Provision of a new gear parking brake of a power transmission device that enables the simple achievement of in-gear parking.

This application is entitled to the benefit of and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-121300 filed on Apr. 19, 2001.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power transmission device for transmitting power from the engine of heavy motor vehicles such as trucks and buses to the transmission, comprising a fluid coupling and a friction clutch, and more particularly to a gear parking brake enabling in-gear parking.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a power transmission device that uses a fluid coupling in combination with a wet multiplate friction clutch has been proposed as a power transmission device for transmitting power from the engine of heavy motor vehicles such as trucks and buses to the transmission.
As shown in FIG. 5, this power transmission device has a fluid coupling 4 and a wet multiplate friction clutch 5 joined between the engine""s crankshaft 1 and input shaft 3 of the transmission 2, so as to be able to connect and disconnect. This enables smooth gear change and reliable power transmission to be achieved without it being necessary for the driver to operate the clutch.
The basic structure and application of a conventional power transmission device having this kind of structure will be described below.
First, in the same way as a well-known conventional fluid coupling, the fluid coupling 4 mainly consists of a pump shell 7 fixed to the engine""s crankshaft 1 through a casing 6, a turbine shell 8 positioned opposite the pump shell 7, and a stator 9 fixed therebetween. The torque of the crankshaft 1 is delivered from the pump shell 7 through the fluid filled therein to the turbine shell 8, and the torque of the turbine shell 8 is transmitted to an output shaft 11 that is connected to the wet multiplate friction clutch 5, through a hub 10. Further, a lock-up mechanism 13 (to be described later) activated by a fluid-activated mechanism 12 is formed between the casing 6 and the turbine shell 8, and when the engine speed reaches a prescribed speed, the crankshaft 1 and output shaft 11 are directly linked through the above mechanisms and efficient power transmission is achieved.
Next, the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 comprises a clutch outer 14 spline fitted to the output shaft 11, and a clutch center 15 mounted to the input shaft 3 of the transmission 2. In the same way as in a conventional wet multiplate friction clutch, a plurality of friction plates 16 formed on the inside of the clutch outer 14 and a plurality of friction plates 17 formed on the outside of the clutch center 15 are made to come into contact with each other, thereby transmitting the power of the output shaft 11 to the input shaft 3 of the transmission 2. Further, this wet multiplate friction clutch 5 contains a connection and disconnection mechanism 18 activated by a fluid-activated mechanism 12, which will be described later, and when the engine is started or the gears are changed, the clutch outer 14 and the clutch center 15 disengage and the power between the output shaft 11 and the input shaft 3 is cut off.
Further, the fluid-activated mechanism 12 that operates this lock-up mechanism 13 of the fluid coupling 4 and the connection and disconnection mechanism 18 of the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 mainly consists of a hydraulic pump 21 formed inside an intermediate wall 20 of a joint housing 19 that contains the above-mentioned fluid coupling 4 and wet multiplate friction clutch 5; a lock-up mechanism control valve 22 and a connection and disconnection mechanism control valve 23 activated by the operating oil discharged from the hydraulic pump 21 as shown in FIG. 6; and electromagnetic selector valves 24 and 25 to control the activation and shutoff of these control valves 22 and 23. As shown in FIG. 5, this hydraulic pump 21 operates the whole time that the engine is running, accompanying the rotation of the pump shell 7 of the fluid coupling 4, and it sucks in the operating oil that is pooled in the operating oil retention space 26 at the bottom of the joint housing 19 through a suction passage 27. The operating oil is sent to the above-mentioned lock-up mechanism control valve 22 and the clutch connection and disconnection mechanism control valve 23 and either activates these valves or after passing through is returned back into the operating oil retention space 26 in a cycle. Further, the electromagnetic selector valves 24 and 25 that activate the lock-up mechanism valve 22 and the connection and disconnection mechanism control valve 23 are each controlled by control signals from a controller consisting for example of a micro-computer (not shown in the drawings).
In a power transmission device having this kind of construction, first, when the engine starts up, the lock-up mechanism 13 of the fluid coupling 4 and the connection and disconnection mechanism 18 of the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 are both turned to a disconnected (OFF) state. Therefore, in the fluid coupling 4 a state of so-called creep occurs, the power from the engine""s crankshaft 1 is cut off by the wet multiplate friction clutch 5, and is not transmitted to the input shaft 3 of the transmission 2. Next, from this state when the driver shifts the transmission 2 into gear to move the vehicle, the controller, which receives this signal, activates the electromagnetic selector valve 25 and the clutch connection and disconnection mechanism control valve 23. Accordingly the connection and disconnection mechanism 18 is activated by the operating oil discharged from the hydraulic pump 21, and by connecting the wet multiplate friction clutch 5, the power from the output shaft 11 is transmitted to the transmission 2 through the input shaft 3 and the vehicle begins to move. In such a way, the engine""s power is transmitted to the transmission 2 and the vehicle starts moving, and when a prescribed speed is reached, the driver then operates a shift lever 28 to shift the transmission 2 up to second gear, third gear and so on in order to further increase the speed of the vehicle. However, each time the driver shifts up to a higher gear, it is automatically controlled so that the instant that the driver operates the shift lever 28 this is detected by the controller and the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 is momentarily cut off. Then, after the shift to the next gear has been completed the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 is automatically reconnected, and thus smooth upshift is achieved. Further, at the same time, when the vehicle has reached a prescribed speed, the lock-up mechanism 13 of the fluid coupling 4 is activated by an electromagnetic control valve 24, which is also activated by the controller. By directly connecting the crankshaft 1 and the output shaft 11, power from the engine""s crankshaft 1 is transmitted to the transmission 2 without loss.
However, in a vehicle with a power transmission device having this kind of construction, so-called in-gear parking cannot be achieved. In other words, when the engine 1 is stopped in order to park, the hydraulic pump 21 for engaging the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 is inactivated and the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 is automatically disengaged. Therefore, whatever gear the transmission 2 is put into, the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 just runs idle and the engine brake does not work, meaning that the vehicle cannot be put into a definite stop.
Further, the side brake that is ordinarily used when parking a motor vehicle is not always able to be used and is prone to certain inconveniences, for example the brake wire may freeze in cold temperatures and not be able to be unfrozen, or the wire that activates it may snap.
For these reasons, methods such as forming a multiplate disc-type countershaft brake on the end of the countershaft 29 of the transmission 2, and restricting the torque of the countershaft 29 so as to enable in-gear parking, have been considered. However, under this method a linking hole linking to the wet multiplate friction clutch 5 is opened to the casing 30 of the transmission 2 and it is necessary to extend the end of the countershaft 29 to the wet multiplate friction clutch 5. Therefore, certain disadvantages arise, for example gear oil inside the transmission 2 may leak out from the linking hole, and it is also necessary to secure a space in which to form the multiplate disc-type countershaft brake on the wet multiplate friction clutch 5. In addition, when a gear parking brake function is imposed on the countershaft brake, due to the relationship between the transmission""s reduction gears it is necessary to ensure that the brake power is greater than the reduction gears (about 1.8 times), and this requires countershaft brakes to be larger and take up a greater space.
Therefore, the present invention was designed to effectively resolve these sorts of problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a new gear parking brake of a power transmission device that enables in-gear parking to be easily achieved.
In order to resolve the above-mentioned problems, as shown in claim 1, the present invention is a gear parking brake of a power transmission device having a fluid coupling positioned on the engine side and a friction clutch positioned on the transmission side, arranged in series, comprising a brake mechanism on an input shaft of the above-mentioned transmission, which activates at the time of parking. Accordingly, even though the friction clutch becomes disengaged when the engine is stopped, the torque of the transmission""s input shaft at the time of parking can be restricted, thereby enabling so-called in-gear parking.
More specifically, as shown in claim 2, the above-mentioned brake mechanism comprises: a friction plate that revolves together with the input shaft; a pressure plate provided on the transmission housing so as to move towards and away from the friction plate; and a pressure piston provided on the transmission housing side so as to pressure weld the friction plate to the pressure plate. In other words, when the friction clutch becomes disengaged when the engine stops, the friction plate and the pressure plate are welded together by the pressure piston and the torque of the transmission""s input shaft is restricted, thereby enabling in-gear parking when the transmission has been put into any gear.
Further, as shown in claim 3, the brake mechanism may comprise a brake drum integrally formed on the transmission""s input shaft; a brake band provided so as to be able to expand and contract, and to encircle the circumference of the brake drum; and a tightening mechanism to shorten the diameter of the brake band and tighten the brake drum. In other words, when the engine is stopped, the transmission""s input shaft is tightened by the brake band and the rotation is controlled, thereby enabling in-gear parking when the transmission has been put into any gear.
Further, as shown in claim 4, if the brake drum is integrally formed in the clutch center of the friction clutch, which is formed on the input shaft of the transmission, it can be easily mounted without requiring a particularly large amount of space.
Further, as shown in claim 3, when one end of the brake band is attached to the clutch housing of the friction clutch and the other end is positioned on the brake drum, simply by pressing that end to the brake drum using the tightening mechanism, the brake band""s diameter can easily be shortened and the brake drum can be securely tightened.
Further, as shown in claim 4, by forming this tightening mechanism from a hydraulic pump that is activated by the engine""s power and a piston that is moved up and down by the oil pressure of this hydraulic pump and shortens the brake band""s diameter, at the time that the engine is stopped and the oil pressure drops, the piston projects out so as to shorten the diameter of the brake band, thereby enabling automatic activation of the mechanism simultaneous with the engine stopping, without requiring any special operation.

Gear parking brake of a power transmission device

Abstract: A gear parking brake (31) of a power transmission device has a fluid coupling (4) positioned on the engine side and a friction clutch (5) positioned on the transmission (2) side, arranged in series. This gear parking brake (31) is provided with a brake mechanism on an input shaft (3) of the transmission (2), which activates at the time of parking. Even though the friction clutch (5) becomes disengaged, the rotation of the input shaft (3) of the transmission (2) is restricted, thereby enabling in-gear parking.


Provided is an exhaust apparatus for a utility vehicle which discharges exhaust gas from exhaust pipes connected to exhaust ports of an engine including cylinders, the apparatus including an exhaust gathering portion gathering the exhaust pipes, a catalyst portion located on a downstream side of the exhaust gathering portion and purifying the exhaust gas, and a sensor attaching pipe provided between the exhaust gathering portion and the catalyst portion and to which an exhaust gas sensor is detachably attached, wherein the sensor attaching pipe, in a state where the exhaust gas sensor is attached, has a height in which a sensing portion of the exhaust gas sensor is located in the sensor attaching pipe, and the sensor attaching pipe is provided such that a top end to which the exhaust gas sensor is detachably attached is located above a base end and away from a surrounding heat source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust apparatus for four wheeled vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an exhaust apparatus which is mounted on a utility vehicle mainly suitable for driving on irregular ground and discharges exhaust gas from an engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an exhaust gas sensor that senses a particular ingredient in exhaust gas is attached to exhaust pipes. Since high-temperature exhaust gas flows in the exhaust pipes, the surfaces of the exhaust pipes and the atmosphere around the exhaust pipes become hot. Therefore, the exhaust gas sensor attached to the exhaust pipes is required to have high heat resistance.
The exhaust gas sensor is provided with a sensor body including a sensing portion that senses a particular ingredient in exhaust gas, and a harness for supplying electric power to the sensor body and transmitting a signal outputted from the sensor body, wherein a connecting portion of the sensor body and the harness includes a bush member that holds air-tightness in the connecting portion. The bush member is formed of a material having flexibility, e.g., rubber, and adopts heat-resistant rubber to withstand a high-temperature atmosphere.
Here, typically, the engine of the utility vehicle which is driven on irregular ground is mounted in a space which is in the center or rear position in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and is in the high position, e.g., below the seat or in a space which is in the console box arranged between the left and right seats and is surrounded at its bottom by the under cover, so as to be unlikely to be affected by an obstacle on the ground. The exhaust pipes connected to the engine are arranged in a rear space which is connected to the rear portion of the space and surrounded by e.g., the heat insulating plate and the under cover. As a result, the exhaust gas sensor attached to the exhaust pipes is also located in the rear space which is away from the front portion of the vehicle and surrounded by the heat insulating plate and the under cover.
The rear space is blocked at its front by the engine. Traveling wind from the front portion of the vehicle is thus unlikely to reach the rear space. In addition, the inside of the rear space is surrounded at its left, right, top, and bottom by the heat insulating plate and the under cover. Traveling wind from the sides or bottom of the vehicle is also unlikely to reach the rear space. Further, the inside of the rear space is brought into a high-temperature atmosphere by heat radiated from the surfaces of the exhaust pipes arranged therein. Consequently, the exhaust gas sensor located in the rear space is required to have higher heat resistance. The bush member having a high allowable temperature is thus adopted. As a result, the cost of the exhaust gas sensor is increased.
To reduce the temperature of the exhaust gas sensor attached to the exhaust pipes, it has been known that a guide member is provided which guides traveling wind taken in from the front portion of the vehicle to the exhaust gas sensor arranged in the front portion of the vehicle. As the prior art document, there is Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-127202.
However, as described above, in the utility vehicle, the exhaust gas sensor is located away from the front portion of the vehicle, and is arranged behind the engine. It is thus difficult to guide the traveling wind from the front portion of the vehicle to the exhaust gas sensor located behind the engine by the guide member, which is described in the prior art document.

Exhaust apparatus for four wheeled utility vehicle


A double data rate serial encoder is provided. The serial encoder comprises a mux having a plurality of inputs, a plurality of latches coupled to the inputs of the mux, an enabler to enable the latches to update their data inputs, and a counter to select one of the plurality of inputs of the mux for output. In another aspect, the mux provides a glitch-less output during input transitions. The mux includes an output selection algorithm optimized based on a priori knowledge of an input selection sequence provided by the counter.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to a serial encoder for high data rate serial communication links. More particularly, the invention relates to a double data rate serial encoder for Mobile Display Digital Interface (MDDI) links.
2. Background
In the field of interconnect technologies, demand for ever increasing data rates, especially as related to video presentations, continues to grow.
The Mobile Display Digital Interface (MDDI) is a cost-effective, low power consumption, transfer mechanism that enables very-high-speed data transfer over a short-range communication link between a host and a client. MDDI requires a minimum of just four wires plus power for bi-directional data transfer that delivers a maximum bandwidth of up to 3.2 Gbits per second.
In one application, MDDI increases reliability and decreases power consumption in clamshell phones by significantly reducing the number of wires that run across a handset's hinge to interconnect the digital baseband controller with an LCD display and/or a camera. This reduction of wires also allows handset manufacturers to lower development costs by simplifying clamshell or sliding handset designs.
MDDI is a serial transfer protocol, and, as such, data received in parallel for transmission over an MDDI link needs to be serialized. What is needed therefore is a serial encoder, integrable in an MDDI link controller, that supports the high-speed data rate of MDDI.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A collet surface structure is provided for a high-speed hydraulic press having collet interlock in order to eliminate leakage of oil into the clamping region. Furthermore, the formation of a harmful hydrostatic film thickness from the lubricating-oil film between the pressure rods and the collets is prevented, since the oil is immediately forced away due to the high clamping pressure between the clamping faces. These high clamping pressures result from the extremely short space of the lubricating-oil elimination grooves and the large capacity of the grooves. Thus, the oil-eliminating grooves are made large enough to eliminate reliably a hydrostatic oil film of at least 0.1 mm. This regularity is independent of the clamping diameter of the collet.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to collet surface structures, and more particularly, to a collet surface structure which eliminates leakage-oil on the hydraulic clamping system of an hydraulic highspeed press.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Hydraulic high-speed presses are well known, for example, from German Offenlegungsschrift 3,637,544 German Offenlegungsschrift 3,637,545. By means of a special construction and control employed in these presses, a virtually jolt-free and wear-free coupling is obtained. Specifically, these presses use a non-positive clamping under low effective masses of the pressure rods synchronously with the movement of the press. This is made possible by hydraulic damping and automatic compensation of the connected masses by prestressed pressure pads. The neutralization of the weight of the pressure rods and pistons leads to shorter braking times, a higher speed for the negotiable idle-stroke distance and high closing speeds. The diaphragms which are used in this construction, for example nylon sleeves, are secured at each end by means of two O-ring seals to prevent the escape of high-pressure oil into the clamping region of the collets and pressure rods.
If an O-ring seal becomes leaky, highpressure oil flows into the clamping region uncontrollably and causes a reduced non-positive connection between the collets and the pressure rods. Collet systems of this type will not clamp in a slip-free way if, as a result of an uncontrolled film of lubricating oil, a hydrostatic film forms between the pressure rod and collet, because then the oil film cannot be broken down. In other words, the oil cannot be eliminated within the desired clamping time of approximately 0.5 to 1 second.
Normally, because of the prevailing frictional conditions a sufficient non-positive connection is provided, even under lubrication. Slipping nevertheless occurs due to such uncontrolled leakages, because a hydrostatic film is formed on which the collet will slide briefly against the pressure rod, until this hydrostatic film is forced away. When this occurs, local friction temperatures become very high, thereby causing this oil to crack with a resulting slipping over approximately 20 to 30 mm. The cracked oil settles as a coating on the pressure rods and thus leads to further uncontrolled frictional conditions. As a result, the entire system will fail, so that the press must be stopped and taken out of production.

Collet surface structure for a hydraulic high-speed press

Maschinenfabrik J. Dieffenbacher GmbH & Co.


An electronic device which is able to be charged via a universal serial bus (USB) interface which connects to a computer. A first voltage of a battery of the electronic device, a second voltage and an electric current of the USB interface are determined. If a difference between the first voltage and a saturation voltage of the battery is greater than a predefined value, the electronic device is charged with a first electric current. If the second voltage is not lower than a threshold voltage and the electric current of the USB interface is not lower than the electrical energy consumption of the electronic device, the first electric current is decreased.

1. Technical Field
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to electronic device management systems and methods, and more particularly to a system and method for electronic device charging.
2. Description of Related Art
When an electronic device is connected to a computer via a universal serial bus (USB) interface, the USB interface can both transfer data and charge or recharge the electronic device. If the electronic device needs to be charged quickly, it is necessary to charge the electronic device with a large electric current. However, if the electric current is too large, the computer cannot recognize the electronic device.

System and method for electronic device charging


The present invention provides new compositions and methods for treating prostate cancer, e.g., drug-resistant prostate cancer, such as anti-androgen drug (e.g., enzalutamide) resistant and/or castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). These new compositions include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical compositions that include an AR-V7 inhibitor, such as niclosamide. Alternatively, these new compositions can include, but are not limited to, pharmaceutical compositions that include an AKR1C3 inhibitor, such as indomethacin. These new methods include, but are not limited to, methods of administering an AR-V7 inhibitor, such as niclosamide, and/or an AKR1C3 inhibitor, such as indomethacin, to treat patients having prostate cancer. The present invention also provides methods of inhibiting androgen receptor variant expression, e.g. AR-V7, and methods of killing cells expressing AR-V7. The present invention further provides methods of inhibiting AKR1C3 expression or activity, and methods of killing cells that express AKR1C3.

Current methods for treating prostate cancer include targeting androgen signaling and also androgen deprivation therapy by administering anti-androgen drugs and androgen antagonists to patients having prostate cancer. While these methods may be initially effective, they often become ineffective once a patient develops castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). To date, CRPC is not curable.
Patients with CRPC and patients whose health does not improve with docetaxel treatments are often treated with drugs such as enzalutamide and abiraterone. However, drug resistance to enzalutamide and abiraterone often develops in patients that have prostate cancer.
Androgen receptor (AR) splice variants are often prevalent in advanced prostate cancer tissue, e.g., tissue from a patient having CRPC and advanced prostate cancer cell lines. These AR variants are generated by aberrant splicing, e.g., alternative mRNA splicing, and premature translation termination. Truncated AR variants drive androgen independent growth. AR also mediates gene expression. AR-V7, an AR variant that lacks the ligand binding domain (LBD) targeted by enzalutamide and abiraterone, is constitutively active in some prostate cancer cells. Because AR-V7 lacks the LBD, it is therefore resistant to LBD targeted treatments, e.g., enzalutamide and abiraterone.
AR variants have also been observed to be up-regulated in CRPC patient samples as compared to androgen sensitive patient samples. As such, AR variants are associated with prostate cancer progression and resistance to AR-targeted therapy. Certain AR variants were observed to induce ligand independent activation of ARE-driven reporters in the absence of androgen, which indicates that those variants may have a distinct transcription program as compared to full length AR. Certain AR variants may interact with the full length AR such that full length AR may mediate the activity of the AR variants.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a central role in host defense mechanisms. The biological activities of IL-6 are mediated by the IL6 receptor, which is composed of an IL6-specific receptor subunit and a signal transducer, gp130. The binding of IL-6 to its receptor results in activation of several intracellular signaling cascades including JAK-STAT and MAPK pathways. IL-6 production correlates with tumor progression in certain human cancers, e.g., ovarian and prostate cancers. The serum levels of IL-6 are elevated in many men with advanced, hormone-refractory prostate cancer and are associated with progression and poor prognosis. IL-6 also regulates the expression of genes encoding many steroidogenic enzymes involved in androgen synthesis. Autocrine IL-6 promotes androgen independent growth in prostate cancer cells. Constitutively active STAT3 is a part of the positive autocrine IL-6 loop and STAT3 activation in human tumors is observed at the invasive front of tumors adjacent to inflammatory cells, which may mean that STAT3-dependent tumorigenesis is mediated by IL-6.
Some reports suggest that niclosamide is active against cancer cells but has minimal effects on the viability of normal cells (Pan J X, et al. Chin J Cancer; 31(4):178-184; Lu W, et al. PLoS One; 6(12):e29290; Park S J, et al. BMB Rep; 44(8):517-522; Osada T, et al. Cancer Res; 71(12):4172-4182. 36; Jin Y, et al. Cancer Res; 70(6):2516-2527; Guo Z, et al. Cancer Research 2009; 69(6):2305-2313). Other reports suggest that niclosamide targets multiple signaling pathways such as STAT3, Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), Wnt/β-catenin, and Notch pathways (Yo Y T, et al. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(8):1703-1712). Niclosamide has also been reported to inhibit cancer cell metastasis and migration in vitro and in vivo (Helfman D M. J Natl Cancer Inst; 103(13):991-992; Sack U, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst; 103(13):1018-1036).
There is currently a need for new compositions and methods for treating patients that have CRPC and patients that have anti-androgen drug resistant prostate cancer. Surprisingly, the present invention provides, in part, new compositions and methods for treating these patients as well as for inhibiting prostate cancer cell growth. Several other solutions to other problems in the field are also met by the present invention.

The Regents of the University of California

U.S. Government Represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs


A nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target comprising a mixture of an alloy containing 5 mol % or more and 20 mol % or less of Cr, 5 mol % or more and 30 mol % or less of Pt, and Co as the remainder thereof, and nonmagnetic material particles, wherein the structure of the target includes a phase (A) in which the nonmagnetic material particles are uniformly micro-dispersed in the alloy, and a spherical alloy phase (B) dispersed in the phase (A) in which the ratio of its volume in the target is 4% or more and 40% or less. Obtained is a nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target capable of improving the leakage magnetic flux to obtain a stable electrical discharge with a magnetron sputtering device, and which has high density and generates few particles during sputtering.

The present invention relates to a nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target for use in the deposition of a magnetic thin film of a magnetic recording medium, and particularly of a granular magnetic recording film of a hard disk adopting the perpendicular magnetic recording system, and to a sputtering target with a leakage magnetic flux which is able to obtain stable electrical discharge when sputtered with a magnetron sputtering device, and which has high density and generates few particles during sputtering.
In the field of magnetic recording, technology has been developed for improving the magnetic property by uniformly micro-dispersing nonmagnetic materials in a magnetic thin film. As one example thereof, with a hard disk recording medium adopting the perpendicular magnetic recording system, a granular film is adopted for blocking or weakening the magnetic interaction between magnetic particles in the magnetic recording film by using a nonmagnetic material, and improving the various properties as a magnetic recording medium.
Co—Cr—Pt—SiO2 is known as one of the optimal materials for the foregoing granular film, and the granular film of Co—Cr—Pt—SiO2 is generally produced by sputtering a nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material target in which SiO2 as the nonmagnetic material is uniformly micro-dispersed in the ferromagnetic Co—Cr—Pt alloy base material having Co as its main component.
It is widely known that this kind of nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target is produced with the powder metallurgy method since the nonmagnetic material particles cannot be uniformly micro-dispersed in the ferromagnetic alloy base material with the dissolution method.
For example, proposed is a method of performing mechanical alloying to alloy powder with an alloy phase produced with the rapid solidification method and powder configuring a ceramic phase, uniformly dispersing the powder configuring the ceramic phase in the alloy powder, and molding this by way of hot press to obtain a sputtering target for a magnetic recording medium (Patent Document 1).
Another way of preparing a nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target is to use commercially available raw material powders for the respective components configuring the target, even without the alloy powder produced with the rapid solidification method. The raw material powders are weighed to the intended composition, mixed with well-known methods by using a ball mill or the like, and molding and sintering the mixed powder by hot press.
If a high density material can be obtained after sintering, it is generally known that the generation of particles, which becomes problematic during the sputtering, can be reduced.
There are various types of sputtering devices, but a magnetron sputtering device is broadly used in light of its high productivity for the deposition of the foregoing magnetic recording film.
This sputtering method makes a positive electrode substrate and a negative electrode target face each other, and generates an electric field by applying high voltage between the substrate and the target under an inert gas atmosphere.
Here, the sputtering method employs a fundamental principle where inert gas is ionized, plasma composed of electrons and positive ions is formed, and the positive ions in this plasma collide with the target (negative electrode) surface so as to discharge the atoms configuring the target. The extruded atoms adhere to the opposing substrate surface, wherein the film is formed. As a result of performing the sequential process described above, the material configuring the target is deposited on the substrate.
The magnetron sputtering device is characterized in comprising a magnet on the back side of the target, and the magnetic flux (leakage magnetic flux) leaked from the magnet onto the target surface causes the electrons to engage in cycloidal motion in the vicinity of the target surface, whereby plasma is generated efficiently.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. H10-88333

Nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target


An apparatus and method for validating a credit card over a wireless network. The apparatus includes a gateway for sending a credit card validation reply message to a wireless device in response to receiving a credit card validation request message from the wireless device, the request message including credit card information for identifying a credit card to be validated. The method includes sending a first credit card validation request message to a gateway from a wireless device, the first request message including credit card information for identifying a credit card to be validated; sending a second credit card validation request message and the credit card information from the gateway over an external network in communication with the gateway to a credit card validation service provider for processing the credit card information; receiving by the gateway a first credit card validation reply message from the credit card validation service provider over the external network; and sending a second credit card validation reply message from the gateway to the wireless device.

This invention relates to an interactive wireless network and, in particular, to credit card validation over an interactive network.
Credit card validation requires a predetermined arrangement with various credit card validation agencies. For example, Internet online vendors and consumers use credit card validation services such as PAYPAL to enable users (e.g., vendors or consumers) with an e-mail address to send and receive credit card payments online. The PAYPAL validation service uses existing infrastructures of bank accounts and credit cards to create a global real-time payment for its users. There are, however, no credit card validation services that provide a communication link over an interactive wireless network for subscribers to the network. For example, there are no credit card validation services that allow a user to obtain credit card validation using a wireless device over an interactive wireless network without requiring specialized applications and integration. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a wireless credit card validation service that operates over an interactive wireless network that allows a wireless user to obtain credit card verification via an interactive message without requiring specialized application development.
According to one aspect the invention provides an apparatus for validating a credit card over a wireless network. The apparatus includes a gateway for sending a credit card validation reply message to a wireless device in response to receiving a credit card validation request message from the wireless device, the request message including credit card information for identifying a credit card to be validated.
Another aspect of the invention provides a method of validating a credit card over a wireless network. The method includes sending a first credit card validation request message to a gateway from a wireless device, the first request message including credit card information for identifying a credit card to be validated; sending a second credit card validation request message from the gateway over an external network in communication with the gateway to a credit card validation service provider for processing the credit card information; receiving by the gateway a first credit card validation reply message from the credit card validation service provider over the external network; and the gateway, sending a second credit card validation reply message to the wireless device.
A further aspect of the invention provides a method for validating a credit card over a wireless network. The method includes processing credit card information associated with a credit card to be validated at a gateway, the gateway sending a credit card validation reply message to a wireless device in response to receiving a credit card validation request message from the wireless device, the request message including the credit card information for identifying the credit card to be validated; wherein, the credit card information is processed at the gateway by a software application developed independently of external credit card validation processes provided remotely from the gateway.

Credit card validation for an interactive wireless network

BellSouth Intellectual Property Corporation


Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method, electronic device and computer program product for processing data. The method comprises determining a first hotness associated with a first compressed data block stored on a first storage device. The method also comprises: determining, based on the hotness, whether the first compressed data is stored to the second storage device, a type of the second storage device being different from a type of the first storage device. The method further comprises: in response to determining that the first compressed data block is stored to the second storage device, generating, based on a second compression level of the compression algorithm, a second compressed data block from the first compressed data block for storing to the second storage device, wherein the second compression level corresponds to the second storage device.

With the rapid development of computer technologies, the amount of computer applications has rapidly increased. Therefore, the data to be processed also has increased rapidly. Usually, the processed data or the newly generated data should be stored to facilitate re-reading and re-acquisition by users. Therefore, many storage devices are utilized for storing/backing up various data.
For the purpose of storing/backing up various data, a computing device for managing data storage usually compresses the acquired data. After being compressed, the data to be stored will occupy less storage space, so as to save the occupied storage resources. If users need to re-acquire the data, the computing device will decompress the compressed data to re-generate the data. However, there are many issues that remain unsolved in the procedure of data compression and storage.

Method, electronic device and computer program product for processing data


According to one exemplary embodiment, a VCO core circuit is connected across a first node and a second node. The anode of a first varactor is connected to the first node while the anode of a second varactor is connected to the second node, and the cathode of the first varactor is tied to the cathode of the second varactor. A tuning voltage is also connected to the cathode of the first varactor and the cathode of the second varactor. The inductor is connected across the first node and the second node. A first and second bipolar transistors are configured as a differential pair. A first and second FETs are configured in a common-gate configuration. The drain of the first FET comprises a first output of the BiFET VCO circuit, while the drain of the second FET comprises a second output of the BiFET VCO circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally in the field of semiconductors. More specifically, the invention is in the field of semiconductor voltage controlled oscillators.
2. Related Art
In the field of wireless communication, such as radio frequency (xe2x80x9cRFxe2x80x9d) communication, data signals are modulated over a carrier signal prior to transmission. Typically, the carrier signal used for RF communication is a sine wave. Thus, an RF signal can generally be represented by the following equation:
Asin (xcfx89t+xcfx86)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(Equation 1)
where A is the magnitude of the signal, xcfx89 is the frequency of the signal, and xcfx86 is the phase of the signal.
The carrier signal (or sine wave) is generated by an oscillator. For example, a typical oscillator used to generate a sine wave for RF communication is a voltage controlled oscillator (xe2x80x9cVCOxe2x80x9d). In phase modulation, the data signals are xe2x80x9cencodedxe2x80x9d into the sine wave by varying the phase component of the sine wave in accordance with the data signals. However, various noise sources can alter the phase component of the sine wave, e.g., by causing fluctuations in the phase. This disturbance upon the phase of the sine wave is commonly referred to as xe2x80x9cphase noise.xe2x80x9d Such phase noise is undesirable because it deteriorates the data signals which are encoded into the sine wave. In some cases, the phase noise becomes intolerable, when, for example, the signal-to-noise ratio (xe2x80x9cS/Nxe2x80x9d) becomes so small that demodulation of the data from sine wave signal becomes difficult or impossible.
Three primary sources of phase noise include supply voltage fluctuations, ground fluctuations, and component noise due to thermal variations and/or due to frequency variations (xe2x80x9cflickerxe2x80x9d noise) in active and passive components. While component noise has been addressed to some degree with current devices employing active and passive components, noise due to supply voltage fluctuations and noise due to ground fluctuations remain as problems which must be addressed in any VCO implementation.
A common disadvantage shared by conventional VCOs is the limited driving capabilities at their output nodes. As a result, complex and expensive buffer circuits connected to the output nodes of conventional VCOs are typically used for driving large loads. Use of such complex and expensive buffer circuits, however, increases manufacturing costs and device size, both of which are undesirable. Another disadvantage with the use of complex buffer circuits in conventional VCOs is the large amount of current drawn by these complex buffer circuits.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a voltage controlled oscillator which reduces the effects of noise due to supply voltage fluctuations and ground fluctuations. Furthermore, there is a need in the art for a voltage controlled oscillator capable of driving a large load and having reduced current consumption.
The present invention is directed to a BiFET voltage controlled oscillator (xe2x80x9cVCOxe2x80x9d). The invention overcomes the need in the art for a VCO which reduces the effects of noise due to supply voltage fluctuations and to ground fluctuations while also overcoming the need in the art for driving a large load with reduced current consumption.
According to one exemplary embodiment, a BiFET VCO circuit comprises a VCO core circuit, first and second bipolar transistors, and first and second FETs. The VCO core circuit is connected across a first node and a second node. The VCO core circuit may, for example, comprise first and second varactors, and an inductor. The anode of the first varactor is connected to the first node while the anode of the second varactor is connected to the second node, and the cathode of the first varactor is tied to the cathode of the second varactor. A tuning voltage is also connected to the cathode of the first varactor and the cathode of the second varactor. The inductor is connected across the first node and the second node.
The first and second bipolar transistors are configured as a differential pair where the base of the first bipolar transistor is connected to the second node, the collector of the first bipolar transistor is connected to the first node, the base of the second bipolar transistor is connected to the first node, and the collector of the second bipolar transistor is connected to the second node. The emitters of the first and second bipolar transistors are also coupled to ground. The first and second FETs are configured in a common-gate configuration where the gate of the first FET is connected to the gate of the second FET, the source of the first FET is connected to the first node, and the source of the second FET is connected to the second node. A reference voltage is supplied to the gates of the first and second FETs. The drain of the first FET comprises a first output of the BiFET VCO circuit, while the drain of the second FET comprises a second output of the BiFET VCO circuit.
With this configuration, the effects of fluctuations in the supply voltage and fluctuations in the ground upon the operation of BiFET VCO circuit is significantly reduced or eliminated, and thus the voltages at the first and second nodes are stable. Furthermore, each of the first and second outputs generated by BiFET VCO circuit is capable of driving a large load without loading down the voltages at the first and second nodes, further increasing the stability of the first and second nodes. Moreover, the total current drawn by BiFET VCO circuit in operation is significantly reduced over conventional solutions because complex and expensive buffer circuits are not required to drive large loads at the first and second outputs. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.


There is disclosed fiber optic sensor which detects a sample in contact with the sensor by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements, as well as methods and apparatus relating thereto. The fiber optic SPR sensor of this invention employs a limited range of incident angles and uses incident light having multiple wavelengths. In preferred embodiments, both an in-line transmission-based fiber optic SPR sensor and a terminated reflection-based fiber optic SPR sensor are disclosed. The fiber optic SPR sensor includes a surface plasmon supporting metal layer in contact with an exposed portion of the optical fiber core, and may optionally contain one or more additional layers deposited on the surface plasmon supporting metal layer. In further embodiments, methods are disclosed for detecting a sample by contacting the sample with the fiber optic SPR sensor of this invention, as well as sensing apparatus which contain the fiber optic SPR sensor in combination with a source of electromagnetic radiation of multiple wavelengths and a detection device.

Surface plasmon waves are electromagnetic waves which may exist at the boundary between a metal and a dielectric (hereinafter referred to as the "sample"). Such waves can be exited by light which has its electric field polarized parallel to the incident plane (i.e., transverse magnetic (TM) polarized). When the parallel component of the propagation constant of the incident light equals the real part of the surface plasmon wave propagation constant, the incident light resonantly excites the surface plasmon waves, and a fraction of the incident light energy is transferred or dispersed to surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This dispersion of energy depends on both the dielectric constant of the metal and that of the sample in contact with the metal. By monitoring the resonance wavevector of the metal/sample interface, the dielectric constant of the sample (gas or solution) may be obtained. Alternatively, if the sample is contaminated by a chemical species, dielectric constant measurements may provide the concentration of the chemical species in the sample.
Traditionally, SPR has been measured using the Kretschmann configuration Kretschmann and Raether, Z. Naturforsch. Teil A 23:2135-2136, 1968). In this configuration, a thin layer of highly reflective metal (such as gold or silver) is deposited on the base of a prism. The metal surface is then contacted with the sample, and the SPR reflection spectra of the sample is measured by coupling TM polarized, monochromatic light into the prism and measuring the reflected light intensity as a function of the angle of incidence. The angle of minimum reflective intensity is the resonance angle at which maximum coupling occurs between the incident light and the surface plasmon waves. This angle, as well as the half-width of the resonance spectrum and the intensity at the angle of minimum reflective intensity, may be used to characterize or sense the sample which is in contact with the metal surface (Fontana et al., Applied Optics 27:3334-3339, 1988).
Optical sensing systems have now been constructed based on the Kretschmann configuration described above. Such systems utilize the sensitivity of SPR to changes in the refractive indices of both bulk and thin film samples, as well as to changes in the thickness of thin films. These systems, in conjunction with appropriate chemical sensing layers, have led to the development of a variety of SPR-based chemical sensors, including immunoassay sensors (e.g., Liedberg et al., Sensors and Actuators 4:299-304, 1983; Daniels et al., Sensors and Actuators 15:11-17, 1988; Jorgenson et al., IEEE/Engineering Medicine and Biology Society. Proceedings 12:440-442, 1990), gas sensors (e.g., Liedberg et al., suprs; Gent et al., Applied Optics 29:2843-2849, 1990), and liquid sensors (e.g., Matsubaru et al., Applied Optics 27:1160-1163, 1988).
While the Kretschmann configuration for SPR-based chemical sensors offers significant sensitivity, their relatively large size has severely restricted their application. For example, these bulk optic sensing systems are limited by their use of a coupling prism causing such systems to be relatively large, expensive, and inapplicable for remote sensing applications. Moreover, such sensors generally require a monochromatic light source, are expensive to manufacture due to configuration constraints (such as the presence of a prism), and require that the incident light sweep over a broad range of incidence angles.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved SPR sensor, as well as for apparatus and methods relating thereto. Specifically, there is the need for an SPR sensor which readily permits remote sensing, is inexpensive, and is free from the limiting constraints now present with existing SPR-based chemical sensors.

Fiber optic sensor and methods and apparatus relating thereto


There is disclosed a processed pigment comprising a pigment having a dispersing agent adsorbed physically and/or chemically onto part of the surface of the pigment, and a cationic polymerizable compound bonded through a covalent bond to the surface of the pigment. Preferably, the cationic polymerizable compound is formed of an alicyclic epoxy compound.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processed pigments, a pigment-dispersed solution, an ink for ink jet, a manufacturing method of processed pigments and a manufacturing method of a pigment-dispersed solution.
2. Description of the Related Art
Dyes and pigments have been conventionally employed as a coloring material in the manufacture of paints, various inks such as a printing ink, an ink for ink-jet and an writing ink, and plastic resins. Pigments are required to be excellent and stable in dispersibility in a solvent component into which pigments are dispersed. Therefore, in order to realize an optimum dispersed state of pigments, various dispersion techniques have been studied to date.
Examples of such dispersion techniques include a method of applying surface treatments to pigments to ensure stable dispersibility, such surface treatments including rosin treatment, surface treatment using a surfactant, treatments using a pigment derivative or treatments using a polymer. For example, there is known a method of manufacturing a carbon black graft polymer wherein carbon black is employed as a pigment and mixed with a polymer having in its molecule 1-2 epoxy group and/or thioepoxy group per molecule at a temperature ranging from 50 to 250° C., thereby allowing a reaction to take place for producing the carbon black graft polymer.
There is also known a method wherein a reactive polymer is employed for enhancing the dispersibility of pigments.
In the case of an ink which is relatively low in viscosity such as an ink for ink-jet, pigments are required to have excellent dispersion properties in order to ensure sufficiently high storage stability and excellent discharge stability of the ink, as well as to secure high quality of printed images. When a large quantity of polymer is employed in the aforementioned method, the viscosity of ink increases, thereby deteriorating the discharge properties of ink, even though the storage stability can be ensured. On the other hand, when pigments are subjected to surface treatment using a surfactant, the storage stability of ink deteriorates. Namely, to date, no one has succeeded in finding a technique which is capable of satisfying all of the requirements involved in the pigment dispersibility.

Processed pigments, pigment-dispersed solution, ink for ink jet, manufacturing method of processed pigments and manufacturing method of pigment-dispersed solution


A stochastic channel state information transmission/reception method and apparatus is provided for use in a multiuser radio communication system. The signal method of transmitting and receiving signals in a terminal in a mobile communication system according to the present disclosure includes receiving a reference signal transmitted by a base station, estimating channel information based on the reference signal, predicting a channel estimation error based on the channel information, generating feedback information based on the channel estimation error, and transmitting feedback information to the base station.

Mobile communication systems were developed to provide mobile users with communication services. With the rapid advance of technologies, the mobile communication systems have evolved to the level capable of providing high speed data communication service.
Recently, standardization for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, as one of the next-generation mobile communication systems, is underway in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). LTE is designed to provide high speed packet-based communication of up to 100 Mbps and aims at commercial deployment around 2010 timeframe. In order to accomplish the aim, two schemes are being considered: one scheme for reducing the number of nodes located in a communication path by simplifying a configuration of the network, and another scheme for maximally approximating wireless protocols to wireless channels.
Meanwhile, unlike voice service, data service is provided according to the data amount to be transmitted and channel condition. Accordingly, the wireless communication system, especially cellular communication, is provided with a scheduler that manages transmission resource allocation in consideration of the required resource amount, channel condition, data amount, etc. Thus, in an the LTE system, and scheduler located at the base station manages the transmission resource allocation.
In such radio communication systems, a User Equipment (UE) measures the channels from a Base Station (BS) and reports the estimated channel information for use in scheduling, precoding, and modulation to improve communication performance. There is therefore a need of a channel information exchange method and apparatus for providing effective communication environment.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Stochastic transmission/reception method and apparatus for MU-MIMO scheme in MIMO radio communication system


A battery disclosed herein includes a container member housing an electrode body and a lead, a gasket, an external terminal, and a restraining member. The container member includes a terminal-connecting part having a thickness of 0.3 mm or less. The terminal-connecting part includes a through hole including a rising part. The gasket includes a hollow shaft inserted into the rising part. The external terminal includes a terminal shaft. The terminal shaft includes a diameter-reduction part. The restraining member restrains at least a part of the diameter-reduction part of the terminal shaft via the diameter-reduction part of the rising part and the shaft of the gasket. The inclination angle of the rising part is larger than the inclination angle of the terminal shaft.

Generally, a battery such as a primary battery and a secondary battery includes an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and an container member housing the electrode body.
Presently, a metal can has been put to practical use as the container member housing the positive electrode and negative electrode or the like of the battery. In a sealed battery using the metal can, the opening of the metal can is sealed with a lid. A through hole for fixing an output terminal is present in the lid. The output terminal is fixed in a state where it passes through the lid up and down via a gasket made of resin or rubber. The gasket serves as an insulator avoiding direct contact between the output terminal and the lid. In this case, the output terminal includes a head part exposed from the external surface of the gasket and a shaft fitted into the gasket. The shaft of the output terminal is subjected to a pressure by a press including a punch which apples a pressure to the shaft perpendicularly to a direction in which the shaft extends to caulk the output terminal. The caulking expands the shaft and presses the cylindrical shaft of the gasket against the side wall of the through hole of the lid, to fix the output terminal and the gasket.
The lid of the metal can may have a structure for fixing the output terminal in order to exhibit high sealing performance of the battery together with the gasket. Such a structure can be formed by, for example, deep drawing or the like.
On the other hand, a laminate including a metal or metal layer and resin layer and having a small thickness can be used as the other container member housing the electrodes of the battery. Such a container member is generally more lightweight than the metal can. Therefore, the use of such a container member can provide a battery having a higher energy density per weight.


A vehicle security system includes at least one security sensor and a security controller switchable between armed and disarmed modes. The vehicle includes a horn being electrically operable, a horn switch permitting selective occasional operation of the horn by a user, at least one light being electrically operable, and a light switch permitting selective occasional operation of the light by the user. The security controller also operates the light in a second pattern when switching between modes and the siren is sounded to supplement the light flashing.

The present invention relates to the field of security systems, and, more particularly, to a siren for a vehicle security system and associated methods.
Vehicle security systems are widely used to deter vehicle theft, prevent theft of valuables from a vehicle, deter vandalism, and to protect vehicle owners and occupants. A typical automobile security system, for example, includes a central processor or controller connected to a plurality of vehicle sensors. The sensors, for example, may detect opening of the trunk, hood, doors, windows, and also movement of the vehicle or within the vehicle. Ultrasonic and microwave motion detectors, vibration sensors, sound discriminators, differential pressure sensors, and switches may be used as sensors. In addition, radar sensors may be used to monitor the area proximate the vehicle.
The controller typically operates to give an alarm indication in the event of triggering of a vehicle sensor. The alarm indication may typically be a flashing of the lights and/or the sounding of the vehicle horn or a siren. In addition, the vehicle fuel supply and/or ignition power may be selectively disabled based upon an alarm condition. A typical security system also includes a receiver associated with the controller. The receiver cooperates with one or more remote transmitters typically carried by the user and which are used to arm and disarm the vehicle security system, for example. Other remote control features, such as locking or unlocking vehicle doors may also be performed.
The alarm indication provided at the vehicle is important to the overall effectiveness of the security system. For example, a weak alarm indication may do little to deter a would-be thief. A thief may also be more likely to target a vehicle when the vehicle is among hundreds of vehicles in a large parking lot, for example. In such a situation, the thief may be comforted in knowing that the alarm indication will not be identified by the vehicle""s owner, since many audible alarm indications are generic.
It is also important for the vehicle security system to provide an indication of switching between armed and disarmed modes so that the user may be sure that the system is in the armed mode, for example, when the user is walking away from the vehicle and tries to switch the system to the armed mode using the remote transmitter. Conversely, the user may also be interested in positively knowing that the system has switched to the disarmed mode upon returning to the vehicle and operating the remote transmitter while still approaching the vehicle. Unfortunately, some factory remote keyless entry and security systems may only have flashing lights to indicate the change in modes. These flashing lights may not always be readily visible to the user.
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle security system that is more likely to deter a would-be thief and/or convey to the user whether the system has changed modes.
This and other objects, features and advantages in accordance with the present invention are provided by a vehicle security system for a vehicle including a horn that is electrically operable, a horn switch permitting selective occasional operation of the horn by a user, at least one light that is electrically operable, and a light switch permitting selective occasional operation of the at least one light by the user. The vehicle security system may include at least one security sensor and a security controller that is switchable between armed and disarmed modes. When the security controller is in the armed mode, it may operate the horn in at least one first pattern to sound a horn security alarm responsive to the at least one security sensor. The security controller may also operate the at least one light in at least one second pattern when switching between modes.
Moreover, the vehicle security system may also include a siren that sounds to supplement the horn based upon operation thereof in the at least one first pattern and that does not sound based upon selective occasional operation of the horn by the user. In other words, the siren may be used to supplement the sounding of the horn for an alarm triggered condition. The siren may also sound to supplement the at least one light based upon operation thereof in the at least one second pattern and not sound based upon selective occasional operation of the at least one light by the user. In other words, the siren may give a chirp indication, based upon operation of the vehicle light, to also more clearly convey to the user that the system has changed modes, for example.
The vehicle may further comprise an ignition switch that is switchable between ON and OFF positions. The siren may sound to supplement the at least one light with the ignition switch in the OFF position, and not sound with the ignition switch in the ON position.
The second pattern of operating the light may comprise at least one light pulse having a predetermined duration, or a plurality of light pulses, each having a predetermined duration and with successive pulses occurring within a predetermined time. The siren may also sound to supplement the at least one light corresponding to the second pattern. In other words, the siren chirps may match the pattern of light flashes.
The at least one first pattern may comprise a series of operations of the horn within a predetermined time, a series of operations of the horn with each operation having a predetermined duration, or continuous operation of the horn for greater than a predetermined time. The siren may further include a start delay time so that sounding the siren security alarm is delayed after operation of the horn is started. The siren may still further include a stop delay time so that sounding the siren security alarm continues until after operation of the horn is stopped.
The siren may also comprise a housing, an audible indicator carried by the housing, and a light operation detector carried by the housing for detecting operation of the at least one light in the at least one second pattern and for operating the audible indicator responsive thereto. The audible indicator may include a siren electrical signal generating circuit, and an electrical/mechanical (E/M) transducer connected to the siren electrical signal generating circuit.
The horn and the siren may each be mounted within a vehicle engine compartment. The siren may further include at least one energy storage device. The vehicle security system may further include a receiver connected to the security controller, and at least one remote transmitter communicating with the receiver. The receiver and the at least one remote transmitter may operate with changing codes.
A method aspect of the present invention is for upgrading a vehicle security system for a vehicle including an ignition switch being switchable between ON and OFF positions. The method may include mounting a siren at the vehicle and sounding the siren to supplement the at least one light based upon operation thereof in the at least one pattern, and with the ignition switch in the OFF position, for example. The method may further include not sounding the siren based upon selective occasional operation of the at least one light by the user, and with the ignition switch in the ON position, for example.

Vehicle security system siren to supplement light flash and associated methods


A universal packer unfolds folded open side container blanks into fully opened containers and side loads them with complements of articles. The blanks are metered by a supply station and are propelled downstream to an unfolding station. The container flaps are spread apart, and expander arms enter the interior of each blank, thereby starting to unfold it. Erector arms strike the partially opened blank at the trailing edge thereof and push the trailing edge downward relative to the blank leading edge, thereby continuing the unfolding process. Drop lug assemblies emerge from under the blank trailing panel and pivot from a horizontal to a vertical attitude while in contact with the blank trailing panel, thereby completely unfolding the blank. Simultaneously with blank unfolding, a pair of grouper mechanisms forms the complements from a mass of the articles. The complements are propelled downstream in unison and aligned with the open containers. A pusher bar system assists in positively restraining the container flaps and also succeeds the grouper mechanism in propelling the complements downstream. Guide plates direct the complements into the container open sides as the complements are propelled by the pusher bar system.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to loading containers, and more particularly to apparatus for unfolding container blanks and side loading the open containers with complements of articles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Machines of different types are presently available for filling bottles and cans on a high speed production basis. After being filled, the bottles or cans must be loaded into containers for shipping. Loading bottles and cans into suitable containers at speeds corresponding to those of the filling machines poses difficult problems.
The containers are usually supplied to the bottling plants in the form of folded paperboard blanks of various constructions, so the blanks must be unfolded before the bottles or cans can be loaded into them. U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,275 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,655 show exemplary apparatus for unfolding container blanks and for loading the open containers with complements of articles. Although the machines of the aforementioned patents work very well, they nevertheless are subject to improvement. Further, it has been found desirable to improve the manner in which complements are formed from a large quantity of randomly arranged articles.


Generally, a scanner of the present embodiment, which reads a first surface with a first reading section configured to read the first surface of a sheet and a second surface with a second reading section configured to read the second surface opposite to the first surface of the sheet, executes individual processing on a first reading image of the first surface and a second reading image of the second surface.

Conventionally, a scanner is generally used to read double sides of a sheet to create image files constituted by images on double sides of the sheet.
A scanner is generally used to read a single side or double sides of a sheet to send image files which are constituted by images on the single side or double sides of the sheet to a preset address.
A scanner is generally used to read a single side of a sheet, carry out an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for an image on the single side and detect an address. The scanner sends an image file constituted by the image on the single side of the sheet to the address.
A scanner is generally used to read a single side of a sheet and stop a sending processing or a printing processing on an image file constituted by an image on the single side if a ground tint indicating forbiddance of processing on the image is detected.
The requests of a user for a scanner are diverse. In a case of reading double sides of a sheet, more diverse methods for processing a reading image are required.

Scanner capable of reading double sides of sheet once


Provided is a diaphragm mounting of a brake chamber for a vehicle, and in particular, to a diaphragm mounting of a brake chamber for a vehicle, which may exclude a return spring for restoring a diaphragm to an original position. The diaphragm mounting of a brake chamber for a vehicle includes a spring diaphragm assembled between a head and a flange case, a push rod having a top surface closely adhered to a bottom surface of the spring diaphragm, a piston located between the head and the spring diaphragm, and a power spring disposed between a top surface of the piston and a bottom surface of the head to pressurize the piston with an elastic force, wherein a center hole is formed at the center of the spring diaphragm, and the push rod located below the spring diaphragm and the piston located above the spring diaphragm are integrally connected by a coupling unit through the center hole.

1. Field of the Invention
The following disclosure relates to a diaphragm mounting of a brake chamber for a vehicle, and in particular, to a diaphragm mounting of a brake chamber for a vehicle, which may exclude a return spring for restoring a diaphragm to an original position.
2. Description of the Related Art
As well known in the art, a brake system of a commercial vehicle employs an air brake with an excellent braking force and a convenient handling property, and a brake chamber included in the air brake system is classified into spring types, piston types or the like.
If a brake pedal is stepped, air pressure of an air tank is applied to a diaphragm in a brake chamber, and simultaneously a push rod in the brake chamber is pushed to give a mechanical force for braking to a front brake unit and a rear brake unit. If the brake pedal is released, the compressed air in the brake chamber is emitted to the air, and simultaneously the diaphragm and the piston rod move to their original positions by a return spring, thereby releasing the front brake unit and the rear brake unit.
Here, the brake chamber will be described in brief with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
The brake chamber 100 includes: a flange case 102 for dividing a space of a spring chamber and a space of a service chamber; a head 106 assembled to the top of the flange case 102 to form a spring chamber 104; a non-pressure chamber 110 assembled to the bottom of the flange case 102 to form a service chamber 108; a spring diaphragm 112 assembled between the head 106 and the flange case 102; a service diaphragm 114 assembled between the flange case 102 and the non-pressure chamber 110; a first return spring 116 compressively disposed between the spring diaphragm 112 and the flange case 102; a second return spring 118 compressively disposed between the service diaphragm 114 and the non-pressure chamber 110; a first push rod 120 having an upper plate closely adhered to the bottom surface of the spring diaphragm 112 and a lower plate closely adhered to the top surface of the service diaphragm 114 through the flange case 102; a piston rod 122 having an upper plate closely adhered to the bottom surface of the service diaphragm 114 and a lower end connected toward a front or rear brake unit (not shown) through the non-pressure chamber 110; a piston 124 positioned between the head 106 and the spring diaphragm 112; and a power spring 140 disposed between the top surface of the piston 124 and the bottom surface of the head 106 to pressurize the piston 124 with an elastic force.
At this time, the top surface of the spring diaphragm 112 is closely adhered to the bottom surface of the piston 124, and the top surface of the spring diaphragm 114 is closely adhered to the lower plate of the push rod 120 and the bottom surface of the flange case 102 simultaneously.
In addition, the space between the head 106 and the spring diaphragm 112 becomes a first spring chamber 104a, the space between the spring diaphragm 112 and the flange case 102 becomes a second spring chamber 104b, and the space between the flange case 102 and the non-pressure chamber 110 becomes the service chamber 108.
Therefore, the operation of such a spring-type brake chamber includes a process in which the piston 124 pressurizes the spring diaphragm 112 with an elastic force generated by expansion of the power spring 140 when air pressure of the first spring chamber 104a discharges, a process in which the push rod 120 moves downwards and simultaneously the service diaphragm 114 is pressurized while compressing the first return spring 116 when the spring diaphragm 112 is pressurized, a process in which the piston rod 122 compresses the second return spring 118 and moves forwards through the non-pressure chamber 110 to protrude when the service diaphragm 114 is pressurized, and a process in which a mechanical force generated by forward movement of the piston rod 122 is transferred to front and rear brake units to perform braking.
At this time, the spring diaphragm 112 has a closed structure and supported by the push rod 120.
In more detail, a push rod plate 130 for supporting the top of the first return spring 116 and a push rod plate 132 closely adhered to the spring diaphragm 112 are assembled and fixed to the top surface of the push rod 120 in order by using screws 134 or the like.
However, since the general spring diaphragm has a closed structure, the return spring guide, the push rod plate, the return spring or the like must be assembled to generate a restoring force for making upward movement after downward movement, which increases the number of parts and manufacture costs.

Center hole diaphragm mounting of brake chamber for vehicle


A method is provided comprising a server reading a first plurality of message queue objects associated with a first application transitioning from a first environment, reading a second plurality of objects associated with a baseline, and determining that a first time stamp associated with a first object in the first plurality is more recent than a second time stamp associated with the corresponding first object in the second plurality. The server reads approved changes, determines approval of the change to the first object, compares file names of objects in the first plurality with those of objects associated with the baseline, and determines that a name of a second object in the first plurality does not correspond to an object in the second plurality. The server determines that the placement of the second object in the first application is not approved, provides notification of need for approval and transitions the application.

Middleware is computer software that provides a set of services that allows multiple processes running on one or more machines to interact. Middleware has evolved to provide for interoperability in support of a gradual shift to coherent distributed architectures, which may be used to support and simplify complex distributed applications. Middleware occupies a middle layer between application software that may be executing on different operating system platforms. Examples of middleware include enterprise application integration (EAI) software, transaction monitors, and message queue software. Middleware has gained popularity as a solution to problems of linking newer applications to older legacy systems. Middleware has also facilitated distributed processing, the connection of multiple applications to create a larger application, usually over a network. Middleware services provide a functional set of application programming interfaces that may allow an application to locate transparently across the network, thus providing interaction with another service or application. Middleware may support software developers avoid having to write application programming interfaces for every control program, by serving as an independent programming interface for their applications.

Configuration console for messaging middleware


Effecting an electronic payment from customers to vendors over the Internet is disclosed. A vendor offers a product to potential customer over the Internet. A customer browsers the Internet and the customer has a mobile cellular phone configured to receive premium rate mobile terminating text messages. Transaction details are transmitted from the vendor to the browsing customer. Order details are then transmitted from the browsing customer to the vendor that require a payment to be made by the customer. In order to effect payment, a plurality of premium rate text messages are transmitted to the mobile cellular phone.

The offering of products for sale over the Internet has been known for a number of years. Many proposals have been made to effect secure electronic payment over the Internet and often this makes use of credit cards or debit cards.
However, problems may arise if purchases are relatively small, if the customer does not wish to make use of a credit/debit card or if a customer does not own a credit/debit card.


An interpolation circuit, in which a digital signal produced by sampling and quantizing an analog information sequentially is encoded so that, in case a certain one of the encoded sample data is erroneous, a correct data in place of the erroneous sample data is prepared as an interpolation data by interpolating other correct sample data. The interpolation circuit includes: a first extrapolation circuit for generating a first extrapolation data by extrapolating two sample data preceding the erroneous sample data to the position of said erroneous sample data, a second extrapolation circuit for generating a second extrapolation data by extrapolating the two sample data succeeding the erroneous sample data to the position of the erroneous sample data, and an averaging circuit for generating the interpolation data by arithmetically averaging the first and second extrapolation data.

The present invention relates to an interpolation circuit for producing and outputting correct data in place of an error sample data, which exists in an encoded digital signal obtained by sampling and quantizing an analog information sequentially, as a concealed data by the concealing operation of other correct sample data and, more particularly, to an interpolation circuit suitable for digital processing of video signals as in a digital VTR.
In a case where analog information signals are audio signals, the known error concealing circuit for the encoded data of the prior art is exemplified by a prevalue holding circuit for holding the sample data immediately before the error data and substituting it for the error data or an averaging interpolation circuit for averaging the sample data before and after the error data and using the averaged data as the concealed data in place of the error data, as disclosed in "Digital/Audio" (edited by Doi and Iga and published by Radio Gijutsusha), pp. 209 and 210.
In the interpolation circuit using the pre-value holding circuit or averaging interpolation circuit to be applied to the digital audio signals, no consideration is given to the interpolation accuracy when the correlation between the adjacent sample data is loose, as in the case of a composite video signal where a color signal component is superposed on a luminance signal component. If the interpolation circuit is applied to video signals having a small correlation between the adjacent sample data, the concealing error is enlarged to raise a problem that the image quality is seriously deteriorated in the case where the video signals are displayed in the monitor.
In the case where the analog information signals are the video signals, on the other hand, there is known an error correction (dropout compensation) circuit for substituting the error data with the data, which is extracted from the signal in a horizontal scanning period preceding the horizontal scanning period containing the error data by one, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-149190. If this error correction circuit is applied to composite video signals, the signals (or data) preceding the horizontal scanning line (or signal line), in which the error data is generated, by one and is stored in a memory. The signals are then read out and separated into luminance signal components and color signal components and are then delayed by respectively suitable time periods of one line. The color signal components are adjusted to the phase corresponding to the color burst phase of the signal line, on which the error data is generated, and are then composed so that they are substituted for the signal line containing the error data.
According to this technique, however, the delay value is added or subtracted for adjusting the color signal components in phase so that no consideration is given to the highly accurate interpolation to raise the problem of the deterioration in the image quality inevitably. Moreover, a circuit for separating the composite video signal into the luminance signal components and the color signal components is also required to raise another problem of enlarging the circuit scale.

Interpolation circuit for digital signal processor


Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide for receiving a first packet comprising a first sequence number (SEQN) and a second packet comprising a second SEQN, and obtaining a first hash for the first packet and a second hash for the second packet. The receiving device may classify the second packet as one of a new packet or a retransmission of the first packet based on a comparison between the first SEQN and the second SEQN and a comparison between the first hash and the second hash. The receiving device may selectively process the payload of the second packet based on the classifying.

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to reliable determination of retransmission or new packet in wireless protocols.
Wireless communications systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, and so on. These systems may be capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing the available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (4G) systems such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (5G) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communications system may include a number of base stations or network access nodes, each simultaneously supporting communication for multiple communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE).
In some cases, Bluetooth devices may include, for example, a device such as a cell phone, smart phone, portable music player, or the like. Such a device may be in communication with one or more speakers (e.g., true wireless stereo (TWS) Bluetooth ear buds). A speaker, such as an ear bud (e.g., a primary ear bud), may be connected to the phone and may pass the information (e.g., timing information) of the piconet where the phone is the master device to the second ear bud (e.g., a secondary bud or sniffer bud). The secondary ear bud may sniff voice data between the primary ear bud and the phone.
In some examples of wireless communications protocols, a primary ear bud and secondary ear bud may determine whether a received packet is a retransmission of a previously received packet, or a new packet. Each packet may include a sequence number (SEQN) indicating where the received packet falls in a string of sequences. One or both of the receiving devices may determine whether a received packet is a new packet or a retransmission. If the receiving device makes this determination in error, then the user experience may be significantly degraded.

Retransmission identification in wireless systems


A configuration of a gear wheel (4, 5) on a main shaft (1) of a transmission, having at least two lay shafts (2, 3). The wheel (4, 5) is designed as a sum wheel or gear wheel, meshes with both of the lay shafts (2, 3), and is movable in the radial direction between lay shafts (2, 3). An elastic element (8, 13) is positioned, between the gear wheel (4, 5) and the main shaft (1), and/or between the gear wheel and the lay shaft to reduce radially movement of the gear wheel (4, 5).

It is known that in transmissions comprising a main shaft and at least two lay shafts, load equalization of the gear wheels, which are positioned on the main shaft, also called sum wheels, takes place in the radial direction. The sum wheels, which mesh with the gearing of the lay shaft, are positioned so that they can move radially and opposite to the main shaft, and are steered radially by the gearing of the lay shaft and centered, respectively. Axial guidance of the sum wheels, which are designed as gear wheels in a transmission, takes place through laterally mounted thrust washers.
Such a configuration of a transmission's sum wheels, comprising a main shaft and two lay shafts, is known to the applicant through DE 10 2004 010 270 A1. On a main shaft, two sum wheels are positioned and configured as idle gears which mesh with two lay shafts and which are positioned, under radial play, in reference to the main shaft.
Through DE 196 30 804 A1, a similar gear wheel configuration, supported on a main shaft of the transmission, became known to the applicant, whereby the gear wheel meshes with at least two lay shafts and exhibits radial play, in reference to the main shaft.
An arrangement of an additional sum wheel, also called main shaft wheel on a main shaft, is known to the applicant through DE 10 2004 057 126 A1. Here, a spring element, configured as a disc spring, is positioned between an axial thrust washer and the gear wheel to reduce axial play of the main shaft. Disadvantageous in these known configurations of sum wheels on a main shaft is the fact that noises (so called rattle noises) are being generated due to the radial movement of the wheel and an externally initiated oscillation.

Arrangement of a gear on an output shaft of a transmission


A laminated glass structure is provided containing at least one glass sheet, a plastic layer provided at the bonding surface of the glass sheet, and a functioning layer having single-or multi-layered films between the bonding surfaces of the glass sheet and the plastic layer, with the functioning layer having a controlling layer in contact with the plastic layer, which contains as the major component an oxide including Cr and at least one of Ti, Zn, Sn, Ni, Zr, Al, Si, Mg and Fe, and wherein the controlling layer has an atomic ratio of Cr to atoms other than oxygen of 60% or lower, and the film thickness of the controlling layer is 10 .ANG. to 500 .ANG..

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laminated glass structure. More particularly, it relates to a laminated glass structure comprising at least one glass sheet and layers of materials other than glass.
2. Description of the Background
Laminated glass assemblies have been widely used for windows and sun roofs for automobiles, windows for airplanes, ships and buildings and so on as so-called safety glass because pieces of glass do not scatter at the time of the breakage of a glass sheet and the penetration resistance to a shock is high. At present, the laminated glass assemblies have been widely used for a wind shield glass for automobiles from the viewpoint of assuring safety. There has been also proposed a type of laminated glass of which the bonding surface side is coated with a transparent conductive film so that the laminated glass has both defogging function and solar radiation reflecting function. As the transparent conductive film, a single-layered metal film such as an Au film or an Ag film, a single-layered metal oxide film such as an ITO film or a SnO.sub.2 film or a multi-layered film wherein an Ag film is interposed between dielectric films of metal oxide such as ITO (Indium-Tin-Oxide), TiOx, SnOx, ZnOx have been used. Since the single-layered metal film and the single-layered metal oxide film have drawbacks in color tone, durability and electric resistance, the multi-layered film wherein the Ag film is interposed between the metal oxide films of dielectric substances has been widely used.
FIG. 3 shows an example of a conventional laminated glass structure in which a transparent conductive film is formed of a multi-layered film having an Ag film between dielectric films in order to give a defogging function and a solar radiation reflecting function.
The above-mentioned laminated glass has a plastic interlayer 13 made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) at the bonding surface between a glass sheet 11 arranged at the exterior side of a vehicle and a glass sheet 12 arranged at the interior side, and an Ag film 16 is interposed between dielectric films 15, 17 such as ZnOx films as a dielectric substance which are arranged between the glass sheet 11 at the exterior side of the vehicle and the plastic interlayer 13, whereby a transparent conductive film 14 consisting of three-layered films is interposed between the glass sheet 11 and the plastic interlayer 13 so as to perform the both functions of defogging and solar radiation reflecting. The dielectric films 15, 17 are to increase visible light transmittance by an optical interference effect with the Ag film 16.
As the plastic interlayer 13, the PVB, EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), urethane or the like may be used. Especially, the PVB has been generally used for laminated glass assemblies for vehicles which require high level of safety because it has excellent penetration resistance, and is chemically and optically stable for a long period of time. In this case, a PVB film containing a predetermined amount of moisture is used in order to provide excellent penetration resistance.
In the conventional laminated glass structure as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to impart a defogging function by heating the transparent conductive film 14 arranged at the bonding surface by supplying an electric current. Further, since the transparent conductive film 14 possesses a solar radiation reflecting function itself, a cooling load of air-condition can be reduced, so that it effectively functions to save energy.
However, it has been found that a phenomenon of turbidity occurs partially upon expiration of a long period of time in a case that a laminated glass is formed by arranging the above-mentioned transparent conductive film 14 consisting of a multi-layered film including therein the Ag film 16 between the dielectric films 15, 17 made of a metal oxide.