Rolling method for the production of flat products, such as metal strip, which provides a production step of a thin slab with a thickness comprised between 30 and 90 mm, preferably between 35 and 70 mm, a temperature maintenance and/or possible heating step of the slab to be sent for rolling, and a rolling step with multiple passes performed in a reversing rolling mill (14) comprising at least a reversing rolling stand (15), in which at least a winding reel furnace (16a) is also present upstream of the stand (15) and a winding reel furnace (16b) downstream of the stand (15), a winding step also being provided downstream of the rolling in at least a coiler (19a, 19b) to form a relative coil of strip of a defined weight, comprised between 20 and 30 tons, and a cooling step of the strip being provided between the reversing rolling mill (14) and said at least one coiler (19a, 19b). The method provides that the thin slab is disposed, for example, sheared to size, upstream of the maintenance and/or possible heating step in order to form a segment of slab having a length equivalent, in weight, greater than that of a coil, and that, already after the first rolling pass in the reversing rolling mill (14), the thickness of the segment of slab is reduced to a value in the range of 20-25 mm so as to render it windable on the reel furnace (16b) downstream of the stand (15).

Rolling lines are known for the production of metal strip starting from the continuous casting of slabs. Such lines normally provide a continuous casting, a heating and/or maintenance furnace, a possible cropping shear, a reversing or continuous rolling train, a cooling system and one or more winding units to form coils of the desired weight.
In particular, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,974, U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,695 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,490, a rolling line is known in which the continuously cast slab, after being sheared to size to produce a coil, is sent to the tunnel furnace, of a length at least equal to the segment of slab, which homogenizes the temperature, passing to a reduced speed, until the temperature is brought to suitable values for subsequent workings.
The segment of slab exiting from the tunnel furnace is accelerated and sent to the rolling unit.
It is known that rolling plants with a reversing rolling train of the Steckel type with one or more stands, an example of which is schematically shown in FIG. 1, use a slab with a thickness from 150 to 250 mm or more, and work with coil to coil mode, that is, with a length of slab which in relation to the thickness is equal in weight to a coil of finished product. In such plants there is a productivity limit, of a minimum final thickness, which in general is never less than 1.8-1.6 mm, and of a dimensional and surface quality of the strip: the productivity is limited by the high number of inversions and passes through the stand or stands, and by the connected down-times; the final minimum thickness is limited by the great thickness of the slab at inlet; and the dimensional and surface quality is limited by the great difference in temperature between head/tail and the central part of the strip.
Moreover, the reversing Steckel rolling mill creates a problem connected to the fact that in the first rolling passes, the roughed slab, the so-called "transfer bar" or simply "bar", cannot normally be immediately wound in the reel furnaces disposed upstream and downstream of the stand, because of the great thickness of the entering slab, thus creating a problem of bulk of the line as the length of the slab increases.
Moreover, the great number of rolling passes, with consequent winding and unwinding in the reel furnaces placed upstream and downstream of the stand/stands, induces a cooling at the tip and the tail, as well as uneven temperatures along the coil which penalizes the yield because of the need to carry out head and tail cropping.
The high number of passes also determines variable dimensional tolerances in length and limitations in the production of thin thicknesses, and also rapid wear on the work rolls due to the high number of passes and the low temperature of the material being rolled and the leading/tail ends.
The entry of the cold and deformed leading ends into the furnaces upstream and downstream of the stand/stands is a delicate operation, with the risk of jamming, which becomes more and more probable with the reduction of the thickness of the strip.
One purpose of the present invention is to perfect a rolling method, and achieve a relative line, for the production of flat products in so-called semi-endless mode, which allows increase productivity, to increase the yield with respect to known plants and processes and which allows to obtain very thin thicknesses, from 1.0 to 2.0 mm, even as little as 0.8 mm.
Another purpose is to reduce the problem of jamming and blockages, in particular in the reel furnaces and in the coilers which form the final coil, even in the production of very thin thicknesses, below 2.0-2.5 mm, in any case maintaining high productivity and quality of the final product, irrespective of the type of steel cast.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Rolling method for flat products and relative rolling line


Techniques are disclosed to provide randomized signal transforms and/or their applications. More particularly, a signal (e.g., an audio signal, an image, or a video signal) is transformed by applying randomly-selected basis functions to the signal. The applications of the randomized signal transforms include, but are not limited to, compression, denoising, hashing, identification, authentication, and data embedding (e.g., watermarking).

As digital communication becomes more commonplace, the need for securing and/or authenticating the transferred digital data becomes increasingly more important. Digital signals carrying digital data is often (if not always) transformed into a specific format (e.g., by a transform) prior to being transferred. For example, a file containing digital data may be compressed prior to sending it over the Internet.
Since more powerful computers, high-speed Internet connections, and superior compression technologies are available to most users, the demand for digital media content is greater than ever. With instant and anytime access to literally millions of their favorite music and videos, consumers are applauding the convenience that digital distribution has afforded them. They enjoy being able to download or stream music to their hard drive or personal computer hard drive as fluidly as any television broadcast.
While the demand for digital content grows, however, so does the potential for its unauthorized use. Without a secure distribution system in place, digital media files can be easily copied or compressed into smaller files without the content owner's authorization. These files can then be transferred across the Internet for others to use or distribute freely. This violates the copyrights held by thousands of media companies, record labels, filmmakers, and recording artists. Such unauthorized use also strips these entities of valuable revenues as well.
One current approach is to encrypt the digital content to limit its unauthorized use. This approach, however, introduces additional overhead which can reduce the speed of systems utilizing signal transformation.
Accordingly, signal transformation solutions are desired which provide additional security while limiting performance degradation.

Randomized signal transforms and their applications


An excavating tool tooth includes a mounting area (10) and a working area (11). The working area (11) includes longitudinal bars (14-18) made of a hard material. The bars are inserted in the steel and snugly contact the tooth's cutting face. The presence of the rods made of a hard material substantially increases the tooth's service life. The bars are produced by infiltration.

The present invention relates to excavating tools such as revolving cutter head excavators for use in mines or dredgers.
Revolving cutter head excavators consist of a drive wheel that rotates around a shaft and is driven by a means of rotation. The periphery of the revolving cutter head excavator has a series of buckets equipped with teeth arranged in directions that are essentially radial. Dredgers do not have buckets and their teeth are distributed around the periphery in a rotary ogival structure. Each tooth consists of a single-unit tooth body structure made of a mechanically resistant metal or alloy such as steel, having a fixing area to connect it to the bucket or the ogival structure and a working area to dig the soil. The working area is generally flat and shaped like a shovel and is bounded by a leading face that points in the direction of movement of the periphery of the wheel or ogival structure in the preferred direction of rotation and a trailing face or face opposite the leading face. The leading face and the trailing face are generally flat or slightly curved and are connected by a front tapered facet that defines a transverse cutting edge. If the tooth is mounted on the bucket or the ogival structure, the transverse cutting edge is essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the assembly and the general plane formed by the tooth shovel or working area generally slants in the direction of the direction of movement of the tooth in the preferred direction of rotation.
During operation, part of the peripheral zone of the bucket or cutter cuts into the ground, the transverse cutting edge of the teeth bites into the ground and the leading face pushes up the material. This results in considerable wear of the transverse cutting edge and the leading face.
One common solution to increase the service life and the efficiency of the teeth is to hardface the external surface of the leading face and the tapered front facet in order to cover them with a coat of molten carbide by fusing a welding bead.
Although this process significantly increases the service life of the tooth, wear still occurs, relatively slowly at the start of use when the hard material still covers the front facet; wear then becomes much faster when the hard material that covers the front facet is itself damaged by wear. The tooth can only be used as long as the length of its working area has not reduced too extensively and this defines the maximum permissible area of wear of the tooth.
In particular, as soon as the front facet has lost its protective coating of hard material, wear becomes much faster despite the existence of a layer of hard material on the leading face of the tooth.
Another drawback of known structures is that they require the use of a protective surface hardfacing, a layer that is produced by melting with a welding torch or an electric arc. An examples of such a layer comprises a deposit consisting of a mixture of molten carbide particles embedded in a fusible matrix. Such hardfacing is time consuming and awkward and produces relatively irregular surfaces made up by the juxtaposition of several side-by-side welding beads. The intermediate areas between two successive beads are usually sunken areas of which the metallurgical structure is slightly different from the central structure of the welding beads. This results in a lack of homogeneity of the material that forms the protective layer made of a hard material and this results in the appearance of preferential areas of wear, thus encouraging faster wear of the material. In addition, such a process is expensive and requires skilled labor.
Dredger teeth with a composite structure are known consisting of a metal tooth body containing inserts of a hard anti-abrasion material. In document U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,423, a prefabricated insert is fitted in appropriate recesses in the metal tooth body where it is fixed by welding or brazing. The insert, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, consists of two intermediate bars which each take up half the height of the tooth. Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,802 also describes providing a prefabricated insert and fitting it in the tooth body. The insert is sandwiched between the metal surface plates, between which it is assembled by brazing. Therefore the insert does not take up the entire height of the tooth. There is no suggestion in this document of replacing the metal plates by a material containing particles of a hard material.
In document FR-A-2 373 500, an excavating tool is produced by providing cover plates made of sintered carbide on a steel body. The steel body is cast around the cover plates.
There is no suggestion in this document of replacing the internal steel body by a material containing particles of hard material. In any case, this results in an extremely fragile tooth.
The structures and production processes described in documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,802 and FR-A-2 373 500 are not compatible with each other. In fact, producing a tooth with an internal insert made of particles of hard material in accordance with document U.S. Pat. No. 4,052,802 is achieved by assembling several subassemblies by brazing whereas document FR-A-2 373 500 makes provision for such assembly by molding from a casting. The expert is therefore not encouraged to cosine the teachings of instruction in these two documents.
In document U.S. Pat. No. 3,286,379, fingers of hard material are produced by casting a hard material in longitudinal grooves in the metal tooth body. Document JP-A-62 99 527 describes a tooth for an excavating tool in which the prefabricated inserts are formed from sintered carbide and are assembled on the tooth body by brazing.
It seems that these known structures with longitudinal inserts do not give the expected results in terms of efficiency and long service life. In fact, fairly rapid wear is observed on the tooth, particularly due to flaking of the bars made of hard material. The bars of hard material which do not take up the entire height of the tooth do not provide a sufficient increase in the service life of the tooth and their manufacturing process does not allow sufficient cohesion of the components of such a heterogenous structure.
One of the main objects of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages of known excavating tool teeth structures and their production processes; it initially proposes a new composite tooth structure consisting of several longitudinal bars of hard material that take up the entire height of the tooth. The new tooth structure is compatible with the presence of protective surface layers made of a molten hard material but can also be used without such a protective surface layer.
One of the problems is that, with usual brazing or welding processes, it is awkward or difficult to correctly insert and join bars that take up the entire height of the tooth without adversely affecting the mechanical properties of the anti-abrasion material that constitutes the bars. The invention solves this difficulty by using a new infiltration process on the tooth blank itself.
The invention suggests producing such a tooth structure by means of a so-called infiltration process. The infiltration process can be implemented in a relatively simple manner and does not require great skill on the part of the user, unlike hardfacing techniques using a welding bead, and also results in lower production costs. The process avoids the tricky operation of having to solder or braze an insert.
When such an infiltration process is used, the tooth structure thus obtained is characterized by the fact that the bars of hard material are bonded to the metal of the tooth body by a brazing alloy that forms the matrix which itself links the particles of hard material to each other. This feature seems particularly important in order to obtain satisfactory cohesion between the bars of hard material and the metal that forms the tooth body.
When using such an infiltration process, the mold structures are particularly small and easy to produce because the metal parts of the tooth structure themselves act as a mold.
The invention makes it possible to considerably improve the service life and efficiency of an excavating tool tooth to a surprising extent compared with familiar techniques given comparable quantities of hard material. The tooth continues to cut as it wears.
Finally, the risk of breakage or flaking of the coating and the bars of hard material is significantly reduced; this risk is often encountered with known teeth.
The invention therefore makes it possible to obtain better cohesion of the excavating tooth, improved hardness of the bars of hard material and greater ease of production.


A MOSFET includes: a substrate having a first trench formed therein, the first trench opening on a side of one main surface; a gate insulating film; and a gate electrode. The substrate includes an n type source region, a p type body region, an n type drift region, and a p type deep region making contact with the body region and extending to a region deeper than the first trench. The first trench is formed such that a distance between the wall surface and the deep region increases with increasing distance from the main surface of the substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly to a semiconductor device having improved breakdown voltage characteristics and reduced ON resistance, as well as a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, in order to achieve a high breakdown voltage, low loss, and the like of semiconductor devices, silicon carbide has been adopted as a material for semiconductor devices. Silicon carbide is a wide band gap semiconductor having a band gap larger than that of silicon, which has been conventionally widely used as a material for semiconductor devices. Hence, by adopting silicon carbide as a material for a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device can have a high breakdown voltage, reduced ON resistance, and the like.
An exemplary semiconductor device adopting silicon carbide as its material is a MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) or the like. The MOSFET is a semiconductor device that controls existence/non-existence of an inversion layer in a channel region in accordance with a predetermined threshold voltage so as to conduct and interrupt a current. For example, a trench gate type MOSFET or the like characterized by formation of a channel region along a wall surface of a trench has been considered.
In the trench gate type MOSFET, ON resistance can be reduced, but breakdown voltage characteristics are disadvantageously deteriorated due to electric field concentration on a gate insulating film formed in a bottom portion of the trench. To address this, for example, it has been proposed to form in a substrate a p type deep region extending to a region as deep as or deeper than the trench, extend a depletion layer from a pn junction between the p type deep region and an n type drift region, and thereby mitigate electric field concentration on the bottom portion of the trench (see for example Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2009-117593 (Patent Literature 1)).
In the MOSFET proposed in Patent Literature 1, the trench and the deep region are each formed to extend in a thickness direction of the substrate in parallel. Therefore, when the MOSFET is miniaturized, a region between the trench and the deep region is narrowed and thus a passage for carriers is narrowed, resulting in an increase in ON resistance of the MOSFET.

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same


A system and method for perturbing a permanent magnet asymmetric field to move a body includes a rotating body configured to rotate about a rotation axis, a permanent magnet arrangement arranged on the rotating body containing two or more permanent magnets, and a perturbation element. The permanent magnet arrangement is configured such that an asymmetric magnetic field is generated by the permanent magnets about a perturbation point. Actuation of the perturbation element at or near the perturbation point causes a tangential magnetic force on the rotating body and/or the permanent magnet arrangement, thereby causing the rotating body to rotate about the rotation axis. The disclosure may also be used for linear motion of a body.

Systems and methods for causing mechanical motion of a body, including rotational mechanical motion are known. Conventional systems and methods are known for generating mechanical energy or work or motion, such as electric motors. However, such systems use significant electrical power to run and are often inefficient. Thus, it would be desirable to design a system and method which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art discussed above and provides work or motion very efficiency using less energy than conventional systems.

System and method for perturbing a permanent magnet asymmetric field to move a body


A lubricating finish composition suitable for application as a water emulsion to synthetic filaments and synthetic filaments coated with the composition. The composition of the invention comprises:. about 60 to about 98.9 weight percent nonionic emulsifier having a melting point less than about 25.degree. C.; PA0 about 1 to about 39.9 weight percent lubricant having at least 29 carbon atoms and a melting point less than about 25.degree. C.; and PA0 about 0.1 to about 15 weight percent anionic surfactant.

The present invention relates to finish compositions for use with synthetic filaments and relates more particularly to low fume finish compositions suitable for wet air-jet texturing and synthetic filaments coated with such compositions.
Synthetic fiber producers provide the textile industry with a wide variety of continuous filament yarn products. These differ in polymer type, orientation, denier, denier per filament, luster, cross-section, dyeability, and other distinguishing properties. Many of these commercially available yarns would otherwise be desirable as feed yarns for air-jet texturing but they contain conventional finish compositions developed for other kinds of processing such as false-twist texturing, weaving, and knitting.
Unfortunately, yarns with conventional finish compositions are not well-suited for the special needs of wet air-jet texturing so they can cause serious quality and productivity problems. Critical among these is the build-up of deposits in the air-bulking jet. The build-up of deposits initially reduces bulk level and bulk uniformity, reduces threadline tension uniformity, and ultimately causes threadline breaks and stringup difficulty. Conventional finishes when used on yarns for wet air-jet texturing also cause environmental and occupational health problems in hot processing during yarn manufacture by releasing vapor and aerosol fumes into the workplace and the environment.

Low fume finish for wet air-jet texturing


The present invention provides an electronic device including a write-once-then-read-only register, a chipset, a read-only memory, a flash memory and a central processor. The write-once-then-read-only register is arranged to store a determination value. The chipset is arranged to produce a CPU reset signal. The read-only memory is implemented in the chipset, and has a first memory block which corresponds to a predetermined address and is used to store a first instruction. The flash memory is coupled to the chipset, and has a second memory block which corresponds to the predetermined address and is used to store a second instruction. The central processor is arranged to determine the location of the predetermined address according to the CPU reset signal and the determination value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a chipset, and in particular relates to a chipset with a security verification code.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, electronic systems such as personal computers include a Basic Input Output System (BIOS), wherein the BIOS code is stored in flash memory of the electronic system. Two of the most important programs of BIOS code are the Power On Self Test (POST) and the booting process. When the electronic system is powered-on or reset, the first instruction issued by the processor of the electronic system will access an address to execute the BIOS code, and execute the Power On Self Test (POST) and booting process by the BIOS code. Therefore, third parties without authorization might attack the electronic system by tampering with the BIOS code or replacing the flash memory containing the BIOS code.
In sum, at the beginning of the start-up process, there are no processes to provide secure authentication, such that the user cannot avoid the risk of his electronic system's BIOS code being tampered with or otherwise losing integrity.


An improved method and system for high speed logging and trending of data. Logging of data may include: receiving data; and storing the data, and an index to the data, in a shared memory location coupled to a database. Trending of data may include: retrieving requested data from the shared memory location using the index of the requested data, and displaying the retrieved data. User configurable frequencies may be provided for various actions on the data. The data may be measurement data, including a stream of data comprising a plurality of entries. The logging and trending may be: (1) performed substantially concurrently; (2) implemented using shared memory templates. The database may reside on a first computer system, and the logging and trending may be performed on the first computer system or on a second computer system coupled to the first computer system via a network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer software, and more particularly to a high speed method of logging and trending data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Logger application programs (e.g., LabVIEW, a National Instruments product) may be configured to repeatedly read data from an input device (for example, 100 times per second e.g., by reading the latest 10 milliseconds"" worth of data from a data acquisition (DAQ) device) and subsequently write the data to an output device (e.g., a database).
Trender application programs (e.g., the Historical Viewer in Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX), a National Instruments product) may be configured to repeatedly read data from a stored location (e.g., a database) and subsequently display the data on a display device.
Users of currently available logging and trending application programs typically experience a delay between the logging of data by a logging application and the availability of the logged data for retrieval and display by a trending application. Existing logging and trending application programs typically utilize a file-based system or a traditional relational database. The trender application program must wait to read the logged data at least the length of time required for the logger application program to write the data to an output device, e.g., a file-based system; a traditional relational database; or early versions of a Citadel database (a National Instruments product).
It is desirable to provide real-time access to logged data, so that users of the logged data may evaluate and/or respond to the logged data more quickly than currently possible. As used herein, xe2x80x9creal-timexe2x80x9d indicates a response to stimuli within some relatively small upper limit of response time (e.g., milliseconds or seconds or minutes). xe2x80x9cReal-timexe2x80x9d may also refer to a response substantially as the user is watching.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a system and method for high speed logging and trending of data.
The present invention provides various embodiments of a system, method, and medium for high speed logging and trending of data.
In one embodiment, data desired to be written or logged to the database may be received, wherein the database may be stored on a non-volatile memory. The received data may be initially stored in a shared memory location coupled to the database wherein the shared memory location may be in a volatile memory. A dynamic link library (DLL) associated with the database may store the data in the shared memory location. The dynamic link library associated with the database may also store (in the shared memory location) and/or update an index to the data. The data and an index to the data may each be stored in the shared memory location. The received data may also include a stream of data comprising a plurality of entries. Thus, storing an index to the received data may include storing an index for each of the plurality of entries as the entries are received and stored.
A requestor may submit a query for requested data residing in the database (e.g., at least a subset of the data in the database). This query may be processed by the database system. This request for data may be referred to as trending. The processing may include: receiving the query from the requestor for the requested data residing in the database; determining the location of the requested data in the shared memory using the index of the requested data; accessing the requested data from the shared memory; and providing or displaying the requested data to the requestor.
The received data may be live data acquired from a data acquisition device. Additionally, the received data may be one of any number of types of data (e.g., waveform data, single-point data, alarm data, event data). The received data may be any type of measurement data acquired from a measurement device.
The rate or frequency at which the received data is received may be at a first user configurable frequency. Similarly, the rate or frequency at which the received data is stored may be at a second user configurable frequency. The first user configurable frequency for receiving and the second user configurable frequency for storing may be an identical value. For example, the user may enter one value (i.e., either the first user configurable frequency for receiving or the second user configurable frequency for storing), and, by default, the unspecified frequency (i.e., the second user configurable frequency for storing if the first user configurable frequency for receiving is specified, or the first user configurable frequency for receiving if the second user configurable frequency for storing is specified) may be assigned the value entered for the specified frequency. The rate or frequency at which the requested data is provided or displayed may be at a third user configurable frequency.
The logging and trending may be performed substantially concurrently. Additionally, the logging and trending may be implemented using one or more shared memory templates.
The database may reside on a first computer system, and the logging and trending may be performed on the first computer system. Alternatively, the database may reside on a first computer system, and the logging and trending may be performed on a second computer system coupled to the first computer system via a network. The database, the logging application program, and the trending application program, may each reside on either of the first computer system or the second computer system, in any combination, as the network allows for communication between the computer systems.

System and method for a shared memory architecture for high speed logging and trending


A method and an apparatus to perform statistical static timing analysis have been disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes performing statistical analysis on performance data of a circuit from a plurality of libraries at two or more process corners using a static timing analysis module, and estimating performance of the circuit at a predetermined confidence level based on results of the statistical analysis during an automated design flow of the circuit without using libraries at the predetermined confidence level.

In complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technologies, process variations during manufacturing have a significant impact on circuit performance, such as timing. The effect of these variations worsens as minimum feature sizes scale down and as circuit complexity and die sizes increase. In many of today's integrated circuit (IC) design implementation flows, variability in devices and interconnects is modeled by timing analysis and optimization of a design at multiple process corners.
Generally speaking, timing analysis calculates circuit timing delays and ensures that those delays are within bounds as specified by user constraints. There are two major types of timing analyses, namely, static timing analysis and dynamic timing analysis. Static timing analysis basically calculates all of the individual delays associated with different portions of a circuit and then generates a report detailing the minimum and maximum delays associated with each possible path and whether those delays meet user constraints. On the other hand, dynamic timing analysis typically specifies an event that may occur sometime within a certain time period and then determines the timing along different paths of the circuit in response to the event. In other words, dynamic timing analysis is event-driven.
In conventional static timing analysis, models at various process corners have significant pessimism built into them. Generally speaking, pessimism in the current context refers to the extra timing margin (e.g., extra delay margin) added to make it more likely that a device in the circuit is going to satisfy specified timing requirements.
As the built-in pessimism of the models is reduced, the reported worst slack for the circuit typically improves. The worst slack is a function of circuit delay and more description of which is provided below. This results in faster time to market and lower timing closure effort. However, improvements in faster time-to market and less design time come at the cost of some loss in yield. Reducing the pessimism may cause a lower yield. Thus, information regarding the relationship between circuit performance (e.g., worst slack) and yield is useful in making decisions on business and design trade-off.
Currently, reduction in model pessimism also requires new libraries that contain performance data (e.g., timing) of the process to be generated. Generating new libraries is time consuming and costly because these new libraries are process-specific and they have to be ordered from foundries and/or library vendors that support the specific process. In particular, when early feedback on timing of the design is needed, it is inconvenient and inefficient to order a new set of libraries.
Moreover, a new set of libraries has to be ordered for each distinct confidence level the circuit designers are interested in. A confidence level can be expressed as a percentage of circuits made using a predetermined fabrication process that meet some predetermined specification. For example, a confidence level of 90% indicates that about 90% of the circuits made using the predetermined fabrication process meet the specification. The percentage of circuits meeting a specification may be referred to as the yield of the circuits. Furthermore, a confidence factor k may be defined to correspond to a given confidence level. For example, k of 3 may represent a confidence level of about 99.87%.
Process variations may be broadly categorized into inter-chip and intra-chip process variations. A chip includes one or more semiconductor circuits fabricated on a piece of silicon. Inter-chip process variations are chip-to-chip variations. The chips may be on the same wafer, such as chip 101 and 103 on wafer 109 shown in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, the chips may be on different wafers, such as chip 131 on wafer 130a and chip 133 on wafer 130b in FIG. 1B. Furthermore, the chips may be in different lots, such as chip 141 in lot 140a and chip 143 on lot 140b in FIG. 1C. Inter-chip process variations are typically modeled by multiple libraries at various process corners, such as best case (BC) 110, typical case (TC) 120 and worst case (WC) 130 libraries, as shown in FIG. 1D.
In contrast, intra-chip process variations are within chip variations. For example, the intra-chip process variation may be demonstrated by measuring performance (e.g., timing) of various components within the same chip. Referring back to FIG. 1A, an exploded view of the chip 103 is shown as the chip 105. Delays through the NAND gates 107a and 107b may be measured to characterize the intra-chip process variation within the chip 105. Intra-chip process variations are usually smaller than inter-chip process variations. Although inter-chip process variation previously dominated process variation, intra-chip process variation has become more significant as semiconductor processing technologies enter the sub-micron era. For many sub-micron semiconductor processing technologies (e.g., 90 nm processes), intra-chip variation may affect circuit and/or device matching within a chip.
Intra-chip process variations are typically modeled by different minimum and maximum delays for gates and interconnects on a chip. Conventionally, intra-chip process variations may be specified around each of the inter-chip variation corners of interest, such as shown in FIG. 2 for example. Intra-chip variations may be specified in a number of ways, such as scaling nominal delays, which are calculated at associated inter-chip variation corner, to minimum and maximum values by constants, or using user specified minimum and maximum operating parameters or operating conditions, and scaling factors (also known as k-factors) present in the libraries. Another conventional way to specify intra-chip variations is to use two libraries around each inter-chip variation corner and to calculate minimum delays from one library and maximum delays from the other library.
Conventionally, an early path segment is a series of gates and interconnects for which all delay arcs among the series of gates and interconnects are analyzed at their minimum delay values. A late path segment is a series of gates and interconnects for which all delay arcs among the series of gates and interconnects are analyzed at their maximum delay values. In the current document, the term path is used to describe an early and a late path segment pair that leads to constraint violation at an end point in a circuit. For notational convenience, an early or late path segment is also referred to as an early or late path.
Slack due to setup violation in a circuit is defined by the following equation:Slacksetup=PathDelayearly−PathDelaylate−setup+adj,where PathDelayearly is the sum of minimum delays along an early path segment and PathDelaylate is the sum of maximum delays along a late path segment. The parameter "adj" includes adjustment for launching and capturing clocks (i.e., period adjustment) as well as other constant pessimism that a user wants to include in timing analysis. Slack due to hold violation may be defined in a similar fashion as follows:Slackhold=PathDelayearly−PathDelaylate−hold+adj.
If setup and hold values are factored into PathDelaylate, then slack due to either setup or hold violations may be expressed as follows:Slack=PathDelayearly−PathDelaylate+adj  (A).If PathDelayearly and PathDelaylate are expressed as sums of individual arc delays, then equation (A) may be rewritten as follows:Slack=ΣiDelayeariy,i−ΣjDelaylate,j+adj  (B),where i and j are indices of the individual delay arc within the path.
Conventionally, static timing analysis assigns minimum and maximum delays to all delay arcs within a path and uses the minimum and maximum delays for analysis of the early and late paths, respectively. For a given end point, however, if early and late paths share a portion of a clock network, then the analysis introduces pessimism equal to the sum of the differences of minimum and maximum arc delays for the shared clock network. The process of removing this pessimism due to overlap in the clock network is commonly referred to as clock path pessimism removal (CPPR).
To aid in the understanding of statistical static timing analysis, a general overview of some statistics principles is provided below. Given n partially correlated, normal random variables X1, X2, . . . Xn, mean and variance of their sum are given as follows:μsum=μX1+μX2+ . . . +μXn  (C);Varsum=r(ΣσXi)2+(1−r)(ΣσXi2)  (D),where μXi and σXi are mean and standard deviation of random variable Xi (1≦i≦n) and r is the correlation coefficient between any pair of variables (0≦r≦1). Furthermore, given partially correlated, normal random variables X and Y, and Z=X−Y, the mean and variance of Z are:μZ=μX−μY  (E);VarZ=(1+r)(σX2+σY2)−r(σX+σY)2  (F), respectivelywhere μX, μY, σX and σY are means and standard deviations of variables X and Y, respectively, and r is their correlation coefficient. The standard deviation of Z is equal to the square root of VarZ.

Systems, methods, and apparatus to perform statistical static timing analysis


A hub (4) for supporting a non-driven road wheel has a hole section formed to have an opening in the central portion at either end of the hub. A tone wheel (19) is fitted onto the shoulder portion of an inner ring (5) fixed to the axially inner end of the hub 4, and has a function to work as a seal member, such that the opening at the axially inner end of the hole (8, 63a) is covered. In addition, a cap (27) is fitted into the axially outer end of the hub (4) to cover the opening at the axially outer end of the hole (8, 63b).

In order to rotatably support with reference to the suspension the non-driven wheels that are supported by the suspended-type independent suspension for an automobile, various kinds of rolling-bearing units for road wheel have been used in which the outer ring and hub rotate freely by way of rolling members in combination.
In this kind of rolling-bearing unit for road wheel, the outer ring, which does not rotate even when in use, has a first installation flange around its outer peripheral surface for connecting it to the suspension, and an outer ring raceway around its inner peripheral surface.
In addition, the hub, which rotates when in use, has a second installation flange around its outer peripheral surface on a portion closer to the axially outer end (the term "axially outer" means the side toward the outside in the width direction of the automobile when installed in the automobile) and an inner ring raceway formed around its middle portion directly or by way of an inner ring.
Moreover, by placing the rolling members between the outer ring raceway and inner ring raceway so that they rotate freely, the road wheel that is fastened to the hub is supported rotatably with respect to the suspension to which the outer ring is fastened.
In the case of the rolling-bearing unit for road wheel used for supporting the non-driven wheels in this way, the hub does not particularly require a through hole that penetrates its center section and thus can be made solid.
On the other hand, in the case of a rolling-bearing unit for road wheel that is used for rotatably supporting the driven wheels {the front wheels for a FF vehicle, rear wheels for a FR and RR vehicle and all four wheels for a 4WD vehicle (four-wheel drive vehicle)} with respect to the suspension, it is necessary to connect the shaft of the constant velocity joint with the hub to which the road wheels are fastened. Accordingly, generally a through hole is formed in the hub through which the shaft is inserted.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, a rolling-bearing unit for road wheel used for supporting the non-driven wheels has been known and has actually been used. This construction uses common components for the rolling-bearing unit for road wheel for both the driven wheels and the non-driven wheels.
The outer ring 1, which does not rotate when installed in the vehicle and supported by the suspension, has a first installation flange 2 around its outer peripheral surface for supporting it by the suspension, and double rows of outer ring raceways 3 around its inner peripheral surface, respectively.
A hollow cylindrical-shaped hub 4 and inner ring 5 are located on the inside of the outer ring 1 and rotatable during use. Of these, the hub 4 has a second installation flange 6 around its outer peripheral surface on the axially outer end (left end in FIG. 1) for attaching it to the road wheel, and a first inner ring raceway 7a in its middle portion, as well as a through hole 8 that penetrates its center in the axial direction. Also, a second inner ring raceway 7b is formed around the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 5, and the inner ring 5 is fitted around the outer peripheral surface on the axially inner end of the hub 4 (the term "axially inner" means is the side toward the center in the width direction when mounted on the automobile, the right in FIGS. 1 thru 14, and the left in FIG. 2).
A bolt 9 is inserted through the inside of the through hole 8, and a nut 10 is fastened to the tip end of this bolt 9 that sticks out from the axially outer end of the hub 4, and by tightening it securely, the hub 4 and inner ring 5 are held between the head 11 of the bolt 9 and the nut 10 such that the hub 4 and inner ring 5 are joined together as one body.
In addition, multiple rolling members (balls) 12 are placed between the outer ring raceways 3 and the inner ring raceways 7a, 7b such that they can roll freely.
Moreover, a short, cylindrical shaped cover 14 with a bottom, that is also referred to as a first seal member in the present specification, is formed by bending sheet metal and attached to the opening on the axially inner end of the outer ring 1.
Together with this, a seal ring 13, which is also referred to as a second seal member in this specification, is located between the opening edge on the axially outer end of the outer ring 1 and the outer peripheral surface in the middle portion of the hub 4. These seal members prevent foreign matter such as mud, dust, dirt and the like from getting inside the space 15 where the rolling members 12 are located, and they also prevent lubrication grease that is in this space 15 from leaking out.
When the rolling-bearing unit for road wheel that is constructed as described above is being used, the first installation flange 2 that is formed on the outer ring 1 is fastened to part of the suspension (not shown in the figures) and the second installation flange 6 that is formed around the hub 4 is fastened to the non-driven wheel (not shown in the figures).
When the rolling-bearing unit for road wheel supports the non-driven wheel as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to make the hub common with the rolling-bearing unit which supports the driven wheel. In other words, as mentioned above, in the case of a general rolling-bearing unit for road wheel which supports the driven wheel, it is necessary to have a hole (this is generally a spline hole) through the center of the hub through which the constant velocity joint can pass.
As to this hole, with the construction shown in FIG. 1, there is a through hole 8 through the center of the hub 4, so that there is no need to make a separate hole in the hub because of the existence of this through hole 8. The through hole 8 in the hub 4 for the non-driven wheel can be used as is before forming a spline, and thus it is possible to keep down the rising costs that accompany the formation of a spline.
In the case of the construction shown in FIG. 1, since the opening on the axially inner end of the through hole 8 is sealed tight by the bolt 9 and nut 10, it is possible to prevent the lubrication grease in the space 15 from getting inside this through hole 8, and thus it is not necessary to increase the amount of grease used.
Moreover, a rolling-bearing unit for road wheel as shown in FIG. 2 has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,747. In the case of this rolling-bearing unit for road wheel, a hollow, cylindrical shaped hub 4 and the inner ring 5, which is fitted around the hub 4 on the axially inner end (left side in FIG. 2), are supported on the inside of the outer ring 1 by a tapered roller bearing such that they can rotate freely with respect to the outer ring 1. Therefore, a pair of tapered concave shaped outer ring raceways 54 are formed around the inner peripheral surface on both ends in the axial direction of the outer ring 1 such that they are tapered in opposite directions. Moreover, tapered convex shaped inner ring raceways 55a, 55b are formed around the outer peripheral surface in the middle portion of the hub 4 and around the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 5, respectively, such that they are tapered in opposite directions.
Also, multiple tapered rollers 56 are located between the outer ring raceways 54 and the inner ring raceways 55a, 55b such that they can roll freely.
Furthermore, in the case of the construction shown in the figure, in order to fasten the inner ring 5 to the axially inner end of the hub 4, a plastically deformed section 58 that sticks out in the radial direction toward the outside is formed on the axially inner end of the hub 4. The inner ring 5 is held between this plastically deformed section 58 and a stepped section 59 that is formed around the outer peripheral surface in the middle portion of the hub 4.
Moreover, a short, cylindrical-shaped cover 14 with a bottom, which is also referred to as a first seal member in this specification, is formed by pressing sheet metal and attached to the opening on the axially inner end of the outer ring 1. Together with this, a seal ring 13, that is also referred to as a second seal member in this specification, is placed between the opening on the axially outer end (right end in FIG. 2) of the outer ring 1 and the outer peripheral surface in the middle portion of the hub 4. Furthermore, a through hole 8 is formed such that it penetrates through the center of the hub 4 in the axial direction and a seal member 57 is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the axially inner end of the through hole 8 and this seal member 57 seals the axially inner end of the through hole 8.
In the case of the construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,747 and described above, the construction differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that there is no need to insert a member such as a bolt 9 (see FIG. 1) through the inside of the through hole 8 formed in the hub 4. Also, since the seal member 57 is formed on the axially inner end of the through hole 8, it is possible to prevent the lubrication grease in the space 15 where the tapered rollers 56 are located, from getting into the through hole 8, and thus it is not necessary to increase amount of grease used.
In recent years, from the aspect of improvement in performance of automobile fuel efficiency, comfort, and dynamic power, there has been an increasing demand for lighter rolling-bearing units for road wheel. As a means for making it possible to lighten the rolling-bearing unit, removing any unnecessary material in structure from the hub of the rolling-bearing unit, which supports the non-driven wheels, has been effective. Accordingly, forming a through hole in the hub not only for the rolling-bearing unit which supports the driven wheels, but also for the rolling-bearing unit which supports the non-driven wheels is desired in order to lighten the weight of the automobile.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, construction for actually removing material from the hub 4 by forming a through hole 8 in the hub 4 has been formerly considered, however, this was performed simply from the aspect of making the bearing common for all wheels. Also, in the construction of bearing shown in the same figure, part of a bolt 9 is inserted through the through hole 8, so that it is not really possible to effectively lighten the weight of the bearing.
Conversely, in the case of the construction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,747 as shown in FIG. 2, no members, such as a bolt, that would increase the weight of the bearing are inserted through the through hole 8 in the hub 4. Therefore, the construction shown in FIG. 2 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in that it can be effectively lightened, however, in the case of the construction shown in FIG. 2, there is no covering member on the axially outer end of the through hole 8, so that there is a possibility that mud or the like could get into the through hole 8 from the outside. If mud or the like gets inside the through hole 8, there is a possibility that the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 8 could rust, which would lower the durability of the hub 4.
On the other hand, construction that is different from the construction shown in FIG. 2 is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,747, in which a through hole is formed that penetrates through the center of the hub in the axial direction and where its outer end is covered by a seal member (see FIG. 6 of the patent), but its inner end is not covered. With this construction, the problems that occurred in the construction shown in FIG. 2 do not occur. However, in the case of this construction, there is no seal member for covering the inner end of the through hole. Therefore, in the case of this construction, there is a possibility that the grease in the space where the rolling members are located could get inside the through hole, and in order to make sure there is always enough grease in this space, it is necessary to increase the amount of grease that is filled into the space. Increasing the amount of grease in this way increases the cost and weight of the rolling-bearing unit for road wheel, which is not desired.


Mobile communication terminals in a wireless communication network with identical (DUAL) SIM cards are provided with means for remotely switching of either of the terminals.

Nowadays mobile telephone systems are known among them the well-known GSM system. The mobile phones used in this system comprise a SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) for controlling them, the SIM card containing relevant information, such as subscriber details, security information, memory for a personal directory of numbers, and data that identify the user to the network provider and allows the access to the wireless communication network, such as a GSM or a G3 network. A SIM card has associated the IMSI and the MSISDN, IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) being a unique number for identifying a subscriber in the network and MSISDN (Mobile Station ISDN number) being the phone number.
Dual SIM cards are known in the GSM system. Dual SIM cards are a utility that allows GSM users to have two SIM cards with the same number, i.e. with the same IMSI and MSISDN. The dual SIM can be used independently on two mobile phones. The idea is that either one of the phones is in use.
Mobile phones regularly contact the network for a location update, so that the network is informed in which cell of the cellular network the phone is presently located and can be contacted.
The use of the dual SIM cards has a drawback in that, when inadvertedly both mobile phones are in use, the last location updated mobile phone is the only one receiving the next call, so there is an undefined situation. If a user has left an active phone e.g. back at home, and is away from home with the second active phone, a call would be received on the phone with the most recent location update. This could well be the unattended phone back home, and the user could at least temporarily not be reached by phone.
EP 1 170 969 discloses a method and apparatus for remotely switching into a secure mode a mobile electronics device when it has been lost, stolen or misused in order to prevent its use except to help the owner find it. This can be achieved using a control message, for example, via a Short Messaging System (SMS).
This method allows to remotely lock a mobile phone for user access when it has been lost but doesn't solve the drawback of the dual SIM cards because the mobile phone needs to be active and subscribed to the network to help the user to find it.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,609 discloses a system for remotely securing or locking a stolen wireless information device via an email message with an attached password to the device. The owner of an information device specifies a password beforehand, which is stored in a memory. When an electronic mail is received from another information device through a wireless telephone facility of the information device, a password attached to the email message is checked with the password stored in the memory. When the password match occurs, a security process is executed.

Remote control over mobile communication terminals


While performing functional verification on a circuit design, a verification tool allows a user to analyze the results of a previous functional analysis. The tool may also receive commands for a next verification analysis while performing a current analysis, and it may allow a user to abort a current analysis. Results from a completed analysis may be discarded or saved for viewing by a user while a next verification is performed on the circuit design. This allows a user to continue to debug and analyze the circuit design without having to wait until previous steps in the verification analysis are completed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of functional verification of digital designs, and in particular to formal verification systems that involve building a formal test bench to rely on user interactivity rather than full automation.
2. Background of the Invention
Over the last 30 years, the complexity of integrated circuits has increased greatly. This increase in complexity has exacerbated the difficulty of verifying circuit designs. In a typical integrated circuit design process, which includes many steps, the verification step consumes approximately 70-80% of the total time and resources. Aspects of the circuit design such as time-to-market and profit margin greatly depend on the verification step. As a result, flaws in the design that are not found during the verification step can have significant economic impact by increasing time-to-market and reducing profit margins. To maximize profit, therefore, the techniques used for verification should be as efficient as possible.
As the complexity in circuit design has increased, there has been a corresponding improvement in various kinds of verification and debugging techniques. In fact, these verification and debugging techniques have evolved from relatively simple transistor circuit-level simulation (in the early 1970s) to logic gate-level simulation (in the late 1980s) to the current art that uses Register Transfer Language (RTL)-level simulation. RTL describes the registers of a computer or digital electronic system and the way in which data are transferred among the combinational logic between registers.
Existing verification and debugging tools are used in the design flow of a circuit. The design flow begins with the creation of a circuit design at the RTL level using RTL source code. The RTL source code is specified according to a Hardware Description Language (HDL), such as Verilog HDL or VHDL. Circuit designers use high-level hardware description languages because of the size and complexity of modern integrated circuits. Circuit designs are developed in a high-level language using computer-implemented software applications, which enable a user to use text-editing and graphical tools to create a HDL-based design.
An increasingly popular technique is to use formal methods to verify the properties of a design completely. Formal methods use mathematical techniques to prove that a design property is either always true or to provide an example condition (called a counterexample) that demonstrates the property is false. Tools that use formal methods to verify RTL source code and design properties are known as "model checkers." Design properties to be verified include specifications and/or requirements that must be satisfied by the circuit design. Since mathematical properties define the design requirements in pure mathematical terms, this enables analysis of all possible valid input sequences for a given circuit and is akin to an exhaustive simulation. Formal verification methods are therefore exhaustive, when compared for example to simulation methods, and they may provide many benefits, such as reduced validation time, quicker time-to-market, reduced costs, and high reliability.
Formal verification involves heavy mathematical computation, and traditional formal verification tools place a heavy emphasis on automation. Therefore, users typically let their formal verification tools run in a batch mode instead of interactively, frequently waiting overnight for the complex analysis to finish. But the lack of interactivity leaves the designer's insights into the design out of the process, ultimately making the formal verification less effective. Accordingly, techniques for facilitating interactivity in formal verification are needed.

Interactive analysis and debugging of a circuit design during functional verification of the circuit design


A protection device (10, 10′, 10″) for disc brakes of velocipedes of the racing bike, mountain bike, city bike, electric pedal assisted cycle, and/or small motorcycle type, which comprises an interchangeable brake guard (12, 16, 18), secured to a wheel (20) of the velocipede, arrange coaxially to a disc (14) and featuring a basically “C”-like cross-sectional profile which comprises a front side (12′, 16′, 17) intended for covering a front surface of the disc (14), a rear side (12″, 16″, 17′) intended for partially covering a rear surface of the disc in correspondence with a brake track which pads of a brake caliper (28) act on, and an intermediate side (12′″, 16′″, 17″) intended for connecting the front side (12′, 16′, 17) and rear side (12″, 16″, 17′) to each other and for covering a peripheral circumferential edge of the disc (14).

More specifically, the present invention refers to a protection device for disc brakes in velocipedes of the bicycle type (racing bikes, mountain bikes, city bikes, electrical pedal assisted bikes, and the like) as well as small motorcycles or equivalent light vehicles equipped with disc braking systems.
It is known that a disc brake is a mechanical device suitable for slowing down and/or stopping the rotation of a wheel and consequently of the vehicle that it is rotatably constrained to.
Such device typically comprises a disc coaxially secured to the wheel and co-operating with a so-called "caliper" secured to the frame of the bike and, more specifically, to its respective fork.
The caliper is provided with a pair of pads made from a material suitable for generating friction onto the opposite surfaces of the disc, called "brake tracks".
The caliper is activated by the operation of appropriate levers, located on the handlebars of the velocipede, which control a mechanical or hydraulic system.
In a mechanical system, the caliper is controlled through the tensioning of a metal wire, whereas in a hydraulic system the caliper is controlled by a pressure generated in an oil-pressure circuit.
The discs of bikes, typically coaxially secured to the hub of the wheel, feature a diameter generally ranging from 120 to 180 mm (such values are typical to city bikes, whereas the discs of mountain bikes have basically greater diameters) with a thickness basically ranging from 1.8 to 2.0 mm and include a plurality of openings or through-holes the function of which is to lighten the disc and improve the dissipation of the heat generated by the friction of the pads onto said disc during a braking.
However, a braking system based on discs as described above presents a number of major drawbacks.


A visual indication of the location and duration of a measurement gate relative to the signal being measured is provided on a display. In response to a start gate signal measurements are initiated and a predetermined change is effected in the normally displayed visual indication of the signal being measured. In response to a gate close indication, measurements are terminated and the normally displayed visual indication is resumed. The normal and changed visual indications are effected by a display control signal produced by summing the signal to be measured and an event gate signal at a point in the circuit near where the event gate signal is generated.

There are many applications where measurements are being taken on a particular signal during a predetermined time interval, the time interval being controlled by a measurement gate signal. For example, in a system for measuring the frequency and other characteristics of a pulsed or continuous wave microwave signal, a measurement gate may be utilized to assure that measurements are taken within the pulsed microwave signal and that the measurement gate is sufficiently spaced from the beginning and end of the microwave pulse so that turn-on and turn-off transients will not corrupt the measurement. Where there is a change in frequency during a microwave signal or pulse, such as for a radar chirp, it is also important to know where in the signal readings are being taken so that a frequency profile of the signal can be generated.
However, because of variations in internal delays in the system, such as in counters or pulse generators, or in the cabling used with the system, it is possible that the measurement gate may fall outside of the microwave pulse being measured resulting in inaccurate readings. Such potential errors are of concern to the user, but are currently difficult to identify. Similarly, current systems do not afford the user an easy way of verifying where in a chirped or frequency varying signal a particular set of measurements are being taken, or in other words where the measurement gate is positioned relative to the signal being measured.
The above problems exist both where (a) the measurement gate is of fixed duration and measurement is effected by counting the number of cycles or events during the fixed time interval; and (b) a fixed number of event or cycles for the signal being measured determines the gate width and the duration of the gate is determined to measure frequency. The later method will sometimes be referred to as the reciprocal counting technique. The problems also exist both where the measurement gate is being automatically generated, for example in response to predetermined signal conditions, and where the gate is being generated in response to an external user-controlled input. The user-controlled input provides greater flexibility in determining both the location and duration of the measurement gate. However, absent some visual feedback as to where the measurement gate is occurring relative to the signal being measured, and in view of the variable delays and synchronizations which can occur in such measurement systems which make it difficult to maintain controls accurately calibrated, it is extremely difficult for a user to achieve precision manual positioning of a measurement gate.
In view of the above, a need exists for apparatus affording a user an accurate visual indication of the position of a measurement gate relative to the signal being measured so that a user may verify that the measurement gate is properly positioned relative to the signal to be measured and make adjustments if necessary.

Method and apparatus for measurement gate display


The invention relates to a piston for an internal combustion engine formed from a lower part and an upper part which are threadingly connected to one another to form a piston. In one example, an anti-rotation safeguard device is used to prevent unwanted rotation of the upper part relative to the lower part. In another example, a forged extension and a nut are used to obtain a prestress during operation of the piston. In another example, a cooling gallery including extension bores are used to increase the cooling capacity.

Pistons, in particular large bore pistons, which have an upper part and a lower part and which are connected to one another by means of a screw connection are known. In the case of said known large bore pistons, there is a flat contact between the upper part and the lower part, on which contact the upper part is supported on the lower part when the screw connection (for example, configured as an anti-fatigue bolt) is connected.
It has been proven in practice, however, that, during the operation, in particular, of large bore pistons, stresses can occur as a consequence of changing temperatures and pressures, with the result that a screw connection of this type (above all, configured centrally in the region of the piston stroke axis) is disadvantageous.
In order to counter said disadvantage, the idea has already been considered of arranging not only one screw connection, but rather a plurality of screw connections concentrically around the piston stroke axis. However, this means increased machining complexity both of the piston lower part and of the piston upper part. Moreover, a plurality of screws have to be stored and assembled, such that the assembly complexity is increased as a result. Moreover, there is the risk that one of the plurality of screws is forgotten during assembly. Furthermore, the cost expenditure is increased as a consequence not only of the machining, but rather also of the storage of a plurality of screws.


A device for capturing operating data of a motor-driven tool includes a capture and/or evaluation device, an operating data memory, and/or a communication interface. These components draw electric power from an electrochemical energy store during operation. An operating mode control device operates the components at a temperature above a temperature limit value in a normal temperature operating mode and at a temperature equal to or below the temperature limit value in a low temperature operating mode different from the normal mode, wherein less electric power is drawn in the low temperature operating mode.

The invention relates to a device for capturing operating data of a motor-driven tool and to a system having such a device and a motor-driven tool.
The invention is based on the object of providing a device for capturing operating data of a motor-driven tool, which device is reliable, and a system having such a device and a motor-driven tool.
The device according to the invention for capturing operating data of a motor-driven tool is designed for arrangement on, in particular in, the tool. The device has a, in particular electrical, capture and/or evaluation device. The capture and/or evaluation device is designed to capture at least one, in particular physical, quantity, in particular a value or an absolute value of the quantity, wherein the quantity, in particular the value thereof, is dependent on an operating state of the tool, and to evaluate the captured quantity, in particular the value thereof, in particular automatically, for the purpose of ascertaining the operating data. Additionally or alternatively, the capture and/or evaluation device is designed to capture operating data, in particular automatically. In addition, the device has an, in particular electrical, operating data memory and/or a, in particular electrical, communication interface. The operating data memory is designed to store the ascertained and/or captured operating data, in particular automatically. The communication interface is designed to transmit or to send the, in particular stored, operating data wirelessly to a terminal, in particular automatically. The capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface is/are designed to draw electric power from an electrochemical energy store, in particular a battery, or to be supplied with electric power by the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, in particular automatically, during, in particular respective, operation. Additionally, the device has an, in particular electrical, operating mode control device. The operating mode control device is designed to operate, in particular automatically, the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface at a temperature, in particular a value or an absolute value of the temperature, above a, in particular respective, temperature limit value in a, in particular respective, normal temperature operating mode and at a temperature, in particular a value or an absolute value of the temperature, equal to or below the temperature limit value in a, in particular respective, low temperature operating mode, which is different from the normal temperature operating mode, such that less electric power is drawn from the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, in particular by the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface, in the low temperature operating mode than in the normal temperature operating mode.
The device or the capture and/or evaluation device thereof, the operating data memory thereof and/or the communication interface thereof allow(s) the operating data to be captured, stored and/or transmitted.
In addition, the device or the operating mode control device thereof, in particular the low temperature operating mode, allows gentle operation of the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, and hence operation with the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, for a relatively long time, and hence reliable operation, in particular at a low temperature.
In detail, as temperature falls, a resistance, in particular an internal resistance, of the electrochemical energy store, in particular of the battery, can increase or rise. Therefore, as temperature falls, a power that can be drawn, in particular without damage, from the electrochemical energy store can fall. An excessively high power draw can lead to irreversible processes in the electrochemical energy store and therefore to permanent damage to the electrochemical energy store. The device or the operating mode control device thereof, in particular the low temperature operating mode, allows damage to the electrochemical energy store to be prevented, in particular at a low temperature.
In particular, the device can be designed for, in particular mechanical, coupling to or mounting or attachment on/to, in particular in, the tool. In particular, the device can be designed for, in particular detachable, connection to the tool, in particular by means of a material bond such as an adhesive bond, a force-fit connection such as a latching or snap-fit connection and/or a form-fit connection such as a screw joint. Additionally or alternatively, the device can be arranged on, in particular in, the tool, in particular can be part of the tool. Alternatively, the device can be designed to be separate from the tool. This allows the device to be retrofitted to the tool. In particular, the device can be referred to as a unit. As a further addition or alternative, the device, when arranged on the tool, can be in direct contact with the tool, in particular with a tool housing or a cover of the tool.
The tool can have an electric drive motor or an internal combustion drive engine or can be driven by means of an electric motor or an internal combustion engine.
The capture and/or evaluation device can be designed to capture the at least one quantity and/or the operating data wirelessly, in particular without having an electrically conductive connection to the tool or to components of the tool.
In particular, the capture and/or evaluation device can have a sensor, wherein the sensor can be designed to capture or measure the at least one quantity. The quantity can be referred to as a measured quantity. In particular, the sensor can be designed to allow it to be capable of capturing the quantity regardless of whether the tool can be driven by means of an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. Therefore, quantities and hence also operating data for a large number of drive technologies such as internal-combustion-engine-driven, wired, storage-battery-based can be captured using the same device, in particular without a wired connection to the tool or to components of the tool needing to be required. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor can be an inductive sensor, such as at least one coil. The inductive sensor can allow, in particular during operation of the tool, changing electromagnetic and/or magnetic fields to be measured or detected, in particular caused by stray fields from electric motors, ignition pulses from internal combustion engines, changes of current, moving magnets in a flywheel of the tool, of a generator, etc. In this regard, reference should also be made to the relevant specialist literature.
Additionally or alternatively, the capture and/or evaluation device can have or be a microcontroller.
As a further addition or alternative, the operating data can be an operating period or operating hours of the tool, in particular during which the electric motor, if present, or the internal combustion engine, if present, can be active. It goes without saying that the operating data can be not only the operating period but also further data relevant to tool operation, such as drive temperatures, drive powers, load data, tool-user-related data, states of charge and/or voltage states of an energy store, locations of use, etc. In this regard, reference should also be made to the relevant specialist literature.
The operating data memory can be electrically connected to the capture and/or evaluation device.
The communication interface can be electrically connected to the capture and/or evaluation device and/or to the operating data memory. Additionally or alternatively, the communication interface can have or be a WLAN interface and/or a Bluetooth interface. As a further addition or alternative, the communication interface can be designed to transmit regardless of whether or not a terminal is in range. In this regard, reference should also be made to the relevant specialist literature.
The terminal can for example take the received operating data as a basis for performing evaluations of the operating data and can present said operating data to a user in visually conditioned form.
The electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, if present, can be the sole or only energy source of the device, in particular if the tool can be or is not active. In other words: the device can be without an external energy source or power supply, in particular if the tool can be or is not active.
The temperature can be a temperature of the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, and/or of an environment of the electrochemical energy store.
The normal temperature operating mode can be referred to as a normal temperature mode. Additionally or alternatively, the low temperature operating mode can be referred to as a low temperature mode.
The power drawn can be a peak power and/or an average power.
The operating mode control device can be electrically connected to the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface. In addition, the operating mode control device can be electrically connected to the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, if present. In particular, the operating mode control device can be electrically connected firstly to the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface and secondly to the electrochemical energy store, if present, or can be interposed. In other words: the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface can, in particular each, be electrically connected to the electrochemical energy store, if present, by means of the operating mode control device. Put another way: the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface need, in particular each, not be electrically connected directly to the electrochemical energy store, if present. Additionally or alternatively, the operating mode control device can have or be a microcontroller and/or a memory.
The device or the capture and/or evaluation device thereof, the operating data memory thereof, the communication interface thereof and/or the operating mode control device thereof can be designed for a voltage of no less than 1 volt (V) and/or of no more than 12 V, in particular of 3 V. Additionally or alternatively, the device can be referred to as an electrical device.
In one development of the invention, the device has the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery. In particular, the electrochemical energy store can be designed to supply the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory, the communication interface and/or the operating mode control device with electric power during, in particular respective, operation. Additionally or alternatively, a voltage, in particular a value or an absolute value of the voltage, of the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, can be no less than 1 V and/or no more than 12 V, in particular 3 V. As a further addition or alternative, the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, can be of rechargeable or non-rechargeable design. The rechargeable battery can be referred to as a storage battery. As a further addition or alternative, the battery can be a button cell, in particular a CR 2032 button cell or CR 2450 button cell, and/or a lithium ion battery.
In one development of the invention, the temperature limit value is no more than plus (+) 10 degrees Celsius (° C.) in particular no more than 0° C., and/or no less than minus (−) 20° C., in particular no less than −10° C., in particular −5° C.
In one development of the invention, the device has a, in particular electrical, temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is designed to, in particular automatically, capture or measure the temperature, in particular a value or an absolute value of the temperature, and/or a quantity dependent on the temperature, in particular a value or an absolute value of the quantity. The operating mode control device is designed to operate the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface, in particular automatically, in the normal temperature operating mode when the temperature limit value is exceeded by the captured or measured temperature, in particular the value thereof, or a quantity limit value is exceeded by the captured or measured quantity, in particular the value thereof, and in the low temperature operating mode when the temperature limit value is reached or not reached by the captured or measured temperature, in particular the value thereof, or the quantity limit value is reached or not reached by the captured or measured quantity, in particular the value thereof. In particular, the temperature sensor can be thermally connected to the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, if present. In particular, the temperature sensor can be arranged at a distance of no more than 5 centimetres (cm), in particular of no more than 2 cm, in particular of no more than 1 cm, from the electrochemical energy store, if present, or in direct contact with the electrochemical energy store, if present. Additionally or alternatively, the operating mode control device can be electrically connected to the temperature sensor.
In one development of the invention, the device has a, in particular electrical, resistance capture device, in particular a resistance sensor. The resistance capture device is designed for, in particular automatically, capturing or measuring a, in particular the, resistance, in particular a value or an absolute value of the resistance, in particular internal resistance, of the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, and/or a quantity dependent on the resistance, in particular a value or an absolute value of the quantity. The operating mode control device is designed to operate the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface, in particular automatically, in the normal temperature operating mode when a resistance limit value is not reached by the captured or measured resistance, in particular the value thereof, or a quantity limit value is not reached by the captured or measured quantity, in particular the value thereof, and in the low temperature operating mode when the resistance limit value is reached or exceeded by the captured or measured resistance, in particular the value thereof, or the quantity limit value is reached or exceeded by the captured or measured quantity, in particular the value thereof. In detail, the resistance, in particular the internal resistance, of the electrochemical energy store, in particular of the battery, can be dependent on temperature or correlated or linked to temperature or a function of temperature. In particular, the resistance capture device can be electrically connected to the electrochemical energy store, if present. Additionally or alternatively, the operating mode control device can be electrically connected to the resistance capture device.
In one refinement of the invention, the resistance limit value is no less than 100 ohms (Ω), in particular no less than 500Ω, and/or no more than 20 kiloohms (kΩ), in particular no more than 2 kΩ, in particular 1 kΩ.
In one development of the invention, the operating mode control device is designed to operate the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface in the normal temperature operating mode periodically in, in particular respective, intervals during a, in particular respective, first active period and not to operate it/them during a, in particular respective, first inactive period, in particular between the intervals, and to operate it/them in the low temperature mode periodically in, in particular respective, intervals during a second active period, which is shorter in time than the first, and/or not to operate it/them during a, in particular respective, second inactive period, which is longer in time than the first, in particular between the intervals, or to render it/them without power or without function, or not to operate it/them, in particular automatically. In particular, the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface can, in particular each, be supplied with electric power or activated during the active period and not supplied with electric power or deactivated during the inactive period. Additionally or alternatively, the first active period and the second active period can be of the same length in time and the first inactive period and the second inactive period can be of different length in time. As a further addition or alternative, the device can be designed to split work tasks that are longer in time over multiple intervals.
In one refinement of the invention, the first active period is no less than 1 millisecond (ms) and/or no more than 3 seconds (s), in particular 80 ms. Additionally or alternatively, the first inactive period is no less than 100 ms and/or no more than 10 s, in particular 920 ms. As a further addition or alternative, the second active period is no less than 1 ms and/or no more than 3 s, in particular 40 ms. As a further addition or alternative, the second inactive period is no less than 500 ms and/or no more than 10 s, in particular 1960 ms.
In one refinement of the invention, the operating mode control device is designed to respond to non-capture of a quantity or operating data by means of the capture and/or evaluation device by setting the first inactive period to a maximum value and/or the second inactive period to a maximum value, in particular automatically. This allows a relatively low power consumption, in particular if the tool can be or is not active, and therefore a relatively long lifespan for the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, if present. Additionally, the operating mode control device can be designed to respond to capture of the quantity or operating data by means of the capture and/or evaluation device by setting the first inactive period to a minimum value and/or the second inactive period to a minimum value. As a further addition or alternative, the operating mode control device can be designed to set the first inactive period to a maximum value and/or the second inactive period to a maximum value, in particular automatically, when there is non-capture for a lengthy time and/or when there is capture for a lengthy time, in particular when a time limit value is reached or exceeded by a period since the non-capture or capture began, or when there is no change.
In one development of the invention, the device has a, in particular electrical, buffer capacitor. The buffer capacitor is designed to draw electric power from the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, in particular automatically. The capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface is/are designed to draw electric power from the buffer capacitor, in particular automatically, during operation. This allows a demand by the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface for electric power that, at least in the short term, may be greater than the drawable power of the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, to be covered. In particular, the buffer capacitor can be designed to be charged, in particular partially, by the electrochemical energy store during the inactive period, if provided for, and to be discharged, in particular partially, by the capture and/or evaluation device, the operating data memory and/or the communication interface during the active period, if provided for. In particular, the buffer capacitor can be designed to cover the demand for electric power during the active period completely. In particular, the operating mode control device can be designed to customize or coordinate the timing of the inactive period, in particular to the drawable power of the electrochemical energy store, such that the buffer capacitor is adequately charged. Additionally or alternatively, a voltage swing or a voltage ripple, in particular a value or an absolute value of the voltage swing, as a result of periodic charging and discharging can be a part of the voltage, in particular of a value or of an absolute value of the voltage, of the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery. As a further addition or alternative, the buffer capacitor can be an MLCC capacitor and/or can have an X5R dielectric. As a further addition or alternative, the buffer capacitor can be electrically connected firstly to the operating mode control device and secondly to the electrochemical energy store, if present, or can be interposed. In other words: the operating mode control device can be electrically connected to the electrochemical energy store, if present, by means of the buffer capacitor. Put another way: the operating mode control device need not be electrically connected directly to the electrochemical energy store, if present.
In one refinement of the invention, the buffer capacitor has an electrical capacitance of no less than 50 microfarads (μF), in particular of no less than 100 μF, and/or of no more than 5000 μF, in particular of no more than 1000 μF, in particular of 470 μF. Additionally or alternatively, the buffer capacitor is designed for a voltage of no less than 1 V and of no more than 12 V, in particular of 3 V.
In one development of the invention, the operating data memory has an EEPROM operating data memory. The EEPROM operating data memory is designed to erase individual bits, in particular operating data that are no longer needed, in particular automatically. This allows time and hence energy to be saved, in particular in contrast to a FLASH operating data memory with a block-by-block erase process. In this respect, reference should also be made to the relevant specialist literature. Additionally or alternatively, the device or the operating data memory thereof, in particular the EEPROM operating data memory of the latter, can be designed to split a larger erase process over multiple intervals, if provided for.
In one development of the invention, the device has an, in particular electrical, output device, in particular a display. The output device is designed to output, in particular to display, an ON state of the device, in particular automatically. The output device is designed to draw electric power from the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, during operation, in particular automatically. The operating mode control device is designed to operate the output device, in particular automatically, in a, in particular the, normal temperature operating mode in particular at a temperature, in particular a value or an absolute value of the temperature, above a, in particular the, temperature limit value and to operate it, in particular automatically, in a, in particular the, low temperature operating mode, which is different from the normal temperature operating mode, at a temperature, in particular a value or an absolute value of the temperature, equal to or below the temperature limit value, such that less, in particular no, electric power is drawn from the electrochemical energy store, in particular the battery, by or for the output device in the low temperature operating mode than in the normal temperature operating mode. The device or the output device thereof allows the ON state of the device to be output to the user. In particular, the operating mode control device can be electrically connected to the output device. In particular, the operating mode control device can be electrically connected firstly to the output device and secondly to the electrochemical energy store, if present, or can be interposed. In other words: the output device can be electrically connected to the electrochemical energy store, if present, by means of the operating mode control device. Put another way: the output device need not be electrically connected to the electrochemical energy store, if present, directly.
The device described above with all or some of its properties can be intended to be able to be used with the motor-driven tool, in particular which can be driven by means of an electric motor and/or by means of an internal combustion engine, to capture operating data of the tool. In other words: use of the device for capturing operating data of the motor-driven tool, in particular which can be driven by means of an electric motor and/or by means of an internal combustion engine.
The system according to the invention has a device as described above and a motor-driven tool. In particular, the tool may be designed in part or wholly as described above.
In one development of the invention, the motor-driven tool is a manually guided, in particular hand-held or soil-guided, tool. In particular manually guided, in particular handheld, tool can mean that the tool can have a mass of no more than 50 kilograms (kg), in particular of no more than 20 kg, in particular of no more than 10 kg. Additionally or alternatively, the tool can be a garden and/or forestry tool or a soil cultivation tool.
In particular, the tool can be a saw, or a high-level delimber or a pole pruner, respectively, or a hedge trimmer, or a hedge cutter, or a leaf blower, or a leaf suction device, or a sweeping roller, or a sweeping brush, or a lawn mower, or a brushcutter, or a scarifier, or an angle grinder, or a rotovator, or a pressure washer, or a sprayer, or a drill.
In addition or as an alternative to the motor-driven tool, the system can have a terminal. In particular, the terminal can be designed in part or wholly as described above. Additionally or alternatively, the terminal can be any data-processing device, which can have a suitable wireless interface that can be designed for wireless communication with the communication interface of the device for capturing operating data. As a further addition or alternative, the terminal can form, or be, a gateway that can forward the received operating data to a server, such as to what is known as a cloud memory, that can store the operating data. The operating data stored in the cloud memory can then be viewed and evaluated by means of a suitable tool such as a web browser. As a further addition or alternative, the terminal can be a mobile terminal such as a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone. In particular mobile can be referred to as portable or manually guided, in particular handheld.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Device for capturing operating data of a motor-driven tool, and system


Techniques are provided herein for providing survivable browsing when a client endpoint device loses contact with its host server. A Hosted Virtual Desktop (HVD) draws and communicates an HVD display image comprising a HVD browser window to the client endpoint device for display, via a virtual desktop interface (VDI) protocol. A browser (or browser extension) on the HVD works together with a browser server on the client endpoint device to synchronize browser data, and in some examples to render data such as streaming media in a client-provided frameless browser window in place of a placeholder in the HVD browser window. In response to the detection of an inactive VDI session, the browser server on the client endpoint device launches an endpoint browser instance to seamlessly switch browsing from the HVD browser window to an endpoint browser window, using the browser synchronization data.

Web browsing is an increasingly popular activity in business and personal settings, and with the growth of network-connected devices such as personal computers, web-capable mobile phones and tablets has come increased demand for the provision of media over the web. For example, users may desire to conduct web-based audio and video conferencing, buy or rent movies or television shows over the web, view video or animation encoded for Adobe Flash, listen to streaming radio stations, or even play games with users around the world via the Internet.
When virtual or cloud-based desktops are used, web browsing may be virtualized along with other hosted applications. That is, a browser application may run in a hosted virtual desktop (HVD), or run as a hosted virtual application (HVA) while the browser window is displayed to a user on a remote client endpoint device such as a computer or mobile phone. If the connectivity between a client endpoint device and the host server is lost, then browsing will be disrupted, leading to losses of productivity.

Survivable browsing in virtualized desktop environment when host connectivity is lost