit to hold an image carrier, a second sub-unit to hold a developer bearing member, a first positioning member to position first ends of the image carrier and the developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction, respectively, and a second positioning member to position second ends of the image carrier and the developer bearing member opposite the first ends in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The second sub-unit has a protruding portion protruding outward to a first end of the second sub-unit beyond the first positioning member in the longitudinal direction. An opposing surface of the protruding portion provided to face the first positioning member is dimensioned to conform to a cross-section of the first positioning member perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary aspects of the present invention generally relate to a process cartridge detachably installable in an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a process cartridge constructed of a first sub-unit that holds an image carrier and a second sub-unit that holds a developer bearing member, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Related-art image forming apparatuses, such as copiers, printers, facsimile machines, and multifunction devices having two or more of copying, printing, and facsimile capabilities, typically form a toner image on a recording medium (e.g., a sheet of paper, etc.) according to image data using, for example, an electrophotographic method. In the electrophotographic method, for example, a charger charges a surface of an image carrier (e.g., a photoconductor); an irradiating device emits a light beam onto the charged surface of the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor according to the image data; a developing device develops the electrostatic latent image with a developer (e.g., toner) to form a toner image on the photoconductor; a transfer device transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor onto a sheet of recording media; and a fixing device applies heat and pressure to the sheet bearing the toner image to fix the toner image onto the sheet. The sheet bearing the fixed toner image is then discharged from the image forming apparatus.
The photoconductor and the developing device that holds a developer bearing member such as a developing roller are often formed together as a single integrated process cartridge detachably installable in the image forming apparatus.
In the process cartridge, a precise gap between the image carrier and the developer bearing member must be provided, without damage to the image carrier and the developer bearing member upon assembly of the process cartridge, in order to achieve high-quality images; i.e., images having a uniform image density.
There is known a process cartridge constructed of a first sub-unit that holds the image carrier and a second sub-unit that holds the developer bearing member. First and second positioning members that position the image carrier and the developer bearing member are provided at both ends of each of the image carrier and the developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction. Specifically, the first positioning member is fixed to one end of each of the first and second sub-units in the longitudinal direction with screws, and the second positioning member is fixed to the opposite end of one of the first and second sub-units in the longitudinal direction with screws.
As a result, a precise gap between the image carrier and the developer bearing member is accurately and evenly provided across the longitudinal direction without a failure of positioning of the image carrier and the developer bearing member in the longitudinal direction.
However, upon attachment of the first and second positioning members to the first and second sub-units, the image carrier, which is exposed outside the first sub-unit, and the developer bearing member, which is exposed outside the second sub-unit, may contact each other, possibly damaging the surface of the image carrier or the developer bearing member.

Process cartridge and image forming apparatus including same


An electronic apparatus for drawing up documents. The apparatus includes an indicator for indicating registration of information, a keyboard for entering indicia and print pitch information, a memory including a first area for storing keyboard information, a second area for storing entered print pitch information, and a third area for storing registration information according to an indication by the indicator. The apparatus further includes a controller for, in response to the registration indication, storing the indicia information stored in the first area and the pitch information stored in the second area in the third area.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a serial printing apparatus in which the font wheel and the carriage are stopped before each printing action, and more particularly to such printing apparatus provided with a sentence memory and a display device for performing word processing function.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The conventional large word processor with a cathode ray tube display is bulky, expensive and requires expertise in use. Also there are known electronic typewriters which function as small word processors but they are still associated with various shortcomings requiring improvements and are complicated and expensive in structure.

Serial printing apparatus with controllable pitch


A milk jug with froth-forming device for making cappuccino and the like, including a container body that can be closed with a lid that supports and guides a froth-forming element, which is constituted by a plunger element associated with a rod that protrudes from the lid. The plunger element has a disk-like element formed by a circumferential rim that is connected, by spoke-like arms, to a central hub in which the rod is inserted. The spoke-like arms retain a mesh affecting the entire surface of the disk-like element, and the spoke-like arms decrease in thickness from the hub towards the outer rim to provide flexibility on the outer portion of the disk-like element so as to increase the inclusion of air particles inside the liquid upon a reciprocating motion of the plunger element.

The present invention relates to a milk jug with a forth-forming device for making "cappuccino" and the like.
It is known that a steam jet having the purpose of emulsifying the milk is currently used to make beverages such as cappuccino and the like.
Of course, this type of application is usable only if a machine capable of generating the desired jet of steam is available.
Therefore, it is practically impossible to make a cappuccino in a household environment, since devices allowing to emulsify the milk in a quick and simplified manner are not currently available.

Milk jug with froth-forming device for making "cappuccino"and the like


One or more locations in a plurality of data bit sequences that do not satisfy parity and are associated with data bit sequences that are unable to be successfully error correction decoded are determined. Soft information associated with the determined locations is modified and error correction decoding using the modified soft information is performed.

Some storage systems include multiple semiconductor "chips" of storage media. In one example, a solid state storage system includes 16 Flash chips. 15 of the 16 chips are used to store user or application data and the 16th chip is used to store parity from the data stored on the other 15 chips. In the event one of the 15 data chips fails or data from one of the 15 data chips cannot be successfully error correction decoded, the parity stored on the 16th chip can be used to recover the desired data. However, the corresponding data from all of the other 14 data chips is required to be available and/or successfully error correction decoded. New techniques which can be used in the event two or more data chips fail and/or data from two or more data chips is unable to be successfully error correction decoded would be desirable.

Error recovery by modifying soft information


A hand held electrically powered drilling and/or hammering tool comprises a balanced motor sub-assembly including a radial fan mounted to the armature shaft at a first end of the motor with the fan blades facing away from the motor, and motor the sub-assembly is mounted with the axis of the motor angled with respect to the axis of the tool spindle and with the first end of the motor closest to the spindle, and an air outlet is located in the housing near a second end of the motor, and the above components are arranged so that rotation of the fan draws air into its inlet via air inlets and then pushes air from its outlet through the motor and out of the air outlets in the region of the second end of the motor which is remote from the spindle axis.

The present invention relates to hand held drilling and/or hammering tools powered by an electric motor. In particular the present invention relates to such tools in which the longitudinal axis of the motor is at an angle, generally substantially perpendicular, to the longitudinal axis of a drilling and/or hammering spindle of the tool.
Such tools mostly require the motor to be cooled by some means. Generally an airflow is generated by a fan mounted on the armature of the tool. When the armature of the motor rotates the fan is rotationally driven to generate an airflow. A casing of the motor is generally formed with an opening at the end of the motor remote from the fan, through which air can enter. Thus, when the fan rotates it pulls air into the opening and over the motor components. This air is then pulled into the fan and expelled by the fan and exits the motor casing via air outlets adjacent the fan. The type of fans used can be axial or radial fans, although radial fans are preferred due to the higher pressure they can generate. It is desirable that the motor cooling airflow is not expelled from the tool housing in an area of the tool housing, which, during use of the tool, may be directed towards the face of the user of the tool. This is because dust may be entrained in the airflow expelled from the tool housing.
For efficient running of the motor and improved lifetime of the motor it is preferred that the fan is fitted to the armature of the motor, before the motor sub-assembly is balanced. The balancing process ensures that the mass of the motor sub-assembly components is distributed evenly about the longitudinal axis of the motor. If conventional motor manufacturing plant is used, this means that the fan has to be fitted to the end of the motor remote from the commutator end of the motor. If the fan is located at the commutator end of the motor then it cannot be fitted before the motor is balanced, using conventional motor manufacturing equipment.
In so-called L-shaped drilling and/or hammering tools in which the motor is at an angle (generally perpendicular) to the axis of the drilling and or hammering spindle, the commutator end of the motor is the end located remote from the spindle. Thus, in L-shaped hammers, for the fan to be balanced, it must be located at the end of the motor adjacent to the spindle. This means that the motor cooling air is pulled into the motor at its end remote from the spindle and expelled from the motor at its end adjacent to the spindle. Expelling the motor cooling air flow from the spindle region of the tool is likely to lead to air being directed towards the face of a user of the tool during use of the tool.
This problem has been overcome in the past by locating a radial fan at the end of the motor adjacent to the commutator, after the motor sub-assembly has been balanced. This generates an airflow, which is expelled from the motor housing adjacent to the end of the motor remote from the spindle. Expelling air from this part of the tool housing directs the air away from the user's face in practically all-working positions of the tool. However, without balancing the average lifetime of the motor is reduced.


Disclosed is an image forming apparatus with improved electrical connections. The image forming apparatus may includes a main body into which a device is detachably received. The electrical terminals provided in the main body connected correspondingly with electrical contact points provided on the detachable device. One or more surface distance extension parts may be arranged surrounding respectively one or more terminals such that the surface distance between two adjacent terminals can be increased. The detachable device may be, for example, a developing unit assembly, which may include one or more of a photoconductor, a charging device for charging the photoconductor to an electrical potential and a developer supply unit for supplying developer to the photoconductor.

Image forming apparatuses are apparatuses that form an image on printing media, e.g., sheets of paper, according to an input image signal, examples of which may include a printer, a copier, a fax machine and a multi-function peripheral that combines some of the functionalities of the afore-mentioned.
For example, an electro-photographic image forming apparatus refers to a type of image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of a photoconductor that had been charged to a predetermined electrical potential by irradiating light onto the photoconductor, and that forms a visible image using a developer supply unit to supply developer, e.g., toner, to the electrostatic latent image. The visible image formed on the photoconductor may be transferred directly onto a sheet of paper or may be transferred to the paper via an interim transfer unit. The image transferred to the paper is then fixed to the paper through a fusing process.
Such an image forming apparatus typically includes a number of electrical contact points of various shapes and types, to some of which a high voltage of about 1 kV or more may be applied. These contact points may be arranged to maintain certain distances from one another to ensure safety and/or for efficiency considerations. Unfortunately, such distances necessary between the contact points may however serve as obstacles to a size reduction of the image forming apparatus.


A fluid feeding pump which varies a volume of a pump chamber and thus feeds a fluid out of the pump chamber, includes: a piezoelectric element which accumulates electric charges inside when a voltage is applied, and which deforms according to an amount of accumulated electric charges and thus increases or decreases the volume of the pump chamber; a drive unit which applies a drive signal with a waveform increasing to a predetermined maximum voltage and then decreasing, and thus drives the piezoelectric element; and an air bubble determining unit which detects a current flowing through the piezoelectric element within a predetermined period after the drive signal is applied to the piezoelectric element, and thus determines whether there are air bubbles in the pump chamber or not.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a fluid feeding pump which feeds a fluid.
2. Related Art
A circulation pump which circulates a fluid through a channel is previously known. The circulation pump has a pump chamber with a variable volume. After the volume of the pump chamber is increased to suck a fluid into the pump chamber from the channel, the volume of the pump chamber is reduced to pressurize the fluid in the pump chamber. The fluid is thus fed into the channel from the pump chamber. Therefore, by increasing and decreasing the volume of the pump chamber, the fluid can be circulated through the channel.
In the case where air bubbles enter the pump chamber, when the volume of the pump chamber is reduced, the air bubbles are compressed and fluid is not pressurized. Therefore, the fluid cannot be fed. Thus, a technique of providing the circulation pump with a detection device for detecting air bubbles in the pump chamber and carrying out maintenance of the circulation pump to remove air bubbles from inside the pump chamber when the air bubbles are detected by the detection device, is proposed (JP-A-2010-242764).
However, the above technique has a problem that the circulation pump is increased in size because the detection device for detecting air bubbles needs to be provided separately in the circulation pump. The technique of feeding a fluid using the pump chamber is not limited to the circulation pump and is also used for a fluid ejection device which ejects a fluid after narrowing the fluid fed from a pump chamber, with an ejection nozzle. An increase in size of the device similarly takes place when the detection device is provided in the fluid ejection device.

Fluid feeding pump, medical apparatus, and air bubble detection method for fluid feeding pump


A biosensor comprising: an electrically insulating base plate; an electrode system comprising a working electrode and a counter electrode formed on the base plate; a cover member which is joined to the base plate to form a sample solution supply pathway for supplying a sample solution to the electrode system between the cover member and the base plate; and a reagent system comprising at least an oxidoreductase and an electron mediator disposed in the sample solution supply pathway, wherein the electron mediator is provided on the base plate and the oxidoreductase is provided on the cover member such that the electron mediator and the oxidoreductase are not in contact with each other.

Various biosensors have conventionally been proposed to quantify a specific component of a sample such as blood, and the following sensor is known as one example (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. Sho 63-317096).
This biosensor is produced by forming an electrode system comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode on an insulating base plate by a method such as screen printing and forming a reaction layer comprising an oxidoreductase and an electron mediator on the electrode system.
When a sample containing a substrate is dropped on the reaction layer of the biosensor thus produced, dissolution of the reaction layer takes place to cause a reaction between the oxidoreductase and the substrate, which is accompanied by reduction of the electron mediator. After the lapse of a certain period of time, the reduced electron mediator is electrochemically oxidized by the electrode system, and based on the oxidation current value obtained, the substrate in the sample solution is quantified.
In the biosensor having the above-described constitution, the oxidoreductase and the electron mediator are usually mixed with each other on the electrode system. This is aimed at saving the trouble of mixing or stirring the sample and causing the reaction between the oxidoreductase and the electron mediator to proceed effectively such that quick quantification of the substrate becomes possible.
However, the biosensor in which the oxidoreductase and the electron mediator are mixed or in contact with each other has such a problem that the response value to a sample solution having a substrate concentration of 0 mg/dl (hereinafter referred to as blank value) is not 0 but higher than 0. Further, another problem is that in comparison with the response value immediately after the production of the biosensor (hereinafter referred to as initial stage), the blank value and the response value to a sample solution having the same substrate concentration increase as the storage period becomes longer. The response value is changed by storage becomes a problem in that the reliability is low.
In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a biosensor of which blank value is low, of which response value, particularly blank value, is hardly changed by storage, and of which structure is simple.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a biosensor suited for quantification of cholesterol in particular.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


The variable gain amplifier includes a forward path that provides the amplifier variable gain, and a feedback path. The feedback path uses a switch that is turned on at low gain levels. The switch taps into the feedback resistor, shunting it to signal-ground and eliminating the feedback mechanism. This ensures that the input impedance seen at the input port does not grow excessively, using part of the feedback resistor as a passive termination at low gain levels. In this way variable gain ranges in excess of 30 dB can be achieved.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to amplifiers using shunt-feedback, for example low noise amplifiers having shunt-feedback.
2. Background Art
Various RF input circuits include front-ends that require a large variable gain range. In all applications where a large variable gain range is required, such as TV front-ends, low noise amplifiers (LNAs) typically do not use feedback. This leads to lower dynamic range, higher noise, lower intercept point and higher power consumption.
The use of resistive shunt feedback can improve the dynamic range (which is proportional to the ratio of the intercept point and the noise figure) of an impedance matched low noise amplifier. However, the use of feedback in an impedance-matched variable gain amplifier is complicated because, as the gain varies, so does the input impedance, limiting the variable gain range to a few dBs (typically less than 6 dB). In fact the input impedance is given by the feedback resistance divided by 1 plus the amplifier gain (Rf/(1+A)).
Therefore, what is needed is an impedance-matched variable gain amplifier that includes a feedback mechanism to improve the dynamic range, but that does not adversely effect the input impedance.

Impedance matched variable gain low noise amplifier using shunt feed-back


The present invention relates generally to connectors such as audio connectors and in particular to flexible audio connectors that can be used in place of standard audio connectors currently used. A portion or all of the plug connector may comprise a flexible material that allows the connector to bend with respect to an insertion axis and prevent the connector from breaking when inserted or extracted improperly. A method of assembly is provided and may be used for assembling embodiments of the plug connector. The connector is configured to mate with a corresponding receptacle connector along an insertion axis.

The present invention relates generally to connectors such as audio connectors and in particular to flexible audio connectors that can be used in place of standard audio connectors currently used.
Standard audio connectors or plugs are available in three sizes according to the outside diameter of the plug: a 6.35 mm (¼″) plug, a 3.5 mm (⅛″) miniature plug and a 2.5 mm ( 3/32″) subminiature plug. The plugs include multiple conductive regions that extend along the length of the connectors in distinct portions of the plug such as the tip, sleeve and one or more middle portions between the tip and sleeve resulting in the connectors often being referred to as TRS (tip, ring and sleeve) connectors.
FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate examples of audio plugs 10 and 20 having three and four conductive portions, respectfully. As shown in FIG. 1A, plug 10 includes a conductive tip 12, a conductive sleeve 14 and a conductive ring 16 electrically isolated from the tip 12 and the sleeve 14 by insulating rings 17 and 18. The three conductive portions 12, 14, and 16 are for left and right audio channels and a ground connection. Plug 20, shown in FIG. 1B, includes four conductive portions: a conductive tip 22, a conductive sleeve 24 and two conductive rings 25 and 26 and is thus sometimes referred to as a TRRS (tip, ring, ring, sleeve) connector. The four conductive portions are electrically isolated by insulating rings 27, 28 and 29 and are typically used for left and right audio, microphone and ground signals.
When plugs 10 and 20 are 3.5 mm miniature connectors, the outer diameter of conductive sleeve 14 and 24 and conductive rings 16, 25, and 26 is 3.5 mm and the connector is 14 mm long, and for a 2.5 mm subminiature connector the outer diameter of the conductive sleeve is 2.5 mm and the connector is 11 mm long. Such TRS and TRRS connectors are used in many commercially available MP3 players and smart phones as well as other electronic devices. However, these connectors are prone to breaking when inserted or extracted with a force that intersects its insertion axis.
Electronic devices such as MP3 players and smart phones are continuously being designed to be thinner and smaller and/or to include video displays with screens that are pushed out as close to the outer edge of the devices as possible. The diameter and length of current 3.5 mm and even 2.5 mm audio connectors are limiting factors in making such devices smaller, thinner and allowing the displays to be larger. This reduction in size of connectors can further exacerbate their tendency to break when inserted or extracted with a force that intersects its insertion axis.
Some manufacturers have used USB, mini-USB and micro-USB connectors as audio connectors to connect headphones and similar audio components to electronic devices. FIG. 2 is an example of a micro-USB connector 30, the smallest of the USB connectors. Connector 30 includes an outer housing 32 and a metallic shell 34 that is inserted into a corresponding receptacle connector. Shell 34 defines an interior cavity 38 and includes five contacts 36 formed within the cavity. The insertable shell portion 34 of connector 30 is both thinner and shorter than even the 2.5 mm subminiature version of connectors 10 and 20. Connector 30, however, suffers from other drawbacks that detract from the overall user experience. For example, connector 30 must be inserted into its respective receptacle connector in a particular orientation, yet it is difficult for the user to determine when connector 30 is oriented in the correct insertion position. Also, even when connector 30 is properly aligned, the insertion and extraction of the connector is not precise, has an inconsistent feel and, even when the connector is fully inserted, has an undesirable degree of wobble that may result in either a faulty connection or breakage. These connectors are also prone to breaking when inserted or extracted with a force that intersects its insertion axis.


An RNG circuit is connected to the parallel port of a computer. The circuit includes a flat source of white noise and a CMOS amplifier circuit compensated in the high frequency range. A low-frequency cut-off is selected to maintain high band-width yet eliminate the 1/f amplifier noise tail. A CMOS comparator with a 10 nanosecond rise time converts the analog signal to a binary one. A shift register converts the serial signal to a 4-bit parallel one at a sample rate selected at the knee of the serial dependence curve. Two levels of XOR defect correction produce a BRS at 20 kHZ, which is converted to a 4-bit parallel word, latched and buffered. The entire circuit is powered from the data pins of the parallel port. A device driver interface in the computer operates the RNG. The randomness defects with various levels of correction and sample rates are calculated and the RNG is optimized before manufacture.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention in general relates to random number generators, and more particularly to a random number generator that generates true binary random sequences.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has become widely recognized that random number generators are fundamentally important in the computer age. See Stephen K. Park and Keith W. Miller, xe2x80x9cRandom Number Generators: Good Ones Are Hard To Findxe2x80x9d, in Computing Practices, October 1988, V. 31, No. 10, pp. 1192-1201. Random number generators may be divided into two types: true random number generators, which generate numbers from a non-deterministic source, and pseudorandom number generators, which generate numbers from a deterministic algorithm. A high quality random number generator is necessary for functions from Monte Carlo-based studies used in computer modeling of the global economy, to cryptography, to parapsychological studies, to marketing research, to lottery games. Thus, it is not surprising that the literature reveals hundreds of random number generators. See, for example, the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,683 issued to E. S. Kelsey et al.; No. 3,445,591 issued to D. R. Koehler et al.; No. 3,612,845 issued to Reed C. Lawlor; No. 3,706,941 issued to Charles E. Cohn; No. 3,725,677 issued to Reed C. Lawlor; No. 3,758,873 issued to Herbert E. Miller; No. 4,183,088 issued to Robert E. Simmons; No. 4,395,703 issued to Gerald V. Piosenka; No. 4,513,386 issued to Sydney Glazer; 4,578,598 issued to Mark E. Faulaber; No. 4,858,122 issued to William Kreisner; and No. 5,239,494 issued to Edmund C. Golbeck; and the following papers: Masatugu Isida and Hiroji Ikeda, xe2x80x9cRandom Number Generatorxe2x80x9d in Proceedings of the Institute of Statistical Mechanics, 1956, pp. 119-126; Helmut Schmidt, xe2x80x9cA Quantum Mechanical Random Number Generator for PSI Testsxe2x80x9d in The Journal of Parapsychology, circa 1972, pp. 219-224; and Teruyuki Izimi, xe2x80x9cUniversal Random Signal Generatorxe2x80x9d, in Electrical Engineering in Japan, Vol. 99, No. 4, 1979, pp. 124-130. Yet, there are few xe2x80x9crandom number generatorsxe2x80x9d on the market today that actually produce random numbers. High quality true random number generators are still in the realm of large-budget projects at major research institutions.
A random number generator (RNG) that interfaces directly with a computer would be of particular value since random numbers are often used in conjunction with a computer, and a direct interface allows a researcher or other computer user to simply call up the number generator and use the numbers it produces within the context of their program. See for example, James H. Macomber and Charles S. White, xe2x80x9cAn n-Dimensional Uniform Random Number Generator Suitable for IBM-Compatible Microcomputersxe2x80x9d, in Interfaces, Vol. 20, No. 3, May-June 1990, pp. 49-59. Because the most common computers today are digital, RNG""s that interface with computers generally generate a binary random sequence (BRS) rather than a sequence of analog or floating point numbers, which BRS""s may be used as generated, converted to uniform distributed numbers, converted to Gaussian distributed numbers or converted to any other type of distribution. Many computer programs that utilize random numbers are statistical in nature; that is, they depend on large numbers of events which are averaged in some manner to reach a valid conclusion. For this to be accomplished over reasonable time periods, these programs require that large quantities of binary bits or random numbers be generated in short periods. True random number generators usually trade off speed for randomness, thus are relatively slow. As a result, at this time it appears that the available random number generators that interface directly with computers are all software-based, pseudorandom number generators. See, Macomber and White, supra; Niederreiter, supra; and Park and Miller, supra.
While pseudorandom number generators are suitably fast for a computer, they cannot generate a true random number because they are generated by algorithms which are deterministic, i.e. they are totally predictable given knowledge of the algorithm used. In addition, most pseudorandom number generators used with computers produce number sequences which fail even moderately stringent statistical randomness tests. It is known that to generate a true random number, one must start with a non-deterministic signal, such as white noise generated by a resistor, diode, or other electronic device, the time between radioactive particle decay, the locations of detected photo-events, or other signal source that is essentially random because it is based on quantum mechanics or other statistically random process. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,399 issued to Jean-Claude Hoffmann et al., and the following papers: G. B. Agnew, xe2x80x9cRandom Sources For Cryptographic Systemsxe2x80x9d, in Lecture Notes in Computer Science-Advances in Cryptology-Eurocrypt""87, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1987, pp. 77-81; and Anthony J. Martino and G. Michael Morris, xe2x80x9cOptical Random Number Generator Based On Photoevent Locationsxe2x80x9d, in Applied Optics, Vol. 30, No. 8, 10 March 1991, pp. 981-989. We have referred to these signals as xe2x80x9cessentiallyxe2x80x9d random, because even these non-deterministic sources exhibit some defects because they are generated with macroscopic, real world devices.
It is known that the randomness in such non-deterministic signals can be improved by digital processing. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,024 issued to David P. Maher et al., and the paper: Helmut Schmidt, xe2x80x9cQuantum-Mechanical Random-Number Generatorxe2x80x9d, in Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 41, No. 2, February 1970, pp. 462-468. In particular it is known to improve randomness by using EXCLUSIVE OR X(OR) gates to discard certain bits. See, U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,366 issued to Sigmund N. Porter. It is also known to use comparators or other electronic devices to convert analog noise signals to binary signals. See, U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,024 cited above and H. Sutcliffe, xe2x80x9cNoise-spectrum Measurement at Subaudio Frequenciesxe2x80x9d, in Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 112, No. 2, February 1965, pp. 301-309.
Despite the fact that all of the above has been known for many years, a practical, inexpensive, fast, high-quality true random number generator that interfaces directly with a computer is not presently available. In fact, some authorities maintain that such a device is not practically possible. See, Harald Niederreiter, Random Number Generation and Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods, Chapter 7, section 7.2, p. 164, Society For Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Philadelphia 1992; and Aaldert Compagner, xe2x80x9cDefinitions of Randomnessxe2x80x9d, American Journal of Physics, Vol. 59, No. 8, August 1991, pp. 700-705, at page 702. As a result, xe2x80x9crandom number generatorsxe2x80x9d used with computers today are pseudo-random number generators.
The present invention solves the above problems by providing a true random number generator (RNG) in which the defects in randomness in the sequence generated are so small that one would have to run a test for trillions of years to demonstrate the defects with 95% confidence level. The random number generator plugs into the parallel port of any personal computer and is directly accessed via device driver software installed in the computer. The RNG is as easy to use as a printer, modem, or any other peripheral and is fast, producing a binary random sequence (BRS) of up to 10,000 bits per second, or 20,000 bits per second if a number of defects that could be demonstrated in several years at 95% confidence level is acceptable. Moreover, the device is inexpensive, costing little more than a modem or word-processing software.
The random number generator according to the invention amplifies the analog signal from a non-deterministic signal generator, passes it through a comparator to create a binary signal, which is sampled and stored in a shift register to create a digital signal. The randomness is then improved by using two levels of EXCLUSIVE OR (XOR) correction gates.
The source of the non-deterministic signal is preferably the thermal noise of a resistor, which has an essentially flat average amplitude versus frequency spectrum. The amplifier that amplifies the signal is a low-noise amplifier, so that the amplifier noise, which is not flat, contributes one-third or less of the total noise, preferably 25% or less. Prior to passing through the comparator, the signal is processed in several novel ways to improve its ability to generate random numbers. As is common in the amplifier art, the 1/F low-frequency tail of the amplifier noise is cut off with a high pass filter. However, the cut-off is made at a relatively low 100 Hertz (Hz) to include as much of the white noise spectrum as possible. That is, since the optimum spectrum from which to generate a random number is a white noise spectrum containing all frequencies, utilizing a relatively low high-pass filter decreases the defects in the final random number sequence. Further, the high frequency fall off that is common to op amps due to gain-bandwidth product limitations, is compensated for. Starting with a low-noise amplifier and compensating for the high frequency fall off helps keep the signal coming into the comparator essentially flat, preferably within xc2x10.25 db, over a wide bandwidth, preferably about 100 Hz to 100 kiloHerz (KHz). The comparator itself is a very high speed comparator, which retains the bandwidth of the analog section. The comparator offset is adjusted, preferably using a selectable resistor, so that there is a nearly equal number of high and low bits generated by the comparator. Thus, the binary signal produced by the comparator is a stable, highly random signal.
The sampling frequency is selected to be the optimum frequency to produce a high frequency stream of highly random binary bits. The sampling period is preferably selected to be at the knee of the serial dependence versus delay time curve, sometimes called the auto-correlation function. In the preferred embodiment of the invention this is 12.5 microseconds, which results in a bit stream at a frequency of 80,000 bits per second. Two levels of correction with the XOR gates decreases the defects in randomness to the extremely low levels mentioned above, and reduces the frequency to the 20,000 bits per second mentioned above. A third level of XOR function may be accomplished by software in the computer, reducing the bit rate to 10,000 per second.
It has been discovered that the randomness of an RNG producing a binary random sequence according to the invention can be predicted by the equations:
B2*=xe2x88x92SD(1); andxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
SD(1)*xe2x89xa6SD(1)2+SD(2)2,SD(2)*xe2x89xa6SD(1)2 +SD(4)2,xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
where SD(t) is the serial dependence as a function time, SD(1) indicates the first order serial dependence, that is the serial dependence at the first sample period, SD(2) second order serial dependence, etc., and B2 is the fractional bias in the 1, 0 probability given by the equation:
B2=[N(1)xe2x88x920.5N]/0.5N,xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
where N(1) is the number of 1""s in a binary random sequence of length N. In equations (1) and (2) the star, *, indicates the statistic at the output of each level of XOR error correction while the unstarred values are those at the input of the error correction level. These equations were used to determine the number of levels of correction that were required to produce a stream of random numbers in which any lack of randomness could be detected given the measured amount of statistical defect at the XOR""s input. Thus, the use of equations 1 through 3 permit the design of the RNG to be optimized: enough randomness defect correction can be applied to remove any possibility of detecting non-randomness, but not excessive correction that would slow the device and add to its manufacturing cost.
The 20 kHertz stream of random bits is preferably converted into a 4-bit word with a shift register, latched, then sent to a buffer which isolates the random number generator from cable transients. An interrupt is generated when a 4-bit number is ready. A device driver in the computer recognizes the interrupt, reads the number and stores it in a memory buffer for use on demand by the user.
The entire random number generator is preferably mounted on a single small printed circuit board (PCB) which is adapted to be connected to and powered by the conventional parallel port of any personal computer. The power is taken off selected pins, preferably the 8-bit date output, of the parallel port while the ground is connected to the parallel port ground pins. The device driver installed in the computer simply applies the appropriate high signals to the selected pins to power the RNG. A negative voltage for the analog noise generator circuit is provided by charge pumps. Special circuits protect the RNG if the wrong voltages are applied to critical pins.
The RNG is isolated from external sources of non-randomness. As indicated above, the output drivers of the RNG are isolated from the random number generator itself to prevent any loading or interference output on the lines from feeding back into the RNG. The analog noise generator, the comparator, and the digital portions of the circuit have separate power supplies. All power supplies are filtered to remove transients.
A low amplitude portion of the circuitry is isolated from the normal amplitude circuitry and shielded to protect it from any external EMI or ESI source. The shield preferably comprises a ground plane on the PCB surrounding the low amplitude circuit, except for a small channel through which traces to the digital circuit pass, and a metal enclosure that encloses both sides of the board and bolts to the PCB with a flange on the enclosure contacting the ground plane. The flange also eliminates the effect of fringing through the thickness of the circuit board.
The device driver in the computer finds and tests the installed RNG each time the computer is turned on.
The invention provides a random number generator comprising: a computer having a parallel port, the parallel port including data and control lines; a random number generator circuit for producing a random sequence of signals, the random number generator circuit including power supply means for powering the circuit from power supplied by one or more of the data and control lines of the parallel port; and electrical connecting means for transferring power from the computer to the power supply means via the parallel port and for communicated signals generated by the random number generator circuit to the computer through the parallel port. Preferably, the power supply means comprises a charge pump. Preferably, the computer includes device driver means for operating the random number generator circuit through the parallel port. Preferably, the random number generator circuit includes a source of true random signals, the source being selected from the group consisting of: a thermal noise source; and an intrinsically random quantum source.
In another aspect, the invention provides a random number generator system comprising: a computer including a power source producing a first voltage of one sign; a charge pump for producing a second voltage of the opposite sign to the first voltage; and a random number generator circuit powered by the first and second voltages for generating a random sequence of signals. Preferably, the first voltage is a positive voltage, the second voltage is a negative voltage, and the charge pump comprises an analog multiplexer circuit.
In a further aspect the invention provides a random number generator comprising a circuit for generating a sequence of binary signals, and a computer for receiving the binary signals and utilizing them, the circuit using 30 milliwatts of power or less. Preferably, the circuit comprises: an analog noise generator for producing an analog noise signal; and a comparator, responsive to the analog noise signal, for providing the sequence of binary signals, the comparator: having a rise time up to 25 nanoseconds, drawing less than three milliamps of current, and operating down to 2 volts.
In another aspect the invention provides a random number generator circuit comprising: an analog noise generator; a charge pump for providing a voltage to the analog noise generator; an analog to binary converter for converting the analog noise to a binary signal; a randomness defect reducer for reducing randomness defects in the binary signal; and a buffer for driving the signal to an electronic device external of the random number generator circuit. Preferably, each of the charge pump, the analog noise generator, the analog to binary converter, the randomness defect reducer, and the buffer include a separately filtered power supply. Preferably, each of the charge pump, the analog noise generator, the analog to binary converter, the randomness defect reducer, and the buffer comprise a CMOS integrated circuit.
In still a further aspect, the invention provides a random number circuit for producing a sequence of binary signals, the circuit comprising: a source of a white noise electrical signal; and amplifier means for amplifying the white noise signal while adding an amplifier noise signal to the white noise signal; and wherein the amplifier noise is one-third or less of the total noise signal comprising the white noise signal and the amplifier noise signal. Preferably, the circuit further includes high pass filter means for removing a low-frequency tail in the total noise signal, the high pass filter means having a cut-off frequency in the range from 36 Hertz to 170 Hertz. Preferably, the total noise signal has a bandwidth of from 100 Hz to 100 KHz and is flat within xc2x10.25 db over the bandwidth.
In yet a further aspect, the invention provides a random number generator circuit for proving a sequence of binary signals, the circuit comprising: an analog noise generator for producing an analog noise signal; and comparator means, responsive to the analog noise signal, for providing the sequence of binary signals, the comparator means comprising an XHCU04 hex inverter, where X is 54 or 74.
In still another aspect, the invention provides a random number generator circuit comprising: a source of a white noise electrical signal; and amplifier means for amplifying the white noise signal, the amplifier means comprising one or more operational amplifiers selected from the group consisting of: TL06X operational amplifiers, where X is 0, 1, 2, or 4, LF44Y operational amplifiers, where Y is 1, 2, or 4, and AD548 and AD648 single and dual operational amplifiers.
The invention also provides a random number generator circuit comprising: a low amplitude circuit portion; a normal amplitude circuit portion; and an EMI shield enclosing the low amplitude circuit portion, wherein the low amplitude circuit portion is mounted on a printed circuit board and the shield comprises: a ground plane on the circuit board located around the low amplitude circuit portion in the plane of the circuit board, a component side cover and a solder side cover, the covers electrically connected to the ground plane.
In addition, the invention provides a random number generator comprising: a random number generator circuit for generating a random sequence of signals; and a computer including a means for interfacing with the random number generator circuit, the means for interfacing consisting of one or more of the following: a device driver, a TSR, a portion of the operating system of the computer, and a program stored in the bios memory of the computer. Preferably, the means for interfacing comprises a device driver and includes means for testing the random number generator circuit. The random number generator circuit is preferably located in a module separate from the computer, on an add-on board for mounting in the computer, on the motherboard of the computer, or on a peripheral of the computer.
In a further aspect, the invention provides a device for interfacing with a random number generator, the device comprising: a computer including: memory means for storing information for interfacing with a random number generator circuit, and processing means communicating with the memory for interfacing with the random number generator; and wherein the information for interfacing with a random number generator consists of one or more of the following: a device driver, a TSR, a portion of the operating system of the computer, and a program stored in the bios memory of the computer.
The invention also provides a random number generator comprising: a circuit for producing a sequence of binary signals; and sample means for sampling the sequence of binary signals at a sampling rate between 50% and 125% of the sampling rate at the knee on the serial dependence versus delay time curve describing the circuit to provide a random sequence of signals at the sampling rate. Preferably, the sampling rate is at the knee of the serial dependence versus delay time curve. Preferably, the random number generator further includes randomness defect reducer means for reducing the randomness defects in the sequence of binary signals.
The invention also provides a method of generating a random sequence of signals, the method comprising the steps of: providing a circuit for producing a sequence of signals; and sampling the sequence of signals at a sampling rate between 50% and 125% of a sampling rate corresponding to the knee on the serial dependence versus delay time curve describing the circuit to provide a random sequence of signals at the sampling rate. Preferably, the step of sampling comprises measuring a statistical parameter as a function of a time parameter related to the delay time of the random sequence of signals, the function having a knee where the character of the function changes from being essentially related to statistics to being essentially related to real physical characteristics of the circuit; and sampling the random sequence of signals at a sampling rate corresponding to a point on the function between 50% and 125% of the sampling rate at the knee to generate the random sequence of signals.
The invention also provides a method of designing and fabricating a random number generator, the method comprising the steps of: designing and making a circuit for producing a binary random sequence of signals; measuring a first parameter of the binary sequence of signals, the parameter related to the serial dependence of the binary random sequence; calculating the degree of defects in randomness in the sequence for one or more levels of defect correction to determine the optimum number of levels of defect correction to produce a random number generator with a desired randomness quality; and fabricating a random number generator comprising the circuit and the optimum number of levels of defect correction. Preferably, the step of calculating comprises calculating the degree of defects in randomness as a function of a second parameter related to the delay time to determine the optimum number of levels for different values of the second parameter; and the step of fabricating comprises fabricating a random number generator having an optimum number of levels for a selected delay time. Preferably, the first parameter comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of B2 and SD(t) and the second parameter comprises a parameter selected from the group consisting of delay time and sample rate. Preferably, the step of fabricating includes providing at least one level of defect correction comprising EXCLUSIVE OR gate means for combining pairs of consecutive binary signals in the sequence of signals. Alternatively, the step of fabricating includes providing at least one level of defect correction comprising a divider.
The invention also provides a method of generating a sequence of random numbers, the method comprising the steps of: providing a circuit for producing a binary random sequence of signals; measuring a parameter of the binary sequence of signals, the parameter related to the serial dependence of the binary random sequence; calculating the degree of defects in randomness in the sequence for one or more levels of defect correction to determine the optimum number of levels of defect correction for a desired randomness quality; and reducing the defects in the binary random sequence of signals by providing the optimum number of levels of defect correction.
The invention not only provides a high-quality true random number generator that interfaces easily with a personal computer, it also does this in a manner that allows the random number generator to be manufactured relatively inexpensively. Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Random number generator and generation method


The solar cell module having a preferable edge space that prevents characteristics of a solar cell such as conversion efficiency from being deteriorated without making processes complicated is provided. In a method for manufacturing a solar cell module including a substrate glass, a first layer formed on the substrate glass and a second layer formed on the first layer, the method includes a step of forming a first edge space having a first width by removing the first layer and the second layer by the first width from an end part of the glass substrate and a step of forming a second edge space by removing only the second layer by a second width from the end part of the glass substrate, and the width of the second edge space is larger than the width of the first edge space.

Usually, in the CIS-based thin film solar cell module, layers including a metallic base electrode layer, a p type light absorbing layer, a high resistance buffer layer and an n type window layer (a transparent conductive film) are respectively laminated on the surface of a substrate (109) to form the CIS-based thin film solar cell module. A filler (103) having a sealing effect such as an EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) resin, PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral), etc. is put thereon and cover glass (102) of an upper surface is laminated and attached thereon. The obtained solar cell module is surrounded by a frame (101) made of aluminum etc. to cover an end part of the solar cell module. Between the frame and the solar cell module, a resin is sandwiched (not shown in the drawing) to prevent moisture such as water from entering from the end part of the cover glass (102) and improve a weather resistance (see FIG. 1).
On the other hand, there is a frameless solar cell module to which an aluminum frame is not attached in order to lighten the solar cell module and reduce a production cost. As such a frameless solar cell module, a solar cell module that includes a light receiving surface side film, a light receiving surface side filler, a plurality of solar cell elements electrically connected together by connecting tabs, a back surface side filler and a back surface side film which are sequentially arranged so as to be piled, and has a structure in which a peripheral edge part of the light receiving surface side film is fusion welded to a peripheral edge part of the back surface side film is proposed (see patent document 1).
Further, as another frameless solar cell module, a structure in which when a frameless solar cell module is laid on a member to be attached such as a roof of a residence having a gradient, rod shaped joint fillers are held between the solar cell modules adjacent in the direction of the gradient of the member to be attached to lay the solar cell modules so that all the rod shaped joint fillers do not protrude from the surfaces of the solar cell modules is proposed (see patent document 2).
Further, a frameless solar cell module that has an edge space (a space where device layers are not piled) provided in a periphery of a solar cell circuit is also proposed (see FIG. 2 and patent document 3). When the edge space is provided, the frame does not need to be attached and a production cost can be more reduced and the solar cell module can be more lightened than the solar cell module of a type having the frame. As a manufacturing method of the solar cell module of this type, after a laminated film (a first electrode (108)/a semiconductor layer (107)/a second electrode (104)) is formed on the entire surface of a light receiving surface side of a substrate (109), the laminated film of an area corresponding to the edge space is removed by a laser or a sandblaster etc. to form the edge space (see FIG. 2). For instance, patent document 4 discloses a technique for removing a laminated film of an edge space area by using a YAG laser.

Method for manufacturing a solar cell module provided with an edge space


A dc/dc buck converter controller comprises an artificial neural network (ANN) controller comprising an input layer and an output layer. The input layer receives an error value of a dc/dc buck converter and an integral of the error value. The output layer produces an output error voltage. A pulse-width-modulation (PWM) sliding mode controller (SMC) is configured to receive the output error voltage and produce a control action voltage by multiplying the output error voltage with a PWM gain. A drive circuit is configured to receive the control action voltage and provide a drive voltage to an input switch of the dc/dc buck converter. A PI control block is configured to modify a reference output voltage based on a maximum current constraint input. A locking circuit is configured to maintains the output error voltage at the saturation limit of the PWM SMC to manage a maximum duty cycle constraint.

Although artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been applied in dc/dc (direct current to direct current) converter control in recent years. In an example, a feedforward ANN is proposed to implement sliding-mode (SM) based control of a dc/dc Cuk converter. In another example, a fuzzy-neural network control strategy for a dc/dc converter that allows the benefits of an ANN structure to be realized without sacrificing the intuitive nature of the fuzzy system. In a further example, an adaptive fuzzy-neural network control scheme is designed for the voltage tracking of a dc/dc boost converter.

Control of a buck dc/dc converter using approximate dynamic programming and artificial neural networks

The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama