The proposed device comprises a primary detector and a measuring amplifier, the primary converter comprising a central cylindrical core and an external cylindrical core arranged coaxially along a longitudinal axis, a movable member being mounted coaxially with the cores, a measuring winding arranged on the central core along the longitudinal axis in such a manner that the turns of the winding encompass the central core in a transverse direction, and an additional winding having a common electrical connection point with the measuring winding and disposed on one of the cores so that its turns encompass the core in a longitudinal direction and pass through the corresponding central axial opening. The measuring winding and the additional winding are connected with the measuring amplifier, and alternating current voltage is fed to the input thereof.

A large number of designs of inductive and transformer-type linear displacement devices (transducers) are known in the present state of the art, that are widely used in different instruments and measuring information systems.
Most of the known linear displacement transducers are characterized by the presence of an error in the results of measurements, so-called additional error, caused by external factors. Many of the improvements in the designs of the known transducers are directed to increasing the accuracy of measurements by minimizing the additional error; nevertheless, this problem still remains urgent.
Known in the art is a device for measuring displacements, belonging to the category of transformer-type transducers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,298), which comprises a variable-inductance winding consisting of two coils arranged on a core made from a ferromagnetic material. The coils abut each other in an axial direction and are encompassed by a metallic screen, and the primary detector circuit is connected with the winding.
The overall dimensions of the known transducer are sufficiently large, because its length is approximately twice the displacement range, this being of crucial importance when the measuring ranges are large. Due to the large overall dimensions of the transducer its parts are under different conditions, and this leads to the appearance of an additional error caused by temperature and moisture gradients and other external factors.
Transducers for measuring linear displacements are also known, described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,210,490 and 5,216,364). Each of these transducers has two coaxial cores on which transformer windings are arranged. In the first version the primary and secondary transformer windings abut each other, and a movable member moves along them; in the second version the windings are arranged on the corresponding cores and the movable member moves in a gap between the cores. An electric circuit whose output signal bears information on the displacement of an object is connected to the windings.
The output voltage for these devices is found from the formula ##EQU1##
where .omega. and U are the frequency and amplitude of the supply voltage, Z.sub.1 is the impedance of the primary winding, and M(x) is the mutual inductance of the primary and secondary windings, dependent on the position x of the movable member. The value M(x) depends on the inductance of the windings, i.e., on the number of turns, the material and configuration of the magnetic system constituted by the cores and the movable member. The value Z depends on the inductance and active resistance, which is much more dependent on the ambient conditions (first of all, on the temperature) than the inductance is. Therefore, the values M(x) and Z vary to a different extent under the influence of external factors, and this leads to errors in the results of measurements.
Furthermore, in the embodiment of the device with the coaxial arrangement of the windings an additional error may originate because of the conditions being not the same along the transverse section, compared with the embodiment with the longitudinal arrangement of the windings, wherein a temperature gradient along the length may take place.
The technical solutions presented hereinbelow belong to a different group of transducers, namely, to inductive transducers.
For instance, an inductive linear displacement transducer is known (U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,776), comprising a winding arranged on a ferromagnetic core, a source of a-c voltage with a prescribed frequency, a movable member, and a thermosensitive measuring winding connected with the winding.
In the US Patent cited above the temperature effect is compensated for with respect to the resistance of the measuring winding, whereas measurements are effected in terms of the output voltage active component proportional to losses in the movable member, caused by eddy currents. Temperature variations lead to changes of the electromagnetic parameters (magnetic permeability, electrical conductivity) of the core and, hence, to changes in the value of losses which remains not compensated for.
Those components of the device which take part in the process of thermocompensation are under different conditions, and this leads to inadequate error compensation. The electrical compensation circuit is rather complicated.
Devices sufficiently close to the proposed invention are those for measuring linear displacements, based on the classical inductive divider circuit. However, there arises a problem characteristic of this type of transducers. The additional winding, which partially compensates for the additional error, must be found under the same physical conditions as the measuring winding, i.e., it must be disposed near the measuring winding all over the length thereof. But then, with the adopted manner of winding the turns, the additional winding will experience the influence of eddy currents of the movable member, and this will make the interpretation of the output signal ambiguous. In other words, it will be impossible to reveal the cause of variation of the additional winding impedance--whether it stems from the position of the movable member or from a change in the ambient conditions, this being equivalent to the appearance of a measurement error.
An inductive position transmitter is known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,331,277), belonging to the category of inductive dividers, which comprises an inductance coil with a constant and variable resistance that are interconnected and inserted between an a-c voltage source and ground, making-up a divider which shapes an output signal that varies in accordance with a prescribed relation.
The output voltage in the known device is determined from the formula ##EQU2##
where V is the power supply voltage, Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 are the impedances of the windings with the variable and constant inductance, respectively. These windings differ in extension, because the first is distributed along the length and the second is concentrated within a small area. This causes dissimilar variation of their impedances under the effect of varying ambient conditions and leads to errors in the output signal value. The winding with the variable inductance consists of several sections, and the number of turns is chosen in accordance with a definite law. Said sections are distributed according to length, and the active-to-reactive resistance ratio in them is different. As a result, the impedances of the sections vary to a different extent, and this leads to violation of the prescribed law of the winding inductance variation, and, hence, to an error.
The prior art nearest to the proposed invention is a device for measuring linear displacements of induction type (D. I. Ageikin et al., "Control and Regulation Transducers", Mashinostroenie, Moscow, 1965, p. 126 (in Russian), comprising a primary detector and a measuring amplifier, the primary detector comprising a central cylindrical core and an external cylindrical core arranged coaxially, a movable member mounted coaxially thereto, and electrically interconnected measuring and additional windings, of which the first is disposed along the length of the central core so that its turns encompass the central core in a transverse direction, and the measuring amplifier is electrically connected with the measuring and additional windings.
In the known device the movable member is made as a metallic tube from a nonmagnetic material, which embraces the central core, the measuring winding is arranged on a frame in a gap between the central core and the external core, and the additional winding in the form of a throttle together with the measuring winding are inserted into a bridge circuit fed with an audio-frequency a-c voltage. The bridge circuit outputs are coupled to inputs of a tensometric amplifier. The device is intended mainly for measuring large linear displacements (up to 100 m).
The operation of the device is based on changes in the total resistance of the measuring winding as the electrically conducting movable member approaches it under the demagnetizing effect of eddy currents induced in the measuring winding.
The design of the device is such that the measuring winding and the additional winding are under different physical conditions. An appreciable additional error caused by the influence of external factors. With the measuring and additional windings inserted into a bridge circuit, constant voltage across the measuring winding cannot be ensured, and this leads to the appearance of an additional error in the output signal, namely, of the multiplicative error component which is understood as an error due to a change in the sensitivity of the primary detector. Variations in the ambient conditions bring about changes in the resistance of the measuring winding. This causes the appearance of an additive component which is understood as an error due to a change in the initial value of the output signal, corresponding to the initial position of the movable member.
The design of the primary detector in the known device limits its functional potentialities, complicating adaptation to the service conditions (for instance, mating of the movable member with the object of measurement). The arrangement of the measuring winding on a frame between the cores does not allow one to reduce the cross-sectional area of the primary detector.

Device for measuring linear displacements


A board unit includes a board that has a through hole penetrating the board from a first side of the board to a second side of the board and having a conductive inner wall surface a first electronic component that has a first connection pin to be press-fitted in the through hole from the first side of the board, and a conductive member that is disposed in the through hole to connect the inner wall surface of the through hole to the first connection pin.

Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-183649 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,442 discuss a multilayer wiring board that has two through holes formed therein side by side and connected together at both end portions or one end portions thereof, thereby removing stub portions of the through holes.
The term "stub" used herein means a branch wire among wires of a printed circuit board or a semiconductor substrate which is neither connected to any terminal (terminated), nor grounded.
According to one method of forming a through hole that connects to an internal layer wire of a printed board, a metal film is formed on the inner wall of a through hole, and is then cut out from the bottom side of the printed board, thereby removing an unnecessary portion to be a stub.
There is a case where pins of a connector or the like are inserted in through holes to mount the connector or the like on a printed circuit board. Because each pin has a tapered tip, some part of the tip portion of the pin does not contact the conductive wall surface of the through hole.
Even if stubs of through holes are reduced by the foregoing scheme of the related art, therefore, stubs are formed at the tip portions of the pins of a connector or the like when the pins are inserted into through holes.
The stubs formed at the tip portions of the pins this way deteriorate the signal transfer characteristic on the board, and particularly, causes significant deterioration of the fast signal transfer characteristic.

Board unit and method of fabricating the same


A method and apparatus for using a single computer program code base to provide a program that is operable in either a client-server mode or a standalone mode are provided. In one embodiment, a client logic element has one or more proxy objects, each of which implement an interface that is neutral with respect to the client-server mode and the standalone mode. A server logic element has one or more service objects. Each of the service objects implements the interface. The interface implementations are not bound to any code that is specific to the client-server version or the standalone version. In the stand-alone version, the client side logic invokes the server side logic directly through the interfaces, as implemented by the service objects. In the client-server version, the client side logic invokes the server side logic through the same set of Java interfaces. However, the interfaces are implemented by the proxy objects, which internally implement a transport mechanism to forward the method invocation and parameters to the server side through a servlet API. In response, a servlet identifies the corresponding service object and invokes the corresponding method with serialized parameters. When the method returns, the resulting object, which can be a new proxy object, is serialized back into the proxy object for the invocation and from there the result is returned to the client side logic. Using this mechanism, the client side logic only interacts with the Java interfaces, without the need to know whether it is dealing with service objects or proxy objects. Accordingly, the client side logic is shielded from any version-specific code. In addition, the same runtime environment can support both the client-server version and the standalone version.

The present invention generally relates to data processing. The invention relates more specifically to methods and apparatus of using a single computer program code base to provide a program that is operable in either a client-server mode or a standalone mode.
Development of a new computer software application program often requires an early and fundamental design decision, namely whether to structure the program as a stand-alone program or as a client-server application. Stand-alone programs normally support use by a single user who communicates with one instance of the program at any given time. Client-server applications generally comprise a server software element that can receive and support multiple connections from multiple concurrent users or client software elements. Client-server architecture is increasingly popular because it is naturally suited to technologies such as the World Wide Web, in which browser client programs receive service from a remotely located server. In client-server model the browser client may execute a client side applet that communicates with a server side program.
Stand-alone programs are more simple to develop and operate, but lack flexibility and scalability. Client-server applications offer the advantage of central control, and can use and build upon proven and standardized client technologies such as Web browsers. However, client-server applications are far more complicated to develop, deploy, and maintain. Further, the server element represents a single point of failure, which is undesirable in some systems. More information about client-server computing is disclosed in R. Orfali et al., xe2x80x9cClient/Server Survival Guidexe2x80x9d (New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.), 3d Ed. 1999.
Accordingly, some application programs are designed in both a standalone version and a client-server version. A challenge involved in the development of such programs is how to structure the computer program source code that makes up both versions (the xe2x80x9ccode basexe2x80x9d) in a way that both versions can be supported without unacceptably high development and maintenance costs.
In one approach to this problem, two (2) separate code bases are maintained, one for the standalone version of the application program and another for the client-server version. This approach requires different versions for some of the code as well as duplicating common code in each code base. When this approach is implemented in the Java(copyright) language, another drawback of this approach is that the two versions of executable code (xe2x80x9ccode imagesxe2x80x9d) cannot coexist in the same runtime tree, since they have the same package paths and class names. This would result in conflicts and errors in compilation, interpretation or execution. (Java(copyright) is a trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc.)
In an alternative approach, one (1) code base is used, with two (2) versions of certain interfaces between client side logic and server side logic. At run time, a portion of the client code would determine whether the currently executing version is the stand-alone version or the client-server version. Based on such determination, a corresponding version of the interfaces is selected. A disadvantage of this approach is that the version specific code is mixed in the same physical files, and one final code image is produced for both versions. As a result, the mixed version specific code is difficult to maintain as the interfaces grow, and it is difficult to debug. The decision and selection process also introduces unnecessary overhead at runtime.
In yet another alternative approach, one (1) code base is used, and compiler condition directives are used to separate version-specific code at compile time. For example, the xe2x80x9ccppxe2x80x9d compiler condition directive may be used to instruct the compiler to selectively compile portions of the source code depending on whether the stand-alone version or client-server version is being compiled. However, this approach requires the compiler directives to be placed in each file that has version-specific logic. This includes all the interface files between the client side logic and the server side logic. This also makes the code difficult to maintain. As in the first approach described above, when this approach is implemented in the Javag language, another drawback is that the two versions of code images cannot coexist in the same runtime tree, since they have the same package paths and class names. This would result in conflicts and errors in compilation, interpretation or execution.
Based on the foregoing, there is a clear need for a way to structure a code base in order to support both a stand-alone version of an application program and a client-server version.
Ideally, a single computer program code base could provide a program that is operable in either a client-server mode or a standalone mode.
There is a particular need for a method and approach that is useful in the Java(copyright) program development environment.
A method and apparatus for using a single computer program code base to provide a program that is operable in either a client-server mode or a standalone mode are provided. According to one aspect, the invention provides a method of operating a software application in either a client-server mode or a standalone mode using one software code base. Client logic and server logic are created and stored within the one software code base. One or more service objects are created that implement one or more interfaces among the client logic and the server logic. For each of the service objects, a corresponding proxy object is created and stored. A standalone version of the software application that includes the service objects is created and stored. In the standalone version, the client logic invokes the server logic through the interfaces, which are implemented by the service objects.
One feature of this aspect involves creating and storing a client-server version of the software application that includes the service objects and the proxy objects, in which the client logic invokes the server logic through the interfaces, which are implemented by the service objects. In another feature, the method further involves receiving an invocation of a server logic method from the client logic at one of the proxy objects; forwarding the method invocation to a servlet element; and identifying and invoking a corresponding method of one of the service objects that corresponds to one of the proxy objects.
According to another feature, the method includes the steps of serializing parameters of the invocation of the server logic as part of invoking the corresponding method. Another feature involves receiving a result of the service object invocation in the form of a second proxy object; serializing result parameters of the second proxy object into the first proxy object; returning results to the client logic via the proxy object.
In one specific embodiment, a client logic element has one or more proxy objects, each of which implement an interface that is neutral with respect to the client-server mode and the standalone mode. A server logic element has one or more service objects. Each of the service objects implements the interface. The interface implementations are not bound to any code that is specific to the client-server version or the standalone version. In the stand-alone version, the client side logic invokes the server side logic directly through the interfaces, as implemented by the service objects. In the client-server version, the client side logic invokes the server side logic through the same set of Java interfaces. However, the interfaces are implemented by the proxy objects, which internally implement a transport mechanism to forward the method invocation and parameters to the server side through a servlet API. In response, a servlet identifies the corresponding service object and invokes the corresponding method with serialized parameters. When the method returns, the resulting object, which can be a new proxy object, is serialized back into the proxy object for the invocation and from there the result is returned to the client side logic. Using this mechanism, the client side logic only interacts with the Java interfaces, without the need to know whether it is dealing with service objects or proxy objects. Accordingly, the client side logic is shielded from any version-specific code. In addition, the same runtime environment can support both the client-server version and the standalone version.
Other aspects and embodiments relate to a multi-mode network management application program, and to a computer-readable medium that is configured to carry out the foregoing steps.

Method and apparatus of using a single computer program source code base to provide a program that is operable in either a client-server mode or a standalone mode


A laser-strike detection system includes an imaging sensor mounted on a platform, and a computing device. The imaging sensor outputs image frames that are each representative of a portion of the platform at a different time, during which a laser may be striking the platform. The computing device receives the image frames, and computes a delay map that indicates time-of-arrival delays of the laser beam at points on the portion of the platform. The computing device converts the delay map to a path-length variation map by multiplying the delay map by the propagation speed of light. The computing device fits a plane to the path-length variation map constrained by a topological model of the platform. The computing device computes angular deflections in x- and y-directions based upon the fit, which angular deflections define a direction from the platform to an emitter of the laser beam.

Laser strikes against commercial aircraft have become a significant problem for commercial aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported thousands of laser strikes against aircraft in the United States each year between 2016 and 2020. A laser strike against an aircraft is commonly detected by the aircraft's pilot when the laser impinges on the cockpit of the aircraft, potentially obscuring the vision of the pilot.
Various electronic systems for detecting laser strikes have also been developed. These systems generally use optical sensors, mounted on an aircraft, to detect direct impingement of laser beams on the sensors. While these direct-impingement systems are capable of detecting laser strikes that miss the cockpit and therefore have not yet directly interfered with a pilot's vision, direct-impingement systems are only capable of detecting strikes that impinge at the place where the sensor is located. It is impractical to cover an aircraft completely in optical sensors, and so many laser strikes may be missed. Furthermore, conventional laser-detection systems may only indicate an origin of a laser that strikes the aircraft in a very general sense. For instance, if a conventional optical sensor detects a laser strike on a starboard side of the aircraft, a laser detection system can indicate that the laser originates from somewhere to starboard, but generally provides no further information.

National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC


A filtering process is adapted for eliminating the need of prediscretizing a continuous-time differential model into a discrete-time difference model. It provides a universal robust solution to the most general formulation, in the sense that the system dynamics are described by nonlinear continuous-time differential equations, and the nonlinear measurements are taken at intermittent discrete times randomly spaced. The filtering process includes the procedures of validating the measurement using fuzzy logic, and incorporating factorized forward filtering and backward smoothing to guarantee numerical stability. It provides users a reliable and convenient solution to extracting internal dynamic system state estimates from noisy measurements, with wider applications, better accuracy, better stability, easier design, and easier implementation.

The present invention relates to robust information extraction, and more particularly to a filtering process for stable and accurate estimation.
In most information extraction applications, propagation of an internal state of a dynamic system, which is not measurable by sensors directly, is naturally described by nonlinear continuous-time differential equations, based upon physical laws,
x(t)=f(x(t))+w(t)
where x(t) is a state vector, f(x) is a vector nonlinear function describing the system dynamics, and w(t) is a system noise with a covariance matrix Q(t).
Measurable quantities, which are generally available at intermittent discrete times, are usually in nonlinear relationship with the internal system states,
z(k)=h(x(k))+v(k)
where z(k) represents a discrete measurement at the k-th sampling time tk, h(x) is a vector nonlinear function which describes the relationship of the measurement with the state vector, and v(k) is a measurement noise with a covariance of R(k).
A filtering process deals with the problem of extracting the internal, sometimes hidden and unmeasurable, state, x(t), from the measurement z(k). Applications of the filtering process are very common, to name a few, such as classifying the component materials from hyperspectral imagery, obtaining the aircraft position and attitude from the accelerometer and gyro measurements of an Inertial Measurement Unit, and tracking a target""s velocity and acceleration from a Radar""s positional measurements.
Under the conditions of a linear system with linear measurements, a Gaussian system noise and a Gaussian measurement noise, a linear Kalman filter provides an optimal estimate of the internal system state. The estimate is optimal in the sense that the covariance of the estimate is minimal, the residuals are a white Gaussian noise process, and innovative information is absent in the residuals. If selectively, the system model and the measurement model are nonlinear, extracting an estimate of the internal system state x(t), from noisy measurements, z(k), is conventionally accomplished by an extended Kalman filter, and selectively, in some cases, by a variant of the extended Kalman filter. An extended Kalman filter shares most of the salient features with a linear Kalman filter, by linearizing the nonlinear system equations and measurement equations about the most recent estimate and taking a first-order approximation to a Taylor-series expansion.
In the nonlinear cases, an optimal estimate of the system state is difficult for the extended Kalman filter to attain. A direct implementation of an extended Kalman filter possesses several inherent drawbacks. First, it is prone to numerical divergence. The correct propagation of the state estimates relies on the proper propagation of a covariance error matrix, which must remain symmetric and positive definite all the time, due to its mathematical definition. Finite-length manipulations, such as computer roundoff error, usually result in a loss of the symmetry and positive definiteness of the covariance error matrix resulting in numerical instability. A feasible approach is unavailable to recover from such a numerical divergence status.
An extended Kalman filter passively accepts measurements and is sensitive to measurement quality. Conventionally, it accepts whatever measurement data the measurement input interface provides in full confidence. The Kalman filter is unable to distinguish good-quality measurements from low-quality ones. It generally does not attempt to correct the measurement data by any means even though there might be enough evidence that the quality of measurement data is very poor. When the quality of the measurements applied to the Kalman filter is worse than that accounted for by the measurement noise, the results generated by the Kalman filter are usually meaningless, and yet, it is difficult to determine whether the results are meaningless.
Another difficulty in a conventional extended Kalman filter is the requirement of discretizing the continuous-time differential model into a discrete-time difference model. This in turn requires the selection of a discretization time prior to the design of the extended Kalman filter. A standard method is to set the discretization time the same as the sampling period of the measurements. Such a prediscretization approach does not guarantee that the discrete-time difference model is a good approximation to the continuous-time differential model, especially in the case of a slow sampling rate. Neither is this prediscretization approach able to detect a divergence of the discrete-time difference model from the continuous-time differential model when the divergence occurs.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process for the most general formulation, in the sense that the system dynamics are described by nonlinear continuous-time differential equations, and the nonlinear measurements are taken at intermittent discrete times randomly spaced, wherein the selection of a discretization time for the continuous-time differential model is unnecessary, which possesses wider applications, better accuracy, better stability, easier design, and easier implementation.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process, wherein the propagation of the system state estimate between two consecutive measurement instants in the time update is governed by an adaptive stepsize control, which automatically determines the time step and guarantees the convergence.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process, which validates measurement data, in order to reject poor-quality measurement data before they are fed into the filter.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process, which corrects measurement data, in order to correct low-quality measurement data before they are fed into the filter.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process, comprising an adaptive stepsize control to automatically compute the stepsize to propagate the backward state estimate in the backward time update.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process, wherein square root implementations are enforced for covariance matrix propagation, wherever applied, to ensure numerical stability.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a filtering process, wherein the system state estimates are obtained by using, selectively, forward estimating solution, and combined forward estimating solution and backward smoothing solution.
Accordingly, in order to accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a filtering process which comprises the steps of:
(a) computing a model relevant information for a time update and a measurement update in a model selection; and
(b) providing, from the model selection, an initial condition of a system estimate for a system model computation in the time update, an initial condition of a covariance error matrix for a derivative system model computation in the time update, a system model for the system model computation in the time update, a derivative system model for the derivative system model computation in the time update, a measurement model for a measurement model computation in the measurement update, and a derivative measurement model for a derivative measurement model computation in the measurement update.

Filtering process for stable and accurate estimation


Apparatuses, systems, and methods provide for high density laminated sheet windings in axial and radial flux configurations. According to embodiments described herein, motor components such as a rotor or stator include a number of stacked sheets of conductive material. The stacked sheets are electrically connected in series to create a winding. Each motor component includes a number of conductors spaced apart with apertures between. The motor components are stacked and configured with the conductors of one rotor or stator positioned within the apertures of the other rotor or stator to create a thin, high density conductor. A magnemotive force is created when the magnetic flux is positioned over the conductors.

Motors commonly utilize rotors and stators, at least one of which typically includes windings consisting of copper wire wound tightly around an iron core. When rotated within a magnetic field or introduced to a rotating magnetic field, the resulting induction motor produces torque. While these iron-cored motors can be very powerful and even relatively efficient, there are limitations. The iron-cored configuration can be heavy when used within a motor designed for use on an aircraft or other vehicle where weight is a significant concern. Additionally, the windings do not allow for efficient packing densities when coils are stacked together. Stacking coils creates larger air gaps that lower the efficiency of the motors due to the decreased amount of coils that can be exposed to a given magnetic flux within a defined area of the stator or rotor containing the winding.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.


A railroad tie replacing device (10) including a support frame (11) on rollers (22) for movement over a series of parallel railroad tracks (28) supported by railroad ties (29). A main piston or cylinder (15) is positioned such that the stroke of the piston rod is horizontally toward and away from the rails. A gripping mechanism (23) is arranged on the main cylinder rod and is capable of gripping a railroad support to be replaced. The main cylinder and an attached spacer (24) for securing the invention to the rail during operation are lowered over the rail by a lift cylinder (18). Upon operation, the grippers are closed over a tie to be removed and the main cylinder is activated. The outward stroke of the main cylinder piston rod with appended gripper mechanisms pulls the tie from beneath the rails.

During the course of the operation of a railroad line, safety is an extremely important consideration, and it is especially necessary to provide and maintain the integrity of the actual rails and track area. As a result, a variety of devices and maintenance equipment have been developed to improve the efficiency of track maintenance procedures. For example, automatic snow removal and track laying equipment are routinely used to ensure operation of a rail line with only minimal inconvenience and interruption.
A particular problem that has been addressed in a variety of ways is the maintenance and replacement of the support ties (i.e., "railroad ties") over which the actual track rails run. Typically, a plurality of parallel track rails are supported by elongated wood or cement members (i.e., support ties) of rectangular cross section which are spaced beneath the rails perpendicular to the direction of rail travel. These support ties are usually embedded in a track bed of crushed stone or gravel. Often, because of the elements or through extended use, the support ties become damaged, warped or unstable. Accordingly, it is necessary to routinely extract and replace damaged support ties to insure the continued integrity of the rail line and overlying track rails. It is, of course, desirable to extract and replace damaged support ties quickly and efficiently without having to remove a length of actual track rail thereby rendering a particular track line inoperative for a period time.
Accordingly, various devices have been adopted to remove and replace support ties by securely gripping and then pulling a particular tie from beneath the track rails supported thereby. Many of these devices are heavy or mechanically bulky and require a maintenance locomotive or other similar railroad equipment for positioning and operation. These types of devices, of course, cause a particular track to be rendered inoperative since the track is effectively "blocked" to all other traffic during the course of maintenance operations unless a "side track" is close by. "Blocking" a length of track for any significant length of time is particularly undesirable in areas where no "side tracks" are conveniently located; e.g., in rural areas or between widely spaced destinations or in desolate and unpopulated areas. Thus, the "blocking" of an isolated line may result in total suspension of all traffic over such line and, in some cases, emergency conditions requiring re-routing of other, non-maintenance trains.
This problem has led to the development of various portable support tie extracting and replacing devices which may be transported to a particular track site either by maintenance train or by truck and placed upon a length of track by a work crew. These devices are generally adapted to be lifted and positioned through the use of conveniently located handles on the device. The devices typically comprise a light-weight skeletal support frame with wheels adapted to span the distance between the rails much like a locomotive or other track maintenance machine. Typically, mounted on the support frame are a series of pistons and cylinders used to secure a gripping mechanism to a particular tie to be removed and to provide a lateral or horizontal force to extract or insert the tie beneath the track rails. The prior art includes a number of similar patented devices which are described and operate in an almost identical manner; e.g., German Patent No. G-78 21 516.4 (Pierobon); Italian Patent No. 34.839 B/77 (Pierobon) and French Patent No. 7821163 (Pierobon). Each of these foreign patents describe and claim a portable device for replacing support ties using a series of pistons and cylinders.
Although the referenced patented devices and similar devices are relatively effective and efficient, numerous problems have been identified attendant to their continued use. In particular, the devices, primarily used in Europe, do not have the flexibility to be safely adapted and used with variable width track or track of special configuration. For example, depending on geographic location, track rails may be nine-inch or a six-inch gauge (or width) requiring a portable extractor to be adaptable to the variable widths. Also, safety considerations inherent to a particular track area (e.g., those attendant to double tracks on bridge crossings or to the merging of multiple tracks called "frog" connections) require flexible and adaptable means to secure the device to these various different track configurations during operation. The prior art does not have this flexibility either. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the force generated by such devices is rather large (18,000 to 20,000 pounds) to enable the ties to be pulled from beneath the track and through the track bed without rail removal. Accordingly, it is essential that the replacement device be securely affixed to the top of the track rail during operation which is normally done through spacers (i.e., three-sided clamps attached to the device frame which fit over the rail width) to ensure safe operation. The known prior art does not have such securing means adaptable to meet all of these conditions; i.e., variable track width and different track configurations. This, of course, limits use of the prior art devices to specific track conditions.
Moreover, the devices described in the known prior art also fail to address other undesirable, unsafe conditions. For instance, the hoses connecting the hydraulic control systems and fluid sources to the various cylinders described in the prior art are often exposed unnecessarily. In particular, the devices require that certain hoses be capable of extending a distance equal to the stroke of certain pistons and cylinders. This results in the hoses being extraordinarily long and therefore susceptible to rupture or damage during and after operation.
In addition, although the prior art devices are apparently portable, none are equipped with appropriate safety release valves or other means for quickly removing the grippers or the secured frame from the track if the engine powering the piston seizes or malfunctions during operation. Accordingly, in the event of a breakdown, it is often the case that the prior art devices, although portable, effectively "block" the track much like bulky or locomotive powered devices until their engine can be repaired.
Accordingly, the invention solves these problems by providing a means for securing the device to various types of track or track configurations and further, providing a hose reel to automatically coil any excess hose, as well as a safety release valve and reservoir for releasing pressure in the cylinders in the event of malfunction or emergency, independent of engine operation.

Railroad support tie replacement device with track locking device


An ink tank cartridge (A) includes a housing (10) having a bottom wall (28) and a plurality of side walls (12, 14, 16, 18) forming a cavity (20). A divider wall (22) is positioned within the cavity to divide the cavity into first and second chambers (24, 26). An ink supply port (42) projects from the bottom wall of the housing. A porous member (40) is accommodated in the chamber having the ink supply port. The other chamber is partially filled with ink. The divider wall has an opening (30) allowing ink to pass from one of the chambers to the other chamber. A cover (50) having a fill hole (94) is secured to the housing.

This invention relates generally to the ink-jet printing art for ejecting ink droplets on a recording medium such as paper, and more particularly, to an ink tank cartridge for use in an ink-jet type recording apparatus such as a printer.
In a conventional recording apparatus, ink is supplied to a recording head from an ink tank constructed as a cartridge. A benefit of using an ink cartridge serving as an ink tank is that ink does not smear due to the leakage of ink while refilling new ink or the like. However, undesired air bubbles can easily enter the ink tank during the filling process which cause problems such as ink supply failure. Controlling the flow of ink from the cartridge is also a concern. When ink is supplied from an ink tank, ink in the tank remote located in a region from the supply port flows toward the supply port as a result of a pressure difference. Capillary attraction in an ink impregnated member or foam in the vicinity of the supply port is increased due to ink consumption.
A cartridge can also be divided into multiple chambers, where a porous foam or material is positioned over an outlet port in one chamber and free ink is filled into the other chamber. The free ink migrates from its chamber into the foam through an opening providing communication between the two chambers. The foam then controls the flow of ink as it migrates toward the ink outlet port.
It is desirable to develop a new and improved ink cartridge which would provide better, more advantageous overall results.
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an ink tank cartridge is provided for an ink-jet type recording apparatus removably mounted on an ink supply needle of a recording body.
More particularly, the invention relates to an ink tank cartridge used for an ink-jet type recording apparatus which is removably mountable onto an ink supply needle of the recording apparatus. The ink tank cartridge includes a housing having a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls forming a cavity. A divider wall is positioned within the cavity to divide the cavity into first and second chambers. An ink supply port provides an opening that extends through a bottom wall located in one of the chambers of the housing.
A porous member is accommodated in one of the chambers. The porous member has ink impregnated therein and abuts the opening in the bottom wall. A groove is formed in the bottom wall to direct and transfer ink from the porous member to the ink supply port. A filter is positioned between the ink supply port and the porous member. The porous member comprises porous hydrophilic foam and has pores of larger size than the pores in the filter. The filter is thermally sealed over the grooves and ink supply port. The other chamber is partially filled with ink. The divider wall has an opening allowing ink to pass from the ink chamber(s) to the foam chamber.
A seal member is inserted into the ink supply port. A retaining member holds the seal member in place. The cartridge further comprises a cover which is secured to the housing. The cover has at least one vent hole and at least one fill hole. A plug is inserted into the fill hole to maintain negative pressure in the cartridge. Ink is pressure filled into the cartridge through the fill hole after the cartridge is subjected to a vacuum or negative pressure. A seal is subsequently attached to the cover to seal the cover.
Still other aspects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description.


It is determined that a backup of a set of backup sources is triggered at a first instance by a backup policy associated with the set of backup sources. It is determined for each backup source of the set of backup sources, a size of data to be backed up. In the event the determined size of a selected backup source of the set exceeds a threshold size, a backup of the selected backup source is paused despite the backup policy specifying the backup to be performed at the first instance and the backup of the selected backup source is resumed at a second instance specified by a backup resume policy.

Data backup environments usually include multiple backup sources that are to be backed up. Often backups are configured using one or more backup policies that specify when to perform a backup of a group of one or more backup sources. However, it may take a variable amount of time to backup each of the backup sources because the backup sources may contain varying amounts of data and variable amounts of incremental data that have been modified since a previous backup. Often due to resource and program constraints, when a large amount of data is being backed up from a single backup source, other backup sources are waiting for the single backup source to finish before the other backup sources are backed up. This may cause a backup of a backup source to be delayed beyond an acceptable amount of time after the backup was initiated by the backup policy. Therefore, there exists a need for a better way to handle a backup that may take a long time to complete.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods for improving gastrointestinal absorption function and correct deficiencies by preserving intestinal epithelial absorptive function. In particular, the compositions and methods for useful for improving gastrointestinal absorption of electrolytes.

A strong cellular lining is important for a healthy gastrointestinal (GI) track, as it provides a barrier to the billions of microbes and harmful toxins to which the GI tract is exposed. The intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) form a selective permeability barrier separating luminal content from underlying tissues. The gastrointestinal epithelial lining consists of a monolayer of columnar cells. This monolayer of IECs is constantly moving at a speed of 5-10 μm/h and is renewed every 2-5 days. The maintenance of this barrier is critical for normal growth, development, and disease prevention. Normally, IECs function as a barrier that prevents undesirable solutes, microorganisms, viruses, and luminal antigens from entering the body.
Several elements that participate in the barrier function include the epithelial cells themselves along with tight junctions, adherens junctions, and luminal secretions such as mucus or unstirred layers on the apical aspects of the epithelium. The junctions function as semi-permeable gates that regulate the passive movement of luminal fluid and solutes through the paracellular pathway, and limit passive diffusion of proteins and lipids between the outer leaflet of the apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains. Major transmembrane proteins in the junctions include occludin, claudins, junctional adhesion molecules (JAMs), coxsackie adenovirus receptor (CAR), and E-cadherin.
The epithelium of the GI track, however, is often damaged by infection and inflammation or upon exposure to toxins. This manifests, frequently, with diarrhea and leads to fluid and electrolyte losses through the GI tract. Thus, it is important to maintain the integrity of the gastrointestinal epithelium, and improving its health and absorptive function once the integrity is compromised after injury.

Compositions and methods for improving gastrointestinal absorption of electrolytes


A device, such as a data network device for a medical data network, controls an operating state of a second medical device in such a way that by sending a request message, the second medical device is prompted to change over into the operating state of the combined therapy and hence into an operating state in which its actuator is controlled as a function of an information signal of the first medical device. The information signal is based on physiological measured values. As a result, a clinician does not have to configure the second medical device himself/herself directly on site at the medical device by inputting an input signal, but this can be carried out by the device.

It is sometimes desirable in a medical setting for a plurality of medical devices to interact in order to make possible a healing process or a therapy of a patient. A first medical device may detect here via a sensor physiological measured values related to a physiological parameter of a patient, which can then be analyzed in order to actuate an actuator of a second medical device as a function of the physiological parameter. Such an actuator may be, for example, a gas feed unit of a ventilator (also known as a respirator) as an example of a second medical device. A first medical device is, for example, a so-called physiological patient monitor, which detects voltage potentials as measured values on respiratory muscles, e.g., on the basis of EMG electrodes or electromyography electrodes.
The first medical device may determine, for example, measured values filtered or processed from physiological measured values and then make these available as an information signal to the second medical device via a data network, so that the second medical device uses the values indicated in the information signal for selecting an operating parameter value of the actuator. Such an operating parameter of an actuator may be, for example, a predefined pressure value for a pressure-controlled ventilation by means of the gas feed unit.

Device for controlling an operating state of at least one medical device in a medical data network as well as medical device for a medical data network


A power supply controller used in a DC/DC converter includes a feedback control unit that generates a pulse-shaped PWM signal having a first level that is one of a high level and a low level and a second level that is the other of the high level and the low level, on the basis of a feedback voltage based on an output voltage of the DC/DC converter; a low voltage detection unit that detects a low voltage of the feedback voltage; and a selection unit that chooses, as a chosen clock signal, a first clock signal having a high duty when the low voltage is not detected by the low voltage detection unit, and chooses a second clock signal having a low duty when the low voltage is detected by the low voltage detection unit. The feedback control unit includes a reset signal generation unit that generates a pulse-shaped reset signal having the first level and the second level, based on the feedback voltage, and a PWM signal generation unit that generates the PWM signal at the first level during a period that is an overlap between a period during which the reset signal is at the first level and a period during which the chosen clock signal is at the first level.

The present disclosure relates to a power supply controller for a direct to direct (DC/DC) converter.
In related art, there are various DC/DC converters such as a DC/DC converter of a step-down type. For example, JP 2016-19455A discloses a step-down DC/DC converter.
In such a DC/DC converter as disclosed in JP 2016-19455A, a feedback voltage is generated by dividing the output voltage by resistors, and the feedback voltage is input to an error amplifier to perform pulse width modulation (PWM) control, thereby setting the output voltage to a constant value for stabilization.


A method for casting a metal or ceramic powder which comprises casting a slurry of the metal or ceramic powder suspended in a dispersion medium containing at least 10 wt. % of a liquid extractable with a supercritical fluid or a liquefied gas into a porous mold, keeping the slurry placed in the porous mold at a temperature not lower than the melting point of the dispersion medium, and extracting at least 10 wt. % of the dispersion medium with the supercritical fluid or liquefied gas to impart a formability to the extracted body.. In the method of the invention, since the volume change of the dispersion medium due to phase change does not occur, the internal strain and deformation of the molded body occur little. As a result, the sintered body obtained has a highly dimensional accuracy.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for casting a metal or ceramic powder which comprises suspending the powder into a liquid dispersion medium to form a slurry and casting the slurry into a mold.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Casting method is known as a molding method of metal powder, ceramic powder, and a mixture of metal powder and ceramic powder.
The inventors disclosed in Japanese Pat. KOKAI No. 62-192502 a molding method of metal powder or ceramic powder which comprises suspending the powder into a dispersion medium of which the principal component is a material having a melting point of 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. being extractable with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide, and casting the slurry into a liquid-unabsorbable mold. In this method, the cast slurry is cooled to freeze it, and then demolded. Subsequently, the principal component of the dispersion medium in the frozen body is extracted with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide. The extracted body is heated, and the residual dispersion medium is removed by thermal decomposition. The molded body thus obtained is densified by sintering to obtain a sintered body. An outline of the above process is shown in FIG. 7. The sintered body is machined if necessary, and used for a cutting tool, a machine part or the like.
The above casting method for metal or ceramic powder is excellent in obtaining a molded body in a short time without the generation of cracks, but has the following problems. In the above method, the volume change of the slurry occurs during freezing. For example, when paraffin wax is used as the dispersion medium, a volumetric shrinkage of about 25% occurs. The freezing begins at the portion to touch the mold, and strain generates on the inside of the treated body by the freezing of the outside. Therefore, the freezed body is more or less deformed. By the deformation, the molded body is sometimes broken during demolding. The degree of the deformation sharply varies according to the temperature of the slurry, casting pressure, the temperature of the mold cooling dispersion medium and pressuring time, and therefore, suitable casting conditions must be set requiring trial and error experiments for a long time. The internal strain occurred in the molding process is released during the extraction with a supercritical fluid or a liquefied gas, thermal decomposition or sintering, and deformation proceeds to decrease accuracy to size. In the case of a big profile body, the above problems are more remarkable.


A steam discharge unit (1) comprises a chamber (10) for accommodating a flow of a water-steam mixture and heating the water-steam mixture, an inlet (11) to the chamber (10), and an outlet (12) from the chamber (10). In order to avoid water droplets from exiting the chamber (10) through the outlet (12) along with a flow of steam, special measures are taken, which comprise a barrier (20) arranged inside the chamber (10), in a flow path of a water-steam mixture from the inlet (11) to the outlet (12), and a hydrophobic surface (30) arranged preferably close to the outlet (12). In case water droplets remain inside the chamber (10) and tend to move towards the outlet (12), an actual release of the water droplets from the chamber (10) cannot take place by virtue of the presence of the barrier (20) and the hydrophobic surface (30) as mentioned.

A steaming device comprising a unit for receiving so-called wet steam, i.e. a water-steam mixture, from a steam generator, and letting out dry steam is known. For example, HU 193751 discloses a steaming device having a steam discharge unit which is denoted as a condenser vessel, and which has a cylindrical inner cavity and an inlet for letting wet steam into the cavity. During operation of the steaming device, rotating motion is imparted to wet steam that is supplied to the cavity of the condenser vessel, so that water droplets are separated from the steam by centrifugal force. The water is discharged from the vessel or evaporated by heating, and the steam is discharged in line with the axis of the rotating motion, i.e. at a central position. In particular, the condenser vessel is in the form of a housing with a cylindrical cavity, a tangential steam inlet pipe and a concentric dry steam discharge pipe. HU 193751 furthermore discloses a manual steam iron which is provided with disc-shaped evaporator cavities in its base, wherein each of the cavities acts as the above-described condenser vessel.
A disadvantage of the condenser vessel known from HU 193751 is that spitting may occur. Spitting is a well-known problem in the field of steam irons, and involves an undesirable situation in which water droplets are carried along by the steam that is released from a soleplate, as a result of which items to be ironed may get wet, and may even get stained. The condenser vessel is designed to only let out dry steam, but in practice it occurs that water droplets escape from the vessel along with the flow of steam. There are various factors contributing to the problem. Among other things, as the condenser vessel is made to fit inside the soleplate of an iron, the condenser vessel has a shallow and compact design. As a consequence, the distance between the inlet and the outlet is relatively short, and the water-steam mixture does not remain in the vessel long enough for the water to evaporate and/or flow towards the discharge of the vessel.
In general, in a steaming device in which steam is separately generated and transferred via a hose or another suitable intermediate member to a discharge unit, which may be a soleplate of a steam iron, or a steamer head, for example, condensation may occur along a steam flow path, resulting in water entering the discharge unit along with the steam at relatively high velocities. Additionally, foaming can occur in the steam generator due to concentration of scale and impurities, resulting in water being carried over along with steam to the discharge unit. In an iron, it is possible for a user to choose a low temperature setting. However, with such a setting, a low energy content is obtained, resulting in a situation in which it is difficult/impossible to realize sufficiently fast evaporation of water entering the chamber of the discharge unit. Due to any of the above-mentioned factors, water leakage from the discharge unit can occur while steaming is activated.

Steam discharge unit for use in a soleplate of a steam iron


A turbine blade having a base and an airfoil, the base including a root end. The airfoil including a skin extending from the base and defining a first edge, a second edge, having a tip end opposite from the root end. The turbine blade further including a base rib extending from the base and into the airfoil, a center divider extending from adjacent the first edge towards the second edge, a center rib disposed between the center divider and the second edge, extending from adjacent the center divider towards the tip end and extending from adjacent the center divider towards the root end, a tip center rib extending from adjacent the second edge towards the first edge, a tip rib extending from adjacent the tip center rib towards the base, a dividing rib and a first channel.

Internally cooled turbine blades may include passages within the blade. These hollow blades may be cast. In casting hollow gas turbine engine blades having internal cooling passageways, a fired ceramic core is positioned in a ceramic investment shell mold to form internal cooling passageways in the cast airfoil. The fired ceramic core used in investment casting of hollow airfoils typically has an airfoil-shaped region with a thin cross-section leading edge region and trailing edge region. Between the leading and trailing edge regions, the core may include elongated and other shaped openings so as to form multiple internal walls, pedestals, turbulators, ribs, and similar features separating and/or residing in cooling passageways in the cast airfoil.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,118,553 to George Liang, describes a cooling system for a turbine airfoil of a turbine engine having dual serpentine cooling channels, an inward serpentine cooling channel and an outward serpentine cooling channel, positioned within the airfoil. The inward serpentine cooling channel may receive cooling fluids from a cooling supply system through the root and exhaust cooling fluids to the outward serpentine cooling channel at the leading edge. The outward serpentine cooling channel may pass the cooling fluids through the outward portion of the serpentine cooling channel and exhaust the cooling fluids through the trailing edge of the airfoil. Such configuration yields a better creep capability for the blade.
The present disclosure is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems discovered by the inventors.

Turbine blade with a coupled serpentine channel


In one embodiment, a diagnosis support apparatus includes: an input circuit configured to acquire a first medical image; and processing circuitry configured to generate a second medical image from the first medical image in such a manner that information included in the second medical image is reduced from information included in the first medical image, extract auxiliary information from the first medical image, and perform inference of a disease by using the second medical image and the auxiliary information.

Today, various diseases have been diagnosed on the basis of analysis of medical images that are generated by imaging an object (i.e., patient) with a modality such as an X-ray imaging apparatus, an X-ray CT (Computed Tomography) apparatus, an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
Although various diagnosis support apparatuses using medical images as inputs have been reported so far, recently, a diagnosis support apparatus and a diagnosis support system using various machine learning techniques are actively researched and developed.
For example, a technique for inferring a disease name and a disease site of the chest by deep learning using a simple X-ray image of the chest has been proposed. Additionally, a system for performing abnormality detection using an X-ray CT image has also been proposed.
Since a simple X-ray image represents the entire range of an imaging target with a single two-dimensional image, the simple X-ray image is suitable for detecting abnormality in the entire imaging range but has a shortage of information as compared with an X-ray CT image. For this reason, when a suspicious site is found in a simple X-ray image, an X-ray CT image is often acquired for a more detailed examination.
An X-ray CT image is characterized by high resolution and acquisition of three-dimensional information, and thus is suitable for detailed evaluation of abnormality. However, for the purpose of detecting abnormality using a technique such as machine learning, the amount of information included in an X-ray CT image is too large, and the processing load on the computer increases. When performing supervised learning, it is necessary to manually label the ground-truth. However, since an X-ray CT image is three-dimensional, it takes more time to label the ground truth than a simple X-ray image, which makes it difficult to collect training datasets.
In an examination using an X-ray CT apparatus, an initial examination for screening purpose is performed by using a relatively low-resolution X-ray CT image that is acquired under X-ray imaging at a low dose. When it is determined that a detailed examination is necessary as a result of the initial examination, an examination using X-ray CT images generated under imaging conditions for the detailed examination is often conducted at a later date. For this reason, it may take time from the initial examination to the detection of abnormality by the detailed examination.

Diagnosis support apparatus and X-ray CT apparatus


A monolithic compound mirror structure is used in an optical code reader employing an imager that captures images of items bearing optical codes in a viewing volume of the optical code reader. The monolithic compound mirror structure comprises a plurality of highly reflective surfaces positioned on the structure so that the structure can be positioned in a field of view of the imager in the optical code reader and oriented so that two or more of the plurality of highly reflective surfaces appear in the field of view of the imager, to thereby split the field of view of the imager into two or more different views into the viewing volume. The different views into the viewing volume may be direct off of the monolithic compound mirror structure or indirect off of one or more intermediate mirrors.

Optical codes encode useful, optically-readable information about the items to which they are attached or otherwise associated. Perhaps the best example of an optical code is the bar code. Bar codes are ubiquitously found on or associated with objects of various types, such as the packaging of retail, wholesale, and inventory goods; retail product presentation fixtures (e.g., shelves); goods undergoing manufacturing; personal or company assets; and documents. By encoding information, a bar code typically serves as an identifier of an object, whether the identification be to a class of objects (e.g., containers of milk) or a unique item (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,322). Bar codes consist of alternating bars (i.e., relatively dark areas) and spaces (i.e., relatively light areas). The pattern of alternating bars and spaces and the widths of those bars and spaces represent a string of binary ones and zeros, wherein the width of any particular bar or space is an integer multiple of a specified minimum width, which is called a "module" or "unit." Thus, to decode the information, a bar code reader must be able to reliably discern the pattern of bars and spaces, such as by determining the locations of edges demarking adjacent bars and spaces from one another, across the entire length of the bar code.
Bar codes are just one example of the many types of optical codes in use today. Bar codes are an example of a one-dimensional or linear optical code, as the information is encoded in one direction—the direction perpendicular to the bars and spaces. Higher-dimensional optical codes, such as, two-dimensional matrix codes (e.g., MaxiCode) or stacked codes (e.g., PDF 417), which are also sometimes referred to as "bar codes," are also used for various purposes.
Two of the more important types of devices that read optical codes are (1) flying-spot scanning readers and (2) imager-based readers. The first of these types historically has been the laser-based bar code reader (also called a "scanner"), which generates a spot from a laser beam and sweeps or scans the spot across a bar code label. A laser-based bar code reader detects reflected and/or refracted laser light from the bars and spaces in a bar code as the laser spot moves across the bar code. An optical detector measures the intensity of the returned light as a function of time or position and generates an electrical signal having an amplitude determined by the intensity of the detected light. As the bar code is scanned, positive-going transitions and negative-going transitions in the electrical signal occur, signifying transitions between bars and spaces in the bar code. The electrical signal can be processed to determine the arrangement of bars and spaces of the scanned bar code. The bar and space information can be provided to a decoding unit to determine whether the bar code is recognized and, if so, to decode the information contained in the bar code.
While scanning laser-based bar code readers have become the standard for many applications, particularly fixed scanners such as those found at high-volume retail checkout registers, laser-based scanners do have some disadvantages. In particular, the laser and motor of a laser-based scanner add to the complexity, cost, bulk, power consumption, and start-up time of the overall system, while decreasing reliability. In fact, the motor used for sweeping the laser spot tends to be one of the least reliable components of a scanner, followed by the laser illumination source.
Imager-based readers operate according to a different principle, compared to laser-based scanners. An imager-based reader utilizes a camera or imager to generate electronic image data (typically in digital form) of an optical code. The image data is then processed to find and decode the optical code. For example, virtual scan line techniques are known techniques for digitally processing an image containing a bar code by looking across an image along a plurality of lines, typically spaced apart and at various angles, somewhat like a laser beam's scan pattern in a laser-based scanner.
Imager-based readers typically can only form images from one perspective usually that of a normal vector out of the face of the imager. However, a few imager-based readers that generate multiple perspectives are known. One such reader is disclosed in the present assignee's U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0163355, published Jul. 27, 2006, in the names of inventors Olmstead et al., which discloses an embodiment having two cameras to collect two images from two different perspectives for the purpose of mitigating specular reflection. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,272, issued to Krichever et al. on May 31, 2005, discloses one embodiment that utilizes two independent sensor arrays pointed in different directions to collect two image data from two different perspectives. Another embodiment according to the '272 patent utilizes a single camera pointed at a moveable mirror that can switch between two positions to select one of two different imaging directions. Additionally, the present assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,803, issued to Olmstead et al. on Sep. 29, 1998, depicts in its FIG. 62 a kaleidoscope tunnel formed from two mirrored surfaces, resulting in eight different, rotated versions of the same object (bar code) on a single imager.

Monolithic mirror structure for use in a multi-perspective optical code reader


A protection circuit for a current loop powered level measurement or time of flight ranging apparatus. The protection circuit includes one or more Zener diodes, a leakage current detector circuit and a compensating current circuit. The leakage current detector circuit detects the leakage currents flowing from the Zener diodes and generates an output for the compensating current circuit. The compensating current circuit generates a compensating current so that the sum of the leakage currents and the compensating current remains a constant and the loop current is not affected by variations in the leakage currents for example as a result of variations in the voltage in the current loop or temperature of the device.

Loop powered level measurement systems operate on a 4-20 mA current loop, hence the name loop powered. The circuitry for the level measurement system, i.e. the load, is typically designed to operate at less than 4 mA. The current loop provides a terminal voltage in the range 12-30V, but is nominally 24V.
To take a measurement, power is applied to the transducer and the reflected pulses are detected and the distance to the reflective surface is calculated or measured. If more than 4 mA is needed to make a measurement, then energy taken from the current loop is stored until there is enough to make the measurement. In addition, to make rapid measurements, more current from the loop is also needed. As the current in the loop increases, the speed of measurement also increases. Since the power available from the current loop is less than the power required to continuously operate the level measurement device, the level measurement device is operated intermittently. In a typical level measurement system, measurements are taken once every second up to once every five seconds.
In a typical level measurement application, the measurement instrument is mounted inside the storage tank or vessel, and a remote receiver, for example an industrial controller or plant control computer, is coupled to the other end of the current loop. If the level measurement system is being used in explosive or hazardous environments, for example in a chemical plant or refinery, protection circuitry is provided to avoid a potential explosion, for example, if there is sparking in the circuitry in the measurement instrument. The protection circuitry also acts to prevent damage from high voltage transients or when two different circuits show different ground potentials.
One form of known protection circuitry utilizes Zener diodes. The Zener-based protection circuitry restricts the maximum voltage that could be found in the circuit. A resistor is typically added to further reduce potential energy build-up which may result in sparking. However, Zener diodes exhibit a leakage current, and the leakage current will vary depending on the applied voltage. One approach is to include a regulator to control the voltage applied across the Zener diodes to minimize leakage currents. While this approach has proven adequate to reduce and even minimize the leakage currents, component variations in the circuitry and temperature changes still result in variations in the leakage currents. Since a loop powered level measurement device requires precisely controlled currents, it will be appreciated such variations will affect the precision of the device.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved method and apparatus for stabilizing leakage current variations so that the loop current is accurate over temperature and input voltage.

Current regulator for loop powered time of flight and level measurement systems

Siemens Milltronics Process Instruments, Inc.


The present disclosure provides a driving unit, a driving method thereof, a gate driving circuit, and a display substrate. The driving unit includes: a shift register including a pull-up node, a pull-down node and a driving signal output terminal; and a first output circuit including a first control sub-circuit, a second control sub-circuit, an output sub-circuit, and a first signal output terminal; the first control sub-circuit and the output sub-circuit are coupled at a first node, and the first control sub-circuit, the second control sub-circuit and the output sub-circuit are coupled at a second node.

When driving organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in an OLED display panel, the display brightness of the display panel may be non-uniform due to performance differences (e.g., process-induced differences, aging-induced differences) of the driving transistors or the OLEDs. Therefore, it is often necessary to compensate for the performance of the driving transistors or the OLEDs.

Driving unit and driving method thereof, gate driving circuit and display substrate

HEFEI XINSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device capable of improving luminous efficiency by reducing light absorption loss in a contact layer is provided. This nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a first conductivity type first nitride-based semiconductor layer formed on a substrate, an active layer, formed on the first nitride-based semiconductor layer, consisting of a nitride-based semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type second nitride-based semiconductor layer formed on the active layer, an undoped contact layer formed on the second nitride-based semiconductor layer and an electrode formed on the undoped contact layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device, and more particularly, it relates to a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device having nitride-based semiconductor layers formed on a substrate.
2. Description of the Background Art
A nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device such as a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting diode (LED) or a nitride-based semiconductor laser diode (LD) consisting of InXAlYGa1-X-YN (0≦X, 0≦Y, X+Y≦1) has recently been put into practice.
A conventional nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device basically has a double heterostructure obtained by successively stacking an n-type nitride-based semiconductor layer consisting of n-type AlYGa1-YN (0≦Y≦1), an active layer consisting of InXGa1-XN (0≦X≦1) and a p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer consisting of p-type AlZGa1-ZN (0≦Z≦1) on a substrate. In general, the nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device further comprises an n-type contact layer for implementing ohmic contact with an n-side electrode and a p-type contact layer for implementing ohmic contact with a p-side electrode. A conventional nitride-based semiconductor laser diode may have an n-type optical guide layer and a p-type optical guide layer formed to hold an active layer therebetween.
The n- or p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer of the aforementioned nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device is prepared by doping a nitride-based semiconductor with dopants providing n-type carriers (electrons) or p-type carriers (holes). In order to obtain a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device having excellent luminous efficiency, it is inevitably necessary to suppress light absorption in each nitride-based semiconductor layer. However, the activation efficiency of the dopants for the p-type nitride-based semiconductor is so low that the dopants must be doped in a large quantity in order to obtain a p-type nitride-based semiconductor having prescribed carrier concentration in general. In this case, light absorption is inconveniently increased in a p-type contact layer or a p-type optical guide layer having a small band gap due to dopant levels resulting from introduction of the large quantity of dopant in the p-type nitride-based semiconductor. The light absorption is further increased also by crystal defects resulting from the large quantity of dopant.
In general, therefore, there is proposed a nitride-based semiconductor laser diode capable of reducing light absorption resulting from the dopants by forming an undoped optical guide layer on an active layer in place of the p-type optical guide layer, as disclosed in "Technical Report of IEICE", the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Jun. 15, 2002, pp. 63-66, for example.
However, the aforementioned proposed conventional nitride-based semiconductor laser diode has no countermeasure for preventing a p-type contact layer from light absorption. The p-type contact layer is doped with a large quantity of dopant for implementing ohmic contact with a p-side electrode. Also when light absorption is reduced in the aforementioned undoped optical guide layer, therefore, it is difficult to inhibit the p-type contact layer from light absorption resulting from the dopants. Consequently, it is disadvantageously difficult to improve luminous efficiency of the nitride-based semiconductor laser diode. In a nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting diode emitting light through a p-type contact layer, influence exerted on emission characteristics of the nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device is disadvantageously increased if light absorption is increased in the p-type contact layer.
On the other hand, there is also proposed a technique of forming a contact layer having a modulation doped superlattice structure by alternately stacking undoped nitride-based semiconductor layers and p-type nitride-based semiconductor layers doped with dopants, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-60720, for example.
In the aforementioned technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-60720, however, the dopants may diffuse into the undoped nitride-based semiconductor layer from the nitride-based semiconductor layers doped with the dopants arranged on both sides (upper and lower sides) of the undoped nitride-based semiconductor layer in the contact layer. In this case, it is difficult to inhibit the contact layer from light absorption due to dopant levels formed in the intentionally undoped nitride-based semiconductor layer. Consequently, it is disadvantageously difficult to improve luminous efficiency of the nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device despite the modulation doped superlattice structure of the contact layer formed by stacking the undoped nitride-based semiconductor layer and the p-type nitride-based semiconductor layers doped with the dopants.
In order to inhibit a p-type contact layer from light absorption, a p-type nitride-based semiconductor layer having a large band gap may be employed as the p-type contact layer thereby suppressing light absorption. When the band gap of the p-type contact layer is increased, however, a barrier at the interface between the p-type contact layer and a p-side electrode is so increased that it is difficult to implement excellent ohmic contact between the p-type contact layer and the p-side electrode. Thus, the nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device is disadvantageously reduced in luminous efficiency and increased in operation voltage.

Nitride-based semiconductor light-emitting device


Example network management methods and network devices are described. One example method includes obtaining a configuration parameter by a first network device. The configuration parameter includes a network slice instance identifier and an access and mobility management function identifier corresponding to the network slice instance identifier, and/or a network slice subnet instance identifier and an access and mobility management function identifier corresponding to the network slice subnet instance identifier. The first network device sends the configuration parameter to a second network device. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a unique access and mobility management function corresponding to a network slice instance and/or a network slice subnet instance can be selected.

With rapid development of wireless communications technologies, wireless communications services will vary greatly in the future and have different forms. A 5th generation (5G) communications network is oriented to different application scenarios, for example, an ultra-high-definition video, virtual reality, the massive internet of things, and the internet of vehicles. Different scenarios have different requirements on mobility, security, a latency, reliability, and even a charge mode of a network. To meet different requirements of different services on network performance, a future network needs to have a capability of being customized based on a requirement. To be specific, a network slice needs to be flexibly configured. A physical network is sliced into a plurality of virtual network slices, and the virtual network slices are oriented to different application scenario requirements. One network slice meets a communications service requirement of one type of use case or one use case, and an entire 5G communications network includes a large quantity of network slices that meet different service requirements. In a network system, a network slice is created and applied in a form of a network slice instance and/or a network slice subnet instance. In a 5G network system, each user equipment (UE) can support one or more network slice instances and/or network slice subnet instances. When UE is registered with a telecommunications network, a network slice selection function (NSSF) is introduced into the telecommunications network to select a network slice instance and/or a network slice subnet instance for the UE, and a network function repository function (NRF) is introduced to select an access and mobility management function (AMF) corresponding to the network slice instance and/or the network slice subnet instance. After selecting a unique network slice instance and/or network slice subnet instance for the UE, the NSSF needs to determine an AMF corresponding to the network slice instance and/or the network slice subnet instance. Therefore, how to select a unique access and mobility management function corresponding to a network slice instance and/or a network slice subnet instance is a technical problem that needs to be currently resolved.

Network management method and related device


A method for producing a hot-rolled titanium plate includes, [1] melting at least one part of the side surface of the titanium slab by radiating a beam or plasma toward the side surface, not toward the surface to be rolled, and thereafter causing re-solidification to form, in the side surface, a layer having grain diameter of 1.5 mm or less and a depth of 3.0 mm or more from the side surface; [2] performing a finishing process on the surface to be rolled of the titanium slab in which the layer is formed, to thereby bring a slab flatness index X to 3.0 or less; and [3] subjecting the titanium slab after the finishing process to hot rolling under a condition in which a length of an arc of contact of a roll L in a first pass of rough rolling is 230 mm or more.

Hot-rolled titanium plates are generally produced by a production method described hereunder. First, titanium sponge obtained by the Kroll process or titanium scrap is melted, and the material is then caused to solidify to form an ingot (melting process). Next, the ingot is subjected to blooming or forging that is performed as hot processing, and is processed into a slab having a shape and dimensions suitable for hot rolling for producing a hot-rolled titanium plate (breakdown process). Next, the slab is subjected to hot rolling to form a hot-rolled titanium plate.
A non-consumable electrode arc re-melting process (VAR), an electron beam re-melting process (EBR), or a plasma arc melting process (PAM) is used as the melting method utilized in the melting process.
In the case of using the non-consumable electrode arc re-melting process as the melting method, the shape of the mold is limited to a cylindrical shape, which makes it necessary to perform a breakdown process. In the case of using the electron beam re-melting process or the plasma arc melting process as the melting method, there is a high degree of freedom with regard to the shape of the mold, since melting metal melted at a different place from the mold is poured into the mold. Consequently, a rectangular column-shaped ingot having dimensions can be cast, which is suitable for hot rolling for producing a hot-rolled titanium plate. In the case of using such kind of rectangular column-shaped ingot to produce a titanium hot-rolled material, the breakdown process can be omitted.
For example, techniques disclosed in Patent Document 1 to Patent Document 3 are available as methods for producing a hot-rolled titanium plate without performing a breakdown process.
Patent Document 1 discloses a method in which a rectangular ingot of pure titanium for which "width/thickness≥3.5" is heated to a temperature in a range of 900 to 1000° C., and after subjecting the rectangular ingot to rolling reduction in which the rolling reduction is within the range of 10% to less than 40% at a surface temperature of 880° C. or more at the start of rolling, rolling is performed so that the overall rolling reduction is 70% or more in a temperature region in which the surface temperature is less than 880° C. and the surface temperature immediately after final rolling does not become lower than 650° C. In the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, lateral spreading of the material is inhibited by suppressing the roll draft in a β-phase stable temperature region to an amount that is not greater than a specified value. By this means, according to Patent Document 1, the occurrence of a situation in which wrinkling that occurs at the surface on the hot-rolled plate side moves to the surface due to lateral spreading and become seam defects is inhibited.
In Patent Document 2, a method is proposed in which the surface of a rectangular ingot is plastically deformed as cold processing using a steel tool having a tip shape with a radius of curvature of 3 to 30 mm or a steel ball with a radius of 3 to 30 mm, and is thereby provided with dimples in which the average height of profile element of waviness is 0.2 to 1.5 mm and the average length of the profile element of waviness is 3 to 15 mm. According to Patent Document 2, by imparting strain as cold processing to the surface of the rectangular ingot by means of the steel tool or steel ball, surface defects attributable to a coarse solidified microstructure that arises when a near-surface portion is recrystallized during heating of the ingot in hot rolling are reduced.
In Patent Document 3, a titanium starting material for hot rolling is disclosed in which an outer layer of a face corresponding to a surface to be rolled of an ingot is melted and re-solidified by being subjected to one type or a combination of two or more types of processes among high-frequency induction heating, arc heating, plasma heating, electron beam heating, and laser heating, so that the microstructure in an area from the outer layer to a depth of 1 mm or more is a melted and re-solidified microstructure. According to Patent Document 3, surface defects that arise due to the influence of a coarse solidified microstructure are reduced by melting and re-solidifying the outer layer of the ingot to thereby obtain a solidified microstructure that is extremely fine and has irregular orientations.

Method for producing hot-rolled titanium plate


A method is disclosed for writing product servo sectors to the disk of a disk drive by demodulating spiral tracks recorded on the disk. Each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a sync mark. The high frequency signal is demodulated into a plurality of servo burst signals, and a position error signal is generated from the servo burst signals. A correlation between the position error signal and an off-track displacement of a head is calibrated, for example, by moving the head radially over the disk until the servo burst signals attain a first predetermined relationship, and then calibrating the correlation in response to the corresponding position error signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disk drives for computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to calibrating correlation between PES and off-track displacement by processing high frequency signal in spiral track.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When manufacturing a disk drive, product servo sectors 20-2N are written to a disk 4 which define a plurality of radially-spaced, concentric data tracks 6 as shown in the prior art disk format of FIG. 1. Each product servo sector (e.g., servo sector 24) comprises a preamble 8 for synchronizing gain control and timing recovery, a sync mark 10 for synchronizing to a data field 12 comprising coarse head positioning information such as a track number, and servo bursts 14 which provide fine head positioning information. During normal operation the servo bursts 14 are processed by the disk drive in order to maintain a head over a centerline of a target track while writing or reading data. In the past, external servo writers have been used to write the product servo sectors 20-2N to the disk surface during manufacturing. External servo writers employ extremely accurate head positioning mechanics, such as a laser interferometer, to ensure the product servo sectors 20-2N are written at the proper radial location from the outer diameter of the disk to the inner diameter of the disk. However, external servo writers are expensive and require a clean room environment so that a head positioning pin can be inserted into the head disk assembly (HDA) without contaminating the disk. Thus, external servo writers have become an expensive bottleneck in the disk drive manufacturing process.
The prior art has suggested various "self-servo" writing methods wherein the internal electronics of the disk drive are used to write the product servo sectors independent of an external servo writer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,679 teaches a disk drive which performs a self-servo writing operation by writing a plurality of spiral tracks to the disk which are then processed to write the product servo sectors along a circular path. The spiral tracks are written "open loop" by seeking the head from an outer diameter of the disk to an inner diameter of the disk. The disk drive calibrates acceleration/deceleration impulses to seek the head from the outer to inner diameter in a desired amount of time. Accurate radial positioning of the spiral tracks assumes the calibration process is accurate and that the calibrated acceleration/deceleration impulses will generate a repeatable response over multiple seeks. However, the calibration process will inevitably exhibit some degree of error and the dynamics of the disk drive will change between seeks inducing errors in the radial position of the spiral tracks. Dynamic errors which degrade the spiral tracks written during an open loop seek include vibration of the HDA, flutter and non-repeatable run-out of the disk and spindle bearings, stiction and non-repeatable run-out of the pivot bearings, windage on the head and arm, and flex circuit bias, windage and vibration. Errors in writing the spiral tracks will propagate to the product servo sectors, thereby degrading the operating performance of the disk drive and reducing the manufacturing yield.
In the '679 patent, each spiral track is written to the disk as a high frequency signal (with missing bits), wherein the position error signal (PES) for tracking is generated relative to time shifts in the detected location of the spiral tracks. In addition, the '679 patent generates a servo write clock by synchronizing a phase-locked loop (PLL) to the missing bits in the spiral tracks. In order to initially synchronize the PLL to the missing bits the head must servo accurately in a circular path since PLL phase error can occur due to actual timing errors or radial tracking errors. Conversely, PLL phase errors cause radial tracking errors making it difficult to simultaneously maintain the head in a circular path by servoing on the spiral tracks while attempting to synchronize the PLL to the missing bits.
There is, therefore, a need to improve the servo writing process for a disk drive by reducing the bottleneck and expense of external servo writers while maintaining adequate operating performance and manufacturing yield.

Calibrating correlation between PES and off-track displacement by processing high frequency signal in spiral track