A solution framework is employed that includes defining of a mechanism to run multiple queries in a single message exchange, along with a priority on a per-query basis. In some embodiments, a system for facilitating handover of a mobile device across heterogeneous access networks by ensuring response to queries transmitted by the mobile device includes: a) a mobile device having a plurality of wireless network interfaces for communicating over a plurality of heterogeneous access networks, having a media independent handover (MIH) entity to facilitate handovers between the heterogeneous networks, and configured to transmit queries related to handover operation between the heterogeneous access networks to MIH entities within said heterogeneous access networks; and b) said media independent handover entity of said mobile device being configured to transmit multiple queries in a single message exchange to an MIH entity in an access network with prioritization among said multiple queries.

1. Background Applications (No Priority Claimed)
The entire disclosures of each of the following U.S. Non-Provisional and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference: Ser. No. 11/267,590, filed on Nov. 7, 2005, entitled Network Discovery Mechanisms; and Ser. No. 10/761,243 entitled Mobility Architecture Using Pre-Authentication, Pre-Configuration and/or Virtual Soft-Handoff, filed on Jan. 22, 2004.
2. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to wireless networking and, in some preferred embodiments, to systems and methods for overcoming querying issues in wireless networks and/or the like.
3. General Background Discussion
Networks and Internet Protocol:
There are many types of computer networks, with the Internet having the most notoriety. The Internet is a worldwide network of computer networks. Today, the Internet is a public and self-sustaining network that is available to many millions of users. The Internet uses a set of communication protocols called TCP/IP (i.e., Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) to connect hosts. The Internet has a communications infrastructure known as the Internet backbone. Access to the Internet backbone is largely controlled by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that resell access to corporations and individuals.
With respect to IP (Internet Protocol), this is a protocol by which data can be sent from one device (e.g., a phone, a PDA [Personal Digital Assistant], a computer, etc.) to another device on a network. There are a variety of versions of IP today, including, e.g., IPv4, IPv6, etc. Each host device on the network has at least one IP address that is its own unique identifier.
IP is a connectionless protocol. The connection between end points during a communication is not continuous. When a user sends or receives data or messages, the data or messages are divided into components known as packets. Every packet is treated as an independent unit of data.
In order to standardize the transmission between points over the Internet or the like networks, an OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model was established. The OSI model separates the communications processes between two points in a network into seven stacked layers, with each layer adding its own set of functions. Each device handles a message so that there is a downward flow through each layer at a sending end point and an upward flow through the layers at a receiving end point. The programming and/or hardware that provides the seven layers of function is typically a combination of device operating systems, application software, TCP/IP and/or other transport and network protocols, and other software and hardware.
Typically, the top four layers are used when a message passes from or to a user and the bottom three layers are used when a message passes through a device (e.g., an IP host device). An IP host is any device on the network that is capable of transmitting and receiving IP packets, such as a server, a router or a workstation. Messages destined for some other host are not passed up to the upper layers but are forwarded to the other host. In the OSI and other similar models, IP is in Layer-3, the network layer.
Wireless Networks:
Wireless networks can incorporate a variety of types of mobile devices, such as, e.g., cellular and wireless telephones, PCs (personal computers), laptop computers, wearable computers, cordless phones, pagers, headsets, printers, PDAs, etc. For example, mobile devices may include digital systems to secure fast wireless transmissions of voice and/or data. Typical mobile devices include some or all of the following components: a transceiver (i.e., a transmitter and a receiver, including, e.g., a single chip transceiver with an integrated transmitter, receiver and, if desired, other functions); an antenna; a processor; one or more audio transducers (for example, a speaker or a microphone as in devices for audio communications); electromagnetic data storage (such as, e.g., ROM, RAM, digital data storage, etc., such as in devices where data processing is provided); memory; flash memory; a full chip set or integrated circuit; interfaces (such as, e.g., USB, CODEC, UART, PCM, etc.); and/or the like.
Wireless LANs (WLANs) in which a mobile user can connect to a local area network (LAN) through a wireless connection may be employed for wireless communications. Wireless communications can include, e.g., communications that propagate via electromagnetic waves, such as light, infrared, radio, microwave. There are a variety of WLAN standards that currently exist, such as, e.g., Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, and HomeRF.
By way of example, Bluetooth products may be used to provide links between mobile computers, mobile phones, portable handheld devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other mobile devices and connectivity to the Internet. Bluetooth is a computing and telecommunications industry specification that details how mobile devices can easily interconnect with each other and with non-mobile devices using a short-range wireless connection. Bluetooth creates a digital wireless protocol to address end-user problems arising from the proliferation of various mobile devices that need to keep data synchronized and consistent from one device to another, thereby allowing equipment from different vendors to work seamlessly together. Bluetooth devices may be named according to a common naming concept. For example, a Bluetooth device may possess a Bluetooth Device Name (BDN) or a name associated with a unique Bluetooth Device Address (BDA). Bluetooth devices may also participate in an Internet Protocol (IP) network. If a Bluetooth device functions on an IP network, it may be provided with an IP address and an IP (network) name. Thus, a Bluetooth Device configured to participate on an IP network may contain, e.g., a BDN, a BDA, an IP address and an IP name. The term "IP name" refers to a name corresponding to an IP address of an interface.
An IEEE standard, IEEE 802.11, specifies technologies for wireless LANs and devices. Using 802.11, wireless networking may be accomplished with each single base station supporting several devices. In some examples, devices may come pre-equipped with wireless hardware or a user may install a separate piece of hardware, such as a card, that may include an antenna. By way of example, devices used in 802.11 typically include three notable elements, whether or not the device is an access point (AP), a mobile station (STA), a bridge, a PCMCIA card or another device: a radio transceiver; an antenna; and a MAC (Media Access Control) layer that controls packet flow between points in a network.
In addition, Multiple Interface Devices (MIDs) may be utilized in some wireless networks. MIDs may contain two independent network interfaces, such as a Bluetooth interface and an 802.11 interface, thus allowing the MID to participate on two separate networks as well as to interface with Bluetooth devices. The MID may have an IP address and a common IP (network) name associated with the IP address.
Wireless network devices may include, but are not limited to Bluetooth devices, Multiple Interface Devices (MIDs), 802.11x devices (IEEE 802.11 devices including, e.g., 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g devices), HomeRF (Home Radio Frequency) devices, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) devices, GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) devices, 3G cellular devices, 2.5G cellular devices, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) devices, EDGE (Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution) devices, TDMA type (Time Division Multiple Access) devices, or CDMA type (Code Division Multiple Access) devices, including CDMA2000. Each network device may contain addresses of varying types including but not limited to an IP address, a Bluetooth Device Address, a Bluetooth Common Name, a Bluetooth IP address, a Bluetooth IP Common Name, an 802.11 IP Address, an 802.11 IP common Name, or an IEEE MAC address.
Wireless networks can also involve methods and protocols found in, e.g., Mobile IP (Internet Protocol) systems, in PCS systems, and in other mobile network systems. With respect to Mobile IP, this involves a standard communications protocol created by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). With Mobile IP, mobile device users can move across networks while maintaining their IP Address assigned once. See Request for Comments (RFC) 3344. NB: RFCs are formal documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Mobile IP enhances Internet Protocol (IP) and adds means to forward Internet traffic to mobile devices when connecting outside their home network. Mobile IP assigns each mobile node a home address on its home network and a care-of-address (CoA) that identifies the current location of the device within a network and its subnets. When a device is moved to a different network, it receives a new care-of address. A mobility agent on the home network can associate each home address with its care-of address. The mobile node can send the home agent a binding update each time it changes its care-of address using, e.g., Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP).
In basic IP routing (i.e. outside mobile IP), typically, routing mechanisms rely on the assumptions that each network node always has a constant attachment point to, e.g., the Internet and that each node's IP address identifies the network link it is attached to. In this document, the terminology "node" includes a connection point, which can include, e.g., a redistribution point or an end point for data transmissions, and which can recognize, process and/or forward communications to other nodes. For example, Internet routers can look at, e.g., an IP address prefix or the like identifying a device's network. Then, at a network level, routers can look at, e.g., a set of bits identifying a particular subnet. Then, at a subnet level, routers can look at, e.g., a set of bits identifying a particular device. With typical mobile IP communications, if a user disconnects a mobile device from, e.g., the Internet and tries to reconnect it at a new subnet, then the device has to be reconfigured with a new IP address, a proper netmask and a default router. Otherwise, routing protocols would not be able to deliver the packets properly.
I.E.E.E 802.21 Standard:
The IEEE 802.21 standard supports different handover methods. Such methods are generally classified as 'hard' or 'soft', depending on whether the handover procedure is "break-before-make" or "make-before-break" with respect to the data transport facilities that support the exchange of data packets between the mobile node and the network. Handover decision-making involves cooperative use of both mobile node and network infrastructure.
The IEEE 802.21 standard defines services that enhance handovers between heterogeneous access links.
1. A Media Independent Event Service (MIES) which provides event classification, event filtering and event reporting corresponding to dynamic changes in link characteristics, link status, and link quality.
2. A Media Independent Command Service (MICS) which enables MIH Users to manage and control link behavior relevant to handovers and mobility.
3. A Media Independent Information Service (MIIS) which provides details on the characteristics and services provided by the serving and neighboring networks. The information enables effective system access and effective handover decisions.
An MIHF provides asynchronous and synchronous services through well-defined Service Access Points (SAPs) for link layers and MIH Users. (MIHF is a logical entity that facilitates handover decision making. MIH Users make handover decisions based on inputs from the MIHF.) In the case of a system with multiple network interfaces of arbitrary type, the MIH Users may use the Event Service, Command Service and Information Service provided by MIHF to manage, determine, and control the state of the underlying interfaces.
These services provided by MIHF help the MIH Users in maintaining service continuity, service adaptation to varying quality of service, battery life conservation, network discovery, and link selection. In a system containing heterogeneous network interfaces of IEEE 802 types and cellular (3GPP, 3GPP2) types, the MIHF may help the MIH Users to implement effective procedures to couple services across heterogeneous network interfaces. MIH Users may utilize services provided by the MIHF across different entities to query resources required for a handover operation between heterogeneous networks.
MIH services in mobile nodes facilitate seamless handovers between heterogeneous networks. An MIH User such as a mobility management protocol (e.g., Mobile IP) could be supported for handover and seamless session continuity. This shall not preclude other protocols in addition to Mobile IP and even other MIH Users from making use of MIH services to optimize handovers.
An illustrative network model including MIH services is shown in FIG. 1 to better illustrate the MIH Communication Reference Points. Moving from right to left, the model includes an MIH-capable mobile node (MN, far right) that supports multiple wired and wireless access technologies. The model assumes that the serving network either operates multiple link-layer technologies or allows its user to roam into other networks when a service level agreement (SLA) in support of inter-working has been established. The model illustrates access networks that are connected in some loose, serial way to a given core network (i.e., Core Operator 1, 2, or 3).
Also depicted is an access network that is more tightly coupled (Access Network-3). Each Core Operator network (1, 2, or 3) might represent a service provider, corporate intranet provider, or just another part of the visited or home access. In this depicted model the provisioning provider is operating Access Network-3, which couples the terminal to the core (labeled Home Core Network) via R1.
At any given point in time, the subscriber's serving network may be the home network or a visited network. The network providers offer MIH services in their access networks (Access Network-1 to 4) in order to facilitate heterogeneous handovers into their networks. Each access technology either advertises its MIH capability or responds to MIH service discovery. Each service provider for these access networks allows access to one or more MIH Points of Service (PoS) node(s). These PoS nodes may provide some or all of the MIH services as determined during the MIH capabilities discovery. The PoS location may vary based on the operator deployment scenario and the technology-specific MIH architecture.
An MIH PoS may reside next to, or co-located with, the point of attachment (PoA) node in the access network (e.g., Access Network 1, 2, 4). Alternatively, the PoS may reside deeper inside the access or core networks (e.g., Access Network 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the MIH entity in the MN can communicate with MIH network entities using reference points R1, R2, or R3 over any of the available access network. If the PoA in the serving access network has a co-located MIHF, the R1 reference connection terminates at the PoA which is also the PoS (MN to Access Network 1, 2, 4 of the model can all be R1). In that case an R3 reference connection would be terminated at any non-PoA (illustrated by MN connectivity to Access Networks 1, 2, 4). MIH events may originate at both sides of an active R1 link. The MN is typically the first node to react to these events.
The interaction of visited and home networks could be either for control and management purposes or for data transport purposes. It is also possible that due to roaming or SLA agreements, the home network may allow the MN to access the public Internet directly through a visited network. As illustrated, two MIH network entities may communicate with each other via R4 or R5 reference points. The MIH capable PoA may also communicate with other MIH network entities via R4 and R5 reference points. The MIH capable MN could have an MIH communication with other PoA in the candidate access networks via R2 reference point to obtain Information Services about the candidate network.
With regard to the MIH Information Service, visited providers can offer access to their information server located in an MIH PoS node (upper far left). The operator provides the MIIS to mobile nodes so they can obtain pertinent information including, but not limited, to new roaming lists, costs, provider identification information, provider services, priorities and any other information that would enable the selection and utilization of these services. As illustrated, it is possible for the mobile node to be pre-provisioned with MIIS data by its provider. Also possible is for the mobile node to obtain MIH Information Services from any access network of its provider or visited networks that maintain SLA agreements with the provisioner. MIIS could also be available from another overlapping or nearby visited network, using that network's MIIS point of service. The serving network may utilize R4 and R5 interfaces to access other MIH entities. As an example, in FIG. 3 the home network may access its own MIH information server or core operator 1 (visited network) MIH information server.
The IEEE 802.21 standard supports the Media Independent Event service, Media Independent Command service and Media Independent Information service. The MIH Protocol defines the format of the messages (i.e. MIHF packet with header and payload) that are exchanged between remote MIHF entities and the transport mechanisms that support the delivery of the messages. The selection of the transport mechanism is dependent on the access technology that connects the MN to the network and the location of the MIH PoS.
The packet payload for these services may be carried over L2 management frames, L2 data frames or other higher layer protocols. Wireless networks such as 802.11 and 802.16 have a management plane and support management frames which could be suitably enhanced for carrying the above payloads. However, the wired Ethernet network does not have management plane and may carry the above payloads only in data frames.
The IEEE 802.21 standard defines the packet format and payloads in media independent manner in standard TLV (Time-Length-Value) format. See, e.g., FIG. 5(C) illustrating standard TLV format. Thereafter, these packets may be encapsulated in a L2 MIH Protocol using MIHF Ethertype when the payload needs to be sent over normal data frames as in case of Ethernet. In other cases the TLV based messages and payload may be directly encapsulated in media specific management frames. Alternatively, MIH protocol messages may be encapsulated using a lower layer (L2) or a higher layer (L3 and above) transport.
The IEEE 802.21 standard defines the format of MIH Protocol data unit (PDU) header and payload. Standard TLV format provides media-independent representation for the PDU payload contents. The MIHF PDUs are encapsulated in data frames with MIHF Ethertype over 802 links. For 802.11 and 802.16 links extensions of media-specific management frames are recommended for carrying MIH messages. No assumptions are made in this standard regarding the transport of MIH messages over 3GPP and 3GPP2 access links at L2.
MIHF Transactions and Messages:
An MIHF transaction involves combination of an MIHF Request or Indication message and the corresponding MIHF Response message (if applicable) that are exchanged between two MIHF peers. It is required to match each request message that is sent by the initiator with its response message. Acknowledgement messages associated with this message exchange are also part of the transaction.
In MIH protocol messages, all TLV definitions are always aligned on an octet boundary and hence no padding is required. FIG. 5(A) shows the components of the MIH protocol frame. With reference to FIG. 5(B), the MIH protocol header carries the essential information which is present in every frame and is important for parsing and analyzing the MIH protocol frame.
The following TLV encoding can be used for parameters in MIH Protocol Messages. The Type field is one octet. The format of the Length field shall be per the "definite form" of ITU-T X.690. Specifically, if the actual length of the Value field is less than or equal to 127 octets, then a) the length of the Length field shall be one octet, b) the MSB of the Length field shall be set to 0, and c) the other 7 bits of the Length field shall be used to indicate the actual value of the Value field in octets.
If the length of the Value field is more than 127 octets, then: a) the length of the Length field shall be one octet more than what is actually used to indicate the length of the Value field in octets; b) the MSB of the first octet of the length field shall be set to 1; c) the other 7 bits of the first octet of the length field shall be used to indicate the number of additional octets of the Length field (i.e., excluding the first octet); and d) the remaining octets (i.e., excluding the first octet) of the Length field shall be used to indicate the actual length of the Value field. TLV type values shall be unique. TLV encoding start at 1 and subsequent values are assigned in ascending order.
All MIH messages carry a source MIHF ID followed by a destination MIHF ID as the first two TLVs of the MIH protocol payload part of the message. By way of example, an MIH_Get_Information request message is used by an MIHF to retrieve a set of Information Elements provided by the information service. A single MIH_Get_Information request message can carry multiple queries of a combination of Binary, RDF_Data, RDF_Schema_URL and RDF_Schema types. An illustrative MIH_Get_Information message format is shown in FIG. 5(D).
Illustrative Computer Architectures:
FIG. 2 depicts some illustrative architectural components that can be employed in some illustrative and non-limiting implementations including wireless access points to which client devices communicate. In this regard, FIG. 2 shows an illustrative wireline network 20 connected to a wireless local area network (WLAN) generally designated 21. The WLAN 21 includes an access point (AP) 22 and a number of user stations 23, 24. For example, the wireline network 20 can include the Internet or a corporate data processing network. For example, the access point 22 can be a wireless router, and the user stations 23, 24 can be, e.g., portable computers, personal desk-top computers, PDAs, portable voice-over-IP telephones and/or other devices. The access point 22 has a network interface 25 linked to the wireline network 21, and a wireless transceiver in communication with the user stations 23, 24. For example, the wireless transceiver 26 can include an antenna 27 for radio or microwave frequency communication with the user stations 23, 25. The access point 22 also has a processor 28, a program memory 29, and a random access memory 31. The user station 23 has a wireless transceiver 35 including an antenna 36 for communication with the access point station 22. In a similar fashion, the user station 24 has a wireless transceiver 38 and an antenna 39 for communication to the access point 22. By way of example, in some embodiments an authenticator could be employed within such an access point (AP) and/or a supplicant or peer could be employed within a mobile node or user station.
FIG. 3 shows an illustrative computer or control unit that can be used to implement computerized process steps, to be carried out by devices, such as, e.g., an access point, a user station, a mobile node or other node in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the computer or control unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) 322, which can communicate with a set of input/output (I/O) device(s) 324 over a bus 326. The I/O devices 324 can include, for example, a keyboard, monitor, and/or other devices. The CPU 322 can communicate with a computer readable medium (e.g., conventional volatile or non-volatile data storage devices) 328 (hereafter "memory 328") over the bus 326. The interaction between a CPU 322, I/O devices 324, a bus 326, and a memory 328 can be like that known in the art. Memory 328 can include, e.g., data 330. The memory 328 can also store software 338. The software 338 can include a number of modules 340 for implementing the steps of processes. Conventional programming techniques may be used to implement these modules. Memory 328 can also store the above and/or other data file(s). In some embodiments, the various methods described herein may be implemented via a computer program product for use with a computer system. This implementation may, for example, include a series of computer instructions fixed on a computer readable medium (e.g., a diskette, a CD-ROM, ROM or the like) or transmittable to a computer system via and interface device, such as a modem or the like. A communication medium may be substantially tangible (e.g., communication lines) and/or substantially intangible (e.g., wireless media using microwave, light, infrared, etc.). The computer instructions can be written in various programming languages and/or can be stored in memory device(s), such as semiconductor devices (e.g., chips or circuits), magnetic devices, optical devices and/or other memory devices. In the various embodiments, the transmission may use any appropriate communications technology.
While a variety of systems and methods are known, there remains a need for improved systems and methods, including, e.g., systems and methods for improving the ability to gain network access.


The mobile floating lift is disclosed and may include a cradle dimensioned and adjustable to conform to, engage, lift and store a watercraft, wherein the cradle has at least a first end and a second end opposite the first end, at least two floatation assemblies, each spaced along separate axes, each of the at least two floatation assemblies having at least one floatation device, wherein the cradle is spaced between the at least two floatation assemblies pivotally attached near the first end of the cradle at least one pivot point, and at least one drive mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the at least two floatation assemblies and to the cradle for moving the cradle in an arcing vertical direction toward the at least two floatation assemblies, wherein the at least one drive mechanism operates to raise the second end of the cradle in an arc relative to the pivot point.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of watercraft vessel lifts, and in particular, floating lifts for watercraft.
2. Introduction
From ancient times, sailors' concerns in regard to boat maintenance have included harmful effects associated with boats stored or moored floating and or immersed in water. Boats stored or moored while floating on their own hulls and or immersed in water are subject to damage not limited to water absorption in and through the hull, electrolysis and marine growth such as barnacles, muscles and algae.
In addition to water being a harsh environment for a watercraft, many bodies of water are also subject to severe tide changes and rocky bottom and shoreline contours. In addition to water being a harsh environment for a watercraft, many bodies of water and their surrounding shoreline are subject to severe tide variations, rocky bottom and shoreline contours and severe icing conditions which render permanent docking structures ineffective with a resulting shortage of means for mooring a watercraft.
Watercraft lifts were developed to lift a boat clear from the water when the watercraft is not in use. Generally, watercraft lifts are mechanisms boat owners can operate to lower and raise their watercraft without professional boat handling assistance or experience.
Prior art attempts deal with these problems and show varying boat lift mechanisms have been lacking in many areas. Several attempts include boat lifts utilizing variable buoyancy air chambers as lifting devices and support mechanisms as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,018,179, 3,727,415 and 3,362,172. These mechanisms vary in design, however all share the common fatal flaw in if the air chamber does not sustain a seal, the air leaks, buoyancy is lost, the design fails and the watercraft lowers down into the water.
Another common disadvantage to the air chamber actuated lift is inherent instability during actuation. As water is purged from tank or conversely flooded into tank a high and low pressure differential is created; water and air shift sides causing an uneven weight distribution and instability which necessitates drawing stability from a non-inclusive third party structures such as docks, piers, seawalls and bulkheads.
Yet more prior art in the field of boat lift mechanisms show a number of designs like U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,967,570, and 3,727,415 whose fatal flaws include the requirement for attachment to and support from secondary structures, and objects such as fixed and floating docks, bulkheads and seawalls. Furthermore, these design lack an independently floating front pivot point, not allowing the pivot point to raise and lower, so as to not produce an asymmetrically forward cant, so as to not allow such a watercraft lift to more evenly engage a watercraft, be self sustainable, or operate in shallow water.
Other boat lift mechanisms prior art attempts, like U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,661, include boat lift mechanisms mounted to stationary objects such as the seafloor, a bulkhead and a stationary non floating pier or dock, for example. In all these cases a fatal flaw exists in a limitation of lifting height versus differing extreme tidal fluctuations and flooding. When the tidal fluctuation height surpasses this type of boat lift mechanisms maximum lifting height the boat could float off. This type of lift is also limited in its transportability and transferability and often requires substantial alteration to or addition of aforementioned third party support structures.
Yet more prior art in the field of boat lift mechanisms shows a number of designs like U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,964,239B2, 6,032,601, and 6,823,809 wherein fixed floatation devices are moved and manipulated to lift both the boat and the boat lift mechanisms. These boat lift mechanisms vary in design and complexity but share common traits and undesirable flaws and limitations such as their submerging of substantial moving parts of the boat lift including drive and winding mechanisms respectively.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,239B2 is shown with a substantial amount of "base structure" "comprising: at least one parallelogram linkage supporting a cradle of boat bunks, requiring that at least one parallelogram linkage and at least one aqueous hydraulic cylinder are always underwater. This mandatory submerging and actuation during submersion of substantial moving parts and drives directly effect and degrade the boat lift mechanism in a manner similar to the way in which immersed watercraft are affected and degraded. Additional shortcomings relative to these designs include the number and complexity of moving parts and their limitations on boat sizes, hull shapes and configurations. For example, a deep draft boat or sailboat having a deep draft keel cannot enter exit, or be lifted by, this design.
Yet more prior art in the field of boat lift mechanisms attempt to combine multiple, connected, hollow, airtight floatation units to form a floatation surface, examples of which are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,855,180 and 5,931,113. These designs require a watercraft to propel itself up and onto the floatation surface and to be pulled off of the floatation surface for launching, precluding usage of the design by watercraft having insufficient thrust and/or deep drafts such as sailboats.
There remains a need in the art for a boat lift mechanism that will lift and sustain a watercraft above the water, that floats and is self sustaining, that does not require support or stability from fixed structures, that is unaffected by fluctuation in water levels, that limits the submerging of substantial moving parts including drive and winding mechanisms, that accepts a variety of watercraft including deep draft vessels, and that eliminates the potential of air leakage associated with air chambers and associated valves, pumps and plumbing.


In a movable object system (10) that makes use of both a maintained count (31) that corresponds to movement of a given object and passpoint events (32) as generated by a corresponding passpoint signal generator (15), count zones (34, 37, 36A, 36B) can be defined for at least one of the passpoint events. Such count zones can be used to aid in determining when significant recalibration of the passpoint event/count value relationships should be undertaken. In a preferred embodiment, such count zones include no more than a single passpoint event.

Various objects are moved in an automated fashion. To ensure controlled movement of the object the relative position of the object must usually be known (at least during certain portions of the object's travel and trajectory). For example, when the object comprises a movable barrier that moves pursuant to the motive facilitation of a corresponding movable barrier operator, relative position of the movable barrier with respect to known obstacles (such as a floor, wall, or other fixed barrier) should be known in order to aid in ensuring that the automated mechanism does not mis-position the movable barrier with respect to such an obstacle and thereby potentially damage the movable barrier, the obstacle, and/or the movable barrier operator mechanism or other persons or property in the vicinity of the impact.
Various solutions are known in the art to facilitate knowing the present likely position of a moving object. One simple solution makes use of so-called limit switches. These are mechanically actuated switches that are usually placed in a fixed location of interest (such as near a desired end-of-travel location for the movable barrier). Such switches are closed when physically contacted by the movable barrier and can serve to signal a controller that the movable barrier has at least reached a position that corresponds to the location of the limit switch.
While suitable for many settings, there are some scenarios when such switches provide less than satisfactory service. This method of knowing the position does not readily facilitate automatic setup of the travel for the moving object. This, in turn, allows limits of travel to be set correctly or incorrectly as ordained by an installer. For example, when an installer sets the limits of travel he or she can set the stop position a long distance from the true end of travel.
Another prior art approach provides for the generation of signals that each correspond to a particular amount of travel for the object in question. For example, many movable barrier operators use magnetic or light sensitive sensors to detect rotation of a motor (or other motive linkage) that drives movement of a corresponding movable barrier. These pulses are then counted during a learning mode of operation to ascertain the number of pulses that are required to move the object from a first position to a second position. That count is then used during normal operation to measure and detect a present position of the moving object.
Again, unfortunately, such an approach, while providing satisfactory service in some circumstances, often leaves much to be desired. For example, when used with a movable barrier operator, such an approach is highly subject to slight shifts in the physical position compared to the count (due to missed or additional counts, or power loss while in travel). Such slight shifts can give rise to small errors that, over time, can accrue to a significant extent. Such an accrued error will, in turn, cause the movable barrier operator to mis-locate a present position of the movable barrier and again potentially permit or even cause an inappropriate attempted positioning of the movable barrier with respect to an obstacle such as a floor, wall, gate frame, or the like.
Passpoint-based schemes have been proposed to supplement such count-based approaches. Such systems typically provide for the generation of a passpoint event during ordinary travel of a corresponding object, such as a movable barrier, between two or more expected positions. This passpoint event can comprise, for example, a discrete light signal that is independent of the signals that are used to generate the above-described count and will usually be generated through an independent passpoint event generator that responds independently to some indicia of object movement. In theory, such a passpoint event can be utilized as a known fixed location as corresponds to movement of the moving object. Accordingly, the count can then be maintained as a function of that known fixed location to avoid the accrued error circumstances that can otherwise afflict such count-based systems.
Unfortunately, during initial installation the passpoint event has to be placed in the travel somewhere between the limits. This usually entails the passpoint being set to a specific position and the installer being required to install the unit in a specific location. If the installer does not accurately follow the installation procedure, the passpoint can be placed in a location that is not between the limits of travel. Under such circumstances, the movable barrier then has no passpoint event against which to calibrate its count or other position-determining processes.
To attempt to resolve such problems as these, other prior art suggestions provide for a plurality of passpoint events instead of only a single such event during any reasonable extent of movable barrier travel. So configured, at least one passpoint event will likely be detected during a learning sequence and thereby provide a basis for comparison to determine the accuracy of a present count and/or to re-calibrate the perceived position of the movable barrier with respect to the passpoint event. Again, however, such a solution has only begot yet other problems. In particular, it is possible for a movable barrier operator to become uncalibrated with respect to which passpoint event, of many detectable passpoint events, comprises the particular passpoint event against which location of the movable barrier can be firmly ascertained and measured.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are typically not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

Self-healing passpoint-facilitated method and apparatus


The invention relates to an injection device for the metered injection of two liquids, in predeterminable quantity ratios, into a reaction chamber, the device having a housing (1) that includes an injection nozzle, the opening (13) of which forms an injection valve with the valve seat (14) in the housing (1) and a valve body (15) that can be positioned on the valve seat (14); the valve body (15) can be moved by a first actuator; the collection chamber (16) of the device is associated with the nozzle opening (13), and is connected to a supply line (17) for the first liquid (A) and a supply line (21) for the second liquid (B), with a metering valve (22) being set up to block at least one supply line (21) to the collection chamber, the valve being actuated by a second actuator; one of the two liquids is under a higher pressure than the other liquid; the device further has a control device (10), which can actuate the two actuators as a function of a load-stipulated total injection quantity and as a function of a predeterminable quantity ratio of the two liquids (A, B), with at least one valve being actuated in a clocked manner.

Numerous applications necessitate the metered injection of two different liquids into a reaction chamber, in which the two liquids are allowed to react with one another. Such an application is a so-called reformer for a fuel cell, in which hydrogen and oxygen are essentially allowed to react to form water in a xe2x80x9ccold combustion,xe2x80x9d thereby generating electrical energy.
The use of these fuel cells as an alternative for internal-combustion engines stipulates that sufficient quantities of hydrogen also be conveyed, in gaseous or cryogenic form, in a storage vessel. This requires a large structural space and high weight, and also represents a considerable potential danger.
It is therefore desirable to produce the hydrogen using a catalytic reformer immediately before the conversion in a fuel cell from other fuels, such as automobile fuel, diesel fuel or methanol. In a reformer of this type, the injected fuel reacts with additionally injected water to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which can then be converted into electrical energy in a known manner in the fuel cell.
Regarding fuel cells, DE 196 23 937 C1 and DE 199 18 997 A disclose mixing the two liquids in liquid or vapor form in the necessary ratio in advance, then supplying the mixture to the reactor or reformer. In DE 196 23 937 C1, varying load requirements are compensated through the maintenance of an ideal value for the mixture in a mixture-preparation stage; afterward, the supply of the two liquids is controlled. Adaptation to different load requirements is effected through the controlled extraction of the mixture from the mixture-preparation stage.
It is the object of the invention to create an injection device that allows two liquidsxe2x80x94in the case of the fuel cell, fuel and waterxe2x80x94to be metered directly into a reaction chamber via a common nozzle. Here, both the total quantity and the quantity ratio of the two liquids relative to one another are to be varied as a function of different operating points and/or changing load requirements.
In accordance with the invention, this object is accomplished by an injection device for the metered injection of two liquids, in predeterminable quantity ratios, into a reaction chamber, the device having a housing that includes an injection nozzle, the opening of which forms an injection valve with the valve seat in the housing and a valve body that can be positioned on the valve seat; the valve body can be moved by a first actuator; the collection chamber of the device is associated with the nozzle opening, and is connected to a supply line for the first liquid and a supply line for the second liquid, with a metering valve being set up to block at least one supply line to the collection chamber, the valve being actuated by a second actuator; one of the two liquids is under a higher pressure than the other liquid; the device further has a control device, which is connected to the two actuators and can actuate the two actuators as a function of a load-stipulated total injection quantity and as a function of a predeterminable quantity ratio of the two liquids, with at least one valve being actuated in a clocked manner. An injection device of this type allows the two liquids to be stored in the collection chamber of the injection device prior to the opening of the injection valve. Because a separate metering valve is provided for one of the liquids, preferably the liquid subjected to higher pressure, it is possible to introduce a predeterminable quantity of this liquid into the collection chamber of the injection device. If the nozzle opening is opened in the actuation of the injection valve, the pre-stored quantity of the one liquid is entrained by the incoming quantity of the other liquid. Thus, the total injection quantity can be injected directly into the reaction chamber as the two liquid components are mixed. The duration of the opening time of the injection valve determines the incoming quantity of the other liquid, preferably the liquid subjected to a lower pressure, both with respect to the partial quantity required for the reaction and the total injection quantity.
The arrangement of an additional metering valve that can be actuated independently of the injection valve, and in a clocked manner, offers numerous options for setting the total quantity of injected liquid, as well as for setting the quantity ratio of the two liquids to be injected. It is possible to establish different mixture ratios between these two liquids and the total quantity to be injected, not only due to the displacement of liquid out of the collection chamber during the opening time of the metering valve for the liquid under high pressure, the displacement allowing a matching quantity of liquid to be stored in advance in the collection chamber, but also through a temporary, overlapping opening of the metering valve with respect to the injection valve, or through an intermittent or clocked opening of the metering valve while the injection valve is open.
It is especially advantageous to position the discharge of the supply line for the liquid under the higher pressure near the valve seat of the valve body of the injection valve. In this case, when the liquid under the higher pressure is introduced into the collection chamber, the other liquid can be xe2x80x9cpressed backxe2x80x9d into its pressure chamber. Because the quantity of liquid stored in the collection chamber is under the pressure of the other liquid after the metering valve has been closed, when the injection valve is open and the metering valve is closed, the stored liquid is injected into the reaction chamber, followed after a slight delay by the other liquid, which guarantees a successful reaction.
In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the actuators are electromagnetic, with the movable valve bodies of the injection valve and the metering valve respectively being connected to an armature and a restoring spring that acts in the closing direction. Such actuators can be controlled with high precision with respect to the opening period by a corresponding control device, so, following an appropriate calibration, an injection device is available that permits a very precise, as-needed actuation of the metering valve and/or the injection valve when the liquids are supplied to the injection device under preset pressures.
Further features and embodiments of the invention ensue from the claims.

Injection system for dosed injections of two liquids into a reaction chamber


A linkage attachment device is used in cold weather in combination with f and water dispensing nozzles having triggers for opening and closing valves for dispensing liquids and for stopping the flow of liquid, without manual contact by the user with such nozzles. Means are provided for preventing the unintended opening of the valves and for limiting the degree to which the valves can be opened by actuating the linkage attachment device.

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to attachments for nozzles for dispensing liquid motor fuel or water. It relates particularly to attachments for use in cold weather to such nozzles having valves which are actuated by manually operated triggers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nozzles for dispensing liquids such as liquid motor fuels (e. g. gasoline, aviation gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel) or water, generally have valves with spring-loaded valve discs which are opened by pushing a valve stem against spring tension to lift a valve disc from the valve seat. The valve stem generally is pushed by a trigger, which is pulled by the user and which returns into its inactive position when released by the action of the spring, which forces the valve disc onto the valve seat, closing the valve and shutting off the flow of liquid.
Nozzles for dispensing liquids as described are generally connected to liquid supply systems via hoses. Such liquid supply systems supply the liquids under moderate pressure to assure a flow of liquid when the valve is opened.
Certain prior art patents have been granted for linkage and lever combinations as attachments to rifles to activate their triggers in cold weather by soldiers wearing hand mittens. However, these are not analogous to the attachment to fuel or water nozzles for cold-weather use as disclosed in the present invention.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


An optical transmission system provides digital signals which have added bits for error correction by an encoder which are converted into 16-QAM signals with a predetermined carrier frequency by a modulator, and then frequency division muitiplexed with an AM signal so as to be inputted to an optical-electric converter. When the total sum of the light modulation indices of signals to be transmitted is over 1, a light modulation index of an M-QAM signal is set by calculating the light modulation index that marks the onset of diverging from the error rate given by a ratio between receiver noise power and the M-QAM signal power while considering a light modulation index corresponding to a usable transmission margin. The multiplexed signals are transmitted via optical fiber and converted into electric signals by a photo receiver, demodulated by a demodulator, and then outputted after having their errors corrected by an error corrector.

(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical transmission system for transmitting frequency division multiplex signals used for the CATV system and other systems.
(2) Description of the Related Arts
According to the CATV system, multichannel TV signals which have been frequency division multiplexed are converted into optical signals and transmitted to a receiver via a single transmission line. The receiver, on the other hand, distributes received optical signals into different channels to demodulate.
The CATV system utilizes an optical transmission system because this permits the use of a laser diode (hereinafter referred to as LD) as an optical converter. An LD, which has very low distortion factor attributable to its good linearity, can perform excellent transmission as well as reducing carrier-to-noise ratio (hereinafter referred to as CNR). Such feature of LDs is described in "80-Channel AM-FDM TV Signal Optical Transmission System" by Tanabe et. al. in "National Technical Report Vol. 36, No. 6, Des. 1990", and "TV channel capacity of lightwave multichannel AM SCM systems as limited by laser threshold nonleniarity" pp.18-19 by C. J. Chung and I. Jacobs in Optical Communication Conference, March 1992. The latter-mentioned document says that LDs have excellent distortion characteristics even when multiplexed signals whose total sum of light modulation indexes is more than 1 are transmitted.
Nowadays, providing a much larger number of channels in the CATV system has been proposed to offer a wider range of services.
If VSB-AM signals of an analog modulation system, which have been already used for the present channels, are further used for channels to be added, the total sum of the levels of all the VSB-AM signals will exceed permissible amplitude, or a linear region of LDs as a light converter because these signals are susceptible to noises when required to raise their levels. Thus, the number of channels able to be added is limited; if LDs are already used for almost the entire amplitude for the present channels, no more channel can be added in such a system.
A proposal has been made to realize that as many channels as desired can be added if signals modulated by M-ary Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (hereinafter referred to as M-QAM) are used for the additional channels and then these M-QAM signals are frequency division multiplexed together with VSB-AM signals for the present channels. Such idea is disclosed, for example, in "Multichannel M-QAM for CATV Distribution" WB4 pp. 21-22 by I. M. I. Habbab, LEOS Summer Topical Meeting Digest, Wednesday, July 29, 1992.
The reason that the use of the M-QAM signal permits an increase in number of the channels as desired is as follows:
QAM signals express information to be transmitted both by amplitude and phases, which enables the information to be transmitted with a small amplitude. In addition, QAM is a type of a digital modulation system in which M-divided information is expressed, so that the signal is harder to be affected by noises than those of the analog modulation system, thus performing excellent transmission with small CNR.
A theoretical analysis between the CNR of QAM signals and its error rate is given in "Digital Communications" MacGraw-Hill Series in Electrical Engineering Second Edition, pp. 278-285 by J. G. Proakis. According to this book, maintaining a predetermined error rate automatically determines a CNR. Therefore, when it is desired to increase the number of channels in the CATV system, the device of each channel can be designed so that a CNR to maintain an error rate required as a system meets the CNR of J. G. Proakis. Since a CNR corresponds to the light modulation index of the signal, the modulation index of the modulator can be adjusted to a predetermined error rate.
However, the inventors of this invention actually multiplexed AM signals together with 16-QAM signals and experimentally transmitted them under the condition that the total sum of their light modulation indexes is beyond 1. And it was revealed through the experiment that the error rate of the 16-QAM signals had no such theoretical relation with a CNR, or a light modulation index as J. G. Proakis says, and that Guaranteeing the required error rate demands to increase the levels of the QAM signals so as to obtain quite a large SNR or light modulation index. Accordingly, to increase the levels of QAM signals sets limits to the number of channels being added as long as the amplitude of LDs is not changed.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


Apparatuses and methods are provided for forming C8 aromatic streams with selected amounts of C9 aromatics. In one embodiment, a method for forming a C8 aromatic stream with a selected amount of C9 aromatics includes fractionating a hydrocarbon stream including C8 and C9 aromatics into a sidedraw fraction and a bottom fraction. The sidedraw fraction includes a portion of the C8 aromatics and a portion of the C9 aromatics. The bottom fraction includes remaining C8 aromatics and C8+ hydrocarbons. The method further includes fractioning the bottom fraction and forming a heavy overhead fraction including the remaining C8 aromatics. Also, the method includes combining the sidedraw fraction and the heavy overhead fraction to form a combined stream having a C9 aromatics composition of from about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % about 2 wt % of a total weight of the combined stream.

Aromatic hydrocarbons can be processed to form product streams of a selected isomer of xylene. Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that includes a benzene ring and two methyl substituents. Based on the structural position of the methyl substituents, three isomers of xylene can be formed: paraxylene, metaxylene, and orthoxylene. Paraxylene is a feedstock for terephthalic acid, which is used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers and resins. Metaxylene is used in the manufacture of certain plasticizers, azo dyes, and wood preservatives. Orthoxylene is a feedstock for phthalic anhydride, which is used in the manufacture of certain plasticizers, dyes, and pharmaceutical products.
For production of a desired xylene isomer, a mixed stream of the three xylene isomers is typically produced before the desired xylene isomer is separated. In other words, the desired xylene is not selectively produced but is selectively separated. A desired xylene isomer can be separated from mixed xylene streams by using an adsorbent selective to the desired isomer. After the desired isomer is adsorbed from the mixed xylene stream, the remaining isomers are discharged in a mixed raffinate stream. Typically, a desorbent desorbs the desired xylene isomer from the adsorbent, and the desorbent and selected xylene isomer are collected and separated by fractionation.
In the production of paraxylene, heavy desorbents are conventionally used to desorb the paraxylene from the adsorbent. Heavy desorbents are defined as having higher molecular weights and higher boiling points than xylene. Accordingly, light desorbents are defined as having lower molecular weights and lower boiling points than xylene. Heretofore, xylene isomer recovery systems using heavy desorbents have typically required less energy than systems with light desorbents, because the heavy desorbent does not require repeated evaporation and lifting during fractionation. However, heavy desorbent systems typically require stringent feed purity to control accumulation of undesired compounds in the recycled desorbent, such as impurities that reduce desorbent effectiveness and product purity. Further, additional equipment may be required to maintain heavy desorbent purity during the desorbent recycling process. Also, systems using heavy desorbent have fractionation columns with relatively higher reboiler temperatures. Higher reboiler temperatures lead to higher operating pressures that require higher pressure ratings for the equipment involved, thereby increasing the equipment capital cost.
Use of a light desorbent, such as the relatively inexpensive light desorbent toluene, relaxes feed specifications relative to systems using heavy desorbent. Cost savings for the relaxed feed specifications can offset the increased energy costs associated with recovering light desorbent as a fractionation column overhead. Xylene recovery apparatuses using light desorbent also provide savings in the total equipment count as desorbent purification and storage units are not necessary. Further, xylene recovery apparatuses using light desorbent have lower fractionation column operating pressures, allowing for less expensive thinner column shells with lower pressure ratings.
To efficiently produce a selected xylene isomer product from a hydrocarbon stream using light desorbent, it is generally desirable to separate substantially all of the aromatic hydrocarbons having eight carbon atoms (C8), including xylene and ethylbenzene, from the hydrocarbon stream and from recycled portions of the stream during processing to form a mixed xylene stream for separation into a selected xylene isomer stream. Conventional processes have attempted to eliminate aromatic C9 from the mixed xylene stream. This is particularly true of conventional heavy desorbent systems because the heavy desorbent becomes polluted by aromatic C9 during xylene isomer separation. Further, the energy needed to affect proper separation of xylene isomers is reduced when the aromatic C8 in the mixed xylene stream fed to the separation unit is made less pure. Despite this energy savings a relatively pure aromatic C8 feed stream for the separation unit is still desirable for the production of selected xylene isomer products.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and apparatuses for forming C8 aromatic streams with selected amounts of C9 aromatics. In addition, it is desirable to develop methods and apparatuses for efficiently producing selected xylene isomer products from hydrocarbon streams. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present embodiment will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Apparatuses and methods for forming C8 aromatic streams with selected amounts of C9 aromatics


Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for monitoring and alerting a body temperature of a person under guardianship. A wireless signal emitting body temperature sensor is configured to transmit a wireless signal including a detected temperature value. The wireless signal is received by a wireless signal receiving chip of a wireless signal receiving and processing precaution device carried by a guardian, and processed by a central processing chip. If the detected value is over the maximum value or is under the minimum value, an alarming signal will timely notify the guardian about abnormality in the body temperature of the person under guardianship.

As widely known, when a change of 3° C. to 4° C. in an ambient temperature, a human body can self-regulate and maintain a stable body temperature. When a change exceeds such a scope, putting on or taking off clothing may be required to maintain a stable body temperature. However, an infant's body temperature regulating center has not fully developed, and may be lack of the ability to regulate her body temperature. If clothing is not timely put on to or taken off from the infant, excessively high or low body temperature is likely to happen resulting the infant's sicknesses. Because of slowing down in metabolism and reduced sensitivities in body temperature regulating center, elder people may not timely sense the temperature change; and because of reduced body-temperature self-regulating ability, they need to put on or take off clothing in a more timely manner to avoid sicknesses caused by excessive heat or cold. Toddlers often slip out of quilts during sleep and expose their abdomens, likely leading to catching cold and resulting abdominal sicknesses. Children during their ordinary sport exercises often produce large amount of body heat, and if their clothing is not taken off timely they may sweat heavily and thus likely catch cold or other illnesses. Therefore, timely control of body surface temperature of infants, elder people, children, etc., and timely adding on or taking off clothing can directly affect their health.
To keep a normal body temperature, adding up or taking off clothing, or changing ambient temperature is required to change body surface temperature. However because infants may not talk, and elder people may not timely sense the change in temperature, their guardians will have to decide whether to add on or take off clothing by detecting a change in the body temperature.
However, accuracy of human sensory is unreliable, and the guardians may not be able to make timely decisions.
Therefore, a body temperature monitoring and alarming system is needed to monitor a change in the body temperature of the person under guardianship, to alert the guardian and to provide information whether adding on or taking off clothing is required to maintain the body temperature of the person under guardianship.

Methods and systems for monitoring and alerting body temperature


Microorganisms or animal cells are cultured in a fluidized or fixed bed bioreactor on porous inorganic sintered support spheres containing inwardly continuous and outwardly open pores. The spheres have a density and diameter such that shear forces created under fluidized bed conditions shear off microorganisms or animal cells grown out of the pores and on the surface of the spheres. Culturing may be carried out in a fixed bed continuous reactor and the bed subjected to intermittent fluidized bed conditions to shear microorganisms or animal cells off the sphere surfaces. The spheres may be coated with a thin plastic layer to increase resistance to abrasion. Also, the spheres may be provided with a surface layer of inorganic and/or organic material for improving immobilization of microorganisms or animal cells. The spheres can be used in degradation of municipal sewage and industrial wastes and for bioengineering production of nutritionally essential and pharmacological substances and other fermentation products.

The invention relates to an improved support material especially suitable for immobilizing microorganisms in a fixed-bed or fluidized bed bioreactor, and to processes for using said support.
Support materials are generally known, e.g., from DE-OS No. 34 10 650, corresponding in part to U.S. application Ser. No. 715,314, filed Mar. 25, 1985. They make possible high space-time yields (multiplication rates per unit of volume and time) both in aerobic and in anaerobic processes of bioengineering.
In anaerobic systems, in which the attainable multiplication rates and concentrations of the biomass are considerably smaller than in aerobic systems, it is generally necessary to retain and concentrate the biomass in the reactor. As a rule, a fixed-bed circulating reactor is well suited for this purpose. In it, the support material, in which the microorganisms are immobilized, is largely stationary, and a liquid containing dissolved solids as nutrients flows by the support material so as to contact the microorganisms and effect mass transfer. Thus, the microorganisms can multiply undisturbed, and relatively high space-time yields can also be attained in anaerobic processes. But an essential drawback of this process is that the liquid must be substantially free of undissolved solids. Moreover, the bioreactor must be cleaned at determined intervals; otherwise, clogging of the fixed bed with microorganisms, reaction products or organic compounds, such as for example metal sulfides, can occur. Finally, in a fixed-bed reactor there is basically the drawback that the mass transfer takes place slowly and unevenly.
In aerobic processes, a rapid microbial growth is generally present so that, as a rule, a part of the biomass must be continually removed from the bioreactor, for example by flotation, to keep a desired concentration of the biomass in the bioreactor. Moreover, large amounts of nutrient and degradation products must be quickly transported. Therefore, resort has been made to the use of a fluidized bed bioreactor; in it, because of the constant movement of the support and nutrient solution serving as fluidized medium, a good supply of nutrient to the microorganisms and, in aerobic processes, of oxygen, is achievable. To use this expected better supply (and removal) to a larger extent, it has become known in this connection to use porous support material and thus to increase the amount of microorganisms per support body (DE No. 34 10 650). However, it has been shown that the increase of the metabolism-conversion was smaller than expected and that the support bodies easily became choked with biomass by overgrowth; the latter disadvantage, in turn, leads to an unfavorable effect on the attainable metabolism-conversion. (Patent DE-PS No. 31 05 768 is also pertinent to the invention and is discussed below.)

Porous inorganic support spheres which can be cleaned of surface biomass under fluidized bed conditions


Lithium ion battery state of charge (SOC) is a function of open circuit voltage (OCV). Battery internal diffusion process needs to be nearly completed to be able to measure battery open circuit voltage. The length of the minimum settling time depends on the battery type, usage and temperature. Described are methods to determine electric vehicle battery voltage relaxation time based on battery temperature and usage history.

The present invention relates in general to batteries, and, more specifically, to a method and system for determining the relaxation time of a battery cell in an automobile battery in an electric vehicle.
The term "electric vehicle," includes vehicles having an electric motor for vehicle propulsion, such as battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). A BEV includes an electric motor, wherein the energy source for the motor is a battery that is re-chargeable from an external electric source, such as a power grid. In a BEV, the battery is the source of energy for vehicle propulsion. A HEV includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The energy source for the HEV engine is fuel and the energy source for the motor is a battery. In a HEV, the engine is the main source of energy for vehicle propulsion with the battery providing supplemental energy for vehicle propulsion. The HEV battery buffers fuel energy usage and stores recovered kinetic energy, such as from regenerative braking. A PHEV is like a HEV, but the PHEV has a larger capacity battery that is rechargeable from the external electric grid. In a PHEV, the battery is the main source of energy for vehicle propulsion until the battery depletes to a low energy level, at which time the PHEV operates like a HEV for vehicle propulsion. The electric vehicle monitors the status of the battery using a number of measurements and estimations, including battery state of charge (SOC). An accurate estimate of SOC is needed in the electric vehicle for several purposes, including proper power management and reliable reporting of remaining driving range to the driver.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,706,333, issued Apr. 22, 2014, and U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0058595, published Feb. 27, 2014, describe methods and systems for determining battery state of charge and are hereby incorporated by reference.
Lithium ion battery open circuit voltage (OCV) is a good indicator for battery SOC. SOC can be estimated as long as a high quality OCV can be obtained. When using battery terminal voltage as battery OCV, for an accurate SOC estimation, the battery internal diffusion process must complete or nearly complete. If the battery terminal voltage has relaxed for a sufficient time period from the last battery usage, the battery terminal voltage provides a basis for accurate SOC estimation. In contrast, for example, if battery terminal voltage is measured immediately after discharging, SOC can be substantially underestimated. Similarly, SOC can be overestimated when battery terminal voltage is measured immediately after charging.
At power up (i.e., starting a new drive cycle), if the battery voltage has not had sufficient time to relax, a SOC estimate based on the unrelaxed OCV is inaccurate and differs substantially from the most recent SOC estimation obtained during the last drive period. To avoid making an inaccurate SOC estimate, current methods employ fixed waiting times after power off before allowing SOC-OCV adjustment at power up. However, there are drawbacks to using a fixed waiting time. For example, battery voltage may need less time to relax, and if a vehicle is turned on before the preset time elapses from the last drive period, then the battery controller will miss an opportunity to accurately update the SOC value. As another example, preset time periods may be insufficient for voltage relaxation, particularly in conditions at low temperature and heavy battery usage.

Methods to determine battery cell voltage relaxation time based on cell usage history and temperature


An apparatus and methods for interconnecting a plurality of nanoscale programmable logic array (PLA) clusters are disclosed. The appartus allows PLA clusters to be built at nanoscale dimensions, signal restoration to occur at the nanoscale, and interconnection between PLA clusters to be performed with nanoscale wiring. The nanoscale PLA, restoration, and interconnect arrangements can be constructed without using lithographic patterning to produce the nanoscale feature sizes and wire pitches. The nanoscale interconnection of the plurality of nanoscale PLA clusters can implement any logic function or any finite state machine. The nanoscale interconnect allows Manhattan (X,Y grid) routing between arbitrary nanoscale PLA clusters. The methods teach how to interconnect nanoscale PLAs with nanoscale interconnect and how to build arbitrary logic with nanoscale feature sizes without using lithography to pattern the nanoscale features.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to programmable logic arrays (PLAs). In particular, it relates to PLA clusters and interconnections thereof.
2. Related Art
Before lithographic integrated circuits, logic was "customized" by discrete wiring (e.g. patch cables). Once lithography could support enough logic on a single chip to accommodate programmable configuration elements, it became useful to include memory elements which could configure the state of the device. As a result PALs (Programmable Array Logic), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), and ultimately FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) were developed.
A PLA is a programmable device used to implement combinational logic circuits. A PLA is often said to have an "AND" plane followed by an "OR" plane. In practice, universal gates such as NAND or NOR gates are normally used. Usually, a PLA has a selective inversion capability, which makes it irrelevant whether the actual logic is NAND, NOR or AND, OR. Further, PLAs exploit DeMorgan's equivalences, so that a native NOR plane (with selective inversion) can act as a NAND plane or vice versa.
Over the past few years, many technologies have been demonstrated for molecular-scale memories. So far, they all seem to have: (1) resistance which changes significantly between "on" and "off" states, (2) the ability to be made rectifying, and (3) the ability to turn the device "on" or "off" by applying a voltage differential across the junction. An 8×8 crossbar made from rotaxane molecules has been demonstrated. It has been observed that an order of magnitude resistance difference between "on" and "off" state junctions could be forced. See, C. Collier, G. Mattersteig, E. Wong, Y. Luo, K. Beverly, J. Sampaio, F. Raymo, J. Stoddart, and J. Heath, A[2]Catenane-Based Solid State Reconfiguration Switch, Science, 289:1172-1175, 2000; C. P. Collier, E. W. Wong, M. Belohradsky, F. M. Raymo, J. F. Heath, Electronically configurable molecular-based logic gates, Science, 285:391-394, 1999.
Consequently, simple and manufacturable way of integrating restoration with programmability, and manufacturable techniques which allow wires to be tightly packed at nanoscale pitches and allow the nanoscale crosspoints to be addressed from microscale wires have been shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/856,115, filed May 28, 2004 for "Nanoscale Wire-Based Sublithographic Programmable Logic Arrays" by Andre' DeHon and Michael J. Wilson, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
When building large nanoPLAs, the wires in the nanoPLAs will become very long. Long nanowires are difficult to manufacture without defects and can be very slow. In particular, the nanoscale diameter wires tend to break during assembly when their length becomes many tens of microns in length. Further, the resistance of the small diameter nanowires becomes larger with the length of the nanowires making PLA operation slower.
Therefore, there is a need to be able to build large logic designs at the nanoscale while keeping the lengths of individual nanowires relatively short.
One way to build large logic is to provide interconnect between small or modest-sized logic clusters. In this way, the wires in each clusters and the wires among clusters can be kept short while the interconnected set of logic clusters implements a large logic function.
Consequently, the present application discloses how to build nanoscale PLA logic clusters and interconnect them with nanoscale interconnect. The resulting interconnected PLAs can implement arbitrary sized logic or finite-state machines while using modest-sized PLAs and moderately short nanowires. Further, the nanoscale PLA and nanoscale interconnect can all be constructed using bottom-up assembly techniques to determine the nanoscale features and provide the tight, nanoscale pitches for logic, restoration, and interconnect.

Apparatus and method of interconnecting nanoscale programmable logic array clusters


A method of processing fully austenitic stainless steels, comprising the following steps: (1) performing a solution treatment on a raw material with a certain chemical composition, and cooling to get samples, the raw material contains: 0˜0.2% of C, 0˜0.2% of N, not more than 0.03% of P, not more than 0.001% of S, 0.5%˜1% of Si, 1.0%˜2.0% of Mn, 15%˜17% of Cr, 5%˜7% of Ni by weight, the remaining is Fe, and the content of C and N should not be zero simultaneously with a total content of both at 0.15%˜0.2%; and (2) performing hot-working for deformation of the samples obtained in step (1), to get a fully austenitic stainless steel. The stainless steel prepared by the hot-working deformation of the present invention has a yield strength of 2 to 3 times of that before hot-working deformation and an elongation of 1.05 to 1.2 times of that before hot-working deformation.

After decades of oil production, the oil reservoirs with rich reserves and low difficulty in drilling exploitation have been basically run out. Domestic and international oil drilling has evolved from shallow surface to deep strata, and from the shallow bay to the deep sea. In china, taking Tarim Oilfield as an example, the drilling depth of Ha 7-11H well is 7341.25 meters, the vertical depth is 6645.83 meters, the horizontal displacement is nearly 800 meters, the maximum inclination is 90 degrees and the highest downhole temperature is 168 degrees Celsius, thus creating a new horizontal well drilling record in china. The CNOOC deepwater semi-submersible drilling platform has a maximum operating depth of 3,000 meters, and a maximum drilling depth of 12,000 meters. Internationally the maximum drilling depth is up to 15,000 meters. As the drilling depth increases, the requirements for the performance of oil drilling steel continue to increase. The steel for oil drilling can be divided into magnetic steel and non-magnetic steel according to the magnetic functions. Non-magnetic steel is mainly used as a sensor protection device. Typical application is used in non-magnetic drill collar, to exert bit pressure to the drills, reduce the vibration of the drill bit to make drill bit to operate stably while monitoring the drilling process.
The non-magnetic drill collar must be of fully austenite structure, with excellent hardness, toughness, impact value and corrosion resistance, and low permeability and excellent machinability. At present, the commonly used non-magnetic steel is mainly 200 and 300 series steels. However, for the 200 and 300 series steels, after treatment with conventional methods, their strength and hardness can only reach 50% of the requirements for oil drill collar while ensuring the fully austenite structure. When the 200 and 300 series of steels are subject to conventional cold-working reinforcement, their strength and hardness can be significantly improved, but their ductility and toughness are seriously damaged, and partial or whole austenite is converted to martensite structure, producing strong magnetism. Therefore, the currently used austenitic stainless steel and processing methods are difficult to meet the rigorous requirements for steels with the continuous increase in the drilling depth.

Method of processing fully austenitic stainless steel with high strength and high toughness


A flat panel display device with oxide thin film transistors and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed. The flat panel display device includes: a substrate; gate lines and data lines formed to cross each other and define a plurality of pixel regions on the substrate; the thin film transistors each including an oxide channel layer which is formed at an intersection of the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode and a common electrode formed in the pixel region with having a passivation layer therebetween; and step coverage compensation patterns formed at a step portion formed by the gate line and a gate electrode of the thin film transistor.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to a flat panel display device with oxide thin film transistors and a method for fabricating the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Image display devices used for displaying a variety of information on a screen are one of the core technologies of the information and communication era. Such image display devices have been being developed to be thinner, lighter, and more portable, and furthermore to have a high performance. Actually, flat panel display devices are spotlighted in the display field due to their reduced weight and volume, well known disadvantages of cathode ray tubes (CRTs). The flat panel display devices include for example, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) devices which display images by controlling the light emitting quantity of an organic light emission layer.
The OLED devices are self-illuminating display devices employing a thin light emission layer between electrodes. As such, the OLED devices can become thinner like a paper. Such OLED devices display images by emitting light through an encapsulated substrate. The encapsulated substrate includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape and each configured with 3 colored (i.e., red, green and blue) sub-pixels, a cell driver array, and an organic light emission array.
In order to realize a variety of colors, the OLED device employs organic light emission layers which are configured to emit red, green and blue lights, respectively. The organic light emission layer is interposed between two electrodes and used to form an organic light emission diode.
The OLED device requires a thin film transistor which can be driven faster. To this end, the OLED device uses an oxide film, such as an IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) film, instead of amorphous silicon film.
FIG. 1 is a planar view showing the structure of a pixel within a flat panel display device according to the related art. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the pixel structure taken along a line I-I′ in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the flat panel display device of the related art includes a plurality of gate lines 11 and a plurality of data lines 13. The gate lines 11 and the data 13 crossing each other define a plurality of pixel regions. A pixel electrode 9 and a common electrode 25 are disposed within each of the pixel regions.
Also, a thin film transistor TFT is disposed at an intersection of the gate and data lines 11 and 13. The thin film transistor TFT includes a gate electrode 1, a gate insulation layer 12, a channel layer 14, a source electrode 15 and a drain electrode which are formed on a substrate 10. The drain electrode is directly connected to the pixel electrode 9 within the pixel region.
Moreover, in a structure that a common electrode 25 is formed over the pixel electrode, a common line 26 is formed on all regions except the pixel region and in a single body with the common electrode 25. In other words, the common line 26, which is formed in a single body united with the common electrode 25, overlaps with the thin film transistor TFT, the gate line 11 and the data line 13 within a non-display region. Meanwhile, an opening OP is formed by removing a part of the common line 26 opposite to the channel layer 14 of the thin film transistor TFT, in order to prevent the generation of a parasitic capacitance.
The thin film transistor used in a driver circuit of the flat panel display device such as an OLED device is required to have very high-speed response characteristics. As such, the channel layer 14 is formed from an oxide material, such as indium gallium zinc oxide IGZO, instead of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H).
When the channel layer 14 is formed from an oxide material, a SiO2-based insulation film is used for the formation of the channel layer 14 in order to enhance characteristics of the channel layer 14. That is, if the channel layer 14 is formed from a material having oxide, an insulation layer such as a gate insulation layer or a passivation layer is formed of a SiO2-based material, so as to enhance characteristics of the channel layer 14
However, the SiO2-based insulation film has lower taper and interface characteristics compared to the SiNx-based insulation film. Due to this, faults are often caused when the SiO2-based insulation film is stacked. For example, the SiO2-based insulation film has an un-uniform thickness or is disconnected in a step coverage region.
Such an un-uniform thickness or a disconnection in the step coverage region occurring in corners of the gate electrode 1 of the thin film transistor TFT and edges of the gate line 11 may cause a short circuit fault to be often generated in regions A and B.
In A-region of FIG. 1, for example, the gate line 11 and the gate electrode 1 each have a thickness of about 2000˜2500 Å, the passivation layer 19 formed from a SiO2-based material has a thickness of about 600˜800 Å, and the pixel electrode 9 or the common electrode 25 has a thickness of about 400 Å.
Because the passivation layer 19 formed from the SiO2-based material has a poor taper characteristic, a disconnection fault of the passivation layer 19 is generated in an edge of the gate electrode 1 crossing the source electrode 15. Due to this, the common line 26 formed over the thin film transistor TFT may be electrically shunted with the data line 13 or the source electrode 15, which is disposed under the common line 26.
Also, for example, a disconnection in the gate insulation layer 12, which is formed from a SiO2-based material, may cause the gate electrode 1 and the gate line 11 to be electrically shunted with the source and drain electrodes, the data line 13 and the common line 26 which cross the gate electrode 1 and the gate line 11. Particularly, the gate electrode 1 and the gate line 11 become thicker than those of the insulation film and the other electrodes. As such, the gate insulation layer 12 formed from the SiO2-based material is easily disconnected in the step coverage region.

Flat panel display device with oxide thin film transistors and method for fabricating the same


Techniques are described for providing security-aware partitioning of processes. An example method includes identifying an integration scenario for optimization in a cloud-based system based on optimization constraints. The identified integration scenario is translated into a directed graph comprising connections between particular flows within the integration scenario. Each flow in the identified scenario is automatically analyzed to determine whether the flow is shareable across processing units associated with a different tenant, and each flow can be annotated in the direct graph with results of the analysis. At least one optimization to the integration scenario is determined based on the annotated directed graph and a set of optimization constraints. An assignment of flows to particular processing units is generated based on the determined at least one optimization.

The present disclosure relates to a system and computerized method for providing a security-aware partitioning of processes in cloud computing and other distributed environments.
In some systems, modularization of different types of applications can be performed across one or more processors or processing units. The spread of applications to distributed solutions leads to communication requirements provided, in some instances, by middleware systems (e.g., enterprise application integration, data or event steam processors and pipelines, and more). Single data processors can be organized in a process-like manner (referred to as "processes") that are executed in one or many instances of a middleware system (including micro-services, serverless computing, and other systems).
Vendors of such systems or platforms have an interest in operating these processes at a lowest possible cost while guaranteeing and supporting specific service qualities and respecting all relevant security aspects, such as confidentiality (e.g., a process of customer A is not able to read or change the data processed in the process of customer B). To do so, many current systems separate the processes of different customers/tenants by isolating them in different processing units by tenant (e.g., through runtime containers, virtual machines (VMs), or containers), thereby ensuring that no data is shared across processes of different customers.

Security-aware partitioning of processes


An offshore riser system comprising a tubular from a sea floor to a sea surface comprising a first horizontal portion at the sea floor; a second vertical portion near the sea surface; and a third curved portion located between the first and second portions; and a buoyancy module connected to the second portion, adapted to maintain a shape of the curved portion and enable a connection of a vessel to the second portion.

PCT Publication number WO2008042943, discloses a floating system positioned in a body of water having a water bottom, the system comprising a host member floating on a surface of the water; a flotation module floating under the surface of the water; a flexible hose connecting the host member to the flotation module; and an elongated underwater line structure, comprising a top portion connected to the flotation module; a bottom portion extending to the water bottom and adapted to connect to a flowline lying on the water bottom; and at least one of the top portion and the bottom portion comprising a catenary configuration. PCT Publication number WO2008042943 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
PCT Publication number WO2008036728, discloses a floating system positioned in a body of water having a water bottom, the system comprising a host member floating in the water; an elongated underwater line structure, comprising a top connected to the host; a bottom extending to the seabed and adapted to connect to a flowline lying on the seabed; a first portion of the line structure being shaped concave upward; a second portion of the line structure being shaped concave upward; and a transition segment between being shaped concave downward, the transition segment located between the first portion and the second portion. PCT Publication number WO2008036728 is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.


Disclosed is a computing device to allow for the selection and display of a multimedia presentation of an audio file to a user. An interface device couples the musical instrument to the computing device by performing A/D conversion of the musical instrument""s analog audio signal to create a digitized audio signal. The computing device includes a communication device and a processor. The communication device transmits a user""s request for the selection of a musical piece to a server. In turn, the communication device receives a session file associated with the musical piece from the server. The processor processes the session file such that the computing device presents a multimedia presentation of the audio file to the user. Moreover, the processor processes the digitized audio signal of the musical instrument so that the user can play the musical instrument in conjunction with the multimedia presentation of the audio file.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a computing device. In particular, the invention relates to a computing device to allow for the selection and display of a multimedia presentation of an audio file and to allow a user to play a musical instrument in conjunction with the multimedia presentation.
2. Description of Related Art
Many software packages that utilize digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms have been developed to allow computer users to use their computer to create and edit music. Further, the development of the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standard protocol has allowed for the interchange of musical information between musical instruments, synthesizers and computers. The MIDI protocol defines the codes for a musical event, which includes the start of a note, its pitch, lead, volume and musical attributes such as vibrato. A computer with a MIDI interface can be used to record a musical session, but instead of recording the analog sound wave as in a tape recorder, the computer stores the music as keystroke and control codes. The recording can then be edited utilizing a software package in an entirely different manner than the conventional recording; for example, the rhythm can be changed by editing the time codes in the MIDI messages. As another example, the computer can easily transpose a performance from one key to another. The multitude of ways that a MIDI recording can be edited is virtually limitless.
Moreover, specific software programs have been developed, with and without the use of MIDI, to allow users to use their computer to make music by inputting a musical instrument (e.g. a keyboard or guitar) into their computer. Generally, the analog audio signal from the musical instrument undergoes analog to digital (A/D) conversion (e.g. performed by a sound card in the computer) and the digital version of the audio signal can then undergo digital signal processing by the computer such that it can be altered by a computer program. This alteration can occur under the control of the user (e.g. for music editing) or in pre-defined ways by the software program. The digitally altered signal can then be converted back to analog form (e.g. digital to analog (D/A) conversion) for playback to the user. For example, a user playing a guitar hooked into his or her computer could choose that the guitar audio signal be digitally altered such that it is played back in a distorted manner.
Unfortunately, with all the advances in digital signal processing to allow user""s to use their computers to make and edit music, computers have still not been fully utilized in a manner that facilitates users learning how to play music effectively. Moreover, users do not currently have quick and easy access to a wide array of musical choices from which to learn.
The present invention relates to a computing device to allow for the selection and display of a multimedia presentation of an audio file and to allow a user to play a musical instrument in conjunction with the multimedia presentation.
By way of explanation, an interface device couples the musical instrument to the computing device by performing analog to digital conversion of the musical instrument""s analog audio signal to create a digitized audio signal. Also, a server transmits a session file associated with a musical piece to the computing device through a computer network. The session file includes an audio file and multimedia data.
The computing device includes a communication device and a processor. The communication device transmits a user""s request for the selection of a musical piece to the server. In turn, the communication device receives a session file associated with the musical piece from the server. The processor processes the session file such that the computing device presents a multimedia presentation of the audio file to the user. Moreover, the processor processes the digitized audio signal of the musical instrument so that the user can play the musical instrument in conjunction with the multimedia presentation of the audio file. Accordingly, a user can be provided with quick and easy access to a wide variety of multimedia presentations of audio files, and the user can then play along with the audio file, which is presented in a multimedia presentation format to facilitate learning.

Computing device to allow for the selection and display of a multimedia presentation of an audio file and to allow a user to play a musical instrument in conjunction with the multimedia presentation