A modified ceramic composite separator includes an organic support layer and a ceramic layer coated on the surface of the support layer in a thickness of 0.1 μm to 20 μm, and further comprises a dopamine or other polymer grown in-situ on the surface and interior of the support layer and the ceramic layer. The inorganic power in the ceramic layer has a particle size of 5 nm to 10 μm, and the material of the organic support layer has a molecular weight of 1000 to 100000000.

As a kind of chemical power system with high power density, high output voltage, no memory effect, excellent cycling performance and environment-friendliness, lithium-ion battery has good economic benefits, social benefits and strategic significance which has been widely used in mobile communications, digital products and other fields and is most likely to become the most important power system in the field of energy storage and electric vehicles.
Separator is an important part of the battery which serves primarily to prevent contact of cathode and anode and allow ion conduction. At present, the commercialized lithium-ion batteries mainly use polyolefin separator materials with microporous structure, such as single layer or multi-layer films of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Due to the characteristics of the polymer itself, polyolefin separators provide sufficient mechanical strength and chemical stability at ambient temperature but exhibit obvious thermal shrinkage at high temperature, thus resulting cathode and anode contact and rapid accumulation of large amounts of heat. For PP/PE dopamine-modified ceramic composite separator, although PE melting occurs at a low temperature of 120° C. to clog micropores in the polymer and block ion conduction while PP still functions as a support to prevent further electrode reaction, if the temperature rises rapidly exceeding the melting temperature of PP which is only 150° C., melting of the separator will cause a large area short circuit and lead to thermal runaway which exacerbating the heat accumulation, resulting in high internal battery pressure and causing the battery to burn or explode finally. Battery internal short circuit is the biggest hidden danger of lithium-ion battery safety. In order to meet the requirements of high-capacity lithium-ion battery, the development of high safety separator has become a top priority of the industry. Among these, ceramic-coated separator with excellent temperature resistance and high safety is one of the main options for replacing traditional polyolefin separator.
Ceramic-coated separators are porous safety function separators prepared by coating uniform protective layers composed of ceramic micro-particles and the like onto single-side or double-side of the surface of conventional polyolefin microporous support layers, which improving the thermal stability and reducing heat shrinkage on the basis of ensuring the original characteristics of the polyolefin microporous separator, thereby effectively reducing the internal short circuit of the lithium-ion batteries and preventing thermal runway caused by internal short circuit.
At present, ceramic-coated separators are mainly prepared by dispersing ceramic particles (mainly nano or submicron oxide particles such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, etc.), binders and the like in a solvent to form a slurry and then using the slurry to form ceramic layers on the surface of polyolefin support layers via tape casting or dip-molding (see Journal of Power Sources 195 (2010) 6192-6196, CN200580036709.6, CN200780035135.X, etc.). However, since the ceramic particles are easy to agglomerate because of large specific surface energy and the surface of the ceramic particles are generally hydrophilic while the polyolefin film is a hydrophobic material, therefore, from the majority of studies, ceramic powder is of poor coating uniformity and the coating comes off easily, which may greatly affect the ceramic-coated separator in lithium-ion battery performance. In addition, although the coating of ceramic powder can improve the affinity of ceramic-coated separator with the electrolyte, ceramic-coated separator still has a certain risk of liquid leakage due to the poor wetting ability of the support layer and the electrolyte.

Modified ceramic composite separator and manufacturing method thereof


Systems and methods for selectively making non-spherical metal nanoparticles from a metal material. The metal target surface is ablated to create an ejecta event or plume containing nanoparticles moving away from the surface. Ablation may be caused by laser or electrostatic discharge. At least one electromagnetic field is placed in front of the solid target surface being ablated. The electromagnetic field manipulates at least a portion of the nanoparticles as they move away from the target surface through the electromagnetic field to create coral-shaped metal nanoparticles. The distance between the electromagnetic field and metal surface can be adjusted to yield metal nanoparticles of a desired size and/or shape.

1. Field of the Invention
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for making nanoparticles, more particularly non-spherical nanoparticles having globular, coral-like shapes.
2. Relevant Technology
Various processes used to produce nanoparticles are known in the art. The term "nanoparticle" often refers to particles of any shape having a largest dimension of less than 100 nm.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,020 discloses methods for making nanoparticles with an average diameter of 73 nm and a standard deviation of 23 nm). This method utilizes laser ablation of initial diameter target particles of less than 100 microns within an inert gas or vacuum system.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,374,730 discloses methods for making nanoparticles within an organic liquid medium and uses stabilizing agents, such as surfactants or coating agents or other hydrocarbon materials, to prevent coalescence or growth of nanoparticles.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,662,731 identifies a need to prevent oxidation during laser sputtering/ablation and carries out ablation in superfluid helium.
U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2013/0001833 to William Niedermeyer teaches that spherical particles are highly desirable because of their uniform shape and repeatable characteristics and discloses an apparatus and process for creating spherical nanoparticles from a solid target using ablation and an electromagnetic field configured to produce spherical nanoparticles of controlled size and narrow particle size distribution.
Picosecond ablation is known and provides shorter pulses that reduce the time for ions to form and helps control size; however, the power output of picosecond ablation is relatively small, limiting the quantity of material produced with relatively small ablation material plumes.
Nanoparticles can be grown into spheres through chemical reduction methods (e.g., silica), while production of spherical nanoparticles from other starting materials has traditionally been through a two-step process. In a first step, growth of nanoparticles from non-silica starting materials by chemical reduction methods produces non-spherical shapes, such as hedrons, platelets, rods, and other non-spherical shapes. While these methods provide good control for size, the resulting non-spherical shapes require further processing before they can become spherical in shape. In a second step, laser ablation is used to aggressively mill the non-spherical particles into quasi-spherical and/or spherical shapes. This process often produces unwanted "scrap" pieces and metal ions as byproduct. The spherical particles are then filtered to remove the ions and unwanted scrap.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for making non-spherical nanoparticles and nanoparticle compositions made thereby


A spacer arranged in an annular space between a rotor and a stator for supporting a roller reversing a winding direction of a flat cable is made of plastic having high lubricating properties. First guide portions on an annular plate portion are spaced by equal intervals from each other. The first guide portion includes an inner guide rib having a semicircle cross section projecting inward, an outer guide rib having a semicircle cross section projecting outward, and a tension wall connecting the inner guide rib and the outer guide rib. A second guide portion is provided between the first guide portions, and includes three parallel plate ribs extending from an inner peripheral side to an outer peripheral side of the annular plate portion, and circumferential connecting walls connecting the three parallel plate ribs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rotational connector device which is used in a relatively rotational component to perform an electrical connection for control of an air bag device incorporated in a steering device for an automobile or control of an audio device or a constant speed traveling device by a switch button provided on a steering wheel for an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
An example of this kind of rotational connector device includes a device where an annular space is formed between a rotor coupled to a rotating steering shaft and a stator coupled to a vehicle fixed side and a flat cable a winding direction of which is reversed in the middle is accommodated in the annular space in a winding state. One end of this flat cable is fixed to the rotor side, and the other end is fixed to the stator side. The flat cable is reeled out from a cylindrical wall surface of the rotor corresponding to a rotational direction of the rotor and is wound around a cylindrical wall surface of the stator or reeled out from the cylindrical wall surface of the stator and is wound around the cylindrical wall surface of the rotor. This movement is repeated, so that an angular change between the rotor and the stator due to a relative rotation therebetween is absorbed by a change of the winding state of the flat cable. A spacer is arranged between the rotor and the stator for regulating a route of the flat cable. Conventionally many rollers are supported on the spacer for reducing a sliding resistance to the flat cable, but in recent years, there has been made an attempt of reducing the number of the rollers in view of a reduction in costs.
For example, Japanese Patent Issue No. 4355229 discloses a rotational connector device in which a rotor is provided with an inner cylindrical portion and a stator is provided with an outer cylindrical portion wherein a spacer (holder) is rotatably arranged therebetween in a state of being supported by the stator. The spacer supports a single roller, and a plurality of guide portions are formed by intervals in the circumferential direction to sandwich the roller therebetween, each guide portion having a wall surface an outer envelope curve of which forms a circle and an inner envelope curve of which forms a circle concentric with the inner cylindrical portion. Each guide portion is formed in a frame shape having a closed plane configuration, and the outer surface forms a circular arc along the envelope curve. A circle formed by the outer envelope curve is eccentric to the inner cylindrical portion of the rotor, and intervals between the roller and each outer surface of the guide portions adjacent to both sides of the roller, and the outer cylindrical portion of the stator are made small, and on the other hand, an interval between an outer surface of the guide portion and the outer cylindrical portion of the stator present at an opposite side to the above guide portion in such a manner as to sandwich a rotational center of the spacer is made large. The flat cable wound around the inner cylindrical portion and the outer cylindrical portion is reversed between the roller and a side surface of the guide portion which is one of the guide portions adjacent to the roller. The flat cable rotates the spacer via a reverse section thereof corresponding to the rotational direction of the rotor.
However, the conventional rotational connector device is heavy since the spacer is structured such that many frame-shaped guide walls are provided to rise on the annular plate portion. As a result, because of a large sliding resistance to the flat cable generated at rotor rotating, there is a possibility that the flat cable buckles at the time the flat cable pushes a side wall of the guide wall.
In addition, in a steering wheel for an automobile, it is required to make rotation possible numbers (possible angles) in the right and left directions equal, and, for example for preventing the event that the flat cable can not rotate to a prescribed rotational number since the flat cable is tightly wound and fixed on the inner cylindrical portion in the middle of the rotating, it is absolutely required as a practical product to use a method that an indicator is incorporated in the spacer for indicating a neutral position to be used as an index on assembling. However, the rotational connector device disclosed in Japanese Patent Issue No. 4355229 can not set such an indicator. That is, according to the conventional rotational connector device, the circle formed by the envelope curve of the guide wall in the spacer is eccentric to the inner cylindrical portion and a large space is formed in a radial direction between the guide wall and the outer wall portion. Therefore the route of the flat cable, which will be reversed in the roller part and reeled out to the outer cylindrical portion side, varies. As a result, a reeling-out length of the flat cable is equal, but a rotational angle of the steering wheel is not constant, so that the indicator position can not be determined.

Rotational connector device including a spacer disposed in an annular space formed between a rotor and a stator


The present disclosure provides an array substrate, a method for manufacturing the same, and a display device relating to the technical field of the array substrate. The array substrate includes a base, a plurality of leads and a plurality of inclined supporting surfaces, wherein the inclined supporting surfaces are strip-like and are inclined relative to the base, and a length direction of each of the inclined supporting surfaces is parallel to the base; and at least a part of the leads are inclined leads, and at least a part of each of the inclined leads is arranged on the corresponding inclined supporting surface and extends in the length direction of the inclined supporting surface.

Along with improvements on high resolution ratios and opening ratios of display devices such as the liquid crystal display device, the organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) display device and the like, their array substrates have larger and larger structure densities, and correspondingly, each of all structures occupies smaller and smaller areas.
Regarding the leads such as a gate line in the array substrate, a reduction of the area of the lead is mainly characterized by a reduction in width. As a result, the lead resistance rises, and the lead may be easily fractured so as to reduce the property of the array substrate.

Array substrate, method for manufacturing the same, and display device

BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


Tibial inserts and tibial femoral systems are provided for improved knee reconstruction systems. External rotation of a knee joint implant is enhanced by modifications to the post, providing a recess that allows clearance of the post against the corners of a box wall within the femoral component. The rotation provides for a more natural knee joint motion of the implant. The depth, size, and location of the post relief may be modified for certain applications to provide both improved rotational motion and constraint against undesirable motion of the knee.

In total knee replacement (TKR) surgery, a surgeon typically affixes two prosthetic components to the patient's bone structure—a first to the patient's femur and a second to the patient's tibia. These components are typically known as the femoral component and the tibial component, respectively. The femoral component is placed on a patient's distal femur after appropriate resection of the femur. The femoral component is usually metallic, having a highly polished outer condylar articulating surface, which is commonly J-shaped when viewed from a medial or lateral side.
A common type of tibial component uses a tray or plateau that generally conforms to the patient's resected proximal tibia. The tibial component also usually includes a stem that extends into a surgically formed opening in the patient's intramedullary canal.
A plastic or polymeric (often ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) insert or bearing fits between the tray of the tibial component and the femoral component. This insert provides a surface against which the femoral component condylar portion articulates, i.e., moves in gross motion corresponding generally to the motion of the femur relative to the tibia. One type of design is a posterior-stabilized design in which the insert includes a post that fits within box walls and a posterior cam of the femoral component, with the posterior cam stabilizing the implant against anterior tibial sliding when the knee is flexed.
A common complaint of TKR patients is that the replaced knee does not function like a normal knee or does not "feel normal." The replaced knee does not achieve normal knee kinematics or motion and generally has a more limited range of motion than a normal knee. Currently available designs typically produce kinematics different than the normal knee during gait due to the complex nature of the knee joint and the motion of the femur and tibia relative to one another during flexion and extension. For example, it is known that, in addition to rotating about a generally horizontal axis during flexion and extension, the tibia also rotates about its longitudinal axis. Such longitudinal rotation is typically referred to as either external or internal rotation, depending on whether reference is being made to the femur or tibia, respectively.
Few currently available posterior-stabilized designs achieve this longitudinal rotation. Most currently available designs provide a limited space between the insert post and the box walls of the femoral component, to increase insert post strength and contact area between the femoral posterior cam and the insert post. The limited space between the insert post and the box walls would, in most cases, impede the ability of the post to rotate longitudinally—that is, either by external or internal rotation within the box wall, as would be the natural motion of a healthy knee. Because few designs achieve this longitudinal rotation, this impediment is not generally recognized.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict top views of a prior art knee system with a standard tibial post fitted inside a femoral box wall. The post 400 is seated within the box wall 200 to form the post/box-wall configuration 450. FIG. 1A depicts the configuration 450 with arrangement of the post 400 and the box wall 200 during extension, where the walls 402-408 of the post are situated in parallel with walls 202-208 of the box 200. As shown, the walls of the post 400 are disposed near but not in direct contact with the box walls from the femoral component 200. The separation is depicted by the distance "C." In many standard knee systems, the distance "C" is approximately 0.5-1.5 mm, allowing a small space around the perimeter of the post. When flexion occurs, axial tibial and femoral rotation is affected because a corner of the post contacts the sidewalls of the femoral box wall. FIG. 1B depicts the posterior lateral corner 420 butting against the box wall 206 and the anterior medial corner 422 butting against the box wall 204 in the prior art system during flexion as a result of tibiofemoral rotation in the direction of arrow "TFR."
Constructing a total knee prosthesis which replicates the kinematics of a natural knee has been an on-going challenge in the orthopedic field. Several attempts have been made and are well known in the prior art, including those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,264,697, 6,325,828, US2005/0143832, and US2008/0119940. Other systems have been designed to allow rotation by altering the surfaces of the box wall. However, modification of the box wall can reduce the effectiveness of the box in constraining both varus and valgus motion during flexion with tibial inserts that have a wider, constrained post. Other systems and approaches that attempt to more closely replicate the structure and function of the human knee produce modifications to the post that narrow its width. Those implementations, however, reduce the contact surface between the post and the posterior cam surface of the femoral component, which can lead to increased post deformation or wear in the cam and post contact region, and can reduce the amount of material in the post, thereby reducing its strength.
Existing designs leave room for improvement in simulating the structure and operation of actual knee joints.


A system and method are provided to implement an automated scheme by which a vendor can advantageously employ remotely-monitored information on a status of non-managed office devices, gathered as part of the vendor's customer support effort regarding the office devices that the vendor manages for a customer organization under a managed service agreement or the like, to the benefit of the customer organization and the vendor. The vendor remotely monitors a status of non-managed office devices, including a status of consumables in the non-managed devices, at a customer organization's site, and upon being made aware of a change in status on one of the non-managed devices, including pending exhaustion of one or more consumables on a non-managed device, immediately offers assistance in correcting a problem with the non-managed device to include replenishment service of the nearly-exhausted consumable in the non-managed device.

1. Field of Disclosed Subject Matter
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for automatically integrating with a customer organization to propose correcting defects and/or fulfilling supplies requirements for consumables in office devices that are monitored but that lie outside a managed service agreement.
2. Related Art
Local digital data exchange networks have become commonplace for organizations of all types. Individual user workstations are networked together and linked, via combinations of wired and wireless communication links to central servers and processing systems, remote data storage, and myriad components that may be used for communication external to the local digital exchange network of the organization. Certain of these components may be hosted as cloud-based components, particularly for data storage and processing.
For organizations that have document production and reproduction requirements, image forming devices connected to the organizations' local digital data exchange networks are employed as components of the networked systems that meet these requirements. Organizations may make use of large numbers and types of image forming devices to particularly meet both routine and special document production and reproduction requirements for the organizations.
Market pressures lead to competition among vendors that sell, support and service, or otherwise supply, office devices, and particularly image forming devices, to customer organizations. Customer organizations are afforded an opportunity, therefore, to shop for a best value for these devices. The best value may be determined by the customer organization to be based on purchase prices for the office devices alone. Otherwise, the best value may be determined to include a combination of office device purchase prices and other consideration including, for example, an office device managed service agreement or support contract with a particular vendor for the office devices purchased or procured from the particular vendor.
The above circumstances often lead to a customer organization purchasing and using a mixture of office devices from several different vendors, some of the office devices being supported by one or more of the vendors according to a managed service agreement, and others not being supported.
Many office devices, but particularly image forming devices, include consumable components ("consumables"). Some of these consumables are customer replaceable, depending on a complexity of the image forming device or system. Others of these consumables require, or benefit from, intervention by vendor service personnel for replacement or replenishment. As automation has increased, vendors have developed systems, which they offer to their customers as part of the managed service agreements that they may provide for the office devices that they sell or supply to their customers, to remotely monitor a status of those office devices, including monitoring consumable levels for the office devices. This monitoring is generally undertaken by a vendor's remote monitoring facility conducting a combination of wired and wireless communications with individually supported or managed office devices that may be accessed via the customer organization's local digital data exchange network.
Typically, an office device managed service agreement with a particular vendor covers only the office devices sold or supplied to the customer organization by the vendor. The vendor, therefore, does not manage all of the office devices at a customer organization's site. Regardless of this, the customer organization often affords the vendor with which the customer organization has executed a managed service agreement access for monitoring purposes to all of a particular class of office devices that include those office devices that the vendor sold or supplied to the customer organization and that are subject to the managed service agreement.

Systems and methods for implementing a supplies fulfillment opportunity for non-managed devices


A device has both a debris deflector and a built in CPA assist. The debris deflector is a (sufficiently) large shield that covers the CPA slot and the CPA in the pre-staged arrangement. The device further includes a CPA assist that is configured to engage the pre-staged CPA (now covered by the debris deflector) so that it can allow the manufacturer to engage the now protected CPA when desired.

Field of the Invention
This patent application relates to a device for protecting a connector lock and CPA (Connector Position Assurance device) from debris while providing CPA engagement and improving assembly ergonomics. More particularly, this application relates to a device for protecting the electrical connector lock area and CPA from debris and ensuring CPA engagement and serviceability (examples of debris including, but not limited to, paint, dirt, dust, stone, sand, and spray).
Description of Related Art
Existing electrical connectors located in a vehicle engine compartment can include inline wire harness to wire harness connections (Female to Male interface) as well as device specific connections (e.g. EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), TPS (Throttle Position Sensor), Coolant Temp, Intake Temp, and Oil Temp). Inside passenger compartment electrical connectors can include inline wire harness to wire harness connections (Female to Male interface) and device specific connections (e.g. Power Seat, Power Window, Power Lock, and Auxiliary Power).
As part of the design of these connectors, male and female, the connectors are arranged to either be manually or automatically mated to one another at some point of assembly. After the connectors are mated and locked together, a Connector Position Assurance device is additionally used to ensure the connectors are properly mated together.
The CPA is used in end products allowing for increased production rates and greater quality control by more readily permitting visual inspection of the electrical connectors for proper connection. Typically, the CPA is inserted in a pre-staged position into an integrated CPA slot, e.g. positioned on the top of the female connector, prior to the connectors being assembled together as shown in more detail below. The term "pre-staged" simply means that the CPA is not fully inserted in the CPA slot on the connector.
Once the connectors are assembled together and locked using the connector locks, their proper engagement can be verified by the CPA device. Thus, the electrical connectors have been properly engaged if the CPA can be inserted into active position within the CPA slot on the top of the female connector. If the CPA lock cannot be inserted/activated into the assembled electrical connectors, it is an indication that the electrical connectors are not properly engaged. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,373.
For example in the manufacturing of commercial, automotive, and agricultural engines utilizing an EGR system, most engines utilize an EGR Delta Pressure device typically using a Framatome Apex 2.8 Female 3 cavity connector (model #54200309) with integrated CPA slot mating to the device. An example of this connector is shown in FIG. 1. The 54200309 connector has 3 cavities available to accept 3 wires with female terminals applied. FIG. 2 shows this same Apex 2.8 connector with a CPA in the CPA slot in the pre-staged position. Upon mating the female connector (54200309) with the pre-staged CPA to the corresponding male connector, the CPA is then engaged/activated by sliding (pushing) the CPA into its locked position. FIG. 3 shows the female connector mated to a male connector with the CPA engaged into the CPA slot. While this CPA is in place, the connectors cannot be separated and the connector lock cannot be fully disengaged.
However, during its intended use in an automobile or other manufacturing item the illustrated connected connectors (FIG. 3) are typically subjected to many other processes during assembly. For example, painting or coating processes may result in paint/debris coating the connectors effectively sealing the connector in the locked position by paint/gluing the CPA in place. As a result if there is a desire to disconnect the connectors for maintenance, because the CPA is essentially glued into the connector/CPA slot, the maintenance personal may have to cut the wires to disconnect the part.
In the prior art, to protect the CPA and CPA slot from the painting process some manufactures use rubber boots (high cost) or masking tape (labor intensive). This lessens the risk of rendering the CPA from becoming permanently locked/inoperable. However, these methods are costly and, depending on the application, could inadvertently be removed during other assembly processes.

Device and method protecting a connector from debris while validating connector position assurance engagement


A method is provided for estimating cylinder air charge in an internal combustion engine, such engine having a mass airflow (MAF) sensor and a manifold absolute pressure(MAP) sensor. The method provides such cylinder air charge estimation from signals produced primarily by the manifold absolute pressure sensor during engine transient conditions. During a transition period between the transient condition and a steady-state engine condition the method combines signals primarily from both the mass airflow sensor and the manifold absolute pressure sensor to provide such cylinder air charge estimation. During the steady-state condition, the method uses primarily only the mass airflow sensor to provide such cylinder air charge estimation. With such method, the cylinder air charge estimation method utilizes the advantages of both measurement sensors. When transient situation occurs, the engine controller utilizes measurements from MAP sensors (together with measurements from other less significant sensors) to produce the cylinder air charge estimation. When it is determined that the transient situation is converging to a steady state operation, a smoothing algorithm is employed to combine the measurements from both MAF and MAP sensors to produce the cylinder air charge estimation. Finally, when the engine is operating in steady state, only the MAF sensor (together with other less significant sensors) is used to produce the cylinder air charge estimation.

Technical Field
This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to methods and system for estimating air charge into cylinders in such engines.
Background
As is known in the art, cylinder air charge estimation has been an essential part of engine controls for port fuel injection internal combustion engines (ICE). Such estimation is typically performed using signals from various engine sensors. For example, a method called xe2x80x9cmanifold fillingxe2x80x9d is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,936 xe2x80x9cMethod and Apparatus for Inferring the Actual Air Charge in an Internal Combustion Engine During Transient Conditionsxe2x80x9d, inventors I. A., Messih, L. H. Buch, and M. J. Cullen, issued Jul. 26, 1994, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. This xe2x80x9cmanifold fillingxe2x80x9d method is used to perform air charge estimation for ICE equipped with mass airflow sensors (MAF). Another method, called xe2x80x9cspeed densityxe2x80x9d, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,664 xe2x80x9cMethod of Estimating Engine Chargexe2x80x9d, inventors M. J. Cullen and C. D. Suffredini, issued Sep. 5, 2000, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, is used to perform air charge estimation for ICE equipped with manifold absolute pressure sensors (MAP). It should be noted that other sensors, for example, throttle angle sensor, inlet air charge temperature sensor, engine coolant temperature sensor, etc., may also be required.
As is also known in the art, both the MAF-based manifold filling method and the MAP-based speed density method have their respective strengths and weaknesses, see_Toc9674602 an article by entitled xe2x80x9cCylinder air-charge estimation for advanced intake valve operation in variable cam timing engines_Toc9674602xe2x80x9d by Mrdjan Jankovic and Steve W. Magner, published in JSAE Review 22 (2001) 445 452. The main advantage of MAF is that, in steady state operation, it actually measures the cylinder: mass airflow. The challenge is, therefore, to accurately account for the intake manifold filling and emptying during transient operations such as large rapid tip-in/tip-out conditions. Compared with an MAF sensor, the main advantages of the MAP sensor are its relative proximity to the engine air intake port and lower cost. On the other hand, MAP based air charge estimation does not have as good a steady state property as compared with an MAF based air charge estimation.
For some applications, a single method such as manifold filling or speed density, may not work adequately to provide the required accuracy for air charge estimation. For example, as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,544, xe2x80x9cMethod and system for determining cylinder air charge for variable displace internal combustion enginexe2x80x9d inventors, D. Lipinski, D. Robichaux, issued Mar. 21, 1995, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, in a Variable Displacement Engine when operation modes change from a first number of cylinders to a different number of cylinders, the MAF based air charge estimation method may not always be able to provide accurate air charge estimation during the transient operation between such modes due to the limited bandwidth of the MAF sensor.
Several approaches have been developed in the past decade or so in order to improve the accuracy of air charge estimation. One approach is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,889,204 xe2x80x9cDevice for determining the engine load for an internal combustion enginexe2x80x9d, inventors M. Scherer, T. Ganser, and R. Wilczek. With such approach, a Kalman-filter type estimator is used to estimate air charge. More particularly, a Kalman filter is used to estimate manifold pressures at the beginning and end of a working cycle. An air charge estimation is obtained by adding the estimated mass air flow in throttle to an amplified difference value of the two manifold pressures as calculated by the Kalman filter, with the amplification coefficient calibrated before hand. It is noted however that the Kalman filter, which is nonlinear and stochastic, is very difficult to obtain. Further, the final output may have the drawbacks of both manifold filling and speed-density approaches.
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for estimating cylinder air charge (CAC) in an internal combustion engine, such engine having a mass airflow (MAF) sensor and a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor. The method provides such cylinder air charge estimation from signals produced primarily by the manifold absolute pressure sensor during engine transient conditions, i.e., during a change in an engine operating parameter, e.g., throttle plate position change, valve timing change, change in the number of operating cylinders in a variable displacement engine, variable cam timing change, change in lift with a variable valve lift engine. During a transition period between the transient condition and a steady-state engine condition the method combines signals primarily from both the mass airflow sensor and the manifold absolute pressure sensor to provide such cylinder air charge estimation. During the steady-state condition, the method uses primarily only the mass airflow sensor to provide such cylinder air charge estimation.
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for estimating cylinder air charge (CAC) in an internal combustion engine. The method provides such cylinder air charge estimation using a speed density algorithm during engine transient conditions. During the steady-state condition, the method provides such cylinder air charge estimation using a manifold filling algorithm. During a transition period between the transient condition and a steady-state engine condition the method combines the estimation from the manifold filling algorithm with the estimation from the speed density algorithm to provide such cylinder air charge estimation.
With such method, the cylinder air charge estimation method utilizes the advantages of both measurement sensors and corresponding air charge estimation algorithms. When transient situation occurs, the engine controller utilizes measurements from MAP sensors together with measurements from other less significant sensors to produce the cylinder air charge estimation. When it is determined that the transient situation is converging to a steady state operation, a smoothing algorithm is employed to combine the measurements from both MAF and MAP sensors, together with measurements from other less significant sensors, to produce the cylinder air charge estimation. Finally, when the engine is operating in steady state, only the MAF sensor, together with measurements from other less significant sensors, is used to produce the cylinder air charge estimation.
The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Method and system for estimating cylinder air charge for an internal combustion engine


Methods and systems are provided for a hydrogen combustion engine. In one example, a method may include operating the hydrogen combustion engine at one of two combustion air ratios, wherein a combustion air ratio between the two is avoided via adjusting one or more operating parameters.

Fully electrically operated vehicles, such as battery-electric vehicles (BEV), and vehicles with fuel cells represent two examples of carbon dioxide-free vehicles, wherein freedom from carbon dioxide relates to the supply path proceeding from the vehicle tank or the vehicle battery.
A further option for carbon dioxide-free vehicles are vehicles with a hydrogen combustion engine, in which a hydrogen-containing fuel is burned. Hydrogen is distinguished by enhanced oxidizability or combustibility under lean conditions, such that the internal combustion engine can be operated without throttling. The combustion air ratio λ corresponds to the engine load, that is to say an alteration of the engine load can be met with an alteration of the quality of the fuel-air mixture.
The exhaust gas generated during the combustion of pure hydrogen contains water and nitrogen oxides as sole components. In addition, hydrogen and oxygen are also found in the exhaust gas if the combustion occurs incompletely.
Nitrogen oxides constitute air pollutants, and the emission thereof into the surroundings is regulated by governments. If λ≤1, that is to say if a rich or stoichiometric fuel-air mixture is burned, such that consequently also a rich or stoichiometric exhaust gas is obtained, an aftertreatment of the exhaust gas for the purposes of removing nitrogen oxides via a catalytic converter is possible, which results in relatively low costs. However, under these conditions, the fuel is only incompletely burned and is partially released unutilized into the surroundings. Additionally, in part-load operation, throttling losses arise, such that the energy balance is poor.
If the combustion of the fuel-air mixture takes place with an excess of air at a sufficiently high combustion air ratio, for example λ≥2, only so few nitrogen oxides are generated during the combustion, owing to the low combustion temperature, that exhaust-gas aftertreatment for the purposes of reducing the nitrogen oxide emissions is not necessary. However, at λ=2, the power density of the internal combustion engine is only half as great as that at λ=1, because only half the quantity of fuel is fed to the internal combustion engine for the same air quantity.
By contrast, in an interposed range of for example 1<λ<2, the fraction of nitrogen oxides formed may be relatively high, and these may not be reduced into compounds that contribute less to greenhouse emissions.
On example approach for a hydrogen engine is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,531 B1 describes a method for operating a hydrogen combustion engine, in which exhaust gas is recirculated into the combustion chamber in order to set stoichiometric conditions, that is to say a combustion air ratio λ=1, at all times. Aside from a stabilization of the combustion conditions, it is possible in this way to achieve a reduction of the nitrogen oxide emissions in that, for the exhaust-gas aftertreatment, a conventional 3-way catalytic converter can be used for the reduction of the nitrogen oxides and, furthermore, less oxygen is available for the formation of nitrogen oxides during the combustion process. Furthermore, a reduced combustion temperature and a reduced flame speed contribute to the reduction of the formation of nitrogen oxide. Owing to the stoichiometric operation of the internal combustion engine, exhaust-gas aftertreatment is however necessary at all times owing to the elevated nitrogen oxide formation at λ=1.
Further to the method known from U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,531 B1, WO 2008/048 909 A2 describes a method in which, likewise, hydrogen is burned under stoichiometric conditions at all times, which conditions are set through variation of the fed quantities of fresh air, recirculated exhaust gas and hydrogen. Furthermore, the corresponding throughflow rates are set such that the desired torque is provided. Consequently, in this method, too, catalytic exhaust-gas aftertreatment is necessary in all cases owing to the elevated nitrogen oxide formation at λ=1.
The present disclosure is based on a hydrogen combustion engine that can be operated in an effective manner with low nitrogen oxide emissions into the surroundings.
The problems described above may be at least partially solved by a method for operating a hydrogen combustion engine configured to burn a hydrogen-containing fuel in a combustion chamber of the hydrogen combustion engine. The method may further comprise operating the hydrogen combustion engine with a first combustion air ratio with a λA≤1 during conditions of higher torque demand. The method further comprises operating the hydrogen combustion engine with a second combustion air ratio with a λB≥2 during conditions of lower torque demand. Switching from the second combustion air ratio to the first combustion air ratio in response to a torque demand increasing, wherein switching comprises advancing an intake valve opening to increase EGR flow to the combustion chamber as a fuel injection amount is increased. In this way, higher NOX output conditions may be avoided and NOX output reduced overall.
In another example, a method for a hydrogen combusting engine comprises measures with which operation of the hydrogen combustion engine at a combustion air ratio range with elevated nitrogen oxide emissions, for example in the range 1<λ<1.3, can be avoided. In order to nevertheless be able to utilize the engine power that is attainable in this range and operate the internal combustion engine in an effective manner, a change between λ≤1 and λ≥1.3 is proposed. Here, the combustion air ratio is set by alteration of the fraction of internally recirculated exhaust gas (EGR fraction).
A torque shock can be prevented, that is to say the change between λ≤1 and λ≥1.3 can take place as far as possible without any jerk, by virtue of the quantity of the fuel-air-EGR mixture that is burned in the combustion chamber being correspondingly varied.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


An apparatus for conveying conveyable material. The apparatus includes a plurality of cars joined together by a plurality of spacers. The spacers couple the cars a fixed distance apart to form a shuttle. The shuttle is guided along a track between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the shuttle is aligned with a first group of supports. The shuttle in the first position receives conveyable material from the supports. The shuttle in the second position is aligned with a second group of supports. The shuttle disposes the conveyable material from each of the cars carrying the conveyable material to the second group of supports. A drive means repeatedly drives the shuttle between the first position and the second position. The cars remain the fixed distance apart during the driving between the first position and the second position.

Flat rolled products in the metals industry are commonly wound into coils. These coils are transported by coil conveying systems such as roller chain conveyors and walking beam conveyors.
The roller chain conveyors are comprised of a plurality of individual coil support pallets linked together by chain sections. Wheels mounted on bearings and axles support each pallet. Roll chain conveyors are generally driven by sprockets mounted on a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is driven by a gear reducer and motor. The roller chain conveyor is guided by custom-machined track which is supported on structural steel. The disadvantages of this design are: 1) there are a lot of parts to maintain since each pallet has rollers, bearings and axles; 2) the chain stretches, which affects the positioning of the downstream coil; 3) the custom-machined track wears out due to the high load of the roller (wheel); 4) the individual components are difficult to repair; 5) the system is costly due to the number of component parts and the need for custom track; and 6) the conveyor speed is limited.
Walking beam conveyors are comprised of a multitude of coil support pallets mounted on a beam. The beam is supported on rollers. The conveyor indexes coils between stationary coil support saddles. The conveyor includes an elevating mechanism which lifts the coils up off of stationary saddles. The conveyor is then traversed, to index the coils to adjacent saddles downstream. The conveyor is usually driven by a hydraulic cylinder. The disadvantages of this design are: 1) the distance of traverse of the walking beam is limited by the length of the cylinder stroke, 2) the length of the beam conveyor is limited by manufacturing and shipping constraints, 3) the speed of the conveyor is limited by the operating speed of the drive cylinder, and 4) repairing the walking beam support rollers and elevating mechanisms requires major disassembly of the unit because the rollers and elevating mechanisms are fixed on foundations.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to improve upon the previous apparatuses by providing a shuttle car conveyor comprising a plurality of individual cars. Each individual car of the shuttle conveyor is coupled to an adjacent individual car of the shuttle conveyor. A spacer couples the individual cars to positively space the cars a fixed distance during movement of the shuttle between a first position and a second position.
The shuttle car conveyor has several advantages. Connecting the cars to keep the cars a fixed distance apart when the shuttle is driven from the first position to the second position facilitates accurate positioning of the coils by the shuttle car conveyor. The fixed spacing also simplifies automation because the shuttle car conveyor can operate with only a single car having a drive mechanism.
Additionally, providing a shuttle car conveyor made up of individual cars simplifies maintenance. The cars can be easily disassembled and repaired as separate modules. Further, providing individual cars allows the shuttle to continue operating even if one of the car's motors is not functioning.
The shuttle car conveyor can be easily adapted to various systems. The shuttle car conveyor can be lengthened by adding car modules or spacers, or by lengthening the spacers. The shuttle car conveyor design allows for the use of standard rails. The option of using either electric motor, hydraulic motor or cable drum drive to power the shuttle allows the shuttle to operate at higher speeds than the chain conveyor system or walking beam conveyor system.

Shuttle car conveyor for conveyable material


In this invention, systems and methods for providing keywords for advertising are provided. After a user searches for another user in a social network, the webpage or blog of the queried user is retrieved, and keywords are extracted from this webpage. The keywords may be extracted from the user's profile on the social network (e.g., favorite sports, music artists, etc.), or keywords may be extracted from the text of the webpage (e.g., comments that comprise the blog entries). Once extracted, these keywords may then be used by an advertising system to provide targeted advertisements to the user.

To achieve targeted advertising, advertising systems typically give a value to words entered into a search query. One such method of monetization includes when advertisers bid on the words entered into the search query, and those advertisers that have bid the highest will have an optimal placement of their ad on the search results page, after the search engine presents the results to the search query. In some situations, however, the search query might consist of common words that have not been given a value, resulting in no advertisements targeted to the search.

Ad retrieval for user search on social network sites


This invention provides methods, compositions and apparatus for mapping the regulatory relationship among genes by massive parallel monitoring gene expression. In some embodiments, mutations in the up-stream regulatory genes are detected by monitoring the change in down-stream gene expression. Similarly, the function of a specific mutation in a up-stream gene is determined by monitoring the down-stream gene expression. In addition, regulatory function of a target gene can be determined by monitoring the expression of a large number of down-stream genes. The invention also provides specific embodiments for detecting p53 functional homozygous and heterozygous mutations and for determining the function of p53 mutations.

Many biological functions are accomplished by altering the expression of various genes through transcriptional (e.g. through control of initiation, provision of RNA precursors, RNA processing, etc.) and/or translational control. For example, fundamental biological processes such as cell cycle, cell differentiation and cell death, are often characterized by the variations in the expression levels of groups of genes.
Gene expression is also associated with pathogenesis. For example, the lack of sufficient expression of functional tumor suppressor genes and/or the over expression of oncogene/protooncogenes could lead to tumorgenesis (Marshall, Cell, 64: 313-326 (1991); Weinberg, Science, 254: 1138-1146 (1991), incorporated herein by reference for all purposes). Thus, changes in the expression levels of particular genes (e.g. oncogenes or tumor suppressors) serve as signposts for the presence and progression of various diseases.
The study of gene expression in the art has been generally concentrated on the regulatory regions of the gene of interest and on the relationships among a few genes. A number of transcriptional factors/DNA binding proteins have been identified and a limited number of regulatory pathways have been discovered. However, the expression of a particular gene is frequently regulated by the expression of a large number of other genes. The expression of those regulatory genes may also be under the control of additional genes. This complex regulatory relationship among genes constitutes a genetic network. The function and regulation of a particular gene can be best understood in the context of this genetic network. As the Human Genome Project and commercial genome research progress at a great rate, most, if not all, of the expressed genes will be partially sequenced in the near future. Understanding the functions and regulatory relationships among the large number of genes is becoming a difficult task with traditional tools. Therefore, there is a need in the art to develop a systematic approach to understand the complex regulatory relationships among large numbers of genes.
This invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatus for studying the complex regulatory relationships among genes. In some of its specific applications, this invention provides methods, compositions, and apparatus for detecting mutations of upstream regulatory genes by monitoring the expression of down-stream genes. In some embodiments, gene expression monitoring is used to determine certain functions of a gene by identifying its down-stream regulated genes. Similar embodiments use gene expression to discern the effect of specific mutations of upstream genes. Gene expression is also used to identify upstream regulatory genes in some embodiments. By combining these approaches, this invention can be used to interrogate the genetic regulatory network and to construct a map indicating regulatory relationships.
Specifically, in one aspect of the invention, gene expression monitoring is used to decipher the complex regulatory relationship among genes. In such embodiments, the expression of more than 10 genes, preferably more than 100 genes, more preferably more than 1,000 genes and most preferably more than 5,000 genes are monitored in a large number of samples of cells. In some embodiments, each of the samples has an expression pattern different from that of other samples. In preferred applications a plurality of independent samples are assayed. The expression data can be analyzed to understand the complex relationships among genes. Ultimately, the expression data are analyzed to develop a map describing such complex relationships.
The invention provides methods to obtain biological samples representing a large number of independent states of gene expression. In some embodiments, antisense oligonucleotides or antisense genes are used to block the expression of specific genes. In other embodiments, homozygous, knock- out techniques are used to specifically suppress the expression of genes. In other embodiments transfection of regulatory genes is used to alter the expression profile of a cell. In some additional embodiments, antisense oligonucleotides of random sequence are introduced to cells to block the expression of genes.
In one such embodiment, expression data are analyzed to generate cluster maps indicating a correlation among genes. In some preferred embodiments, such cluster maps are then analyzed using statistical methods to generate a map consisting of regulatory pathways describing the complex relationship among the genes. Many statistical methods are suitable for building such maps. The LISREL method is particularly useful in such application. In some embodiments, the structure of the map is refined as more data become available. Thus, the map is dynamic and updated automatically as new data sets are entered.
Such a gene network map has a wide variety of applications, such as in the fields of diagnostics, drug discovery, gene therapy, and biological research. For example, an investigator interested in a particular gene may consult such a map to find putative upstream and down-stream genes with statistical confidence. The investigator can then focus further research on those genes.
In another aspect of the invention, gene expression monitoring is used to detect potential malfunction of regulatory genes. In some embodiments, the expression of a subset of genes of interest in a diseased tissue is analyzed to obtain a diseased expression pattern. The subset contains at least one or more than 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,250, 1500, 3000, 4550, or 6,000 genes of all the known genes. The expression of the same genes in a normal tissue can also be similarly analyzed to generate a normal gene expression pattern. Difference in the expression of genes indicates the abnormality of regulation in the diseased tissue. In some embodiments, a data filter is used to identify those genes whose expression is significantly altered. By using a data filter, only those genes whose expression is enhanced or reduced in the diseased tissue more than, e.g., 3, 5, or 10-fold are identified as altered.
Once the expression of a gene is found to be altered in the diseased tissue, the upstream regulatory gene of the altered gene is indicated as a candidate malfunctioning gene. In some embodiments, a upstream gene is identified as a candidate malfunctioning gene only if the expression of two of more of its down-stream genes is affected. The candidate malfunctioning gene is then sequenced to check whether a mutation is present, or the malfunction is due to epigenetic or nongenetic effectors. In some cases a mutation may not be present in the genome, and yet the product of the regulatory gene appears to be malfunctioning. For example, p53 can be functionally rather than genetically inactivated by binding to viral proteins, such as E1B and large T antigen. By assaying for the ability of a regulatory protein to activate or repress other gene""s expression, the both genetic and phenotypic inactivation can be assessed.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the function of a particular mutation in a regulatory gene can be determined by gene expression monitoring. In some specific embodiments, the expression profiles of cells containing the specific mutation and control cells lacking the mutation are compared to determine whether the mutation affects the expression of down-stream genes. Similarly, the function of a particular gene may be determined. In such embodiments, the expression of a large number of genes is monitored in biological samples with the target gene expression to produce a control expression profile. The expression of the target gene is then suppressed to produce a target expression profile. By comparing the two expression profiles, one can identify potential regulated down-stream genes from affected genes.
In one specific embodiment, p53 activated and repressed genes are monitored to detect loss of wild-type p53 function. In another specific embodiment, gene expression monitoring is used to detect the in-cell function of p53.
According to yet another embodiment loss of function of a nucleic acid encoding a regulatory molecule in a test cell can be determined. A first nucleic acid molecule encoding a regulatory molecule is selected for analysis. A set of second nucleic acid molecules whose expression is induced or repressed by the regulatory molecule in normal cells is compiled or selected. A transcription indicator of a test cell is hybridized to a set of nucleic acid probes. The transcription indicator is selected from the group consisting of mRNA, cDNA and cRNA. Each member of the set of nucleic acid probes comprises a portion of a nucleic acid molecule which is a member of the set of second nucleic acid molecules which are induced or repressed by the selected regulatory molecule. The amount of transcription indicator which hybridizes to each of said set of nucleic acid probes is determined. A test cell is identified as having lost function of the regulatory molecule if (1) hybridization of the transcription indicator of the test cell to a probe which comprises a portion of a nucleic acid which is induced by the regulatory molecule is lower than hybridization using a transcription indicator from a normal cell, or (2) hybridization of the transcription indicator of the test cell to a probe which comprises a portion of a nucleic acid which is repressed by the regulatory molecule is higher than hybridization using a transcription indicator from a normal cell.
Monitoring of gene expression can be used to help elucidate gene function. For example, one can determine what other genes are coordinately expressed with a gene of interest when the gene of interest is genetically altered or subjected to a chemical which affects its expression. Conversely one can determine which upstream genes control expression of the gene of interest by knocking out putative upstream genes and monitoring expression of the gene. Of particular interest are those genes involved in basic biological processes, such as mitosis, mismatch repair, and apoptosis, those genes involved in development, and those genes involved in infections by viruses and other pathogens. Thus gene expression monitoring can be used to discern functions and relationships among genes, as well as to dissect signaling pathways and networks.
Pathological states can be characterized by patterns of gene expression. Thus diseased and matched normal tissues can be monitored and compared to devise a disease xe2x80x9cfingerprintxe2x80x9d. This fingerprint can be used to diagnose other patients once established. Disease states include cancers, dysplasia, viral infections, parasite infections, bacterial infections, etc.
Gene expression monitoring can be used to establish developmental stages, for example, of a differentiating tissue, of an embryo, or of a fetus. A distinctive pattern of gene expression can be established for a particular stage by comparisons to closely and/or distantly related stages. Such patterns can be used for developmental staging of cells or tissues.
Potential chemotherapeutic agents can be screened or evaluated for their ability to alter a distinctive xe2x80x9cfingerprintxe2x80x9d, for example, altering a xe2x80x9cfingerprintxe2x80x9d of a disease state to a xe2x80x9cfingerprintxe2x80x9d of a non-licensed state. Similarly agents can be screened for the ability to alter a differentiation state (fingerprint) of cells or tissues. Gene expression monitoring can be used for any stage of screening and development of therapeutic agents. It can be used for initial identification of lead compounds. It can be used for monitoring purification of compounds. It can be used for monitoring efficacy of modified forms of therapeutic agents or lead compounds. Expression monitoring is useful in any stage of research and development for discovering therapeutic agents.

Expression monitoring for gene function identification


A camera is operable in one among a first photographing mode, a second photographing mode and a third photographing mode, and is further selectively operable in one of a plurality of photographing states when the camera operates in the first mode. The camera includes a first manual operation member, a first element responsive to an operation of the first manual operation member for cyclically selecting one of the first, second and third photographing modes in this order, a second manual operation member, and a second element responsive to an operation of the second manual operation member for selecting one of the plurality of photographing states in the first photographing mode. The camera further includes an element that is responsive to the operation of the first manual operation member for changing a photographing mode of the camera from the first photographing mode to the third photographing mode without passing through the second photographing mode when the camera operates in the selected state in the first mode.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic focus detecting device for automatically detecting a focus condition of an object, and more particularly, to an apparatus having such automatic focus detecting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
An apparatus having an automatic focus detecting function is conventionally known. For use in such apparatus, various automatic focus detecting devices have been proposed which have a plurality of detecting areas for detecting a focus condition of an object corresponding to those areas in order to more effectively use an automatic focusing function.
For example, a conventional camera is provided with focus detecting areas at the center and right and Left sides thereof in an image area to be photographed. A photographer uses this camera by manually selecting a focus detecting area suitable for the position of a main object in the image area among the above-described plurality of focus detecting areas. A focus condition of the object is detected by using the selected focus detecting area in such conventional camera, so an operation of changing a composition after a focus lock is eliminated more than in such a camera as having only one focus detecting area.
With a conventional camera held its longitudinal side in parallel with the horizontal direction (the camera is held horizontally) for photographing, a main object is more likely to be located at an upper part of the center of an image area to be photographed. Therefore, the photographer should once set the object at the center of the image area for a focus detection and then, set the camera anew so that the object is located at the upper part of the center, which make the operation of the camera troublesome. In order to overcome such problem, disclosed in, for example, the patent application No. 581,886, filed Sep. 13, 1990 and assigned to the same assignee of the present invention, is a camera in which an additional focus detecting area is provided at an upper portion of the center, so focus detecting areas are symmetrical only in a horizontal direction when the camera is held horizontally.
While the above-described conventional camera eliminates the operation of changing a composition after a focus lock, it is not sufficiently practical in use. For example, there occurs photographing with a camera held vertically or horizontally depending on an object. In such a case, a focus detecting area where a main object is often positioned varies depending on the camera situation. Therefore, an operation for selecting an appropriate area might not be carried out effectively when the focus detecting areas are designated one by one in the same order at all times irrespective of the possibility that an area includes the main object at the selection of one of the plurality of focus detecting areas.

Camera operated in one of a plurality of photographing modes


A system for use with a well having multiple zones can include multiple well screens which filter fluid flowing between a tubing string and respective ones of the zones, at least one optical waveguide which senses at least one property of the fluid as it flows between the tubing string and at least one of the zones, multiple flow control devices which variably restrict flow of the fluid through respective ones of the well screens, and multiple pressure sensors which sense pressure of the fluid which flows through respective ones of the well screens. A tubing string for use in a subterranean well can include at least one well screen, at least one flow control device which selectively prevents and permits substantially unrestricted flow through the well screen, and at least one other flow control device which is remotely operable, and which variably restricts flow through the well screen.

This disclosure relates generally to equipment utilized and operations performed in conjunction with subterranean wells and, in one example described below, more particularly provides a tubing conveyed multiple zone integrated intelligent well completion.
Where multiple zones are to be produced (or injected) in a subterranean well, it can be difficult to determine how fluids communicate between an earth formation and a tubing string in the well. This can be particularly difficult where the fluids produced from the multiple zones are commingled in the tubing string, or where the same fluid is injected from the well into the multiple zones.
Therefore, it will be appreciated that improvements are continually needed in the arts of constructing and operating well completion systems.

Tubing conveyed multiple zone integrated intelligent well completion


A detonation detector operable for detecting the intensity of detonation occurring in a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine. The detonation detector of the present invention includes a mechanical filter mounted on the engine for amplifying vibration signals resulting from detonation, including low intensity, sub-audible detonation signals. The mechanical filter is tuned to a resonant frequency at about the detonation frequency signal in order to attenuate noise signals from the engine and amplify signals at about the detonation frequency signal. A flat response accelerometer is mounted on the mechanical filter and receives the amplified detonation frequency signals and the attenuated noise signals and converts these signals into electrical output signals. An electronic circuit is connected to the accelerometer for amplifying the electrical output signals and filtering the attenuated noise signals. Thus, the detonation detector provides an output indicative of the intensity level of detonation substantially devoid of noise signals.

Detonation, or combustion knock, has been particularly problematic in reciprocating spark ignited internal combustion engines for many years. In fact, detonation is one of the most studied aspects of the internal combustion engine. In reciprocating spark ignited engines, for example, after spark ignition, a flame travels outward from the spark plug and will progressively burn the entire fuel-air charge in the combustion chamber (cylinder) under normal combustion conditions. The burned gas generates heat and expands, leading to increased temperature and pressure in the unburned gas (end gas) ahead of the flame front. Additionally, cylinder pressure and temperature are increasing due to the upward, compressing motion of the piston in its compression stroke. This may cause the unburned gas to be raised above its autoignition temperature, wherein the unburned gas will spontaneously ignite and burn nearly instantaneously. Thus, if the flame front velocity in the cylinder is low or if the chemical reactions which precede autoignition occur too quickly, the unburned gas will autoignite. This spontaneous combustion results in a very intense pressure wave that is internally reflected within the cylinder wall at a characteristic frequency related to the velocity of sound within the cylinder and the dimensions of the combustion chamber. The flexing of the cylinder wall and cylinder head resulting from this intense pressure wave may produce an audible high-frequency pinging sound known as combustion knock or detonation. The particular fundamental detonation frequency is controlled primarily by the combustion chamber temperature and the cylinder bore diameter. Thus, different engine models or sizes experience detonation at varying characteristic frequencies.
In reciprocating spark ignited internal combustion engines, it is desirable to maintain the spark advance close to the onset of detonation in order to improve fuel efficiency. However, detonation is highly objectionable because of the damage which it causes. For example, in addition to the unwanted sound, detonation can result in erosion of the combustion chamber, damage to spark plug electrodes, exhaust valve damage, or piston ring damage. Thermal damage from detonation is most likely to affect lower melting temperature materials such as aluminum pistons, or parts with poor heat transfer paths to a heat sink such as exhaust valves. Additionally, detonation can induce preignition (i.e., ignition before the spark occurs) which leads to loss of engine efficiency, and rough and unsatisfactory operation. Typically, engines without detonation sensing devices operate with the ignition timing retarded sufficiently to avoid detonation under all expected conditions. This retarded ignition timing results in reduced fuel efficiency. Also, as just explained, engine damage may occur if some unexpected condition causes detonation in an engine with no detonation sensing capability. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to minimize the number and severity of detonations that an engine cylinder is exposed to.
Various factors contribute to the existence of detonation such as engine design parameters and engine operating variables. For example, engine designs that increase the temperature, pressure, and chemical residence time of the end gas increase detonation. Other engine design factors that increase detonation include increased compression ratio, off-center spark plug location, and slow-burn combustion chambers. Additionally, engine operating variables such as spark advance, revolutions per minute, throttle angle, coolant temperature, intake air temperature and humidity, and air/fuel ratio can all have a significant influence on detonation.
Increasingly, use has been made of electronic engine controls with detonation sensors to control the occurrence of detonation. The two most common methods of sensing detonation are monitoring the pressure waves created by detonation, or detecting the resulting vibrations of the cylinder walls due to detonation. Various types of instruments have been developed for detecting pressure waves in the cylinders created by detonation. For example, a pressure transducer or diaphragm can be located in a plug or similar device which is screwed into the cylinder, with the transducer generating an electrical signal as a result of motion of the transducer from pressure waves. In order to provide the electrical signal, the transducer can include a strain-gauge element, a piezoelectric crystal or a magnetic circuit, for example. The electrical signals from the transducer corresponding to the detonation pressure are then transmitted to an engine controller, which takes appropriate action to reduce or eliminate detonation. A significant disadvantage of pressure-type detonation sensors is their location with respect to the engine. The extreme temperatures generated by the engine and the intense pressure fluctuations which these sensors are subjected to significantly affect their reliability. As a result, the use of pressure-type sensors has been very limited.
Currently, the most prevalent type of detonation sensors, such as accelerometers and strain gauges, detect vibrations of the cylinder walls induced by detonation. Accelerometers are sensitive to detonation vibrations and translate these vibrations into electrical signals. Many types of accelerometers exist, and one type often used to detect detonation utilizes a piezoelectric crystal to transform mechanical vibrations into electrical signals. Accelerometers also differ with respect to their resonant frequencies. For instance, spike resonant and broadband resonant accelerometers generally center on the mean detonation signal frequency of the engine, with spike resonant sensors having narrow bandwidths on the order of 100 Hz, and broadband resonant sensors having bandwidths approaching 1000 Hz. These sensors thus utilize their built-in mechanical amplification and filtering characteristics to detect particular detonation signal frequencies. However, because of the relatively narrow bandwidths of these sensors, one sensor is not capable of operating with various engine models and sizes. On the other hand, flat response accelerometers, which have a high resonant frequency and a much wider bandwidth than spike resonant and broadband resonant accelerometers, offer the advantage of commonality since one sensor design can be utilized to detect different detonation signal frequencies for several engine models. In order to distinguish between detonation signals and noise of the engine, however, flat response accelerometers must operate in conjunction with electrical filtering circuitry.
Known detonation detection systems which utilize accelerometers typically mount the accelerometer on the engine block at thinner and less stiff wall areas to detect detonation induced vibrations. In one prior art system, a magnetostrictive accelerometer is used as the detonation sensor, and is mounted on the intake manifold of the engine. The output of the detonation sensor is transmitted to an electronic engine controller, which includes a detonation filter circuit to condition the signal to differentiate detonation signals from normal engine vibrations or background noise. In order to detect the presence of detonation, the electronic controller continuously monitors the background noise of the engine, and then compares the background noise level with the signal from the detonation sensor to determine if detonation is present. If detonation is detected, the controller then produces a retard command to delay or retard the ignition pulse to the spark plug in an attempt to eliminate detonation.
A significant disadvantage with this type of detonation detection system is that the accelerometer is mounted directly on the engine. Similar to pressure-type detonation detectors but to a somewhat lesser extent, the high temperatures generated by the engine can affect the reliability and durability of the accelerometer. Additionally, prior art detonation detection systems which utilize accelerometers experience problems at high engine speeds where the engine generates greater mechanical vibrations, resulting in reduced signal to noise ratios. Similarly, and of great importance, prior art detonation detectors have not been capable of detecting low intensity, sub-audible detonation, since these detectors do not have the capability of adequately distinguishing between low intensity detonation signals and background noise.

Detonation detection system for internal combustion engines


The invention provides a milling cutter for machining metal workpieces and a cartridge therefor. The milling cutter comprises a plurality of peripheral recesses for the receipt of insert-equipped cartridges. One of the walls of said recess is provided by two arms integral with the milling cutter body that each by means of a screw is arranged to clamp the cartridge against one wall in said recess. The cartridge is provided with two bores having suitable clearance for the receipt of said screws.

The present invention relates to a milling cutter for chip machining of metal workpieces and a cartridge therefor. The milling cutter comprises a milling cutter body rotatable about its longitudinal axis and a plurality of insert-equipped cartridges mounted around the periphery thereof. Each cartridge is located in a recess in the periphery of said milling cutter body. The cartridge is intended to be secured in the recess by suitable clamping means.
A milling cutter of the aforesaid type is disclosed in German patent No. 31 25 185 wherein each cartridge is adjustable radially and axially by wedge means. Two wedge means are associated with each cartridge. A screw which extends through the cartridge and into the milling cutter body is arranged to absorb the forces caused by said cartridge and by wedge means during the rotation of the milling cutter. During the milling operation a higher rotation speed is applied which may result in an out-hurling force of 200 kg applied upon a body of for instance 30 g. This means that the screw that is holding the cartridge and the wedge will be subjected to large bending moments during the milling operation. The risk for tool failure will increase with increased usage time. Further, there is a risk that the adjustment of the insert in the cartridge might be changed during a working operation. Also, it becomes less economical and more complicated to arrange a wedge arrangement for each cartridge.
The present invention aims to provide a solution to the above related problems.


Suspended steam boiler, in which the steam boiler lower portion (5), having inclined tubes, is suspended from the steam boiler upper portion (1), having vertical tubes exclusively from the vertical tubes of the latter without additional external tensile or support elements. (FIG.1)

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a suspended steam boiler including a steam boiler upper part, comprising a vertical tube wall, composed of vertical tubes and vertical web formed there between and a steam lower portion suspended from the vertical tube wall including an inclined tube wall composed of inclined tubes and inclined webs formed there between.
2. Description of the Related Art
The walls of larger sized steam boilers operating according to the forced once-through principle or forced circulation principle are nowadays designed as diaphragm tube walls composed of tube and web constructions. In order for the boilers to be able to expand freely, they are suspended in a boiler scaffolding. For that purpose, the boiler scaffolding includes a boiler scaffolding top, in which the supporting cables of the steam boiler are suspended. Accordingly, the entire weight of the steam boiler is absorbed by the boiler scaffolding top.
The steam boiler, in turn, must be so designed that the total weight comprising its own weight, the water content, ashes and the like, can be taken up by the boiler scaffolding top. The steam boiler upper portion includes membrane tube walls wherein the tubes are vertically disposed, and through which the medium flows in vertical direction (here denoted as vertical tube wall). On the other hand, in the steam boiler lower portion, the combustion chamber is surrounded by membrane tube walls which are not vertical but which rise at an incline to the horizontal (here denoted as inclined tube wall).
The load absorption takes place in the vertical tube wall of the steam boiler along the longitudinal axis of the vertical tubes, so that these are placed under tensile load in the direction of the tube axes.
On the other hand, in the lower portion of the steam boiler the load absorption takes place in the inclined tube wall at low angles of inclination transversely to the longitudinal axis of the inclined tubes. Accordingly, in this case, part of the loads arising is transferred to the tube cross section which, by comparison with the tube axis, is weaker.
In order to relieve these tube cross sections of loads it is, for example, known from DE 26 21 189 B to support the steam boiler lower portion on additional external tensile or load bearing elements which are anchored to the steam boiler upper portion. The tensile element extends more particularly in the form of tensile straps over the entire height of the inclined tube wall to which they are connected by way of filler members, welding-on blocks or clamping means, and terminate slightly above the inclined tube wall on the vertical tube wall to which they are welded by way of tensile strap heads, moulded members, welding-in panels, metal sheets, lugs or other connecting members. Accordingly, the load is transferred by the tensile or support elements from the steam boiler lower portion including the inclined tube wall into the vertical tube wall of the steam boiler upper portion.
With such external tensile elements which are welded by way of connecting members to the inclined tube wall, it is necessary, however, to ensure a good heat transfer from the tube walls to the tensile elements. In spite of this, load fluctuations occur, in particular in the inclined tube wall during each load change of the steam boiler resulting from a delayed following-up by the tensile element as against the membrane tube wall. Moreover, the application of the numerous connections of the tensile elements to the inclined tube wall involves an appreciable construction and welding expenditure. According to a further proposal known from DE 23 16 135 A the steam boiler lower portion which is directly welded to the vertical tubing of the steam boiler upper portion is, therefore, supported while its tube plate by way of linkage supports on support elements in the form of beams which are in their turn suspended by way of tensile anchors from the vertical tube wall of the steam boiler upper portion. However, this known proposal itself involves a substantial constructional expenditure combined with an increased weight due to the support element which must be absorbed by the vertical tube wall.


Embodiments of the present disclosure related to a head mounted display (HMD) that enable adjustment of lenses for a particular consumer. In some example embodiments, the HMD enables up to three-degrees of freedom of lens alignment with a consumer's pupils. For example, the HMD includes an actuation device or rotatable disc, both of which are in slidable engagement with at least one elongated members. Ends of the elongated members are coupled to a mirror/lens such that actuation of the actuation device or rotation of the disc translates the elongated member along an axis, which is in general alignment with a pupillary distance (PD) of the consumer. Additionally, the elongated members include mirror/lens interfaces to which the lenses are coupled. The mirror/lens interfaces are slidably and rotatably coupled to the elongated members thereby providing additional degrees of freedom for movement of the lenses.

Near-eye display systems are becoming more frequent in the marketplace. Such near-eye display systems typically mount directly to, or are integral with, glasses frames that include or do not include actual glasses lenses with the frames.
For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. D659,741 (hereinafter the "D'741 patent") depicts an exemplary glasses frame utilizing an integral mounted near-eye display system. As can be seen in the D'741 patent, the near-eye display system mounts directly to the right temple/earpiece portion of the glasses frames. Moreover, U.S. Design Pat. No. D664,185 (hereinafter the "D'185 patent") illustrates a glasses frame, without lenses, that include an integrally mounted near-eye display system. Unfortunately, near-eye display systems, such as those described above, require the consumer to wear a specific frame that is sold concurrently with the near-eye display system. Accordingly, such frames cannot accommodate consumers that require frames with specific dimensions.

Pupillary adjustable head mounted device