A vehicle with a front wheel and a front wheel of a vehicle is provided. The front wheel is drivable by a first drive arrangement, and a rear wheel of the vehicle is drivable by a second drive arrangement. The first drive arrangement may be integrated into the front wheel, and includes an electric motor for selectively rotatably driving the front wheel, a reduction gear between the electric motor and the front wheel, and an actuable coupling for selectively coupling or decoupling the electric motor to the reduction gear.

The invention concerns vehicles with a front wheel which can be driven by a first drive arrangement and a rear wheel which can be driven by a second drive arrangement.
Examples of such vehicles include motorcycles having a supplemental electric drive for the front wheel. In these vehicles, the corresponding electric motor is integrated within the front wheel. In addition, a reduction gear may be incorporated between the electric motor and the front wheel which is to be driven.
A corresponding vehicle is described for example in DE 10 2007 006 167 A1, where the electric drive of the front wheel is supposed to support a regular rear wheel drive in normal driving operation and enhance an off-road capability of the vehicle.
In particular, touring motorcycles have a greater overall weight on account of additional elements, such as luggage systems, additional tanks, or complicated paneling elements. This requires a large expenditure of effort and a secure grip of the rider especially during slow movements or maneuvering of the vehicle. The same also applies to other, non-touring motorcycles, as well as other two, three, or four-wheeled motorcycle-like vehicles, such as scooters, quads or trikes.
The problem which the invention proposes to solve is therefore to facilitate the handling of these vehicles and create a secure and user-friendly supporting system.
Accordingly, a vehicle is proposed with a front wheel which can be driven by a first drive arrangement and a rear wheel which can be driven by a second drive arrangement, wherein the first drive arrangement is integrated in the front wheel and                comprises an electric motor for selectively rotatably driving the front wheel, and        comprises a reduction gear which is inserted between the electric motor and the front wheel which is to be driven.
In addition, the first drive arrangement moreover comprises an actuable coupling for selectively coupling or decoupling the electric motor to the reduction gear.
This embodiment of the first drive arrangement makes it possible to arrange the entire first drive arrangement including its mentioned components within a space defined by the front wheel and thereby integrate it in the front wheel. According to a preferred embodiment, the components may be provided for example in the hub region of the front wheel, while the hub region may be designed so that this forms a housing encompassing the first drive arrangement, including its components.
The described arrangement of a coupling makes it possible to couple the electric motor (at least its output end) to the reduction gear when necessary, in order to drive the front wheel. On the other hand, the electric motor may be decoupled from the reduction gear by the coupling when no electric driving of the front wheel is desired. This decoupling occurs mechanically and prevents the electric motor in its inactive state, during an exclusive driving of the vehicle by the second drive arrangement, from likewise being placed in rotary movement and acting as a generator. Thus, a braking action by induction effects is effectively prevented.
The electric motor may thus be specifically coupled and decoupled when a driving of the front wheel is desired. This may be the case, for example, for the maneuvering of the vehicle. But in order to prevent incorrect actuation and enable the easiest possible maneuvering, it may optionally be provided that the second drive arrangement assigned to the rear wheel, which drive arrangement constitutes the actual main drive of the vehicle, is disconnected or at least decoupled from the rear wheel. Instead, the electric motor coupled to the front wheel takes over the sole driving of the vehicle by driving the front wheel.
Depending on the direction of turning of the electric motor (in the coupled state), basically a forward or backward movement of the vehicle is possible. However, a configuration of the reduction gear which will be described in detail below can operate in limiting fashion if it only allows a single direction of turning. In this case, the first drive arrangement is designed preferably for the backward movement of the vehicle.
Furthermore, the coupling may be a mechanical coupling, especially a friction coupling or a claw coupling. The mechanically actuable coupling may be actuated by an electrically actuable servomotor directly or only indirectly, for example, by an intervening kinematics or an intervening Bowden cable. Alternatively, it is likewise possible to design the mechanical coupling such that it may be actuated manually by the rider using a Bowden cable. For both the manual and the electrical actuation it is possible to provide a corresponding switch or pushbutton on the handlebars for operation by the rider.
According to one preferred embodiment, a stator of the electric motor is connected to a front wheel suspension in rotationally firm manner and an output end of the reduction gear is connected to the rotatable front wheel (relative to the front wheel suspension) in rotationally firm manner. The rotationally firm connection of the stator to the front wheel suspension should be understood as being either a direct and immediate connection or an indirect and rotationally firm connection via additional intervening elements, such as an engine housing, structural elements, and/or a likewise rotationally firm wheel axle.
For example, if the electric motor is designed as an internal rotor, hollow shaft motor, then the stator is likewise connected in rotationally firm manner to the front wheel suspension of the vehicle, whereas the rotor as an internal rotor is rotationally arranged inside the stator, which encloses the rotor in the circumferential direction.
The vehicle may furthermore comprise a control unit, which is designed to control and/or regulate the first drive arrangement, especially the electric motor, and/or to actuate the coupling. This means that for example a rotary speed of the electric motor can be controlled/regulated by the control unit. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may be operatively coupled to the coupling in order to control its actuation. For this, the control unit may for example correspondingly actuate the described electrically actuable servomotor for the electrical actuation of the coupling, if such is provided.
According to another embodiment, the control unit is comprised in the first drive arrangement and integrated in the front wheel. This means that the control unit is arranged inside the front wheel, preferably likewise in the hub region.
As already indicated, the possibility exists to design the front wheel such that it forms a housing receiving the first drive arrangement and its components within it. This has the benefit that all essential components needed for the driving of the front wheel, and optionally also the control unit, are combined and integrated in the front wheel. The front wheel thus constitutes a self-standing module, which only requires a power supply connection for the supplying of energy to the electric motor as well as an optional connection to a BUS system of the vehicle. The control unit may optionally be designed in disk shape and thus be positioned in an especially space-saving manner inside the housing.
According to another embodiment, it is possible to couple the control unit to a BUS system of the vehicle, especially a CAN bus, at least for the retrieval of information, especially information about the states of the vehicle. This connection allows the control unit to retrieve information from the BUS system of the vehicle and subsequently process it.
Furthermore, the control unit may be designed such that a controlling/regulating of the electric motor and/or an actuation of the coupling occurs in dependence on the retrieved information. Thus, for example, information on the states of the vehicle may be retrieved and corresponding control steps for the electric motor and/or the coupling may occur in response to the particular information.
With the help of the retrieved information, a securement can be electronically achieved in order to prevent an unintentional activation of the first drive arrangement. In this way, the activation can be made dependent on the presence of previously defined parameters and/or parameter values which are provided by means of the information retrieved via the BUS system. If the defined preconditions are not present, an activation of the first drive arrangement will be prevented by the control unit.
According to one sample embodiment, the control unit can be configured so that the coupling of the first drive arrangement is only possible in the event that the second drive arrangement is not in an active operating state. This means that the second drive arrangement assigned to the rear wheel cannot actively drive the vehicle in this case. Otherwise, the actuation of the coupling or the servo motor for activating the coupling (if present) will be blocked. The information about the current operating state of the second drive arrangement is ideally obtained by the control unit through the BUS system.
In other words, therefore, the electric motor should be decoupled and remain so for safety reasons, especially during a forward driving in normal operation of the vehicle, when the drive occurs by the second drive arrangement. An "entrainment" of the electric motor in the normal operation of the vehicle as well as a resulting "generator operation" with corresponding brake effect and induced high voltages is prevented.
In this way, it can be ensured that the normal driving operation of the vehicle is not negatively influenced by the first drive arrangement. Thanks to the decoupling, no torques or braking power act on the front wheel. As a standard feature, the first drive arrangement may be designed such that the electric motor is always decoupled in the active operating state of the second drive arrangement or also when the vehicle is at rest.
According to another exemplary embodiment, the control unit may be configured so that the actuation of the electric motor or of the coupling may only occur if the ignition of the vehicle is turned on and at the same time the second drive arrangement is inactive or at least decoupled. The information about the state of the second drive arrangement then comes, for example, via the BUS system.
For all of the mentioned examples, other parameters or information may also be evaluated, of course, and used to prevent a simultaneous driving of the vehicle by the first and the second drive arrangement.
Furthermore, the first drive arrangement may optionally comprise securing means which are designed to mechanically prevent an unintentional coupling of the electric motor to the reduction gear, especially during an active operating state of the second drive arrangement. In this way, alternatively or in addition to the described electronic securement, an incorrect operation of the first drive arrangement is also precluded in a mechanical manner, which incorrect operation might otherwise result in damage to the vehicle.
This is accomplished, for example, by a mechanical securement, which prevents a coupling of the coupling in a secured state. Mechanically engaging toothing/locking elements and/or spring-loaded blocking elements are especially suitable for this, which block a coupling movement of the coupling and need to be released before the electric motor is actuated. Alternatively or additionally, the coupling itself may be spring-loaded in design, so that a coupling must always be done against the spring force, in order to prevent unintentional closure of the coupling.
According to another embodiment, the reduction gear is a single or multiple-stage planetary gear, especially a two-stage planetary gear, especially preferably a Wolfrom gear. Such gears make it possible to provide especially large reduction ratios, especially in the case of multiple-stage planetary gears. An especially preferred embodiment is the so-called Wolfrom gear, which is a special instance of the two-stage planetary gear with two-stage planet wheels.
For purposes of a maneuvering operation, especially suitable reduction ratios for all mentioned planetary gears are at least 10:1 or higher, preferably at least 100:1 or higher. This means that the input rotary speed is at least 10 times, preferably at least 100 times greater than the output rotary speed of the particular planetary gear.
But as alternative reduction gears it is also possible to use so-called harmonic drive gears, eccentric gears (so-called cyclo gears) or axially parallel offset gears, especially with spur gear stages, worm gears and/or crown gears. Optionally, these will have one of the aforementioned reduction ratios for the maneuvering operation.
In any case, the high reduction ratio which can be achieved makes it possible to design the electric motor to run fast and with low torque. Accordingly, the structural space required is extremely compact, the weight is low, and the power uptake is likewise very low. Another benefit of such an arrangement is the particular aptitude for an especially controlled and slow driving, which is especially suitable for the maneuvering of the vehicle.
For the supply of electric energy, the first drive arrangement can be coupled to a battery of the vehicle. Accordingly, it is possible to use a vehicle battery already present in the vehicle for the power supply. This is usually a 12 volt vehicle battery, but of course other vehicle batteries with a different operating voltage can be used. Optionally, the battery may additionally be designed with an increased capacity, in order to make possible an occasional operation of the first drive arrangement. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle may have an additional (second) battery which is designed and provided for the operation of the first drive arrangement.
As indicated above, the first drive arrangement according to a further embodiment may be designed for slow maneuvering operation of the vehicle in the forward and/or backward direction, especially for a maneuvering speed between 0 and 5 km/h, preferably between 0 and 2 km/h. This means that the first drive arrangement is not designed for the actual movement of the vehicle over large distances (normal operation). Instead, the first drive arrangement is provided for handling at low speeds, preferably walking speed, and accordingly for short distances, such as usually occur during maneuvering. Accordingly, the electric motor and the selected reduction gear should be designed with a suitable reduction ratio.
Moreover, the electric motor may preferably have a torque between 0.1 and 50 Nm, especially between 0.5 and 10 Nm. Such a motor can be constructed with especially slight space requirement yet even so, thanks to a properly designed reduction gear, it can provide a torque between 150 and 200 Nm on the front wheel sufficient for the intended handling of the vehicle, which is also sufficient to climb small inclines (up to 7%, for example).
According to one preferred embodiment, the vehicle is a motorcycle or a motorcycle-like single-track or two-track vehicle, with two, three or four wheels, especially a, scooter, quad, trike, or similar vehicle. An appropriately designed vehicle, thanks to the invention, can still be maneuvered easily and with no major exertion by the rider, especially in backward movement, even in the case of slight inclines and/or heavy weight, such as for example in the case of touring motorcycles, vehicles with heavy and bulky paneling and/or large fuel tanks.
Furthermore, the first drive arrangement may comprise an electric motor designed as a permanently excited synchronous motor, and/or the second drive arrangement may comprise an electric motor or an internal combustion engine.
Furthermore, a front wheel is proposed for installation in a vehicle according to the present specification, with a first drive arrangement which is integrated in the front wheel and which                comprises an electric motor for selectively rotatably driving the front wheel, and        comprises a reduction gear which is inserted between the electric motor and the front wheel which is to be driven.
The first drive arrangement moreover comprises an actuable coupling for selectively coupling or decoupling the electric motor to the reduction gear.
Accordingly, the individual components may be designed according to the specification given.
Such a front wheel constitutes a self-standing module, which for example can be mounted and retrofitted on existing vehicles without requiring major adaptations. It is only needed to provide a supply of electric energy to the electric motor. Depending on the arrangement of the control unit, this is to be provided and should make contact in the vehicle; otherwise, it may be integrated inside the front wheel, for example.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Motorcycle with an electrically driveable front wheel

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A chip mounting apparatus includes a loading unit, a combining unit and a bonding unit. The loading unit loads a circuit board having contact pads and semiconductor chips having solder balls into the chip mounting apparatus. The combining unit positions the semiconductor chip onto a respective mounting area of the circuit board and combines the solder balls of the semiconductor chip with the contact pads of the circuit board by using flux. The combining unit has a flux coater for coating the solder balls with the flux and a flux controller for automatically supplementing the flux to the flux coater. The bonding unit bonds the solder balls to the respective contact pads by a reflow process.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the present inventive concepts relate to an apparatus for mounting semiconductor chips on a circuit board and a method of mounting semiconductor chips on a circuit board using the same. More particularly, example embodiments of the present inventive concepts relate to an apparatus for mounting semiconductor chips on a printed circuit board and a method of mounting semiconductor chips on a printed circuit board (PCB) using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent electronic devices have been highly integrated with high performance, and, thus, the semiconductor packages are also manufactured to have a small size and a high density. An array-type package such as a chip scaled package (CSP) and a flip chip package have been widely used for reducing the size of the semiconductor package, rather than using a peripheral-type package.
In the array type-package, semiconductor chips are usually interconnected to a circuit board in a matrix-like array shape by using a ball grid array (BGA) and bump structures. In the peripheral-type package, the semiconductor chips are interconnected to a circuit board along four lateral sides by using a lead frame or a wire bonding. Thus, the array type package has many advantages. Specifically, the array-type package provides a larger number of input/output pins and the circuit board in the array-type package can be sufficiently downsized in comparison with the peripheral-type package. Thus the mounting density of the array-type package can be much higher than that of the peripheral-type package.
A conventional flip chip package usually includes a plurality of solder bumps arranged on active faces of the semiconductor chips and the solder bumps and the circuit board are bonded to each other. For example, a flux is coated on the solder bumps and the semiconductor chips having the solder bumps are arranged on the circuit board in such a way that the solder bumps correspond to contact positions of the circuit board. Then, a reflow process is preformed on the circuit board and the semiconductor chips, thereby bonding the semiconductor chips to the circuit board.
In a flux coater of a conventional chip mounting apparatus, it is difficult to verify flux residuals in a flux tank. When the flux does not sufficiently remain in the flux tank, the solder bump is insufficiently coated with the flux, and, thus, it is difficult to bond the solder bumps to the circuit board in a subsequent reflow process. The insufficient bonding of the solder bumps to the circuit board usually results in failures in the semiconductor package, which, thereby, reduces package reliability of the semiconductor package.

Apparatus for mounting semiconductor chips on a circuit board


A ceramic fiber fabric such as an alumino-boro-silicate fabric is impregnated with a silicone elastomer to form a composite material. The fabric may be reinforced with hoops or rings to provide a free-standing insulation. The insulation is attached to the wall of a tank. The tank may be subjected to cryogenic temperatures such as during a cryostretch tank formation procedure, without cracking or spalling the insulation. The insulated tank can withstand exposure of elevated temperatures such as about 2000.degree. F.

Certain types of pressure vessels are intended for exposure to elevated temperatures and require insulation during the elevated temperature use. For example, propellant positive expulsion tanks such as those used in the space shuttle and other liquid rocket vehicles, may be exposed to temperatures in excess of around 2000.degree. F. (about 1100.degree. C.) such as from pressurant gas during operation However, insulation attached to the tank will, at least in some applications, also be exposed to cryogenic temperatures during fabrication. ..For example, during a so-called "cryo-stretch" cycle, provision and positioning of suitable materials has been particularly difficult when the insulation is on a tank interior wall. In at least one tank configuration, the tank design is such that internal insulation must be applied to the tank wall prior to cryogenic pressurization. The tank may be filled with a pressurized cryogenic fluid and thus may be exposed to temperatures of about -320.degree. F. (about -200.degree. C.) or less. Previous materials which have been attempted for this purpose have generally been unable to survive cryogenic temperature exposure under pressure without unacceptable damage. Damage such as cracking of the insulated material and spalling has been observed. Cracking and spalling exposes at least portions of the tank in a substantially uninsulated condition. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an insulation material for a tank which can withstand exposure both to pressurized cryogenic fluids and to gas at elevated temperatures.

Tank insulation method with cryogenic exposure


An oxygen fueled combustion system includes a furnace having at least one burner, an oxygen supply for supplying oxygen having a predetermined purity, and a carbon based fuel supply for supplying a carbon based fuel. The oxygen and the carbon based fuel are fed into the furnace in a stoichiometric proportion to one another to limit an excess of either the oxygen or the carbon based fuel to less than 5 percent over the stoichiometric proportion. The combustion of the carbon based fuel provides a flame temperature in excess of 4500° F. The exhaust gas stream from the furnace has substantially zero nitrogen-containing combustion produced gaseous compounds from the oxidizing agent and reduced green-house gases. Substantially less carbon based fuel is required than conventional combustion systems without a loss of energy output.

The present invention pertains to an oxygen fueled combustion system. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an oxy-fueled combustion system in which the production of green-house gases is reduced and in which fossil fuel consumption is reduced.
Oxygen fueled burner systems are known, however, their use is quite limited. Oxy-fueled burner systems are generally only used in those applications in which extremely high flame temperatures are required. For example, these systems may be used in the glass making industry in order to achieve the temperatures necessary to melt silica to a fusion temperature. Otherwise, it is commonly accepted that structural and material limitations dictate the upper temperatures to which many industrial systems can be subjected. To this end, air fueled or air fired combustion systems are used in boilers, furnaces and the like throughout most every industrial application including manufacturing, electric power generating and other process applications.
In particular, air fueled combustion systems or electric heating systems are used throughout the steel and aluminum making industries, as well as the power generation industry, and other industries that rely upon carbon based fuels. In air fueled systems, air which is comprised of about 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, is fed, along with fuel into a furnace. The air fuel mixture is ignited creating a continuous flame. The flame transfers energy in the form of heat from the fuel air mixture into the furnace.
In the steel and aluminum industries, air fueled furnaces and electric furnaces have been used as the primary heat source for creating molten metals. With respect to air fueled furnaces, it is conventionally accepted that the energy requirements, balanced against the thermal limitations of the process equipment, mandate or strongly support the use of these types of combustion systems. As to the use of electric furnaces in the aluminum industry, again, conventional wisdom supports this type of energy source to achieve the temperatures necessary for aluminum processing.
One drawback to the use of air fueled combustion systems, is that these systems produce NOx and other green-house gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and the like, as an inherent result of the combustion process. NOx and other green-house gases are a large contributor to environmental pollution, including, but not limited to acid rain. As such, the reduction in emission of NOx and other green-house gases is desirable, and as a result of regulatory restrictions, emission is greatly limited. To this end, various devices must be installed on these combustion systems in order to limit and/or reduce the levels of NOx and other green-house gases produced.
Another drawback with respect to air fueled furnaces is that much of the energy released from the combustion process is absorbed or used to heat the gaseous nitrogen present in the air that is fed to the furnace. This energy is essentially wasted in that the heated nitrogen gas is typically, merely exhausted from the heat source, e.g., furnace. To this end, much of the energy costs are directed into the environment, through an off-gas stack or the like. Other drawbacks of the air fed combustion systems known will be recognized by skilled artisans.
Electric furnaces likewise have their drawbacks. For example, inherent in these systems as well is the need for a source of electricity that is available on a continuous basis, essentially without interruption. In that large amounts of electric power are required to operate electric furnaces, it is typically necessary to have these electric furnaces located in proximity to electric generating plants and/or large electrical transmission services. In addition, electric furnaces require a considerable amount of maintenance to assure that the furnaces are operated at or near optimum efficiency. Moreover, inherent in the use of electric furnaces is the inefficiency of converting a fuel into electrical power (most large fossil fueled power stations that use steam turbines operate at efficiencies of less than about 40 percent, and generally less than about 30 percent). In addition, these large fossil fueled stations produce extremely large quantities of NOx and other green-house gases.
For example, in the aluminum processing industry, and more specifically in the aluminum scrap recovery industry, conventional wisdom is that flame temperatures in furnaces should be maintained between about 2500° F. and 3000° F. This range is thought to achieve a balance between the energy necessary for providing sufficient heat for melting the scrap aluminum, and maintaining adequate metal temperatures in the molten bath at about 1450° F. Known furnaces utilize a design in which flame temperatures typically do not exceed 3000° F. to assure maintaining the structural integrity of these furnaces. That is, it is thought that exceeding these temperature limits can weaken the support structure of the furnace thus, possibly resulting in catastrophic accidents. In addition, stack temperatures for conventional furnaces are generally about 1600° F. Thus, the temperature differential between the flame and the exhaust is only about 1400° F. This results in inefficient energy usage for the combustion process.
It is also believed that heat losses and potential damage to equipment from furnaces in which flame temperatures exceed about 3000° F. far outweigh any operating efficiency that may be achieved by higher flame temperatures. Thus, again conventional wisdom fully supports the use of air fueled furnaces in which flame temperatures are at an upper limit of about 3000° F. (by flame stoichiometry) which assures furnace integrity and reduces energy losses.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a combustion system that provides the advantages of reducing environmental pollution (attributable to NOx and other green-house gases) while at the same time providing efficient energy use. Desirably, such a combustion system can be used in a wide variety of industrial applications, ranging from the power generating utility industry to chemical processing industries, metal production and processing and the like. Such a combustion system can be used in metal, e.g., aluminum, processing applications in which the combustion system provides increased energy efficiency and pollution reduction. There also exists a need, specifically in the scrap aluminum processing industry for process equipment (specifically furnaces) that are designed and configured to withstand elevated flame temperatures associated with such an efficient combustion system and to increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution production.


Methods, systems, computer program products and data structures are described which allow a client to communicate with a server even though multiple proxies that require different authentication data must be traversed to allow such communication. In operation, the client first authenticates to a first proxy using authentication data appropriate for the first proxy. The client then authenticates to a second proxy using different authentication data that is appropriate for the second proxy. This proxy authentication continues through as many proxies as necessary until the client is in communication with the server.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of electronic authentication. In particular, the present invention relates to methods and systems for authentication through multiple proxy servers that require different authentication data such as user identification and password.
2. Background and Related Art
A "proxy server" or "proxy" is a computer or computer system that acts as an intermediary between a client computer system (hereinafter, a "client") and a server computer system (hereinafter, a "server"). When a client submits a request to a server, the proxy, through which the request must traverse, may require client authentication that is independent of the client authentication required by the server. One typical way for a client (or a user thereof) to authenticate to the proxy is to provide authentication data such as a user identification (ID) and password to the proxy. The client may also provide a separate user ID and password to the server when authenticating to the server.
The Internet standard HyperText Transport Protocol (HTTP) provides a transport level protocol for communicating between a client and server. Among other things, HTTP provides for a means for authentication to a proxy even though that proxy requires different authentication data than the server. Conventional HTTP allows for a header field that may include a user ID and password for authenticating to the proxy. HTTP also allows for a separate header that may include a separate user ID and password for authenticating to the server. Even if HTTP requests from the client traverse multiple proxies that require authentication on the way to the server, so long as the proxies each require the same user ID and password (as is often the case when the multiple proxies are managed by the same entity), the header that includes the password for the proxy may be used to authenticate to each proxy. Thus, conventional methods allow HTTP to be used to authenticate to a single proxy (or to multiple proxies that require the same user ID and password) and to a server.
These conventional methods have some advantages, including allowing for authentication to multiple proxies within a single administrative domain, all of which use the same credentials. However, these conventional methods do not allow for authentication through multiple proxies if those proxies require different authentication data as compared to each other.
Often, proxies that reside within a common sphere of trust may use the same user ID and password when authenticating a particular user. For example, proxies that are managed by the same entity may often use the same user ID and password to authenticate a particular user. However, it may be desirable to allow proxies between the client and server to user different authentication data when authenticating the user of the client. For example, suppose that the client is a wireless device and the server is a corporate server. The wireless device may communicate through a proxy managed by the wireless service as well as a proxy managed by the corporation that hosts the corporate server. The wireless service and the corporate server may not trust each other so far as to share a common user ID and password for a given user.
Therefore, what is desired are systems and methods for authentication through multiple proxies even though those multiple proxies may require different user IDs and passwords when authenticating. It would further be desirable if such authentication could be done so that each proxy may only access the authentication data relevant for authentication to that particular proxy, and not be able to access different authentication data intended for other proxies. It would also be desirable if such authentication could be done without modification of existing protocols and standards.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Authentication through multiple proxy servers


Malfunction attributable to an induced electromotive force such as a back electromotive force or a regenerative braking force of an inductive load in a load driving device is prevented. When an on-state current flows in an output transistor, a second transistor applies a supply voltage applied to a source of the output transistor to a back gate of the first transistor. On the other hand, when a negative current flows in the output transistor in a direction opposite to that of the on-state current, the second transistor applies a supply voltage applied to a drain of the output transistor to the back gate of the first transistor.

The present invention relates to a load driving device and a load driving method, and more particularly to a load driving circuit and a load driving method, which drive an inductive load with the use of a power transistor with a vertical structure, having an output controlled by a transistor with a horizontal structure.
As a load driving apparatus for use in a vehicle, a low side switch is used to drive an inductive load such as a solenoid coil or a relay switch. A switch provided in the low side switch is connected to a low side, and the load is connected to a high side. This low side switch may be provided with a disconnection detection circuit for detecting a disconnection of the load, an overcurrent protection circuit for protecting the switch or the load from an overcurrent generated when the load connection is in an abnormal state such as a short circuit, or an over-temperature protection circuit.
A power MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) with a vertical structure, which can reduce a power loss is used in a switch transistor provided in the low side switch. A MOSFET or a polysilicon resistor with a horizontal structure is used in a control circuit for the disconnection detection circuit or the protection circuit.
The low side switch of this type is disclosed by, for example, "Intelligent Power MOSFET", Fuji Times, vol. 81, No. 6, 2008 (Non-patent document 1), and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-12853 (Patent document 1).


A mold handling system for carrying and transporting sand molds comprises a mold handling conveyor with multiple mold exits to provide different outputs for the sand molds. The mold handling system may include flags which can be used to mark selected molds to segregate the sand molds into different groups. A control system responds to flag sensors and tracks the molds to selectively control output of sand molds through the mold exits. Methods of handling sand molds using a mold handling system are also disclosed.

Examples of mold handling systems are disclosed in the following U.S. Pat. No.: 3,827,549 to Hunter entitled "Extended Cooling Conveyor"; U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,467 to Hunter entitled "Mold Handling System"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,774 to Hunter et al. entitled "Linear Mold Handling System With Double-Deck Pouring And Cooling Lines; U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,374 to Hunter et al. entitled "Manufacturing Sand Mold Castings"; U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,059 to Hunter et al. entitled "Molding And Casting Machine"; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,577 to Hunter et al. entitled "Linear Mold Handling System"; and pending patent application Ser. No. 10/133,824 entitled "Method for Forming Sand Molds and Matchplate Molding Machine for Accomplishing Same"; all of which are assigned to the present assignee, and all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
As disclosed in the foregoing patents, mold handling systems receive sand molds from one or more sand molding machines and then convey molds in an organized manner on a conveyer system to allow for pouring of molten material into sand molds and/or cooling of molten material poured into sand molds. The mold handling systems are typically interposed between a mold making machine and a shakeout conveyor where harvest of castings occurs. Mold handling systems may include rotary conveyors as disclosed in the '467 patent or linear conveyors as disclosed in the '549, '774, '374, '059 and '577 patents.
While these foregoing patents disclose significant technological innovations and improvements in the mold handling system art and have advanced automation in the mold making industry, there are still deficiencies existing with the apparatus and methods associated with making and handling sand molds to produce metal castings. One issue is that problems with the formation of sand molds or quality problems with castings being formed may not be discovered until a late stage. For example, each time a metallurgical mixture of molten metal is created in a ladle, it often takes a long time, typically more than an hour, for lab tests to determine if the metal poured from each ladle is of an acceptable metallurgical characteristic. There are other reasons such as mold flask, matchplate or squeeze head problems at the sand molding machine that may create improperly shaped internal cavities in the sand molds. As a result, defective castings or waste product may be produced and not discovered until a late stage. As a result, defective castings may be mixed with good quality product when the castings are output and then harvested on the shakeout conveyor.

Foundry mold handling system with multiple dump outputs and method


An apparatus for positioning a smoothing roll which is mounted so as to be displaceable by a cantilever arm against the reeling mandrel of a strip coiler and to be adjustable particularly with a roll changing head against the reeling mandrel with the use of a force application unit. The roll change head includes a swivel arm which can be swivelled in a joint and is drivable to carry out a swivelling motion, wherein a steel roll is mounted at the free end of the swivel arm in a bearing, and an adjusting arm supporting the smoothing roll is mounted at the free end of the swivel arm, wherein the adjusting arm includes a force-controllable adjusting system for adjusting the smoothing roll against the strip coiler or the outer tube surface thereof, and wherein the force application unit for displacing the cantilever arm is a distance-controllable adjusting unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for positioning a smoothing roll which is mounted so as to be displaceable by means of a cantilever arm against the reeling mandrel of a strip coiler and to be adjustable particularly with a roll changing head against the reeling mandrel with the use of force application means.
2. Description of the Related Art
When coiling thin strips, particularly aluminum strips, it is known in the art to place a smoothing roll during the entire coiling process against the reeling mandrel or on the strip coiler in order to prevent air inclusions and strip defects, so called couch defects.
Because of jumps of the roll due to a diameter increase at the strip beginning, the so-called layer jump, the roll rotates unsteadily and hammer-like vibrations of the entire roll arm occur. In the past, it was not possible to eliminate this disadvantageous phenomenon even by using springs and dampers.
DE 33 18 031 A1 discloses a method and an apparatus for controlling the pressure rollers of a strip coiler influenced by pressure medium-operated cylinders. In accordance with this known method, in which the pressure rollers serve to introduce and press the first and last strip layers against the reeling mandrel or the previously wound strip layers, the strip beginning of the entering strip is observed and monitored without contact during the formation of the first winding and its respective position is utilized for positioning the pressure rollers.
In the apparatus for carrying out this known method, optical sensors are provided for the contactless monitoring of the strip beginning and an optical sensor is arranged immediately following each pressure roller as seen in the travel direction. The method and the apparatus require complicated mechanical and control-technological elements, so that, particularly when a diameter change of each strip layer occurs in the area of the strip beginning, the generation of markings due to mass inertia of the pressure rollers on the strip surface are avoided. For this purpose, the pressure rollers are controlled in such a way that they are moved back each time by a distance corresponding to the strip thickness before the strip beginning which causes the diameter jump passes the rollers. The reeling mandrel is coupled to a pulse generator which interacts with a pulse counter which starts to operate after a contact of the strip beginning at the reeling mandrels without slip has been achieved. It has also been proposed to observe and monitor without contact the strip beginning of the entering strip when the first winding is formed and to utilize the respective position for positioning the pressure rollers.
EP 0 391 135 A2 discloses a method of reeling strip in reeling plants. Using the method for controlling the pressure roller adjustment of a strip coiler which has become known under the name step control, it is possible to coil even strips on the reeling mandrel without damage. For this purpose, it is proposed that the pressure rollers move the strip as closely as possible to the reeling mandrel without, however, applying pressure forces against the reeling mandrel, or that only the last pressure roller in the entry direction of the strip moves the strip against the reeling mandrel, while the remaining pressure rollers move the strip as closely as possible to the reeling mandrel without exerting any pressure forces against the strip or the reeling mandrel. The contact of the strip against the reeling mandrel without slip is achieved by a position-controlled spreading of the mandrel segments.

Apparatus for positioning a smoothing roll mounted so as to be displaceable and adjustable during coil formation against the reeling mandrel of a strip coiler


In a changing system in a manual transmission in which a reverse idling gear is slid and meshed simultaneously with a first reverse gear secured to one of a main shaft and a counter shaft and with a second reverse gear mounted on a sleeve of a preselected synchronizing mechanism mounted on the other of the main shaft and the counter shaft, thereby establishing a reverse speed stage, an interlock plate is formed into a shape for inhibiting the movement of a preselected shifting piece in the same direction as a direction of sliding of the reverse idling gear, when a shifting arm having a drive portion engaged with a reverse shifting piece is turned for shifting to establish a reverse speed stage. Thus, it is possible to inhibit the movement of the sleeve of the preselected synchronizing mechanism, when the reverse speed stage is to be established.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a changing system in a manual transmission, and more particularly to a changing system in a manual transmission in which a reverse idling gear is slid and meshed simultaneously with a first reverse gear secured to one of a main shaft and a counter shaft and with a second reverse gear mounted on a sleeve of a preselected synchronizing mechanism mounted on the other of the main shaft and the counter shaft, thereby establishing a reverse speed stage.
2. Description of the Related Art
Such a system is conventionally known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-115142.
In the above-described conventionally known system, when the reverse idling gear is slid and meshed with the reverse gear mounted on the preselected synchronizing mechanism to establish the reverse speed stage a slight movement of the sleeve caused with the sliding and meshing of the reverse idling gear is inevitable. When the sleeve is moved slightly, the main shaft is difficult to rotate under the synchronizing action of the preselected synchronizing mechanism, and a thrust load upon meshing of the reverse idling gear with one of the first and second reverse gears, which is mounted on the main shaft, is increased, thereby bringing about an increase in reverse shafting load.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a changing system in a manual transmission, wherein the movement of the sleeve of the preselected synchronizing mechanism is inhibited when the reverse speed stage is to be established, thereby providing a reduction in reverse shifting load.
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a changing system in a manual transmission comprising a first reverse gear secured to one of a main shaft and a counter shaft, a second reverse gear mounted on a sleeve of a preselected synchronizing mechanism mounted on the other of the main shaft and the counter shaft, a reverse idling gear rotatably retained on a reverse shifting fork and capable of being slid in a direction parallel to the main shaft and the counter shaft so that said reverse idling gear can be meshed simultaneously with the first and second reverse gears, a plurality of shifting pieces arranged in parallel in a direction along an axis of a shift-selecting shaft capable of being moved in an axial direction in response to a selecting operation and turned about an axis in response to a shifting operation, the shifting pieces including a reverse shifting piece operatively connected to the reverse shifting fork and a preselected shifting piece operatively connected to a preselected shifting fork retaining said sleeve, a shifting arm fixed to the shift-selecting shaft and having a drive portion capable of being brought alternatively into engagement with one of the shifting pieces in response to the selecting operation, and an interlock plate which is mounted on the shift-selecting shaft for non-rotation about the axis of the shift-selecting shaft to cover a portion of the shifting arm, and which has a slit to which the drive portion faces, wherein the interlock plate is formed into a shape such that it inhibits the movement of the preselected shifting piece in the same direction as a direction of sliding of the reverse idling gear, when the shifting arm having the drive portion engaged with the reverse shifting piece is turned for shifting to establish a reverse speed stage.
With such arrangement, when the shifting arm is turned toward a reverse position to establish the reverse speed stage, the movement of the preselected shifting piece in the same direction as the direction of sliding of the reverse idling gear is inhibited by the interlock plate. Even if a force moving the sleeve is applied to the sleeve when the reverse idling gear is slid and meshed with the second reverse gear, the sleeve cannot be moved, because the movement of the preselected shifting piece operatively connected to the preselected shifting fork retaining the sleeve is inhibited. Therefore, such a phenomenon deteriorating the rotation of the main shaft under the synchronizing action of the preselected synchronizing mechanism during establishment of the reverse speed stage, cannot occur, and the thrust load upon the meshing of the reverse idling gear with one of the first and second reverse gears, which is mounted on the main shaft, cannot be increased, so that the reverse shifting load can be reduced.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


Collapsible reusable watertight carrying cases are provided in sizes varying from small containers without wheels to large sealable container bins on wheels, to provide large quantities of water or other supplies and cargo. The cases are assembled or in disassembled from a joined flat space-saving configuration to a functioning case and vice-versa. The sides of the cases are erected progressively by hand by interlocking self sealing reciprocating channel and channel engaging members elements at the corners. The panels also disassemble progressively by being manually pulled apart. When folded into a flat storage or shipping configuration, the panels stay together, resisting unfolding by virtue of snaps which are either molded into the panels or bonded to them. The carrying cases are resistant to water, dirt, bacteria, molds, allergens, and inclement weather.

The prior art reveals patents describing collapsible, foldable, and/or reusable containers or carrying cases.
In U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,602 of Ryan, there is disclosed a collapsible, foldable, reusable container/carry case where the sides are connected together with jointing pairs of spherical nibs.
In U.S. Pat. No. 9,694,837 of Ryan, there is also disclosed a collapsible, foldable, reusable container/carry case with arrays of connecting nibs, as well as a wheeled frame for transport.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,418 of Ogden, U.S. Pat. No. 4,491,231 of Heggeland, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,820,383 of Shchamorov, U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,962 Uitz, U.S. Pat. No. 8,261,923 of Blanchard, U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,135 of Smyers, and US Patent Application Publication number U.S. Pat. No. 2012/0091133 of Escarpa Gil, show molded plastic containers or boxes that are assembled or disassembled with the use of a variety of latches and hinges.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,753 of Henderson shows a variable height telescoping packaging system. US Patent Application Publication number 2008/0190923 of Rovira Fontinals, et al. describes foldable container with a rigid base which may include wheels.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,973 of Anderson discloses a corrugated cardboard box with a rigid base incorporating reinforcing plates with wheels or casters.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,136 of Hall, U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,911 of Drexhage, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,632 of Zink, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,474 of Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,885 of Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,907 of Espinoza, U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,724 of Bradford, U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,541 of Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,127 of Bradford, U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,993 of Wassink, U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,875 of Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,516 of Ussen, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,824,042 generally incorporate foldable sections of corrugated cardboard or similar plastic panels with plastic or metal molded reinforcing elements.

Collapsible reusable dry or liquid storage containers


A lane tracking system for tracking the position of a vehicle within a lane includes a camera configured to provide a video feed representative of a field of view and a video processor configured to receive the video feed from the camera and to generate latent video-based position data indicative of the position of the vehicle within the lane. The system further includes a vehicle motion sensor configured to generate vehicle motion data indicative of the motion of the vehicle, and a lane tracking processor. The lane tracking processor is configured to receive the video-based position data, updated at a first frequency; receive the sensed vehicle motion data, updated at a second frequency; estimate the position of the vehicle within the lane from the sensed vehicle motion data; and fuse the video-based position data with the estimate of the vehicle position within the lane using a Kalman filter.

Vehicle lane tracking systems may employ visual object recognition to identify bounding lane lines marked on a road. Through these systems, visual processing techniques may estimate a position between the vehicle and the respective lane lines, as well as a heading of the vehicle relative to the lane. Such processing/recognition techniques, however, may be processor intensive and/or may require heavy filtering. This may result in the position estimates being time-delayed relative to the acquisition of the video information. Additionally, visual information may be acquired sporadically due to visual obstructions, ambient visibility limitations, dirt/debris that may cloud the visibility of the camera lens, and/or the need to aggregate multiple sequential frames for certain video filtering methods. Such latency and/or sporadic or slow refresh rates may lead to system instabilities or may compromise the vehicle's response time/accuracy if an automatic path correction is warranted.


A system of stacking interlocking blocks can be configured into a series of states in order to capture and display both physical and virtual events or content. In some examples, the system includes the stacking interlocking blocks, a grid base having the stacking interlocking blocks stacked on top of the grid base in a physical configuration, and a user system. Each stacking interlocking block includes a block circuit. The grid base includes an embedded computing system configured, by virtue of communicating with each of the block circuits, to determine a position of each stacking interlocking block with respect to the grid base and in some cases both the grid base and the other blocks which have been detected by the grid base.

Conventional toy building block sets are well known and are generally considered to be an important part of a child's learning and development process. In addition to providing important cognitive development through the act of manipulation, they allow children to use imagination and/or creativity to build and/or create a large number of configurations and/or structures. Since each built structure exists only as a physical entity, these constructions must be dismantled when the blocks are needed for building new structures, that is, they do not interact with the growing variety of virtual platforms with which children engage during play.
Virtual platforms afford children a constantly evolving variety of content-based play experiences that can engage imaginations with stories and character development, puzzles and challenges, and synchronous and asynchronous social play with children in the same or in remote locations. Furthermore, creations can exist in the virtual world long after the physical manifestation has been disassembled, allowing for a persistence of creations that is not possible with conventional blocks.
Therefore, it would be desirable to create a set of blocks that can be used for construction in a conventional, physical way but can also directly interact with virtual platforms in real time by displaying a mirrored digital shadow of the block configuration.

THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA


A method of monitoring a critical dimension of a structural element in an integrated circuit is provided comprising the following steps: collecting an optical interference endpoint signal produced during etching one or more layers to form the structural element; and determining based upon the optical interference endpoint signal the critical dimension of the structural element.

Critical dimension control is important in integrated circuit manufacturing processes, particularly with respect to gate critical dimensions, which impact transistor performance. Controlling critical dimensions is becoming increasingly important as dimensions of gate elements, such as polysilicon gate elements, fall within the deep sub-micron range. Gate dimensions generally need to be controlled to within 2-3% of the target dimension. In 90 nm devices, the run-to-run gate critical dimension variation is required to be controlled to within 2-3 nm. For anticipated 65 nm devices, acceptable gate critical dimension variation is even smaller. Therefore, accurate monitoring of critical dimensions is of increasing importance in the industry.
Presently, critical dimensions are determined by actually measuring line widths of sampled wafers outside of the process that determines the critical dimension. Measurements on a sample wafer are typically taken by a separate scanning electron beam (SEM) metrology tool. A wafer is removed from the manufacturing process and its critical dimensions are then measured using the tool. The wafer can then be returned to the manufacturing process. This method, however, is slow, requires additional expensive hardware, requires significant additional processing steps and can cause so called "e-beam" damage to layers formed on the wafer. Further, the accuracy of these SEM techniques may not be sufficient for newer generations of integrated circuits (e.g., 65-90 nm devices).
In some processes, a separate optical tool is used to measure critical dimension. However, this methodology is also performed by a separate tool after etch processing and requires formation of grating structures on the wafer, oblique angle light sources, high clean surfaces and the use of complicated mathematical models to determine critical dimension.
Therefore, there is a need for a non-destructive method of in-situ measuring critical dimensions of features of integrated circuits. Still further, there remains a need to provide for in-situ measurement of critical dimensions without costly hardware additions or upgrades.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.


The present invention provides a portable terminal which can easily start processing for data selected to be processed, a method for starting data processing, and a method for transferring data. A cell phone terminal 11 includes a sensor 22 detecting change in posture or physical movement of the present terminal. The cell phone terminal 11 includes an interface for selecting, by a user, arbitrary data from data stored beforehand in a memory 15. When the sensor 22 detects the change in posture or physical movement of the present terminal in a state that any data are selected by an interface, a predetermined operation is performed on the selected data as a target to be processed.

The recent portable terminal has many functions. A number of portable terminals which require complicated operations in order to use the functions provided therein is increasing.
For example, there is a portable terminal including a function for sending/receiving data between terminals by using short-range wireless communication. For using this function, a user should perform a predetermined operation. However, in many cases, this predetermined operation includes many operations such as button operations or should perform complicated operations; therefore, a user who is not used to operating the portable terminal may be unable to complete the operations, or the user may wrongly operate the portable terminal.
Accordingly, it is necessary to simplify the operation for using the function provided in the portable terminal.
There is a "mobile detection device" disclosed in a patent document 1 as the conventional art related to a device, which starts communication without particular operations. In the patent document 1, when a vibration is detected within a predetermined time after a change in a light-receiving amount of infrared rays is detected (or in the reverse case), the mobile detection device determines that an object to be detected is moved and outputs an abnormal signal.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-279536

Cell phone terminal, method for starting data processing, method for transferring data


A measurement system for determining at least one characteristic of a device under test (DUT) at at least one frequency is described. The measurement system includes a network analyzer being in connection at least with a first source via a first connector and a second source via a second connector. Each source generates a signal. The network analyzer further includes signal paths arranged for applying the generated signals to the DUT and arranged for receiving signals output by the DUT. The frequency content of the signal generated by the second source includes at least a frequency component offset from the at least one frequency at which the DUT is characterized, the at least one frequency being included in the frequency content of the signal generated by the first source.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of measurements systems for electronic components and devices like power amplifiers and other. It also relates to methods for characterizing and analyzing the behavior of such devices.
2. State of the Art
Presently source-pull and load-pull techniques are used to characterize amplifiers under different impedance conditions and to find the optimal source and load matching circuitry for certain component characteristics. Source-pull provides different impedances at the input of the device while load-pull provides different impedances at the device output. Different device characteristics are measured under different impedance conditions in order to find the impedance condition that optimizes one or more characteristics. To provide different impedances to the amplifier, two main approaches exist: passive (mechanical or electrical) or active techniques (active loop or power injection from external source).
Because the tuning process is cumbersome (e.g., tuners and system parts need to be characterized separately) and the measurement process is slow, no real-time feedback is given. Therefore, the measurement set-ups are automated to collect power amplifier characteristics, while tuning the output and input impedance, while stepping power levels, etc. The calculated characteristics are displayed afterwards, typically using contour plots of these characteristics on a Smith chart.
For mechanical passive tuners, typically a step motor is used to control the tuning of the mechanical part (e.g., position and depth of a probe or resonance circuit dimensions), while for electrical passive tuners an electrical characteristic of a component is adapted to change the presented impedance (e.g., changing transmission line length using PIN diodes). For active tuners using an active loop, the amplifier output wave is sampled using a coupler structure, amplified/attenuated and phase shifted before injecting back towards the component under test. To avoid a feedback loop, the source at the input can be split towards the output via a gain/attenuation and phase control. As an alternative a second synthesizer is used at the output, locked to the synthesizer at the input. By controlling the amplitude and phase of the second source, different impedances are realized. These approaches to active injection are described in patent documents WO03/048791-A2 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,509,743-B as well as in the paper "A Time Domain Large Signal Measurement Setup" (H. Arthaber et al., Int'l Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, Vol. 15, No. 1, January 2005, pp. 3-12). In patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,804-B1 the active approach with two separate sources is explained in the context of extracting scattering parameters faster and in more realistic conditions.
To measure the amplifier characteristics a first vector network analyzer is used off-line to characterize all parts of the measurement set-up (by their S-parameters), while during source-pull and load-pull a power meter is used to measure the transferred power (see FIG. 1). Disposing of the S-parameters of the different components in the set-up and measuring the transferred power, one can calculate a lot of important device characteristics but not all. For the above-mentioned active tuner systems, a vector network analyzer is usually required to measure each time the synthesized impedances.
With the prior art systems as shown in FIG. 1, source-pull is performed by changing the states of the source tuner, while maintaining the impedance at the output to a constant value and regulating the microwave synthesizer to maintain a given available power. This is repeated for different levels of available power, requiring the microwave (or RF) synthesizer to step through a range of values. The source tuner and the source match of the synthesizer need to be pre-characterized. During source-pull it is also assumed that the source match of the synthesizer does not change. With the prior art systems as shown in FIG. 1, load-pull is performed by changing the states of the load tuner, while maintaining the impedance at the input at a constant value and regulating also the microwave synthesizer to maintain a given available power. Of course, the combination of source-pull and load-pull is possible.
Set-ups (as explained in WO03/048791) based on oscilloscopes or Microwave Transition Analyzers (obsolete instrument from Agilent Technologies) have been constructed to characterize transistors, power amplifiers in time and frequency domain, while measuring voltages and currents at the input and output. These types of system can provide complete component information. The systems have been combined with passive tuners and active tuners.

Real-time device characterization and analysis


An adjustable sliding privacy screen for a premium class passenger suite may include a guide rail mounted to a wall partition. The adjustable sliding privacy screen may also include a yaw and roll adjustment bracket slidingly attached to the guide rail and to the screen. The yaw and roll adjustment bracket may include a flanged adjustment screw for adjusting the yaw and roll of the screen and a locking screw for securing the yaw and roll adjustment of the screen. The screen may also include a ball joint adjustment bracket slidingly attached to the guide rail and to the screen. The ball joint adjustment bracket may include a ball joint and adjustment screw for adjusting the pitch of the screen and a locking nut for securing the pitch adjustment of the screen. The device of the present invention thus allows for the adjustment of the yaw, roll, and pitch of the screen.

The present invention relates generally to compartment closure mechanisms and more particularly to closure mechanisms for use in vehicle compartments. The invention is an adjustable sliding apparatus for doors, screens, privacy partitions, and the like for use in vehicles. As used herein, the term door or the term screen will be synonymous with one another and also inclusive of any and all other such moveable privacy partitions.
Premium passenger seating arrangements in aircraft can take the form of individual suites separated and defined by walls and partitions. Such suites typically include a passenger living area outfitted with comfort, luxury, and convenience features such as lie-flat adjustable seats, desks, advanced media and electronics, closets and various storage compartments, among other amenities.
With the development of passenger suites, there is a continuing effort to offer more and better features and amenities to passengers to further accommodate their needs and increase the level of luxury of such suites. There is also a continuing effort to arrange suites to maximize seating density in an aircraft, maximize the use of limited space in the suites, maintain lightweight fixtures, and maintain the perceived openness of the suites. While passengers have come to expect certain amenities, the inclusion of amenities comes with additional cost, weight, complexity, and space requirements.
Privacy of passengers in premium class suite seating is of particular importance. However, adding doors and walls to aircraft interiors can be bulky and heavy—both features which it is desirable to minimize. Therefore, there is a need in the art for premium aircraft suite doors and privacy screens which are lightweight and low profile.
Further, as aircraft and other vehicles are frequently in motion including acceleration, deceleration, and maneuvers, aircraft interiors experience forces which cause contents of the aircraft to jostle and move. In some cases, even interior fixtures such as doors and privacy screens may move out of alignment and require adjustment. The door's pitch, yaw, and roll are subject to change and may need realignment. Current mechanisms for adjusting the position and angles of sliding screens (for alignment) are difficult to adjust, take up large amounts of space and usually need to be tailored to specific screen configurations. Thus, there is a need for a mechanism which is easy to adjust, has a small envelope, and easily mounts to various door configurations would be beneficial. Further, because aircraft have little downtime between flights—such as flights were a suite's privacy doors may have become out of alignment—there is a need in the art for a door adjustment mechanism that may quickly be adjusted.


A suture securing instrument can include a cylindrical body that has an inner circumferential surface, and a securing portion configured to secure a suture. The securing portion can include an outer circumferential surface supported by the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body by moving along a longitudinal axis relative to the cylindrical body, and a holding portion configured to hold the suture between the cylindrical body and the securing portion. The holding portion can also include a groove for the suture.

For example, US 2007/0270907 A1 discloses a suture securing instrument for securing a suture in treatment. The suture securing instrument has an outer locking member and an inner locking member movable relative to the outer locking member along a longitudinal axis. The distal end of a cable (wire member) is connected to the inner locking member. An inner cavity is formed in the inner locking member. The inner cavity is open to an outside of the inner locking member at a distal end opening of a distal end surface of the inner locking member and at an outer circumferential opening of an outer circumferential surface of the inner locking member. A suture that has sutured a living tissue or the like is inserted from the distal end opening into the inner cavity of the inner locking member, and is extended from the inner cavity to the outside of the inner locking member through the outer circumferential opening. Then, with the suture inserted through the inner cavity, the cable is pulled toward the proximal end side, and the inner locking member is inserted inside the outer locking member. Thus, an extended portion of the suture extended from the outer circumferential opening is sandwiched between the outer circumferential surface of the inner locking member and the inner circumferential surface of the outer locking member. Due to the suture being sandwiched between the inner locking member and the outer locking member, the friction between the suture and the inner locking member and the friction between the suture and the outer locking member lock the suture; thus, the suture is secured to the inner locking member and the outer locking member.


Provided are a double-sided display panel and display device. The double-sided display panel includes a light-emitting module, a first conversion panel and a second conversion panel, where the light-emitting module is placed between the first conversion panel and the second conversion panel, and the light-emitting module may provide light sources for the first conversion panel and the second conversion panel to cause the first conversion panel and/or the second conversion panel to display an image.

With the development of science and technology, display devices play a more and more important role in current electronic devices. A current display device usually has a light-emitting surface and a backside surface facing away from the light-emitting surface. The light-emitting surface is capable of displaying information such as images, text and the like, while display cannot be performed on the backside surface, that is, display can be performed on a single side of the display device.
At present, bidirectional display is needed in window industries such as a communication industry, a government window, a financial industry, a transportation industry and the like, so that displayed information can be viewed by people inside and outside the window. In the related art, two display screens are disposed in the display device, and the two display screens face towards different directions, so that the display device is capable of achieving the bidirectional display. Although the bidirectional display can be achieved by using the two display screens, the display device will have a large volume, a thick thickness, a complex structure, and development requirements of a light, thin and small display device cannot be met.

Double-sided display panel and display device


Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media are disclosed for determining multi-term contextual tags for digital content and propagating the multi-term contextual tags to additional digital content. For instance, the disclosed systems can utilize search query supervision to determine and associate multi-term contextual tags (e.g., tags that represent a specific concept based on the order of the terms in the tag) with digital content. Furthermore, the disclosed systems can propagate the multi-term contextual tags determined for the digital content to additional digital content based on similarities between the digital content and additional digital content (e.g., utilizing clustering techniques). Additionally, the disclosed systems can provide digital content as search results based on the associated multi-term contextual tags.

Recent years have seen a significant increase in digital content (e.g., digital images and digital videos) available on electronic devices and the Internet. In particular, an increasing number of digital content is made available to individuals and businesses. For example, the ease of creating digital content on electronic devices, such as smart phones, has led to the creation and storage of large quantities of digital content. Furthermore, users may desire to find particular content. For instance, a user may desire to find digital content relating to a particular context. Although conventional digital visual systems enable users to create, view, modify, describe, upload, and search for digital content, they also have a number of significant shortcomings, particularly in regard to searching for or otherwise retrieving digital content.
For example, conventional digital visual systems oftentimes cannot easily, accurately, and/or efficiently utilize tags to search for and/or retrieve contextually relevant content in large collections in response to context provided in a search query (e.g., they are often unable to exploit the correlations among tags to improve relevance in retrieval of images). For instance, conventional digital visual systems often involve searching based on an inverted index of tag-to-image mappings. Many conventional digital visual systems utilize tags that fail to capture all of the concepts present in an image (e.g., the tags lack semantic completeness and/or fail to capture all levels of semantic granularity). Moreover, some conventional systems may pollute (i.e., spam) an image with excessive tags in an attempt to surface the image in as many queries as possible. However, such approaches often result in the conventional systems surfacing irrelevant images for search queries because of the excessive tags. Additionally, conventional digital visual systems often utilize bag-of-words models to associate tags with digital content, however such tags often lose context (or relationships between the tags).
As an example, some conventional digital visual systems can associate tags such as "boy," "red," "hat," "yellow," and "shirt" to an image portraying a boy with a red hat and yellow shirt. However, these conventional digital visual systems often provide such an image in response to a search query (e.g., a tag based search) that states "a boy with a yellow hat and red shirt" because the search query includes terms associated with the tags of the image. Indeed, many conventional systems determine and associate independent tags to images without preserving context and, as demonstrated above, affect the quality of search results. As a result, conventional digital visual systems often fail to easily, accurately, and/or efficiently utilize those tags to search for and/or retrieve contextually relevant content in response to context provided in a search query. For instance, conventional digital visual systems often inefficiently utilize computing resources by conducting additional search queries, responding to additional queries, and transmitting additional digital content due to the contextual inaccuracies in search results.
In addition, conventional digital visual media systems often fail to easily, accurately, and/or efficiently determine tags that are contextually relevant to the digital content in large collections of digital content (e.g., thousands or millions of images). In particular, many conventional digital visual systems identify objects portrayed in digital content to tag the digital content based on the identified objects. However, conventional digital visual systems often cannot easily, accurately, and/or efficiently determine context between the identified objects and determine tags that maintain such context for digital content in large collections. Indeed, oftentimes, conventional digital visual systems spend a lot of resources (e.g., money) to tag large collections of digital content accurately (e.g., with the context of the digital content intact) by using human annotators. Furthermore, sometimes, a large portion of digital content in many conventional digital visual systems does not get surfaced during search queries and/or does not receive user attention. As a result, in many conventional digital visual systems, contextually relevant tags are not generated for a majority of digital content items that do not have supervised labels.

Generating contextual tags for digital content


In a method for determining the status of a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) packet stream, several steps are performed. A time period elapsed since reception of the last RTP packet is determined, the content of the last received RTP packet is determined, and the status of the RTP packet stream based on the elapsed time period and the content of the last received RTP packet is categorized. The method is advantageous in that the risk of false detection of dead RTP packet streams is reduced.

For communication in packet switched networks, such as the Internet, data packets are transferred via the network from a sending end, e.g. a transmitter comprising an audio source and an encoder, to a receiving end, e.g. a receiver comprising a decoder. The flow of data packets sent from the sending end to the receiving end over the packet switched networks is referred to as the data packet stream. In the following, the data packets sent from the sending end (or encoder) may also be referred to as codec data packets. The real time transfer protocol (RTP) is generally used to send multimedia data, such as e.g. audio data, and is usually used in conjunction with the Real time transport control protocol (RTCP), wherein RTP is used to transfer the audio data and RTCP is used to periodically send control information, quality of service parameters and/or transmission statistics.
Generally, during voice over internet protocol (VoIP) applications, such as a VoIP audio conversation based on RTP packet streams, it is desirable to be able to detect if the packet stream is alive (i.e. if the RTP packet is indeed received at the remote side or receiver), or dead (i.e. if the RTP packet is not received at the remote side or receiver).
A packet stream can die for several reasons, such as a general problem in network transmission (no route exists to the destination due to router failure or router overloading), a loss in connection of a mobile device involved in the communication to a Wi-Fi or 3G network, a sudden introduction of an extreme delay (typically several seconds) in a 3G network connection, a corruption of a signaling protocol (e.g. session initiation protocol, SIP) wherein a packet transmission is stopped but the receiving end has not been notified, a policy change from a firewall thereby stopping a packet data stream from passing through, and a failure of a relay server in forwarding the data packets.
Detection of such situations, or more generally of a dead RTP packet stream, is desirable in order to improve the user experience in VoIP audio conversation. On the other hand, information about a dead connection usually requires some sort of action by the user, such as for example to check the connection using another channel (e.g. via RTCP) or, even more drastically, to restart a complete session. Thus, it is desirable that the determination of the status of an RTP packet stream (i.e. whether the RTP packet stream is dead or alive) is reliable and, in particular, that the number of invalid or false notifications to the user of a dead RTP packet stream is reduced.
Thus, there is a need for providing methods and devices that would overcome, or at least alleviate or mitigate, some of the above mentioned issues.

Method for reliable detection of the status of an RTP packet stream


A heat lamp apparatus having a shade adapted to be hung from a place above the shade has an opening disposed therein and through a top portion of the shade. The shade opening has at least one projection extending into the opening in the shade. A heat lamp socket is provided for receiving a heat lamp at one end thereof. The socket has an electrical cord connected to it. An adjusting member has a passageway therein and the electrical cord is disposed in at least a portion of the passageway. The adjusting members has at least one elongated slot extending along one side thereof for selectively receiving the projection of the shade in longitudinally different positions of the slot. A plurality of laterally grooves are disposed to one side of the slot whereby relative rotation of the adjusting member with respect to the shade permits the projection to extend into any one of the plurality of lateral grooves, whereby removing the projection from one of the lateral grooves to another, changes the vertical position of the socket with respect to the shade. Consequently the shade can remain in one position and the adjusting member is used to raise or lower the heat lamp bulb with respect to the shade thereby varying the distance of the heat lamp from the object to be heated and also varying the pattern of the heat.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to heat lamps, and more particularly to an adjustable heat lamp.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heat lamps are used on farms to keep young poultry or young pigs warm. Of course heat lamps have other uses. In most uses of heat lamps, there is from time to time the need to adjust the amount of heat delivered. This is commonly done by merely raising or lowering the heat lamp, along with the shade in which the heat lamp is disposed. For example, a chain or wire holding up a heat lamp shade can be lengthened or shortened in order to move the heat lamp up or down.
This need to lengthen or shorten a cable, wire, chain or the like which is suspending a heat lamp and shade from above is not a convenient way to adjust the heat delivered to its destination. In fact, ladders and tools in the creep area of a farrowing house can pose a safety hazard. Furthermore, this raising and lowering of the heat lamp with the shade does not change the basic heat pattern, but only increases the heat if the heat lamp is closer to the point to be heated or farther from such point.
Consequently there is a need for a more convenient way to adjust the amount of heat delivered to its ultimate destination.
The present invention relates to a heat lamp apparatus having a shade adapted to be hung from a place above the shade. An opening is disposed in and through a top portion of the shade and has at least one projection extending into the opening in the shade. A heat lamp socket is provided for receiving a heat lamp at one end thereof. The socket has an electrical cord connected to it.
An adjusting member has a passageway therein and the electrical cord is disposed in at least a portion of the passageway. The adjusting member has at least one elongated slot extending along one side thereof for selectively receiving the projection of the shade in longitudinally different positions of the slot. A plurality of laterally grooves are disposed to one side of the slot whereby relative rotation of the adjusting member with respect to the shade permits the projection to extend into any one of the plurality of lateral grooves, whereby removing the projection from one of the lateral grooves to another changes the vertical position of the socket with respect to the shade. Consequently the shade can remain in one position and the adjusting member is used to raise or lower the heat lamp bulb with respect to the shade thereby varying the distance of the heat lamp from the object to be heated and also varying the pattern of the heat. If the bulb is raised within the shade, the pattern becomes smaller and if the bulb is lowered within the shade, the heat pattern becomes larger.
An object of the present invention is to provide a better way to adjust the heat delivery of a heat lamp.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A catheter-based system for accessing specific body cavities percutaneously and minimizing patient trauma is provided. In the preferred embodiment, in order to create an aperture at an access site in a patient's existing tubular body organ structure, a delivery sheath is passed axially along the interior of a portion of the existing tubular body organ structure to place a distal end of the delivery sheath near the access site. A centering wire is passed axially along the interior of the delivery sheath, piercing through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site by causing an end portion of the centering wire to emerge from the distal end of the delivery sheath. A cutting catheter is passed substantially coaxially over the centering wire and axially along the interior of the delivery sheath. The aperture is formed by advancing a distal end of the cutting catheter through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site and advancing the distal end of the delivery sheath through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site.

This invention relates to vessel cutting devices for use in the repair, replacement, or supplement of a medical patient's natural body organ structures or tissues. More particularly, this invention relates to vessel cutting devices for use in vascular anastomosis (the surgical connection of vessels).
An example of the possible uses of the invention is a minimally invasive cardiac bypass procedure. This and other examples are considered in detail in Goldsteen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,178, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Vascular anastomosis is a delicate and time-consuming procedure in which fast and accurate vessel cutting plays a particularly important role.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a catheter-based system for accessing specific body cavities percutaneously, thereby minimizing patient trauma.
It would also be desirable to provide fast and accurate vessel cutting devices.


A sealing device for a rodless pneumatic cylinder comprising a hollow body having an elongated chamber in which a reciprocating piston slides. The cylinder has a longitudinal slot and sealing means in the form of a flexible strip passing through a longitudinal passageway in the piston; the sealing strip has a width greater than that of the slot and longitudinally extending retaining bead members engaging and disengaging grooves inside the cylinder body, spaced apart from the central slot. The sealing strip also comprises sealing lips fitting against bevelled edges on a side of the retaining grooves. The strip is provided with a reinforcement to withstand the mechanical stresses caused by the reciprocating piston.

This invention refers to fluid actuated rodless cylinders and more particularly relates to a sealing device for pneumatic cylinders without rod of the type having a hollow body or barrel defining an elongated chamber in which a piston member reciprocates, said piston being connected to a power transmission element through a slot longitudinally extending on a wall of the cylinder.
Cylinders without rod have long been used to effect reciprocating movements or positioning of objects by using pressurized fluid, generally, compressed air, as power source. These rodless cylinders, See GB-A-2163499, EP-A-0147803, U.S. Pat. No. 2,745,382 and DE-C-846493, differently from traditional cylinders provided with a power transfer rod protruding from one or both ends, transfer rod protruding from one or both ends, usually have a longitudinally sliding carriage or power transmission element movable on the cylinder body; the power transmission element is directly connected to a piston member inside the barrel of the cylinder through a longitudinal slot of adequate width. A sealing element consisting of a flexible strip is located inside the cylinder chamber and is urged by the pressurized fluid against the inner surface of the chamber to cover the slot to form a seal. An analogous sealing strip may be provided on the outside of the cylinder body along the longitudinal slot to prevent the entrance of dust. The internal and external sealing strips go through longitudinal passage ways in the piston and carriage members, which are provided with adequate spreading means to spread apart and respectively to approach the strips to the body of the cylinder during the reciprocating movement of the piston.
According to GB-A-2163499 and EP-A-0147803 the sealing strip comprises a sealing portion for creating a seal against an inner side wall of the cylinder barrel, adjacent the longitudinal slot, and retaining portions adapted for engagement with the inner and of the outer surfaces of the barrel along said longitudinal slot. The use of retaining portions protruding inside the longitudinal slot of the cylinder do not permit the power transmission element connected to the reciprocating piston member, to be adequately guided during reciprocations movement along the cylinder resulting in difficulties to withstand to lateral reaction forces acting on said power transmission element. Furthermore, the use of retaining members protruding into the longitudinal slot does not prevent the pressurised fluid from excaping at the failure of the sealing portions of the strip. From DE-D-846493 it is also known a sealing device comprising a V-shaped sealing strip provided with longitudinal retaining members protruding into lateral grooves of the cylinder, having lateral surfaces parallelly arranged to radial surfaces of the longitudinal slot; according to this device the sealing action is therefore provided pressing the outer surface of the strip, between the retaining members, against the inner surface of the cylinder, near to said longitudinal slot. Owing to the thickness of the middle portion of the sealing strip, and consequently its reduced flexibility in a cross-wise direction, the sealing action may be reduced or compromised by wearing or any injuring of the sealing strip. Furthermore, in cylinders having long barrels, the long sealing strip may not be prevented from falling down, in absence of pressurised fluid into the chamber, when the longitudinal slot and the sealing strip are oriented upwardly or on a side.
An object of present invention is to provide a sealing device for rodless fluid actuated cylinders designed to avoid the disvantages of the sealing devices in rodless cylinders previously known.
In particular, a main object of the invention is to provide a sealing device for rodless cylinders allowing the sealing strip to be positively engaged with longitudinal grooves inside the barrel, in absence of pressurised fluid while maintaining the longitudinal slot completely free from the strip retaining means and providing guiding surface for the power transmission member on both sides of the slot.
A further object of the invention is to provide a rodless cylinder having a sealing device designed to improve and to maintain the sealing action by the retaining members, at the failure of the sealing strip, preventing the pressurised fluid to escape.

Sealing device for rodless pneumatic cylinders


The elasticized cushioned thermal glove provides heating, cooling, and compression modalities. The constant fluidity of the gel disposed in the gel bladders substantially throughout the glove palm side is in constant fluidity when heated and cooled. The gel is pre-heated via a power module, heatable when in use, and also pre-cooled prior to use. The glove is also provided as a compression glove to alleviate pain, swelling, and to provide for support for those in need. As the glove provides these heating and cooling advantages, fingers can be left in an open state to enhance dexterity as opposed to full-fingered gloves.

Various types and varieties of gloves are known in the prior art. Cushioned gloves are known yet often fail to fully cushion completely, most relying upon cushioning in the knuckle and palm of the hand only. Some thermal gloves provide a partial fill with a material that can be heated and cooled by an existing external source. What is needed is a thermal, cushioned, compression glove that provides even more than the above listed singular advantages. What is further needed is a glove that can be either pre-heated or continuously heated when in use. The current elastics cushioned thermal glove provides these combined advantages.


A wiring module to be attached to a plurality of power elements which store or generate power includes a bus bar connecting the power elements to each other or connecting the power element and a load to each other, an abnormality detection element detecting an abnormality of the power element, and an insulating protector holding the bus bar and the abnormality detection element. The insulating protector is integrally provided with a first holding shaft portion and a second holding shaft portion which position and hold the bus bar by fitting the bus bar there onto, and an element holding portion which position and hold the abnormality detection element by fitting the abnormality detection element there into.

As a wiring module connected to a power storage module, a wiring module, in which a battery abnormality detection element for detecting an abnormality in a voltage or an abnormality in a temperature of a battery is connected to a conductor connecting batteries to each other or connecting a battery and a load to each other, has been known. In this case, since behaviors when an external force such as vibration or the like is applied are different due to a difference in mass between the abnormality detection element and the conductor, a load is apt to be applied to a part where the abnormality detection element and the conductor are connected to each other.
Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a conductor is fixed to a case and a fuse is fixed to a cover covering the case to integrally hold the conductor and the fuse.