A catheter device and method for laparoscopically dilating the sphincter muscle to flush common bile duct stones into the duodenum is set forth where the catheter consists of a flexible tube having three lumens. An inflatable balloon is carried by the flexible tube at its distal end and is inflatable and deflatable through an insufflation port. Radiopaque markers placed distally and proximally of the balloon are used to visualize the location of the balloon flouroscopically. A guidewire is advanced through the cystic duct, common bile duct and into the duodenum over which the catheter is advanced and the balloon positioned at the juncture of the common bile duct and duodenum. The balloon is then inflated sufficiently to dilate the sphincter muscle; the balloon is then deflated and the common bile duct irrigated with a fluid injected through an irrigation port located proximally of the balloon to flush the gallstones from the common bile duct.

In the performance of cholecystectomy surgery a certain percentage of patients who undergo the operation will have gallstones that have migrated from their gallbladder to the common bile duct. The stones may spontaneously pass through the distal end of the bile duct into the duodenum causing no harm or they may be trapped in the common bile duct by the sphincter muscle at the distal end of the duct. In the event the sphincter muscle gets irritated by the stones, the muscle will trap them and prevent them from passing into the duodenum. The trapping of the stones backs up the common bile duct thereby causing jaundice, pancreatitis and cholangitis.
Removal of the stones which had entered the common bile duct required that the surgeon make a large abdominal incision, remove the gallbladder, and then cut open the common bile duct. The surgeon would thereafter retrieve the stones one by one from the common bile duct by grasping the stones or using balloon catheters to pull them retrograde. Alternatively, the stones could be removed by resorting to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography-sphincterotomy (ERCP).
In retrieving the stones from the common bile duct by using the balloon catheters, the surgeon would extend the balloon portion of the catheter into the common bile duct beyond the stone, and thereafter inflate the balloon. The stone would then be withdrawn retrograde through the common bile duct and through the incision which was made in the common duct for inserting the catheter. In order for the choledochotomy incision in the common bile duct to heal properly, a T-tube was inserted in the common duct and left in place for approximately three weeks after the surgery which resulted in significant disability. The ERCP procedure to remove stones from the common bile duct required that an endoscope be passed through the patient's mouth, down through the stomach and into the duodenum. After identifying the ampulla of Vater, which is where the common bile duct drains into the duodenum, the endoscopist would then cannulate the ampulla and inject dye into the common duct retrograde and visualize the stones on fluorscopic x-ray. After the stones were found on x-ray, a cut was then made in the sphincter muscle in the distal bile duct from an instrument passed through the endoscope. By cutting the muscle, there was no longer a restriction to the flow of stones and the stones were therefore allowed to pass into the duodenum. This procedure involved an 8% morbidity and a 1% mortality risk to the patient most often due to severe pancreatitis.
A method for removing common duct stones laparoscopically has been used requiring a cholangiography to be first performed by passing a catheter through the cystic duct and then injecting dye into the common duct to visualize the stones flouorscopically. When the stones are identified in the common duct, a balloon dilating catheter is thereafter passed into the cystic duct and dilated sufficiently to permit the insertion of an endoscope through the cystic duct and into the common bile duct. By transcystic endoscopic common bile duct exploration, the stones are visually identified by the surgeon through the endoscope and thereafter grasped by a basket-type retriever and removed. There are limitations, however, to this procedure for transcystic common bile duct exploration. The procedure will fail if the cystic duct is too small to be dilated to sufficient size to allow the endoscope to enter into the common bile duct. In other cases, the stones may be too small to be grasped by the basket retriever. When stones of a very small diameter are stuck in the sphincter muscle at the distal end of the common bile duct, it is extremely difficult to retrieve the stones endoscopically.
Dilation of the sphincter muscle has been performed through the oral insertion of an endoscope that passed down through the stomach into the duodenum where the endoscope included a balloon means which was inserted retrograde into the common bile duct through the sphincter muscle. This technique resulted in an unacceptable complication rate which included complications such as pancreatitus and cholangitis.
Catheter devices in the prior art which utilize balloons in the removal of common bile duct stones used the balloons for withdrawing stones retrograde or blocking passages. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,264, entitled "Double Barreled Biliary Balloon Catheter" a catheter was designed to remove gallstones which had obstructed the common bile duct. The catheter balloon was attached to a filiform probe which had passed beyond the stones and the catheter balloon was then positioned beneath the stone, inflated and the entire assembly was then drawn upwardly until the stone had fallen out of the encised opening in the common duct. Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,837, entitled "Catheter Device", the catheter device was equipped with a pair of balloons which were inflatable from the proximal end of the catheter where one balloon acted as an anchor to retain the catheter in the ampulla and a second balloon was inflated beneath the stone and the stone withdrawn retrograde and removed through the choledochotomy incision. A double lumen catheter is descibed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,651, having a balloon at one end and a bifurcated inlet connector at the other for the controlled filling of the biliary ductal system with a dilute dye for operative cholangiography. In this device, the catheter was drawn retrograde until the expanded balloon impinged upon and sealed an opening.
An internal mammary artery catheter is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,258 for performing selective arteriography or angioplasty on internal mammary or artery graft. The catheter utilizes a balloon and a proximal port. The port delivers an anglographic dye for visualizing vascular obstructions to the internal mammary artery or graft within the subclavian artery. The catheter is inserted over a guidewire into the subclavian artery and the balloon inflated at a point distal to the junction of the subclavian artery and the internal mammary artery. The balloon is inflated to obstruct blood flow to an axillary artery and thereafter an angiographic dye is injected through the proximal port for visualizing the angiographic dye using radiography. Thus, the catheters of the prior art have utilized a balloon for the purpose of removing stones from the common bile duct by retrograde movement of the balloon to pull the stone back through the incision in the common duct. In some instances, this procedure required the installation of a T-tube which was left in place for a period of at least 3 weeks after the surgery. Other procedures of the prior art required that a cut be made in the sphincter muscle in the distal bile duct by utilizing an instrument passed through an endoscope. By cutting the sphincter muscle the patient was exposed to the risk of severe pancreatitis with the possibility of serious morbidity and even mortality.

Method to remove common bile duct stones


A process for deairing an interface region by applying on the surface of a plastic sheet a multitude of spaced plastic projections formed of a plastic material different from that of the sheet, assembling the sheet with the spaced projections in face to face contact with at least one rigid panel such as glass, and evacuating air from the interface region between the rigid panel and the plastic sheet through spaces between the projections.

This is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned, copending PCT application No. PCT/US90/07554 filed Dec. 20, 1990.
This invention relates to deairing an interface region and more particularly to preparing a deaired prelaminate for a safety glazing.
When preparing laminates of two or more layers it is desirable to remove air (hereinafter "deair") from the interface between layers before bonding together to promote bond integrity and avoid bond discontinuities. This is especially so with layered, light transmitting safety glazings for window, windshield, sunroof, skylight, intrusion security, showcase, picture frame and like applications. They include one or more rigid transparent panels such as glass combined in a laminate with an impact-dissipating plastic sheet such as plasticized polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
In the referenced application a plastic sheet is disclosed having means on its surface applied after its formation, preferably in the form of a multiplicity of spaced projections, which have little or no affinity for adhesion to glass or (after curing or equivalent) to the material of the sheet. Such projections control adhesion of the sheet to glass and reduce the tendency of the sheet to stick to itself when, for example, in roll form.

Process for deairing an interface region


Technologies for generating a warning based on environmental conditions sensed in a vehicle include an in-vehicle warning system for determining whether an operator of the vehicle is present, determining whether a non-operator occupant is present in the vehicle, and determining whether environmental conditions sensed within the vehicle satisfy a reference condition threshold. Such technologies may also include performing an emergency action in response to determining that the environmental conditions sensed within the vehicle satisfy the reference condition threshold, determining that the operator of the vehicle is not present, and determining that the non-operator occupant is present in the vehicle.

Each year, an increasing number of children and pets are left in consumer vehicles without adult supervision. In some cases, a parent or caregiver may unintentionally leave a child or pet inside a vehicle. In other cases, however, a parent or caregiver may intentionally leave a child or pet inside a vehicle while the parent or caregiver runs a quick errand. Regardless of the reason why a child or pet is left inside a vehicle, such practice potentially exposes the child or pet to dangerous environmental conditions that can develop inside the vehicle. More specifically, children and/or pets left unintended inside vehicles may be exposed to extreme temperatures (e.g., high or low temperatures), which may be extremely dangerous or even fatal to the children and/or pets.
Consumer vehicles can be equipped with an emergency event reporting service (such as ONSTAR®). Such conventional services typically contact an emergency operator in response to the vehicle being involved in an accident. However, conventional emergency event reporting services lack the ability to alert a caregiver and/or emergency services in response to a child and/or pet being left inside a vehicle having unsafe environmental conditions.

Responding to in-vehicle environmental conditions


A disclosed method may include (1) identifying a set of network objects associated with a network whose performance is tracked by a monitoring service, (2) grouping a first subset of the network objects based at least in part on a first attribute, (3) grouping a second subset of the network objects based at least in part on a second attribute, and then (4) providing, for presentation on a computing device in connection with the monitoring service, a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of graphical cards in a single view, wherein the plurality of graphical cards comprise at least (A) a first graphical card that is positioned in a first section and graphically represents the first subset and (B) a second graphical card that is positioned in a second section and graphically represents the second subset. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Networks often include various components that facilitate and/or support the flow of traffic from one device to another. The performance levels of these components may indicate and/or suggest the presence of certain network issues, bottlenecks, and/or weak links. In some examples, administrators and/or decision engines may be able to address and/or fix such network issues, bottlenecks, and/or weak links, thereby potentially improving the overall performance levels of the networks themselves.
Conventional network technologies may be unable to efficiently deliver and/or present certain network information for consumption and/or analysis by administrators and/or decision engines. As a result, administrators and/or decision engines may be forced to consume and/or analyze such network information via disjointed, convoluted, and/or disorganized delivery and/or presentation interfaces. Unfortunately, the longer network administrators and/or decision engines take to consume and/or analyze such network information, the longer the network issues, bottlenecks, and/or weak links may remain undetected and/or unidentified. Similarly, the longer the network issues, bottlenecks, and/or weak links remain undetected and/or unidentified, the longer the networks may perform sub-optimally.
The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for additional systems and methods for efficient delivery and presentation of network information.

Systems and methods for efficient delivery and presentation of network information


A method of controlling an advanced chassis control system of a vehicle such as an anti-lock brake system, traction control system, vehicle stability control system, or roll control system affecting the vehicle dynamic performance and safety is disclosed. A control unit controls the operation of the advanced chassis control system based at least in part upon predictions of force generating characteristics of tires of the vehicle and driver input signals. The advanced chassis control system of the vehicle is controlled in one manner if the tire is determined to be inflated, controlled in another, different manner if the tire is determined to be deflated. During normal driving, the chassis control systems can operate to control the vehicle according to the desires of the driver while accounting for at least one tire being deflated. During braking the controller can act to distribute braking forces in order to divert forces from the deflated tire to the inflated tires.

This invention relates in general to vehicle electronically controlled chassis systems. More particularly the invention relates to chassis systems having anti-lock brakes, traction control, rear wheel steer, etc., and uses tire force characteristics in that system to enhance the overall performance. Many vehicles today come equipped with advanced chassis systems such as anti-lock brake systems, traction control, vehicle stability control and other electronically operated systems that enhance vehicle performance as a function of road conditions. As a part of many of these advanced chassis systems, tire sensors are incorporated on the vehicle tires to obtain information about the interaction between the tires and the road surface that is in turn processed by a controller to regulate the tire forces by selectively maintaining, increasing, or decreasing brake or drive torque and/or slip angle at the associated tire. It is known to use wheel rotational speed or force sensors to obtain the data necessary for the operation of the control system.
For example in U.S. Pat. No. 6,330,496 to Latarnik et al., a method of adjusting the driving performance of a vehicle based on data obtained from tire sensors is disclosed. Particularly, Latarnik et al. discloses using nominal forces acting on the tires as the control quantity which is used by a controller to regulate the brake pressure or engine drive torque. The nominal forces can be converted into brake pressure variations, absolute brake pressures, valve actuation periods or current intensities, or can be used to vary the engine drive torque to control the driven tires. However, the forces sensed on the tires in the Latarnik et al. method are actual forces and torques, and are taken in longitudinal, transverse and vertical directions. Additional inputs for determining nominal quantities can be individual wheel rotational speeds or a vehicle reference speed, for example.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,831 to Fioravanti also discloses a method for optimizing the behavior of a vehicle based on estimating the tire footprint. Specifically, the signals monitored to establish footprint behavior are the dynamics of the center of gravity of the vehicle, rotation of the wheels in the vertical plane (driving and braking forces), rotation of the wheels in the horizontal place (steering angle), and vertical movement of the wheels. A processor calculates the footprint of each wheel and processes the data based on control parameters to control various transmission, braking, steering, and suspension members of the vehicle to optimize the performance and safety capabilities of the vehicle. This process can be done continuously to check the driving conditions and optimize the operations of a vehicle.
Additionally, it is known how to detect whether a vehicle has one or more tires having low air pressure or a flat. This information can be transmitted to the driver so that the driver can take remedial measures. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,374 to Siekinen et al., detecting low tire pressure is accomplished by comparing wheel speeds using sensors in place on the wheels or within the braking system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,906 to Okawa et al. discloses a tire pressure drop detecting device to be used in conjunction with a run-flat tire. Generally, a run-flat tire is designed to operate under a "flat-tire" event, albeit at reduced speeds and for a limited distance. Under such operation, Okawa contemplates a mechanism to detect such a pressure drop and notify the driver, so that the speed and distance limitations of the run-flat tire are not exceeded and safety is enhanced.
While the above-described systems and other existing systems have effectively managed the operation of vehicle control systems, there is a need for greater overall control of a vehicle using tire sensors to detect tire conditions and operate a control system based on the sensed data.

Vehicle stability control enhancement using tire force characteristics


The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing the load effect, and more particularly, to an apparatus for removing the load effect through addition or subtraction of the number of sustain pulses. The present invention includes an APL calculation unit for calculating an APL value by using gray scale information corresponding to an inputted frame, a pulse number calculation unit for determining the number of reference sustain pulses, which will be used in a current sub-field, based on the APL value from the APL calculation unit, a load calculation unit for calculating the ratio of cells that are selected to emit light based on the gray scale information, so as to calculate a load value in the current sub-field, and a compensation pulse number calculation unit for comparing a predetermined reference load with the load value outputted from the load calculation unit, controlling the number of the reference sustain pulses based on the comparison result, and then outputting the number of compensated sustain pulses. As such, the number of the sustain pulses is added or subtracted based on the comparison result between the load value of the current sub-field and the reference load. The present invention is advantageous in that it can save power consumption and reduce a screen flickering phenomenon.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing the load effect, and more particularly, to an apparatus for removing the load effect through addition or subtraction of the number of sustain pulses.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 1 is a view for explaining a method of representing the gray scale in a plasma display panel according to the prior art.
As shown in FIG. 1, the plasma display panel is driven with one frame being divided into several sub-fields SF1 to SF8 having a different number of emission in order to implement the gray scale of an image. Each of the sub-fields is divided into an address period where a discharge cell is selected, a sustain period where the gray scale is represented according to the number of sustain pulses, and the like.
The whole screen of the plasma display panel is composed of several cells. The ratio of cells, which are selected to emit light, among the cells is called a load. The higher the number of cells that are selected to emit light, the higher the load. Brightness is controlled by adjusting the number of sustain pulses. Although the number of sustain pulses is the same, brightness varies depending on a load because the amount of externally applied power is constant.
FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating variation in a brightness depending on a load in a given number of sustain pulses.
If the number of cells to be discharged increases and a load increases accordingly, more power is needed. Thus, there occurs a phenomenon that, assuming that the number of sustain pulses is the same, the higher the load, the lower the brightness. This is called the load effect.
Actually, if there is a desired brightness level in a given sub-field when a plasma display panel operates, the number of sustain pulses, which corresponds to the brightness level, is defined and then used to represent a brightness.
However, the brightness represented based on the number of sustain pulses, which is currently defined, varies according to the load, as shown in the graph of FIG. 2. This results in distortion of the gray scale. That is, if the number of sustain pulses is constant, brightness must be constant even when the load varies. However, since the brightness is changed according to the load, the picture quality is lowered. In the prior art, in order to prevent this load effect phenomenon, lowering in brightness depending on an increased load is compensated by increasing the number of sustain pulses as the load increases on the basis of a minimum value of the load.
However, if lowering in brightness depending on a load is compensated for through the conventional method, the total number of sustain pulses increases since a reference brightness level is based on a brightness when the load is the lowest. This results in increased power consumption. Furthermore, the brightness of the whole screen becomes brighter because of the increased number of the sustain pulses. Accordingly, there is a problem in that a flickering phenomenon of a screen becomes more severe.

Apparatus for removing load effect in plasma display panel


Membranes made from amphiphilic copolymers are disclosed. The amphiphilic copolymers can be ABA copolymers, where one of A and B is hydrophilic and the other is hydrophobic. The copolymers may be crosslinked to form more stable structures. Crosslinking can be accomplished using a variety of methods, including end to end polymerization of copolymers having terminal unsaturated groups. Molecules such as membrane proteins can be incorporated into the membrane to allow the transport there through of selected components.

The present invention is generally in the field of planar membranes. More specifically, the invention is in the field of planar membranes made with self-assembling amphiphilic segmented copolymers.
Self-organizing, or self-assembling, structures are known. A common example is liposomes. Liposomes are made by emulsifying amphiphilic (and optionally hydrophobic or lipophilic) molecules in water, preferably in the presence of surfactant. Liposomes are either unilamellar or multilamellar spheres that are manufactured from a variety of lipids. Drugs, for example, can be encapsulated within liposomes or captured within the liposome membrane. Other types of self-assembling structures include planar lipid membranes, which are termed Black Lipid Membranes in the art. Membranes are preferred over liposomes for applications where a flat surface is desired such as, for example, matrices for biological sensors.
Self-assembled structures known in the prior art have often exhibited limited stability. Cross-linked liposomes have been prepared which are more resistant to degradation. Liposomes having xe2x80x9cpegylatedxe2x80x9d surfaces, i.e., surfaces having coated thereon or bonded thereto polyethylene glycol, have longer circulating times following administration to a patient. Other methods to prepare liposomes with enhanced stability include preparation techniques such as emulsion polymerization and interfacial polymerization. However, these techniques require rather aggressive reaction conditions, so sensitive substances cannot be used during these procedures. The stability of liposomes can be enhanced by surface grafting of hydrophilic polymers or by polymerization of reactive lipid molecules in the vesicular aggregates. Recently, a similar mechanical stabilization of vesicles was obtained by swelling the lipid bilayer of vesicles with hydrophobic monomers, which were subsequently polymerized.
Lipid bilayers are the basic constituent of biological membranes. The lipids serve as a fluid matrix for many membrane associated proteins responsible for various key functions such as signaling or transport. Many of these membrane proteins are pharmacologically important or have biotechnological potential. It would be advantageous to have an artificial membrane system in which they and other biological molecules can be immobilized. Such a system would provide a number of benefits, including the ability to use the immobilized protein in biosensors.
Membranes are made from segmented amphiphilic A+B copolymers, where A is hydrophilic and B is hydrophobic, which self-assemble when dispersed in water. In one embodiment, the membranes are freestanding, where the term xe2x80x9cfreestandingxe2x80x9d refers to a membrane that is not supported on a substrate. In another embodiment, the membranes are supported on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the copolymer is a segmented copolymer, such as a triblock ABA copolymer. The segmented copolymer forms a membrane where the middle layer is hydrophobic, and the outer layers are hydrophilic. In another embodiment, the copolymer is a BAB copolymer. The membranes may be stabilized by end-group polymerization and/or by crosslinking of internal groups. The polymerization and crosslinking can be achieved via ionic bonds, covalent bonds, and/or through other types of bonds. In one embodiment, end groups of the copolymers are polymerized. Polymerization can achieved by any of a number of means, including photopolymerization, typically in the presence of a photoinitiator. Other types of polymerization are also possible, such as redox polymerization. In one embodiment, the membranes include proteins, such as membrane proteins, that allow the transport there through of selected components.
In general, planar membranes with a thickness ranging from about 1 to 100 nm, in one embodiment on the order of about 10 nm, can be prepared from a triblock amphiphilic copolymer. Stable films with areas from about 10 nm2 to 10 cm2, generally up to about 1 mm2 can be made. The triblock copolymer can have polymerizable groups at both chain ends and/or at internal sites. These groups can be polymerized, by UV light, for example, after the formation of the self-assembled membrane. The mechanical properties of the membranes, as characterized by short electric fields, are significantly more cohesive than lipid bilayers, as seen by the higher critical voltages required for rupture. Polymerization further increases the stability of the membranes.
Molecules can be reconstituted in the block copolymer membranes. In one embodiment the molecule is a lipid membrane protein. The protein remains functional in the completely artificial surrounding even after polymerization of the membrane.
The materials disclosed herein could be used for a number of purposes, such as biosensors, non-linear optical devices, coatings, in diagnostics, for drug delivery, and for other applications.


A three-wheeled freight-carrying vehicle has a platform section with coaxial driving wheels, and a power section at the opposite end driving a steerable single wheel. An operator's platform is provided at the side of the single wheel. The single wheel and the platform section wheels are vertically adjustable with respect to the platform section.

This invention provides a self-powered freight-carrying vehicle. The unit is intended to replace the usual combination of a farm tractor and a flat-bed trailer for certain operations. These two are normally coupled together with a standard hitch that provides relative articulation about a vertical axis. The tractor is a separate controllable vehicle on its own, and designed to accommodate a wide variety of other uses. Maneuverability of the combination of the tractor and the trailer in close quarters is quite limited. In agricultural operations in orchards, this factor is critical. Trees are closely planted, and must not be subject to damage by moving equipment. It should also be noted that a standard farm tractor is a substantial investment, and represents a capacity to perform functions that often are needed at the same time that the freight-carrying operation is underway. Where a considerable amount of the freight-carrying function is needed, the usual tractor can be freed for other work by a much simpler machine at a correspondingly lower cost.


Data transmission methods and apparatuses for wireless backhaul networks are described. A wireless backhaul node determines one or more reporting nodes for a data volume of a first-type data packet from a plurality of next-hop nodes of the wireless backhaul node on an uplink based on the data volume of the first-type data packet, a data volume of a second-type data packet, and a data volume of a third-type data packet. The wireless backhaul node sends, to the one or more reporting nodes, a buffer status report used to indicate the data volume of the first-type data packet. At least one of the first-type data packet, the second-type data packet, and the third-type data packet includes a data packet from an adaptation layer entity of the wireless backhaul node and/or a data packet from a radio link control layer entity of the wireless backhaul node.

In a wireless backhaul network, for example, an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network, a wireless backhaul node can provide a wireless access service for a terminal device. The wireless backhaul node may also be referred to as an IAB node or a relay node (RN). Data of the terminal device may be transmitted through a wireless backhaul link by the wireless backhaul node to a connected donor node, for example, an IAB donor or a donor base station (e.g., donor gNodeB, DgNB). The IAB network supports multi-hop networking and multi-connectivity networking. Therefore, there may be a plurality of transmission paths between the terminal device and the donor node. On a transmission path, there is a determined hierarchical relationship between wireless backhaul nodes, and between a wireless backhaul node and a donor node serving the wireless backhaul node. A node providing a backhaul service for each wireless backhaul node is a parent node (also referred to as a next-hop node of the wireless backhaul node on an uplink in the application). Correspondingly, each wireless backhaul node may be considered as a child node of the parent node. An adaptation layer is included on a backhaul link in the IAB network. The adaptation layer carries related information required for routing, a quality of service (QoS) guarantee, and terminal device and bearer identification, and provides routing and QoS mapping functions required for data forwarding.
Similar to that uplink transmission of the terminal device is scheduled by a node providing an access service for the terminal device, uplink transmission of the wireless backhaul node may also be scheduled by the parent node of the wireless backhaul node. The wireless backhaul node on the backhaul link in the IAB network may collect statistics about a volume of to-be-sent data, and notify the parent node of the wireless backhaul node of the data volume that is obtained through statistics collection, so that the parent node allocates an uplink scheduling resource to the wireless backhaul node based on the data volume. In the IAB network, one wireless backhaul node may have a plurality of parent nodes on the uplink, and there may be a plurality of transmission paths that are separately connected by using the plurality of parent nodes and that are between the wireless backhaul node and the donor node. In this case, how to report a volume of data to be sent by the wireless backhaul node becomes a technical problem to be resolved urgently.

Data transmission method and apparatus used in wireless backhaul network


A statistical process, and system for implementing the process, is described for the analysis of stress waves generated in operating machinery or equipment. This technique is called Probabilistic Stress Wave Analysis. The process is applied to a population of individual “feature” values extracted from a digitized time waveform (such as a 2 second Stress Wave Pulse Train, or a 2 month history of Stress Wave Energy). Certain numeric descriptors of the statistical distributions of computed features are then employed as inputs to decision making routines (such as neural networks or simple threshold testing) to accurately classify the condition represented by the original time waveform data, and thereby determine a status of the operating machine/equipment.

The present invention relates generally to analytical techniques for diagnosing machine conditions, and more particularly to the use of advanced stress wave analysis techniques to detect discrepant conditions in operating machinery.
Stress Wave Analysis (SWAN) is an ultrasonic technique for the real time, in-situ, measurement of friction and shock. The use of "stress waves" and their analysis is the topic of a number of patents, which will be briefly described hereinbelow:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,240, titled "Method and Apparatus for Diagnosing Machine Condition, and which is incorporated herein by reference, teaches a means for predicting machine failure by monitoring stress waves produced by friction and shock events.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,852,793, titled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREDICTIVE DIAGNOSIS OF MOVING MACHINE PARTS, and incorporated herein by reference, describes Stress Wave Analysis (SWAN) technology resulting from more than a decade of research and development activity. The technology includes analog and digital hardware designs, as well as software, that significantly increase signal to noise ratio, implement SWAN technology in low cost PC based platforms, and provide data logging and predictive maintenance capability. The disclosed method includes new ways of displaying SWAN data for simplified analysis, as well as Time Domain Feature Extraction software that provides "intelligent data compression" for use with Artificial Intelligence software.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,713, titled: DISTRIBUTED STRESS WAVE ANALYSIS SYSTEM, and incorporated herein by reference, discloses a next generation of SWAN products, which combine Stress Wave Analysis with Artificial Intelligence to provide automation to the interpretation of SWAN data. This improvement provides a further reduction in the skill levels and training required to use SWAN technology for accurate predictive maintenance, and extends SWAN capabilities for fault location/isolation and remaining useful life projection. A Frequency Domain Feature Extraction method and a proprietary Data Fusion Architecture are disclosed for providing very accurate fault detection, with very low probability of false alarms. The hardware designs described in this patent provide additional improvement of signal to noise ratio, while significantly reducing the size, weight, and power consumption of SWAN hardware, so that it becomes more practical for a variety of mobile and fixed base applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,350 titled: FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTION (FOD), and incorporated herein by reference, teaches the use of a specialized hardware implementation of SWAN technology for application to turbo machinery, which can be seriously damaged by the ingestion of foreign objects. The disclosed design is applicable for airborne, marine, and ground based applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,700 titled: STRESS WAVE SENSOR, incorporated herein by reference, defines functional performance requirements for a sensor specifically designed to detect stress waves. This reference also defines the quantitative relationships between the sensor specifications and the analog signal conditioning that is used to filter, amplify, and demodulate the sensor's broad band output.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,839 titled: METHOD FOR STIMULATING A SENSOR AND MEASURING THE SENSOR'S OUTPUT OVER A FREQUENCY RANGE and incorporated by reference, describes a calibration technique tailored to the peculiar functional specifications of certain stress wave sensors.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,679,119 titled: MULTI-FUNCTION SENSOR, and incorporated herein by reference, teaches that, for many predictive maintenance applications, SWAN and vibration analysis are complimentary technologies. The sensor described in this patent provides electrical signals proportional to both vibration and stress waves from a single device. This multi-function sensor significantly reduces cost, weight and power requirements compared to separate sensors. This device is applicable for both airborne and industrial applications.
SWAN techniques, some of which are discussed on some of the above cited references, typically employ a specialized, externally mounted ultrasonic sensor along with unique signal conditioning to produce a Stress Wave Pulse Train (SWPT) time waveform. This SWPT is then digitized and analyzed to determine the "health" of the operating machine. Because friction is also a function of operational parameters, such as load and speed of the monitored machine, the analysis process should take these normal variables into account, to prevent false or premature indication of a discrepant condition. This has been accomplished by analyzing short (1-10 second) "snapshots" of data, taken at reference operating conditions.
However, the prior art techniques have suffered from a number of drawbacks, including a requirement that similar operating conditions be imposed to data "snapshots" in order to have an "apples-to-apples" comparison situation. Such a requirement is often impractical because it may be difficult, or impossible, to impose such uniformity in operating conditions. A way around such limitations in the SWAN process would be useful.

Probabilistic stress wave analysis system and method


A downlink control channel transmission method, a receiving network element, and a sending network element are provided, to improve accuracy of beam measurement. A receiving network element obtains target downlink control information (DCI) on a first target control channel candidate in a target control channel candidate set, where the target DCI is DCI of the receiving network element, and the first target control channel candidate includes one or more control channel element groups (CCEGs); the receiving network element determines, based on the target DCI, a quantity of measurement reference signals and a time-frequency resource corresponding to each measurement reference signal; the receiving network element measures each measurement reference signal, to obtain channel quality information corresponding to each measurement reference signal; and the receiving network element reports the channel quality information corresponding to each measurement reference signal to a sending network element.

A concept of beam is introduced in a new generation of wireless communications systems. Transmission of downlink control channels may use the concept of beam to further improve transmission reliability. A beam is to concentrate transmit energy in a relatively narrow spatial range or a direction by using one or more antennas, to improve signal receiving energy of a user in the spatial range or the direction, and further enhance data transmission reliability in the spatial range or the direction. To increase a spatial coverage area of a downlink control channel, a base station may use one or more beams to send the downlink control channel. In a coordinated multipoint (CoMP) system, a plurality of base stations may separately use one or more beams to jointly send a downlink control channel, so as to increase a spatial coverage area or improve transmission quality in a coverage area. Channel quality in each beam direction may be measured and fed back by the user, to help beam direction selection for next control channel transmission.
In the prior art, a cell-specific reference signal of a downlink control channel is used to perform channel estimation on a control channel and demodulate downlink control information (DCI) carried on the control channel.
However, when a user cannot demodulate DCI over a beam, the user cannot know whether the demodulation failure is caused by relatively poor quality of the beam. Therefore, beam quality cannot be effectively measured and fed back in the prior art, resulting in relatively low measurement accuracy.

Downlink control channel transmission method and apparatus


A microwave oven for heating food, in which power control is by pulsing a microwave source during a sequence of operation periods. The start moment of the microwave source is sensed during each operation period, and the switch on time of the microwave source during each operation period is calculated from the sensed start moment. Start moment related variations in supplied average power level are eliminated.

The present invention is directed to a microwave oven for heating food and comprising an oven cavity and a microwave source for generating microwaves in the cavity, and more particularly to a control device for controlling the microwave power in the oven cavity.
Power controlled microwave ovens have been implemented in different ways. GB-A2-108 734 describes a device in which the power supplied to the microwave source, normally a magnetron, is measured and dependent on the measured value the number of mains voltage cycles that are supplied to the power source is varied in order to obtain the desired power. U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,668 is likewise based on power measurement and control of the magnetron operating time dependent thereon. EP-A2-0.043.958 describes another device which is based on power measurement by measuring the current and voltage supplied to the microwave power source. SE 7510018-0 describes a device comprising a power source of the switch mode type, in which the current to the magnetron is measured and in which the measured current value is used for controlling a frequency transformation in the power source to influence the power which is supplied.
The above mentioned power control devices all are based on measurement of power or current. This means that the devices will be relatively demanding with respect to components with a consequent increase in complexity and manufacturing cost.
Another method for power control in microwave ovens is based on control of the magnetron operating time. Normally the magnetron always operates at maximum power and lower power levels are obtained by so-called pulsing of the magnetron. This means that the operating time of the magnetron is subdivided into operation periods and that the magnetron is switched on during parts of the operation period in such a manner that the mean power value during an operation period corresponds to the desired power level. For example, if a fifteen second operation period is used a mean power level corresponding to 60% of the maximum power may be obtained by switching on the magnetron for nine seconds and switching off the same for six seconds during each operation period. This time control is useful also in combination with another control mode such as power control according to the patent specifications discussed above. An example would be time control in combination with a switch mode power source having a controllable output power.
Generally, the components comprising a microwave supply system, e.g. transformer, magnetron, high voltage capacitor, exhibit component tolerances which influence the power supplied. In the case of controlling the duration of power levels which are lower than the maximum power as described above, there are also variations in the time before the magnetron starts generating microwaves, after the generation of a start signal by a control device. The variations of the starting time are influenced by the component tolerances but are in the first instance strongly dependent on the mains current which is supplied to the microwave oven. As a consequence a deviation will arise between the nominally calculated switch-on interval of the magnetron and that which is actually obtained during an operation period and consequently a corresponding deviation will occur in the average power during the operation period.

Microwave oven with improved microwave power control


Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for embedding and executing trace functions in code to gather trace data. A plurality of trace functions are embedded in the code. For each embedded trace function, a trace level is included indicating code to which the trace applies. The trace level comprises one of a plurality of levels. During the execution of the code, the embedded trace functions having one of the levels associated with a specified at least one level specified are executed. The embedded trace functions associated with at least one level not comprising one of the at least one specified level are not invoked.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a computer program product, system, and method for embedding and executing trace functions in code to gather trace data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Software developers may include special trace functions in computer code they are developing. When the developers execute the code during testing, the trace functions will run to gather information, known as trace data, on targeted functions and the execution environment. This allows the developers to debug problems and determine whether the methods and functions are operating as intended. After the code is tested and completed, the developers will remove the trace functions from the code so they do not impact code operations when deployed and used at the customer site.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Embedding and executing trace functions in code to gather trace data

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


An inker for a printing press is automatically detachable to the press when in a clutch-off position, and automatically connects itself to the press when a clutch-on instruction is received.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a printing machine having a detachable inker, more specifically to an improvement for easy attachment of an inker to a printing machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
A satellite-style web offset printing machine, for example, a Sammel printing press, generally has an inker which is movable and detachable with respect to the main printing unit.
A reason why such a detachable configuration is used is that the plate cylinder is necessary to be removed from the main unit at the time of printing pressure adjustment. Another reason is that the individual inking units in the inker must be independently driven for cleaning of inking rollers, ink feed, or nip width adjustment.
A drive mechanism of a prior art tricolor printing machine having a detachable inker will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 19. Referring to FIG. 19, in a printing machine main unit 1, a blanket cylinder 2 is supported on frames, and three plate cylinders 3 are disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 2. At one axial end of each of plate cylinders 3 is integrally fixed a gear 4, and each gear 4 engages with a drive gear 5 to an inker 6.
The inker 6 is provided with inking units 7 of the same number as the plate cylinders 3. The individual inking units 7 are disposed according to the individual plate cylinders 3 so that when the inker 6 is attached to the main unit 1, a final inking roller 8 comes in contact with the printing plate surface of the individual plate cylinders 3 to feed ink.
In the inker 6, driven gears 9 of the same number as the plate cylinders 3 are supported on frames, and the individual driven gears 9 are connected to the individual inking units 7 via gears (not shown). These driven gears 9 are disposed relative to driving gears 5 so as to engage with the driving gears 5 when the inker 6 is attached to the main unit 1.
The inker 6 is placed on rotatable rollers 17 so that it can be moved to the right and left direction, and can be moved closer or farther relative to the main unit 1 by an inker moving device (not shown) using an actuator or by manual operation. Between the inker 6 and the main unit 1 is disposed a manual or actuator type fixing device (not shown).
Operation of the above printing machine will now be described. Suppose that the inker 6 is detached from the main unit 1. First, the inker 6 is moved manually or by the inker moving device forward to the vicinity of the main unit 1 where it is once stopped. Then, for positioning of the driving gears 5 and the driven gears 9, the teeth of both gears are aligned visually by the operator and the inker 6 is moved forward until the gears 5 and 9 come to engagement. With this condition, the fixing device is operated manually or by the actuator to fix the inker 6 to the main unit 1.
When printing operation is performed, a motor (not shown) of the main unit 1 is operated to rotate the blanket cylinder 2, the individual plate cylinders 3, and the individual driving gears 5. This causes the driving gears 5 to rotate the corresponding driven gears 9, the inking rollers 8 of the individual inking units 7 are rotated, and ink is supplied from the individual inking rollers 8 to the printing plate surface of the corresponding plate cylinders 3, thus making printing from the blanket cylinder 2 to paper.
To remove the inker 6 from the main unit 1, both units are unlocked, and then the inker 6 is moved to a predetermined withdrawal position.
In the prior art movable inker type printing machine, when the inker 6 is attached to the printing machine main unit 1, phase alignment between the driving gears 5 and the driven gears 9 must be made visually, thus involving very poor workability. Due to such visual operation, gear engagement may sometimes be poor, which lead to damages to the gears 5 and 9.
Furthermore, there must be provided an open space around the gears 5 and 9 for visual operation, an oil shower lubrication system cannot be used for the mechanism.
In addition, due to the visual operation, attachment of the inker 6 to the printing machine main unit 1 cannot be automated.


Provided is an adder composed of (N+1) circuit stages in the ease of 2.sup.N bits. In the case of N=4 (that is, 16 bits), provisional carries that indicate the case where carry is produced from a low order bit and the case where no carry is produced therefrom are generated by conditional cells in a first circuit stage. In second to fourth circuit stages, the provisional carries corresponding to higher seven bits other than the most significant bit are converted into provisional sums by converters in a circuit stage in which the provisional carries are transferred. In addition, actual carry signals are selected from the provisional carries corresponding to lower seven bits other than the least significant bit in a circuit stage in which the provisional carries are transferred. In a fifth circuit stage, bit sums for each of the bits are generated and outputted.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adder, and more particularly to an adder that operates at a high speed.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, computers are becoming faster and faster. Therefore, a higher speed arithmetic circuit is required and a technique for increasing an operating speed of an adder serving as an important part thereof becomes important. A large number of techniques for realizing a high speed adder have been known. Of those, a conditional sum adder has been widely known as one of the highest-speed adders.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a 4-bit conditional sum adder of a first conventional example described in, particularly, FIG. 6 in Kuo-Hsing Cheng et al., "The improvement of conditional sum adder for low power applications", 1998. IEEE ASIC Conference Proceedings, pp. 131-134. As shown in FIG. 1, in the first conventional example, when a binary number (A_3), A_2, A_1, A_0) is added to a binary number (B_3, B_2, B_1, B_0), each of conditional cells 111 in a first circuit stage 21 generates both provisional bit sum signals and provisional carry signals and outputs them. Here, the provisional sums include a bit sum signal (for example, S0_1) with respect to the case where carry is produced from a low order bit and a bit sum signal (for example, S1_1) with respect to the case where no carry is produced. In addition, the provisional carries include a carry signal (for example, C0_1) with respect to the case where carry s produced from a low order bit and a carry signal (for example, C1_1) with respect to the case where no carry is produced. In a second circuit stage 22, one of the two provisional sums and one of the two provisional carries are selected by multiplexers (MUXs) 120 in accordance with a carry signal from a low order bit and transferred to a next stage. In a third circuit stage 23, actual bit sums S_0 to S_3 and an output carry signal Cout are generated by actual carry signals and outputted to the outside of the adder. According to to first conventional example, because the 2.sup.N-bit adder can be realized by (N+1) circuit stages, the high speed operation is possible. However, in the first conventional example, because the adder includes a large number of multiplexers and the number of wirings is large, power dissipation is large.
As an adder improved to reduce power dissipation, there is a conditional carry adder of a second conventional example described in, particularly, FIG. 7 in Kuo-Hsing Cheng et al., "The improvement of conditional sum adder for low power application", 1998. IEEE ASIC Conference Proceedings, pp. 131-134. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a 16-bit conditional carry adder. As shown in FIG. 2, in the second conventional example, each of conditional cells 101 (FIG. 4B is a circuit diagram) is different from the conditional cell 111 in the first conventional example. That is, each of the conditional cells 101 in a first circuit stage 31 generates an exclusive OR signal of two input bits (for example, S0_1) and provisional carries and outputs them. Here, the provisional carries are composed of a pair of signals which are a carry signal with respect to the case where carry is produced from a low order bit and a carry signal with respect to the case where no carry is produced. In a second circuit stage 32 to a fifth circuit stage 35, each carry signal to be sent to a next circuit stage is selected by a multiplexer (MUX) 120 and a carry selector 110 in accordance with a carry signal from a low order bit and transferred in succession. In a sixth circuit stage 36 including exclusive OR circuits 130, actual bit sums S_1 to S_15 are generated and outputted to the outside of the adder. According to the second conventional example, because only the provisional carries may be generated and outputted and no provisional sums are required, the number of multiplexers (one carry selector is counted as two multiplexers) can be reduced. Accordingly, power dissipation at the time of operation can be reduced.
However, when the 2N-bit adder is realized in the second conventional example, (N+2) circuit stages are required. In the case of comparison using a 16-bit adder, although the number of circuit stages is five in the first conventional example, the number of circuit stages is six in the second conventional example. Therefore, because the number of logic stages in a critical path is increased by one stage, it is disadvantageous to increase a circuit operation speed.


A pneumatic fastening mechanism is provided for fastening an aircraft surface panel to an aircraft panel support member. The panel includes a plurality of receptacles extending from the panel lower surface. The panel support member includes a corresponding plurality of panel engagement mechanisms, disposed on the support member lower surface, and translatable through the support member to engage the receptacles. The panel engagement mechanisms are extendable from a first position, wherein the panel abuts and is engaged to the panel support member, to second position wherein the panel is elevated above the panel support member upper surface where the panel may be unlocked and separated from the panel engagement mechanism. The panel engagement mechanism is operative to elevate and release the panel in response to changes in fluid pressure communicated to the panel engagement mechanisms.

The present invention relates to a latching mechanism that allows a removable access panel to separate from a supporting surface when access to the aircraft interior is desired. More particularly, the present invention relates to a latching mechanism suitable for rapid removal and reinstallation of aircraft outer mold line (OML) panels and doors.
In the building of aircraft, both civil and military, exterior panels, doors and other structures are provided which can be removed for repair or to allow access to aircraft systems, e.g. mechanical, electrical or hydraulic, disposed within the body of the aircraft. The panel doors are preferably formed flush with the adjacent aircraft surface, to avoid interference with aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft. Irregularities in an aircraft surface can also mitigate low observable characteristics of an aircraft, as RF signals may reflect from surface irregularities and detract from low observable characteristics of the aircraft.
While panels may be conventionally engaged to an aircraft surface by means of screws or similar fasteners, such connecting means commonly require torqueing the fasteners to a desired pressure, can result in wear and loosening of the fasteners during use, and can preload the panels into undesirable levels. Moreover, in practical circumstances of use, fasteners can fall into the aircraft interior when installing or removing the panel, creating potentially hazardous conditions with respect to mechanical and electrical systems disposed in the vicinity. As such, alternative latching mechanism are desirable in order to allow for greater ease of installation and removal, avoidance of creating undue loads on panel and mitigating the prospect of accidentally releasing undesirable debris within the aircraft body which may be difficult to locate and potentially damaging to aircraft electrical and mechanical systems. Further, as noted above, it is desirable such that latching mechanism exhibit minimal surface irregularities, to retain desired aerodynamic and low observable characteristics. Ideally the latching mechanism will allow installation and removal of the panel without the need to even touch the panel upper surface. Preferably, such latching system will also provide suitable sealing characteristics to facilitate airtight and watertight isolation of the aircraft electrical/mechanical/hydraulic systems, as well as mitigating the potential for noise associated with gaps between adjacent aircraft surface portions.
These and other objects and advantages are addressed in the present invention, which is described in exemplary terms below, in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

Pneumatic fastening for fastening a surface paneling to an aircraft surface


Industrial vehicles that include a speed sensor configured to generate a speed sensor signal, a payload sensor configured to generate a payload sensor signal, an inclination sensor configured to generate an inclination sensor signal, a wheel motor connected to a wheel of the industrial vehicle, and a controller. The wheel motor includes an electric retarder device for applying a retardation force to the wheel. The controller is configured to receive the speed sensor signal, receive the payload sensor signal, receive the inclination sensor signal, determine a required retardation force for the industrial vehicle based on the payload sensor signal and the inclination sensor signal, determine an available retardation force for the industrial vehicle based on the speed sensor signal, and generate an output indicating the required retardation force for the industrial vehicle relative to the available retardation force for the industrial vehicle.

Performance limits of an industrial vehicle (e.g., a heavy-duty haul or dump truck) are traditionally posted as static placards in the vehicle's cabin, such as placard 10 in FIG. 1. For example, given a particular grade of incline and a given load, the placard lists maximum continuous and/or short-term speed limits that should not be exceeded. Exceeding the stated speed limits could result in a runaway condition of the vehicle during which the vehicle may be unable to stop under its own power.
In addition to a traditional friction braking system, a device known as a retarder can be used to supplement the traditional friction braking system of a vehicle. For example, a retarder can be used to help slow the vehicle without requiring the use of the friction braking system. Because the friction braking system is used less, the service life of the friction braking system (e.g., brake pads) is extended.

Vehicles, methods, and devices for vehicle retarder control and display


The present disclosure provides a method comprising receiving by an autonomous vehicle (“AV”) service provider a request for an AV service from a user, wherein the request identifies an origin and a destination for the AV service; identifying a plurality of possible routes between the origin and the destination; and, for each one of the plurality of possible routes assigning to the one of the possible routes at least one of a comfort score, a confidence score, and a risk an risk score based on data associated with the one of the possible routes determining a price for the one of the possible routes based on a combination of the at least one of the comfort score, the confidence score, and the risk score assigned to the one of the possible routes.

An autonomous vehicles (AV) is a vehicle that is capable of sensing and moving safely through its environment with little to no human input. AVs use a variety of sensors to perceive their surroundings. Autonomous delivery is an emerging technology, with delivery technology changing the way the retail supply chain functions. According to a recent study, it is likely that in the near future as many as 80% of global deliveries will be automated, as governments continue to approve and adopt regulations around autonomous vehicles and public sentiment towards such vehicles increases. AVs are also currently being tested for widespread transportation of human passengers.
One challenge faced by companies that provide AV delivery and/or transportation services is determining a price to be charged to a user for such services whether they involve transportation of a human passenger or inanimate cargo.

System for dynamic autonomous vehicle service pricing


A card connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10), a number of contacts (30) retained in the insulative housing, a metal shell (20) attached to the insulative housing for cooperatively defining a receiving space (60), and a tray (40) received in the receiving space. The metal shell includes a pair of elastic portions (24). The tray has a frame portion (41) having two lateral edges. Each lateral edge has a notch (410), a dent (415), and a projecting portion (411) between the notch and the dent. The elastic portion is secured with the notch when the tray is fully inserted in the receiving space along an insertion/ejection direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a card connector, and more particularly to a tray-type card connector with dual feelings during both insertion and ejection of the tray.
2. Description of Related Arts
U.S. Pat. No. 7,865,210 and US Application Pub. No. 2009/0267677 disclose an electronic device comprising a tray-type card connector having a tray facilitating insertion of a micro SIM card into the card connector. The card connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing, a metal shell covering the insulative housing cooperatively defining a receiving space, and an ejector assembled at a side of the insulative housing. The electronic device has a pair of retaining elements at two lateral sides of the card connector. Each retaining element forms a locking portion. The tray comprises a cutout securing with the locking portion of the retaining element when the tray is fully inserted in the card connector. However, the locking portion of the shell may not properly engage with the cutout of the tray if an unbalance pushing force is exerted on the tray and make the tray slightly tilted. Furthermore, a user only gets a feeling that the locking portion jumps into the cutout when the tray is inserted in the card connector, but no feeling that the locking portion moves away from the cutout when the tray is ejected from the card connector.
Hence, a card connector with dual feelings during both insertion and ejection of the tray is desired.

Tray-type card connector with dual feelings during both insertion and ejection of tray


A core holder for testing core permeability includes a modular sleeve comprising a series of sleeve segments aligned longitudinally. Port rings positioned between the sleeve segments have radial holes to allow conditions within the core-receiving cavity formed by the sleeve segments and the port rings to be monitored from outside the core holder. The port rings and the sleeve segments are disposed within a housing, and spacer rings are received about the sleeve segments to support the sleeve segments and port rings within the housing. Conditions within the modular sleeve may be monitored through instruments connected to holes in the housing communicating with the holes in the port rings.

The present invention generally relates to core holders used in testing core samples, and more particularly to a core holder utilizing a modular sleeve.
In geological exploration, the physical characteristics of an underground formation are of paramount importance. Permeability, a measure of resistance to fluid flow, is a particularly important factor that affects the method of oil recovery to be used for a particular well.
To determine permeability, a core sample is removed from the underground formation. The core sample is placed in a core holder, where it is subjected to heat and pressure conditions comparable to those underground. Fluid is then forced through the core sample at high pressure. The permeability of the core is indicated by the change in pressure at various points along the length of the core.
During testing, the core is encased in a rubber sleeve. Because pressure measurements must be taken at various points along the core's length, pressure taps must be provided. In at least one type of sleeve, the taps are molded directly into the rubber sleeve. Such a sleeve with integral pressure taps is relatively expensive.
The conditions involved in core testing cause the rubber sleeve to deteriorate rapidly. A core, and its encasing sleeve, may be subjected to pressures greater than 10,000 pounds per square inch, and temperatures near 400.degree. F., for example. When testing under these conditions, the rubber sleeve may have to be replaced after every test.
Conventional core holders accommodate sleeves of a certain length. If a core to be tested is too long for the sleeve, a core holder with a longer sleeve must be used. As a result, core holders of various sizes are frequently maintained in the same laboratory. Because each core holder demands its own supply of sleeves, a great variety of sleeves of different lengths must be manufactured and kept in stock.
Therefore, there is a need for a core holder using a sleeve that does not require pressure taps molded into the material so that each sleeve is relatively less expensive, and that can be used with different lengths of cores so that an inventory of different length sleeves is not required.


Controlling access to secure resources of a data processing system is provided. An input-to-output mapping of an application installed on the data processing system is generated that determines whether a secure resource in the data processing system is shared with an external entity associated with the application and under what specified conditions. It is determined whether the specified conditions exist during runtime of the application. In response to determining that the specified conditions do not exist during runtime of the application, sharing of the secure resource of the data processing system with the external entity associated with the application is prevented. In response to determining that the specified conditions do exist during runtime of the application, sharing of the secure resource of the data processing system with the external entity associated with the application is allowed.

1. Field
The disclosure relates generally to hybrid mobile applications and more specifically to controlling access to secure resources of a mobile device by hybrid mobile applications running on the mobile device based on user-defined, context-aware security policies.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the development of new mobile operating system platforms, mobile computing has grown in popularity exponentially in recent years. A major factor driving this exponential growth is the availability of a large number of mobile applications that provide functionality ranging from banking to gaming to social networking. To benefit from the constantly growing consumer market for these mobile applications, enterprises are producing new mobile applications that are built from the composition of existing ones at breakneck speed.

Context-aware permission control of hybrid mobile applications

International Business Machines Corporation


An improved control system for a stepper motor coil includes a flyback circuit that dissipates coil energy slowly while the coil is energized and operated in the chopping mode, while dissipating coil energy rapidly when the coil is switched to its de-energized phase.

There are conventional devices that carry out multi-step analytical procedures in an automated or semi-automated fashion. For example, microbiological analytical systems currently carry out automated antimicrobic susceptibility testing procedures using both photometric and fluorometric detection methods. The MicroScan Division of Baxter Healthcare Corporation sells a device of this type under the trade designation "Walk-Away." Armes et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,951 and Hanaway U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,879 and 4,681,741 describe certain features the Walk-Away system.
Prior commercial embodiments of the Walk-Away system analyze trays carrying microbiologic specimens. The system includes an enclosed incubation chamber for the specimens. The system adds reagents to the specimens and analyzes them.
Prior commercial embodiments of the Walk-Away system and systems of the same type use stepper motors to operate many of the moving mechanical components. The coils of a stepper motor are sequentially energized to rotate the associate rotor in discrete, predetermined "steps." Motor operation can be accurately luminating controlled and programmed by counting the steps.
Typically, current to a conventional stepper motor coil is "chopped" while the coil operates in its energized phased. This means that current flow through the coil is sequentially enabled and not enabled by an associated switching mechanism, using, for example, a field effect transistor. This modulates the current, keeping it from rising above the nominal motor current. In conventional operation, an associated circuit (called a "flyback" circuit) dissipates energy from the coil during the chopping mode. The flyback circuit also dissipates energy when the coil switches from its energized phase to its de-energized phase.
When the coil is energized and operates in its chopping mode, the flyback circuit should ideally dissipate energy slowly to provide sustained, steady power to the motor. When the coil is switched to its de-energized phase, the flyback circuit should ideally dissipate energy quickly to provide a smooth and quick transition to the successor coil. Conventional flyback circuits seek to compromise these two competing operating objectives. As a result, neither objective is fully met.

Specimen processing and analyzing systems with variable zener-diode flyback stepper motor control


A method for controlling a three-level back-to-back voltage source power conversion assembly includes receiving an indication of a DC or AC unbalance occurring in voltage of a DC link. The power conversion assembly has a first power converter coupled to a second power converter via the DC link. In response to receiving the indication, the method includes activating a balancing algorithm that includes determining a deviation of a midpoint voltage of the DC link as a function of a total voltage of the DC link, calculating a voltage compensation needed for pulse-width modulation signals of the power conversion assembly based on the deviation, and coordinating common mode voltage injection from each of the power converters independently at a neutral point of the power conversion assembly based on the voltage compensation, thereby minimizing the at least one of the DC unbalance or the AC unbalance at any given operating condition.

Wind power is considered one of the cleanest, most environmentally friendly energy sources presently available and wind turbines have gained increased attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, a generator, a gearbox, a nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. Generally, during operation of a wind turbine, wind impacts the rotor blades and the blades transform wind energy into a mechanical rotational torque that drives a low-speed shaft. The low-speed shaft drives a gearbox that subsequently steps up the low rotational speed of the low-speed shaft to drive a high-speed shaft at an increased rotational speed, wherein the high-speed shaft rotatably drives a generator rotor.
In many wind turbine configurations, the generator is electrically coupled to a bi-directional voltage source power converter that includes a rotor-side converter (RSC) joined to a line-side converter (LSC) via a regulated DC link. Each of the RSC and the LSC typically includes a bank of pulse width modulated switching devices, for example, insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). As such, the LSC converts the DC power on the DC link into AC output power that is combined with the power from the generator stator to provide multi-phase power having a frequency maintained substantially at the frequency of the electrical grid bus (e.g. 50 HZ or 60 HZ).
The above system is generally referred to as a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) system, whose operating principles include that the rotor windings are connected to the grid via slip rings and the power converter controls rotor current and voltage. Control of rotor voltage and current enables the generator to remain synchronized with the grid frequency while the wind turbine speed varies (e.g., rotor frequency can differ from the grid frequency). In general, the LSC is used to control the power factor at the input mains along with DC bus voltage regulation, whereas the RSC is used to control active/reactive power for variable speed operation of the wind turbine.
For certain power converters, such as three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) converters, fluctuating neutral point voltage (i.e. the DC Link voltages of upper and lower capacitors) can be different in some cases, which is termed as DC unbalance. Also, in other cases, the neutral point voltage tends to oscillate with the triplen frequency of the converter's fundamental voltage, which is termed as AC unbalance. If such at least one of the DC unbalance or the AC unbalance is not balanced through any pulse width modulation (PWM) technique or external hardware circuitry, the voltages of the upper and lower capacitors can begin to drift away, thereby resulting in charging of one capacitor to the total DC link voltage and the other capacitor to zero voltage. Even if the DC unbalance problem is solved, there exists the triplen frequency neutral point voltage oscillation (AC unbalance), which is also an inherent problem that needs attention from either controls or by placing a large capacitor. This problem is aggravated for back-to-back three-level NPC converters applied to DFIG systems for wind applications where the frequency of the LSC is fixed to 50/60 Hz and the frequency of the RSC is variable at the slip frequency.
Conventional control schemes for providing voltage balance include common mode voltage injection with carrier-based PWM techniques. However, such solutions are restricted to single converter systems or back-to-back systems with a close match of frequency on both sides of the converters.
Thus, an improved system and method for controlling voltage source converters of renewable energy power systems, such as wind turbines, that address the aforementioned issues would be welcomed in the art. Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a system and method that provides coordinated neutral point balancing for back-to-back three-level NPC converters with adaptive controller gains for both the RSC and the LSC based on, for example, slip, modulation index, power factor, and/or active power.

System and method for neutral point balancing for back-to-back voltage source converters

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.


A controller of a four-wheel drive vehicle includes a first operation part that switches drive mode of the vehicle; a second operation part that switches off-road traveling modes indicating traveling modes for off-road driving of the vehicle; a transfer controller that controls the arrangement of a transfer device in accordance with the drive mode; a detector that detects the arrangement of the transfer device; a determiner that determines whether a switching of the traveling modes is permitted or not based on the drive mode and the arrangement detected by the detector; and a setter that sets the traveling modes of the vehicle based on the detected arrangement and input operations to the first operation part and the second operation part when the determiner determines the switching of the traveling modes is permitted, and maintains the current traveling mode when the determiner determines the switching of the traveling modes is not permitted.

Four-wheel drive vehicles can be categorized into part-time four wheel drive vehicles that basically operate in a two-wheel drive state and can switch to a four-wheel drive state if necessary, and full-time four wheel drive vehicles that include center differentials disposed between the front wheels and the rear wheels and constantly operate in the four-wheel drive state (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-247159). Four-wheel drive vehicles that include transfer devices and operate in both part-time and full-time types or in multiple different control modes (traveling modes) have been put to practical use.
For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-149850 discloses a four-wheel drive vehicle that includes a mode selector switch switchable among six traveling modes. The four-wheel drive vehicle operates in a normal traveling mode at start-up of an off-road guidance ECU and then switches to one of the traveling modes selected with the mode selector switch. The driving arrangement (position) recommended for the selected traveling mode is displayed on a guidance screen for presentation of the operating method of the vehicle to a driver. Such presentation can promote the setting of the recommended driving arrangement of the driving system of the vehicle suitable for the selected traveling mode.
The technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-149850 provides guidance to a driver on a recommended driving arrangement (drive mode of the vehicle) suitable for the traveling mode preliminarily selected by the driver. For other four-wheel drive vehicles, a driver preliminarily selects the drive mode of the vehicle and then selects the traveling mode. The drive modes of a vehicle include a two-wheel drive (2WD) mode, a full-time four-wheel drive (full-time 4WD) mode, and a direct-connection four-wheel drive (direct-connection 4WD) mode. The traveling modes include a normal traveling mode and off-road traveling modes suitable for off-road driving.
The off-road traveling modes are selected when the driving force should be certainly transmitted to a rough road for driving, for example, in deep snow, sandy ground, or muddy ground. The off-road traveling modes can usually be set in the direct-connection 4WD mode. The selector for the traveling mode (off-road traveling mode), however, is installed on a position such as an instrument panel that is easy to be operated by the driver and readily accessible by a person in the passenger seat. Thus, in some cases, the selector may be improperly operated in a drive mode other than the direct-connection 4WD mode or by the person's prank in the passenger seat. Switching the traveling mode to a mode inappropriate for the drive mode due to improper operation of the selector may lower the traveling performance of the four-wheel drive vehicle.
The transfer device includes a mechanism including multiple gears and coupling sleeves. The arrangement of this mechanism is controlled to switch the drive mode. The transfer device actually enters a drive mode selected by a driver in a predetermined time after the selection. Thus, the drive mode selected by the driver does not correspond to the arrangement of the transfer device for a predetermined time.
Some transfer devices have an arrangement corresponding to the direct-connection 4WD mode (direct-connection 4WD arrangement) between the arrangement corresponding to the 2WD mode (2WD arrangement) and the arrangement corresponding to the full-time 4WD mode (full-time 4WD arrangement). On the other hand, a drive-mode selector operated by a driver is provided to switch the different modes in an increasing order of driving force, i.e., the 2WD mode, the full-time 4WD mode, and the direct-connection 4WD mode, selected in this order.
If the transfer device has the configuration described above, the transfer device shifts from the 2WD arrangement to the full-time 4WD arrangement via the direct-connection 4WD arrangement in response to the driver operating the drive-mode selector from the 2WD mode to the full-time 4WD mode. This further prolongs the time during which the drive mode selected by the driver does not correspond to the arrangement of the transfer device.
Thus, even if the driver properly operates the selector for the traveling mode (off-road traveling mode), the actual arrangement of the transfer device may not correspond to the selected drive mode, and a traveling mode unsuitable for the drive mode may be selected. This may cause a reduction in the traveling performance of the four-wheel drive vehicle. The control modes of various drive operation assist devices installed in the vehicle are switched in accordance with the traveling mode. Thus, setting of an appropriate traveling mode is important for the safety of the vehicle.

Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha


A new garden type Chrysanthemum plant named ‘CIFZ0046’ particularly distinguished by the small (1.5 inch) orange two-tone decorative inflorescence, a medium sized plant with round mound habit and a natural season response in early October.

The present invention comprises a new Chrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'CIFZ0046'.
'CIFZ0046' is a product of a planned breeding program. The new cultivar has small (1.5 inch) orange two-tone decorative inflorescence, a medium sized plant with round mound habit and a natural season response in early October.
'CIFZ0046' originated from a cross made in November 2008 in Tenjo, Columbia The female parent was 'Zanmuflamin', U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,589, commercially known as 'Flamingo Pink'.
When compared to the female parent, 'CIFZ0046' has:                1. Similar flower type and size but orange two-tone inflorescence color not lavender-coral like 'Flamingo Pink'.        2. Blackcloth response is one week faster and natural season response is ten days slower than 'Flamingo Pink'.        3. Similar plant size and similar plant habit as 'Flamingo Pink'.
The male parent was the light yellow unnamed seedling from own breeding '05-M263'.
When compared to the male parent, 'CIFZ0046' has:                1. Smaller flower size with less disc florets and inflorescence color is darker/more orange with two-tone contrast unlike the light yellow of the male parent.        2. Blackcloth response is a half a week slower and natural season response is one month slower than the male parent.        3. Similar plant habit but larger overall size than the male parent.
The resultant seed was sown in June 2011 in Gilroy, Calif.
The first act of asexual reproduction of 'CIFZ0046' was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection, this initial selection took place in Nov. 1, 2011 in Monroeville, N.J.


A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a base station determination program for causing a computer to execute a process includes: acquiring position information on a communication terminal; assigning, based on position information on each of a plurality of base stations stored in advance in a storage and the acquired position information on the communication terminal, one or more base stations other than a base station that includes a point at which a radio wave characteristic based on longitude information changes in a time slot during which communication is to be performed, and which is provided between a position of the base station and a position of the communication terminal, as one or more base station candidates from among the plurality of base stations; and determining a base station that is to communicate with the communication terminal from among the one or more base station candidates.

There is a technology for performing communication between a base station disposed at each of a plurality of principal localities defined in advance and a communication terminal present at an arbitrary location. In a case where reliable communication between the base station and the communication terminal is desired, it is conceivable to use satellite communication or the like, while a communication system using satellite communication is expensive. Accordingly, in order to perform communication over a long distance at low cost, a communication technique utilizing the reflection of radio waves at the ionosphere is used.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 07-322352 and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 55-147842 are disclosed as related art.

Recording medium recording base station determination program, information processing apparatus, and base station determination method


A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming semiconductor fins on a substrate. A first dummy gate is formed over the semiconductor fins. A recess is formed in the first dummy gate, and the recess is disposed between the semiconductor fins. A dummy fin material is formed in the recess. A portion of the dummy fin material is removed to expose an upper surface of the first dummy gate and to form a dummy fin. A second dummy gate is formed on the exposed upper surface of the first dummy gate.

This disclosure relates generally to a semiconductor device, and in some embodiments, to transistor devices that includes dummy fins.
The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced exponential growth. Technological advances in IC materials and design have produced generations of ICs where each generation has smaller and more complex circuits than the previous generation. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of IC structures (such as three-dimensional transistors) and processing and, for these advancements to be realized, similar developments in IC processing and manufacturing are needed. For example, device performance (such as device performance degradation associated with various defects) and fabrication cost of field-effect transistors become more challenging when device sizes continue to decrease. Although methods for addressing such a challenge have been generally adequate, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all aspects.
Fin field-effect Transistor (FinFET) devices are becoming commonly used in integrated circuits. FinFET devices have a three-dimensional structure that comprises a fin protruding from a substrate. A gate structure, configured to control the flow of charge carriers within a conductive channel of the FinFET device, wraps around the fin. For example, in a tri-gate FinFET device, the gate structure wraps around three sides of the fin, thereby forming conductive channels on three sides of the fin.
In contemporary semiconductor device fabrication processes, a large number of semiconductor devices, such as field effect transistors are fabricated on a single wafer. Non-planar transistor device architectures, such as fin-based transistors ("FinFETs"), can provide increased device density and increased performance over planar transistors. Some advanced non-planar transistor device architectures, such as nanosheet (or nanowire) transistors, can further increase the performance over the FinFETs. When compared to the FinFET where the channel is partially wrapped (e.g., straddled) by a gate structure, the nanosheet transistor, in general, includes a gate structure that wraps around the full perimeter of one or more nanosheets for improved control of channel current flow. For example, in a FinFET and a nanosheet transistor with similar dimensions, the nanosheet transistor can present larger driving current (Ion), smaller subthreshold leakage current (Ioff), etc. Such a transistor that has a gate structure fully wrapping around its channel is typically referred to as a gate-all-around (GAA) transistor or GAAFET.

Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacturing thereof

TAIWAN SEMICONDUTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LIMITED


A table may include a table top with a first section that is selectively movable between a use position and a collapsed position, and a second section that is selectively movable between a use position and a collapsed position. The table may also include a first pedestal that is movable between a first position in which the first pedestal supports the first section of the table top in the use position and a second position in which the first section of the table top may be moved between the use position and the collapsed position. The table may include a second pedestal that is movable between a first position in which the second pedestal supports the second section of the table top in the use position and a second position in which the second section of the table top may be move between the use position and the collapsed position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to furniture and, in particular, to tables.
2. Description of Related Art
Many different types of tables are well known and used for a variety of different purposes. For example, conventional tables may include legs that are pivotally attached to a table top and the legs may be movable between a use position in which the legs extend outwardly from the table top and a storage position in which the legs are folded against the table top. Conventional tables with relatively large table tops and folding legs are often referred to as "banquet tables" and these tables are frequently used in assembly halls, banquet halls, convention centers, hotels, schools, churches and other locations where large groups of people meet. Because these conventional tables are generally easy to move and relatively portable, these types of tables can often be positioned in an assortment of different configurations and used in a variety of settings. When the tables are no longer needed, the table legs can be moved into the storage position and the tables may be moved or stored. When the legs are in the storage position, the table may require less storage room and allow the table to be more easily carried or transported.
The table top, however, for many conventional banquet tables may retain its size and shape. For example, many known banquet tables have a length between 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) and a width between 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters). As a result, many conventional banquet tables, even with the legs in the collapsed position, may require a large storage area. This large storage area for each table may be problematic for larger facilities such as hotels, schools and churches because a considerable number of these table may have to be stored. Thus, a big area may be required to store the tables even with the legs in the storage position. In addition, smaller facilities such as restaurants, offices and homes may use one or more conventional banquet tables. These smaller facilities may use banquet tables less frequently, such as during special occasions, holidays and celebrations. Conventional banquet tables, even when the legs are folded, are often too bulky and obstructive to be conveniently used and stored at such smaller facilities. As a result, it is often necessary for both larger and smaller facilities to rent and/or borrow one or more banquet tables when needed. Disadvantageously, this process of renting and/or borrowing banquet tables can be inconvenient, time consuming and costly.
In addition, conventional banquet tables are often very difficult to move or transport from one location to another. For example, many conventional banquet tables are often difficult to move by a single person because of the long length of the table. In addition, the extended length of many conventional banquet tables may preclude the tables from being transported in the trunk or back seat of a typical passenger car. Accordingly, the banquet tables may have to be transported by a truck or trailer, which may be difficult to obtain. Further, because of the long length of the tables, the tables may be difficult to load, position and unload from a trunk or trailer.
It is also known to construct tables that are capable of being folded-in-half. In particular, conventional fold-in-half tables typically include a table top with two sections that are pivotally connected by a hinge. The two sections of the table top may be moved between an unfolded position or use position in which the sections of the table top are generally aligned in the same plane and a folded position in which the two sections are positioned generally adjacent to each other for storage.
Disadvantageously, many conventional fold-in-half tables with foldable table tops are unstable and unable to support a significant amount of weight. For example, the connection of the two sections of the table top for many known fold-in-half tables is relatively weak, which may allow, for example, a portion of the table top to sag. Additionally, the connection of the table top sections for many known fold-in-half tables may also be relatively frail and may break if a significant load or force is applied to the table top. In order to construct a stronger table top, it is known to make the sections of the table tops out of stronger and thicker materials. Undesirably, this may increase the weight of the table top, which may make the table more difficult to carry and move.
Many conventional tables with fold-in-half table tops include two hinges that connect the two sections of the table top. These hinges are often connected to the table top by a plurality of screws that are bored into the table top. Disadvantageously, the structural integrity of the table top may be decreased by the holes created by the plurality of screws, which may allow the table top to collapse or fail. In addition, because the screws are typically individually attached to the table top, this may significantly increase the amount of the time required to construct the table. Further, this may increase the manufacturing time and costs to make the table.
Additionally, many known tables with foldable table tops are often difficult to transport and store because it may be hard to maintain the table top in the closed position, especially for a single person. In particular, the table tops of many known foldable tables can unintentionally swing between the folded and unfolded position while the tables are being moved, positioned and/or stacked. That is, while the table is being moved, the table top may inadvertently move from the folded to the unfolded position. If this occurs, the table may be undesirably dropped, and this may damage the table and/or injure the person carrying the table.