In a covered wastewater reservoir, a gas passage is defined under the membrane cover and along the sides of the reservoir. An accumulation of bio-gases is held captive between the membrane cover and the liquid surface in a central region of the reservoir relative to the gas passage, by a flap-valve attachment condition extending between the accumulation of bio-gases and the gas passage. The new method for breaking this flap-valve attachment condition and for allowing bio-gases to flow from the accumulation of bio-gases toward the gas passage, consists of periodically and momentarily increasing a pressure in the gas passage to equal or to slightly exceed a pressure in the accumulation of bio-gases. In another aspect, the membrane cover is provided with a stiff and rough-surfaced bottom layer to facilitate the breaking of flap-valve attachment conditions when the pressure under the cover is made equal everywhere.

Floating membrane covers are mounted over settling ponds and clarifiers to contain and collect fermentation gases of mill effluents for example, and in many cases, to prevent the accumulation of rainwater inside these reservoirs. The maintenance of a membrane cover floating on a large wastewater reservoir represents certain difficulties in that the cover is exposed to the elements, and especially to wind uplift and wind-induced fluttering.
The fermentation of wastewater in a covered reservoir generates bio-gases that tend to create gas pockets under the cover. Following a rainfall, rainwater accumulates around the gas bubbles, thereby creating puddles, mounds and relaxed segments at random locations on the cover. These puddles and mounds catch the wind, creating uplifting forces on the cover. The relaxed segments also catch the wind and can even flutter in the wind. Such uplifting forces and fluttering movements promote the formation of waves along the cover and into the liquid under the cover.
The wind-induced forces and the movement of liquid under the cover causes tangential stresses and constant movement of the membrane itself. These movements and stresses can cause fatigue, localized elongation and can eventually rupture the membrane.
These inconveniences with floating membrane covers have been addressed in the past in different ways by different inventors. The following examples of floating membrane covers for covering large liquid reservoirs provide a good inventory of the prior art solutions to deal with wind forces on a membrane cover. In the following examples, weight lines, floating ridges and drains were used to reduce the formation of water puddles over the cover and gas pockets under the cover.
Examples of membrane covers mounted over industrial, municipal or agricultural reservoirs are disclosed in the following documents:    U.S. Pat. No. 3,980,199 issued to W. B. Kays on Sep. 14, 1976;    U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,900 issued to N. R. Burke et al. on Nov. 16, 1976;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,983 issued to D. H. Gerber on May 8, 1984;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,476,992 issued to D. H. Gerber on Oct. 16, 1984;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,988 issued to D. H. Gerber on Mar. 12, 1985;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,790 issued to D. H. Gerber on Aug. 5, 1986;    U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,691 issued to C. J. DeGarie et al. on Jun. 16, 1987;    U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,848 issued to R. Landine et al. on Apr. 9, 1996;    U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,080 issued to R. Landine et al. on Dec. 24, 1996;    U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,169 issued to C. J. DeGarie on Jan. 15, 2002;    U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,964 issued to C. J. DeGarie on Mar. 19, 2002;    U.S. Pat. No. 6,497,533 issued to C. J. DeGarie et al. on Dec. 24, 2002.
In another perspective, the following document discloses a membrane cover that can be inflated over its entire surface, or inflated along peripheral segments only, to remove wrinkles therein.
Accordingly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,117 issued to H.S. Dial, on Feb. 13, 1979, discloses a membrane cover mounted over a liquid storage reservoir. The cover is inflated by blowing air there under to remove wrinkles therein and to facilitate the flow of rain and water from melting snow off the membrane toward an appropriate drain. Alternatively, separate envelopes along the perimeter of the cover can be inflated separately to provide lateral tensioning of the membrane to eliminate the formation of wrinkles in the membrane.
In yet another application, U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,249 issued to D. G. Hodgkinson et al. on Mar. 26, 2002, discloses a negative air pressure cover for reducing the odours from a lagoon, a manure storage basin, waste water pond and other reservoirs of the like. This installation comprises a perforated pipe laid under a resilient membrane cover, along the perimeter of the cover. A pumping device is connected to the pipe for extracting air from under the cover through the pipe. The membrane cover in thereby held down by negative air pressure.
Similarly, when bio-gases are generated inside a covered reservoir, it is a common practice to withdraw these gases for treatment, and when methane gas is included, for burning these gases. In a gas-withdrawal installation, the bio-gases are drawn by a vacuum pump connected to a conduit communicating with the perimeter of the reservoir.
In that regard, another relevant installation was found in the prior art. This example pertains to a membrane cover that is inflated above the liquid surface of the reservoir and that is used as a gas storage for supplying combustible gases to a gas burning installation. Accordingly, CA Patent Application 2,379,590 filed by C. J. DeGarie et al. on Mar. 28, 2002, discloses an inflatable membrane cover mounted over a wastewater reservoir. The cover is used as a gas storage for accumulating the bio-gases being generated inside the reservoir. An anemometer and a pump are used to control the inflation of the cover according to the wind speed above the cover. Under high wind conditions, the cover is deflated to reduce the probability of the cover being damaged by wind induced stresses.
Although much effort have been made in the past to eliminate puddles and mounds on a membrane cover, the problem has never been solved entirely. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings have been prepared to illustrate a common problem with gas pockets being formed under a membrane cover. It has been found that when a vacuum pumping system (not shown) is connected to a gas outlet pipe 20 and is used to withdraw bio-gases from under a floating membrane cover 22, water puddles 24 tend to form on the,cover along the walls of the reservoir, as represented by a rectangular configuration 26 in FIG. 1 of the attached drawings. The presence of weight lines and a drain does not seem to prevent the accumulation of rainwater puddles 24 along this rectangular configuration 26. Eventually, these water puddles expand and connect with each other along the rectangular configuration 26, thereby sinking the cover near the walls of the reservoir, and blocking the migration of bio-gases from a central region of the reservoir to the gas outlet pipe 20. It has been found that an increase in negative pressure in the gas outlet pipe 20 causes the regions of adherence to expand.
Consequently, it is still a common practice for maintenance workers to use brooms and squeegees to push this water toward the drains. Such walking activities on a membrane cover wears the membrane material and reduces the life of the cover.
In a wastewater reservoir 30, as shown in a simplified manner in FIG. 1, the reservoir is covered by a flexible floating membrane 22. The bio-gases generated from the fermentation of the wastewater inside the reservoir migrates under the cover to the perimeter of the reservoir, as can be understood from FIG. 2, where it is drawn out by a vacuum pump (not shown) communicating with the gas outlet pipe 20. Weight lines 32 are normally laid on the membrane cover to keep the membrane taut and to promote the migration of bio-gases toward the perimeter of the cover. One or more drains 34 are also installed in the cover to evacuate rainwater.
It has been observed that when water accumulates in a random manner on a membrane cover, the combination of the vacuum under the cover along the perimeter of the reservoir and the water puddles cause the membrane to adhere to the surface of the liquid inside the reservoir near the sides of the reservoir. The vacuum under the cover, the water puddles and atmospheric pressure on the cover causes patches and strips of the membrane to adhere, such as a flap valve, to the liquid surface near the walls of the reservoir. These adhered patches and strips retain the membrane to the liquid surface of the reservoir and form basins along the walls of the reservoir to further retain rainwater along the walls of the reservoir. As more water accumulate on the cover, or when more vacuum is applied under the cover, more patches adhere to the liquid surface, thereby promoting the formation of gas pockets in a central area of the reservoir. The gas pockets in a central area of the reservoir push rainwater toward the sides of the reservoir, causing more or longer patches and strips of membrane to adhere to the liquid surface of the reservoir.
The root cause of this phenomenon is referred to herein as a flap-valve attachment phenomenon or a flap-valve attachment condition.
Referring now to FIG. 3, a flap-valve attachment phenomenon will be described as it is best understood. Generally, the vacuum pump is set to create a negative pressure in the bio-gas outlet pipe 20 and in the gas passage 36 around the perimeter of the reservoir 30. It has been found that this negative pressure causes the liquid level 38 in the gas passage 36 to rise slightly above the liquid level 40 at the center of the reservoir. This difference in elevation is shown in an exaggerated manner as ΔH in FIG. 3. This difference in elevation ΔH causes a region of adherence of the membrane over a distance 'A', which corresponds to the cotangent of the angle of contact of the membrane 22 against the surface of the wastewater, multiplied by ΔH.
This region of adherence 'A' is fixed relative to the wall of the reservoir 30, and its position and width depend on the tension in the membrane, the level of wastewater in the reservoir and the negative pressure in the gas passage 36.
This region of adherence 'A', and more particularly the atmospheric pressure 42 in that region 'A' causes a flap-valve attachment condition, which blocks the migration of bio-gases toward the gas passage 36 along the perimeter of the reservoir. Any increase in negative pressure P1 in the gas passage 36 worsens this flap-valve attachment condition. Any increase in the positive bio-gas pressure P2 in a gas pocket also worsens this condition.
As the bio-gases accumulate at the center of the reservoir, the rainwater 24 on the surface of the cover tends to accumulate along the rectangular region of adherence 26 as illustrated in FIG. 1. This accumulation of rainwater 24 away from the drain 34, increases the tension in the membrane 22 along the edges of the reservoir 30, and reduces the life of the membrane cover.
As it is best understood, these flap-valve attachment conditions are also initiated by the surface tension in the liquid inside the reservoir, and by a capillary effect between the liquid surface and the membrane material.
Accordingly, there remains a need in the industry for a better solution to reduce the formation of gas pockets under a membrane cover.

Method for breaking a flap-valve attachment condition under a membrane cover


Disclosed are various embodiments related to an electronic device including a coil. The electronic device may include: a housing including a first face facing a first direction and a second face facing a second direction different from the first direction; and a flexible printed circuit board and a control circuit disposed between the first and second faces. The flexible printed circuit board may include a first coil including at least one turn, a second coil including at least one turn, and a third coil including at least one turn. At least a part of the second coil may surround a first portion of the first coil, a second portion of the first coil may surround at least a part of the second coil, a third portion of the first coil may surround the second portion of the first coil, and at least a part of the third coil may be disposed between at least a part of the second portion of the first coil and at least a part of the third portion of the first coil. The control circuit may be configured to: transmit a signal outward by a first transmission method using the first coil; transmit a signal outward by a second transmission method using the second coil; and transmit a signal outward by a third transmission method using the third coil.

Due to the development of electronic technologies, various types of electronic devices have been developed and distributed. For example, the distribution of portable electronic devices such as smart phones, notebook PCs, tablet PCs, and wearable devices is being expanded.
Electronic devices, which have recently come into the market, support a number of wireless communication technologies in order to provide various services to users. Wireless communication technologies use different frequency bands depending on the types thereof. Thus, electronic devices include an antenna or multiple coils for supporting multiple wireless communication technologies.
Electronic devices, which support near field wireless communication technologies such as Near Field Communication (NFC), Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), or wireless charging may include multiple coils for performing these short-range wireless communication operations. For example, an NFC coil capable of communicating radio signals in an NFC band (e.g., 13.56 MHz) is used for NFC communication. The NFC coil may be divided into a small tag region and a large tag region. A coil for wireless communication in an MST band may be used for MST communication. A separate wireless charging coil may also be used for wireless charging. However, when the multiple coils are arranged together in a small electronic device, the performance of the electronic device may deteriorate due to interference between the coils.

Electronic device including multiple coils


An artificial-flower-forming ribbon comprises a pair of strips overlapping each other, and at least one string placed between and along both strips. Both strips are joined together at a plurality of joint portions placed at opposite sides of the string and also on a plurality of lines spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of both strings. The string is joined at its one end to one ends of both strips. A pair of adjoining lines are parallel to two equilateral sides of an isosceles triangle where a segment parallel to a longitudinal center line of both strips is defined as the base. Both strips have a pair of notches provided at opposite sides of each line to be respectively open to opposite side edges of both strips, and substantially confronting each other in the transverse direction of both strips.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a ribbon and, more particularly, to a ribbon for forming an artificial flower to be attached to an article for decoration.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication (KOKOKU) No. 60-14726, an artificial-flower-forming ribbon comprising a pair of strips overlapping each other and at least one string placed between and along both strips and joined at its one end to one ends of both strips is well known.
In such conventional artificial-flower-forming ribbon, both strips have a plurality of joint portions placed at opposite sides of the string and also on a plurality of lines spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of both strips. A pair of adjoining lines extend parallel to two equilateral sides of an isosceles triangle having the base placed on a line parallel to a longitudinal center line of both strips, and are inclined to be alternately reverse.
According to such conventional artificial-flower-forming ribbon, when the string is longitudinally moved relative to both strips, a pair of strip portions defined between a pair of adjoining lines are curved to form a pair of loops. Since a pair of adjoining lines are inclined to be alternately reverse, one pair of loops are produced at positions reverse to another pair of loops adjoining to the one pair of loops. The inclination angle defined by each pair of loops is equal to an angle defined by two adjoining lines.
With the relative movements of the string to both strips, a plurality of pairs of loops are so formed as to be piled up one another at each two positions in inverse relation to each other, whereby an artificial flower having petals defined by these loops is formed by such conventional artificial-flower-forming ribbon.
However, the artificial flower formed by such conventional artificial-flower-forming ribbon as noted above looks unnatural, since a plurality of pairs of loops at the respective positions confront one another in the longitudinal direction of the string. In order to avoid the unnaturalness and bring this artificial flower to have an arrangement of petals close to a natural flower, a plurality of pairs of loops have been twisted around the longitudinal center line of the string, after the formation of the artificial flower, to thereby cause a plurality of pairs of loops to confront one another only at one portions thereof. However, the artificial flower obtained in such manner involves problems in that a plurality of pairs of loops subjected to torsion are returned to its original state, that is, these loops tend to become untwisted to return to a condition to confront one another in the longitudinal direction of the string due to a contact of the artificial flower with another matter, a vibration exerted on the artificial flower, a lapse of time or the like.


A video communication system that includes a computer readable medium and a processor, coupled with a wide angle and high resolution digital camera and the computer readable medium. The processor causes the wide angle and high resolution digital camera to acquire a digital image of a local participant during a video communication session. The processor extracts a first image of a first set of objects and a second image of a second set of objects from the digital image and provides the extracted first and second images to a remote endpoint for display to another participant.

Video conferencing solutions enable manual adjustment of Pan Tilt Zoom (PTZ) cameras via a remote control. Common practice is to adjust a camera manually with every meeting start to optimize the view for that specific meeting.
In two-camera solutions, it is common practice to have one camera still and transmitting video while the other camera is moving and searching for a next optimal point of view. When the next optimal point of view is identified, the system switches to that camera for video transmission and the other camera is moved to search for the next optimal point of view. Two-camera solutions use microphone array technology for speaker tracking and constantly switch between active speakers. This is not only an expensive solution but also limits the view to only one participant at-a-time. Other participants are therefore unable to view the entire meeting room during the video conferencing session, which can cause an unsatisfactory experience for remote participants.

System and method for processing digital images during videoconference


Techniques for selecting content may include determining that a URL was historically visited, determining an interest associated with the URL, and selecting content associated with the interest. Selected illustrative applications for displaying relevant content, subscribing to relevant content sources, displaying relevant advertisements, and offering and/or applying relevant promotions are disclosed.

A wide variety of information is available electronically. Similarly, many types of products, relevant to audiences with specific interests, are advertised electronically via the internet. Numerous promotions are similarly offered via the internet, including discounts, affiliate programs, and loyalty programs such as airline frequent flyer programs.
Much of the information available electronically is available via subscription. Examples of such information include news, web logs ("blogs"), corporate information, and product information, for example information published using a content syndication format such as RSS and Atom. Currently, subscription to such content requires a user to select sources and/or feeds of content that may be of interest. Such selection can be cumbersome and time-consuming, and content sources of interest may be omitted.
A user's historical browsing can reveal that user's interests. Current ways to present and subscribe to content does not have general access to a user's history, and generally cannot personalize based on historical information. Accordingly, it would be useful to have more automated detection and presentation of content, content sources, advertisements and promotions likely to be relevant to a user.

Promotion selection via interest detection


An overcap for use with a spray canister includes a peripheral wall adapted to attach to the spray canister, a cantilevered lever arm hingedly attached to the peripheral wall, and a nozzle within the cantilevered lever arm. The nozzle includes a stem socket adapted to receive a valve stem of the spray canister and adapted to provide a fan-shaped spray.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an overcap, and more particularly, to an overcap for use with a cleaning device.
2. Description of the Related Art
The cleaning of houses, office buildings, apartments, and many other structures often proves challenging due to such things as high ceilings, furniture placed within rooms, and many other structural features. The physical dimensions of various furniture often limit one""s ability to clean thereunder, ceiling corners are often just out of reach, and bending or crouching to floors may strain one""s back. However, as difficult as people may find such cleaning, most are likely to prefer ridding their living and working areas of the dust, spider webs, debris, and the like plaguing that environment.
Besides the complications imposed by an area""s physical characteristics, people engaging in cleaning operations may be burdened by various chemicals found in even common household cleaning liquids. Many cleaners, whether purchased in a local grocery store or intended for industrial use, may cause skin or eye irritation, and may even be toxic. Moreover, since some cleaning spray canisters require direct operation by a user""s finger, the risk of the user""s skin or eyes coming in contact with the potentially dangerous chemicals is increased. As such, cleaning operations should be performed in ways that minimize one""s contact with those cleaning fluids.
Further, especially to ensure the safety of infants and young children, cleaning fluids must be contained in such a way so as to prevent accidental discharge. If a child picks up a spray canister, for example, any cap on that canister must minimize the probability of that child coming in contact with the chemicals therein, yet allow an intended user to still apply those chemicals with relative ease during cleaning operations. Thus, a need exists for a safe, easy-to-use cleaning device that allows for the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas, including the directed application of various cleaning fluids to aid in that cleaning, but which minimizes the chance of injury to unintended users of the device.
Several attempts have been made to make cleaning operations easier. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,217 to Munchel discloses an elevated spraying device and U.S. Pat. No. 3,679,319 to Munchel, et al., discloses a cleaning attachment for that elevated spray device. Each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,191 and 4,789,084 to Yoshitomi discloses a tool for assisting spray work at a high position. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,155 to Schennum, et al., discloses a mop using a manually actuated, decoupled liquid delivery system for delivering a predetermined volume of liquid to a working surface.
However, none of the devices discussed above provides for an all-in-one, safe, easy-to-use, cleaning apparatus that allows for the cleaning of hard-to-reach areas, and provides for directed and focused application of various cleaning fluids to aid in that cleaning. Moreover, none of those devices minimizes a risk of injury to unintended users of them, by, for example, including features intended to prevent unknowing or accidental discharge of cleaning fluids.
This invention addresses the foregoing needs in the art by providing an overcap with a cantilevered lever arm and a nozzle.
In a first embodiment of this invention, an overcap for use with a spray canister includes a peripheral wall adapted to attach to the spray canister, a cantilevered lever arm hingedly attached to the peripheral wall, and a nozzle disposed within the cantilevered lever arm. The nozzle includes a stem socket adapted to receive a valve stem of the spray canister and adapted to provide a fan-shaped spray.
In another aspect of the first embodiment, the overcap further includes an alignment recess adapted to receive a protrusion of a housing.
In yet another aspect of the first embodiment, the nozzle includes a rectangular orifice having a length in a direction along a length of the lever arm, whereby a fan-shaped spray which is wider in a direction transverse to the length of the lever arm is produced.
In a second embodiment of this invention, an overcap for use with a spray canister includes a generally cylindrical peripheral wall, a cantilevered lever arm hingedly attached to the wall, means for producing a fan-shaped spray, and means for securing the overcap to the spray canister.
In a third embodiment of this invention, an overcap includes a substantially planar top, a peripheral wall depending from the top adapted to attach to a spray canister, a cantilevered lever arm hingedly attached to the peripheral wall traversing a span of the top of the overcap and terminating at a free end in a recess of the top of the overcap, and a nozzle disposed within the cantilevered lever arm. The free end of the cantilevered lever arm can move with respect to a plane of the top. Moreover, the nozzle includes a stem socket adapted to receive a valve stem of the spray canister and is adapted to provide a fan-shaped spray.


Methods and systems for recommending files to users are described herein. Files may be recommended to a user within a file sharing service. A recommender system may intelligently recommend files to users according to their preferences through machine learning. In addition, a recommender system may recommend files based on what is popular within a group to which the user belongs. The recommendations may be adjusted based on user interaction with one or more recommended files.

File sharing services may enable users to easily and securely exchange files. However, there may be a large number of shared files in a file sharing service, making it difficult for users to find and view files that interest them. In addition, users may be part of groups within the file sharing service. There may be many files shared by group members within the file sharing service and it may be difficult to determine which group files a user should view or which group files are of interest to the user.


A base station in a master cell group configured to establish a bearer to a mobile station together with a base station in a secondary cell group for communication includes a data transfer instruction unit configured to transmit to the base station in the secondary cell group an instruction on whether to transfer downlink data in the base station in the secondary cell group to the base station in the master cell group upon deletion or modification of the secondary cell group or upon deletion of the bearer in the secondary cell group; a reception unit configured to receive the downlink data transferred from the base station in the secondary cell group according to the instruction; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the received downlink data to the mobile station.

In an LTE-Advanced (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) system, CA (Carrier Aggregation) is under discussion to achieve higher throughput using a plurality of CCs (Component Carriers). According to CA, an MCG (Master Cell Group) and an SCG (Secondary Cell Group) are provided. The MCG is reliable and used to maintain connectivity with a mobile station (UE: User Equipment). The SCG is additionally configured for a mobile station connecting to the MCG.
According to CA, not only a plurality of CCs belonging to the same base station but also CCs belonging to different base stations can be used. Communication using CCs belonging to different base stations is referred to as "Dual Connectivity" (see Non-Patent Document 1). In Dual Connectivity, a base station corresponding to an MCG is referred to as an "MeNB (Master eNB)" and a base station corresponding to an SCG is referred to as an "SeNB (Secondary eNB)". Dual Connectivity is useful when all CCs cannot be accommodated in a single base station or when higher throughput needs to be achieved in an area where an ideal backhaul cannot be adequately installed.
According to Dual Connectivity, two types of architecture referred to as "MeNB anchor" and "S-GW anchor" are defined for a bearer established between a network and a mobile station. FIGS. 1A and 1B show bearer architecture in Dual Connectivity. MeNB anchor shown in FIG. 1A is a scheme in which an MeNB distributes data received from an S-GW (Serving Gateway) to an SeNB. A bearer provided according to MeNB anchor is referred to as a "Split Bearer". S-GW anchor shown in FIG. 1B is a scheme in which an S-GW distributes data to an MeNB and an SeNB. A bearer provided according to S-GW anchor is referred to as an "SCG Bearer".
These types of bearer architecture are implemented upon a procedure to configure a new SCG, upon a procedure to offload an established bearer from an MCG to an SCG, or upon a procedure to establish a new bearer.


A system for controlling virtual main memories (VMMs) of a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) which has a section for detecting an overload state of a VMM of any VM, a section for requesting a VMM corresponding to a required capacity in response to the detection. The system also includes a section for monitoring load states of the VMMs of other VMs in response to this request, a section for selecting an unbusy VM in accordance with the monitoring, a section for releasing the VMM corresponding to the requested capacity from the selected VM, and a section for supplying the released VMM to the VM requesting a VMM.

The present invention relates to a system for controlling a main memory of a virtual machine.
In a conventional main memory control system for a virtual machine, the capacity of a main memory of the virtual machine is determined when the virtual machine is generated, and is fixed until the corresponding virtual machine is erased. Therefore, during an operation of a plurality of virtual machines, or when the main memory of a given virtual memory is in an overload state or is busy, even if another virtual memory having an unbusy main memory is present, the unbusy main memory resource of the virtual machine cannot be partially released and assigned as the main memory resource of the busy virtual machine. As a result, the main memory resources are inappropriately assigned.

Main memory control system for virtual machine


A component incorporating a 3-D identification code includes: a component body having an interior bounded by an exterior surface; and an identification code formed as a part of at least one of the interior and the exterior surface, the identification code including a plurality of cells arranged in a three-dimensional space, wherein each of the cells is configured to encode more than two possible values.

The present invention relates generally to additive manufacturing, and more particularly to methods for incorporating identification codes into additively manufactured components.
Additive manufacturing is a process in which material is built up layer-by-layer to form a component. Additive manufacturing is also referred to by terms such as "layered manufacturing," "reverse machining," "direct metal laser melting" (DMLM), "selective laser sintering" (SLS), stereolithography (SLA), and "3-D printing." Such terms are treated as synonyms for purposes of the present invention.
With the present rapid maturation of 3-D printing technology, more accurate printers and modeling tools are becoming commercially available at decreasing cost. One problem associated with this cost decrease is the ease of creating inexpensive replicas that can place inferior components in the market.
In some applications, for example gas turbine engines, particularly aircraft gas turbine engines, counterfeit parts pose a severe risk to engine integrity.

Component incorporating 3-D identification code


A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.

Vehicle steering systems have utilized absolute position sensors to determine absolute positions of vehicle steering columns. A drawback with an absolute position sensor is that the sensor is relatively expensive to utilize in a vehicle steering system.
Accordingly, the inventors herein have recognized a need for a method for determining an absolute position of a vehicle steering column without utilizing an absolute position sensor.

Method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation


A wedge cooling apparatus and method for cooling a rotating machine, such as a generator, disperses a spray of cooling fluid into the wedges of the generator via a pipe that runs along the length of each of the wedges. The pipe may include a plurality of spray delivery devices to spray cooling fluid from the pipe to the inside of the wedges. The spray cooling method results in a high heat transfer coefficient of about 2000-3000 W/m2C as opposed to conventional conduction cooling, which has a heat transfer coefficient of about 200-300 W/m2C. The apparatus and method of the present invention efficiently removes heat from high powered, high current density designed generators.

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for heat removal and, more particularly, apparatus and methods for spray cooling a wedge of a generator rotor.
Heat removal in conduction cooling depends on the thickness of the conductive media. If the thickness of the conductive material can be reduced, heat removal is improved.
In generators, electromagnetic losses occur in the magnetic iron and the copper. These losses result in production of heat which must be removed to maintain overall temperature below that allowable for the copper coating and the insulation used in the construction of the generators. The rotor core, which is made of magnetic iron, can be conduction cooled by flowing fluid through the rotor shaft. However, the removal of heat from copper is better managed if oil is passed through the hollow wedges. Due to lower thermal resistance, the flow of fluid in the vicinity of copper is much more effective in removing heat from the copper and in keeping the overall temperature below the allowable limit. This is done with conduction mode of heat removal.
Since the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) depends upon the velocity of the fluid, the removal of heat is not very efficient and a very high flow is needed to create a reasonable HTC for conduction cooling. Further, because the rotor is a rotating component, having a large amount of fluid at a radius away from the rotor shaft is not desirable, especially for high powered larger diameter and high speed machines.
As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus and method for heat removal from a rotating machine, such as a generator.

Enhanced spray cooling technique for wedge cooling


A connector assembly is configured to mate a first connector housing. The connector assembly includes a second connector, a second terminal, a second connector housing, an adaptor and a cover. The second connector housing accommodates the second terminal and includes an opening for providing access to the second terminal. The adaptor is coupled to the second connector housing. The cover is detachably mounted to the adaptor, wherein the adaptor is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the cover is separated from the opening of the second connector housing so as to provide access to the first terminal and the second terminal. In the second position the cover is closes the opening of the second connector housing.

A connector assembly is configured to provide an electric connection to an electric device. The connector assembly includes a first connector housing and a second connector housing each having a respective terminal for making an electrical connection. In some aspects, the second connector housing includes an opening for providing access to the connected terminals. A service cover is configured to close the opening.
The service cover and the second connector housing are separate pieces which require each to be managed separately until during installment. As an example, the service cover is installed after the terminals are secured to each other by a fastening component. Additionally, the installer must physically orient the service cover onto the second connector housing. Such steps increases the complexity of the installation process.
Accordingly, it remains desirable to have a connector assembly wherein the service cover does not require handling so as to decrease the complexity of installation relative to current practice. In particular, to eliminate the need to manage the cover and the second connector housing separately. It further remains desirable to have a connector assembly configured to assist in the positioning of the service cover onto the opening.


Secondary component for connection to a dental implant having an internal bore, said secondary component having a head part and a base part, the head part including a coronal portion which in use protrudes from the dental implant, and, apical of the coronal portion, an attachment portion, the base part including implant connection means for connection to an implant and fastening means, wherein the attachment portion and fastening means can be directly coupled together in a rotatable manner in order to axially join the head and base parts together, while still enabling the base part to be rotated relative to the head part such that the implant connection means can engage the implant and secure the secondary component to this, the head part further including a through passage extending from the coronal portion to the attachment portion and the base part including drive means which, when the head and base parts are coupled together, is in communication with this passage.

Dental implants are used to replace individual teeth or for anchoring more complex structures, which generally replace several or even all of the teeth. The materials used for dental implants are often titanium and alloys thereof, and increasingly ceramic materials. These materials have the necessary strength for withstanding the mechanical loads that occur, and they are at the same time sufficiently biocompatible for osseointegration and long term use in the mouth.
Implants are often constructed in two parts, in which case they consist of an anchoring part, often referred to in isolation as the implant, and of a separate abutment. The anchoring part is either embedded completely in the bone, that is to say to the height of the alveolar crest, or protrudes by a few millimeters from the alveolar crest into the soft tissue. The abutment is mounted on the anchoring part either after the latter has become incorporated (osseointegrated) into the bone or directly after the anchoring part has been inserted. It can also be attached to the anchoring part prior to insertion. Most usually the abutment is not mounted until after osseointegration. In such cases a component called a healing cap is often mounted to the implant during the osseointegration process to prevent incursion of soft tissue over the implant site. Ultimately, the desired prosthetic element (e.g. bridge or crown) is connected to the abutment. The prosthetic element can be adhesively bonded, cemented, screwed or directly veneered onto the abutment.
It is also possible for the implant to be constructed in one part, such that the anchoring part and the abutment are produced in one integral piece. Hence in such implant systems the integrated anchoring part and abutment are always positioned within the mouth at the same time.
In contrast to one piece implants, two-part implants are more versatile, because the anchoring part and the abutment can be adapted to individual requirements. In particular the abutment shape and angulation, relative to the anchoring part, can be selected after implant insertion. This provides the surgeon with more flexibility and room for error in the placement of the implant. An additional advantage of two-part implants is that the abutment can be made from a different material than the anchoring part.
Due to their versatility two part dental implants are more commonly used than one-piece implants, and it is this form of implant with which the present invention is concerned. For the remainder of this specification therefore, the term "implant" will be used to denote the anchoring part of a two part implant, namely, the element which in use is anchored within the bone, and the term "secondary component" will be used to denote a component which is, in use, fastened to the implant and which protrudes from this into and in some cases through the gum. The secondary component can be an abutment, which provides support for a dental prosthesis, or in some instances may comprise an integrated abutment and final prosthesis. It can also be a component which is temporarily fixed to the implant such as a healing cap or impression post.
All secondary components must be capable of being firmly fastened to the implant in order to prevent loosening and potential loss of the component. This can be achieved in numerous ways, for example, via compression fit or cementing. However, screw fit connections are generally preferred. By applying a sufficiently high torque during attachment a firm connection between the implant and secondary component can be achieved.
In some systems therefore the implant comprises an internally threaded bore, while the secondary component comprises a corresponding apical thread, thus allowing the secondary component to be screwed directly into the implant. However, this has the disadvantage that the exact angular position of the secondary component relative to the implant is not known until final fixation. This can have disadvantages, particularly in relation to abutments used to support a single tooth prosthesis.
Therefore, many implant systems comprise anti-rotation means, which prevent relative rotation between the implant and abutment, or other secondary component, and which set a finite number of rotational positions which the secondary component can have relative to the implant.
These anti-rotation means consist of complementary non-circular portions in the implant and secondary component, usually having a polygonal shape such as a hexagon or octagon. For example, the internal bore of the implant may comprise a section having a hexagonal cross-section, while the abutment or other secondary component comprises a portion having an equivalent hexagonal cross-section. Alternatively the implant may comprise a male polygonal boss protruding from its coronal end, which in use is accommodated within a correspondingly shaped polygonal cavity within the secondary component.
Such systems ensure that the exact rotational position of the abutment or other secondary component in relation to the implant is known prior to fixation and can help to prevent loosening of the abutment during the lifetime of the implant.
Of course, when such anti-rotation means are employed it is not possible to rotate the secondary component relative to the implant and hence the secondary component can no longer be directly screwed into the implant. Therefore a third component, often a screw known as a "basal screw", is used to connect the secondary component to the implant.
When a basal screw is used the abutment or other secondary component typically comprises a screw channel extending through the component and having a screw seat. This enables the basal screw to be fed through the secondary component until the screw head abuts the screw seat and for a screwdriver to be inserted into the channel to connect to the screw and fasten this to the threaded bore of the implant.
An example of such a known implant system can be found for instance in US2002/0031748.
One problem with such systems is that the screw channel weakens the abutment by reducing its volume. Although this effect can be reduced by keeping the screw channel width to a minimum, the screw channel diameter is set by the diameter of the screw. This in turn must be sufficiently large to ensure that the screw is strong enough to withstand the torque and bending forces that will be placed on this firstly during assembly and then later during the use of the implant system, when strong masticatory forces will be experienced. This therefore limits the ability to reduce the screw channel width.
The need to prevent interference with existing teeth and to reduce bone loss limits the diameter of the implant (anchoring part) and hence also the apical end of the secondary component which is fastened to the implant. This is especially true when the apical end of the abutment is sized to be inserted into the implant. For this reason, the screw seat is usually positioned higher within the secondary component, where the volume is greater and can thus better withstand the weakening effect of the largest diameter section of the screw channel, namely that above the screw seat. This necessitates a longer screw shaft length and hence higher bending forces being experienced by the screw during use. The width of the screw channel also places restrictions on the minimal shape of the abutment, which limits the possibilities for grinding the abutment into an individualised, patient-specific shape.
The above problems are of particular concern in relation to ceramic abutments. Such abutments have high aesthetic benefits due to their colouring. However, these materials are brittle and prone to chipping, particularly in thin walled areas.
EP2036515 discloses an abutment in which the screw is held within the screw channel of the abutment by a metal inlay, which reduces the diameter of the screw channel above the screw head and prevents the screw from falling out. EP1139906 discloses a similar system in which the inlay is located at the apical end of the screw channel, below the screw head.
In both of these systems the abutment and screw form a three part assembly, wherein the final element, the inlay, is attached only after the screw has been inserted into the abutment. While these systems enable the screw to be retained within the abutment prior to connection to the implant, their ability to reduce the screw channel width and increase abutment strength is limited.
Both of these systems still require the provision of a coronal screw channel having a width great enough to enable a screwdriver head to pass through and engage with a standard basal screw head. Further, the provision of a separate inlay increases the cost and complexity of the abutment. In addition EP2036515 does not solve the problem of decreasing the minimal shape of the abutment, as for stability the inlay must remain encased within the coronal end of the abutment. As regards EP1139906, the inlay effectively forms the screw seat in this arrangement and thus is subject to high tensile stresses which can lead to damage of the inlay.


A system is configured to receive a request to establish a session with a set top box device executing an application; obtaining a profile that identifies usage patterns of resources associated with the device; obtain another profile that identifies a first quantity of the resources to be used by the application; identify a second quantity of the resources to be allocated for executing the application based on the profile and other profile; receive information that identifies a third quantity of the resources used, by the application, during the session; transmit a notification indicating that a condition is associated with the application when the third quantity of the resources is greater than the second quantity of the resources; and transmit another notification indicating that a condition is not associated with the application when the third quantity of the resources is not greater than the second quantity of the resources.

Users of set top boxes may download, from a television network, a growing variety of applications (e.g., sometimes referred to as widgets) that can be executed on the set top boxes. The widgets may be run on the set top boxes to improve a user experience by allowing the users to interact with and/or use the set top boxes in a variety of ways, such as for social networking, to access content from the Internet (e.g., movies, sports, news, etc.), to download games, etc.
The widgets may use resources, associated with the set top boxes, when the widgets are being executed by the set top boxes. When widgets are being executed, the set top boxes may allocate a portion of available processing capacity, memory, network bandwidth, etc. to the widgets. If, however, the set top boxes do not allocate enough resources to the widgets, the widgets may not execute properly, which may degrade the user experience. Additionally, if widgets are not developed in a manner that adequately accounts for a resource capacity of the set top boxes, then widgets may not properly execute on the set top boxes.

Set top box resource allocation for executing a widget


A method of performing a photoacoustic physio-chemical analysis is provided. The method includes performing one or more photoacoustic scans on a tissue to generate a plurality of photoacoustic signals. The photoacoustic signals are transformed into a frequency domain to form a power spectra. The method also includes generating a two dimensional (2D) physio-chemical spectrogram from the power spectra. A probe for performing a photoacoustic physio-chemical analysis is also provided.

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) technology, one of the most rapidly growing areas in medical imaging in the last decade, shows great potential for improved diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of many diseases. Relying on the detection of ultrasonic signals generated by laser illumination on biological samples, PAI is able to achieve high-resolution in optically scattering biologic tissues at relatively large depths. The majority of previous studies on PAI are focused on total signal magnitudes as an indication of macroscopic optical absorption by specific chemical components at single or multiple optical wavelengths. However, because of the limited bandwidth in photoacoustic (PA) signal detection, and the uncertainty of light fluence in tissue, conventional PAI images remain largely qualitative. Moreover, PAI findings are highly dependent on the individual system and operator, and hence, are difficult to be reproduced and used for purposes of objective comparison.
The extensive study on frequency domain analysis of radio frequency (RF) ultrasound (US) signals, e.g., US spectrum analysis (USSA) as a quantitative US technology, has shown potential for evaluating several parameters (such as dimension and density) of microscopic backscatters in biologic tissues. USSA has been explored for many years for its capability to detect and characterize diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). USSA, however, is a purely "physical" imaging technique due to its mono-physics nature. Evaluating physical parameters of microscopic backscatters in tissue without interrogating the molecular components or chemical substances forming these backscattering micro-features has limited not only its specificity, but also its sensitivity for diagnosis. For example, a change in US backscattering in liver may not be a result of fat accumulation in liver cells, but instead due to the large amount of collagenous fiber depositing in the extra-cellular spaces, e.g., liver fibrosis. It has also been reported that US cannot be reliably used for early detection, because US is less sensitive to mild fatty liver and cannot detect NAFLD reliably until the degree of steatosis is above 33%.
Due to the physical-limiting nature of PAI and the chemical-limiting nature of USSA, there remains a need to develop an imaging system that can analyze both physical and chemical biological structures simultaneously.

Photoacoustic physio-chemical tissue analysis

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


A toilet users rollable desk for a compact personal office desk for the commode user. A toilet users rollable desk generally includes a desk that provides the toilet user with a space between the knees and legs to read, write, use the computer and store personal items as well as a shelf to place coffee or nourishment. A toilet users rollable desk is also able to store toilet tissue, hold reading material and be conveniently moved in front of the commode user for all processes to be best utilized in the large, average or small toilet commode area.

The present invention relates generally to furniture for the bathrooms and more specifically it relates to a toilet users rollable desk as A compact personal office desk for the commode user.
The search for prior art on the internet included, but not limited to words and phrases in each and every combination thereof: organizational, bathroom, restroom, commode, toilet, furniture, desk, compact, magazine, rack, toilet tissue, holder, rolling, roll-able and caddy.
The same words and phrases were used to search for prior art in USPTO CCLs:
a) 4/253, 254, 300, 307, 378, 418, 420, 422, 424, 438, 441, 457, 476, 479, 480, 483, 484, 485.
b) 221/33, 47, 48, 63, 115, 194, 196, 251, 255, 263.
c) D23/270, 286, 303, 308; 220/477.
d) 312/45, 72, 206, 207, 228, 237.
e) 630, 531, 638, 643, 661.
f) D6/397, 432, 445, 509.
e) 242/560.3.
Bathrooms are typically small, cramped rooms without space for furniture of intellectual use. Because many persons use the bathroom solely as "required" the unrealized consensus is the room needn't have the capability of other wise utility as the rest of the home.
Many people live harried modern lifestyles that demand efficient productivity to compete in today's economy. This demand urges utilization of the bathroom as a place to accomplish daily requirements such as checking email, reading, writing, nourishment and taking advantage of the personal time already spent in the bathroom in addition to its original purpose.
Therefore, the modern multitasker tends to surround themselves with a myriad of disorganized items in the oft fruitless effort to facilitate productive activities while sitting on the commode.
Items such as small tables for reading, miss-fitting magazine racks, toilet tissue stacked on toilet tanks or window sills render both in-accessible. Poorly balanced coffee cups on bathtub ledges make the early morning effort difficult or worse, dangerous with hot liquid spills.
As prior art will attest, this issue has attempted to be addressed in an ineffective manner. U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,933 Wanek* attempts to reduce the need for item storage with a "utilitarian and decorative piece of bathroom furniture that holds the commode plunger, toilet rolls, bath powder and supplies." Patent US2006/0284526 A1 Pathmanathan* et al is a patent for a multipurpose "bathroom vanity that provides storage space for a bathroom scale and makes efficient use of the volume occupied in the bathroom by the vanity." U.S. Pat. D507,333 S Beltran* is a purely ornamental vanity design for bathroom furniture to hold a sink and U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,691 B1 Rux* is a toilet tissue dispenser. U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,598 Granda-Cabrera*, U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,551 Cummings*, U.S. Pat. No. 4,366,584 Mchuma* all attempt to modernize utility space by providing housings, covers for—and even folding commodes that move into the wall to allow more space but all miss the mark of providing true ergonomic and easily movable utilitarian equipment for the modern intellectual bathroom user while actually sitting on the commode.
Many home living rooms have computer and laptop desks or stands of many different types which aren't designed or meant to fit comfortably in front of a person while sitting on the commode.
A multitude of space saving and organizational bathroom vanities and cabinets for the sink and above the commode are for sale in home stores. Wooden or metal poles attached to decorative bases that hold toilet tissue is common art. Magazine racks are numerous, some combined with the toilet tissue holder.
Small ornamental metal stands that hold a cup of coffee are wobbly and not efficient at preventing spills and those that are stable may only prove to be safe because they require inconvenient installation and the search of prior art for a specifically designed 'bathroom (or commode) desk' located zero matches regardless and in short:
The many attempts in prior art to organize and provide intellectual function in the bathroom while attending to life's basic personal needs and bodily requirements has never been properly addressed until now.
Simply stated, the best method to combine service for the body and mind in the bathroom is the most minimalistic and straight forward one; to utilize A compact rollable desk that moves easily between the knees and legs of the user while sitting on the commode.


In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for distributing consumer demand upstream in a supply chain includes receiving, at a current time, an indication of consumer demand for a product that a consumer may be willing to receive at a future date rather than the current date in exchange for an incentive. The method also includes determining a particular incentive based on an order lead time for the product and conveying the particular incentive to allow the consumer to choose whether to receive the product at the particular future date rather than the current date in exchange for the particular incentive. If the consumer chooses to receive the product at the particular future date rather than the current date in exchange for the particular incentive, an order for the product is communicated to the upstream supply chain entity to allow the consumer to receive the product at the particular future date from current inventory of the upstream supply chain entity rather than from current inventory of the downstream supply chain entity in exchange for the particular incentive.

In a typical supply chain, one or more suppliers may supply materials to one or more original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), the OEMs may manufacture products from the materials and ship the products to one or more distributors, and distributors may ship the products to one or more retailers for sale to consumers. Each link in the supply chain may be associated with a delay, and the delay at each link may complicate management of the supply chain. In addition, there may be delays in the communication of demand from downstream supply chain entities to upstream supply chain entities that may further complicate management of the supply chain. The unpredictability of consumer demand may complicate management of the supply chain even further. These and other complications may increase costs for entities in the supply chain.

Distributing consumer demand upstream in a supply chain


Systems and methods for filtering an analog waveform before it is sampled by an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in an ultrasound system are provided. The waveform can be filtered by delaying the same waveform by two different time delays and combining the delayed waveforms to effectively cancel out the fundamental components, thereby providing more sensitive detection of harmonic components in received echo signals. This filtering approach leverages an architecture that can also be used for multiline beamforming to perform the temporal filtering, in which a single acoustic signal can be read out of the ARAM twice, separated by time, taking advantage of the fact that the ARAM allows for non-destructive read operations.

The systems and methods described herein relate generally to medical diagnostic ultrasound systems and, in particular, to diagnostic systems having a dynamic analog filtering capability.
Harmonic imaging is a frequently used mode on many ultrasound systems. Harmonic imaging can be useful, for example, in determining tissue-type information (i.e., identifying blood, heart muscle, liver tissue, etc.), as interaction between the acoustic waves and the tissues generates information in harmonic frequency ranges. Acoustic contrast agents, such as microbubbles, can also be used produce harmonics upon interaction with the acoustic signals. When a transmitted ultrasound wave interacts with the microbubbles, nonlinear resonance occurs, which includes production of resonant energy at harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the interrogating wave. While the harmonic components have lower intensity than the fundamental, they are sufficiently intense to receive at the transducer. In the case of either tissue harmonic imaging or the use of contrast agents, reception of the harmonics rather than the fundamental frequency is of increased interest.
The relative intensities of the harmonic and the fundamental components of the received signal generally vary. While harmonic contrast agent signals tend to be reduced in intensity compared to fundamental signals, tissue harmonic signals tend to be lower in power still. Depth of the signal source (the structure from which the signals are reflected) will affect the received power as well. Because tissue harmonic signals require the wave to pass through the tissue, such signals will, in general, result from a relatively deeper interaction than will acoustic contrast agent signals. Both frequency and intensity tend to be attenuated as a result of increased depth. These effects result in the possibility that the harmonic signal may be more than 20 dB less than the fundamental, requiring wide dynamic range receivers are required. In the near-field, where little harmonic generation has occurred, and in the far-filed where attenuation has taken over, it is not uncommon for a harmonic response to be 30-40 dB down from the fundamental backscatter.
In view of the large difference in strength between the harmonic and the fundamental signals, it is useful to remove as much of the fundamental as possible so that the relative power of the harmonic is increased relative to the noise floor of the system. In some cases the SNR of the ADC limits the sensitivity of the system and it is beneficial to be able to increase the analog gain applied before digitization so that the thermal noise of the sensor can dominate. Unfortunately, the fundamental signal can easily saturate on strong targets in this scenario and it becomes difficult to do harmonic imaging. One remedy is to include an analog high-pass or band-pass filter ahead of the ADC to suppress some of the lower frequency fundamental signal so that it is less likely to saturate the ADC. More front-end analog gain can also be applied so as to more fully utilize the dynamic range of the ADC. Unfortunately, current methods for separating the harmonic from the fundamental are typically applicable for a fixed frequency and thus multiple filters are needed to support different transducers and fundamental frequencies. This increases system complexity.
Thus, there is a need for improved filtering approaches to be used with harmonic imaging. The present invention provides this need and more.


A carton blank may be formed having at least one score line therein. A second layer of material may overlay at least a portion of the first layer, including the score line, thus defining an overlaid score area. The overlaid score area may include at least a portion in which the second layer is not adhered to the first layer.

Products are commonly packaged in boxes, containers or cartons which may, for example, be formed from a paperboard material. Examples of such boxes, containers or cartons include cereal boxes, milk cartons, butter and margarine boxes and beer and soft drink secondary packaging (e.g., cartons enclosing a plurality of beer or soft drink cans or bottles). For explanatory purposes, the simple term "carton" may be used throughout this description to refer to the general type of boxes, containers or cartons described above.
A carton generally begins as a carton blank which is generally formed from a sheet of paperboard, although other materials are sometimes used. A carton blank will typically include various score lines about which the blank is to be folded, according to the desired configuration of the carton to be formed from the blank. After a carton blank is formed, it is often converted into a "knocked-down" carton. To form the knocked-down carton, the carton blank is typically folded about some, but not all of its score lines in such a way that, although it is partially formed, it still maintains a substantially flat configuration. This flat configuration facilitates space-efficient storage and/or transport of the knocked-down cartons prior to being filled with product.
A knocked-down carton is generally fed into machinery (usually a product filling machine) that opens the knocked-down carton from its flat configuration into what is commonly referred to an "erected carton". In general terms, the filling machine then fills the erected carton with product and then completely seals the carton into a finished package ready for shipment and consumption.
Carton filling operations are typically carried out on high-speed automated machinery. As noted above, one of the first operations performed by this machinery is to open the knocked-down carton into an erected carton to facilitate introduction of product. This opening, in turn, involves the application of an "opening force" to the knocked-down carton for a given period of time. The period of time available depends upon the filling machine configuration and the speed at which the machine is being operated. The opening force applied by the filling machine causes the knocked-down carton to fold about various pre-scored fold lines. In the case of a carton having a rectangular cross-section, for example, erecting the knocked-down carton would require simultaneous folding about four parallel fold lines.
All knocked-down cartons exhibit some resistance to opening. This resistance is primarily associated with the energy required to fold the carton about the fold lines discussed above. If the opening resistance of a carton is too high, the knocked-down carton may fail to open properly when the opening force is applied by the filling machinery. This in turn, can cause the filling machine to jam and, thus, interfere with proper operation.
Some carton blanks are formed having a first (typically) paperboard layer and a second much thinner layer adhered thereto. The inner layer may, for example, be a paper material treated to be substantially impermeable to water and air (e.g., wax impregnated or laminated with plastic). In this manner, the inner layer can function as a liner and provide upper and lower flap portions such that it simulates a "bag-in-box" configuration. The outer layer is typically provided with scored fold lines to facilitate eventual transfiguration of the carton blank into a carton as generally discussed above. This type of carton blank is then typically converted into a knocked-down carton and, eventually, erected and filled, e.g., in a filling machine, in a manner as described above.

Carton, carton blank and associated methodology


A receiver chip, system and method for on-chip multi-node visible light communication, the receiver chip comprising: an array of receiver cells comprising an array of photodetectors, each receiver cell comprises at least one photodetector and is to receive light through the at least one photodetector, and a logical layer for independently configuring at least one selected receiver cell as a communication receiving channel. The system comprises an array of receiver cells comprising an array of photodetectors, each receiver cell includes at least one photodetector and is to receive light through the at least one photodetector, a logical layer to independently configure at least one selected receiver cell as a communication receiving channel, and a processor to receive data from the logical layer and control the logical layer for configuration of the receiver cells.

In the field of optical communication which does not use optical guides/fibers in order to transmit the communication, several methods are known. These methods belong to several different sub-classes, usually referred to by different terms, such as Wireless/Fiberless Optical Communication (WOC/FOC, mainly used to describe indoors, short range systems), Free Space Optical Communication (FSO, mainly used to describe outdoors, mid/long range systems), Visible Light Communication (VLC, mainly used to describe indoors and outdoors, on the visible light spectrum).
It is estimated that for the same conditions of data rate, power, distances, angles, etc. optical communication is about ten times more efficient than RF communication. Usually, the quality, and therefore the efficiency of communication method is determined by measuring the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) provided by the method.
Although the optical communication is much more efficient than RF communication, both methods have a similar disadvantage in wide angle transmissions. Wide angle transmissions and receptions enable receiving the transmission over a large angular area and thus, for example, reduce the need for aiming the transmission, and enable roaming within the receiving area. However, for all methods which do not use guides, fibers or cables (both optical and RF) the energy and therefore the SNR are a result of the solid angle of transmission and the distance. In the transmitter side, the wider is the solid angle of transmission, the lower will be the energy flux; additionally, the flux drops proportionally to 1/r2, where r is the radius of the transmitted area. In the receiver side, the wider is the solid angle of reception, the larger is the background noise collected. As the SNR decreases (due to low energy or high noise), the ability to achieve high data rates for long distances may decrease also.
Usage of narrow angle transmissions and reception may reduce the above mentioned deficiencies. However, the possibilities in using narrow angle transmission or reception are very limited due to the directionality of the transmission. The narrow angle requires accurate detection and aiming of the transmission to the receiver, and therefore, for example, transmissions to mobile receivers (or from mobile transmitters) may be hard to apply.
Another known sub-class of methods includes usage of angular diversity and/or spatial multiplexing, which usually employ multiple transmitters and/or multiple receivers. These methods may provide some more operational freedom relative to regular narrow angle transmissions. However, these methods may still require scanning of the space for detection of the required receiver/transmitter, may support only point to point (one-on-one) communication and may suffer from several disconnections in case the receiver and or transmitter are in relative movement

Receiver chip and method for on-chip multi-node visible light communication


GPS receivers utilize reference pulse shapes in operations to determine estimates of position and time to correct for range biases in differential operations and in signal quality operations. The reference pulse shapes may be code family based, or may be calibrated on a per satellite basis, to incorporate therein the affects of the satellite hardware on the transmitted signals. The receivers may further manipulate the calibrated pulse shape models on a per receiver basis, to incorporate therein the affects of the IF and RF paths through the respective receivers. The calibrated reference pulse shapes may also be used in multipath mitigation processing operations for the respective codes, to produce estimates of the direct path signals and corrections for the carrier and code tracking loops.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to spread-spectrum systems and, in particular, to systems that utilize reference pulse shapes of the correlation functions to improve the determination of the position and time estimation of radio location devices, such as GPS receivers.
2. Background Information
One example of a system that utilizes broadcast spread-spectrum signals is a global positioning system, such as, GPS, GLONAS or GALILEO systems. The system receivers determine their global positions based on the signals they receive from associated satellites. The broadcast spread-spectrum signal consists of a carrier that is modulated by at least one pseudorandom code, such as a binary PRN code that is a pseudo random sequence of one and zeros that periodically repeat. The ones and zeros in the PRN code are referred to as "code chips," and the transitions in the code from one to zero or zero to one, which occur at "code chip times," are referred to as "chip transitions." Each satellite uses a unique set of PRN codes on the signals it transmits, and thus, a receiver can associate a received signal with a particular satellite by determining which PRN code is included in the signal.
The receiver calculates the difference between the time a satellite transmits its signal and the time that the receiver receives the signal. The receiver then calculates its distance, or "pseudorange," from the satellite based on the associated time difference. Using the pseudoranges from at least four satellites, the receiver determines its global position and estimates the receiver time.
To determine the relative difference between the time a signal is transmitted and the time the signal is received, the receiver correlates a locally-generated version of the signal with the received signal. In particular, the receiver correlates a locally-generated carrier and a locally-generated PRN code with the carrier and the PRN code transmitted by the satellite. The timing of the locally-generated signal relative to the received signal is continually adjusted using information from correlation processes, to bring the locally generated signal into alignment with the received signal. Periodically, the receiver (a) samples the state, or the phase, of the locally generated signal in terms of fractions of chips, whole chips and code epochs of the PRN code, and carrier signal phase, and (b) converts the sampled state into a signal transmission time.
The receiver computes the signal travel times using a current estimate of the receiver time and the signal transmission times associated with at least four satellites and converts the signal travel times to distances. The receiver then combines the distances with respective computed satellite positions, estimates of associated ionospheric and tropospheric delays, and initial estimates of receiver position and time to produce refined estimates of receiver position and time.
The accuracy in synchronizing the state of the receiver-generated signals with the received signals directly affects the accuracy with which the receiver estimates its global position and time. The PRN code synchronization operations include the acquisition of the satellite PRN code and the tracking of the code. To acquire the PRN code, the receiver generally makes a series of correlation measurements that are separated in time by one or one-half code chip, to determine when the locally generated code aligns with the received code to within one code chip. To track the PRN code, the receiver generally makes correlation measurements that are associated with the received PRN code and early and late versions of the locally generated PRN code. Using the early and late correlation measurements, the receiver produces an associated error signal that is proportional to the misalignment between the local PRN code and the received PRN code. The error signal is used, in turn, to control the PRN code generator, which shifts the phase of the local PRN code essentially to minimize the error signal.
The receiver typically aligns the satellite carrier with a local carrier using correlation measurements associated with a punctual version of the local PRN code. To do this the receiver uses a carrier tracking phase lock loop.
The performance of the receiver in determining its position and time can be improved if the receiver is provided with additional information relating to estimated computation errors and also estimates of atmospheric, i.e., the ionospheric and tropospheric, delays. The sources of the errors in the calculations include satellite state errors, such as, for example, the differences between the computed and actual time bases for the satellites and the computed and actual positions of the satellites. Another source of errors is the corruption of the received signal by multipath signals, which are signals that travel along different paths and are reflected to the receiver from the ground, bodies of water, nearby buildings, etc.
One or more receivers at known locations monitor the satellite signals and produce corrections for the atmospheric delay information and the satellite state information. These one or more receivers may provide the corrections to remote receivers, which then incorporate the corrections into their real time position and time calculations. Alternatively, the corrections may be stored along with the correlation measurements made by the respective remote receivers, such that off-line adjustments can be made to the position and time calculations.
The multipath signals, which arrive at the receiver after the direct-path signal, combine with the direct-path signal to produce a distorted received signal. The distortion adversely affects code synchronization operations because the correlation measurements, which measure the correlation between the local PRN code and the received signal, are based on the entire received signal—including the multipath components thereof. Accordingly, the distortion may induce errors in the receiver synchronization process with the direct-path signal.
One way to more accurately synchronize the received and the locally-generated PRN codes is to use narrow correlation techniques as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,101,416; 5,390,207 and 5,495,499. Another way is to use a multipath mitigation technique ("MMT") that iteratively produces estimates of the correlation function pulse shapes associated with the direct path signal and one or more of the multipath signals.
One such technique is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,615,232 and 5,692,008, and a related technique that uses multiple correlators is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,729. The MMT's may be used alone or in combination with the narrow correlation technique.
The GNSS receivers may use reference pulse shapes as part of the multipath mitigation processing operations, to aid in determining the direct path signal. The reference pulse shapes are associated with characteristic pulse shape models that are based on a set of correlation values associated with a given type of PRN code, i.e., a C/A code or a P code. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,232, the reference pulse shapes may be produced using correlation measurements that are made in the absence of significant signal noise and multipath signals, using a PRN code signal produced by a signal simulator. The reference pulse shapes, which are stored in, for example, a table in the receiver, are retrieved for use in the multipath mitigation calculations as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,232. In practice, the receiver manufacturers may operate a receiver in an environment that is free of multipath signals and determine the reference code pulse shapes using the GNSS satellite signals.
An improvement to the multipath mitigation technique uses reference pulse shapes for "code families" within the code types. A code family is defined by a set of correlation values that correspond to differences in alignment of ±1 chip and/or ±2 chips, with codes in the same family having the same set of correlation values. With the GPS C/A code, a one chip delay defines three C/A code families by the three possible correlation values or 1, 0 or −1. Using both one and two chip delays, there are nine possibilities, however, two combinations of the values do not occur with the C/A code and there are thus seven C/A codes families. Each of the 7 families has its own reference pulse shape.
While the multipath mitigation techniques work well, there is room for some improvement. In particular, there is room for improvement in situations in which the timing of the chip transitions in the multipath signals is very close to the timing of the chip transitions in the direct path signal. In such situations, the known prior systems may introduce residuals and associated tracking errors into the processing based on the differences between the reference pulse shapes and the pulse shapes that correspond to the transmitted codes. Accordingly, what is needed is a mechanism to reduce the residuals and associated tracking errors.
The typical correlation process described above produces the distinctive triangularly shaped function. The functionality of this correlation process, namely, determining the relative alignment between received and locally generated signals, can also be accomplished using other techniques. The other techniques may, however, result in the function having a shape other than the traditional triangular shape. In particular, as discussed in a co-pending patent application entitled Apparatus For And Method of Making Pulse-Shape Measurements, filed Apr. 13, 2004 and accorded U.S. Ser. No. 10/823,030, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, a system may employ a pre-correlation filtering process that produces a step shaped function.
The pre-correlation filtering process can measure distortions in the perceived signal with greater fidelity than a traditional correlation process, as is described in the co-pending patent application. The improved fidelity is a result of measuring a signal within several well-defined ranges with respect to an estimated chip transition location rather than using a measurement that is obtained through an integration process. I have determined that the use of reference pulse shape models, here reference step shape models, provides further improvement to the receiver that uses the pre-correlation filtering process, as discussed in more detail below.
Further, as is also discussed below, I have determined that certain benefits can be achieved by using reference pulse shapes in other receiver operations, that is, in operations other than multipath mitigation processing, such as in position estimation and timing estimation operations that are included in differential operating modes and in signal quality monitoring operations.

Apparatus for and method of improving position and time estimation of radio location devices using calibrated pulse shapes