A measuring system comprising a measuring transducer generating primary signals influenced by at least one measured variable characterizing the flowing medium; an evaluating circuit processing primary signals delivered by the measuring transducer to measured values. The measuring transducer includes: at least one measuring tube for conveying medium to be measured; an exciter mechanism acting on the measuring tube for causing the at least one measuring tube to vibrate; and a sensor arrangement for registering oscillations of the measuring tube. The sensor arrangement including first, second and third oscillation sensors spaced from each other for generating first, second, and third primary signals of the measuring transducer, respectively, representing vibrations of the measuring tube. Based on said primary signals the evaluating circuit generates a measured value of mass flow representing a mass flow rate of medium flowing through the measuring transducer.

In industrial measurements technology, especially also in connection with the control and monitoring of automated manufacturing processes, for ascertaining characteristic measured variables of media, for example, liquids and/or gases, flowing in a process line, for example, a pipeline, often measuring systems are used, which, by means of a measuring transducer of vibration type and, connected thereto, a driving, and evaluating, electronics (most often accommodated in a separate electronics housing) induce reaction forces, for example, Coriolis forces, in the flowing medium and produce, derived from these, a measurement signal correspondingly representing the at least one measured variable, for example, mass flow, density, viscosity or some other process parameter.
Measuring systems of this kind, which are often formed by means of an inline measuring device in compact construction with integrated measuring transducer, such as, for instance, a Coriolis mass flow meter, have been known for a long time and have proven themselves in industrial use. Examples of such measuring systems having a measuring transducer of vibration type, or also individual components of thereof, are described e.g. in EP-A 317 340, JP-A 8-136311, JP-A 9-015015, US-A 2007/0119264, US-A 2007/0119265, US-A 2007/0151370, US-A 2007/0151371, US-A 2007/0186685, US-A 2008/0034893, US-A 2008/0141789, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,738,144, 4,777,833, 4,777,833, 4,801,897, 4,823,614, 4,879,911, 5,009,109, 5,024,104, 5,050,439, 5,291,792, 5,398,554, 5,476,013, 5,531,126, 5,602,345, 5,691,485, 5,796,010, 5,796,011, 5,796,012, 5,804,741, 5,869,770, 5,945,609, 5,979,246, 6,047,457, 6,092,429, 6,073,495, 6,311,136, 6,223,605, 6,330,832, 6,397,685, 6,557,422, 6,651,513, 6,666,098, 6,691,583, 6,840,109, 6,883,387, 7,017,424, 7,040,179, 7,073,396, 7,077,014, 7,080,564, 7,216,550, 7,299,699, 7,360,451, 7,392,709, WO-A 00 14 485, WO-A 01 02 816, WO-A 08/013545, WO-A 08/07 7574 or WO-A 99 40 394. Each of the therein illustrated, measuring transducers comprises at least one, essentially straight, or at least one, curved, measuring tube for conveying the medium, which can, in given cases, also be extremely cold or extremely hot.
During operation of the measuring system, the at least one measuring tube is caused to vibrate for the purpose of generating forms of oscillation influenced by the medium flowing through the tube.
For exciting oscillations of the at least one measuring tube, measuring transducers of vibration-type include an exciter mechanism driven during operation by an electrical driver signal, e.g. a controlled electrical current, generated and correspondingly conditioned by the mentioned driver electronics. The exciter mechanism excites the measuring tube, by means of at least one electromechanical oscillation exciter, especially an electrodynamic, oscillation exciter, through which electrical current flows during operation and which acts essentially directly to the measuring tube, to execute bending oscillations in the wanted mode. Furthermore, such measuring transducers include a sensor arrangement with oscillation sensors, especially electrodynamic oscillation sensors, for at least pointwise registering of inlet-side and outlet-side oscillations of the at least one measuring tube, especially those of the Coriolis mode, and for producing electrical sensor signals influenced by the process parameters to be registered, such as, for instance, the mass flow or the density. As, for example, described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,550, in the case of measuring transducers of the type being discussed, in given cases, also the oscillation exciter can, at least at times, be used as oscillation sensor and/or an oscillation sensor can, at least at times, be used as oscillation exciter.
As excited oscillation form—the so-called wanted mode—in the case of measuring transducers with a curved, e.g. U, V, or Ω shaped measuring tube, normally that eigenoscillation form is selected, in which the measuring tube moves in a pendulum-like manner, at least partially at a lowest natural resonance frequency, about a longitudinal axis of the measuring transducer, in the manner of a cantilever fixed at one end, as a result of which mass flow dependent, Coriolis forces are induced in the medium flowing through the measuring tube. These in turn lead to the fact that, superimposed on the excited oscillations of the wanted mode, in the case of curved measuring tubes, thus pendulum-like cantilever oscillations, are bending oscillations of the same frequency corresponding to at least one, also natural, second oscillation form, the so-called Coriolis mode. In the case of measuring transducers with curved measuring tubes, these cantilever oscillations, caused by Coriolis forces, correspond usually with that eigenoscillation form in which the measuring tube also executes rotational oscillations about a vertical axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis. In the case of measuring transducers with straight measuring tubes, for the purpose of generating mass flow dependent, Coriolis forces, often a wanted mode is selected in which the measuring tube at least partially executes bending oscillations essentially in a single plane of oscillation, such that the oscillations in the Coriolis mode are formed, accordingly, as bending oscillations coplanar with the oscillations of the wanted mode, and are of the same oscillation frequency.
As a result, of the superimposing of wanted mode and Coriolis mode, the oscillations of the vibrating measuring tube registered by the sensor arrangement at the inlet and outlet sides of the measuring tube have a mass flow dependent, measurable, phase difference. Normally, the measuring tubes of such measuring transducers, e.g. those used in Coriolis mass flow meters, are excited during operation at an instantaneous, natural resonance frequency of the oscillation form selected for the wanted mode, especially at oscillation amplitude controlled to be constant. Since this resonance frequency especially is also dependent on the instantaneous density of the medium, commercially available Coriolis mass flow meters can measure, in addition to mass flow, also the density of media flowing in the measuring tube. Furthermore, it is also possible, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,651,513 or 7,080,564, using measuring transducers of vibration type, to directly measure viscosity of the medium flowing through the measuring tube, for example based on an exciter power required for exciting the oscillations.
In the case of measuring transducers with two measuring tubes, these are normally linked into the process line via a distributor piece on the inlet side, extending between the measuring tubes and a connecting flange on the inlet side, as well as via a distributor piece on the outlet side, extending between the measuring tubes and a connecting flange on the outlet side. In the case of measuring transducers having a single measuring tube, such normally communicates with the process line via an essentially straight piece of connecting tube which opens into the inlet side of the measuring tube, as well as an essentially straight piece of connecting tube which opens into the outlet side of the measuring tube. Furthermore, each of the illustrated measuring transducers having a single measuring tube includes, composed of a single piece or multiple parts, at least one tubular, box-shaped, or plate-shaped counteroscillator, which, with formation of a first coupling zone, is coupled to the inlet side of the measuring tube, and, with formation of a second coupling zone, is coupled to the outlet side of the measuring tube, and which in operation essentially rests, or oscillates equally and oppositely to the measuring tube, that is, with the same frequency and opposite phase. The inner part of the measuring transducer, formed by measuring tube and counteroscillator, is normally held in a protective, measuring transducer housing alone by means of the two pieces of connecting tube, via which the measuring tube communicates with the process line during operation, especially in a way enabling oscillation of the inner part relative to the measuring tube. In the case of measuring transducers shown in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,291,792, 5,796,010, 5,945,609, 7,077,014, US-A 2007/0119264, WO-A 01 02 816, or also WO-A 99 40 394, having a single, essentially straight, measuring tube, the latter and the counteroscillator are oriented essentially coaxially to one another, as is common in conventional measuring transducers. In standard measuring transducers of the previously named type, the counteroscillator normally is also essentially tubular, and is formed as an essentially straight hollow cylinder, which is arranged in the measuring transducer such that the measuring tube is at least partially surrounded by the counteroscillator. Used as materials for such counteroscillators are normally relatively cost-efficient types of steel, such as structural steel, or free-machining steel, especially when titanium, tantalum, or zirconium are used for the measuring tube.
The exciter mechanism of measuring transducers of the type being discussed normally has at least one, usually electrodynamic, magnet assembly, serving as oscillation exciter, and acting differentially on the at least one measuring tube, and the, in given cases, present, counteroscillator, or the, in given cases, present, other measuring tube, while the sensor arrangement includes an inlet-side oscillation sensor, most often also electrodynamic, as well as, on the outlet side, an oscillation sensor of essentially the same construction. Usually, at least the magnet assemblies are essentially of the same construction. Such magnet assemblies serving as oscillation transducers of standard measuring transducers of vibration type are formed by means of a magnetic coil (in the case of measuring transducers with one measuring tube and a counteroscillator coupled thereto, the coil is normally mounted on the latter), as well as by means of an elongated, especially rod-shaped, permanent magnet, which, serving as an armature, interacts with the at least one magnetic coil, especially plunging into the coil, and which is mounted correspondingly to the measuring tube to be vibrated. This has the advantage, for example, that, by means of the magnet assemblies, the oscillatory movements between the vibrating measuring tube and its counterpart, that is, the, in given cases, present counteroscillator or the, in given cases, present, other measuring tube, can be differentially registered, or produced, as the case may be. The permanent magnet and the magnetic coil serving as exciter, or sensor, coil are, in such case, normally oriented essentially coaxially to one another. Additionally, in the case of conventional measuring transducers, the magnet assembly serving as oscillation exciter is normally formed and positioned in the measuring transducer in such a way that it acts essentially centrally on the at least one measuring tube. In such case, the magnet assembly serving as oscillation exciter is, as shown, for example, also in the measuring transducers disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,796,010, 6,840,109, 7,077,014 or 7,017,424, usually mounted at least pointwise along an imaginary central peripheral line of the measuring tube on its outer side. Alternatively to oscillation exciters formed by means of a magnet assembly acting centrally and directly to the measuring tube, exciter mechanisms formed, as provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,557,422, 6,092,429 or 4,823,614 among others, for example, by means of two magnet assemblies mounted not in the center of the measuring tube, but, instead, shifted, respectively, toward its inlet and outlet sides, can also be used, or, as provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,223,605 or 5,531,126, among others, exciter mechanisms formed, for example, by means of a magnet assembly working between the, in given cases, present counteroscillator and the measuring transducer housing, are also used.
In the case of most market-ordinary measuring transducers of vibration-type, the oscillation sensors of the sensor arrangement are, such as already indicated, at least to the extent that they work according to the same principle of action, embodied with essentially equal construction to that of the at least one oscillation exciter. Accordingly, also the oscillation sensors of such a sensor arrangement are most often, in each case, formed by means of at least one coil, which is usually affixed to the, in given cases, present counteroscillator and through which, at least at times, a variable magnetic field passes, and, associated therewith, at least at times, supplied with an induced measurement voltage, as well as a magnetic armature, which is permanently affixed to the measuring tube and delivers the magnetic field interacting with the at least one coil. Each of the aforementioned coils is, moreover, connected with the mentioned operating, and evaluating, electronics of the in-line measuring devices by means of at least one pair of electrical connecting lines, which most often are led on an as short as possible paths from the coils via the counteroscillator to the transducer housing.
As, among other things, discussed in the initially mentioned US-A 2008/0141789, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,920,798, 5,731,527, 7,318,356, 6,868,740, 6,758,102, 5,301,557, 5,576,500, or 5,734,112, measuring transducers of vibration-type and, insofar, the entire therewith formed measuring system can have, besides the initially mentioned sensitivity to the primary measured variables, mass flow rate or density and, in given cases, also viscosity, also a certain cross sensitivity to pressure, this, especially, also in the case, in which the medium has two, or more, phases, for instance, in the case of a mixture of liquid and gas. This pressure sensitivity can lead, at times, to a, when also slight, but, because of the desired high accuracy of measurement, nevertheless not directly disregardable corruption of the primary measured value, such as, for instance, the mass flow, and compensating measures corresponding to the measuring errors can be required.
An opportunity for counteracting the pressure sensitivity of measuring systems of the type being discussed can, such as provided e.g. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,920,798, 5,731,527 or 5,301,557, be to reduce the cross sensitivity of the measuring transducer with mechanical means, such as, for instance, metal rings encircling the measuring tube coaxially or ceramic windings or through application of comparatively thick walled, measuring tubes. Conversely, such as, for example, also provided in US-A 2008/0034893, the pressure sensitivity of the measuring transducer can, in advantageous manner, however, also be utilized to register the pressure intentionally as another measured variable of the measuring system formed by means of the measuring transducer, and, based thereon, to perform a measurement error compensation. Alternatively thereto or in supplementation thereof, the pressure supplementally ascertained by means of the measuring transducer can also be output in the form of validated measured values of the measuring system, used for a measuring system internal, self-diagnosis of the measuring system and/or applied for monitoring predetermined qualities of the medium. The ascertaining the pressure can be implemented, in the case of conventional Coriolis, mass flow measuring devices, for example, by means of strain gages, which, such as provided in US-A 2008/0141789 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,868,740, are placed on the at least one measuring tube or on one of the mentioned connecting tube pieces, and/or, such as, for example, shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,318,356, 5,576,500 or 5,734,112, by means of multimodal exciting of the measuring tube as well as by physical mathematical models furnished in the evaluating circuit.
A disadvantage of the solutions known from the state of the art for pressure measurement by means of measuring transducers of vibration-type is, however, to be seen in the fact that they are not always exact enough for a highly precise, largely pressure independent, or pressure compensated, measuring of the mass flow, e.g. the mass flow rate, or that, supplementally to the unavoidable, corresponding modifying of the evaluating circuit, yet additional sensors, of different kind in comparison to the primary oscillation sensors, such as, for instance, strain gages, must be used and must be affixed directly on measuring tube segments assuming the temperature of the medium and, in given cases, vibrating, or that correspondingly modified exciter mechanisms and/or correspondingly modified driver electronics must be used. Associated therewith, both experimental effort for calibrating such measuring systems as well as also an increased test effort for the purpose of assuring the durability of the additional sensors and/or electronic components can be expected.
An object of the invention is, consequently, to improve measuring systems formed by means of measuring transducers of vibration-type toward the goal of enabling therewith a highly accurate measuring of the mass flow, e.g. the mass flow rate, also in the case of pressure of the through flowing medium fluctuating over a broad range, in given cases, also a sufficiently precise measuring of the pressure itself in the sense of producing validated, measured values, especially, also combined with application of measurements technology proven in such measuring systems, such as, for instance, established oscillation sensors or also technologies and architectures of established evaluating circuits.
For achieving the object, the invention resides in a measuring system for flowable, especially fluid, media, especially a measuring system developed as a compact measuring device and/or a Coriolis, mass flow, measuring device, which measuring system includes a measuring transducer through which a medium flows during operation, at least at times, and which generated primary signals influenced by at least one measured variable characterizing the flowing medium, especially a mass flow, a density, a pressure, a viscosity etc.; as well as an evaluating circuit electrically coupled with the measuring transducer and processing the primary signals delivered by the measuring transducer to measured values. The measuring transducer of the measuring system of the invention includes: At least one measuring tube, for example, a measuring tube at least sectionally curved, vibrating during operation, at least at times, and serving for conveying medium to be measured; an exciter mechanism having at least one oscillation exciter, for example, an electrodynamic, oscillation exciter, acting on the measuring tube for causing the at least one measuring tube to vibrate; as well as a sensor arrangement serving for registering oscillations of the measuring tube and having a first oscillation sensor, for example, an electrodynamic, first oscillation sensor, arranged on the measuring tube, for example, on the inlet side and/or on a side of the measuring tube occupied by the oscillation exciter, and spaced from the at least one oscillation exciter, for delivering a first primary signal of the measuring transducer representing vibrations of the measuring tube; and a second oscillation sensor, for example, an electrodynamic, second oscillation sensor, arranged to the measuring tube, for example, on the outlet side and/or on a side of the measuring tube occupied by the first oscillation sensor, and spaced from the first oscillation sensor, for example, also spaced equally far from the at least one oscillation exciter as the first oscillation sensor, for delivering a second primary signal of the measuring transducer, for example, simultaneously with the first primary signal, representing vibrations of the measuring tube; as well as a third oscillation sensor, for example, an electrodynamic, third oscillation sensor, arranged to the measuring tube, for example, on a side of the measuring tube occupied by the first oscillation sensor, and spaced both from the first oscillation sensor as well as also from the second oscillation sensor, for example, also from the at least one oscillation exciter, for delivering a third primary signal of the measuring transducer, for example, simultaneously with the first primary signal and/or simultaneously with the second primary signal, representing vibrations of the measuring tube. Additionally, the evaluating circuit of the measuring system of the invention generated, at least at times, both by means of the first primary signal as well as also by means of the second primary signal as well as by means of the third primary signal, for example, based on a phase difference existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal and/or based on a phase difference existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals, a measured value of mass flow, for example, a digital, measured value of mass flow, which represents, instantaneously, a mass flow rate, m, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer. Alternatively or in supplementation, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit, at least at times, both by means of the first primary signal as well as also by means of the second primary signal as well as by means of the third primary signal, for example, based on a phase difference existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal and/or based on a phase difference existing between the first primary signal and the third primary signal, generated a pressure measured value, for example, a digital, pressure measured value, which represents, instantaneously, a pressure, p, in medium flowing through the measuring transducer, for example, a static pressure reigning in the at least one measuring tube.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the third oscillation sensor is placed on a measuring tube segment of the measuring tube extending between the first oscillation sensor and the at least one oscillation exciter.
According to a second embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit recurringly during operation produces a phase difference value of first type, which represents, instantaneously, the phase difference, ΔφI, existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal.
According to a third embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit recurringly during operation produces a phase difference value of second type, which represents, instantaneously, the phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals.
According to a fourth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit, by means of the first primary signal as well as at least one other of the primary signals of the measuring transducer, for example, the second primary signal, produces an interimly representing and/or not sufficiently exactly representing and/or digital, provisional measured value of mass flow of first type, for example, a provisional mass flow, m, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer, for example, based on a phase difference, ΔφI, existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal. Developing this embodiment of the invention, further, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates the provisional measured value of mass flow of first type based on the phase difference, ΔφI, of first type existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal as well as with application of a measuring system parameter, for example, an experimentally earlier ascertained and/or internally stored, measuring system parameter, representing a first zero point, ZEROI, of the measuring system, and with application of a, for example, experimentally earlier ascertained and/or internally stored, measuring system parameter representing a first sensitivity, SPANI, of the measuring system. The measuring system parameter representing the first zero point, ZEROI, of the measuring system can correspond especially to a phase difference, ΔφI0, measured between the first primary signal and the second primary signal, in the case of medium standing in the measuring tube, i.e. mDESIRED=0, and/or to an provisional measured value of mass flow of first type ascertained in the case of medium standing in the measuring tube, i.e. mDESIRED=0. The measuring system parameter representing the first sensitivity, SPANI, of the measuring system can, in turn, correspond to a phase difference, ΔφI1, measured between the first primary signal and the second primary signal in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known and/or impressed, mass flow rate, mDESIRED< >0, and/or a rate ascertained by means of a reference, mass flow measuring device and/or to a phase difference value of first type ascertained in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known and/or impressed, mass flow rate, mDESIRED< >0, and/or also to a phase difference, ΔφI1, in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium also of known, average static pressure, pDESIRED1>0, measured between the first primary signal and the second primary signal, for example, an impressed, average static pressure and/or an average static pressure ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device.
According to a fifth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit produces, by means of the third primary signal as well as at least one other of the primary signals of the measuring transducer, for example, the first primary signal and/or the second primary signal, a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type, for example, one interimly and/or not sufficiently exactly representing a mass flow, m, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer, and/or a digital one, for example, one based on a phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals. Developing this embodiment of the invention, further, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates the provisional measured value of mass flow of second type based on a phase difference, ΔφII, of second type existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals as well as with application of a measuring system parameter, for example, an experimentally earlier ascertained and/or internally stored, measuring system parameter, representing a second zero point, ZEROII, of the measuring system and with application of a measuring system parameter, for example, an experimentally earlier ascertained and/or internally stored, measuring system parameter, representing a second sensitivity, SPANII, of the measuring system. The measuring system parameter representing the second zero point, ZEROII, of the measuring system can correspond especially to a phase difference, ΔφII0, measured between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals in the case of medium standing in the measuring tube, i.e. mDESIRED=0, and/or correspond to a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type ascertained in the case of medium standing in the measuring tube, i.e. mDESIRED=0. The measuring system parameter representing the second sensitivity, SPANII, of the measuring system can, in turn, correspond to a phase difference, ΔφII1, between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals, measured in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known mass flow rate, mDESIRED< >0, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, mass flow measuring device, and/or to a phase difference value of second type ascertained in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known mass flow rate, mDESIRED< >0, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, mass flow measuring device, and/or also to a phase difference, ΔφII1, between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals, measured in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium also of known, average static pressure, pDESIRED1>0, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device.
According to a sixth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates the measured value of mass flow with application of a measuring system parameter, for example, an experimentally earlier ascertained and/or internally stored, measuring system parameter, representing a relative pressure dependence, PRESSUREI, of the first sensitivity, SPANI, of the measuring system referenced, for example, to the first sensitivity, SPANI, of the measuring system and/or that the evaluating circuit generates the measured value of mass flow with application of a measuring system parameter, for example, an experimentally earlier ascertained and/or internally stored, measuring system parameter, representing a relative pressure dependence, PRESSUREII, of the second sensitivity, SPANII, of the measuring system referenced, for example, to the second sensitivity, SPANII, of the measuring system.
The measuring system parameter representing the pressure dependence, PRESSUREI, of the first sensitivity, SPANI, of the measuring system can be ascertained based on a phase difference, ΔφIp1, measured between the first primary signal and the second primary signal in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known first average static pressure, pDESIRED1, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device, and based on a phase difference, ΔφIp2, measured between the first primary signal and the second primary signal in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known, second average static pressure, pDESIRED2, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device, for example, also with application of the evaluating circuit. Additionally, the measuring system parameter representing the pressure dependence, PRESSUREI, of the first sensitivity, SPANI, of the measuring system can be ascertained based on a provisional measured value of mass flow of first type generated in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known and/or impressed, first average static pressure, pDESIRED1, and/or by means of a first average static pressure, pDESIRED1, ascertained by a reference, pressure measuring device, and based on a provisional measured value of mass flow of first type generated in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known and/or impressed, second average static pressure, pDESIRED2, and/or a second average static pressure, pDESIRED2, ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device, for example, also with application of the evaluating circuit.
The measuring system parameter representing the pressure dependence, PRESSUREII, of the second sensitivity, SPANII, of the measuring system can, in turn, be ascertained based on a phase difference, ΔφIIp1, measured between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known, first average static pressure, pDESIRED1, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device and based on a phase difference, ΔφIIp2, measured between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known, second average static pressure, pDESIRED2, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device, for example, also with application of the evaluating circuit. Additionally, the measuring system parameter representing the pressure dependence, PRESSUREII, of the second sensitivity, SPANII, of the measuring system can also be ascertained based on a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type generated in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known, first average static pressure, pDESIRED1, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device, and based on a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type generated in the case of supplying the measuring transducer with a flowing medium of known, second average static pressure, pDESIRED2, for example, an impressed one and/or one ascertained by means of a reference, pressure measuring device, for example, also with application of the evaluating circuit.
According to a seventh embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit produces during operation, recurringly, a phase difference value of first type, which represents, instantaneously, the phase difference, ΔφI, existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal, as well as a phase difference value of second type, which represents, instantaneously, the phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals type, and that the evaluating circuit generates the measured value of mass flow and/or the measured value of pressure by means of the phase difference value of first type and by means of the phase difference value of second type.
According to an eighth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit produces, by means of the first primary signal as well as at least one other of the primary signals of the measuring transducer, for example, the second primary signal, a interimly and/or not sufficiently exactly representing of an instantaneous mass flow rate, m, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer and/or a digital, provisional measured value of mass flow of first type, for example, based on a phase difference, ΔφI, existing between the first primary signal and the second primary signal, and that the evaluating circuit produces, by means of the third primary signal as well as at least one other of the primary signals of the measuring transducer, for example, the first primary signal and/or the second primary signal, a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type interimly and/or not sufficiently exactly representing of an instantaneous mass flow rate, m, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer and/or a digital, provisional measured value of mass flow of second type, for example, a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type based on a phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals. Developing this embodiment of the invention further, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates the measured value of mass flow and/or the measured value of pressure, in each case, by means of the provisional measured value of mass flow of first type and by means of the provisional measured value of mass flow of second type.
According to a ninth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first oscillation sensor and the third oscillation sensor are so placed in the measuring transducer, that an amplitude of the first primary signal is influenced in smaller measure by an average static pressure reigning instantaneously in the at least one measuring tube than is an amplitude of the third primary signal.
According to a tenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the second oscillation sensor and the third oscillation sensor are so placed in the measuring transducer, that an amplitude of the second primary signal is influenced in smaller measure by an average static pressure reigning instantaneously in the at least one measuring tube than is an amplitude of the third primary signal.
According to an eleventh embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor are so placed in the measuring transducer, that an amplitude of the first primary signal and an amplitude of the second primary signal are influenced in equal measure by an average static pressure reigning instantaneously in the at least one measuring tube.
According to a twelfth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the at least one measuring tube is embodied at least sectionally essentially with V shape.
According to a thirteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the at least one measuring tube is embodied at least sectionally essentially U shape.
According to a fourteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that at least the first oscillation sensor and the second oscillation sensor are of equal construction relative to one another.
According to a fifteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that at least the first oscillation sensor and the third oscillation sensor are of equal construction relative to one another.
According to a sixteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the first oscillation sensor is arranged on the inlet side and the second oscillation sensor on the outlet side of the at least one measuring tube.
According to a seventeenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the at least one measuring tube has a measuring tube segment, for example, an at least sectionally curved, measuring tube segment, extending essentially freely oscillating, between an end of the measuring tube defining an inlet-side, oscillation node of oscillations of the measuring tube and an end of the measuring tube defining an outlet-side, oscillation node of oscillations. Additionally, it is, in such case, provided, that both the first oscillation sensor, as well as also the second oscillation sensor, as well as also the third oscillation sensor are so placed in the measuring transducer, that each of the three oscillation sensors registers, for example, predominantly or exclusively, vibrations of the essentially freely oscillating measuring tube segment and/or that the at least one measuring tube is excited during operation by means of the exciter mechanism, at least at times, in a wanted mode, in which it executes, for example, predominantly or exclusively, bending oscillations about an imaginary, oscillation axis, for example, one parallel to or coincident with a longitudinal axis of the measuring transducer, imaginarily connecting ends of the at least one measuring tube, for example, with a single and/or with a lowest resonance frequency, and/or that each of the at least three primary signals of the measuring transducer, for example, primary signals generated simultaneously, has, in each case, a signal component, for example, a dominating signal component and/or a signal component corresponding to the wanted mode, with a signal frequency corresponding to the bending oscillations in the wanted mode and/or to a resonance frequency, for example, a lowest resonance frequency, of the at least one measuring tube.
According to an eighteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates, at least at times, by means of at least one of the primary signals, a density measured value, for example, a digital, density measured value, which represents, instantaneously, a density, ρ, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer.
According to a nineteenth embodiment of the invention, it is additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates, at least at times, by means of at least one of the primary signals, a viscosity measured value, for example, a digital, viscosity measured value, which represents a viscosity, η, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer.
According to a first further development of the invention, the measuring system further includes a driver circuit, for example, a driver circuit communicating during operation with the evaluating circuit, electrically coupled with the measuring transducer, and delivering at least one exciter signal controlling its exciter mechanism.
According to a second further development of the invention, the measuring transducer further includes a counteroscillator, for example, a counteroscillator oscillating during operation essentially with opposite phase to that of the measuring tube and/or a counteroscillator parallel to the measuring tube, affixed to the measuring tube to form a first coupling zone on the inlet side of the measuring tube and to form a second coupling zone on the outlet side of the measuring tube. Additionally, it is, in such case, provided, that both the first oscillation sensor, as well as also the second oscillation sensor, as well as also the third oscillation sensor are so placed in the measuring transducer, that each of the three oscillation sensors, for example, predominantly or exclusively, registers, for example, differentially, oscillations of the at least one measuring tube relative to the counteroscillator; and/or that measuring tube and counteroscillator oscillate with opposite phase relative to one another, during operation, at least at one, shared, oscillation frequency; and/or that both the first primary signal as well as also the second primary signal as well as also the third primary signal represent, for example, opposite-equal, oscillatory movements of the at least one measuring tube relative to the counteroscillator; and/or that the oscillation sensors, for example, equally-constructed, oscillation sensors, register, for example, simultaneously and/or differentially, vibrations of the at least one measuring tube, for example, a U shaped or V shaped, measuring tube, and the counteroscillator, for example, a U shaped or V shaped counteroscillator.
According to a third further development of the invention, the sensor arrangement further includes, for example, an electrodynamic, fourth oscillation sensor arranged on the measuring tube and spaced both from the first oscillation sensor as well as also from the second oscillation sensor as well as also from the third oscillation sensor, for example, also equally far as the third oscillation sensor is from the at least one oscillation exciter, for example, arranged on a side of the measuring tube occupied by the first oscillation sensor and/or by the second oscillation sensor and/or by the third oscillation sensor, which delivers, especially simultaneously with the first and second primary signals and/or simultaneously with the third primary signal, a fourth primary signal of the measuring transducer representing vibrations of the measuring tube.
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit generates the measured value of mass flow also by means of the fourth primary signal.
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that at least the third oscillation sensor and the fourth oscillation sensor are of equal construction relative to one another.
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that the third oscillation sensor is arranged on the inlet side and the fourth oscillation sensor on the outlet side of the at least one measuring tube.
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that the third oscillation sensor and the fourth oscillation sensor are so placed in the measuring transducer, that an amplitude of the third primary signal and an amplitude of the fourth primary signal are influenced in equal measure by an internal pressure reigning in the at least one measuring tube.
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that the fourth oscillation sensor is placed on a measuring tube segment of the measuring tube extending between the second oscillation sensor and the at least one oscillation exciter.
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit recurringly during operation produces a phase difference value of second type, which represents, instantaneously, the phase difference, ΔφII, type existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals, and that the phase difference value of second type represents the phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and the fourth primary signal (s4).
According to a first embodiment of the third further development, it is, in the case of the measuring system of the invention, additionally provided, that the evaluating circuit, by means of the third primary signal as well as at least one other of the primary signals of the measuring transducer, for example, the first primary signal and/or the second primary signal, produces, for example, based on a phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and another of the primary signals, a provisional measured value of mass flow of second type, for example, one interimly and/or not sufficiently exactly representing a mass flow, m, of medium flowing through the measuring transducer and/or a digital one, and that the evaluating circuit generates the provisional measured value of mass flow of second type both by means of the third primary signal as well as also by means of the fourth primary signal, for example, based on a phase difference, ΔφII, existing between the third primary signal and the fourth primary signal.
A basic idea of the invention is to register the different influences of pressure reigning in the flowing medium for the individual, mutually spaced, oscillation sensors, and, associated therewith, the cross sensitivities of the sensor arrangement, or the measuring transducer, on pressure during operation as a function of the location of installation the respective oscillation sensors and, among other things, in a manner compensating the influence of pressure on the measured mass flow. Alternatively thereto or in supplementation thereof, the site dependence of the cross sensitivity of the sensor arrangement, or the measuring transducer, on pressure can also be used to register the pressure, as such, by means of measuring transducers of vibration-type, or the therewith produced, primary signals representing measuring tube oscillations.

Measuring system having a measuring transducer of vibrating-type


A method and a system for determining the observability of faults in an electronic circuit include a processor that simulates, in a simulation phase, a behavior of the electronic circuit using a simulation model, and that determined, in an analysis phase, based on the simulation, and for each of a plurality of elements of the electronic circuit, time periods in which an occurrent fault could cause a deviation in analysis output signals, where the occurrent fault is determined not to cause any deviation in output signals in other time periods.

Electronic circuits, in particular digital circuits having for example semiconductor components, are exposed to external influences that can cause undesired changes in their behavior. A correct, fault-free behavior of the circuit can be expected by the user when all operating parameters, such as operating voltage, temperature, mechanical load, etc., are within the specified limits. If one or more parameters are outside these limits, systematic faulty behavior may be observed.
However, faulty behavior can also be triggered by other external influences, such as electromagnetic radiation or high-energy particles such as cosmic radiation, radioactive decay products, etc. The frequency of occurrence of such radiation influence is a function in particular of the location at which the circuit is used (on the surface of the earth, elevation above sea level, vicinity to particular sources of radiation), and of the sensitivity of the circuit itself. Here it should be kept in mind that the sensitivity of the circuit generally increases strongly as the structural size of the circuit components decreases.
Occurring faults can be divided into two groups, namely permanent faults, which bring about a lasting change in the circuit and therefore a defect, and transient faults, which cause a temporary change in the state or behavior of the circuit.
Transient faults can in turn be divided into two groups:
Single-event transient (SET): brief disturbing impulse in the voltage level of a line;
Single-event upset (SEU): inversion or change in the state or of the information in the memory cells.
There are many scientific publications that deal with the fault masking of SEUs, in particular in microprocessors. Here, the term "Architectural Correct Execution" bit (ACE) is defined. ACE bits are all memory cells that have an effect on the system output in the case of a fault.
Alongside this, all bits that cannot influence the instruction path within the processor are designated "microarchitectural un-ACE" bits. These can occur in idle states, during speculative calculation, and in predictive structures (predictors). Frequently, values calculated there are not used, and therefore also have no effect (un-ACE).
As a third group, "architectural un-ACE" bits are defined, which do have an effect on the result of a single instruction, but have no effect on the system output. These can occur in the case of NOP (no operation) instructions, performance-increasing indications, such as prefetch, instructions with predicate register, logic-masking effects of the operands, and so-called dynamically dead instructions. Here there is a further distinction between "first-level dynamically dead instructions" (FDD), e.g., two write accesses to the same address without reading of the first value between the two accesses, and "transitively dynamically dead instructions" (TDD), which produce results that are used only by FDDs or TDDs.
Concerning the above, reference is made to the publication of Shubhendu S. Mukherjee, Christopher Weaver, Joel Emer, Stephen K. Reinhart, Todd Austin: "A Systematic Methodology to Compute the Architectural Vulnerability Factors for a High-Performance Microprocessor," IEEE, 2003.
Combinatorial digital circuits are distinguished by their deterministic behavior. This has the consequence that with a given digital logic function and given input values, the output value can be unambiguously determined. If a transient fault occurs in one or more input signals to a logic function with an output (1 bit), a faulty output signal may occur, as a function of the input signals and the logic function. Whether a particular fault causes a deviation from the expected behavior of the circuit at one of the outputs, i.e., the fault becomes visible, is referred to as observability, or fault observability. Here it is to be noted that not every fault becomes visible as a faulty output; this is referred to as masking, or fault masking.
The sensitivity of a specific combination of input signals relative to a specific fault can be determined using the Boolean difference. If the Boolean difference for a function input is equal to 1, a change in this input signal will cause a change in the output signal. In general, one speaks of a sensitive path from an input to an output if a change in this one input signal causes a change in the output signal.
Boolean Function:ƒ(x1, . . . , xn)ε{0,1},xiε{0,1}
Boolean Difference:
            ⅆ      f              ⅆ              x        i              =            f                    (                              x            1                    ,          …                                                    ,                      x            i                    ,          …                                                    ,                      x            n                          )              ⊕          f                    (                              x            i                    ,          …                                                    ,                                    x              _                        i                    ,          …                                                    ,                      x            n                          )
The result of the Boolean difference for each input signal, the temporal portion of the occurrence of a specific input combination, and the probability of a fault of an individual signal, together enable the calculation of a fault probability or fault masking probability. In the case of a multistage logic, the results of the individual stages must be compensated using correlation.
Reference is made here to the publication of Ming Zhang, Naresh R. Shanbhag: A Soft Error Rate Analysis (SERA) Methodology, IEEE, 2004, US 2007/0226572 A1.
For sequential circuits (synchronous circuit technology), the time characteristic also plays a large role. Thus, in every larger circuit there are a large number of nodes that are not important for the functioning of the circuit at every point in time. Therefore, fault masking effects can also be observed over time. The properties of the circuit prevent a portion of the occurrent faults from being visible at the output. The ratio of visible faults to actually occurring faults is referred to as the derating factor.
In this thematic area, the following terms are used:
Timing Derating (TD):
Timing derating is an effect that arises due to the runtime of a signal from a register or latch to the next register or latch, i.e., during the running through of a stage, in a synchronous circuit design.
Due to the runtime of a signal through the logic gates and lines (logic path) between two storage elements (register or latch), faults (SEUs) that occur at the beginning, at a register or latch, of this logic path do not always reach the end of this path in a timely manner at the sampling time. In this case, this fault is also not propagated into the next stage of the circuit, but rather is masked out.
The excess time for the propagation of a signal within a synchronous circuit stage (clock period tClk−signal runtime through the logic path tDelay) is referred to as slack. All SEUs at the storage element at the beginning of the logic path that occur less than tDelay before the sampling time of the storage element at the end of the logic path have no effect on the value of the sampled signal. Therefore, the ratio of the slack to the clock period can be regarded as the timing derating factor.
Logic Derating (LD):
So-called logic derating is the reduction of visible faults in relation to the actual number of faults on the basis of the overall logical function of a circuit. Logic derating is a function both of the use of the circuit and of the architecture of the circuit itself. Whenever a register content is faulty, but its state is no longer further processed, one speaks of logic derating, and the information of the clock gating or from the branch prediction can be used in a processor. Here, the designations "soft error sensitivity factors" or "vulnerability factors" are also alternatively used.
Reference is made here to the publication of Hang T. Nguyen, Yoad Yagil, Norbert Seifert, Mike Reitsma: Chip-Level Error Estimation Method, IEEE, 2005.
If all masking effects under consideration are combined in a single factor, one speaks of an Architectural Vulnerability Factor (AVF). The probability that a fault of a particular component will influence the circuit output is calculated here from the base fault rate, which is dependent on the technology, multiplied by the AVF.
Reference is made here to the publication of Shubhendu S. Mukherjee, Christopher Weaver, Joel Emer, Stephen K. Reinhart, Todd Austin: "A Systematic Methodology to Compute the Architectural Vulnerability Factors for a High-Performance Microprocessor," IEEE, 2003.
In addition to analytical methods, using circuit simulation it is possible to determine an overall masking factor by feeding faults into the circuit. Here, the progression of all output signals of the circuit for a fixed set of input stimuli is stored. This is used as a reference for the fault-free operation of the circuit.
In fault injection, faulty values are introduced into the circuit in a stochastically distributed manner over the entire circuit and over the entire simulation time period. After the feeding of a single fault into the progression of a signal at a fault location, the simulation is regularly continued, and the output vector, namely the totality of all output signals, is observed for a predefined time period. Within this time period, the output vector is compared to the fault-free reference as a target value, and possible differences are noted. If there is at least one visible fault, this simulation run is evaluated as faulty. The connection of fault location and effect at the output is stored.
Fault injection must be carried out in the context of an entire campaign, i.e., many simulation runs using different faults. The results obtained in this way are now combined for each fault location. Per fault location, the number of simulation runs containing faults relative to the number of fed-in faults is examined. This ratio is the fault masking factor for a signal.
The determination of a masking factor through fault injection requires a very high computing expense, because in a simulation it is always possible to draw only one conclusion for a specific fault. The precision of the results due to fault injection is a function of the number of simulation runs, namely the number of injected faults. A high degree of statistical precision is achieved only beginning from a high number.
U.S. Application Publication No. US 2005/0283950 A1 describes a method for reducing faulty detection of faults in microprocessors through the tracing of so-called dynamically dead instructions. In this method, it is monitored whether a given instruction is a dynamically dead instruction. In this way, false positives can also be reduced.
In addition to faults that occur during circuit operation, manufacturing faults in the circuits must also be recognized. The recognition of circuit faults takes place, as a rule, through a test in the production facility, and possibly during, or at the beginning, of circuit operation, by applying defined test patterns. However, in the production of these test patterns it is often not yet known which faults are recognized using the test pattern set. The tracing of critical paths (Critical Path Tracing, CPT) in integrated circuits having combinatorial functioning has been carried out for many years to make it possible to determine the test coverage of a test pattern set. In CPT, using the Boolean difference sensitive paths are calculated, beginning from the primary outputs and going to the primary inputs. In this method, many scientific publications also take into account in particular the effects of reconvergent paths. In general, these paths are represented and analyzed by creating a reconvergence graph. By taking into account the specific structure and properties of the graph, the effects of self-masking and multiple-path stimulation can be taken into account. CPT yields as a result all sensitive paths of a circuit for a circuit state. A sensitive path means that all circuit nodes in this sensitive path are observable, i.e., a fault would become visible in the form of a deviating output signal. From this it can be inferred that the input signals of the circuit state currently being examined are a test vector for stuck-at faults of the opposed (negated) momentarily present digital signal level of all circuit nodes in all sensitive paths (e.g., signal level is logical 1 for test stuck-at 0, and vice versa). CPT can therefore be used for the fast parallel determination of the test coverage (fault grading) of combinatorial circuits. Through an expansion, CPT can also be used for sequential circuits; here, fault lists of possibly detectable faults are stored in sequential elements and propagated forward. The faults contained in these lists are not detectable until these fault lists reach a primary output. Because many fault lists on non-sensitive paths are erased, a large unnecessary computing expense is incurred.
In this connection, reference is made to the publication of Lei Wu, D. M. H. Walker: A Fast Algorithm for Critical Path Tracing in VLSI Digital circuits, IEEE, 2005, and the publication of P. Menon, Y. Levendel, M. Abramovici: SCRIPT: A Critical Path Tracing Algorithm for Synchronous Sequential Circuits, IEEE, 1991.

Backward analysis for determining fault masking factors


A vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag includes a substrate having an airbag door region and a decorative covering disposed over the airbag door region. A tear seam is formed in the decorative covering along a path having an end portion that is non-orthogonal with respect to a hinge side of the airbag door region. The tear seam path may include a central portion that lies along a side of the airbag door region opposite the hinge side, along with end portions that form obtuse included angles with the central portion. In some cases, the end portions diverge from a perimeter of the airbag door region and may generally extend along high deployment stress regions of the covering. Tear seams formed along such a path may reduce airbag inflation energy losses associated with tearing the covering material(s) during airbag deployment.

Vehicle airbags are safety devices that deploy toward the interior of a vehicle to help protect its occupants from injury in the event of a crash. Airbags may be concealed behind or beneath an interior panel during normal vehicle operation until such an event. When the airbag deploys, it typically does so through a deployment opening formed in or around the interior panel. The deployment opening may be pre-formed in the panel, the panel may move away to reveal the opening, or the opening may be formed during airbag deployment at a pre-determined location in the panel. Where formed during deployment, a tear seam may be provided in one or more components of the panel to control the location of material separation during airbag deployment.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,642 to Davis et al. discloses typical tear seam shapes. In each embodiment described in the Davis patent, rectangular airbag doors are concealed beneath a layer of material having a tear seam formed along its underside. The tear seams are formed along the three unhinged sides of the underlying airbag doors. In one example, there is a single rectangular airbag door hinged on one side and a U-shaped tear seam formed in the overlying layer of material. The U-shape follows the shape of the three unhinged sides of the airbag door. In another example, there are two rectangular airbag doors, each hinged on one side, and the tear seam is in an H-shape. The H-shape follows the shape of the dual airbag doors, with the vertical bars of the H-shape following side edges of the airbag doors and the cross-bar of the H-shape following the other unhinged sides of the airbag doors.


The present application provides a conversion system and a control method, including N power converters and N controllers, where each power converter includes a first side and a second side, the first sides of the N power converters are electrically coupled in series, and currents flowing through the first sides of the N power converters are the same, the N controllers correspond to the N power converters one to one. Each controller contains a common-mode voltage loop and a current loop. The common-mode voltage loop is configured to receive a voltage reference signal and a voltage feedback signal, and output a given signal. The current loop is configured to receive the given signal, a current reference signal, and a first side current of a corresponding power converter, and output a common-mode control signal to modulate a first side voltage of the corresponding power converter.

A power electronic converter is a device that uses power electronic components to convert electrical energy. A cascade converter includes a plurality of power electronic converters (hereinafter referred to as power converters) with input sides connected in series. Due to high modularity degree and good scalable performance of the cascade converter, it is widely used in power apparatuses, such as Electronic Power Transformers (EPT), Static Var Compensators (SVC) and medium and high voltage high-power inverters.
A cascade conversion system generally adopts centralized control or partial centralized control. In centralized control, a central controller collects input signals and an output signal of each power converter, performs calculation and respectively outputs Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signals to each power converter to control the work of each power converter. In partial centralized control, there is provided with a central controller and a plurality of local controllers, where one local controller controls one power converter, the central controller collects input signals and an output signal of each power converter, performs calculation and outputs intermediate control variables, and each local controller generates a PWM signal according to the intermediate control variable and an output signal of a corresponding power converter.
However, regardless of centralized control or partial centralized control, there is provided with a central controller control. If the central controller fails, the cascade converter cannot continue to work and the reliability is low.


The speed of a light metering system that performs divided brightness measurements is increased by omitting the computations used to calculate the suitable exposure conditions when the metered signals output by the lightmeter are nearly identical to metered signals stored in the light meter from a previous metering operation. In such a case, the exposure operation is performed using exposure conditions that were previously calculated for the stored metered signals.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exposure meter system for cameras. More specifically, it relates to a technique for use in an exposure meter system that measures brightness in divided areas. The technique makes quick exposure control possible by eliminating the computing operation for obtaining exposure data under specified conditions.
2. Description of Related Art
In the conventional art, a camera is provided with an exposure meter system to measure the level of illumination of the subject so that suitable exposure can be accomplished. Based on the illumination value obtained by means of such a light metering system, the processing circuits in the camera determine the shutter time and lens aperture stop value so that an appropriate amount of exposure can be given to the film.
Heretofore, the metering system was of a type that measures light weighted mainly in the center of the frame. In recent years, however, it has become more prevalent for the illumination to be measured in more than one area of the subject. This type of meter measuring method is generally referred to as divided brightness measurement. In the metering, the subject image is divided into about 5 or more areas, including the center area and two or more peripheral areas. With this measurement, brightness in the center area of the subject and in the peripheral areas are compared with each other to determine the optimum exposure conditions.
In accomplishing divided brightness measuremenn, the greater the number of divisions the higher the probability of obtaining the correct exposure conditions for the main (center) area as well as for the peripheral areas, because in this manner a more detailed distribution of illumination can be obtained for these areas. Therefore, the number of divisions with divided brightness measurement tends to become increasingly greater. In the future, due to improvements in photocells, the number of divisions is expected to range from several tens to several hundreds.
With cameras in which the above-described divided brightness measurement is accomplished, the computing circuits require little processing time if the number of divisions is kept to a minimum. However, if the number of divisions increases to from several tens to several hundreds or more, the process complexity approaches that of so-called image processing.
This requires a very long processing time before the optimum exposure conditions can be obtained. With a camera in which the use of a one chip CPU is necessitated because of space limitations, and in which the CPU has to perform many processes, including the range-finding process, exposure-controlling process and many other processes, not to mention the light-metering operations, a long time is required in order to obtain the above-described optimum exposure conditions, thereby making instantaneous response on the part of the camera impossible.


An optical transceiver module is comprised of a mount substrate, a transmitting semiconductor laser, a receiving photodiode, a communicating hole, and a first filter. The mount substrate is provided so as to intersect with a predetermined axis X and has first and second principal surfaces facing each other. The transmitting semiconductor laser is mounted on the first principal surface and is configured to emit light of a first wavelength. The receiving photodiode is mounted on the predetermined axis X and on the second principal surface and is configured to receiving light of a second wavelength. The communicating hole is provided in a region of the mount substrate where the receiving photodiode is mounted, and makes the first and second principal surfaces communicate with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical transceiver module used in optical fiber communication and, particularly, to an optical transceiver module suitably applicable to single-fiber bidirectional communication.
2. Related Background Art
A conventional optical transceiver module suitably applicable to single-fiber bidirectional communication is, for example, the one disclosed in Document 1 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,841,562). This optical transceiver module is provided with a semiconductor laser and a photodiode. These semiconductor laser and photodiode are separately housed in their respective metal packages to form an emitter module and a receiver module, respectively. Then these emitter module and receiver module are assembled together with a ferrule having an optical fiber fixed therein. In this optical transceiver module, the optical fiber fixed in the ferrule has a slant surface obliquely polished and provided with reflecting and non-reflecting coatings, and this slant surface separates transmitting light from the semiconductor laser and receiving light into the photodiode from each other.


A first host system in a multipath storage system acts on behalf of a second host system when the second host system is unable to access a solid state drive (SSD). The first host system configures a bitmap table using an SSD controller of the first host system to access memory of the SSD associated with the second host system. The memory accessed on behalf of the second host system may be in a region including persistent memory, base address register memory and/or controller memory buffer of the second host system.

In data centers, a multipath storage system may provide an alternative method of accessing data during a failover in one particular path. However, there is no alternative method during a failover of accessing the data from a memory region like but not limited to a Persistent Memory Region (PMR)/Controller Memory Buffer (CMB) region. FIG. 1 illustrates an architecture where a first host system accesses its own PMR/CMB region in the multipath storage system. There is no existing system and method where the first host system accesses a PMR/CMB region of at least one second host system. For example, the first host does not access the PMR/CMB of the second host when the second host system is unable to access its own PMR/CMB region due to its physical access failure with Non-Volatile Memory Express Solid State Drive (NVMe-SSD).
FIG. 2 is a flow diagram (2000) illustrating a method for accessing a namespace region in the multipath storage system, according to a prior art disclosed herein.
The method includes, at operation 202, a second host system informs a first host system about its physical access failure with SSD, using its own propriety method. At operation 204 the first host system sends a Namespace attachment command to its controller to attach the second host system's namespace to its controller. At operation 206, first host system controller receives the command, and updates its controller to include reference to the second host system's namespace in the namespace mapping table. At operation 208, the method includes any further read or write command. The first host system prepares the read or write command with the second host system's Namespace ID. At operation 210, it is emphasized that the first host system must set the appropriate Namespace ID in the read or write command.
According to the related art, in a multipath system, during failover situation, a namespace can be accessed across multiple hosts but not across memory regions.
Thus, it is desired to address the above mentioned disadvantages or other shortcomings or at least provide a useful alternative.

Method and apparatus for accessing at least one memory region of SSD during failover situation in multipath system


A surface analysis device is disclosed for identifying molecules by simultaneously scanning nanocodes on a surface of a substrate. The device includes a scanning array that is capable of simultaneously scanning the nanocodes on the surface of the substrate and an analyzer that is coupled with the scanning array. The analyzer is capable of receiving simultaneously scanned information from the scanning array and identifying molecules associated with the nanocodes.

The medical field, among others, is increasingly in need of techniques for accelerated identification and characterization of molecules. In particular, techniques for rapidly sequencing a DNA molecule have become more important due in part to recent medical advances utilizing genetics and gene therapy. For a variety of reasons, it has become advantageous to know the sequence of particular DNA molecules. Methods currently exist to identify and characterize molecules, such as DNA molecules, however existing methods are slow and cumbersome to meet the current characterization and sequencing demands.
What is needed is a device and method for characterizing molecules that reduces the possibility of characterization errors such as inconclusive readings and misidentified readings. What is also needed is a device and method for characterizing molecules that can be performed at faster speeds.

Use of arrays of atomic force microscope/scanning tunneling microscope tips to scan nanocodes


A method for concentrating electrically charged objects in a non-Newtonian liquid medium comprises: feeding a sample containing electrically charged objects into a channel having a flow axis, a first transverse cross-section orthogonal to the flow axis, and at least one second transverse cross-section orthogonal to the flow axis, one dimension of the second cross-section being less than the corresponding dimension of the first cross-section; and applying a hydrodynamic flow in a direction of the channel together with the application, in the opposite direction, of an electric field in the channel, thus making it possible to move the electrically charged objects in the channel along the flow axis from the first cross-section to the second cross-section, stop the objects, and concentrate the objects in at least one area upstream from the second transverse cross-section.

Different processes and devices which make it possible to concentrate molecules, in particular DNA molecules, are known in the prior art.
Among these processes and devices, some, in particular those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,753,492, 8,440,063 and 8,783,466, employ ion-selective nanochannels. These techniques exhibit the disadvantage of only being able to be employed with very low flow rates and under certain salinity conditions.

Method and device for concentrating molecules or objects dissolved in solution

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE


Radiation sensitive thermally developable imaging elements comprise:. (a) photosensitive silver halide, PA1 (b) light insensitive silver salt oxidizing agent, PA1 (c) reducing agent for silver ions, and PA1 (d) an antifoggant compound comprising s-triazines having at least one tribromomethyl substituent. The antifoggants are effective in reducing spurious background image densities.

Silver halide containing photothermographic imaging materials processed with heat, and without liquid development have been known in the art for many years. These materials generally comprise a support having thereon a photographic light-sensitive silver halide, a light-insensitive organic silver salt, and a reducing agent for the organic silver salt.
The light-sensitive silver halide is in catalytic proximity to the light-insensitive organic silver salt so that the latent image, formed by irradiation of the silver halide, serves as a catalyst nucleus for the oxidation-reduction reaction of the organic silver salt with the reducing agent when the emulsion is heated above about 80.degree. C. Such media are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,075, 3,839,049, and 4,260,677. The silver halide may also be generated in the media by a preheating step in which halide ion is released to form silver halide.
A variety of ingredients may be added to these basic components to enhance performance. For example, toning agents may be incorporated to improve the color of the silver image of the photothermographic emulsions, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,846,136; 3,994,732 and 4,021,249. Various methods to produce dye images and multicolor images with photographic color couplers and leuco dyes are known and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,022,617; 3,531,286; 3,180,731; 3,761,270; 4,460,681; 4,883,747 and Research Disclosure, March 1989, item 29963.
Common problems that exist with photothermographic systems are fog and post-processing instability of the image. The photoactive silver halide still present in the developed image may continue to catalyze print-out of metallic silver during room light handling. Thus, there exists a need for stabilization of the unreacted silver halide. The addition of separate post-processing image stabilizers have been used to impart post-processing stability. Most often these are sulfur containing compounds such as mercaptans, thiones, and thioethers as described in Research Disclosure, June 1978, item 17029. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,245,033, 4,837,141 and 4,451,561 describe sulfur compounds that are development restrainers for photothermographic systems. Mesoionic 1,2,4-triazolium-3-thiolates as fixing agents and silver halide stabilizers are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,424. Substituted 5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazoles such as 3-amino-5-benzothio-1,2,4-triazole as post-processing stabilizers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,128,557, 4,137,079, 4,138,265, and Research Disclosure, May 1978, items 16977 and 16979.
Silver halide photothermographic imaging materials, often referred to as "dry silver" compositions because no liquid development is necessary to produce the final image, have been known in the art for many years. These imaging materials basically comprise a light insensitive, reducible silver source, a light sensitive material which generates silver when irradiated and a reducing agent for the silver source. The light sensitive material is generally photographic silver halide which must be in catalytic proximity to the light insensitive silver source. Catalytic proximity is an intimate physical association of these two materials so that when silver specks or nuclei are generated by the irradiation or light exposure of the photographic silver halide, those nuclei are able to catalyze the reduction of the silver source by the reducing agent. It has been long understood that silver is a catalyst for the reduction of the silver ions and the silver-generating light sensitive silver halide catalyst progenitor may be placed into catalytic proximity with the silver source in a number of different fashions, such as partial metathesis of the silver source with a halogen-containing source (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,457,075), coprecipitation of the silver halide and silver source material (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,049), and any other method which intimately associates the silver halide and the silver source.
The silver source used in this area of technology is a material which contains silver ions. The earliest and still preferred source comprises silver salts of long chain carboxylic acids, usually of from 10 to 30 carbon atoms. The silver salt of behenic acid or mixtures of acids of like molecular weight have been primarily used. Salts of other organic acids or other organic materials such as silver imidazolates have been proposed and U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,677 discloses the use of complexes of inorganic or organic silver salts as image source materials.
In both photographic and photothermographic emulsions, exposure of the silver halide to light produces small clusters of silver atoms. The imagewise distribution of these clusters is known in the art as the latent image. This latent image generally is not visible by ordinary means and the light sensitive article must be further processed in order to produce a visual image. The visual image is produced by the catalytic reduction of silver ions which are in catalytic proximity to the specks of the latent image.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,681 discloses a color photothermographic element in which color forming layers are separated by barrier layers to prevent migration of components between layers which would reduce the color separation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,307 discloses a thermal diffusion transfer photothermographic element in which individual color sheets are used to provide colors. Multiple color images are formed by the use of multiple sheets of different colors.
Photothermographic emulsions, in a manner similar to photographic emulsions and other light sensitive systems, tend to suffer from fog. This spurious image density which appears in non-developmentally sensitized areas of the element. This is often reported in sensitometric results as D.sub.min. This problem is also related to certain stability factors in the photosensitive elements where fog increases upon storage of the photo-sensitive element.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,937 describes the use of a nitrogen-containing organic base in combination with a halogen molecule or an organic haloamide to improve storage stability and sensitivity.
Japanese Patent Kokai JA 61-129642 published Jun. 17, 1986 describes the use of halogenated compounds to reduce fog in color-forming photothermographic emulsions. These compounds include acetophenones including phenyl-(alpha,alpha-dibromobenzyl)-ketone.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,903 describes the use of small amounts of mercuric ion in photothermographic silver halide emulsions to improve speed and aging stability.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,939 describes the use of benzoyl acid compounds of a defined formula to reduce fog and to improve the storage stability of silver halide photothermographic emulsions. The addition of halogen molecules to the emulsions are also described as improving fog and stability.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,946 describes the use of 2,4-bis(tribromomethyl) substituted s-triazines with a 1-6 carbon atom alkyl substitution on the 6-position. The 6-methyl compound is exemplified.

Antifoggants for photothermographic articles

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company


Various implementations include a self-cleaning screen device including a screen and auger. The screen is a hollow cylinder and has a screen central axis, a screen inner surface, a screen outer surface opposite and radially spaced apart from the screen inner surface, a screen first end, and a screen second end opposite and axially spaced apart from the screen first end. The screen outer surface defines a plurality of openings extending radially to the screen inner surface. The auger is helically shaped and has an auger central axis, an auger first end, and an auger second end opposite and axially spaced apart from the auger first end. The auger is disposed around at least a portion of the screen outer surface such that the auger central axis and the screen central axis are coincident with each other. The auger is rotatable about the auger central axis relative to the screen.

Pit latrines are typically holes formed in the ground for the intended use of collecting human urine and feces. Pit latrines are often used in developing countries where waste management is unavailable. As a pit latrine fills, the pit latrine must be emptied.
Some methods for emptying pit latrines include suctioning the contents of the pit latrine. However, larger items such as garbage, rocks, and plant matter sometimes accumulate in pit latrines. These larger items can clog or bind the driving mechanisms in many of the current suction devices. Thus, there is a need for a device that can exclude larger items from a suction device for emptying pit latrines.


An LED light bulb system that has a socket base and a contactor arranged in the socket base. The light bulb system also has a support circuit board secured to the socket base and a plurality of circuit boards connected to the support circuit board in a vertical direction. The light bulb also uses at least one resistor on each of the plurality of circuit boards to operate the LED.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to light bulbs and more particularly relates to a LED wedge light bulb system.
2. Description of Related Art
Light bulbs, such as T-10 style light bulbs and LED's, have been well known in the art and available in the market place for quite sometime. Generally, in the prior art, a wedge bulb is only the light bulb portion of a lighting system. Some prior art LED light bulbs require a base to mount to a circuit board in order to emit light in a predetermined direction and color. Generally, these prior art LED bulb bases are a twist in style base with metal connectors, which carry the current to the light bulb for use in lighting the LED style light bulb. It should be noted that these prior art T-10 wedge light bulbs generally have low power consumption and ultra long life and may be used in any known lighting application, but generally are used for replacement of turn signal lights, corner lights, parking lights, side marker lights, tail lights, backup lights, etc., and may be used in the automotive, marine or aviation vehicle industries. These prior art LED light bulbs may be compatible to numerous socket and bulb models, such as but not limited to T-10, 194, W5W, 147, 152, etc. It should be noted that generally these wedge style prior art LED light bulbs use SMD panels or surface mounted devices to form the light bulbs. These surface mounted devices (SMD) generally have pixels that consist of red, green and blue diodes mounted into a single package, which is then mounted on a driver PC board. It should be noted that the individual diodes in some prior art LED bulbs are smaller than a pin head and are set very close together. It should also be noted that conventional or discrete LED's may also be used in prior art LED bulb technologies.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved LED SMD light bulb system. There also is a need in the art for an LED SMD light bulb system that is easier to connect to the lighting system. There also is a need in the art for a more reliable LED SMD style light bulb that may assure proper alignment between metal contactors and the circuit boards, components, or receptacles carrying the LEDs. There also is a need in the art for a more robust LED SMD light bulb system that may not vibrate out of a wedge base during use in a vehicle. There also is a need in the art for a one piece design or system for a LED light bulb and base integrated with one another.


An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle has at least two components and at least one locking device. The components can be adjusted in the position thereof relative to each other along an adjustment path in an open position of the locking device and are locked in the position thereof relative to each other in a closed position of the locking device. A stop element is arranged at least a first of the components such that the stop element limits the adjustment path and can be detached from the first of the components when a force value is exceeded. The adjustable steering column has a tool which can be inserted between the stop element and the first of the components in order to detach the stop element.

The present invention relates to an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising at least two structural parts and at least one securement device. The structural parts, in an opened position of the securement device, are displaceable in their position relative to one another along a displacement path and, in a closed position of the securement device, are secured in position relative to one another. At least on a first of the structural parts, a stop element is disposed which delimits the displacement path and, upon a force value being exceeded, is detachable from the first of the structural parts.
Such adjustable steering columns are known within prior art. The displaceability of the two structural parts relative to one another serves, for example, for the purpose of enabling adapting the position of the steering wheel to a particular driver. Within prior art height and/or length-adjustable steering columns are known. If the structural parts of the steering column are to be displaced relative to one another, the securement device is moved into its opened position. When the desired setting or position relative to one another has been reached, the securement device is moved into the closed position in which the two structural parts of the adjustable steering column are secured in position relative to one another.
To exclude faulty operation and to delimit the displacement path in the opened securement device, it is known to provide on one of the two structural parts a stop element delimiting the displacement path. In order to abolish this delimitation in the event of a motor vehicle collision, thus in the event of a crash, it is known to implement this stop element such that it is detachable when a force value is exceeded. In prior art the term break-away elements is also frequently used.
A steering column of said type is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,703,804 B2. This publication discloses an adjustable steering column in which the displacement path is carried along a displacement region in the form of an elongated hole. In the event of a motor vehicle crash upon a predefinable force value being exceeded, a stop element is disengaged which, initially, had been secured on a steering column bearing unit, such that the steering column is displaceable along an expanded path which adjoins the displacement path. Such a solution is complex since the stop element must be suitably secured and the break-away force must be set. A further significant disadvantage comprises that a corresponding securement pin must be broken off which leads to a relatively high force peak at the beginning of the crash sequence. In the event of a crash this force peak can have a negative effect on the driver of the motor vehicle.
Another generic adjustable steering column is disclosed in DE 10 2007 002 091 A1. Here a stop element is also provided for delimiting the displacement path, which, when a predefined force value is exceeded, breaks off in the form of a break-away element and enables the path for a further axial dislocation of the steering spindle bearing unit relative to the chassis-stationary bracket unit. Here there is also the disadvantage that the break-away element, since it must withstand the occurring forces even in the case of faulty operation, at the beginning of the crash generates a relatively high force peak which is undesirable since it can lead to unnecessary injuries of the driver of the motor vehicle.

Adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle