For a given set of programs and their related DLLs the following tool and method finds the minimum set of DLLs for which to apply demand loading and quantifies a lower bound on the expected performance improvement that comes from applying demand loading to the identified set of DLLs. Additionally, the tool and method identifies the set of DLLs in which demand loading cannot be applied because of data exports, but which might benefit from demand loading.

The present invention relates in general to information handling systems and more particularly to an apparatus and method for demand load analysis. Specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selecting from a computer application program one or more dynamic link libraries (DLLs) to be demand loaded and for determining the benefit gained from demand loading a DLL or set of DLLs.
A computer application program usually includes a number of separate routines. Typically, the routines include a main program and several subsidiary routines referred to as objects, modules, or resources. Execution of the application program begins with the main program with calls being made to the subsidiary routines. To operate as a complete program, prior to execution these routines are linked together using a linker such as 386 link. The linker copies each of the routines into an executable file for the application program. The linker also provides each of the routines with information identifying the locations of other routines so that the routines can access each other. The executable file can then be loaded into the memory of a computer such that the application program can be executed by the computer according to the instructions in the routines.
A dynamic link library (DLL) is an executable module or routine containing services that application programs can call to perform useful tasks, e.g., directory searches, login commands, searching functions, character string manipulations, etc. DLLs exist primarily to provide services to application programs. These libraries play an important role in operating systems such as Windows and OS/2, which use them to make their services and resources available to application programs.
DLLs are similar to run-time libraries. The main difference between DLLs and run-time libraries is that DLLs are linked with the application program at run time, that is, when the computer is executing the application program, not when the application program files are linked with the linker. Linking a library with an application program at run time is referred to as dynamic linking; linking a library with an application program by using the linker is referred to as static linking. The discussion below focuses on the OS/2 operating system (OS/2 is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation), but those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the following discussion applies equally to other operating systems, such as Windows, which utilize DLLs.
To access a DLL at run time, the application program must be able to obtain information indicating where to find the DLL. One method provided by operating systems utilizing DLLs is to use an import library, or reference library, which contains information regarding where to locate the DLL at run time. During linking, the linker uses statically linked reference libraries to resolve references to external services. As noted above, when an application program desires a service from a static link library, the linker copies the code for that service into the application program""s executable file. When the application program desires a service run from a DLL, however, the linker does not copy any code from the DLL. Instead, the linker searches all defined import or reference libraries to find one that contains the necessary information regarding location of the DLL. The linker copies the necessary information from the reference or import library to create a dynamic link between the executing application program and the DLL.
When a process loads under the OS/2 operating system, all DLLs that the process references, either directly or indirectly, are also loaded. DLLs referencing other DLLs form a reference tree, the entire set of which gets loaded before the first instruction of the main program is executed. A typical DLL is only partially loaded. The remainder of the DLL is loaded on its first reference. The minimum DLL load requires some initialization in the operating system and the execution of the DLL""s initialization routine. Any code or data referenced by the initialization routine, including the initialization routine itself, is loaded. For some DLLs, the dynamic link load time is quite expensive in terms of time, particularly if the DLL is very large or the DLL""s initialization routine is very long.
The problem with load time initialization as described above is that frequently a process does not call the DLLs that it references. Therefore, the DLLs which are referenced but not called are unnecessarily loaded. When the load time of the unnecessary DLLs is a large percentage of the total execution time, the performance of the process degrades significantly.
There is a method utilized in the OS/2 operating system to prevent the unnecessary loading of DLLs. The method is called demand loading and is implemented using a well-known documented set of OS/2 operating system APIs (Application Program Interfaces). Demand loading is the process of delaying the load of a DLL until it is actually called. If a DLL is demand loaded but never demanded or called, it is effectively not loaded, and the cost of loading it is saved.
It will be appreciated that demand loading is utilized in other operating systems and creates problems similar to those encountered with the OS/2""s demand loading technique.
The problem with the OS/2""s demand loading technique is that it is difficult to use, particularly if a program has initially been written without it. It requires the programmer to replace a call to a target dynamic link with a load check, a couple of OS/2 demand loading APIs, and error recovery should the OS/2 APIs fail.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/742,103, U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,095, of common assignee herewith, an apparatus and method for automatically generating xe2x80x9cdemand loading codexe2x80x9d necessary to implement an operating system""s demand loading APIs is disclosed. The resulting code is packaged into a library which replaces a statically linked DLL reference library. In this manner, the called DLL is not changed in any way, but a tool is run against it to automatically generate a demand loading library for demand loading the DLL.
Performance analysis of a large software system with many DLLs can be very difficult. Many kinds of information are needed for the OS/2 operating system (OS/2 is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation). A dekko hook/trace tool provides some, but not all, of the needed information. The dekko hook/trace tool provides timing information on both operating system events as well as user-written events. The dekko hook/trace tool searches the syntax of a C source file for the entry and exits of routines and automatically inserts dekko hooks. One of the problems with the dekko hook/trace tool, and the suite of utilities that thus far have been written for it, is a mechanism to easily and automatically apply dekko hooks to new code has not been provided.
Other non-dekko based performance tools have tried to solve the automatic and ease of use hooking problem, but each having been lacking in some respect. One particular problem is that prior art tools require some level of access to the source files used to build the executable of interest. Another problem is the processing overhead prior art tools introduce in the software being analyzed. For example, a dekko hook/trace tool requires access to source code so it can be temporarily modified and recompiled. The IBMCPP Performance Analysis Tool requires a recompile of the source code with a compiler switch indicating to enable tracing. IBMCPP Performance Analysis Tool is a tool which automatically hooks the entry and exits of routines and uses its own private trace log. MTrace is an instruction level trace tool which counts the number of instructions executed and accounts them to routine names. The MTrace tool does not require access to the source code but does require a symbol table generated when the executable of interest was built and thus cannot be applied to off-the-shelf products. It is also difficult to set up and generates too much detail for some long-running scenarios. It does not provide real timing information, just instruction counts, and introduces a large amount of overhead.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/763,136, U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,486, of common assignee herewith, a source code independent tool for hooking or tracing entry or exit points of DLLs is described. The tool only uses information that can be pulled from the DLL file itself. No source code access is required, so the tool is very convenient to use. In fact, having the ability to hook a DLL""s entry and exit points is very useful in helping to answer demand load questions, such as where, or to which set of DLLs to apply demand loading and how much benefit comes from demand loading.
What is needed is an apparatus and method for answering these two questions and, in general, for performing demand load analysis.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for demand load analysis. The present invention is implemented in part by customizing the hooking tool described in APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACING ENTRIES TO OR EXITS FROM A DYNAMIC LINK LIBRARY, Ser. No. 08/763,136, U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,486. However, it will be appreciated that the present invention may be implemented using other tools, apparatuses and methods.
The present invention provides a method, implemented in an information handling system, for selecting one or more dynamic link libraries (DLLs), utilized in an application program, to be demand loaded. The method comprises the steps of identifying a DLL reference by the application program; tracing outputs from the DLL; examining the traced output of the DLL to determine whether the DLL was executed; and selecting the DLL to be demand loaded if the DLL was not executed.
The present invention also provides a computer program product implemented in a computer system for implementing the above-described method.
The present invention also provides a computer program product comprising a program of instructions including a DLL, a shadow DLL, and wherein the shadow DLL includes code for tracing events occurring upon entries to or exits from the DLL and code for demand loading the DLL.
The present invention also provides an information handling system including one or more processors, memory and a program of instructions including a DLL, a shadow DLL, and wherein the shadow DLL includes code for tracing events occurring upon entries to or exits from the DLL and code for demand loading the DLL.
The present invention also provides a method and a computer program product, implemented in an information handling system, for determining a minimum time saved in the execution of an application program having one or more dynamic linked libraries (DLLs) by demand loading the DLL. The method includes the steps of generating a shadow DLL for tracing entries to or exits from a DLL and for demand loading the DLL; loading the shadow DLL upon reference by the application program; and measuring the time to execute the application program to determine a minimum time saved by demand loading the DLL.
The main advantage of the present invention is providing DLL demand load analysis without modification to the DLL or application program.
Another advantage of the present invention is providing an apparatus and method for providing a demand load analysis tool which automatically generates a shadow DLL for tracing events occurring upon entry to or exit from a DLL and for demand loading the DLL without modifying any code of the DLL and without adding substantial processing overhead to the DLL.

Apparatus and method for demand load analysis


A rescue device for marooned victims consists of a pair of holding arms (10, 10′) for holding the victims and a pair of seating arms (11, 11′) for providing seating facility to the victim. A motor (20) mounted on top of holding arms (10, 10′) moves arms (10, 10′) and (11, 11′) in a direction opposite to each other. The two pair of arms (10, 10′) and (11, 11′) rotate co-axially around main holding bar (40) in directions opposite to each other whenever motor (20) is activated without destabilizing the suspension above, wherein the holding arms (10, 10′) are closed in for holding the victims body by the arc or V shaped structures (30, 30′) when the seating arms (11, 11′) are closed in for providing a seating facility (16) through electrical means (50) and lock (51).

Floods have become a common phenomenon nowadays. Rivers, canals and other water bodies often get flooded with increasing frequency due to sudden excessive rains and other reasons. These often spread beyond banks and submerge plains. People get trapped in such waters, get carried away or drowned if timely and effective rescue is not available. Similar emergencies occur in other kind of water bodies like sea, lakes, on ships, boats etc. where fast aerial rescue is only hope.
Aerial rescue is an effective mode for rescuing such victims. Prevalent methods followed in such aerial rescue involves lowering of a crew member of rescue team through a rope with harness, putting the victim into the harness and then lifting them up mostly one after another. This is a time taking process and involves a risky adventure for the rescue team. So it limits the scope and success rate of the operation considerably. These risks may be minimized and success probability can be enhanced if lowering of a rescue personnel is not required and rescue operation could be carried out and monitored from above, be it a craft or a vantage point on top in a relatively faster operation.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for real-time resource account verification processing for authentication of a user. The system provides a communication linkage between entities that are real-time payment network enabled participates to communication and confirm account verification. As such, via RFI messaging an entity may request verification of user resource accounts. The system may identify the entity associated with the resources, deploy a secure communication via the RFI messaging platform, and receive a verification in real-time. The system allows for performance of this communication on a backend secure RFI messaging center without third party knowledge of account verification processing. Thus limiting verification, disruption, and processing lag.

Event execution, and the subsequent analysis and resolution of executed events typically require timely communication between multiple systems and entities, and remedial measures are typically delayed by subsequent authorization and resolution. By implementing an interactive system for providing verification of third parties, real-time resolutions can be implemented for executed events without unnecessary and timely intermediary steps.

Real-time resource account verification processing system


A digital copying machine comprising an image scanner part for reading an original image to reproduce image data of the original image, a laser printer part for printing an image according to given image data, a removable memory card, and a reader/writer of the memory card is provided. For offline print, the image data of a document prepared in an external computer and output control data are stored into the memory card. By installing this memory card in the digital copying machine, the digital copying machine prints the image data read out from the memory card offline in a desired output form. For offline image input, read control data obtained by using an image scanner such as a read gradation level, a read size, density, and the degree of edge enhancement is stored in the removable memory card using software executed in an external computer. By installing this storage medium in the digital copying machine and setting an original to be read in the digital copying machine, the original image is read according to the read control data stored in the memory card, and the obtained image data is stored into the memory card.

The present invention relates to a digital copying machine and an image reader provided with the functions of offline image input and output using a removable storage medium.
Recently, the demand for high speed and multi-functional digital copying machines has arisen, and a digital copying machine provided with a facsimile function, a printer function, etc. in addition to a copy function has been developed. A conventional digital copying machine will be described below, referring to the figures. FIG. 13 is a block diagram which shows a flow chart for an image signal of a conventional digital copying machine.
As shown in FIG. 13, an image sensor 71 scans an original to convert reflected light from the original to an electric signal. An analog image signal from image sensor 71 is then converted to a digital image signal by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 72. The converted digital image signal is subjected to image processing such as edge enhancement, trimming, and halftone processing, and edit processing in an image processor 73. An image signal given by image processor 73 is buffered in a buffer memory 74 for speed control to be given to a laser driver 78. Laser driver 78 drives a semiconductor laser 79 to form an electrostatic latent image by laser beams given by semiconductor laser 79.
The digital copying machine further comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 85, a local area network (LAN) controller 80, a page memory 84, a parallel interface (I/F) 81, a communication control unit (CCU) 82, and a compressor/expander 86 which are mutually connected by a CPU bus 83.
CPU 85 comprises a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM) and controls the entire digital copying machine. Page memory 84 has capacity that can store at least one page of image data and is connected to buffer memory 74. Image data stored in page memory 84 is given to laser driver 78 through buffer memory 74 to be printed on paper.
LAN controller 80 communicates with an external equipment through a local area network (LAN). When the digital copying machine is used as a remote printer, an external equipment such as a computer transmits a print control command and image data to the digital copying machine through the LAN. CPU 85 stores the image data received through the LAN into the page memory according to the received print control command.
Using parallel I/F 81, the digital copying machine and an external equipment can be connected one to one. When the digital copying machine is used as a printer for the external equipment, the external equipment transmits a print control command and image data to the digital copying machine through the parallel I/F of the digital copying machine. When the image scanner function of the digital copying machine is used by the external equipment, the external equipment transmits an image read control command to the digital copying machine through parallel I/F 81, and read image data is transmitted to the external equipment from the digital copying machine.
CCU 82 communicates with an external facsimile through a public network using a modem 87. Image data received by the facsimile is expanded in compressor/expander 86, transferred to page memory 84, and printed. Also, image data read for facsimile transmission is stored in page memory 84, compressed in compressor/expander 86, and transmitted to the external facsimile through CCU 82 and modem 87.
Generally, a high-speed digital plain paper copier (PPC) which is capable of copying more than tens of sheets per minute is located in a common space such as a copy room or a hallway. When copying a document which is prepared by a personal computer, etc. in plural copies, a user has to print the original by a nearby printer, take the original to a place where a digital copying machine is located, and then copy the original in plural copies using a sorter, etc. of the digital copying machine. Especially, when a personal computer used by a user is not connected through a LAN, the remote print function of the digital copying machine can not be used, so that copying must be done as mentioned above. In this case, an original image is once printed on paper before copying it, and therefore the image is inevitably degraded.
When a personal computer used by a user is connected to the digital copying machine through a LAN, the user can use the remote print function of the digital copying machine. Therefore, the user can directly utilize a function such as a sorter of the digital copying machine from his personal computer. However, when copying by using the remote print function of the digital copying machine, the user has to go to a distant place where the digital copying machine is located to take printed paper. Also, when copying in large amount using the remote print function, problems such as using up paper and paper jam are likely to occur. To solve these troubles, the user also has to go to the place where the digital copying machine is located. Thus, the utility value of the remote (online) print function in a high-speed digital copying machine is not very high.
When using the image scanner function of the digital copying machine from a user""s personal computer online by using the parallel I/F and the LAN, similar problems arise. That is, the user has to go to a distant place where the digital copying machine is located to set an original in the image scanner part of the digital copying machine. Therefore, when the digital copying machine and the user""s computer are located a distance apart, it is not useful to use the image scanner function of the digital copying machine online.
Next, a conventional image reader will be described. FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a flow chart for an image signal of a conventional image reader. An image sensor 171 scans an original to convert reflected light from the original to an electric signal. An analog image signal given by image sensor 171 is converted to a digital image signal by an A/D converter 172, and given to an image processor 173. Image processor 173 performs image processing such as edge enhancement, trimming, halftone processing, pixel density conversion, and gradation level conversion as well as edit processing on the digital image signal. Image data given by image processor 173 is stored in a buffer memory 174.
For controlling the entire image reader, a CPU 185 comprising a RAM and a ROM is provided. CPU 185, image processor 173, buffer memory 174, a DMA (direct memory access) controller 180, and a small computer system interface (SCSI) controller 181 are mutually connected through a CPU bus 183.
DMA controller 180 transfers image data stored in buffer memory 174 to SCSI controller 181 directly. An external equipment such as a computer transmits a control command for the image reader to the image reader through the SCSI controller and receives image data from the image reader. CPU 185 sets the degree of edge enhancement, the gradation level of image data, read density, etc. according to the image read control command.
Such an image reader is connected to an external equipment such as a personal computer one to one using an interface such as a SCSI. Therefore, the image reader is used exclusively by the user of the connected personal computer. When another user uses the image reader, the user has to use the personal computer connected to the image reader or connect the image reader to his personal computer.
The present invention provides a digital copying machine and an image reader provided with an interface for offline image input and output using a removable storage medium.
According to a first aspect of a digital copying machine of the present invention, the digital copying machine comprises means for reading an original image to reproduce the image data of the original image (e.g. an image scanner), means for printing an image according to given image data (e.g. a laser printer), means for accessing a removable storage medium (e.g. a reader/writer of a memory card), and means for controlling the printing means according to output control data stored in the storage medium so that the printing means can print an image according to image data stored in the storage medium.
Preferably, the digital copying machine further comprises a sorter for sorting printed paper, a finisher for stapling printed paper, and means for controlling the sorter or the finisher according to output control data stored in the storage medium.
Preferably, the digital copying machine further comprises means for storing information of the functions of the printing means and the finisher into the storage medium so that the information can be used by an external equipment such as a computer for generating the output control data.
Preferably, in order to store as much information as possible into the storage medium having limited storage capacity, the image data is compressed by encoding, and the digital copying machine further comprises means for expanding the compressed image data. Preferably, the digital copying machine further comprises means for erasing output control data and image data stored in the storage medium after printing the image data.
According to the digital copying machine of the present invention as mentioned above, by storing the image data of a document, etc. prepared by an external equipment such as a personal computer and output control data into the removable storage medium, and installing the storage medium in the digital copying machine of the present invention, the digital copying machine prints image data read out from the storage medium offline in a desired output form. As a result, a user can directly copy a document in copies of a predetermined number using the digital copying machine of the present invention, without the need for copying an original which is previously printed by a nearby printer. In this case, the image quality of a copy is advantageously not degraded.
Also, by controlling the sorter or finisher of the digital copying machine according to output control data stored in the storage medium, a user can specify the number of copies, a sorting or stapling method, etc. when a document, etc. is prepared by an external computer.
Furthermore, by previously storing (downloading) information of functions provided in the the digital copying machine, for example, the printing means and the sorter or finisher, a user can effectively use all the functions of the digital copying machine.
According to a second aspect of a digital copying machine of the present invention, the digital copying machine comprises means for reading an original image to reproduce the image data of the original image, means for printing an image according to given image data, means for accessing a removable storage medium, and means for controlling the image reading means according to read control data stored in the storage medium so that the image reading means can read an original image so as to produce the image data of the original image to be stored in the storage medium.
In the above aspect, preferably, in order to generate the read control data using an external equipment such as a computer, the digital copying machine further comprises means for storing information of the function of the image reading means into the storage medium. Preferably, the digital copying machine further comprises means for compressing image data given by the image reading means.
According to the digital copying machine of the present invention as mentioned above, offline image input using an image scanner function is readily implemented. That is, read control data obtained by using the image scanner, for example, a read gradation level, a read size, an image compressing method, the degree of edge enhancement, contrast, read density, and an image data file name are stored in a removable storage medium using software executed in an external computer. Then, the storage medium is installed in the digital copying machine, an original to be read is set in the digital copying machine, an original image is read according to the read control data stored in the storage medium, and image data is stored in the storage medium. A user removes the storage medium from the digital copying machine and installs it in a personal computer, for example, and desired image data can be read out from the storage medium to the personal computer.
According to a first aspect of an image reader of the present invention, the image reader comprises an image sensor for converting optical information from an original image to an electric signal, an A/D converter for converting the electric signal given by the image sensor to a digital image signal, an image processor for processing the digital image signal to produce image data, means for accessing a removable storage medium, and means for controlling the image processor according to read control data stored in the storage medium so that the image processor can produce the image data to be stored in the storage medium.
According to a second aspect of an image reader of the present invention, the image reader comprises an image sensor for converting optical information from an original image to an electric signal, an A/D converter for converting the electric signal given by the image sensor to a digital image signal, an image processor for processing the digital image signal to produce image data, an interface for transmitting the image data to an external equipment, means for accessing a removable storage medium, and means for selecting either transmitting the image data to the external equipment by the interface or storing the image data into the storage medium by the accessing means.
According to the image reader of the present invention as mentioned above, a user stores read control data, for example, a read gradation level, a read size, an image compressing method, the degree of edge enhancement, contrast, read density, and an image data file name into a removable storage medium using software executed in an external computer. Then, the storage medium is installed in the image reader of the present invention, and an original to be read is set in the image reader. The image reader of the present invention reads an original image according to the read control data stored in the storage medium, and read image data is stored into the storage medium. Thus, an offline image input function is implemented. A user removes the storage medium from the image reader of the present invention and installs it in a personal computer, etc., and desired image data can be read out from the storage medium to the personal computer, etc.
By providing the image reader with the offline image input function as mentioned above, in addition to a conventional one-to-one interface with an external equipment, the image reader can be connected one to one to a personal computer of a user who uses the image reader most frequently, and other users can use the image reader using the offline image input function without changing the connection.
Also, the image reader of the present invention can output read image data offline in a different read form for each user into the storage medium. Furthermore, a user can readily generate read control data using the user interface of a personal computer, for example. Even if a computer is not connected to the image reader as in the case of a portable note-type computer, an original image can be readily read offline using a memory card, etc.
Furthermore, the image reader of the present invention can download information of the image read function of the image reader to the storage medium, so that a user can readily utilize all the functions of the image reader.

Digital copying machines and image readers with offline interface

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A gas turbine power generator with ultra high efficiency, the generator being an assembly of electric motor-generator machines and counter rotating turbine configurations used in combination with a combustor having cogeneration of steam for combined cycle operation of select turbine configurations.

This invention relates to a new gas turbine power generator with ultra high efficiency.
Actual gas turbine power generator systems, working on simple Brayton cycle, have a limited thermal efficiency near 30%, low power density and degraded thermal efficiency at part loads. This low level of efficiency and power density is the result of low pressure ratio, reduced turbine inlet temperature and a very high air-fuel ratio. Degraded efficiency at part loads is a result of lower pressure ratios associated with reduced power and a lower turbine inlet temperature.
Additionally, typical gas turbines combustion is associated with high level of NOX emission. The result of all these associated, undesirable characteristics is the limited use of gas turbines for power generation leaving the use of gas turbines only forxe2x80x94Peak Shavexe2x80x94power generation and limited time operation (2-3 hours from 24) resulting in high investment for very low income. Typical gas turbines are using a waste-gate system for controlling the over loads. This novel invention eliminates these disadvantages.
A first characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the capability to work at very high pressure ratios of 60-100, which produce thermal efficiencies in the range of 70-80%, eliminating the complexity and ultra high cost of combined cycles in conventional multiple-stage, external cogeneration systems.
A second characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the capability to operate at a constant pressure ratio in all the practical ranges of operation, from full load to part loads, resulting in a constant maximum thermal efficiency and in a constant optimum minimum flat specific fuel consumption, using new arrangements of counter rotating gas turbine and counter rotating compressor assemblies.
A third characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the capability to work at variable mass flow, from full capacity to low mass flow with constant pressure ratio, using the counter rotating compressor and counter rotating turbine.
A fourth characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the implementation of a high frequency pulsatory combustion, eliminating the compact combustion flame, by including multiple air and steam infusions for reduction of local high temperature concentrations.
A fifth characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the combined stem generation and combustion chamber for internal steam cogeneration and low compression work.
A sixth characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the use of new electrical motor generator machines based on this concept and the implementation of an intake side-driving shaft, eliminating the necessity for high pressure sealing systems.
A seventh characteristic of the new gas turbine power generator is the elimination of the waste-gate system.
An eighth characteristic of the new gas turbine power generators to have all the compressors and turbines attached in total axial balance, with zero axial loads, forming groups of modules for turbo compressors-turbines, compressors-compressors and turbines-turbines.

High efficiency gas turbine power generator


The musical or striking watch includes a watch case, which is formed of a middle part and a back cover, provided with side apertures and removably secured in a sealed manner to the middle part. A crystal closes the case in a sealed manner. A timepiece movement is held inside the watch case and provided with a striking mechanism that can be actuated at determined times to produce notes or music. The watch further includes at least one removable acoustic radiating membrane, which is arranged in the watch case. The removable membrane includes, in a central position, a retaining member. This retaining member is arranged with play in a housing in an inner stop member of the back cover. Owing to the cooperation between the retaining member and the stop member, the bending of the membrane is limited following excess pressure or vacuum pressure according to environmental conditions.

If the acoustic membrane is held fixed between the middle part and the back cover of the watch case, a certain number of side openings may be provided on the periphery of the back cover of the watch for transmitting sound from the vibrating membrane towards the exterior. The acoustic membrane must generally be made of a metallic material of small thickness to ensure good acoustic transmission of the sound or music generated, for example, by means of a musical module of the watch. However, with an acoustic membrane of small thickness arranged between the back cover and the watch movement, the membrane is not able to withstand significant excess pressure or vacuum pressure according to environmental conditions. These environmental conditions concern the physical conditions of the place in which the watch containing the acoustic membrane is situated. High pressure on the membrane can thus occur if the watch is used for a deep dive. In these conditions, the thin acoustic membrane is deformed and comes into contact with parts of the watch movement. This is liable to damage both the membrane and certain parts of the watch movement, which is a drawback.
One solution to this problem is disclosed in CH Patent No 375 664, which discloses a water resistant wristwatch, which includes an acoustic membrane and a means of limiting the bending of said membrane towards the interior of the watch. The circular membrane is fixed to the middle part of the watch, as the back cover, via the peripheral edge thereof. A second back cover of the case is fixed as the external part of the watch on the periphery of the membrane. This second back cover includes side openings for sound to pass through. A stop means is provided for limiting the bending of the membrane towards the interior of the watch. To achieve this, a support member is fixed in a central position on the membrane, and the centre of the second back cover includes a stop member for the membrane support member. The support member passes through an opening in the back cover at the location of the stop member to be fixed to the centre of the membrane. In the event of high external pressure, the membrane support member abuts against the stop member of the back cover to prevent the membrane from bending excessively.
One drawback of the stop means for limiting the bending of the membrane towards the interior of the watch of CH Patent No 375 664 is that the support member is fixed to the membrane by passing through an opening in the second back cover of the watch case. In these conditions, dirt can accumulate in the passage for the support member through the back cover of the case, which may greatly dampen the acoustic transmission resonance from the membrane. This may also disturb the person wearing the watch and possibly cause itching or eczema, which is another drawback. The support member may also be handled from the exterior and the membrane is not removable, which are further drawbacks.

Removable acoustic radiating membrane for a musical watch or striking watch and watch including the same


An array substrate for a fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a substrate including a display region and a non-display; a gate line on the substrate and in the display region; a common pad on the substrate and in the non-display region; a gate insulating layer on the gate line and the common pad; a data line on the gate insulating layer and crossing the gate line to define a pixel region in the display region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a first passivation layer on the data line and the thin film transistor; a common electrode on the first passivation layer and covering an entire surface of the display region; a second passivation layer on the common electrode; and a pixel electrode on the second passivation layer and having a plate shape in each pixel region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an array substrate for a fringe field switching (FFS) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) device and more particularly to an array substrate for an FFS mode LCD device being capable of minimizing a parasitic capacitance between a pixel electrode and a data line and a method of fabricating the array substrate being capable of reducing production costs.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A related art liquid crystal display (LCD) device uses optical anisotropy and polarization properties of liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules have a definite alignment direction as a result of their thin and long shapes. The alignment direction of the liquid crystal molecules can be controlled by applying an electric field across the liquid crystal molecules. In other words, as the intensity or direction of the electric field is changed, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules also changes. Since incident light is refracted based on the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules due to the optical anisotropy of the liquid crystal molecules, images can be displayed by controlling light transmissivity.
Since the LCD device including a thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element, referred to as an active matrix LCD (AM-LCD) device, has excellent characteristics of high resolution and displaying moving images, the AM-LCD device has been widely used.
The AM-LCD device includes an array substrate, a color filter substrate and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The array substrate may include a pixel electrode and the TFT, and the color filter substrate may include a color filter layer and a common electrode. The AM-LCD device is driven by an electric field between the pixel electrode and the common electrode to have excellent properties of transmittance and aperture ratio. However, since the AM-LCD device uses a vertical electric field, the AM-LCD device has a bad viewing angle.
An in-plane switching (IPS) mode LCD device may be used to resolve the above-mentioned limitations. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an IPS mode LCD device according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the array substrate and the color filter substrate are separated and face each other. The array substrate includes a first substrate 10, a common electrode 17 and a pixel electrode 30. Though not shown, the array substrate may include a TFT, a gate line, a data line, and so on. The color filter substrate includes a second substrate 9, a color filter layer (not shown), and so on. A liquid crystal layer 11 is interposed between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 9. Since the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 30 are formed on the first substrate 10 on the same level, a horizontal electric field "L" is generated between the common and pixel electrodes 17 and 30.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing turned on/off conditions of an IPS mode LCD device according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the voltage is applied to the IPS mode LCD device, liquid crystal molecules 11a above the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 30 are unchanged. But, liquid crystal molecules 11b between the common electrode 17 and the pixel electrode 30 are horizontally arranged due to the horizontal electric field "L". Since the liquid crystal molecules are arranged by the horizontal electric field, the IPS mode LCD device has a characteristic of a wide viewing angle. FIG. 2B shows a condition when the voltage is not applied to the IPS mode LCD device. Because an electric field is not generated between the common and pixel electrodes 17 and 30, the arrangement of liquid crystal molecules 11 is not changed.
A fringe field switching (FFS) mode LCD device having additional advantages has been introduced. FIG. 3 is a plane view showing one pixel region of an array substrate for an FFS mode LCD device according to the related art, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a gate line 60 is formed along a first direction on a substrate 51 of an array substrate 50, and a data line 70 along a second direction cross the gate line 60 to define a pixel region P. A thin film transistor (TFT) Tr, which includes a gate electrode 62, a gate insulating layer 64, a semiconductor layer 66, a source electrode 72 and a drain electrode 74, is formed at a crossing portion of the gate and data lines 60 and 70. The TFT Tr is disposed in a switching region TrA defined in the pixel region P. The TFT Tr is connected to the gate and data lines 60 and 70. Namely, the gate electrode 62 is connected to the gate line 60, and the source electrode 72 is connected to the data line 70. The semiconductor layer 66 includes an active layer 66a of intrinsic amorphous silicon and an ohmic contact layer 66b of impurity-doped amorphous silicon.
In addition, a pixel electrode 76, which is connected to the drain electrode 74 of the TFT Tr, is formed in the pixel region P. A passivation layer 80 as an insulating layer is disposed on the pixel electrode 76 and the TFT Tr. A common electrode 90 having a plate shape is disposed on the passivation layer 80. The common electrode 90 includes a plurality of holes 92 of a slit shape. The holes 92 overlap the pixel electrode 76. The pixel electrode 76 covers the pixel region P, and the common electrode 90 covers an entire surface of the substrate 51.
With voltages to the pixel electrode 76 and the common electrode 90, a fringe field is generated between the pixel and common electrodes 76 and 90 such that liquid crystal molecules are driven by the fringe field.
As shown in FIG. 4, in the related art FFS mode LCD device, the pixel electrode 76 is positioned to be closer to the data line 70 such that a parasitic capacitance is generated between the pixel electrode 76 and the data line 70. Problems, i.e, a flicker phenomenon, are generated by the parasitic capacitance. Particularly, when a size of the pixel electrode 76 is increased to improve an aperture ratio, the problems are serious because a distance between the pixel electrode 76 and the data line 70 is further decreased.

Array substrate for fringe field switching mode liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same


A packet processing circuit includes a plurality of header extraction circuits, and a scheduling circuit coupled to the plurality of header extraction circuits. The scheduling circuit is configured to receive one or more requests to extract header data of a respective packet from a data bus having a plurality of data lanes. In response to each request, the scheduling circuit determines a first subset of the plurality of data lanes that contain the respective header specified by the request, and assigns a respective one of the plurality of header extraction circuits to extract respective header data from the first subset of the plurality of data lanes.

With increasing telecommunications line rates, it is necessary to use increasingly wide hardware data buses in order to maintain throughput. For example, in FPGA implementations, a 512-bit data bus is typically used for 100 Gb/s packet processing, and a 2048-bit data bus for 400 Gb/s packet processing. One consequence is that it is increasingly likely that more than one packet can be contained in a set of bits traversing the data bus in parallel. As used herein, each set of bits transmitted over the full width of the data bus in parallel is referred to as a word.
As one example, given a minimum packet size of 64 bytes, some packets may not be entirely contained in a 512-bit word. A first data packet may begin in a previous word and end in the current word, and a second data packet may begin in the current word and end in a subsequent word. As another example, a single 2048-bit word may include the ending portion of one packet, three complete packets, and the beginning portion of another packet. To maintain a desired level of throughput, parallel hardware may be needed to deal with the multiple packets in a single cycle. However, parallel hardware is expensive in terms of required logic resources and power consumption.
Packet processing hardware is often organized as a pipeline. Simple solutions employ multiple identical instances of packet processing hardware. If a maximum of K packets may be presented at once, then the packet processing hardware for extracting header information and data is replicated K times.
Some previous solutions implement a plurality of pipelines, each configured to receive and extract data from any offset of a word received on the data bus. For example, in one parallelization approach, the entire data path is fanned-out into K independent hardware pipelines. Another approach employs a single pipeline, with K parallel units at each stage. Although all data is still potentially made available to all units, there is just a single data path and the parallel units can be selective in tapping into the data path. In either approach, each pipeline is configured to extract header and data fields of a packet from any offset of the received word. Such solutions provide flexibility to allow any one of the parallel circuits to be scheduled to process any one of a received set of packets. However, these solutions may be expensive in terms of hardware requirements.
Data and/or header fields of packets are separated from a received word through a process referred to as extraction. Extraction involves shifting the relevant field of data out of the received word. If a packet field can begin at any offset within a received word, a generic shifter capable of shifting through the entire received word is required. The above approaches require a large amount of circuitry for extraction of header and data fields of the packets because each pipeline must be capable of extracting relevant bits from any offset in the entire word. These approaches are also expensive in terms of routing resources and power consumption since much redundant data is being sent to the parallel pipelines.
One or more embodiments may address one or more of the above issues.


A water sports device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the device including an elongated board having a front end and a back end to which is secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in a position spaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third of the board, a binding for securing the feet of the rider over the top of the board secured to the board, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board and a planing blade secured to the hydrofoil spaced from the board, so as to be generally parallel to the board so that the planing blade provides essentially no lift when the board is horizontal. The improvement resides in enabling the rider of a personal sit down hydrofoil to adjust the binding to accommodate his/her leg length and increase the amount of control the rider has when mounted to the ski.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,354, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,998, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,676 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,932 B1 disclose various and different water sport devices for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft. The devices include an elongated board to which a rigidly mounted seat and foot holders are secured. An elongate strut or arm projects downwardly from the board and wings are secured to the arm generally parallel to the board. The positioning of the seat and the wings provide essentially no lift when the board is horizontal. The positioning of the rigidly mounted seat and the wings at the rear of the board, the use of a single vertical strut, the size of the wings and the positioning of the foot holders in front of the seat provides a water sports device which is relatively easy to ride, while at the same time being highly maneuverable and capable of high jumps.
These towable personal hydrofoils can be somewhat difficult to learn to ride. Hydrofoil riders often having difficulty bringing the hydrofoil up to the surface of the water from a starting, submerged position when first learning to ride.
The disclosures of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,100,54, 5,249,998, 6,179,676 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,932 B1 are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a water sports device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the device including an elongated board having a front end and a back end to which is secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in a position spaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third of the board, a binding for securing the feet of the rider over the top of the board secured to the board, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board and a planing blade secured to the hydrofoil spaced from the board, so as to be generally parallel to the board so that the planing blade provides essentially no lift when the board is horizontal;
the improvement wherein the binding is adjustably secured to said board whereby rider can adjust the binding to accommodate his/her leg length and increase the amount to control the rider has when mounted on the ski.
Prior personal hydrofoils have only been equipped with stationary bindings which are permanently attached to the elongated board at a single, predetermined position. These fixed location bindings do not allow different size riders to adjust the binding forward or aft to fit their height requirements. According to this invention, the binding is adjusted by moving it forward to accommodate a tall person or aft to accommodate a shorter person. This makes an enormous difference in the amount of control a rider has when trying to steer or maneuver the sit down hydrofoil.
Specifically, the rider while seated can exert maximum steering action on the elongated board while the feet are held in bindings and the upper leg and lower leg are approximately at a right angle to each other, that is, there is approximately a 90xc2x0 angle at the knee. For a short-legged rider, this means that the binding for securing the feet should be closer to the seat than is the case for a long-legged rider. This invention provides for this adjustability so that good control of steering can be done by simply moving the bent legs to the right or left while the feet are immobilized.
The adjustable binding assembly of this invention comprises:
a. a rigid plate having a hole pattern that matches the receiving threaded inserts inlayed in the elongated board.
b. affixed to the plate is a footpad and a multiple layer binding assembly of a toe rubber, heel strap and foot overlay as shown in the drawings.
c. the multiple layer of binding material mounts by hardware comprising of fasteners and binding rails which sandwich the binding material between the rail and plate.
The adjustable plate bindings mount toward the front of the elongated board using wing bolts, machine screws or other types of fasteners made of but not limited to, metal or a petroleum based composite material such as plastic. The receiving threaded inserts mount permanently within the board and are also made of a like metal or a petroleum based material such as plastic. The binding layers consist of, but are not limited to an e.v.a. type rubber. Engineering plastic suitable for the foregoing described purpose will be known to those skilled in the art.


Semiconductor device interconnect structures having low capacitance and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an interconnect structure includes forming an opening in a surface of a semiconductor device and forming an interconnect structure at least within the opening. Forming the interconnect structure includes depositing a first insulator material on both the surface and a sidewall of the opening, selectively removing a first portion of the first insulator material on the surface over a second portion of the first insulator material on the sidewall, depositing a second insulator material on the second portion, and depositing a conductive material on the second insulator material. The method further includes selecting the thickness of the first and second insulators materials based on a threshold level of capacitance between the sidewall and the conductive material.

Packaged semiconductor dies, including memory chips, microprocessor chips, and imager chips, typically include one or more semiconductor dies mounted on a package substrate and encased in a plastic protective covering. Each semiconductor die includes an integrated circuit and bond pads electrically connecting the integrated circuit to a plurality of wirebonds. The wirebonds are coupled to the package substrate, and the package substrate, in turn, electrically routes signals between the die and a printed circuit board connected to off-chip electrical devices.
Some die packages have through-silicon vias (TSVs) in lieu of wirebonds. A TSV extends through the substrate of the die and electrically connects the die to the package substrate. A TSV can reduce the package footprint and improve electrical performance. However, one challenge with TSVs is that they reduce circuit density within the die because they take up space within the die substrate.

Low capacitance interconnect structures and associated systems and methods


In the method of fabricating a CRT including a sputtering method for forming an anti-static layer and a spin-coating or spray-coating method for forming an anti-reflection layer on a CRT panel, a method of fabricating a low-resistance, anti-reflection CRT is characterized by applying a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2) coating between the anti-static layer and the anti-reflection layer by a sputtering method. As a result, the CRT has enhanced strength of layers and a low surface resistance. Also, the screen is provided with a charge protection function in the surface, with reflectivity of an external light being mitigated. As a result, it is possible to enhance the contrast characteristics of the screen, to avoid leaving fingerprints on the screen, and also to eliminate unpleasant feeling of static electricity.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of fabricating a CRT with a front surface having coating layers applied thereto and, more particularly, to a method of fabricating a CRT in which a silica (SiO.sub.2) coating is interposed between an anti-static layer and an anti-reflection layer, unlike a conventional fabrication where the anti-static layer is formed on the external surface of a panel by a sputtering method aid the anti-reflection layer is then formed with a sot by a spin-coating method.
2. Description of the Background Art
Normally, an anti-static coating is applied to front surface of a CRT in order to provide display device with a more comfortable feeling of sight and eliminate static electricity generated across the screen.
The reason for this is based upon a problem concerning the human body and technology, and therefore, the surface of the CRT is provided with charge and reflection protecting capabilities in order to enhance the feeling of sight and in conformity with a request for the user's convenience in use.
The construction of a CRT that meets these requirements will be described with reference to FIG. 1 as follows.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional CRT.
As shown in the FIG. 1 a conventional CRT includes two separate panels 1 and 2. The external surface of the panel 2 is coated with an anti-static layer 3 for eliminating electric charges which are formed across the front surface of the CRT due to an applied high voltage when the user switches a PC on or off, and with an anti-reflection layer 4 for preventing an external light such as emitted from an indoor fluorescent lamp from being reflected upon the front surface of the CRT to obstruct the user's sight.
FIGS. 2(a)-(e) are diagrams illustrating a process for fabricating a wherein reference numeral 5 indicates an anti-static layer, reference numeral 6 indicates an anti-reflection layer, reference numeral 7 indicates a fixing plate, reference numeral 8 indicates a polishing machine, reference numerals 9 and 13 indicate nozzles, reference numeral 11 indicates a rotational plate, and reference numeral 14 indicates a heater or an ultraviolet lamp.
When the external surface of the panel 2 with the anti-static layer 3 and the anti-reflection layer 4, indium-tin oxide (ITO) is first applied to the surface of the panel 2 by a sputtering method, forming the anti-static lever 3.
A sol containing silica (SiO.sub.2) as a principal component is then applied to the surface of the anti-static layer 3 by a spin-coating method and the resulting material is fired (with a heat treatment), hardening the silica sol, to form the anti-reflection layer 4.
However, since indium-tin oxide (ITO) constituting the anti-static layer 3 is a metal, a problem arises in terms of adhesion between the indium-tin oxide (ITO) and the silica sol which forms the anti-reflection layer 4. This has an adverse effect upon the strength of layers.
Furthermore, if a coating is applied and fired (with a heat treatment), it is susceptible to an increase in the surface resistance.
Actually, the ITO layer has an increase in the surface resistance from 200-300 .OMEGA./cm.sup.2 (or .OMEGA./.quadrature.) to 5000 .OMEGA./.quadrature. after a heat treatment at 200.degree. C. for 30 minutes.
In other words, the surface resistance of a coating must be in a range below 10.sup.3 .OMEGA./.quadrature. so as to provide electric and magnetic fields in a monitor set, but this is not expected now to be realized in the conventional technology.
In an alternative method for forming the charge and anti-reflection layers, the front surface of a CRT is first cleaned and polished with cerox (CeO.sub.2). The polished surface is washed with purified water and alcohol and dried.
The dried CRT is placed in a pre-heater in order to heat the surface of the CRT to be coated at 40 to 50.degree. C. The front surface of the CRT is coated with a SiO.sub.2 sol containing dispersed 3-5% Sb by a spin-coating or spray-coating method, forming an anti-static layer 3, and subsequently, another silica component which differs in the refractive index from that of the anti-static layer 3 is applied to the anti-static layer 3 to form an anti-reflection layer 4 for allowing even a long term use of PCs to reduce user fatigue and do no harm to the human body.
Herein, the anti-reflection layer 4 has an uneven surface for anti-glare formed by a spray-coating method. This is to make stains caused by the anti-reflection coating invisible, thereby decreasing the diffused reflectivity, and to eliminate the problem of fingerprints left on the anti-reflection layer 4.
However, some problems that involve foreign substances arise in forming the anti-reflection layer by a spin-coating or spray-coating method, such as difficulty in removal of chemicals, increasing defects of scratches on the surface of a panel and marks of adsorption.
Such an ARAS or AGRAS coating renders the surface resistance of the AS (Anti-Static) coating layer in the range of 10.sup.7-8 .OMEGA./.quadrature. in conformity with the MPRII standard. However, this does not meet the TCO standard of most growing interest recently.
In a conventional spin(AS coating)-spin(AS coating) method, the AS layer is made of ITO which is very expensive and provides a surface resistance of 10.sup.5-6 .OMEGA./.quadrature. which is not enough to satisfy the TCO standard, and a sol used in formation of the ITO coating provides an insufficient EMI shielding effect. It is further necessary to provide a correction circuit on the monitor set in order to meet the TCO standard in which the surface resistance shall be less than 10.sup.3 .OMEGA./.quadrature..

Method of fabricating low resistance, anti-reflection CRT


A method of controlling an electric brake having an actuator controllable for moving brake pads against and away from a friction brake surface comprising the steps of (i) retracting a brake actuator after a braking operation; (ii) measuring a parameter indicative of work during the retraction; and (iii) moving the brake actuator to a position at which the brake actuator is ready for a next brake operation, wherein step (iii) is responsive to the measured parameter, wherein the brakes are rehomed adaptively to compensate for brake wear.

Typically, electric vehicles drive electric motors based on electric power stored in batteries having a limited power storage capability.
A friction brake system includes a friction brake pad that is forced against a friction braking surface (i.e., a brake drum or disk), to generate friction resulting in braking torque. As the brake pad wears, it becomes thinner, and, being a wearable part, must be replaced after its useable life is exhausted. As the brake pad wears, if the brake is not adjusted, the brake pad has a longer travel distance to the braking surface during a brake apply.

Method of adaptively homing brake actuators


Provided is a vehicle body side structure to reduce a center pillar in weight and suitably prevent deformation of the center pillar and separation of a stiffener from a roof side rail due to a side collision load. The vehicle body side structure includes a stiffener having a stiffener upper part provided above a central part in a height direction of a center pillar. The upper end of the stiffener upper part is joined to a roof side rail from an outer side in the vehicle width direction. The stiffener upper part has a trough extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle and recessed inward in the vehicle width direction. The trough 81d is recessed deeper as coming closer to a central part in the vertical direction of the stiffener upper part from the upper end and a lower end of the stiffener upper part.

Germany Patent Application Publication No. 102016118366A1 and Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004314845A each disclose a structure in which a center pillar is reinforced with a stiffener (reinforcing member) at a portion of a vehicle higher than a belt line of a vehicle. The center pillar is a pillar including an inner center pillar and an outer center pillar, which are joined to each other with flanges thereof overlapped, extending vertically to connect a side sill on a lower side and a roof side rail on an upper side. Especially, the outer center pillar is joined to an outer side of the roof side rail at an upper part of the vehicle, and the inner center pillar is joined to an inner side of the roof side rail. Further, the stiffener is provided inside the center pillar and joined to the inner center pillar. Note that the vertical direction, the width direction, and the longitudinal direction are defined based on an orientation of a vehicle body or a driver while driving. Further, the belt line (also referred to as a waist line) is a line running in the lateral direction along the lower ends of the side windows of the vehicle body, is an upper end line of a lower part of the vehicle body to run in the horizontal direction along doors, and is a line to separate an upper part of the vehicle body from the lower part of the vehicle body at window positions.


Presented herein are methodologies for managing a citizens broadband radio service (CBRS) network. The methodology includes at a spectrum access system (SAS), receiving, from a Donor CBRS base station device (CBSD), a registration request, the registration request including capabilities information about a CBRS Relay Node with which the Donor CBSD communicates, in response to the registration request, sending, from the SAS to the Donor CBSD, a registration response indicating successful registration of the CBRS Relay Node, in response to the registration response, receiving via the Donor CBSD a spectrum enquiry message from the CBRS Relay Node seeking a channel allocation from the SAS, and in response to the spectrum enquiry message, sending from the SAS, and via the Donor CBSD, a resource grant response to the CBRS Relay Node, wherein the resource grant response includes an allocated channel and a maximum EIRP for the allocated channel.

Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) is a 150 MHz wide broadcast band in the 3550-3700 MHz frequency range, time division-long term evolution (TD-LTE) band 48. Access to spectrum in the CBRS band is through the use of a Spectrum Access System (SAS), which protects incumbents from interference from lower tier priority access license (PAL) and general authorized access (GAA) users, and protects PAL users from interference from other PAL users and GAA users. The SAS maintains a database of spectrum usage (by incumbent, PAL, and GAA users) in all census tracts (or areas) and allocates channels to CBRS Base Station Devices (CBSDs) (i.e., access points (APs)) using variety of rules including the following.
Tier 1 users: incumbents (such as navy ships, military radars and fixed satellite service earth stations) are allowed access to all the channels.
Tier 2 users: PAL users are granted access in the 3550-3650 MHz band and are allowed to use a maximum of 7 10 MHz channels in a census tract (or an area). No licensee can take more than 4 PAL channels in a census tract.
Tier 3 users: GAA users are allowed access to all the channels but only the ones not being used by above users.
The SAS may consider multiple factors (such as those above) to determine appropriate spectrum allocation, and, in turn, informs CBSDs of operating parameters (such as frequency band or channel, and maximum Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)) that the CBSDs can use (i.e., to employ with User Equipment (UE)) at a given point in time. In some implementations, CBSDs, CBRS client devices (e.g., CBRS UEs), and an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) may be deployed as part of a private enterprise. Such a deployment can present several challenges, depending on the topology.

Efficient operation of relay nodes in a citizen broadband radio service (CBRS) network


The present invention is at least a two-component thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprising at least one block copolymer wherein the composition has essentially the same comparative elasticity, high temperature serviceability and hardness as the unmodified, undiluted (neat) block copolymer portion of the composition. The composition also shows enhanced thermal stability and processibility and is well suited for fabricating elastic moldings, films and fibers as well as for formulating with asphalts, adhesives and sealants. The novel thermoplastic elastomeric composition comprises (a) from about 50 to about 99 percent by weight of at least one block copolymer and (b) about 1 to about 50 percent by weight of at least one ethylene interpolymer having a density from about 0.855 g/cc to about 0.905 g/cc, wherein the ethylene interpolymer in the amount employed is a substantially inert extender of the block copolymer and the composition is further characterized as having:. i. storage moduli throughout the range of -26.degree. C. to 24.degree. C. of less than about 3.5.times.10.sup.9 dynes/cm.sup.2, PA1 ii. a ratio of storage modulus at -26.degree. C. to storage modulus at 24.degree. C. of less than about 4, and PA1 iii. storage moduli at -26.degree. C. and 24.degree. C. about 0.2 to about 3 times higher than the storage moduli at -26.degree. C. and 24.degree. C., respectively, of the neat block copolymer portion of the composition.

Various thermoplastic elastomeric compositions are well-known and include thermoplastic urethanes, thermoplastic polyesters, amorphous polypropylenes, chlorinated polyethylenes, ethylene/propylene rubbers, crosslinked and uncrosslinked EPDM (ethylene-propylene-nonconjugated diene monomer) systems, and styrene block copolymers. Styrene block copolymers, which are sold under the brand names of Vector, Kraton and Solprene as supplied respectively by Dexco Polymers, Shell Oil Company and Phillips Petroleum, are considered to be very versatile thermoplastic elastomers.
Styrene block copolymers are also recognized as strong, flexible high performance elastomers that do not require vulcanization and yet exhibit excellent elasticity over a wide range of service temperatures. Due to their unique molecular structure and versatility, styrene block copolymers are used in a wide spectrum of enduses such as moldable goods, automotive interior and exterior parts, medical devices, and the like.
Styrene block copolymers are available with linear, diblock, triblock and radial molecular structures. Each polymer molecule consists of a styrenic block segment and a rubber monomer block segment. The rubber segment may consist of saturated or unsaturated monomer units such as ethylene/butene and ethylene/propylene, or butadiene and isoprene, respectively. Styrene block copolymers having saturated rubber monomer segments typically exhibit improved thermal, oxidative and processing stability, better weather resistance, and higher temperature serviceability when compared to copolymers consisting of unsaturated rubber monomer segments.
Although styrene block copolymers are very useful, they have a number of deficiencies. These materials are relatively expensive and due to their fairly difficult manufacturing requirements are often in short supply. Moreover, due to the inability of their particles or pellets to expediently melt and fuse together with the application of heat, styrene block copolymers with saturated rubber monomer segments are fairly difficult to formulate and process. Processing in conventional equipment such as, for example, a Banbury mixer, is typically characterized by an initial induction or delay period which adds to processing costs. As another disadvantage, this delay, which in effect constitutes an additional heat history, can contribute to the overall thermal and processing instability of the copolymer.
Because of high material costs, shortages and processing difficulties, it is desirable to provide blend components that can extend available quantities of styrene block copolymers without substantially altering the key elastic properties of the latter. It is also desirable to provide component materials that function as processing aids or fusion promoters whereby the delay times associated with thermally processing styrene block copolymers having saturated rubber monomer segments can be substantially reduced. Further, it is desirable to improve the properties of block copolymers having unsaturated rubber monomer block segments without the higher manufacturing costs typically associated with block copolymers having saturated rubber monomer segments.
There has been a long felt need to mitigate the above difficulties associated with conventional thermoplastic elastomeric materials but, unfortunately, prior art efforts to do so have not been entirely successful. Prior art proposals to facilitate the use of ordinary thermoelastic materials tend to involve curing steps or multicomponent compositions with extensive formulating requirements. For example, Shell Oil Company in its Kraton brochure indicates the Kraton materials are highly extendable presumably by specific combinations of involving fillers, resins and oils. On page 3 of the brochure, Kraton D compounds and Kraton G compounds are said to contain other suitable ingredients. Further, where other ingredients are used, including fillers and oils in combination or alone, it is expected that special handling and equipment would be required for uniform admixing with solid block copolymer resins.
Where ordinary thermoelastic materials, such as, for example, ethylene/vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, are used as single-component extenders for block copolymers, the elastic, rheological, stability or hardness properties of the final composition tend to vary substantially relative to neat compositions of the respective block copolymer. Still other prior art disclosures involving ethylene/.alpha.-olefin interpolymers in combination with block copolymers such as, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,236, which discloses blends of substantially linear ethylene interpolymers and styrene butadiene copolymers, and Plastics Technology, August 1994, page 54, which mentions similar blends useful for molded goods, do not teach or render obvious the specific requirements that enable the use of such materials as substantially inert extenders, nor disclose the surprising benefits that can be realized by doing so.

Block copolymer compositions containing substantially inert thermoelastic extenders


An automotive display system for a vehicle comprises a display having a display screen, a reflecting mirror disposed with its reflecting surface facing the display screen of the display, and a prism disposed between the display and the reflecting mirror. Light rays emanated from the display enter the prism through a first surface of the prism, are transmitted through the prism and fall on the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror and are reflected by the reflecting mirror. The light rays reflected by the reflecting mirror travel along a path coinciding with or nearly coinciding with the path of travel of the light rays incident on the reflecting surface of the reflecting mirror and are reflected again by the second surface of the prism toward the driver's eye. The light rays travel from the second surface of the prism to and from the reflecting mirror through a comparatively long optical path in a relatively small space for effective remote displaying. Thus, the automotive display system can be formed in a compact construction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automotive display system for displaying driving information for the driver on the instrument panel of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIGS. 7 and 8 show conventional automotive display systems employing a reflector or reflectors for remote displaying to enable quick visual recognition of indications.
The automotive display system shown in FIG. 7 comprises a display 13, such as a liquid crystal display or a fluorescent character display tube unit, disposed under the meter hood 12 of an instrument panel 13, a semitransparent mirror 14 disposed in the display area of the instrument panel 11, and another display for displaying images which can be superposed on the virtual image 15 of the image displayed on the display 13. An image displayed on the display 13 is projected on the semitransparent mirror 14 for the visual recognition of the virtual image 15 of the image displayed on the display 13. The virtual image 15 seems to be displayed behind the semitransparent mirror 14 at a distance corresponding to the distance between the semitransparent mirror 14 and the display 13 from the semitransparent mirror 14 to give the effect of remote displaying.
The automotive display system shown in FIG. 8 comprises a display 23 disposed within the hood 22 of an instrument panel 21, a reflector 26 disposed opposite to the display 23 to reflect rays emanated from the display 23, a semitransparent mirror 24 disposed so as to reflect rays reflected by the reflector 26 to enable the visual recognition of the virtual image 25 of an image displayed on the display 23, and another display 27 for displaying images which can be superposed on the virtual image 25. Since the optical distance traveled by the rays is greater than that of the automotive display system of FIG. 7, the effect of remote display of the automotive display system of FIG. 8 is greater than that of the automotive display system of FIG. 7.
The conventional automotive display system shown in FIG. 7 reflects the image only once by the semitransparent mirror 14 and hence the effect of remote displaying of the automotive display system is unsatisfactory. However, increasing the optical distance by increasing the number of reflections requires increase in space for forming a comparatively long optical path entailing increase in the size of the automotive display system.


The invention relates to a method for measuring the output current of a clocked half-bridge circuit (1) in which semiconductor switches (5a, 5b) located in half-bridge sections (2a, 2b) are alternatingly opened or closed in push-pull operation and thereby cause an alternating current in an output current circuit. The current flowing through a first semiconductor switch (5a) is measured. The current flowing through a first semiconductor switch (5a) is transformed inductively into a secondary current. At least two measured-value signals are generated for the secondary current, of which a first measured-value signal corresponds to the secondary current when the first semiconductor switch (5a) is closed, and a second measured-value signal corresponds to the secondary current when the first semiconductor switch (5b) is open. The output current is determined by taking the difference between the first and second measured-value signals FIG. 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method for measuring the output current of a clocked half-bridge circuit in which semiconductor switches located in half-bridge sections are alternately opened or closed in push-pull operation thereby causing a controllable current flow to occur in output current circuit, whereby the amperage of the current flowing through a first semiconductor switch is measured. The invention also relates to a measuring device to measure the output current of a clocked half-bridge circuit that has at least one half-bridge having two half-bridge sections connected in series, whose connection node is connected to an output connection; and a first semiconductor switch is disposed in a first half-bridge section, and a second semiconductor switch is disposed in a second half-bridge section, and said semiconductor switches can be controlled in push-pull operation by means of a control device, and with an alternating-current controller whose output is connected to a measured-signal input of the measured-value signal conditioning device, which has a measurement output for an output current measurement signal.
2. Description of Related Art
A method of this type and a measuring device of this type are disclosed in DE 41 17 505 C2. To control the winding of an electric motor, the measuring device has a half-bridge circuit having two half-bridge sections connected in series that are connected to a connection node on an output circuit that contains the motor winding. A series circuit comprising a first semiconductor switch and a shunt is located in a first half-bridge section, and a second semiconductor switch is located in a second half-bridge section. The semiconductor switches are controlled in alternation in a push-pull configuration by means of a control device. Each time during a first operating state the first semiconductor switch is closed, and the second semiconductor switch is closed during a second operating state. In each of the first operating states, one measured value for the current flowing through the first semiconductor switch is acquired with the aid of the shunt. This measured value provides the measurement result for the output current. In the first operating states, a second measured value is also acquired for the alternating current in the output circuit by means of an alternating-current converter.
This measured value is added to the first measured value. Then the result of this addition is inverted and saved. In the second operating state a measured value for the alternating current flowing in the output circuit is acquired and added to the saved value. The resulting total forms the measurement result in the second operating state.
The measuring device has proven to be effective in actual practice, mainly because it makes it possible to measure current in an output circuit that has a high electrical potential compared with the measurement circuit. However, a disadvantage of the measuring device is that the use of the shunt means that there is no electrical isolation between the power circuit and the measurement circuit. Moreover, the power loss in the shunt is undesirable.
Thus, the object of the invention is to create a method of the type referred to above that permits the output current to be measured in a simple, economical manner with low losses and, if possible, with electrical isolation. The object is also to disclose a measuring device of the type referred to above to perform the method.

Measuring device for measuring the output current of a clocked half-bridge circuit

Schneider Electric Motion Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG


An apparatus includes a first pin and a second pin. The first pin has a first joint section. The first joint section has first holes extending a length of the first joint section and terminating at a first preload face. The second pin has a second joint section. The second joint section has second holes extending a length of the first joint section and terminating at a second preload face. The second joint section is adapted to receive the first joint section and the first holes match the second holes when the first pin and the second pin are mated.

1. Field
The present disclosure generally relates to drill pipe, casing, and tubing used to locate and produce hydrocarbons in a subterranean environment and more specifically, to electrical wiring in joining sections of at least one of drill pipe, casing, and tubing.
2. Description of the Related Art
Large portions of hydrocarbon location and production activities involve drilling, pumping, and conduit installation beneath the surface of the earth. In addition, drilling, pumping and conduit installation operations may include water location and distribution. Drilling, pumping, and conduit installation operations may include sewage processing and distribution. Drilling, pumping, and conduit installation activities often use lengths of pipes. These pipes may be joined together in a variety of different manners. When pipes are joined, there are several considerations. For example, it may be desirable to provide electrical wiring between the lengths of pipes. Electrical wiring may provide signal transmission and/or supply of power to and from opposite ends of adjoined lengths of pipe.
Additionally, certain industry standards regarding the diameters of pipe sections exist today. For example, standards exist about the diameters of the inside of pipes. These standards may maintain expected results for a capacity for flow through a string of joined pipes. Standards also exist about the outer diameter of pipes. These standards may maintain expectancies of certain pipes to fit within certain clearances. Thus, there may be limits on the sizes and thicknesses of materials used in the joint sections of the pipes. The limits on the sizes affect incorporation of electrical wiring into joint sections of the pipes.
Accordingly, a need exists for a method and apparatus that takes into account one or more of the issues discussed above, as well as possibly other issues.

Electrical wiring for drill pipe, casing, and tubing